Page 28 of The Marked Princess

“Ah, right, here.” Alex thrust a cup of water into her hands. “Don't drink too quickly.”

She accepted the drink and took a small sip, smiling her thanks.

“Now that you're awake, we can start working on your disguise.” Dahlia tapped her finger against her chin, looking Josselyn over. “My paints, please, Vi.”

Violet set her book aside and began rummaging through the small chest she'd been leaning against. After a moment, she pulled out several small pots, a brush, and a square cloth.

“Got em!”

Dahlia arranged the pots on the floor before dipping the brush into one of them and looking up at Josselyn expectantly. “I'm going to need you to hold still while I paint your face.”

Josselyn pulled her face back, eyeing the brush as if it were a poisonous snake. “I'm sorry, what?”

The blonde girl, Lily, grinned. “Dahlia's brilliant with paints. You'll see.”

Dahlia gave her a reassuring smile. “Don't worry, Princess, it'll wash off. For now, however, it'd be best if you didn't look quite so much like yourself.”

“Okay.” Josselyn inhaled, trying to relax as Dahlia leaned in, the brush poised in front of her face. “And who exactly are you planning to make me look like, instead?”

“Hmm,” Dahlia murmured, already focusing on her deft stokes as she ran the brush over Josselyn's smooth skin. “I was thinking someone older.”

“Oooh, she could be our sweet, old grandmama,” Rosemary chimed in, her face lighting up as she started looking through another chest, fabric spilling out around her as she dug inside. She sat back, holding up a black shawl and a dowdy looking brown dress. “These should do. A touch large, perhaps, but that'll only add to the overall effect.”

“What about Alex?” Lily asked, giving him a once over. “He can hardly stay looking as he does now, shirtless with a freshly, bandaged shoulder. We should lend him some of Papa's clothes, at least.”

“Aw, but I like the way he looks now,” Rosemary pouted, throwing him a coy look from beneath her lashes. “He's positively scrumptious.”

Josselyn glared at the flirtatious woman.

“He's a royal guard, not dessert,” she snapped, causing everyone in the wagon to look at her in surprise. She blushed as she met Alex's wide eyes, and quickly averted her gaze. “He'll stand out too much the way he is now. That's all.”

Dahlia gave her a knowing look, but refrained from commenting as she continued painting Josselyn's face. Once she'd finished, she took white powder and worked it through Josselyn's hair. Sitting back with a noise of satisfaction, she admired her handiwork.

“What do you think, ladies? Will she pass for an old lady?”

The others chorused their approval, and Rosemary handed Josselyn the dress and shawl. “We'll hold up some blankets so you can have a little privacy while you change.” She looked at Alex with mock sternness. “No peeking, now, Mr. Royal Guard.”

Violet and Rosemary stood and held up a large blanket, sectioning Alex off into the corner. Josselyn thanked them and pulled the remains of her ruined ballgown over her head. She reached for the dress, but paused when she saw them all staring at the marks on her arm in astonishment. “It's just a birthmark,” she explained, then shrugged. “I've always rather liked it.”

The sisters exchanged a look but remained silent. Lily reached her hand out, pausing just before her fingers touched skin. “May I?” She asked in an almost reverent voice.

Josselyn nodded. “Be my guest.”

The girl slowly traced the long, black claw marks with her finger. “They're beautiful.”

Josselyn pulled the brown dress on, throwing the shawl over her shoulders as she studied the girl closely. “I don't think anyone's ever called them beautiful before, not even my mother.”

Lily offered her a small shrug then turned to the back of the wagon. “I think I'll just take a look around, see where we're at,” she murmured, pulling open the canvas flaps and climbing onto the back ledge, allowing the flaps to fall closed behind her.

Josselyn stared after her. There was something about that girl... she just couldn't quite put her finger on it. She turned back toward the others, Rosemary and Violet still holding the blanket as Alex changed into a fresh pair of clothes.

“I have to say, for sisters, she doesn't look much like the rest of you. Does she favor your mother?”

“Lily isn't our sister by blood,” Dahlia replied, her face softening and a touch of wistfulness creeping into her voice. “We adopted her into our family five years ago, just before Mami... just before our mother passed away.”

Josselyn winced, wishing she hadn't been quite so blunt. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories.”

Dahlia waved her hand, dismissing Josselyn's concerns.