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“I love it!” Emmaline said.
The gown truly was amazing. It wasn’t like anything Jayna would have picked for herself, but she felt a thrill run through her at the thought of wearing it.
Yet, as gorgeous as it was, something about the dress bothered her. It took Jayna a moment before she figured out the problem. “This dress is amazing,” she said, “but, well, doesn’t a ball imply dancing?”
Lena folded her arms. “I would think so.”
“Of course,” Emmaline said. “I understand that you’re an excellent dancer, and I think you’ll find Obsidian’s skills as a partner are more than satisfactory.”
Jayna’s face flushed. “I don’t know about excellent, but I definitely enjoy it.” She gestured at the dress and said, “I guess that’s why I was expecting a more traditional ball gown, or at least something I could dance in.”
“You can dance in this dress,” Lena said, sounding rather defensive.
Jayna examined the dress again. “I don’t think so,” she said.
“Of course.” Lena gestured again with her hands. Music started to play, and mannequin Jayna swayed gently to the rhythm.
Real life Jayna made a face. “I have no idea what that is, but it isn’t dancing.”
Lena gestured again, and the mannequin’s movements became more pronounced. But the motion was still less like dancing and more like someone trying to escape a strait jacket.
Jayna winced and shook her head.
Lena scowled and made a swiping gesture with her hand. The music cut off with a record-scratch sound effect. She stalked to a cabinet on the far wall and removed a small black box. She returned, thrust the box at Jayna, and quirked an eyebrow. “Please, feel free to demonstrate your idea of dancing.”
Jayna lifted the lid and gasped. Inside she found a gorgeous pair of t-strap sandals with ten-centimeter heels. The shoes were the same gem-encrusted emerald green as the gown and were clearly made for dancing, with their reinforced heels, flexible soles, and perfectly-spaced toe straps. She hurried to a bench so she could put them on.
The shoes fit as if they had been custom-made for her. It seemed odd that Lena happened to have a pair in her size that were an exact match for the gown, but Jayna was too excited to dance in these amazing shoes to worry about coincidences.
She glanced at the dress and decided if she was going to look like a 1930s classic Hollywood starlet, she should be able to dance like one, too. “Play Benny Goodman’s ‘Sing, Sing, Sing.’”
Lena flicked a finger, and the opening drumbeats echoed through the room. Jayna launched into the dance routine from one of the Realms of Neptune stage shows. It was admittedly more exuberant than anything she would do at the Jubilee Ball, but certainly not out of line with a proper swing dance.
As she danced, the mannequin copied her every move. More than once, the mannequin stumbled and glitched. If it hadn’t been a digital representation, Jayna was certain it would have fallen. There were also multiple spots on the dress highlighted red. Jayna assumed these were places where the fabric or seams would have torn.
She finished her dance, out of breath and invigorated by the exertion, and Emmaline clapped loudly. “Very impressive.”
Lena also clapped, but it was a slow death clap. “Yes, that would be fine for some kind of dance show. But I don’t think you’ll be dancing like that at the Manutai Jubilee Ball.”
“Maybe not,” Emmaline said. “But Jayna’s right. No matter how beautiful the dress is, the ability to dance should come first.”
Lena narrowed her eyes at Emmaline, and Jayna expected her to push back. But then Lena gestured, and the virtual skirt shortened until the flare began mid-thigh and hit the mannequin mid-calf.
Lena again flicked her wrist, and the mannequin began the dance routine.
There were still a handful of virtual tears, but after two more rounds of adjustment, the dress, the mannequin, and the dance all worked together.
Lena’s sour look was replaced with one of triumph.
“There. I think that should do it.”
Jayna had to admit that what she had seen was quite impressive. But she had doubts. “Are you sure you can have this done in time for the ball?”
“No problem,” Lena said. “We’ll have this delivered in six hours.”
Chapter 28
After a quick but delicious lunch, Jayna and Emmaline ended up at an exclusive salon, where a team of stylists gave them the works: facials, manicures, pedicures, followed by a luxurious hair wash. Jayna savored the experience while trying not to freak out at the thought that she’d be attending the Jubilee Ball with Obsidian Hayes in a matter of hours. The whole week had been a whirlwind, and she still couldn’t quite believe the way things had gone.
