Page 49 of The Starling and the Hatter

“Yes. Miley had to leave, so they’ve been training this new girl, Sasha.”

“This was her first performance?”

“With the troupe, yes.” Curious that he would have noticed her.

When we got back to the tent, I left him by the fire with Marshall and went in to change so that I could leave my costume here before going back to the house with Marshall. Hatcher would stay here to watch over things.

Once I got behind the curtain and took off one cape, it became clear that my brilliant idea of having Kat help me into the costume had only been part of the issue. I now needed to get out of it.

I did my best to find the different connection points, the ties and clasps. But it was dim and I’d only worn this costume twice before.

Straining, I reached for one of the ties in the middle of my back. It connected the second cape but blocked my access to the laces that held me in the dress. The difficult closure was made even more difficult by the ache I still felt in my shoulder from the wasp stings.

I must have made too much noise. Or maybe Hatcher just knew the costume well enough to know that I would need help. Either way, I shouldn’t have been surprised to hear him outside the curtain.

I stilled, quieting my distress.

“Elise?” Hatcher’s voice called from the other side. “Are you stuck?”

“Yes,” I admitted.

He didn’t respond, likely because he expected me to ask for help the way I always did. Or at least, the way I always had before. But now it would feel strange and too personal. After the way I’d reacted when he helped me with the wasp stings, his hands pressed to my bare back…

Finally he cleared his throat and asked, “Do you need help?”

“No,” I said forcefully—probably too forcefully. “No, I’ve got it. I can figure it out.”

It was just different now. I didn’t know why. Maybe it went back to what he’d said on the bank of the stream when I’d been crying over Robert, about attraction making us fools. No matter the reasons, I couldn’t ask him for help now. The thought of inviting him in here when I was in this state made my neck flush with heat. It would certainly be a betrayal of my feelings for Robert if I were to explore these odd feelings any further.

There was a fat moment of silence before he said, “All right,” and I heard him retreat.

I took a deep breath and tried again, finally able to pull on the right string that loosened the cape, allowing it to fall to the floor. Then I got to work on the laces of the elaborate bodice.

Maddox

It took her a long time, which made me wonder why she hadn’t just asked for help. Was she in a state of even more undress than usual? I choked on the thought and started thinking about something else, returning to the fire.

After several more minutes, she still hadn’t come out, so I went in to check on her, and just as I was about to ask if she was certain she didn’t need assistance, the curtain was pulled aside and she stepped out, bumping into my chest.

I grabbed her forearms to steady her, and when she looked up and saw that it was me, I swear…

I had to be wrong. That couldn’t be desire in her eyes. She didn’t want me. She was pining for that idiot magician with the pocket watch. But her wide eyes and flushed cheeks, plus the way she didn’t move away…all of it combined to make my body step forward and lean down. I was going to kiss her. She wanted me to kiss her, right?

The sound of her sudden inhale made me stop and I pulled back, stepping away as though that had always been my plan. It was not smoothly done. “Finally figured it out?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“Um” was all she said.

I let go of her arms and walked away, screaming at myself that I was the biggest idiot ever to roam the earth. What was wrong with me? How had I convinced myself in that moment that Elise—Elise—wanted me? It was complete madness, and I knew better. Three whole years of experience had taught me better.

I let the cool night air hit my face and clear my head.

“She ready?” my father asked from his place beside the fire.

I nodded. “She should be out soon,” I said and picked up a stick to poke at the fire.

Elise wandered out, and soon she and my father had left to go back home and I was left to slump on the log by the fire, my head in my hands. I had never been more grateful to be left here alone.

Elise