Rook

to pay, they make the sizes fit you.
    Three hours later, my wardrobe had expanded by a factor of five, I was now the owner of several tins of makeup, and Anthony and Ingrid were both carrying armloads of shopping bags. From personal aide and honor guard, they’d been quickly demoted to luggage monkeys. Their shell-shocked expressions matched mine, and Ingrid later confessed to me that she was pathetically pleased that Lisa had deemed her restaurant selection worthy. Given the topic of lunchtime conversation, I was grateful that Lisa had asked for a separate table for our entourages.
    “You see, Myfanwy Thomas,” she said, gesturing with her glass of wine, “I do not think that you are enjoying life enough. Of course, that peculiar Estate they sent you to seems to have this effect on many.” She took a long drag of a cigarette.
    “Well, ma’am—”
    “Lisa! I told you, I have to get used to being called Lisa!” She drained her glass and beckoned the waiter, who’d been hovering in fascination.
    “Right, yes, Lisa. You see, we are taught—”
    “I know this school thing is the modern craze, but I learned at my grandmother’s knee, and it has obviously served me well.”
    “Obviously—”
    “The woman taught me how to use my strength, but the most important thing she taught me was how to enjoy life.”
    “And how long did that take?” I asked, only to be ignored as she barreled on with her lecture.
    “You do not know how to enjoy life. I can tell. You need to find yourself a man, and use him.”
    “Excuse me?” I squeaked. I could feel the blood rushing to my face.
    “Young girl like you, you need to be out dancing with boys, that’s what my grandmother would say about you.”
    “But—”
    “Find a nice boy, lead out him out to the bushes…,” Lisa continued, eyeing the young man-slut she’d brought along with her. “Of course, thiswhole future betrayal thing is no doubt weighing heavily upon you. Thank you, waiter, I’ll have a Perrier and so will my friend.” Lisa checked her nails critically, and then took my hands and looked at mine.
    “Of course,” I agreed, wondering absently if my nails would pass muster until I processed what she’d said. “What did you say?”
    “Darling, you must have some water. My grandmother always said that a glass of water for every two of wine would lead to long life and clean bowels. Although I notice you’ve had only one glass of wine.”
    “Lisa—”
    “How are your bowels?”
    “Lisa!” I exclaimed, and our aides at the next table looked over in consternation. I continued in a quieter voice. “What do you mean, a future betrayal?”
    “Myfanwy Thomas, you will be betrayed in the future by a member of your Court. You know it. I know it. You will stand in the rain, and all around you will be dead men.”
    “How do you know?” I whispered.
    “I can see it all around you, my little precious,” she said, still holding my hands. Although her voice was calm and quiet, her grip was firm. “I see it clearly.”
    “What else?”
    “Hmm?” she said, staring at my fingertips intently.
    “What else can you see?”
    “I can see that you need a manicure.”
    “No! What can you see in my future?”
    “I can see that you’ll need an evening gown. Fortunately I know just the man to make it for you.”
    As it turned out, the man she knew had died thirty-two years ago, but his granddaughter was also a dressmaker and she presented some sketches of a scarlet creation that I was too embarrassed to comment on. She also jotted down some measurements that were markedly different from the ones the other tailors had recorded. When I demurred, Lisa called over her elderly secretary and boy toy to ask what they thought. They were encouraged to visualize me wearing it, which meant that for several minutes my chest was ogled by two strangers.
    “You should be proud to show off your breasts, Myfanwy Thomas,” Lisa declared loudly in front of everyone.
    “Sorry?”
Just kill me.
    “They’re fine! A little small, but with a lovely shape. You should be nursing babies! Giving suck!” She gestured elaborately.
    Kill me now.
    “You know how many babies have suckled at these breasts?” she asked. “Yes, and some grown men too!” she added, briskly slapping her boy toy on the bottom. He gave her an oily smile and then his eyes slid back to my chest.
    Finally, we got Lisa to the hotel and escorted her up to her suite. As I said good-bye at the door, she