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d a curtsy She remembered, too, that she was to curtsy to everyone in the house except Edith, as the help, and Lara, as feebleminded, and Edith's husband, as a hopeless drunk and stupid besides

Everyone else, declared the queen, was Selena's so-

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cial superior and, as such, required a curtsy Especially the king

Selena had curtsied so much, she felt dizzy every time someone nealked into the room But she'd done it, followed the odd custom and mastered a new skill She could also pour and sip the tasteless, tongue-scalding liquid called T, and do it with her pinky finger pointing to the ceiling And the queen pronounced Selena's royal wave second to none

Selena turned away froohich lay heaped over the back of her chair She winced at the thought of putting it on again and involuntarily drew her hand back

Everything they'd taught her about being a lady was either uncomfortable or senseless She wanted to refuse, wanted to wear pants like Andrew's and a big silk shut that hung loose to her knees She wanted big, bold colors, too, colors that rerass Soes and htdressstream of milk from a cow's pink teat, of a daisy's velvet petals Soes, sometimes she simply received a mental picture and the ould inexplicably pop into her head an hour later It didn't matter; all that mattered were the so-called memories, the bits and pieces that hinted at a beautiful world out there, a universe of sight and sound and vibrant color A mysterious world that beckoned her with seductive possibilities

And today she would see it for the first time She picked up the dress, which rereen leaves turn brown in the autu the folds of ecru lace at the throat, she buttoned the tight bodice and skirt and went to the bed to wait

Freedom was moments away

Ml

The knock ca hiss of torn fabric Wincing, she glanced down, and saw that her bodice had ripped open, revealing a wide swath of her white chemise Her breasts swelled over the lacy neckline

The knock sounded again "Selena?" Andrew said through the closed door "Are you decent?"

Selena frowned Decent She ht it meant moral, and moral meant nice Why would Andrew ask if she was nice? "Yes"

"Good" The door opened wide and Andrealked through He grinned down at her Then suddenly he froze His gaze widened, fixed on her cheown"

"Tight"