"I wouldn't," said Kuri.
"Good girl." Aurora rose and crossed the floor in her stockinged feet, past the green dress without a glance, to a small writing table under the window. "Come. Tavian needs another letter."
Kuri got to her feet and followed, which left her with a full view of the princess from behind.
Aurora walked with slow, unhurried strides, her hips swaying from side to side and her bare back straight.
The black lace hugged the round curve of each cheek, and with every step the soft flesh shifted and bounced a little, the garter straps pulling tight across the tops of her thighs.
The lamplight slid down her silver stockings from hip to ankle.
She did not look back once, and she did not need to.
She knew exactly what the walk was doing, and Kuri, who had followed it down this hall more times than she could count, knew the sway was never an accident.
A single lamp burned on the table beside a stack of cream paper, a pen and an inkwell.
