Chloe’s smile faded, replaced by a subtle stiffness. She lowered her eyes to avoid meeting Stella’s gaze, and an awkward silence fell over the room. Sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Stella cleared her throat before rising from her seat.
“Well, I shall retire for the evening. Have a good night,” she said, giving Chloe a flurry of goodnight kisses on the cheeks before disappearing.
Chloe sat in the silence that followed, her legs feeling stiff. She lifted her skirt to undo her brace. Despite being crafted by the most skilled carpenter in Genevoire, it was not nearly as comfortable as the one she had worn in Thisse. Perhaps she had not explained her needs well enough.
Cradling her face in her hands, Chloe bit gently on her lip. The memories that the brace stirred were still vivid; perhaps they would only fade with time. There had been no need, however, to react so strongly to Stella’s teasing.
