“Sounds idyllic,” Carson said with a chuckle.
“Thanks,” Herzer replied, putting away the last piece of armor. “I hope to see you again before your mission, sir.”
“I’m sure we’ll meet again, Herzer,” Carson said, holding out his hand. “Try to enjoy yourself at the ball. I understand that the cream of Washan’s lovelier ladies will be there as well.”
“I’ve already got the loveliest girl at the ball,” Herzer replied with a grin.
“You look absolutely lovely, Megan,” Mirta said, taking a last tuck in the councilwoman’s dress.
Megan frowned at the mirror and opened her mouth, then cut off the comment. She couldn’t say she hated the dress because Mirta had made it and, honestly, it was beautiful. And she couldn’t comment on her hair with Shanea putting the final touches on it. Finally she grimaced and shook her head, lightly.
“I’ve got a spot developing on my nose,” she snapped.
“It’s impossible to see,” Mirta replied sharply. “Take a deep breath. You killed Paul; facing these people is a minor inconvenience. Your dress is lovely and beyond the height of fashion. It’s going to set the fashion for at least the next year. Your hair is lovely and it’s going to set a fashion. Your makeup is lovely. You are lovely. Meredith is fully dialed in on everything you’re going to achieve this evening and she is lovely but just a shade less lovely than you. You are absolutely going to slay them. Don’t you always?”
“I think this will hold even in the humidity,” Shanea said, teasing Megan’s hair up and spraying a stray strand into place. “You’ll look great at the ball. I wish I was going instead of Meredith.”
“There will be other balls, Shanea,” Megan said, smiling. Shanea was a dear but she had the brains of a gnat, and the Foundation Ball would be attended by all the highest of society. Which meant that more deals would be made and more bills finalized than in all the committee meetings in the next month. Which in turn meant that it would be a vicious political dogfight taking place over cakes and champagne. Taking Shanea into that was out of the question.