Kit gave Aster a wry half smile, the twinkle in his eye belying the seriousness of his words. “Can we be implicated?”

  “Absolutely not.” Aster assured.

  “In that case, I need a distraction, so I guess I’m in if aunt Cora is.” Kit said. “What am I doing? I have a scout badge in wood carving . . . and another in tying rope.”

  Aster laughed. “It’s nothing like that. I just wondered if two stylish characters such as yourselves could help me with a little makeover?”

  “O-ooh is that all?” Kit grinned. The tension seemed to melt from him as he leaned back in his chair to laugh at the ceiling.

  Cora smirked. “I supposed I’m paying for this.”

  “Only if you insist.” Aster teased.

  “You aren’t some kind of grifter are you?” Kit asked. “Not that I care, really, it’s not my money and aunt Cora has plenty enough to spare for a little hijinks.”

  “I am sitting right here.” Cora said. “It’s a good thing you are my favorite nephew, little bird.”

  “She always called me that when I was little.” Kit said.

  “I’m not a grifter.” Aster said. “But if I can’t get back what’s mine, I’ll take what I can get.”

  “You’re not going to go soft on that wicked dirty man, are you? Lane Brock. Even his name sounds like an untrustworthy cheater.” Cora lowered her voice so the surrounding tables couldn’t hear what she was talking about. He did seem like the kind of man who could hear someone talking about him from a mile away. “If that’s even his real name.”

  “Hardly.” Kit said. “I’ve had my fill of cheaters and assholes.”

  “Poor thing, he has been recently heartbroken.” Cora said.

  “It’s not as serious as all that!” Kit declared, roses blooming on his dusky cheeks. “Just . . . a little disappointment. A minor blip.”

  “You are too pretty to be sad.” Aster said. She took one of his smooth hands in hers. It felt like they had known each other for a long time.

  “I bet people say that to you all the time.” Kit replied.

  “I’m not sad!” Aster said in a knee jerk reaction. It was time for her own cheeks to grow hot. She squeezed the damp handkerchief. “Oh, right.” In the excitement she had forgotten about her loss, all of her loss.

  “We’ll make it right for you somehow, dear.” Cora patted their hands that were entwined together. “And you too of course, nephew.”

  “Ha. I’m fine.” Kit said. He took his hand back abruptly, as though wanting to keep at least this one thing for himself.

  After eating, Cora paid the bill, and the three of them headed over to the boutique shops of this grand cruise ship. The selection was somewhat limited, but as long as they were willing to make speedy alterations for Aster’s diminutive size, she was sure to find something that fit the scenario. They quickly assured that they could.

  Aster’s mood was rising like a helium balloon. Shopping with her two new friends quickly brought back the whiff of her old, and usual, high spirits.

  Kit and aunt Cora also seemed very amused, and Aster hoped she was at least bringing some fun and novelty into their day, in exchange for the money and attention they were lavishing on her. Still, she knew she was getting the better end of it.

  Aster pulled a full skirted pink dress off the rack, it’s jaunty embroidered patterns and yellow silk ribbons were like the sun coming up.

  A sales lady cautiously approached them, as though not sure if she should help them or remove them from the premises. It must have been the manic energy.

  “We don’t need you right now. Wait by the register.” Cora said sternly.

  The sales lady scurried away like a little mouse.

  Aster hoped she at least worked on commission and would get credit for the sale either way.

  Kit gave her a little wave and an apologetic smile. “We have everything we need, thank you.”

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The shop was larger than the men’s wear one had been, with racks and racks of dresses, blouses, and skirts. Most of it was in rather somber colors, but luckily since Aster could easily fit into garments designed to appeal to a younger crowd, there were more colorful options to choose from.

  “No, no, not that rack. Too cheap.” Cora took the pink dress from her hands and motioned to a dress displayed prominently near the front. It was black and gold with a full ruffly skirt.

  Aster could work with that. She went to reach for it, and Kit put his hand on her arm. “Are you trying to look like a cupcake?”

  Aster blinked at him in confusion. “Excuse me?”

  “All this fluffiness and ruffles. . . it’s fine for daytime or maybe a middling social event, but I thought you were trying to seduce? It’s the wrong silhouette.” Kit said, sweetening his voice to take the edge off.

  Was this child trying to tell her her sense of fashion was all wrong? “I said, excu-use me? I have seduced plenty of rich men in dresses like these.” Aster said, putting her hands on her hips. She immediately had a twang of regret. She had asked him to come along and help after all, because he had an attractive way of dressing himself and of course was young. You couldn’t ask an elder what was current in fashion, even if they were very stylish at their own age.

  “Try it my way.” Kit said simply. “If you don’t like what they look like on, I will shut my mouth.”

  “He is very stubborn.” Cora said simply. “Comes by it honestly.”

  Kit laughed. “Make sure you put me in the will aunt Cora.” He teased.

  Cora waved her hand at him. “That’s what they all say.”

  “Okay, I’ll give it a go.” Aster said. She held out her arms and Kit went around the store, returning with slinky gowns in red, black, and gold. Aster clutched the dresses with one hand and took Kit’s sleeve with her other, leading him to the dressing room. “Come with me, you’ll see. This shape just doesn’t work. Not to mention, eh, you’ll see. . .”

  Cora trailed along behind them at her own pace, her black dress rustling softly against the floor boards like crepe paper. “What an adorable pair you are. Two little birds.” She said.

  Aster briefly wondered as she stepped into the dressing room what Dru must be thinking about her being gone so long, if she ever woke up that is. Eh, who cared, Dru would do and think whatever Dru was going to do and think, the outside world had almost no influence on it, Aster was starting to figure.

  She stepped into the dressing room quickly, before coming right back out and pulling Kit into the small closet like room with her. “I might need your help.” She said by way of explanation.

  Kit did not seem bothered by this, although surely Cora would be hoping no one saw it.

  Kit straightened his collar in the floor length mirror. “Try the gold first, I think it will suit your hair and coloring.”

  Aster hung the dresses on the provided hook and folded her own clothes neatly as she took them off, stripping down to bloomers and chemise. “I realize these are not the right undergarments . . .”

  “You dress so old fashioned!” Kit exclaimed. “Like another era. But it is so darling, I’m not going to lie. You look like a little doll.” He played with a ribbon near her collar.

  “I made this myself.” Aster said. “And a lot of my things. I never thought of it as old fashioned.” She felt comfortable around Kit and wondered briefly if she should be shy, but it just wasn’t in her. “Just what suited me and made me feel beautiful.”

  Kit took the gold dress off the hanger and held it above her head. “Arms up.”

  Aster raised her arms and allowed it to be slipped over her head. It immediately felt wrong, tight in the wrong places, loose in others, and bulky over the ruffled chemise. Also, way too long but that part was expected at least. She tried to avoid stepping on the puddle of metallic gown at her feet. “Ugh.”

  “Don’t get frustrated, let me help. Let’s try again.” Kit helped her off with the offending dress. “Is it alright?” He tugged on the chemise and eased it off over her head without waiting for a response. “That has to go.” He gave Aster an appraising look.

  “Is it because of my flat chest? Because I’m not really a woman? I told you the shape wouldn’t suit me.” Aster stuck her lower lip out. Why did he do that? Now he would tell his aunt Aster was a man and perhaps it would ruin their friendship. Not that Aster typically hid this fact, but Cora was a very old lady, and she didn’t need another shock to her system.

  Kit pointed at the bulky bandaged arm. “I was just wondering how we would conceal that in these formfitting dresses. Are you alright, by the way? That is quite the extensive bandage.”

  “Not really.” Aster sighed. “But I’ve done all I can about it, now I don’t really want to talk about it anymore.”

  “No problem. We’ll just cover it up then.” Kit said. After a pause he added, as though he couldn’t help himself. “Is it painful?”

  “Yeah. Sometimes worse than others.” Aster said. “I have medicine back in my room.”

  “Why are you really traveling with – No, you know what, never mind.” Kit said. “None of my business anyway.”

  “What are you two doing in there? I want to see a dress!” Cora called from the other side of the door.

  “We’re working on it! Beauty takes effort.” Kit called.

  Aster laughed. It was just the kind of thing she would say. She found this boy in every way endearing. “Let’s try again, then.” Aster suggested. She would put in the effort. She would seduce that rotten egg right out of everything he owned. Aster laughed, more of a cackle this time.

  Kit laughed too. “I don’t know what’s even funny.” He said.

  Aster raised her arms again, and Kit lowered the gold dress back into place, very careful around the injured arm. “Already better.” He said.

  This time the dress, while still ill fitting, flowed like a sequined waterfall down the front of her.

  Kit examined the sleeves and abruptly tore them off the dress. “Better still.”

  “Hey! This is an expensive dress!” Aster sputtered. She had just been beginning to like it too.

  “These have to be redone.” Kit said. “Aunt Cora will pay for it, what are you complaining about?”

  “We haven’t paid for it yet! We’ll be thrown in the brig.” Aster said. She grabbed the sleeves from him, wondering if there was a way to quickly reattach them.

  Kit laughed again. “You’re silly. Now, lets see what else we can combine onto this dress to make it better!” He rubbed his hands together. “I heard you like to sew?”

  “I’m trying to wear this tonight you know.” Aster said dryly.

  “Then you had better sew fast.” Kit suggested. He patted Aster’s head, something she was surprised she let him get away with, and darted back out of the dressing room for more items.