Galina nods and it is settled. She motions to the girls and they shift around on the couches, making a place for me. After inviting me to dine with him and James tonight at the Sleeping Dragon, Victor leaves, and Galina hands me a needle and a spool of thread.
“Now then,” she says, “King Ezebo has planned a masquerade in the Masked Princess’s honor, and orders are already pouring in from ladies who are attending. I need someone to assist me with the embroidery on their dresses. Can you do that?”
Galina stares at me expectantly, and something deep in my chest seems to detach and float up and out of my mouth in a laugh.
“Yes,” I gasp amid everyone’s curious stares, “I can stitch dresses for the princess’s masquerade.”
CHAPTER 36
ELARA
Thankfully my head is still attached to my neck. Somehow I’ve managed to survive my first two days in the Kyrenican Castle. The dinner with the Kyrenican nobles went all right—I think. The ladies complimented my mask and dress excessively. Of course, they also seemed positively gleeful when I knocked over a wine glass.
After dinner, Leandra and Ruby escorted me back to my room. It seems I am expected to stay in my chambers when I’m not visiting with the Strassburgs or attending an engagement. I had planned on exploring the passageway after everyone retired for the evening, but after a day of pretending, I was exhausted and fell asleep.
I was still tired when I woke up this morning. Wilha asked for time. How much does she expect me to give her? When I put my mask on today—a pale lemon-colored one with yellow fire opals that matches one of Wilha’s yellow gowns—it felt heavier than ever.
As Milly helps me get ready for tea with Queen Genevieve, my thoughts turn to the squire. I have watched the comings and goings of the servants, but haven’t spot-ted him again. Has he left the castle? Our conversation in the kitchen was the only part of the last two days that I’ve actually enjoyed.
“Oh, I nearly forgot,” Milly says, fastening a ribbon in my hair. “You received pigeons.”
“Pigeons?” I repeat, snapping out of my reverie. What is she talking about?
“Carrier pigeons?” Milly frowns. “Letters from the Opal Palace?”
“Oh yes, of course,” I say hastily. “I’m sorry Milly. I’m feeling a bit dull today.”
I press my nails into the palm of my hand and command myself to stop thinking about the squire and concentrate. I can’t forget, not even for a moment, where I am. And who I’m supposed to be.
Milly hands me two folded pieces of parchment, and tells me that the princesses Leandra and Ruby will come and fetch me for tea. After she excuses herself, I move to the sitting room and settle myself on an armchair. I take off my mask and blow out a breath.
I open the first letter. It’s carefully worded, and very, very interesting. It’s from a soldier named Patric. I gather he was training Wilha to defend herself, which surprises me. I read his message several times over. I think I read, too, what he is so carefully trying not to say, and I’m surprised again. I wouldn’t have thought Wilha capable of what I suspect I see in this letter.
I open the second letter and it is from Lord Quinlan.
Your Highness,
I hope you reached Kyrenica safely. Lord Royce, Lord Murcendor, and I expect to arrive in Korynth shortly before the masquerade and look forward to meeting with King Ezebo. Please remind your maid of her duty to you and to us.
His words, too, are carefully worded, yet I understand the meaning of the last line:
Guard the princess. Find out what you can about Ezebo, and if he intends to honor the treaty.
A knock sounds at the door. “Come in,” I say absently, still holding the letter. Since I was received by Ezebo and Gen-evieve yesterday I’ve heard nothing to indicate that they are anything less than extremely pleased about the treaty. So what does Lord Quinlan expect me to do? Break into Ezebo’s—
The door opens and a scream echoes.
“Wilha, your mask!” Leandra says with a hand raised to her eyes, looking ready to faint. Behind her, Ruby stares at me wide-eyed.
I quickly snatch up my mask and tie it on, cursing my own idiocy.
“You’re not supposed to take it off!” Leandra cries. “No one is ever supposed to see your face!”
“I know,” I say, rushing over and leading her to an armchair. “I was thoughtless. I’m sorry.”
Ruby tugs at my skirt. “Wilha, are we cursed now?” she asks in a hushed voice. “Will we die?”
Leandra gives a frightened whimper and hides her head in her hands.
I crouch down until I’m level with Ruby. “No,” I reassure her firmly. “You will both be fine, I promise. No one in this room is cursed, not even me. It’s just a rumor, and not a very nice one.”
“I don’t understand,” Ruby says. Her eyes search my mask, but I think she’s seeing beyond it, imagining my face. “You are not very ugly.”
“Does that mean I’m only a little ugly?” I ask, and I see Leandra, color returning to her cheeks, suppress a grin.
“No,” Ruby says, seeming to be thinking hard. “But if you are not cursed, and you are not really ugly, then why do you have to wear the mask?”
I decide to tell Ruby a small truth, one I’m sure Wilha herself would agree with. “Because of all the things my father, King Fennrick the Handsome, has valued in this world, his daughter’s happiness is not one of them.”
“You are different than I expected,” Leandra says as we make our way to Genevieve’s chambers. Now that she has gotten over her fright, she’s resumed her usual formal air.
“Oh? How so?” I keep my voice casual and my eyes fixed on Ruby, who has skipped ahead of us.
“I did not think you would be so bold. In the report Sir Reinhold sent us he said you were proper above all else.”
“Really?” At this, my stomach tightens. “What else did the report say?”
“Only what is expected when considering a betrothal. Was a similar report not given to you of my brother?”
“If such a report exists, I wasn’t allowed to read it,” I say carefully. “But I am curious to know what yours said of me.” Tell me everything, I want to say. Everything you might know about Wilha that I don’t.
Leandra’s lips suppress a grin. “It said you hate potatoes.”
“Yes, I do,” I reply automatically, surprised that Wilha and I actually have something in common. Mistress Ogden made me peel so many, I’ve lost my taste for them.
Leandra looks troubled. “But I was merely poking fun. The report actually said you complimented the potato stew you ate in the ambassador’s presence. He suggested we serve it here in the castle.” She shrugs. “I only thought it was funny he mentioned it.”
I force a laugh. “Of course. I was merely joking as well.”
Leandra nods, yet from the way she stares, I’m not quite sure she believes me.
I rush ahead to break some of the tension and join Ruby, who leads me out on a balcony overlooking the city. “Father says crowds will gather outside the castle gates to see you tomorrow night. Can I go out with you Wilha, please?”
Leandra catches up to us and says we must move along or we’ll be late. As we make another turn, two men wearing scarlet robes are exiting a room halfway down the corridor. With a start, I realize I recognize this hallway, and that door. It’s the one with the gargoyle door handle. The same door the squire caught me trying to open two nights ago.