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I did not want to tarnish what was already so marvelous. I resolved to keep her secret close to my heart until she was ready to share it unbidden.

For my own sake, to hide my own blushing, I broke ourgaze and swept into the hallway, following fast behind the maid.

She led us to a large room that may have well been lifted from my dreams. The walls were the color of cream but lined in gold. The only gold in our home was inside Mother’s jewelry box. Hanging from the ceiling was a sparkling chandelier, laden with crystals like a tree with fruit ready to be picked. There were two privacy screens, each painted with springtime blossoms, a wash basin, a wardrobe, a vanity, a daybed, another breathtaking view into the gardens... and a large, white bed, with bed curtains embroidered with more flowers.

My attention snapped from the fairy-tale bed to the young women standing by it, carefully laying out matching bodices and skirts in midnight blue.

“Virginie and Carmen will prepare you both for the fête.” Our guide curtsied to us and then slipped out of the room, the oak door clicking shut behind her.

As if the closing door was a command in itself, the two women, a little older than us, swept to our sides. The redheaded maid took Lope’s bag, ignoring her protests, and then pulled her by the hand behind a privacy screen. Before I could even think, the blond maid had done the same to me. The way we were positioned, we would have been face-to-face were it not for the two screens in our way.

At the manor, we had no maids, just a cook and oneservant to help us keep the place clean—otherwise, all our funds went to protecting ourselves. Mother and I would help each other dress when it was needed. Sometimes she would have dinner with a wealthy benefactor or a prospective customer and would wear her best gowns: rich silks that must have come from her time at Le Château. I often begged to try on such fine clothes, but she refused and kept the gowns locked away.

Now my maid, Virginie, slipped a buttery silk skirt over my head and tied its strings at my lower back. I held the fabric in a loose fist, watching the silk shimmer in the sunlight.

I had dreamed of this for so long.

I had hoped my mother would be there, too. Safe and happy. Without a single thought about the Shadows. But she was gone. Missing. What if she hadn’t made it here? What if something happened to her?

Something slowly wrapped around my throat.

I gasped, grabbing at it; I could almostfeelthe cold breath of the Shadow upon my neck.

It was a strand of pearls.

Virginie tied the ribbon of the necklace and then gave my bare shoulder a little tap. “Come to the vanity, mademoiselle.”

With the haze of sleepiness and fear still clouding around me, I settled on the velvet stool before the table and mirror. I couldn’t help but laugh at my own reflection. My mattedcurls, a bit of grass hidden within; my pink, sleepy eyes; the utter lack of color in my face.

Virginie, too, seemed overwhelmed by the task before her. She sighed heavily and took a brush to my hair with great fervor. I was immune to the way she tugged at my hair; Mother had been ruthless when it came to brushing my curls.

I couldn’t think about her. Not then.

I took a deep breath and imagined unpinning myself from the tangled threads of the past few days. Instead, I was simply a girl, the luckiest in the world, at the world’s most splendid palace with her dearest... her dearest friend.

“Are you well, Lope?” I called.

“As well as can be, my lady,” she replied, her voice taut and forced.

It would all be worth it. “You’ll look just like I imagined,” I cooed. “In a ballgown and everything! And with your hair curled and pinned and decorated... you’ll look like a princess!”

There was a long silence. “I suppose anything’s possible.”

Virginie gave me large pearl earrings, and as I put them on, I said, “Where did such fineries come from? Lope and I brought precious little with us.”

“Directly from His Majesty,” said Virginie. “The king likes the court looking their best for his parties. Even the color of dress is decided by the king.”

One by one, like placing stars in the sky, she tucked mycurls away with pearl-tipped pins. She let one lock of hair fall gracefully over my shoulder. I was looking more and more like...

Like my mother.

No. Not now. All will be well. She will be fine.

“Will—will we see the king at the party?” I asked.

“He is traveling tonight, but he will be back soon.”

I frowned. “Then what is the occasion for the fête?”