“What?” My mind struggled to disengage from my conversation with Philip and take in what Colin was saying.
“We’re going to get a whole day off and a giant party with food, and music, and performers and everything!”
“When?” I asked.
“Only two days!” Colin crowed. “And it isn’t even a normal day off. This is the best!”
“It’s been quiet for a couple of weeks,” Philip murmured. “It seems the king wants to reassure the palace that there isn’t anything to worry about.”
“But there is.” I gulped.
Whose idea was the party? If Sierra wanted a grand finale—a spectacular, visible blow to the rulers of Arcadia—what better time could there be?
Colin chattered on, his excitement endless. Whoever had brought him the news of the celebration had said the fire eater would be there. Colin was too young to be allowed out to the night markets, and apparently seeing the performer would be the culmination of a lifelong ambition.
Philip and I had no more opportunity to talk alone, but I caught his eye as he left, mouthing the word please. He hesitated, looking torn, before nodding once and striding off. I spent the rest of the afternoon wondering what his nod had meant.
I looked, but he wasn’t at the evening meal. When he wasn’t at breakfast the next morning either, I grew nervous. All morning, I could barely absorb any of Colin’s chatter. Thankfully Arvin joined us, and the horse received most of the boy’s attention.
Stop fretting, he told me when Colin went to fetch a goose who had attempted to wander away from the group. It will not make him appear any faster. Besides, we do not need his assistance. The prince will help us to reveal the impostor.
“Us? Are you going to be talking to the king with Damon and me?” I smiled at the mental image although I was still a little disgusted with his insistence on placing more trust in Damon than Philip, just because the prince showered him with compliments and respect.
Of course. He sounded astonished. You are my charge, and this could be a dangerous moment for you.
I was oddly touched. “I appreciate the thought. But how would you protect me? You’re a horse, not an army.”
So little imagination. He sighed. It must be quite sad to live with such limited capacity.
“And yet, somehow I manage.”
It is frequently a matter of some wonder to me. Especially when you insist on going around with that disheveled man.
I put my hands on my hips. “Arvin! Philip is kind and thoughtful—to both of us, I might add. And he’s brave and more than competent. Do I have to remind you how he saved Colin from that awful noble boy?”
Arvin sniffed. Colin wouldn’t have needed Philip to save him if you hadn’t insisted on getting in my way.
I glared at him but decided that his use of Philip’s name was a small sign of concession on his part.
Colin returned, and our conversation died. Midday came and went, and Philip didn’t appear. I tried to remember the last time he hadn’t joined us for lunch. Was it something I had said? Or was it Damon? I kept remembering Philip’s face when I found him outside my room. Had he been coming to talk to me? What had he wanted to say? And did it have to do with whatever he was afraid of—the fear that had to do with me?
Colin seemed disgusted with my low mood, so at odds with his feverish enthusiasm, but I couldn’t muster even the appearance of excitement. Instead I spent the day alternating between thinking of Philip and planning how I might free myself from the enchantment.
I had to get that handkerchief, and tomorrow might be my only chance. Sierra would have to attend the ball, and I had no doubt she would have the handkerchief on her person. If I could get near her, I would find a way to snatch it. And as soon as I had it back, I would run to the nearest candelabra and burn it.
It wasn’t exactly a plan. More a vague idea. But it was my only opportunity, and I was determined not to waste it.
As soon as I got back to my cupboard that night, I drew out a bag from beneath the bed. It was the one I had stashed there after returning from my investigation of Sierra’s suite so long ago. I had examined its contents back in her room and remembered no more than that it held only her dresses and personal care items. With no desire to wear or even touch anything that belonged to Sierra, I hadn’t looked at it since. But now I needed something to wear that could get me close enough to her to try for the handkerchief, and I didn’t know where else to look.
Digging through the bag, I had already despaired of finding anything nice enough for the occasion when my hand brushed against something soft. Tossing dresses over my shoulder, I exposed what lay at the bottom of the bag, covered in a protective layer of plain cotton. Sierra’s unexpected arrival at her suite must have interrupted me before I discovered there was something hiding at the bottom.
Carefully drawing out the dress, I held up a beautiful creation of filmy green. The top two lawyers were made with a delicate, transparent material, creating an effect that was both soft and full. Laced at the back with a black velvet ribbon, the dress would sweep the floor.
“Unbelievable,” I muttered.
I already knew the dress would fit perfectly. I remembered the fittings, and how much I had looked forward to wearing it. But the gown had disappeared, lost somewhere between the seamstress and my wardrobe. Now I knew the truth. Sierra had taken it. But why?
Damon had said she was a thief, and here was the proof. But it was such a pointless thing to take, especially in light of her subsequent assumption of my identity. I was forcibly struck by the impression that she was a child, playing dress ups as she dreamed of being a princess.
Back in Eldon, I had asked her what gift she would like for Midwinter. If she had said a beautiful dress, I would have bought one for her. Why had she stolen mine instead? I pushed the thought aside. I had no way to know. And it worked to my advantage now.
I carefully folded the dress back up, rewrapping it in its protective layer. I didn’t want to risk it somehow being dirtied or torn before tomorrow. A knock sounded on my door as I was stuffing the discarded dresses back into the voluminous bag.
I abandoned the task and flung the door open, Philip’s name already on my lips. But I cut myself off when I saw who was standing there.
“Oh, Damon, it’s you.”
He gave me a quizzical look. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“No. I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
He looked like he wanted to come in, but I stayed in the doorway. “Have you found what we need?”
“As much as there is to find. I don’t think there’s any value in waiting longer.”
“We have to talk to the king at the celebrations tomorrow,” I said. “I have a feeling Sierra is planning something terrible for tomorrow night. At the ball.”
Damon looked thoughtful. “It makes sense. In a horrible sort of way.” He frowned. “The king has public audiences all morning. He’ll be attending various celebrations in the city and the palace. But by afternoon he should be with the nobles. The ball is to last all afternoon and evening, with plenty of food provided.”
“That’s perfect,” I said. “We want the princess to be there.” It hurt to talk about her that way, especially when Damon knew the truth, but it was the only way the enchantment would let me say what I wanted to say. “I need to talk to her first.”