32
I t was enough. We found ourselves outside the duchess’s suite. The hallway was quiet, barely illuminated by a few candles from the sconces along the wall.
I craned my neck over Ash’s shoulder. Elowyn crouched behind me.
“Where is everyone?” I whispered. The lack of servants felt odd. Surely somebody was recruited to guard the duchess’s suite after I was caught.
“Asleep, perhaps.” He sounded doubtful. “I don’t know how we’re supposed to get in.”
“I can go,” Elowyn said. She dangled a small vial of clear liquid on a cord around her neck. Her invisibility tonic.
“Can you pick locks too?” Ash reached over and wriggled the doorknob. “There’s no way—”
The door opened.
“What are they playing at?” I said, suspicious.
I turned to Elowyn, but she was nowhere to be seen. A soft touch at my elbow made me jump. She had ingested the tonic.
“I’ll see if anyone is in there,” she whispered.
“Be careful,” I said.
Ash and I watched as the door opened slightly. A few seconds later, there was another touch at my elbow. “It’s empty.”
“It’s probably a trap,” I said, frowning as I recalled the last time I snuck into the duchess’s suite.
“Trap or not, this is as good an opportunity we’ll get,” Ash said with a sigh. “Elowyn, can you keep watch out here and alert us if someone comes in?”
“Okay. I’ll knock on the walls like this.” A short rhythm sounded from the wall beside him.
He nodded and we slipped into the suite. It was dark and silent, like the hallway. I peered under the furniture to check if Misty was hiding, waiting to pounce.
When I confirmed the absence of the accursed animal, I exhaled. “Okay. We’re looking for places she would store poison.” I recalled the manbane I had extracted from Queen Cordelia’s goblet. “It should be a dark red, like blood, with streaks of indigo.”
We set to work. Ash flipped over the cushions of the seats and I searched the other half of the room, clutching my crystal. There was nothing in the cabinets or drawers but baubles and perfume. Poofs of pink and baby blue and lilac littered the air, but no scarlet. There was one jar that emitted maroon fumes, but it was a treatment for foot fungus. I put it back immediately .
“It’s likely in her bedroom,” Ash said, replacing the top of a storage ottoman. “She’d keep something like that close to her.”
We approached the door that led into the duchess’s personal chambers. I pushed it open. The hinges were silent. I peeked inside, grateful for velvet draperies drawn over the windows on the opposite wall. Someone had cleaned up the havoc I wreaked at the vanity.
I set to work on the armoire, feeling the base and the sides for any hint of a secret compartment. The wood was smooth all the way around. I even tried rifling through the ridiculous quantity of gowns stuffed inside it, but there was nothing but lace and silk and beading.
Ash didn’t seem to be faring any better underneath the bed frame. He emerged, hair and clothing rumpled. “Nothing. Nothing at all. It’s like she doesn’t keep anything in here,” he said. He sneezed. “Except dust.”
I tried my best to shut the armoire. “We could check the lavatory,” I said, leaning against the doors. It was unlikely the duchess hid the poison in her chamber pot, but at this point I was desperate.
Ash’s face softened. “Calm down, Amarante. We still have time.”
I shook my head. “We need the antidote before Queen Cordelia gets worse.”
“She is a strong woman,” he said offering a half-hearted smile. I held back my tears. The situation never felt more hopeless.
“Not strong enough to survive manbane,” I said.
“I gave her the potion you gave me at the Witch Market.”
I thought back to our encounter. “You knew that was me?”
“I figured it out eventually,” he said, smiling .
“Ah.”
“Plus, it was the same potion you said would help before you got arrested. I figured I give it a shot. She’s doing better. We’ve bought ourselves time.”
“My aunt made it,” I said, feeling a little warmer. Ash had trusted me enough to give his mother Lana’s general antidote. I took a breath, reenergized. “Let’s hurry.” I traversed the room and was about to turn the knob when I heard a rhythmic knock.
The door of the suite opened.
“Have you got your gown, Narcissa?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Good. You must look your best tomorrow night.”
My heart leapt out of my throat as I exchanged a panicked glance with Ash. They were back.
Ash gestured frantically to the bottom of the bed, but I shook my head. The bed frame was too elevated to be a good hiding place. I opened the armoire. The lower half had just enough room for one person to lay in comfortably.
Or in our case, as I found out very soon, for two people to lay in uncomfortably. I hardly wedged myself inside before Ash threw himself on top of me, shutting the doors in the process. We were plunged into darkness, save for the tiniest sliver of light in the gap between the doors.
Duchess Wilhelmina and Narcissa’s conversation became muffled. I strained to listen, but I was more or less immobilized by Ash’s overbearing weight. He had pinned my braid down with his elbow. I winced and reached to pull it out, but found that there was no space between us. My face burned. I felt his breath acutely on my cheek.
Luckily, circumstances did not require me to speak, for I was more tongue-tied than I ever had been in my life—and not only because the air was squeezed out of my lungs .
“...you know what to do when the time comes?” Duchess Wilhelmina grew louder. She was coming closer.
“I do.” There was a pause. “Must I be the one to do it?”
“One day, Narcissa, you will learn that some things are better done yourself.”
“But I have no experience with such things. It’ll be better for a mercenary to do it, someone who is trained and bound to succeed—”
“Are you afraid?” The duchess’s voice was dangerously sharp.
“N-No, Mother, I want everything to work. That is all,” Narcissa said.
“I will not tolerate fear, Narcissa,” Duchess Wilhelmina said. “It is too late to go back. Ever since you helped me plant that poison at the Debutante Ball, you have lost your tolerance for fear. Do you understand?”
My breath hitched. No doubt it was Narcissa who caused the infestation of pigeons as a distraction for Duchess Wilhelmina.
“Yes, Mother.”
A door opened. The door to the duchess’s chambers. My blood turned to ice as footsteps grew louder. Figures moved at the gap between the armoire doors. I caught a glimpse of Narcissa’s back and the duchess’s skirts.
“Tomorrow I’ll see the end to Cordelia,” Duchess Wilhelmina said. “Those silly physicians are doing a poor job at keeping her alive. I ought to do them a favor and take her off their hands. One last dose and she’ll be through.”
“Is there enough?”
I peered through the gap. The duchess’s face was now visible.
“More than enough,” she said, pressing a hand to her necklace. I squinted. Scarlet smoke billowed from the seams of the locket. So that’s where she kept it! My heart pounded against my chest. How would I get my hands on the duchess’s locket?
Narcissa took a breath. “Mother, what if we get caught?”
The duchess stilled. The silence felt dangerous. “We will not,” she said. “Every meddlesome person has been taken care of. That Amarante girl is nothing but a wicked, raving mad witch in everyone’s eyes. And Greenwood is an immoral adulterer who would do and say anything to save his lover. In the end, our hands are clean. And the blame is put on those filthy witches who get what they deserve.”
I clenched my jaw. The duchess had a surprise coming for her.
“Maybe we shouldn’t kill the queen,” Narcissa said. “Maybe we should let her die. She’s had enough of the poison.”
“No,” Duchess Wilhelmina said sharply. “I will not have her live as long as I have the power to kill her. Cordelia has been a thorn at my side for thirty long years. Once you are queen, Narcissa, I will take her place. She must die now.”
“But Mother, what if Bennett does not choose me?” Narcissa said. Her voice sounded oddly desperate. “What if he chooses someone else? He doesn’t love me. He hardly knows me.”
“Foolish girl! Of course he doesn’t. Love has nothing to do with choosing a bride,” the duchess said. “And he will have to choose. You are the most obvious choice.”
“V-Very well.”
“Compose yourself, Narcissa. You have followed me this far,” the duchess said, looking imperiously down at her daughter. “It will not be in your favor to change your mind, do you understand?” It was a threat. Loud and clear.
Narcissa bowed her head. “I understand. ”
“I thought I raised you well,” she said. “But it appears you have inherited your father’s weakness.”
Narcissa visibly stiffened, but the duchess continued to speak. “Once I thought witches were stronger because of their magic, but it becomes increasingly clear it has the opposite effect.” She chuckled. “It’s better this way. The strong can control the weak and put their powers to much better use, isn’t that right, Narcissa?”
“Quite right, Mother,” Narcissa mumbled.
“You are using your magic to seize power, as you ought to. You should be proud.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Look at me when I’m talking to you, Narcissa, and stand straight. You know I hate your slouching.”
Ash shifted, and the armoire creaked. The duchess’s skirts drew nearer.
And the doors flew open.
“You!”
Duchess Wilhelmina dragged Ash out by his collar.
“How did you get in here?” The question was nearly spat in his face as she held him up with surprising strength.
Ash wrenched away, stumbling back. The duchess’s face twisted in confusion when she saw me. “Who are you? Where is the witch girl?”
Ferdinand’s magic had protected me. I didn’t want to think what the duchess would’ve done if I weren’t disguised.
“She’s in the dungeon,” Ash said with convincing bitterness. “But not for long.”
Duchess Wilhelmina sneered. “That one is a poor replacement,” she said, jutting her chin toward me. “Not as pretty, don’t you think?”
Ash ignored her. “You are charged with treason.”
The duchess took a threatening step forward. “Am I?”
Something flashed in Ash’s eyes. His hand went to the scar on his knuckles, but he hardened his gaze. “I’m not eight years old anymore, Your Grace.”
“So you’re not,” the duchess said. “Still, Cordelia was clueless enough to leave you under my care. It is your word against mine. She will never believe you.”
Ash set his jaw. “Surrender now and I will be merciful.”
“Narcissa. Lock the doors,” Duchess Wilhelmina said.
Narcissa, who stood frozen, fled from the room. The sound of locks clicking came afterward. She did not return, but the duchess did not seem to miss her presence.
“I made sure nothing will be pointed back to me.” The duchess sneered. “The royals unknowingly assisted me in my plan for two generations. Witches’ words will never be trusted and that silly boy Peter will not reveal me as long as I have my men watching his parents.”
Ash fumed. “You will be exposed if it is the last thing I do.”
She guffawed. “Do you think you will prevail when I have spent ages perfecting my revenge? I am a great storyteller. Stories got me into the palace. Stories made me a duchess. I’m quite fond of one in particular. It’s about a prince born from the wrong father. His mother was a promiscuous woman. All the kingdom knew it was so, but she insisted the boy was legitimate. Yet everyone whispered behind closed doors. I am sure you’re familiar with it.” She looked straight at Ash. His fists trembled.
I barely constrained my outrage. The duchess was the one who started the rumor of Queen Cordelia’s affair? Had she planned to frame Captain Greenwood before I came along?
“You won’t get away with this,” I said. I hardly believed my own words. We were trapped with no witnesses other than ourselves. There was no evidence against the duchess and from the current situation, no way to make her confess again.
“On the contrary, I already have,” she said, a smile curving her blood red lips. “I think we’re due for another story. How about a tale of a wicked witch seducing a prince for her own gain? Driven mad by his desire for her, he was willing to poison his own mother. In the end, both of them met a tragic demise.”
“You are deranged,” Ash said in disbelief.
The duchess laughed again. “By all means, call me whatever you like. In the end, I’ll still be the one in power.” She flicked her gaze away from us. “Take care of them.”
I barely registered the shadowy figures behind me before something bashed into my head and I lost consciousness.
I AWOKE TO A THROBBING headache and someone tugging on the ropes around my arms. I turned, but no one was there. I was tied to a bed post. Ash was similarly bound to the other side of the bed. My hair hung over my face, brown again. Ferdinand’s magic had worn off .
The door to the duchess’s bedroom was ajar. Two large, rough-looking men stood on either side with heavy swords in their hands, no doubt the cause of my headache.
There was another tug. The knot at my wrists unfurled.
“Elowyn?” I said under my breath. A tap on my arm confirmed her presence.
On the other side of the bed, Ash groaned, just coming to. The ropes around his wrists loosened as well. He gave the air beside him a grateful look and turned to me. He jerked his head to the burly guards at the door. I shrugged hopelessly. Was it even possible to get past them?
Before I could ask Elowyn her opinion, the door of the suite opened. I recognized the light steps as Narcissa’s and tucked my hands behind me, throwing the ropes over my wrists so it appeared I was still at her mercy.
“I would like a word with the prisoners,” Narcissa said to the guards. They grunted and let her enter, but watched with beady eyes. She glared and said in a clipped tone, “In private.”
With some reluctance, they closed the door.
“What do you want?” I said warily.
Narcissa stood for a few moments without saying a word. She didn’t seem surprised at my presence.
“If you mean to scare us you are doing a very poor job,” Ash said dryly. He too had wrapped the rope around his hands. His back was stiff against the bedpost.
Narcissa ignored him. “How dare you do this to me?” she said in a wavering voice. She paced the length of the room, an object in her hand. She was gripping it so tightly her knuckles were as white as bone. “How dare you push me to my limits?”
My blood turned to ice when I realized it was a dagger. I looked to Ash. He had noticed too, his face pale .
“Narcissa, calm down,” I said, inching away from her. She was still pacing, her steps agitated like a caged beast’s.
“All my life I’ve followed my mother’s orders without question, and this is where my craving for approval leads me.” Narcissa barked a mirthless laugh and unsheathed the dagger. It was wickedly sharp, nearly as long as her forearm. She turned to us.
Ash placed himself in front of me. “Rethink this, Narcissa,” he said. “Please.” Though his voice was level, I detected a hint of panic.
His plead was ignored. Narcissa stared down at him icily. “Turn around.”
Ash set his jaw. “Leave Amarante alone.”
I groaned in frustration. This was no time for silly heroics. Discarding the rope, I stood and faced Narcissa. “You’re not a murderer, Narcissa.”
She sheathed the dagger. “What did you think I was going to do?” she asked with a scowl. “I’m here to release you.”
“What?” Ash said, flabbergasted. “Why?”
Narcissa scoffed. “So this is your opinion of me?”
“You haven’t done anything to change it,” Ash retorted.
I recalled Captain Greenwood’s description of his daughter and the hesitancy in Narcissa’s manner during her conversation with the duchess. Hope blossomed in my chest.
“Are you saying you want to help us?” I said.
I must’ve chosen my words poorly, for the look Narcissa gave me was withering. “I never said that. I will merely set you free with the possibility of you thwarting my mother’s plans tomorrow night.”
“Perhaps you could increase that possibility by letting us know her plans,” Ash said.
Her lips twisted. “Didn’t you eavesdrop on us earlier? ”
“Only bits and pieces.”
Narcissa clenched her teeth. I was afraid she would decide to use her dagger in a different manner after all. “After the Masquerade Ball, the crown prince will choose me as a possible bride. I am to kill him after we are married. Mother will finish off the queen shortly after I’m chosen.”
Ash clenched his fists. I cut in before he said something rash and ruined our chances of getting Narcissa’s help.
“Then we’ll make sure you won’t get chosen,” I said. “We’ll interrupt the ball before the Choosing Ceremony.”
“How will you do that?”
I exchanged a look with Ash. “That’s for us to know and you to find out,” I said, deciding it was better to keep the details to myself. “We only need one thing from you. The duchess’s locket.”
Narcissa bit her lip and then nodded. “I’ll bring it to you at the masquerade.”
“Can we leave now?” Elowyn’s disembodied voice said. I jumped. I had nearly forgotten her presence.
Narcissa looked around the room warily. “Who was that?”
“Our transportation,” Ash said.
Of course. Elowyn could easily get us out. I was hit with a wave of relief. Magic was no longer off-limits to me above ground. Her hand grasped mine.
“Make it look like we escaped,” I said, pointing to the curtained windows. Narcissa nodded.
As the room twisted away, the last thing I heard was the crash of a chair smashing through glass.
ELOWYN, ASH, AND I appeared at the outskirts of town. The streets were dimly lit by the street lamps and all was quiet. I had never been more grateful for Elowyn’s charmwitch magic.
“Are you alright?” Ash asked me once we were safe inside Miriam’s shop.
After being lectured by the snail seller about being gone for so long, Miriam provided us with tea and blankets and retired to the back room, muttering something about reckless youths.
“I suppose,” I said, touching the throbbing part of my skull. “And you?”
Elowyn patted her own head. “I’m okay,” she said before Ash could answer. I chuckled.
“I don’t think it would be wise for me to go back to the palace,” Ash said, warming his fingers with his teacup. “Not when it’s dark, anyway.”
Miriam’s voice came from the back room. “You’re more than welcome to stay here, sonny. As long as you don’t snore. I detest snoring.”
Ash assured her that he didn’t snore and thanked her for her hospitality. I expressed my gratitude as well, glad that he’d be safe. Heavens knew what would have happened if the duchess saw Ash after our escape.
“Elowyn and I should get back to the village,” I said, shrugging my blanket off my shoulders. “Rowena and my aunt are probably worried.” And I was in desperate need of a bath after my days in the dungeons.
“And I’m starving,” Elowyn said with a sigh. “I’ll wait over there.” She skipped through the beaded curtain, leaving me and Ash alone.
I stood. “Good night, then.”
Ash bit his lip, looking as if he wanted to say something. Instead, he briefly touched my cheek. “Good night, Amarante.”