of the corner of my eye, I see a mouse run along the skirting board then disappear behind the cupboards. I can’t believe Mama’s talking about holidays when we’re still living like this.
The next evening, I’m dressed in my plain white satin gown, standing at the side of the ballroom. Mama has abandoned me, in pursuit of some old friend or another. The chandeliers are lit and couples are spinning beneath them, in each other’s arms.
My stomach is spinning, too, because, any second now, I’m going to see him.
It’s going to take all my strength not to march across the ballroom and slap his face.
“I’m so sorry.” Aubrey is standing at my elbow, and her pretty face is twisted in anguish.
I’m so thrilled to see a friend that I throw my arms around her and give her the biggest hug that I can manage. “I told you, don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault that he’s an ass—that your father reacted that way. I’m just happy to see you.”
“And I you.” When she pulls away, I see her smiling hopefully, as if she was worried I was going to blame her for what happened.
Fresh anger bubbles up in my chest. How dare the Archduke try and keep us from being friends, when we’re both so alone here? “I thought you might not want to be friends with me anymore. I don’t want to get you into trouble.”
Aubrey leads me over to the refreshments table, where she pours me a glass of punch. “He can do his worst. I’m a grown woman, and I can be friends with whomever I choose.”
“Here, here,” I say, and clink my glass against hers. “Was he like this before he went to prison?”
Aubrey sighs and lifts one shoulder in an awkward shrug. “I don’t know. Mama never said a bad word about him, and he won’t talk about it.”
Despite Aubrey’s position, her beautiful dress and having favor in the Court, I feel sorry for my friend. At least I grew up with one parent who loves me, though, sometimes, Mama could give the Archduke a run for his money, when it comes to strictness.
Suddenly, Aubrey clutches my arm. “That man over there. That’s Viscount Karloff. Daddy wants me to marry him.”
A reedy, chinless young man is hovering a dozen feet away, flicking his hopeful gaze at Aubrey.
“He talked about himself the whole time we were dancing the other night, and when he found out I rode, he lectured me about the correct way to teach a horse to piaffe. As if I don’t know.”
“Quite.” I have no idea what piaffing even is, but I get her point.
“He has draconian ideas about law and order, too. Seems to think we should implement a curfew and track all citizens to prevent another revolution from happening under our noses. No wonder Daddy likes him.” She casts a desperate look at me. “It’s rude of me to ask you a favor after what Daddy did, but will you help me?”
“Throw off Karloff, you mean? Why don’t you just tell the Archduke you don’t want to marry him?”
Aubrey stares at me, wide-eyed. “Tell him something and expect him to listen to me? No, this is the only way.”
She’s probably right. “What do you want me to do?”
Aubrey whispers in my ear, and I look at her in surprise. “I can’t tell him that. What if he tells other people? You might never live it down.”
“Any man who believes such a ridiculous rumor isn’t worth a cent. Oh, god. Here he comes.”
Viscount Karloff stands in front of us and bends at the waist. Aubrey takes her chance and nips smartly away, disappearing into the crowd. When Karloff straightens, I’m the only one standing in front of him.
I smile broadly at him. “Hello. Nice to meet you, I’m Wraye.”
Karloff glances around in confusion. “Where did…? Oh. How do you do Lady, ah…?”
“Lady Wraye. Sorry about Aubrey. Call of nature.”
Karloff’s too polite to walk away from me, though he’s clearly peeved that Aubrey ditched him. “Have you known Lady Aubrey for long?”
“Oh, yes. She’s managing so well, in the circumstances.”
Karloff smiles politely and nods, and then what I’ve said finally burrows into his mind. “Pardon?”
“She had to give him up. It must have been heart-wrenching.”
Karloff stares, his eyes growing as round as saucers. “It was?”
“Yes. The horse she left behind.”
His expression clears. “Her horse, oh my, yes. How dreadful for her.”
“The doctors thought it was for the best.”
Karloff is back to looking bewildered.
“They