until I knew they were not following me and then came here.”
Giselle must have told her where she lived. “You walked all the way from Versailles?”
Her shoulders sagged. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You did right. Borrow some of my clothes while these are cleaned, and whatever else you need. A bandage—”
Odette continued to stare at her shoes. “Might I stay a few nights? Until it’s safe?”
“Of course!” Hot shame seared through her. Here was a girl who had nothing, who needed shelter just as she once had. Anyone else would have offered her help immediately. What was wrong with her? “I should have offered—”
“Madame?” Adèle stood at the back of the entry, near the tapestry. Beside her was Sophie, an unconvincing smile pasted on her face.
“Sophie, Adèle—this is our guest, Mademoiselle Odette Leblanc.”
Adèle revealed nothing of what she felt, and the discreet nod she gave in Odette’s direction was very correct, but Camille could tell she wasn’t pleased. “You may of course call on any of the maids,” Adèle said, “but if there is anything I may help you with, don’t hesitate.”
“Merci, Adèle,” Odette said with a winning smile. “I’m sure everything will be wonderful.” Her sharp gaze ranged over all the things in the entry, the staircase, the rooms and rooms beyond this one. “Such a grand house, and so very ancient.” She inhaled deeply, and sighed. “It smells like home.”
Upstairs, a window rattled in its frame.
“You must have lived in an old house, then,” Sophie observed. “You’re not afraid of ghosts?”
Odette flinched. “Why? Are there any?”
“Not that I’ve seen,” Camille cut in. She glared at Sophie, who finally came forward.
“Welcome, Odette,” she said. “I’m Sophie, Camille’s sister. I’ve heard so much about you and the girls at Flotsam House.”
How insincere Sophie sounded! “Why doesn’t Adèle show you your room, Odette? I’ll be up to see you have everything you need.”
Closely following Adèle, Odette climbed the stairs to the second floor. Her head swiveled from side to side, as eager as a bird’s, as she took in the paintings, the rich tapestries, the velvety curtains, the Chinese vases, much as Camille had on her first visit to Versailles. When Adèle reached the landing, she waited for Odette to stop staring at the furniture and catch up. Then, side by side, they disappeared down the hallway.
“Camille!” Sophie grasped Camille’s arm, and pinched. Hard.
“That hurts!” Camille rubbed at her arm. “Why—”
“Good,” Sophie snapped. “How could you have invited her in without asking me? I live here, too.”
“She was hiding in the courtyard, wet, hurt, frightened—”
“I doubt she is ever frightened.” Sophie cheeks blazed with angry color, grimly determined. “Did you see how she coveted everything? She cannot stay here.”
Camille lowered her voice. “She ran into trouble at Versailles and didn’t wish to bring it with her to Flotsam House. Where else is she to go?”
“Rent rooms somewhere for her.”
Camille remembered how solid and impenetrable she had thought the iron gates at Madame Théron’s, how the gate and the gatekeeper would keep her and Sophie safe. But trouble had come to them anyway. “Don’t you think whoever did this to her won’t come after her?”
“My point exactly,” Sophie huffed. “What if they come here?”
“We’ll protect her. Timbault has a musket, remember?”
“But why? She’s just a girl—”
A girl like me. Like the girl I once was, when I was trapped and we had no money, and barely any hope. “I have to help her.”
“I know you care for the girls, which is only right and good, but this is too much. You already helped them keep their house. After all, how well do you know her?”
“Is it because she’s poor? Or a revolutionary?”
“We were poor. Papa was a revolutionary. As are you, in your way,” she added, almost reluctantly. “But I don’t worry you’ll run off with my best jewelry.”
“She won’t.” How would she make Sophie understand? “It’s like what happened to us with Alain, except Odette has no one else to help her. I was lucky enough to have you.” And magic.
“We were lucky to have each other.”
“Please? It’s only a few days.”
“Fine,” she conceded. “But if she steals anything, I’ll blame you.”
“Fine,” Camille laughed. “I promise she’ll keep her hands to herself. I’m going up to see our guest settled.”
“Your guest,” Sophie clarified as Camille ran up the steps. “Don’t forget!”
Odette’s room was a pretty one, intended as a guest room for a noblewoman. All the furniture was delicate, the bed hangings as well as the carpet a moonlit,