Nate stroked her hair back from her forehead. “Now, you were saying,” he said. “You did hide the book in my sister’s room . . .”
“Yes, just as you told me to do,” Tessa fibbed. “She suspects nothing, of course.”
“I should hope not.”
“Nate . . .”
“Yes?”
“Do you know what the Magister intends to do with your sister?”
“I’ve told you, she isn’t my sister.” Nate’s voice was clipped. “And I’ve no idea what he plans to do with her, nor any interest. My plans are al for my—our future together. I should hope that you are as dedicated?” Tessa thought of Jessamine, sitting sul enly in the room with the other Shadowhunters while they shuffled through papers about Mortmain; Jessamine fal ing asleep at the table rather than leave when they were discussing plans with Ragnor Fel . And Tessa pitied her even as she hated Nate, hated him so much it felt like fire in her throat. I’ve told you, she isn’t my sister.
Tessa let her eyes widen, her lip tremble. “I’m doing the best I can, Nate,” she said. “Don’t you believe me?”
She felt a faint sense of triumph as she watched him visibly beat back his annoyance. “Of course, darling. Of course.” He examined her face. “Are you feeling better? Shal we dance again?”
She clutched the glass in her hand. “Oh, I don’t know . . .”
“Of course,” Nate chuckled, “they do say a gentleman should dance only the first set or two with his wife.”
Tessa froze. It was as if time had stopped: Everything in the room seemed to freeze along with her, even the smirk on Nate’s face.
Wife?
He and Jessamine were married?
“Angel?” said Nate, his voice sounding as if it were coming from far away. “Are you al right? You’ve gone white as a sheet.”
“Mr. Gray.” A dul , mechanical voice spoke from behind Nate’s shoulder. It was one of the blank-faced automatons, holding out a silver tray on which was a folded piece of paper. “A message for you.”
Nate turned in surprise and plucked the paper from the tray; Tessa watched as he unfolded it, read it, cursed, and stuffed it into his coat pocket.
“My, my,” he said. “A note from himself.” He must mean the Magister, Tessa thought. “I’m needed apparently. A dreadful bore, but what can you do?” He took her hand and raised her to her feet, then leaned in for a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Speak to Benedict; he’l make sure you’re escorted back out to the carriage, Mrs. Gray.” He spoke the last two words in a whisper.
Tessa nodded numbly.
“Good girl,” Nate said. Then he turned and vanished into the crowd, fol owed by the automaton. Tessa stared after them both dizzily. It must be the shock, she thought, but everything in the room had begun to look a little—peculiar. It was as if she could see each individual ray of light sparking off the crystals of the chandelier. The effect was beautiful, if strange and a little dizzying.
“Tessa.” It was Wil , evolving effortlessly into the space beside her. She turned to look at him. He looked flushed, as if he had been running— another beautiful, strange effect, she thought, the black hair and mask, the blue eyes and fair skin, and the flush across his high cheekbones. It was like looking at a painting. “I see your brother got the note.”
“Ah.” Everything clicked into place. “You sent it.”
“I did.” Looking pleased with himself, Wil plucked the glass of lemonade out of her hand, drained the remainder, and set it on a windowsil . “I had to get him out of here. And we should probably fol ow suit, before he realizes the note is a falsity and he returns. Though I did direct him to Vauxhal ; it’l take him ages to get there and back, so we’re likely safe—” He broke off, and she could hear sudden alarm in his voice. “Tess—Tessa? Are you al right?”
“Why do you ask?” Her voice echoed in her own ears.
“Look.” He reached out and caught a swinging tendril of her hair, pul ing it forward so she could see it. She stared. Dark brown, not fair. Her own hair. Not Jessamine’s.
“Oh, God.” She put a hand to her face, recognizing the familiar tingles of the Change as they began to wash over her. “How long—”
“Not long. You were Jessamine when I sat down.” He caught hold of her hand. “Come along. Quickly.” He began to stride toward the exit, but it was a long way across the bal room, and Tessa’s whole body was twitching and shivering with the Change. She gasped as it bit into her like teeth.
She saw Wil whip his head around, alarmed; felt him catch her as she stumbled, and half-carry her forward. The room swung around her. I can’t faint. Don’t let me faint.