“Sort of. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here, but I really wanted to work. If money's an issue, I'll get Zade to continue paying my wages.”
“No, it's not that.” Ironically I have plenty of money. Money that Thomas paid father for me. I look back and forth at them. “I thought, well...”
“What?” she says.
“I thought you two would be getting ready to marry.”
Waverly giggles. “Really? You thought—me and him?” She laughs harder.
Zade rubs the back of his neck, cheeks pinking.
Waverly edges farther out of her seat toward me. “Serena, he's my brother.”
I jump to my feet. “He's your what?”
“My brother. And ew. We love each other, but not like that.”
Shock roils through me, bouncing and jostling around until it finally bursts out by saying, “Why didn't you tell me?”
Zade says, “Because of my being a spy. It's dangerous for women here anyway, but if they found out she's my sister, it'd be even more dangerous. So please don't tell anyone. Not even your sisters.”
“Of course not. I'll keep it a secret.” And what does this secret mean for me? My mouth goes dry.
Waverly bounces to her feet. “If you don't mind, I think I'll show myself around.”
“I can take you.”
“No, no, it's all right.” She heads for the door just as Cynthia and Bethany come. “Oh, look. You don't even need to worry about me. Your sisters will show me around, right?”
“We can,” Cynthia says.
“I'd love to know how to make those crunchy little sweets that you suggested for the ball,” Bethany says.
“Where's the kitchen? If you have the stuff, I'll make you some.”
They leave, chatter fading as they go. Zade stands. I shift my weight from one foot to another. The silence makes me itchy to be moving. “I bought a horse.”
“You did? Is he here?”
“She, and yes.”
“I'd love to see her if you don't mind taking me.”
“Are you all right with a long walk?”
He sighs. “I've gotten used to it. It's hard, but I don't mind. I'd like to go with you.”
“Let's go then.” I lead him through the house, my pulse doing strange things. “Sally named her Goldie.”
“How are your sisters doing with the change?”
“Better. There's more laughter in the house now. I'm teaching them everything you taught me about shooting. Except mother, she thinks I'm crazy.”
“It must be a hard transition for her,” he says. “I'd be happy to help you teach them to shoot.”
“Thank you. Teaching them to protect themselves would be good. After talking it over with the older girls, I've decided to wait on giving them their freedom like you gave me.”
“Really?” We step into the barn. “Why's that?”
“I still don't know how things are with me. We've been staying here keeping the house running. A few women have visited me discreetly, very excited about the change. Katherine's orders are going through the roof.”
“That sounds good.”
“It is.” Plus, she's safe. Zade has been spelling her tattoos, so she appears to be like any other tarnished following the law. “If you don't mind my asking, what's happened with Phyllis?” I've forgiven most of their debt, but couldn't bring myself to forgive it all yet. I will someday soon.
He rubs his forehead. “I couldn't bring myself to kick her out. She'd be more likely to tell someone else what we're doing. I offered to let her stay if she'd let me spell her to remain silent. She was happy to take the offer. Though I prefer to keep her close, if she becomes more of a problem I can use some contacts to get her out of the country.”
“Spy things?”
“Lots of them. Does that bother you?”
“Will it keep the threats against you away?”
He gives a wry grin. “Not really. I have support of a few people, like my friend Chadwick. He's not really a servant, he's here helping along with others. But despite the help, with the way society is means there will always be threats to Envadi.”
“I suppose we'll have to work on changing society's ideals then. Why are you spying on us? I heard that you want to steal our ideas and spells, but you don't seem to care about that.”
“Envado is overrun with refugees from your country. I'm here to figure out how to help. Both for your people and mine. To make lives better. That's why I stayed instead of going back home after the tournament. There's more of us here helping than you'd think, but they need all the help they can get.”
The thought is a startling one, but I hope it's true. I hope there are others that want to help Chardonian women gain what I have. Then another thought hits me. “Does that mean being a spy is why you freed me?”
He laughs. “No, that came from you.”
“What did I do?”
“You remember the journal you gave me?”
“Yes.” I scowl at him. “You never returned it.”
“I'll bring it next time I come.”
My heart quickens at the thought of there being a next time. A next time with Waverly being his sister, not his love.
“In the journal, Julia wrote about her husband discovering the law.”