For the first time since the subject began, she looks at me. “What?”
“I know your men can't hex anyone, but do the caretakers beat them?”
Her lips tighten. “Tarnished children have already been through testing and taken out of their homes. That's hard on any three-year-old. We know better than to beat them.”
“No one ever does?”
“Sometimes it happens, but it's the exception. Personally, I'd never raise a hand to a child and neither would any other tarnished I associate with, man or not.”
Perhaps the compulsion comes with those who use magic. “I think that—”
My door opens. I exchange a look with Katherine. Did they hear us? The conversation is over. For now, at least. Cynthia and Waverly enter with trays of food. I rise to help them, hoping my actions will help them think everything is as it should be.
“This looks delicious,” I say. “I don't know which I'll eat first.”
“You should have seen Phyllis's face when we came to grab a tray,” Cynthia says. “I don't think she's very happy with you.”
No hint that she overheard something she shouldn't. I shrug. “I wasn't very happy with her either.”
Once the plates are dished and my hunger abated somewhat, I say to Katherine, “These clothes will be more useful than you know. Apparently when a council member gets married, they hold a ball. It will give me the perfect chance to show everyone your dresses.”
Katherine eyes widen. “When's it taking place?”
“You'll get paid from all those warlocks who attend and don't want their possessions out done.” Cynthia laughs. “It's the day before the wedding. I can't wait.”
“A ball before the wedding?” Katherine says.
I wish the wedding didn't have to be associated with it. Every time it's brought up, my insides mush together. The ball though, it's coming together better than I hoped. “I'm trying to get help planning everything. Cynthia has many ideas. Hopefully, my other sister Bethany, will be able to help. She's always had a knack for helping mother plan, though she hasn't attended any as of yet. And instead of just helping put everything together, maybe Waverly can give us an Envadi flare.”
“I don't know how things differ, but I'd be willing to tell you what things are like in Envado,” Waverly says.
“We've already discussed how I can't pay,” I say, hoping I'm not being too forward. That she really does want people to see me wearing her things, “but maybe you could make my ball gown? I might be able to get you some new orders from it.”
“Sounds good, if we can convince the other guests to buy something. And for your dress, it'd be a thrill to do. I'll get started on ideas right away.” Katherine stands. “I must go anyway. I'll take these dresses and get them to you as soon as they're finished.”
“You're already doing so much. Thank you, and don't rush. I'll manage with what I have,” I say.
“Then I'll only work on outfits I want to. Let me know how the ball plans go.”
“I will.”
Waverly gathers the dresses that still need alterations and packages them. The rest go in my closet. Tomorrow, I'll be able to dress myself and I owe it all to Katherine's generosity. But the conversation about the tarnished makes me wonder if there is more to her than just the generosity she has shown.
Cynthia's moving toward the door to help Katherine, when it bursts open. Chancellor Zade looms before us, his gaze stopping on Katherine.
My hand goes to my throat. Is he going to chastise me for having a tarnished over? Will he punish her for being here? It's my fault, not hers.
“I heard you had a guest,” he says.
I lick my lips. How much do I tell him? Is it worse if she's here for no reason or if he knows what she's been helping with. No reason would be worse. “Y–yes. My seamstress.”
He does the most astonishing thing. He walks to her with his hand outstretched. “Good to meet you, I'm Zade.”
With more confidence then I'd have, she places her hand in his and tilts her head down. “I'm aware of who you are Chancellor. If you'll excuse me, I was just leaving.”
“I didn't mean to scare you off.”
“We finished what we needed to.”
Will he ask what we did? If he sees the dresses, will he make me give them back? Punish her for them? I grip the side of my chair.
“I'll see you out then.” He takes a few packages from her and looks at me a moment before they depart.
The packages were within his possession. Will he open them while escorting her out? My grip tightens as I worry about what he'll do if he discovers just what kind of dresses a tarnished has been making for me.
Chapter Twenty-One