“You want me to explain it?”
“I've done that.” I tug at my gloves. How much do I give away? “We were wondering if you'd help her circumvent the law.”
He pushes to his feet and paces to the window. “You know I'm already being threatened. If anyone knew of this, there would be nothing to stop them.”
Which is exactly what I don't want, but I can't leave Katherine to be killed by them either. “I know.”
“But I didn't.” Katherine moves to the door. “Forget we ever asked.”
“Wait.” Zade turns toward us. “Forgive me, I didn't mean to burden you with my issues. I'll help.”
Katherine pauses, gaze moving between the two of us.
I say, “Let him. Please.”
“You're really willing to help me,” Katherine says, “even though I'm nothing but a tarnished and you could die because of it?”
He lets out a huff and rubs the back of his neck. “They will probably be angry at me for risking it, but yes, I will help.”
Who are they? It doesn't sound like he's speaking of the council, but who else would it cause problems for?
Katherine rushes over to him, throws herself at him in the form of a hug, and bursts into tears. “Thank you. So much. No one's ever willing to help a tarnished except other tarnished. But now I have Serena and you.”
“Of course you do, we'll help however we can,” he says.
The door bursts open. I leap to my feet. Phyllis. She stands there, a tray in her hands and a smirk on her face. “Your lunch Master Zade.”
Fear rips through me. What did she see and hear?
Chapter Thirty-Five
After several days I'm still haunted by Phyllis interrupting our conversation. There's been no word of any trouble because of it. Yet it gnaws at me constantly. Both Katherine and Zade have been acting as if nothing has happened, except to talk once of what they will do when the law is enacted. That time, Zade cast his salmon, no eavesdropping spell. Even I didn't hear that conversation.
Katherine sits calmly. She points to the bundles she left on the bed earlier before she met with Zade. “There are a few new dresses for you.”
“You didn't have to do that. How did you find the time?” Especially with everything else going on.
“I've been able to hire four more workers.” She waves her hand dismissively. “You've been good enough to wear the dresses to deliver the invites and it's brought business. I wanted you to have some new things to wear.”
“You're too kind.”
“If it brings as many requests for new dresses as my others have, you'll be the one doing me a favor.”
I laugh. “Then by all means, you can make more whenever you like. Any other orders?”
“A few friends of Annabelle and Councilman Daniel came in. Each wanted at least three outfits. All of them wanted me to do their gowns for the ball. One is still skeptical. But Annabelle's more excited than you. She even took a pair of breeches.”
“She did!” I try to picture the well-mannered woman in men's wear. The image refuses to come to mind.
“Don't worry. She looks great in them.” A mischievous grin slides onto her face. “Your sisters should be trying on their dresses, should we go see?”
“I'd love to.”
She stands. “Don't expect to see anything for the ball with your new things. You won't see your gown until that afternoon.”
We head for my sisters' rooms. “I've never been so curious about a dress before.”
“Glad to be of service.”
We arrive at Cynthia's room and knock.
A muffled, “A moment please” is called through the door.
While waiting, Katherine gives a sly smile. “There's something else in there you may want to peek at when you're ready.”
If it's not the ball gown, what could it possibly be? “What is it?”
She shrugs and gives a sly smile. The door bursts open.
“Come in,” Cynthia says.
Katherine enters, but I hesitate. “I need to check something. I won't be a moment.”
“Don't worry about it. Bethany won't be ready for a while and I haven't even started.”
I hurry up the stairs to my room. Several packages await me on my bed. Which one could she be talking about? I sort through them, feeling their weight. I grab the lightest. None of the others have been like this. Curiosity tugs at me. Bethany isn't ready yet. There's time. I run my fingers over the package. Opening it shouldn't take long. I undo the string. A nervous flutter dances inside me.
Despite my sudden misgivings, I push the wrappings aside. Black cloth sits before me. That's not so bad. No need to fear. But why is it so small? I pick it up and give it a good shake. Two separate pieces unwind, one on each side connected together at the top.
I yelp and drop them. They flutter to the ground. “Breeches?”