A muscle twitched by the Marchioness’ eye. When she spoke again, her voice overflowed with false calm. “You once asked to meet any strangers to my home.” She pointed to me. “This one is strange.”
Strange? Oh, she doesn’t know the half of it.
Kamilla slowly turned to face me. My heart beat so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. “This girl has no magickal signature, which is very odd.” She prowled closer to me. “Why is that, I wonder?”
I appeared perfectly calm. On the inside I wanted to scream. “Why would I have any magick?”
The Marchioness turned to her husband. “Love, why don’t you take Philippe to see your hounds?” The pair exchanged a long look, and I had a feeling an entire conversation was hidden in that stare. I had the additional suspicion that whatever that talk was about, it didn’t bode well for me.
“Excellent idea.” The Marquis turned on his heel and walked out of the room. “Follow me quickly, lad, or you’ll be left behind.” The door slammed shut after him.
“Be right there.” Philippe stepped up to the Marchioness and spoke in a low voice. “Are you certain you ladies will be fine on your own?”
The Marchioness narrowed her eyes. “Positive.” She softened her tone to an intimate whisper. “And it wasn’t a question, pet. Go play with the hounds. I won’t harm your sister.” I couldn’t help but notice that I wasn’t included on the list of those who would be safe. “Run along.”
“Yes, love.” Philippe took off at a quick pace.
The Marchioness waved at the handful of servants who puttered around the chamber. “You’re all dismissed.” After that, she shared a pointed look with Kamilla. Seconds passed before the Marchioness gave the mage the barest of nods. Kamilla left the room as well.
A knot of worry formed in my throat. Why didn’t Kamilla fight being sent off? I didn’t like how easily she gave in.
Still, the moment everyone left the room, my shoulders slumped with relief. Kamilla being gone made everything feel almost pleasant once more.
The Marchioness gestured to the chairs beside her. “Now, we can speak more comfortably.” A predatory gleam shone in her eyes. There was something about this conversation I didn’t like, at all.
Amelia slipped into the open seat to the Marchioness’s right. “What would you like to discuss?” I stood halfway across the room, all the better to keep a good view of the conversation.
“What should we discuss?” The Marchioness patted her wig with her fingertips. “Please. Don’t play coy. I had suspected that you might be visiting me.”
“And why is that?” A little crease formed between Amelia’s ginger brows. I was getting to know her faces. This one meant that she was genuinely confused.
“The rumors are rampant, my sweet. Everyone knows that your future is about to change. You’re here to ally yourself to me.” She shook her head. “Honestly, you used to be better at this.”
“Rumors? My future? What are you talking about?”
The Marchioness leaned back in her chair. For a long minute, her gaze flickered between Amelia and me. “So you don’t know.” She tapped her chin.
“Know what?” asked Amelia.
The Marchioness kept speaking as if Amelia hadn’t said a word. “Then you must have come here to help the bastardess. How very interesting.”
A chilly feeling was creeping up the back of my skull. I appreciated Amelia wanting to focus on my quest. Still I didn’t like the greedy look in the Marchioness’s eyes. “What do you know about Amelia?”
The Marchioness glared at me. “You’ll speak when you’re spoken to.” She returned refocused on Amelia. “Tell me. What do you wish for your half sister?”
Amelia opened her mouth, but I raised my hand, palm forward. “One moment.” I stepped closer to the Marchioness. “Leave Amelia out of this. I’ll be the one to tell you what I need, once you share your news about Amelia.”
The Marchioness sniffed dismissively. “Spoken like a true Commoner. You people are always so crude. Fine.” She turned her attention to Amelia. “I was referring to the rumors of your impending marriage, obviously.”
Amelia’s shoulders fell forward. “Oh, is that all? There are always whispers going around.” She was speaking too quickly for my taste, though. Amelia only did that when she was worried or afraid.
I narrowed my eyes and considered this news. It would be no surprise if the Vicomte used Amelia as a marriage bargaining chip. She was his only legal offspring, after all. Still, Amelia told me that the Vicomte hadn’t had anything to do with her in years. I turned to her. “When was the last time you heard one of these marriage rumors?”