I turned to Philippe. “Is there any point trying to convince her?”
“She gets this way sometimes. Just move on.”
And indeed, I’d seen Amelia in one of these moods before. The girl was impossible to sway once she’d set her mind on something. So far, her goals had always aligned with mine, so her stubbornness hadn’t been an issue.
“Evidently, it is I who needs to convince you.” Amelia looked up at me from under her long lashes. “Please join the ceremony?”
She was so sweet in her manipulations. I couldn’t help but smile. Whatever happened between Amelia and Rex, tonight was my friend’s engagement announcement. I’d do my best to help her enjoy it. All while I stole the Vicomte’s watch, of course.
“I’ll be there. I may have to run off here and there on a little errand. Even so, I’ll do my best to be there for the big announcement.”
Philippe lowered his voice. “And I’ll help where I can, too.” He gave me a surreptitious wink. I appreciated the sentiment. At least I had one focused ally tonight.
Amelia clapped. “Perfect. Then, you’ll go with me to the mansion and get ready? Clothilde has all sorts of ideas for your gown.”
“I’ll go to the mansion. First I must discuss my broken door with the innkeeper.” I could cast a spell to fix it, but I was still feeling winded from last night.
“We’ll see you soon, then.” Amelia kissed me lightly on the cheek and sauntered out into the hallway.
Philippe kissed my hand and spoke in a low voice. “I’ll see what I can do with her. Don’t hold your breath.”
“Thank you.”
Once Philippe and Amelia were gone, I sat back down on my bed. I needed a quiet moment to process everything that had happened. I leaned back on the mattress and stared up at the cracked plaster ceiling. Who was I to tell Amelia that she needed to find time for her grief? I’d been avoiding doing the same myself.
Thousands of Necromancers. Gone.
Virtually all of my people were dead. Soon, that number would include Ada and Veronique.
I rolled over onto my side, feeling darkness and grief seep into my pores. Tears blurred my vision. The loss in my soul felt so vast, it was as if nothing could ever fill the emptiness again. Not even Rowan. Not even home.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Amelia, Philippe, and I stepped down from our carriage and strolled up to the Montagne mansion, ready to be received for tonight’s ball. My friend positively bubbled over with a forced kind of excitement.
“The Vicomte didn’t say when they’d announce my engagement. Do you think it will be later in the evening? I think it won’t happen until well after everyone’s arrived.” Amelia kept speaking without seeming to draw breath between sentences.
No question what all this false joy was about. Amelia didn’t want to feel the pain of losing Veronique. I knew this for a fact because I wore a forced smile of my own. Only I wasn’t so focused on the engagement.
I need that vortex watch.
A shiver rolled across my shoulders. That much power in the hands of any one person? They could raze the realm with a single spell. It was more magick than a good mage would want… Or an evil mage should have.
A line of well-dressed dignitaries and socialites filled the stone walkway behind us. The ladies all wore full-skirted ball gowns; the men had donned long coats. Everyone had on a formal mask. Tonight’s ball was the last event in the Festival of Theodora. In the legend, Theodora snuck past the gods’ gateway by wearing a disguise. All the final celebrations in her honor were masquerades.
Soon it was our turn to mount the staircase that led to the mansion’s main doors. The Baroness de Montagne stood at the top of the golden staircase. Her white gown, silk mask, and pearly wig all accented her pale skin and willowy form to perfection. She stared through Philippe and me as if we weren’t there. Her focus quickly locked on Amelia.
“My dear, you’re here!” The Baroness kissed Amelia lightly on both cheeks. “You did such a wonderful job at the play last night. I’m simply dying to discuss it with you.”
Amelia curtsied. “Thank you, Baroness.”
“Only, there were a few things you could have done better. I should like to review them with you now before I forget. After all, you’ll be playing Theodora next year, too. We can’t have those same mistakes again.”
Philippe and I shared a meaningful look. The Baroness seemed ready to give a long lecture. I was not in the mood.
Time to end this.
I set my hand on my belly and forced on a glum face. “Pardon me. I’m afraid I’m still not fully recovered from last night.”
“Recovered?” The Baroness’s nostrils flared. “You ran off to get a tincture for Amelia and never returned.”