“The lieutenant is here to protect me from all of you.” Marina rolled her eyes, and several of the ladies laughed. It helped that Marina was popular with the ladies of the court. Despite her limited influence over the king, she was a person who could find a way to get things done behind the scenes. Destin knew for a fact that she had intervened on behalf of many in the room over the years.
“Does he mean to parade us before his guests wearing these clothes?” Heresford swirled her filthy skirts. “Is this really the kind of image he wants to present to his underlords?”
“No, I don’t believe he does,” Marina said. “I have arranged for you to get some new clothes, if you have nothing suitable. To be honest, I asked for this. I am so damned tired of making conversation with every deadly dull merchant, noble, and official who passes through the city. I could use some help.”
Lady Heresford laughed. “You poor thing.” They all knew, to varying degrees, what her life had been like with Gerard. Speaking to dull merchants was the least of it.
“When it comes to the rebellion, I don’t think it will make a big difference politically. Everybody with a brain in his head will understand why you’re there.” Marina smiled sadly. “I have missed all of you so much.”
Heads were nodding all around, accompanied by a murmur of “We’ve missed you, too.”
“What about the children?” somebody asked. “Are they invited?”
Granger began shaking his head, but Marina said, “Of course. It would very much please me if every single one of you is there. Every single one of you,” she repeated, making eye contact with one, and then another. “Costume parties are so much fun. It should be . . . a night you’ll never forget. Jarat is sparing no expense.”
“It’s a costume party?” This was a child’s voice, and the girl sounded excited.
“I’m not coming,” somebody said in a loud and carrying voice.
Everyone turned to look and see who had spoken.
“Harper, we’ll talk about this later,” Lady Matelon said.
“No, Mama, we’ll talk about it now.” With that, Harper Matelon stepped out front, the Matelon scowl planted on her face. “I am not going to any parties with the swiving king or his swiving court.”
“Harper! That language is inappropriate.” Lady Matelon tried to pull her daughter back into the safety of the crowd, but she wrenched free.
“Would despicable be better?” Harper put her hands on her hips. “You’re the one that always tells me to use my words and not my fists.”
“Lady Harper,” Marina said gently, “I really want to have you at my party. Please come.”
Harper wavered, then shook her head. “If it was just your party, Your Majesty, you know I would come. But I refuse to dress up and mince around for him. If he wants me at his party, he’ll have to drag me there in chains and show his guests how . . . despicable . . . he is.”
Granger pushed past the queen. “Listen to me, you ungrateful, traitorous whelpling. If King Jarat invites you to a party, you had better—”
“Shut up, Granger,” Destin said. “Let me talk to Harper in private. I think I can persuade her to come.” He extended his hand toward her, and all the ladies shrank back as one, looks of horror on their faces.
“She’s just a child, Lieutenant,” Lady Matelon said, pushing Harper behind her. “Leave her alone. I will talk to her, and you can be sure that she will be there, if that is what the king commands.”
“She is not a child, Lady Matelon. If she is old enough to have opinions, and to speak them aloud, she is old enough to defend them.”
“Take me instead,” Lady Matelon said, chin up, but her voice trembling just a bit.
“You are not the one I’m having an issue with,” he said. Then, seeing her stricken face, he relented a little. “You can come with her, if you like. We’ll just step into one of these smaller rooms and have a talk.”
“Here!” Lila called. She stood at the entrance to one of the cells. “This is clear.”
“After you,” Destin said. Lady Matelon gripped her daughter’s hand and they walked ahead of Destin, backs straight, as if marching to their execution. The room had fallen dead silent behind them.
This is why you don’t plan parties, Destin thought. Nobody would come. You’re never that fun to be around.
The room was set up as sleeping quarters for a family, with pallets on the floor and one actual bed. Thanelee Matelon whispered urgently into Harper’s ear while Destin did a quick round of the room, putting up wards against eavesdroppers. Lila stood guard at the door. Always useful, Lila Barrowhill.
Destin returned to where Harper and her mother were standing. As he approached, Lady Matelon drew Harper closer, under the protection of her arm.
“Please don’t spell her,” Lady Matelon said. “She’s promised to cooperate.”
“I’m not going to spell her,” Destin said. He reached out and tilted the girl’s chin up so that he could look into her eyes. “Listen to me, Harper. I really need you to come to this party. I need all of you to come, even the littlest child, and I hope you’ll help me by persuading them.”
Harper was clenching her teeth, struggling to keep her mouth shut, but he could see the resistance in her eyes.
“Are you the youngest?” Destin said abruptly. “Or are you between your two brothers?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m the youngest,” she said, “but only by a year. I’m nearly fourteen.”
“Which of your brothers are you most like, do you think? Hal or Robert?”
Harper cocked her head, as if trying to work out the trick, then she glanced at her mother for help.
“Harper is most like Halston, our eldest, who died at Delphi,” Lady Matelon said. Then, glaring at her daughter, she added, “Although on days like today, she reminds me of Robert.”
“Ah,” Destin said, nodding. “Harper, I have something for you.” He fished the thimble and chain out of his pocket and held it out to her. “Your brother, Captain Matelon, sent this. He says to tell you that he’s been pricked, but he’s not dead yet.”
Harper’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Captain Matelon?” She grabbed the thimble and brought it close to her face, examining it. Then looked up at Destin. “How did you know about this? Are there listeners in the walls at White Oaks?”
“Let me see it, Harper,” Lady Matelon said.
Harper spun around and displayed it to her mother on her outstretched palm.
Lady Matelon poked at it with her forefinger. Then looked up at Destin, her face hardening. “Are you really the kind of brute who would break the heart of a little girl?”
Destin shook his head. “I’m not in the business of breaking hearts,” he said, “though sometimes it can’t be avoided. Lady Matelon, Captain Matelon sent another message for you. He said to tell you to ‘look on the bright side.’”
“Halston,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
“Where is he?” Harper demanded. “Where’s my brother? Is he in prison, too?”
“‘Where are my brothers?’ would be a better question,” Destin said. “I can’t tell you that, but I can tell you that they really want you to come to King Jarat’s party.”
“Why are you doing this?” Lady Matelon said, lowering her voice and looking over her shoulder at Lila. “I cannot fathom why you would be working with Halston and Robert.”
“Or why they would be working with you,” Harper said. “If they even are.”
Politics makes for strange bedfellows? Probably best not to go there.
“This enterprise is a risk that I would have preferred not to take.” Destin said. “But, as it turns out, Lady Harper, your brothers and I share a common goal. You may question whether I’m telling the truth, but you have to consider the possibility that I am, and weigh whether sticking it to the king is worth it.”
The ladies Matelon looked at each other.
“All right,” Harper said. “I will come.”
“Will you help talk the others into coming?”
She met his gaze. “I will.”
“Now. When you speak to the others, you mustn’t mention your brothers’ involvement, or my involvement, or in any way imply that anything other than a party is in store. You must simply convey the message that it is critical that they come. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”