“How are you, Your Highness?”
“Just fine, thank you.”
The morning dragged on: an elaborate bath followed by dressing and chatting idly with Harris and Emily. As Emily laced up the back of her gown, Dinah cleared her throat. “I’ve been invited to have tea today with Vittiore. I think I might attend in the afternoon.”
Emily stopped lacing. “With Vittiore? But …?” Emily was well aware of Dinah’s deep hatred of Vittiore.
“It might not be a terrible idea to get to know her better. I’m to be queen soon, and I should make peace with her. I can’t resent her forever. She is my subject.”
Dinah felt her voice edge up as the lie felt sour against her tongue. Harris stared at her from across the room in shock.
“I’ll make sure to dismiss Palma and Nanda.” Emily bit her lip angrily. She hated Vittiore’s two silly, stupid serving girls, which made Dinah love Emily even more. The servants never spoke to each other, not even on the palace rounds of gathering sheets, dresses, and daily linens. Dinah didn’t understand the deep hatred that the women had for each other, but for today at least, it was perfect that they wouldn’t even look one another in the eye. Harris hopped in happily from the other side of the room.
“Did I hear that you will be taking tea with Vittiore today? Dinah, that is a magnificent idea. How wonderful! It is time that you two put aside your differences. You might see that she is the sister you always wanted.”
Ribbons tightened around Dinah’s ribs as Emily laced her up.
“A little lighter, Emily. I don’t want to seem strained at tea today.”
Emily gave a frown. “I didn’t think about that, Your Highness. My apologies.” There was a heartbeat of silence, and then the pressure was relieved. “Why don’t we skip the corset for today, especially if you will be seated for a long period of time. But let’s go with a brilliant gown then, something that will remind the duchess that you are the future queen.” Emily opened Dinah’s white wardrobe and pulled out a magenta silk gown, all rosettes and layers. “This will make your black hair look radiant.”
Dinah made a face—to do otherwise would be out of character.
“Don’t frown, Princess, just put it on.”
As the gown slipped over her head, Dinah cleared her throat. “I’ll be at the library all morning doing private studies with Monsignor Wol-vore.”
Wol-vore was the language tutor. Dinah spent several days a week with him, learning to mimic the tongue of the Yurkei Mountain tribes and to hum the strange lilting sounds of the Western Slope accents. It was utterly useless in Dinah’s eyes, and mind-numbingly boring. That particular day, however, Monsignor Wol-vore would be visiting his mistress, a lovely lady of the court who lived just outside the palace. Wardley was finding that gold and gems bought a bounty of information on the various dark vices of the court.
“That sounds lovely, Dinah, just lovely. I am so proud of you.”
Harris looked so happy, all puffed up and red-cheeked. A stab of guilt shot through her. Dinah stared at herself in the mirror. Black eyes, many lies, she thought. Dinah cleared her throat.
“Both of you—I officially free you of all your duties for the day. Emily, you should go visit your family, and Harris—what better time to take in the rose garden or play some croquet? I heard our white vendela roses are starting to bloom …”
Harris’s eyes lit up. “I suppose I should. A bit of nature acts as a tonic for the soul.”
That was easy, she thought. Emily finished dressing Dinah, and she quickly ate her breakfast, making sure to have double helpings of both eggs and sweet peach breads. She would need it. As she headed out the door, Dinah grabbed a thin muslin bag.
“My books,” she mumbled.
Emily and Harris didn’t even look up. Dinah could see that they were excited at the prospect of a day with no responsibilities, which was rare for servants and guardians. Two down, Dinah thought, as she made a point of taking her time walking to the Great Hall, greeting Cards as they passed, and any court members who always seemed to be lollygagging in the hallway without purpose. She would be seen today, wearing this ridiculous gown and seeming oddly friendly. Dinah strolled past the Great Hall and noted the three Heart Cards standing watch in front of the door. Fellen, Roxs, and Thatcher, just as she and Wardley had calculated. Dinah gave them a gentle nod as she passed.
Guarding the Great Hall was a low honor among Heart Cards. Those with the most skill and loyalty guarded the king, then Cheshire, then Dinah, and so on down the court line. Those who were either new to the Cards or had a questionable record of service guarded the palace’s many doors and rooms. Nothing happened in the Great Hall most days of the Wonderland year, and so the Heart Cards sent to guard its doors and hallways were ruthlessly mocked. As Dinah walked past them, they bowed lazily. Dinah removed a small pouch from her bag. Then she stumbled, sending the little bag flying out in front of her. A wealth of gold coins—more than enough to feed their families for a year—spilled out in front of them. The muslin satchel stayed tight on her shoulders. She saw Roxs’s eyes light up. Of course they would: he had not one, but two families to feed. He bent down to help her pick up the coins, and Dinah saw him slyly pocket a few. Perfect, she thought.
“I’m so sorry. So clumsy.”
“’Tis never a problem, my lady.”
Dinah swiftly picked up the remaining coins, making sure to give the men a clean glimpse of all the coins inside the bag. The price of a necklace, she thought guiltily, just one of the many jewels that sit idly in my drawer, more than enough to feed a family. She often found herself feeling shame at such things. She nodded her head at Roxs, and then at the other Cards.
“Thank you. Good day.” Lowering her eyes, she made herself fidgety and breathless before them. She hesitated a second and leaned forward, letting her hair swing down over her face, her voice dropping to an urgent whisper. “Could you please tell me where the cloak room is?” Dinah absolutely knew where the cloak room was.
Roxs gave a nod. “Not sure why you would need that, Your Highness. You aren’t even wearing a cloak.”
Dinah put a hand on her hip. “It’s none of your business, and above your station to ask.”
Roxs’s eyes narrowed. No Heart Card liked being reprimanded by the royal family—it was an ultimate shame from those they swore to protect. “Forgive me, my lady. I will walk you there.”
“No. Just tell me how to get there. I can walk there myself. Time is of the essence.”
Dinah could see the confusion playing across their faces. Why is she in a hurry to get to the cloak room?
“Follow this hall, past the oratory, and around the corner. It’s a small door on the right, across from the servants’ privy. There is an iron-and-glass window on the front of the door.”
Dinah clutched her purse tightly against her chest and let a blush rise to her cheeks. “Thank you.” She hurried quickly past the Cards. The cloak room was very simple to find. Dinah had been there many times as a child, retrieving a winter cloak for her or for Charles. It was a long room, filled from ceiling to floor with every kind of cloak in every kind of color, all for the royal family or their distinguished guests. Steam hissed out from a fountain in the middle of the room—a porcelain whale that spewed mist periodically, making sure that the cloaks were always warm and soft, whatever the weather. Dinah quickly found a simple, brown, hooded cloak.
She