“This is ridiculous,” Jack said.
“Fashion is utterly ridiculous,” Charlotte told him. “And ninety-nine percent of the fashion is who is wearing it. Some no name wears an ugly hat, and people say it’s an ugly hat. If Duchess Ramone wears an ugly hat, people say, ‘What an interesting new trend.’”
“So it’s about money?” Sophie asked.
“No. It’s about poise. You must be supremely confident in what you’re wearing and comfortable in your own skin. Being a blueblood isn’t just knowing the rules. It’s knowing the precisely correct thing to do in every situation, then doing it with unshakable entitlement.”
Sophie frowned, puzzled.
Charlotte smiled at her. “It’s not very difficult. Have no fear, we’ll practice. But back to the color wheel. Forget white and black. We must show off your skin, your neck, and that face. This is where the impact should be.” Charlotte picked up a drawing pad. “Segment 28, row 17.”
A beautiful warm gray, reminiscent at once of the pearly inside of an oyster shell and the soft glow of polished aluminum, ignited above the imager.
Sophie leaned forward, her eyes wide. “It’s the color of my sword.”
Charlotte smiled and began to sketch. They would have to add some pale blue accents to nod at the trend, but nothing major.
“But where will we get the dress?” Sophie asked.
“Dresses. We each need a set of at least six outfits, all tied together with similar design elements. We’ll take a page out of Richard’s playbook, contact the best dressmaker we can find, and throw an obscene amount of money at her.” Charlotte continued to sketch. The dressmaker would likely balk—the silhouette that emerged on the paper was slightly uncommon for a young girl, but it suited Sophie perfectly. “If she digs her heels in, we’ll find another. I’m not without means, and when it comes to dresses, money makes a most convincing argument.”
“You don’t need to spend money on me,” Sophie said. “My sister is married to William Sandine. I can get bucketloads of money.”
“I don’t have to—I want to.” Charlotte grinned and turned to Jack. “Would you like to help?”
The expression on his face underwent a lightning change, from surprise, to fear, to a bored, distant expression. “I suppose,” he said, and yawned. “If I’m bored.”
“That’s his nonchalant expression,” Sophie said. “He puts it on when he doesn’t know how to respond.”
“Are you on good terms with the Duchess of the Southern Provinces?” Charlotte asked. Declan’s mother was precisely the kind of heavy hitter who would make a decisive difference in their entrance to society.
“I’m adored,” Jack said.
Sophie snorted.
Jack glanced at her, indignant. “That’s what she always says.” He slipped into a perfect imitation of a highborn blueblood accent. “‘Oh, Jack. I adore you, you silly boy.’”
Charlotte lost it and laughed. “Do you think your adorableness can arrange for the two of us to have tea with Her Grace?”
“Piece of cake,” Jack said.
* * *
RICHARD opened his eyes. Charlotte had come up the stairs and paused, studying him lying in bed. Darkness had fallen, and the gentle lights of the lanterns played on her face. She was beautiful. Looking at her opened a gaping hole inside him born from the knowledge he soon would have to let go.
They hadn’t made love since the operation on his face. He wanted her so badly, it burned, more than a want, a need akin to an addiction. He was addicted to Charlotte, to her scent, her taste, the soft touch of her skin against his. To watching her gasp in surprise when he brought her to a climax. He needed her the way he needed air, and anticipation of their separation set his teeth on edge.
In this moment, he regretted everything: every word he had said to her seemed wrong, every gesture coarse and stupid. She deserved . . . someone better than him, but he was deeply selfish and would do everything in his power to keep her.
“Where is Sophie?”
“She left,” Charlotte said. “Supposedly to say good-bye to her sister. Unfortunately, Jack had let it slip that Cerise and William are already out on assignment. She’s giving us privacy. I suspect all of the undead mice, squirrels, and birds watching your Lair are gone, too.”
He slipped into formal blueblood affectation. “Dear gods, are they expecting us to have intimate relations?”
“It appears so. Do the children know something I don’t?” she asked.
She’d changed the subject. “Kaldar sent a message through George,” Richard said. “Brennan left for the Southern Coast. Supposedly he’s visiting a sick friend.”
“He went to tour the island,” she said.
“Yes.”
“And now with him out of the way, you want to make the switch and become Casside?”
“If you’re ready to begin our scheme.” And once they began, they couldn’t be seen together. No hint of their alliance could exist.
“I’m ready,” she told him. “Choosing a dressmaker presented a dilemma, but I found one who is talented, poor, and hungry to make her mark. The dress orders are in, and I’ve piled money on her with promises of more. The first two gowns will be ready in record time. Jack is arranging a tea with Declan’s mother. I plan to come clean and ask for her assistance. My introduction will be much smoother if she lays the groundwork. I think I could convince her to help us. With or without Her Grace’s backing, I should make an appearance at the capital within two days at the celebration of Spring’s End.”
“Will Sophie be ready?”
“Yes and no.” Charlotte shook her head. “The basics are there, and she is very smart. Being a maiden of escort isn’t exactly complex. I did it when I was her age—you walk three steps behind your sponsor and don’t talk unless spoken to. While she doesn’t know everything yet, she’ll do fine.”
The anxiety ate at him. “Sounds like you have things in hand.”
“Yes.”
“Should we go through the plan again?” They had gone over it a dozen times, but the moment he left, events would spiral out of his control.
“You will travel to the capital and replace Casside. You’re planning on kidnapping him on the way to his weekly card game, which he will attend. The attack on the island likely made Brennan furious, and the four bluebloods under him will strive to maintain the status quo out of sheer self-preservation. You will kidnap Casside, remove his retainers from the house, and your family will detain them until we’re done.” She invited him to continue.