The Crown (11 page)

Dinah gave him a quick smile. “Brave? Or a fool’s errand?”

Dinah had played Wardley—she knew he could never resist an adventure. Wardley glanced around the empty room. It was silent.

“We’ll make a plan later, but we will take our time doing it. Now, GO.”

She wanted to kiss him again, kiss him always, forever. But that was not happening tonight, so she picked up her skirt and ran as fast as she could to her bedchamber. It wasn’t until she lay in her bed that evening, replaying the kiss in all its awkward loveliness, the cool Wonderland breeze dancing over her skin, that she realized they had left the vial in The Box, along with a drawing in the dust of a wavy triangle. It was there alone, in the darkness, waiting to be discovered.

Chapter Eight

Exactly one month since her whispered conversation in The Box, Dinah rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she glanced wearily at the ticking clock tucked into her bookcase.
Today is the day
, she thought, pushing herself onto her elbows.
Today I see the Black Towers, and I learn who Faina Baker is
. She sat up in bed, holding her cool palms against her warm cheeks, and allowed herself several deep breaths.
I must be calm or this will never work
, she thought.
It must appear as every other day to everyone except Wardley and me.
She gave an exaggerated yawn as Emily came bustling in with her fluffy bathing towels.

“How are you, Your Grace?”

“Just fine, thank you.”

The morning dragged on as usual: 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, Palma and Nanda; something that 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 the other in the eye. Harris hopped in happily from the other 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 Majesty; 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 the eggs and the sweet peach bread. 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 were rare for servants and guardians.
Two down
, Dinah thought, as she made it a point to take her time walking to the Great Hall, greeting Cards as they passed, and any court members that 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?”

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 play 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 set her muslin bag down on the ground, yanking open its cords. Inside was a gray cotton dress, a tiny white heart embroidered on the sleeve. It was the kind of dress a maid or servant might wear on her day off. Dinah had swiped it from Emily earlier that month. She quickly shrugged out of her elaborate magenta gown, the ruffles swimming around her like puffy clouds. She carefully folded it and placed it into the bag. The cloak room door opened and she gave a shriek as she stood with only a thin white slip on.

“It’s just me,” Wardley hissed.

Dinah turned her back to him and started to pull the gray dress over her head. Wardley crossed the room. “No. Wait. Leave it off.”

Her heart felt like it was plunged into icy water.

“They will be in here any minute. I saw their faces when I asked for the cloak room.” He shook his head and began grumbling. “The King should never have men like this in his service. In his attempt to build a strong set of Cards, he has taken even the worst of men. His ever-lowering standards are weakening the Kingdom.”

“Shhh—” Dinah heard heavy footsteps and the clanking of metal outside the door. Quickly, Wardley wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her against him. His lips traced down her neck, his breath scorching as it passed over her creamy skin. She closed her eyes and surrendered, aware of how every curve of her body showed through the thin fabric, so close to him, so close to being just her skin pressed against his.

Wardley gathered her thick black hair in his hands. “Don’t oversell it,” he murmured.

The door burst open. The three Cards stood in front of them, grinning like fools. Roxs stepped forward. “Well, well, Princess; it seems you have acquired a taste for the stable boy.”

“Get out,” growled Wardley. “Don’t come near the Princess.”

“You should have taken that advice yourself. Seems like you have quite the handful there. She’s not to my taste—that leans more to the Lady Vittiore and those blond curls—but there is a certain appeal to her. I heard she’s feisty, like her father, and crazy like her brother. She has fire in the blood.”

Roxs circled Dinah, his lecherous eyes taking in entirely too much of her. “So, you’re plucking the Princess. This secret tryst of yours, what’s it worth to you?”

Dinah gulped. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, how much gold was in that purse of yours? Two hundred? Three hundred? That would buy me land, girl, and food for my families.”

Wardley laid his hand across his sword. “You may not blackmail the Princess. The King will have your head on Execution Day for this.”

“Well, let’s go tell him, shall we?” Roxs headed to the door, his two henchmen grinning like idiots beside him.

“Wait,” Dinah said quietly. “How much do you want?”

“Everything that’s in that purse, miss, and nothing less to buy our silence.”

“That is a fortune,” breathed Dinah angrily.

“And that’s what I’m asking.”

Dinah reached for her bag.

Wardley stepped forward. “Let the lady and me discuss this, then we’ll talk.”

“Some lady,” grunted Fellen, but the Cards stepped out, shutting the door behind them. She could hear their greedy laughter outside the door.

“That went well,” whispered Wardley. He pulled Dinah close to him again and pressed his lips against hers.

The Cards barged back in, unable to wait. “Can’t keep your hands off each other, eh? I remember being young and lusty—you can’t keep your manhood down!”

The Cards jostled with glee. Wardley raised his hand and they fell silent. Even when they assumed he was just a stable boy, he commanded attention. “Here is what we propose. The Princess and I never have time to, let’s just say, be by ourselves. We will give you all the gold in this purse, along with—”

Dinah pulled out a large amethyst ring. The Cards’ eyes lit up.

“This, if you allow us to stay in this room for as long as we desire and make sure that no one, NO ONE comes in. That includes you. If anyone asks where the Princess is today, you are to say that she is having tea with the Lady Vittiore and studying in the library. You never saw us here. Do you understand? We’ll give you the coins now, but the ring we will give you after we are . . . finished.” Wardley let a naughty smile play across his face. “And we’ll need all day.”

Roxs stepped forward. “And why should we do this for you?”

“Because who will the King believe—a drunken Card accused of stealing the Princess’ gold, or his daughter?”

Roxs considered it for a moment. “Done.”

Wardley handed him the bag. “Remember. No one comes in and out. We want at least until nightfall together. When we come out, you will get the ring.”

Fellen gave a snort. “You think you can last that long, son?”

Wardley leveled him with a gaze. “Without a doubt.”

The Three Cards exchanged an envious look and backed out the room. “We must keep our watch over the Great Hall, but we’ll hear you if you sneak out. Don’t cheat us, boy!”

“Fine,” replied Dinah. “Keep your promise and I will keep mine, and I will NOT take your heads for your silence.”

The Cards left. Wardley glanced at Dinah with a bemused grin. “Men of questionable character can always be trusted in situations that involve gold.”