Page 128 of His Noble Ruin

I wondered if they’d given Maeve a chance to take out her belongings or if she’d chosen to leave them here.

Cait unwrapped the dress in her arms. It was heavy and white with elaborate embroidery and hundreds of iridescent pearls. I picked up what I’d hidden in the center, letting the dress fall to the floor.

It was my father’s pistol. Since I’d soon be staging my own murder, it could come in handy. I passed it to Cait. “Keep it hidden.”

She took the gun and rolled it into her apron.

“Will you help me put this thing on?” I asked, picking up the dress from the floor. “It must weigh fifty pounds.”

“Of course. That’s what maids do.”

I laughed. “Sorry. I’m sure you hate this. But it’s only until tonight.”

She unbuttoned my black mourning dress. When it was loose, I pulled it over my head and stepped into the white one.

“I’m afraid,” Cait said softly.

“It’s okay. Just aim the pistol toward the sky. You won’t hurt anyone.”

She shook her head. “Not that. Of Lachlan. What if it’s . . . not the same?”

“Oh.” I pulled the lacy sleeves over my arms, not sure what to say.

She began to tie the bodice. I winced as the stiff material tightened on my side.

“Do you worry about that? With Graham?”

“After what happened, I’ll be lucky if he—”

Before I could finish my sentence, the door swung open.

I spun around, my heart pumping panic through my veins. Maeve Brennin’s furious glare landed on me. She wasn’t supposed to be left unguarded, but here she was.

“What did you just say?” she screamed, lunging toward me.

I backed away, tripping over my long gown until the giant mirror on the wall stopped me.

“You said his name! I heard you!”

If she went on like this, her screams would attract every Enforcer in the Academy. If she had the power to manipulate the guards to leave her alone, then I didn’t trust them to believe my word against hers.

“Shut the door, Cait,” I said.

She did as I said, hopefully blocking off at least some of the noise. I remembered the pistol in Cait’s apron and wished I held it instead. Maybe it could scare Maeve into shutting her mouth.

“What reason do you have to talk about my son?” asked Maeve. She pushed closer until I could see every frown line on her face. “Tell me.”

I leaned into the cold mirror, but she only pushed closer.

“Everyone thinks I killed him,” she said. “But I suspectyouknow the truth.”

I didn’t know what to say. She’d see through my lies.

“It was you. Or your father. No one else had more to gain.” The tremble in her voice revealed she was on the verge of losing all composure. “Iwillfind a way to expose you.”

I believed her. I had to make peace with her at any cost. A desperate idea popped into my head and came out onto my tongue before I could stop it. “Your son is alive.”

ChapterForty-Four

---