After all the control I thought I’d seized in my life, I suddenly felt adrift—as helpless as the bobbing Gray Gull tossed on the storm. I felt alone and trapped, desperate for an ally. But Mira was seated far away, and Cedric . . . well, who knew where he was?

Back in Osfrid, at Blue Spring, discovery of my title would have been disastrous, almost certainly sending me back to Grandmama. Once I’d set foot in the New World, my security had increased exponentially. Even if I was recognized—and I’d never believed I would be—there was a whole ocean between me and Osfrid. For anyone to send word back and take action would be difficult and time-consuming, especially if I’d be engaged in the next few months.

Unless Viola was right. If someone forcefully tried to take me back now, hoping to gain a reward, I’d have no recourse. I’d be trapped on a ship for two months and promptly carted off to Osfro. Marriage made me independent—or, well, bound to someone else. Bound to someone I chose. At least, I thought I’d be able to choose.

Studying Warren now, I wondered if he was a bad choice. Before speaking to Viola, I hadn’t thought so. She was right that instantly falling in love with anyone was far-fetched. The smart thing to do was secure my future with someone wealthy and reasonably nice. Warren was both.

But I didn’t like being threatened. And I really didn’t know just how much damage that threat might cause.

“. . . and it helps that I’ve had so much guidance and experience under Father’s rule,” Warren was telling me. “I took part in some of the battles against the Icori savages. And even though they’re gone, there’s still work to be done in cleaning up Denham. Not just villains and highwaymen. There’s the pirates, of course. And there are heretics skulking around, you know. In fact . . .” He glanced at the clock. “We’re dealing with some very soon.”

I blinked, trying to clear my head and refocus on him. “What do you mean?”

“Today’s one of their dark holidays—the Alanzans, I mean. The demon worshippers. We’ve learned of where they’re meeting, and we plan on arresting them.”

He had me hanging on his every word now. “When?”

“We’ll leave in two hours or so, maybe less, depending on how long it takes us to group and plan our course. I’m afraid that means I’ll have to break from the party early,” he said apologetically. “But I feel it’s important I lead the charge—in light of both my current and future positions.”

Tomorrow is the Star Advent, Mira had told me yesterday morning.

Cedric can’t be here. He’s out with friends tonight, Jasper had said on the way here.

And I knew. I knew Cedric wasn’t out with friends, not exactly. He was out with other Alanzans, off celebrating this Star Advent in some grove or another. A grove that would very likely be raided by armed men. Desperately, I tried to keep my wits about me.

“This . . . this is so fascinating,” I told him. “But you must forgive me—I’m getting the most terrible headache. It’s hard to pay attention.”

Warren instantly turned solicitous. “Is there anything I can do?”

“No, no, thank you. I think the best thing is for me to go home and rest.” I forced a smile. “I guess we’ll both be leaving early.”

I found Jasper and told him my story. He wasn’t happy about my leaving, but Warren’s impending departure softened the disappointment. Jasper arranged for one of his men to escort me home in the carriage and then return to wait for the other girls. Clara was deep in conversation with a banker, and Jasper had no interest in pulling her and Mira home early for my convenience.

I thanked the Doyles for their hospitality, and Warren again regarded me with concern. Viola looked as though she knew exactly why I had a “headache,” but she offered nothing but polite smiles.

On my way out, I pulled Mira aside. “Are you okay?” she asked. “Do you want me to come home with you?”

I shook my head. “No, but I do need your help. Answer two questions for me.”

She looked me over curiously. “Yes?”

“Do you know where the Alanzans will meet tonight? For their Star Advent?”

Mira stayed silent for several moments. “What’s your other question?”

“I need to know how you get in and out of the house undetected.”

“Those are big questions,” she said.

“And I wouldn’t be asking them without a good reason,” I returned, echoing what she’d said about her nightly escapes.

At last, she sighed. “You can’t tell anyone.”

“You know I won’t.”

“Of course not,” she said, giving me a weary smile. “I shouldn’t have suggested it.”

She told me what I wanted to know, and I thanked her with a hug. Jasper’s driver called for me, and I hurried off with him into the night—off to save Cedric.

Chapter 16

Most of the girls were still out when I returned to the house. Upon hearing my headache story, Mistress Culpepper immediately sniffed my face to make sure I hadn’t been overindulging in any spirits. When she was finally satisfied with my excuse, she sent me off to my room.

As I shut my bedroom door, I experienced a weird feeling of déjà vu, recalling how I’d used another fake headache back in Osfro to win myself some privacy. It felt like a lifetime ago. I immediately stripped out of my elaborate lace party gown and began searching for the most practical thing I owned. There wasn’t a lot. Most of our wardrobe was geared toward maintaining our grandiose image. Even our casual attire was embellished and rich. I finally found one of the day dresses I’d worn on board the ship, a simple one of pale pink lawn, scattered with white flowers. A light cloak and sensible shoes were the only other things I’d need in our warming spring weather. To make my escape, however, I put a large woolen night robe over it all.

Creeping down the hall, I peered in each direction before making a sharp right turn at the hall’s end. There, just as Mira had said, was a door that led to a small staircase and a landing used for storage by the household staff. One flight below led to a hall behind the kitchen. One flight above provided access to the attic. I ascended quickly and came up under one of the roof’s gables. In front of me was a window with a sliding panel that overlooked the house’s back grounds.

I left the robe on the floor. That had been Mira’s suggestion. “Wear the robe over your clothes going in and out. Then if you’re spotted in the hall, it just looks like you got out of bed. A lot easier to explain that than why you’re walking around in regular clothes in the middle of the night.”

Outside the attic window was a trellis that more wisteria had climbed. Staring down, I reminded myself of how I’d successfully climbed the captain’s shelves on a rocking ship. Of course, the distance hadn’t been nearly so high, and I’d had Cedric to catch me.

Cedric. He was the reason I had to do this.

I swung out of the window and grabbed hold of the wooden slats. Mira had assured me the structure could hold my weight, and as I painstakingly inched my way down three floors, I saw she was right. The trellis stayed steady. I exhaled in relief when my foot touched the ground and allowed myself only a moment’s rest before I headed across the property. As I did, I couldn’t help but give a rueful head shake. If there was a secret way out of the house, of course Mira would be the one to find it.