I frown. I don’t really understand what she’s talking about. Henrietta Smyte walks the fine line between sanity and insanity – I’m pretty certain of that.
“What warning?” I say. Is she going to threaten my life like she has a million times before?
“Be careful,” she says.
And then she’s walking away.
And I don’t know what I’m meant to be careful of – her, her family, her sister, or am I, you know, just meant to be careful in general, because that’s freaking vague.
I shake my head, dismissing her words, and then I follow her out of the bathroom.
I spot Beaufort and Thorne almost immediately. They’re about a head taller than everyone else, and I make my way back through the crowd toward them. Unfortunately, I only make it about halfway when my path is blocked by a short, round man with a red face and not much hair.
He’s older than my father. In fact, if I had a grandfather, he could easily be his age.
“Hello, my sweet,” he says. “Are you lost?”
He reaches out and takes my elbow, a sickly smile spreading across his face, revealing several yellow teeth and reminding meof a toad. He’s wearing thick cologne, but beneath it I can smell the stench of body odor.
“No,” I tell him. “I’m not lost. I’m with the Princes.”
“Ah, yes,” he says. “The beautiful Princes’ thrall. You really are a treasure, my dear. Extremely beautiful. I’m rather a connoisseur of beauty, and it’s so nice to see a new one in the palace.”
I manage a weak smile, not wanting to offend the man or cause a scene, but wanting to get away from him as quickly as possible. He gives me the creeps.
I glance toward the Princes. Beaufort and Thorne both have their backs to me and can’t see what’s happening – and as for Dray, he’s still missing, hiding away somewhere from his parents, I assume.
“I can certainly understand why they picked you,” the man continues, his sleazy gaze trailing down my body and making me wish this dress wasn’t quite as tight as it is.
“Thank you,” I say, “but I really should–”
“Oh yes, can’t keep your protectors waiting.” He winks. “But, my dear, when the time comes–” He chuckles. “Which it always does with these young men – so fickle. When the time comes and they cast you to one side, then maybe you would like to …”
He reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out a small square of card gilded in golden ink. He holds it out to me.
“Like to what?” I say, struggling to understand what he’s suggesting. “I’m sorry, but I don’t–”
“I’m just saying that you’re very beautiful, my dear, despite the…” He nods in the direction of my back. “And you have options. Certainly you have options, and I could be of assistance. In fact, I might even desire–”
“I’m not a–” I begin again, in outrage.
“Oh no,” he says, chuckling. “I would never suggest such a thing.”
But he doesn’t finish his words, because in the next moment we’re surrounded by Dray, whose arm is already wrapped around my waist, Dyle, and Damson
“Hey, man,” Dray says cheerfully. “What’s this?”
He snatches the card from the man’s hand, looks at it, balls it in his fist, and then throws it onto the ground.
“She won’t be needing that.”
The old man’s face turns purple. He mutters something under his breath and then scurries away quickly.
“What was all that about?” Dray asks me.
“I think he was trying to pick me up,” I say.
“That slime ball?” Dray says. “As if! Where did he go?”
