The duchess’s finger paused. “Yes,” she said softly. “One who has done wrong must be punished.”
My spine stiffened as I took in the flickering candlelight, the heavy velvet drapes, and the closed double doors. Misty mewed and stared at me with acid green eyes.
“What shall it be, Mother? Shall she be whipped?” Narcissa’s gloating words almost made me jump. I had forgotten she was standing there.
“Are you a savage, Narcissa, or are you a noblewoman?” Duchess Wilhelmina said. She hardly spared her daughter a glance. How differently she treated Narcissa in public! I would’ve felt bad for the girl, if she hadn’t just suggested that I be whipped. I didn’t let myself relax, though. The duchess may be opposed to whipping, but what of other, lesser forms of torture? The old thumbscrew? A night locked away in a closet? Or perhaps her area of expertise: poison.
“My purpose for bringing you here is to right a wrong. You never received the punishment you deserve. What do you suppose it should be?”
Was she seriously asking me? I decided to go for the safest answer. “Whatever Your Grace deems appropriate,” I said.
Duchess Wilhelmina pointed at the servant girl behind Narcissa. “You. You’re dismissed. Pack up your things. Someone else will be taking your room.”
The girl squeaked. She was clearly distressed but curtsied low nonetheless. Without a word, she was gone. I watched in disbelief.
“Mother!”
“Never fear,” the duchess drawled. She gestured to me. “Here’s the replacement.”
“Y-your Grace?” I stuttered. Narcissa seemed equally appalled.
“Mother, you can’t make—”
“There is nothing I can’t do,” Duchess Wilhelmina said, eyes flashing. Her gaze was sharp and calculating as she sat up. “You, Miss Flora, will move here to the palace in the servant’s room. You will do Narcissa’s bidding and attend to her every need. You will not tell anyone about this. From now to as long as I say, she is your mistress and you will do everything she tells you. Is that understood?”
This couldn’t be legal.
Me? Playing servant for Narcissa for heaven knows how long? Impossible. “But, Your Grace—”
“Are you defying me, Miss Flora?” the duchess said softly. Ice shot up my spine at her very gaze.
I forced myself to bow my head. “No, Your Grace.”
“Defying me is a very grave mistake. Don’t think I’m not aware of your frequent visits to the outskirts of the city,” Duchess Wilhelmina said. She resumed tracing the rim of her goblet. “You disappear every week, do you? A certain shop called...ah, what is it? Miriam’s Terrariums.”
I froze. How did she know?
The duchess leaned forward, eyes glittering. “Would it surprise you, Miss Flora, that I find that particular shop as interesting as you do?” she said. “Maybe your friends would find it so too. But it would be a shame if everyone knew about its...charms.”
My mouth seemed to dry out.
“Your Grace, please.” My voice was hoarse.
“I wonder how poor, darling Ash would react when he finds out you were the one behind his mother’s death. How would he feel if he finds out you were a scheming witch all this time, getting close to him and misleading his little investigation to finish off the queen?”
I sucked in a breath. She knew. She knew I was a witch. And somehow, Narcissa did too. “How did you find out?”
The duchess scoffed. “I am not so foolish as to tellyou, girl. You will do as I say or you will feel the consequences. And I repeat—you will not tell anyone about this unless you wish for death.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Get out of my sight. You will attend to your duties first thing tomorrow.”
I curtsied.
Narcissa was glowering at me when I rose, seemingly not as content as I thought she would be. Why wouldn’t she enjoy seeing me suffer and treating me like her servant? I swept out of the room before I burst into tears.
Footsteps echoed in the hall. Ash was pacing by a nearby column dimly lit by flickering torches. I hurriedly wiped my eyes, glad to see there was nothing there. Yet.
