“Celeste is willing to cover the costs herself,” Lady Ruan said. “She’s quite sympathetic to witchkind. And with all the unrest...” She trailed off and shook her head. “Forgive me, Lady Narcissa. I did not mean to bring up these matters.”
“No need to apologize. We are here to address them.”
Giselle looked around with interest. “Are we invited to the show?”
Lady Ruan returned to her previous cheer. “But of course! You’ll be our honored guests.”
“Think of all the evening gowns,” the seamstress said dreamily. She set Pippin on the floor. “Excuse me, this has been nice, but I have some projects in mind I would like to get a start on.”
Giselle flounced away to the hall. “Oh, hello Your Highness!”
Moments later Bennett appeared, nose and cheeks flushed from the cold. Ulysses followed behind him, panting.
“Your Highness!” Lady Ruan said, “I was just showing Lady Narcissa around. We’re going backstage to see Celeste, our newest singer. Would you like to join us?”
“Of course. Carry on.” Bennett gave a brief nod to Maddox, then turned his eyes to me. I couldn’t discern the look in them. All I could think about was his kiss.
I dug my nails into my palms as we followed Lady Ruan down the carpeted aisle. As we ascended a short flight of stairs, I tapped Ulysses’s shoulder.
“Yes, milady?” The steward wiped his nose with his handkerchief.
I gripped the railing. “Apologies. Where did you go with Bennett just now?” I whispered.
Ulysses sneezed, then gave me a watery-eyed look. “The post office and...bah. You’ll find out soon enough,” he said with a sigh. He blew his nose again and trotted to catch up with the others.
Backstage was almost as impressive as the front, though in a rustic, chaotic sort of way. Masses of rope and cord hung from high wooden beams just below the ceiling. Lady Ruan led us through a narrow passageway into a separate hall.
“I hope she's still here,” she said, turning to a painted red door. She knocked twice. “Celeste? Are you in there, dear?”
“Yes, come in,” a husky voice said.
We entered. A young woman sat swathed in pale blue satin before a cluttered vanity, her glossy dark hair hanging loose down her back. Her eyes widened.
“Your Highness, Lady Narcissa,” Celeste said, executing a graceful curtsy. She turned to Lady Ruan. “My, if I had known you’d come with distinguished guests I would have tidied up.” Her smile moved the beauty mark on her cheekbone. I was impressed by how much she resembled her likeness on the flier.
“It’s no trouble,” I said.
“What lovely kitties you have!” she exclaimed, reaching out. Misty hissed at her gloved hand. Pippin hid behind Bennett’s legs.
“I’m sorry. They’re nervous around strangers.” I looked at Pippin oddly. I expected Misty to be prickly, but not Pippin.
“Don’t be.” Celeste recovered with a smile and gestured to the sitting area across the room. It was furnished elegantly, though much was drowned beneath a collection of frilly pillows. “Come, everyone, sit! It is such a pleasure to welcome the future rulers of Olderea. I’m sure touring the kingdom has been quite delightful.”
I studied her as we all took a seat. The singer was delicately beautiful, save for the fake beauty mark that stood out in contrast to her skin. Nothing looked suspicious in her room, but I couldn’t be sure with how cluttered it was.
“Thank you, Miss Carr. I can think of no better place than the Grand Alevine Opera to conclude our tour,” Bennett said, placing his hand over mine.
I jumped. I barely registered that he had taken a seat next to me. “Neither can I,” I managed to say, covering my surprise with a smile. “It is the gem of the city, as far as I can tell.”
This was another act for appearances, surely. Though why he chosenowto make an effort was beyond me. I shifted Misty onto my lap as an excuse to remove my hand from his.
Lady Ruan laughed. “Oh, I’m honored, though the real gem here is Celeste.”
The singer pushed the older woman playfully. “You flatter me, Lady Ruan,” she said, tossing her silken hair behind her shoulders. “I would love for you to come and see my performance tomorrow night, Lady Narcissa, Your Highness. I’ll be starring inOde to the Moon. Have you heard of it?”
I stroked Misty’s back. “I’m afraid I haven’t.”
Celeste reclined dramatically in her seat, looking every bit like the actress she was. “It’s a recent composition. I find the story so romantic. A lunar goddess falls in love with a mortal king, only to be shunned as a nefarious succubus by his people. Her grief is so great it takes her life, but her spirit returns to the moon.”
