“Yes, Your Grace,” she whispered.
His mood improved, a bounce returning to the clipped ends of his words. “Very good. Now see to it that you have more to offer the next time we meet. And remember, my dear, if you are caught in the act of investigating the king’s sister, I unfortunately will not be able to come to your aid. So use caution.”
Cinderella nodded mutely.
“I will summon you again in three days.”
Three days.
Cinderella walked mindlessly, her feet automatically taking her back to the duchess’s chambers. With every step, her heart hammered in her ears.
What should she do now?
The answer was clear. She didn’t trust the Grand Duke, in spite of his sterling reputation as the king’s trusted adviser. How could she help him, knowing he’d had a hand in exiling Lenore’s kind?
But what about Louisa’s job in the palace? Cinderella squeezed her hands into fists.
What will I tell him when he calls for me again? What will I say when he asks what I’ve learned about the duchess?
While on her way, she hurried through the portrait gallery, but this time she focused on the paintings of the duchess. The last one of Genevieve portrayed her and her husband, a studious-looking young man, and their three young children. It was the only portrait in the entire gallery with the Duke of Orlanne. His smile was warm, and tucked in his breast pocket was a lavender handkerchief, its color matching the fan in his wife’s hand.
Lavender, like Cinderella’s sash.
Craning her neck, she leaned closer to read the spines of the books painted behind the duke. Most of the words were too small for her to make out clearly, but she deciphered the wordenchantmentson one of the books....
“Cinderella, Cinderella!”
Across the hall, Louisa hurried toward her. Her friend was out of breath, and her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“Aunt Irmina wants us back at Blooms and Looms right away. Something about an urgent announcement.”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s only a rumor. But”—Louisa’s hazel eyes glittered with excitement—“but they say the king is throwing another ball!”
Another ball? The news made Cinderella furrow her brow. Did that mean the prince had given up on searching for her? Did it mean he was seeking a new bride?
“You go ahead,” she said, “I... I need to finish a few things for the duchess before I come.”
Chin up,she told herself as Louisa headed back to the servants’ quarters.Who cares about another ball, anyway? You’re here to make a new life, not mope over the prince.
No matter how much she wanted to see him again.
Whatever the rumor was, whether there was to be a ball or not, Cinderella wouldn’t give it a second thought. What mattered most now was finding a way to protect Duchess Genevieve and helping Louisa keep her job in the palace.
And all that depended on untangling herself from the mess she’d gotten herself into with Grand Duke Ferdinand.
On most occasions, Genevieve d’Orlanne would have been the last person Ferdinand wanted to see, but today he sought her out. He needed information, and he didn’t trust that doe-eyed servant girl to get it for him soon enough. Luckily, he knew just how to needle the king’s sister.
“I do not recall inviting you to tea, Ferdinand,” Genevieve said, receiving him frostily.
“I’ll have coffee then, thank you.” The Grand Duke snapped his fingers, sending the nearest servant into a frenzied dance to fetch a fresh pot.
Genevieve glared at him as he took the seat across from her. “That isn’t what I meant.”
His cup of coffee arrived promptly. Crossing one leg over the other, Ferdinand took a sniff before sipping.
“What do you want?”
