“If you knew anything about me, which you do not, you’d know I would rather hang my own head in the office entryway than ever step foot near the Gleaming Palace. Unless I had to.”
Something told Evie she wouldn’t learn those things about her, at least not today. But The Villain knew; she could see it in his eyes.
Becky tossed the mask over to their boss, who caught it and tucked it into his pocket. “I’m sorry,” she said in defeat. “It was foolish.”
The Villain nodded, looking back toward the abandoned carriage and the startled horses. “I need to see to them.” He looked at Becky with a measure of respect and just a drop of gentleness when he said, “If we ever receive concrete evidence that the king is harboring a cure, I will retrieve it.” He looked to Evie, too. “For both of you.”
He strode back to the horses now shuffling their hooves in agitation, and Evie felt Becky’s owlish eyes seeing through her. “You have…someone with the illness?” Becky asked.
Evie straightened her skirts to give herself something to do with her hands. “My father.”
Becky’s expression was a mixture of shock and understanding. “My grandmother.”
They both stood there, silently appraising each other. It was strange. “You were really going to walk all the way to the capital?” Evie asked.
“I got the map of their usual route from the cartography closet. I thought I’d pretend to be one of them and hitch a ride right into the Gleaming Palace.” The third key—now it made sense.
Evie whistled. “Terrible plan.”
“As if you could’ve thought of anything better,” Becky scoffed, rolling her shoulders.
“I never said I could. I just said your plan was terrible.” Evie shrugged and smiled, self-satisfied.
“I can’t stand you,” Becky said, but there wasn’t any heat to her words.
“Back at you.” Evie rocked on her heels.
They both were silent again until they heard the boss call them over to get in the carriage. To take Evie home and to return Becky to the manor.
Before either of them moved, Evie said quietly, “I’m sorry about your grandmother.”
“I’m sorry about your father,” Becky said just as softly.
They both began walking, still keeping a healthy silence between them.
Evie broke it before they arrived at the carriage. “I don’t like that we have something in common.”
“Me either.” Becky shuddered. “Let’s never speak of it again.”
“Agreed.”
Chapter 39
Evie
“Where have you been?” Her sister’s screech filled the airy space of their home as Evie came through the door.
Her tiny arms wrapped around Evie’s middle, shaking slightly. A pang went through Evie’s chest as she knelt to wrap her arms around her sister. The Villain, as requested, had dropped Evie a healthy distance from her house, Rebecka frowning in the back seat. Evie had waggled her fingers at the woman before leaping out for the second time that day and running to her home.
To her family.
“I was trapped at work because of the storm. Didn’t the raven make it here last night?” Evie smoothed down the back of her sister’s braid, willing her to calm.
“It did, but Papa couldn’t get out of bed yesterday, and I couldn’t get the door to latch.” Lyssa pulled back, wiping her nose on the back of her sleeve. “It was unlocked all night, and I was afraid a bandit would come steal me and trade me for treasure.”
Smiling through the mental assault of imagining her little sister desperately shoving at the door, Evie brushed a tear off Lyssa’s face. “Oh, you silly goose. A bandit would never sell you for treasure.” Evie paused dramatically. “They’d almost certainly trade you for something more fun, like a giant bee.”
As desired, the sadness disappeared from her sister’s face and her eyebrows shot up, one side of her mouth quirking. “Can someone own a bee?”
“No, but I think you can rent them.” Evie began laughing as soon as Lyssa did.
They both doubled over onto the floor, rolling to their backs, side by side. Evie reached out a hand and placed it over Lyssa’s smaller one. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
“That’s okay. I know your work is important, and we need food, after all.”
“Lyssa!” Evie laughed through a gasp. “That is a terrible thing to joke about.”
Her little sister nodded, looking satisfied. “That’s why I said it.”