I arched an eyebrow at her. The meek girl I’d met at Lord Daeg’s estate was vanishing, and that young woman had grown a bit of an independent streak. Good. I may depend on her counsel, someday. She had the potential to be my perfect foil. Where Gideon and I tended toward hotheadedness and impulsivity, Marlis was a steadfast anchor—cool and composed—keeping us grounded. “You did?”
“He also said there would be torte.” She peered over the top of her book. “Chocolate torte.”
My mouth watered. “I guess we’ll have to make ourselves presentable. How are you with hair tongs?”
“I used to arrange Lady Daeg’s hair for her.” She cocked her head to the side. “Time for me to earn my keep?”
“If you don’t mind.”
She set down her book again and met my gaze. “Evie, I’d curl your hair for a thousand years if you asked me. You got me and my brother away from Lord Daeg, and I can never repay you for that.”
I pursed my lips and sniffed. “That’s not how I remember it. Seems to me that you made up your mind to leave yourself.”
“I would have never had the courage to do it if you hadn’t led the way.”
“You owe me nothing, Marlis. I don’t hold debts against people I care about.”
“Still, I’ll curl your hair, gladly. I’d do it simply because we’re friends.”
I smiled. “In my experience, friends are rare commodities. I need as many as I can get.”
***
“I’ve noticed they like to eat around here,” I muttered to Gideon as we approached the door leading to Tereza’s private chambers. Marlis had dusted his coat, and he’d combed his hair, leaving it loose to fall over his shoulders. My fingers itched to touch it, to wind a finger through the pale streak at his temple. Instead, I cleared my throat. “Everything seems to revolve around food.”
He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “You’re complaining? After almost starving for the last few weeks?”
“Not complaining, merely stating an observation.”
“Marlis said there would be torte.”
I snickered. “You too, Gideon?”
“What?” A grin tugged at his lips. “I can’t be excited about chocolate?”
“Nothing would thrill me more than to see you excited about something other than berating me.”
He took my hand and folded it into the crook of his arm as we reached the footman who bowed before opening Tereza’s door. Gideon lowered his voice and leaned close. “But berating you is my most favorite pastime.”
“Evie!” the empress exclaimed as we stepped through the doorway. She rose from her seat, a huge sofa upholstered in umber velveteen. Her turquoise gown glowed like a gem against her olive skin. “You look divine.”
I glanced at my simple gray silk dress. “Do I?”
“Of course.” She crossed the room, gathered my hands together, and squeezed. “I am so, em, delighted you are here. Come. Let me introduce you.”
Tereza tugged me forward. A girl several years younger than me, but with Tereza’s coloring and bone structure, rose from her seat and dropped in a neat bow. Instead of the empress’s complicated coiffeur, the girl wore her hair in a thick black braid trailing over her shoulder, hanging nearly to her ribs. Rather than a gown, she wore a pair of elegant black trousers and a velvet waistcoat dyed a deep bloody red.
A girl after my own heart. I glanced at my own dress and frowned.
“My sister.” Tereza gestured to the girl. “Karolina.”
I ducked into a curtsey, but when I came up, the girl’s attention had shifted somewhere behind me, and a furious blush blazed in her cheeks. “Hello, Gideon.”
Tereza huffed, pinched her sister’s shoulder, and stomped her foot. “You’re standing before a queen, Karolina. Show your respect.”
Biting my lips so I wouldn’t gape at them or laugh, I stepped aside, turning to observe Karolina and Gideon at the same time. “I take it the two of you have already met?”
Gideon’s gaze darted away, landing on an empty space unoccupied by curious women. He cleared his throat and tucked his hair behind his ear. “The lady is a frequent visitor at the stables.” His expression soured. “But she failed to mention she was the princess.”
Karolina rolled her eyes. “Where’s the fun in that?” She spoke Inselgrish comfortably, and her Bonhemmish accent was nearly imperceptible.
Tereza’s mouth thinned into a strained line. “You live to, em, torment me. Evie, is this the right word? Torment?”
I chuckled. “Yes, I think, so. Gideon’s purpose in life is similar. He enjoys annoying me as well.”
My companion sniffed and shifted his weight. I ignored him and scanned the room, which was paneled in pale oak and filled with bookshelves, a billiards table, a pianoforte, and a green felted games table. “Is Otokar not joining us?” I asked.
“He will be here shortly. He had work to finish in his laboratory.” Tereza motioned to the room, gesturing at all it encompassed. “In the meantime, which do you prefer? Music, or games?”
I glanced at Gideon, noting how his attention had settled on the felted table. “I’m not much good with musical instruments,” I said.
“You sing, though,” Gideon said. “I’ve heard you.”
My eyes popped wide. “You have?”
“You used to sing to yourself all the time at Fallstaff.” He winked. “You have a nice voice.”
I tugged at the bodice of my dress, which had suddenly grown tight and hot. “How about a game? We can talk and play at the same time.” I narrowed my eyes at Gideon. “And no one will be put on the spot.”
