Read Online Garnet's Story by Amy Ewing - Free Book Online

more people than you could ever conceive of. Why do you think this girl is any different?”
    â€œYour face tonight,” I say bluntly. “When she was bleeding and . . . and crying. It was obvious.”
    Another pause. This one stretches so long, I grow impatient.
    â€œDo they have names? The surrogates, I mean,” I say. “Where do they come from?”
    â€œThey come from the Marsh,” he says curtly. “Surely you know that. And yes, they have names.”
    â€œAll of them?” I wish I hadn’t asked as soon as thequestion leaves my mouth.
    â€œAll of them.”
    â€œWell, what’s hers, then?”
    Lucien huffs. “Why do you care, Garnet of the House of the Lake, heir to the Duchess, member of a Founding House?”
    â€œDon’t throw titles at me. That’s not who I am.”
    â€œIt isn’t? Then please, enlighten me. Tell me who you are. Tell me why you are worthy to know her name.”
    â€œWorthy?” I stand up, my pulse racing. “Are you telling me I’m not worthy to know the name of some surrogate?”
    â€œThat is exactly what I am telling you. You split people into two groups; those who are royal and those who are not. Have you ever stopped to consider what the ‘nots’ feel about you? That they are human beings in their own rights, with hopes and dreams and feelings? And that they outnumber you ten to one at least?”
    I don’t know what to say to that. Because he’s right.
    â€œDo you know what happens to surrogates, Garnet?” Lucien continues, and his voice drops to a snakelike whisper.
    â€œThey . . . they make royal babies,” I stammer.
    â€œAnd then?”
    I hesitate. “I don’t know.”
    â€œThey die . Every. Single. One. Childbirth is lethal to them.”
    I have to repeat that last sentence over three times in my head before I understand it.
    So every single girl I’ve ever seen on a leash, or at a ball, or sitting mutely at a dinner table . . . they’re all dead.
    â€œThat—that can’t be right. Why would . . . how could that happen?”
    At this, Lucien laughs outright. “Did you even think about the surrogates until I asked you to watch one? Could you describe one for me, besides Violet?”
    â€œViolet?” I say.
    Silence.
    â€œIs her name Violet?” I ask again, in a more commanding tone.
    â€œYes,” Lucien replies grudgingly.
    â€œOh.” Violet. Violet plays the cello. Annabelle cares about Violet. These sentiments seem different when I put them together like this. The surrogate is Violet.
    If Violet has my little sister, Violet will die.
    â€œSo . . . what’s the plan? Are you trying to figure out some way for her to have a baby and survive?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen what? Come on, Lucien. Please. Trust me.”
    The wait for him to answer feels interminable.
    â€œCan I?” he asks finally. “What possible promise could you make that I would be certain of?”
    I think hard for a moment. Lucien doesn’t care about money or jewels or anything like that. He seems to care about people.
    â€œI’ll swear on Annabelle,” I say. “If I do anything to get the surrogate in trouble, she’ll be punished tenfold. And I’d never do anything to hurt her.”
    â€œHm.” Lucien sounds impressed. After a moment, he says, “I accept this promise.”
    â€œGreat, so what’s the plan?”
    â€œThe plan,” he says dramatically, “is to get her out of the Jewel.”

Nine
    H IS PLAN IS CRAZY. I MPOSSIBLE.
    It’s Lucien, so obviously he didn’t tell me any specifics, but there’s no way he could get her out of my mother’s house. Still, I keep looking for ways he might be able to do it. Sneak her out through the servant tunnels? Kidnap her at the Winter Ball? Hide her in a delivery crate?
    And he won’t tell me where he’s taking her or