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girl’s elbow. I hate that these sorts of things keep surprising me. As if I previously assumed surrogates were monsters in human skin, or mechanical, or made out of glue and string.
    â€œTell me,” I say as we make our way out of the library. “Who do you hate more? My father or my mother?”
    I’m pretty sure she’s had no contact with Father, but I’m dying to know what she thinks of Mother.
    â€œExcuse me?” she says, shocked.
    â€œI’d have to go with my mother,” I say. Three is patrolling the halls and he stands at attention as I pass, the buttons on his Regimental coat gleaming. “My father is as dull as a post, so at least he’s easy to overlook. But there’s just no ignoring my mother.”
    Violet doesn’t respond, and I find myself rambling, saying anything that pops into my head, hoping to get some reaction, some sense of who this person is and why Lucien cares about her so much.
    â€œShe’s gotten even worse since Carnelian came to live here. Poor kid. First her father dies, then her mother commits suicide. Very shocking. Scandalous for the House of the Lake.”
    â€œCarnelian’s mother killed herself?” she gasps.
    I nod as we take one of the back staircases up to the second floor. “She was a strange woman, my aunt. Strangeand sad. I never really got to know her well—my mother despised her. I think Carnelian hates her and misses her in equal measure. It makes her a very unpleasant person to be around.”
    I think this is the most I’ve spoken about Aunt Opal since she died.
    â€œWhy does she hate her?” Violet asks.
    â€œBecause her mother left her all alone,” I say. In the light of this conversation, I actually find myself feeling bad for Carnelian.
    â€œWhy did the Duchess despise your aunt?”
    Is she serious? My aunt was in the news long before she took a rope and wrapped it around her neck.
    â€œBecause she left,” I say. “You do get the papers in the Marsh, don’t you? Aunt Opal was not House of the Lake material. Especially not after she turned her back on her royal lineage and ran off with some newspaper man from the Bank.” I grin, because I can’t believe Mother acts like I am the most disgraced member of this family. “Really, my mother has had it quite hard. A crazy sister, a broken engagement—to the Exetor, of all people—and . . . me. Ah, here we are.”
    We’ve arrived at her chambers and I knock on the door. Annabelle opens it and looks very surprised to see me with her charge.
    â€œAnnabelle,” I cry, wrapping an arm around her, so Violet will see that we are friends and I’m not all that scary. Annabelle blushes and tries to curtsy but I’m in the way. If Violet weren’t here, she’d probably whack me with her slate for being so improper.
    â€œI’ve returned the surrogate safe and sound,” I say, and she ducks her head in thanks. “It was lovely meeting you,” I say to Violet. “Officially. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon. And stay out of Carnelian’s way if you can help it,” I add, giving her a wink. “I think she’s got it in for you.”
    My words ring truer in my ears than I thought they would. Though they haven’t interacted all that much, I do get the strong feeling that Carnelian detests Violet. But then I shrug it off and head to my tuxedo fitting, because really, what could Carnelian possibly do?

Ten
    â€œT HE TIME IS ALMOST COME,” L UCIEN SAYS TO ME, THE morning of the Winter Ball.
    I’m surprised, not only because he rarely calls me in the morning, but because he usually doesn’t freely offer up information like that.
    â€œShe will be leaving tomorrow night,” he continues. “The reason I’m telling you this is because I will likely not be able to contact you again until the plan is executed. However, should anything go