Read Online The Emperor's New Clothes by Victoria Alexander - Free Book Online Page A

shrugged—“no one did see it.”
    â€œBecause?” Goodness, didn’t this child see what was right in front of her?
    â€œBecause…it didn’t really exist. Nobody would admit they couldn’t see the cloth because they didn’t want to look stupid. The tailors made the whole thing up to get money, or no, maybe it was jewels, from the emperor.” Jenny’s eyes widened, and she stared at her sister with realization. “Oh, no, Ophelia. You can’t! You wouldn’t!”
    â€œI can and I will.” Determination underlay her words. “It’s a marvelous scheme, a perfect plan.”
    â€œWe’ll go to jail,” Jenny wailed.
    â€œNonsense.” Ophelia flicked her hand in the air in a dismissive gesture. “We won’t go to jail if we aren’t caught. And I have no intention of getting caught. Besides”—she tapped her fingers on the volume’s cover—“there’s only one real emperor around here.”
    â€œBig Jack Matthews?” Jenny collapsed onto the bed in a heap of disbelief. “But you said he was so nice.”
    â€œHe is nice, and obscenely rich to boot. That’s why this will work so wonderfully well. Don’t you understand?” Ophelia perched on the bed beside her sister. “First of all, nice people usually believe the best of others. That’s why they’re so easy to fool. Secondly, nice people who also have money tend not to be quite as upset about losing some of it as unpleasant people who have money or people who have no money at all.”
    â€œYou’re really going to dupe him out of his money?”Jenny cast her a look that fell somewhere between abject wonder and sheer horror.
    Ophelia sighed. “How do you think I’ve been supporting us for the past six years?”
    â€œYou’ve always said you didn’t cheat.” Jenny glared.
    â€œWell, I don’t for the most part,” Ophelia said sharply.
    Jenny narrowed her eyes. “And do you steal?”
    â€œNot generally,” Ophelia hedged.
    â€œHave you ever swindled anyone?”
    â€œI’ve had my moments.” Ophelia clenched her teeth. “But I suppose not in the strictest definition of the word, at least not in any significant way.”
    â€œSo, right now, you—I mean we—haven’t really done anything terribly illegal.”
    Ophelia thought for a moment. “Not terribly, no.”
    Jenny threw her sister a pleading look. “Then why start now?”
    â€œJenny.” Ophelia struggled to remain patient. “We need to settle down. We need to have a real home. But that takes money and we don’t have any. This is the perfect opportunity to change our circumstances. A chance that may only come along once. I refuse to pass it up.”
    â€œBut it’s wrong,” Jenny cried.
    â€œWrong is relative.” Ophelia waved her hand blithely. “It’s not as if I was suggesting something exceptionally vile. For example, I would never steal from orphans.”
    â€œIt’s good to know you’ll draw the line somewhere,” Jenny snapped.
    â€œWell, I do have my standards.” Ophelia’s manner was lofty. “And if you look at this properly, we’re orphans ourselves. I’m certain Big Jack wouldn’t mind contributing to the health and well-being of orphans.”
    Hope glimmered in Jenny’s eye. “Then why don’t you just ask him for the money?”
    â€œJenny!” Ophelia gasped. “That would be charity.” She shook her head. “I could never take money given as charity.”
    â€œNo,” Jenny groaned, “you’d rather steal it.”
    â€œIt’s much more fun that way.” Ophelia grinned. “But I’m really not talking about actual thievery here. I shall have to work very hard. Why, it’s almost a legitimate…job. You could even call it good, honest