Page 23 of The Black Key

“True. They’re even promoting me to Master Sergeant in a few days. There’ll be an official ceremony. Like I’ve done anything to warrant a promotion except turn a lot of Regimentals to our side.” He cocks his head. “I’ll have access to more information though. That’s a bonus.”

“Garnet, that’s amazing,” I say. “Really helpful. What else has been happening in the Jewel?”

“You’d think the bombings would have put a damper on all the parties and cotillions and whatnot, but people here are either ignoring it or assuming it’s something that will never touch them, that will just go away on its own.” He plops down onto a pink striped armchair. “I swear, the arrogance of some of them. . . . You know that barracks that got blown up in the Smoke two days ago?”

I think about the headline I saw on the train. “Yes.”

Garnet’s cheeks flush. “There were people on our side in there. And I get it, we have to make sacrifices, but to hear my royal friends talk, you’d think those Regimentals brought it on themselves. One of them even said to me, ‘They just don’t make them like they used to.’ How did they used to make Regimentals? The more I work with the men in red, the more I see that most of them have been conscripted against their will or just need a job to feed their families. The ones in the Jewel are the worst. They’re the real die-hards. That’s what makes the Auction so tricky—it’ll be all Jewel Regimentals guarding the Auction House. We really need the surrogates to bring that wall down. We need to get the people in here, to fight.”

I swallow my doubts, and say, “We can do it. We’ve got so many girls willing to help already.”

Garnet is lost in his own world. “You know, I can’t even reach out to most of those Regimentals personally. It’s too dangerous. I have to use other people, mostly privates and specialists and the like. No one will open up to a royal. I’m like the Lucien of Regimentals.” He rubs his temple. “I sort of understand why he’s so grumpy all the time.”

Looking at him now, I can’t believe this is the same man who wandered into my first dinner at the palace of the Lake, completely intoxicated, with no care other than where his next drink was coming from.

“I’m proud of you,” I say shyly. “For whatever that’s worth.”

Garnet’s face turns an even darker shade of red and he clears his throat. “Only a few more weeks to go, right?” he says. “Then we won’t have to sneak around anymore. I’m tired of playing at being a royal.”

“I’m tired of being treated like property again. Already,” I grumble.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I can’t really—”

I hold up a hand. “Like you said, a few more weeks and then this will be over, one way or another.” An uneasiness settles over us as that thought sinks in. We could be dead in a month. “Is it true that your mother is keeping Hazel in the medical room?” I ask, changing the subject.

“My mother doesn’t talk to me about the surrogate at all. Is that what Maude told you?”

“Yes.”

Garnet scratches his chin. “Then it’s probably true.”

I take a step toward him. “And you haven’t heard or seen anything that might make you think her life is in danger?”

“I haven’t, but like I said, no one talks to me about surrogates.” He frowns, as if he’s just realized something. “You should be careful. You shouldn’t speak around Mother or Cora, they could recognize your voice. Oh, and Carnelian.”

Carnelian. I’d nearly forgotten her. The Duchess’s niece, whom Ash was hired to escort. She found out about Ash and me, and told the Duchess. She got Ash thrown into a dungeon and nearly killed. Anger rises in my mouth, hot and bitter, like bile.

“This is so weird,” Garnet says. “I know it’s you, but you don’t look like you. I mean, I know Violet’s angry face and it’s almost like . . . like seeing that expression on a stranger.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“Yeah. It’s just . . . weird.” He stands and glances toward the door. “You should probably be getting out to the garden.”

“Right.” I have no idea what to do, how to be a lady-in-waiting.

Garnet’s expression softens. “Do whatever she says. Pick out dresses and stuff. And bring her breakfast if she wants it. That’s all the job is. I’m sure you remember.” I know he’s talking about Annabelle. “Here,” he says, heading over to a closet and handing me a soft, pink shawl. “Sorry about the color. Coral likes pink.”

I give him a weak laugh. “You think?”

My hands tremble as I wrap the shawl around my shoulders.

“Hey, Violet?” Garnet says. “What you did was reckless and all that, but for what it’s worth, I think your sister is lucky to have you.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, my throat tight. I point a finger at him. “It’s Imogen now. Don’t forget. I might.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he says with a grin.

My legs tremble as I make my way back downstairs and out into the garden.