Page 38 of The Black Key

I talk to Lucien on the arcana most nights, before I see Hazel. Sometimes he’s too busy to talk at all. I wonder if he ever sleeps.

“I have good news for you,” he says one night. The Auction date is fast approaching. I am sitting in bed, brushing my hair, the arcana hovering near me.

“That’s always refreshing to hear,” I say.

“Ash made it to the Smoke.”

I sit up straight, dropping the hairbrush. “What? When? How do you know?”

“I believe you remember my associate the Thief.”

My heart warms at the memory of a young pickpocket with a soot-blackened face and a cavalier attitude. He helped us escape the Smoke. He helped Ash say good-bye to Cinder.

“He told me he made contact with Ash last night,” Lucien continues. “Quite close to his old house.”

“What?” I hiss, torn between relief that he is all right and anger that he’s gone back to that awful place. “What is wrong with him? Why would he go back?”

“Yes, it can be quite frustrating when the people you care about, the people you have sacrificed so much to protect, act without caution or regard to that protection, isn’t it?” I can picture the wry smile on his face. “But that is not all. Apparently, your brother is with him.”

“Ochre?” I gasp. “What . . . what’s he doing with Ash?”

“From what I gather, he discovered Ash leaving the Farm and insisted on accompanying him. It appears that acting without caution runs in your family.”

“Ugh!” I run my hands through my hair, yanking a few strands out in my frustration. “What is he playing at?”

“The same thing you and I and every Society member are. Freedom. Choice.”

“But you’ll help them, right? You can’t just leave them out there on their own.”

“Do you expect me to magically appear in the Smoke and offer Ash and Ochre sanctuary? I do have one or two things going on at the moment.” I open my mouth but he speaks again before I can say anything. “Of course they will be helped, Violet, they are Society members. For now, do your best not to worry too much about them. Your job is here. Watch over your sister. And when the time comes, bring down the wall.”

“You make it sound so easy,” I say. But the news that Ash is safe seeps into my chest, a knot of fear dissolving. Part of me is furious that Ochre is now at risk, too, but another part of me is grateful that Ash isn’t alone, that he has someone with him. I fall asleep that night feeling lighter than I have since I returned to this circle.

THE NEXT DAY, THOUGH, THE PALACE IS IN TURMOIL.

The kitchen is always bustling but this morning it’s a madhouse. Maids scrambling everywhere, steam issuing from pots, pans sizzling, dough being rolled out. Zara is shouting orders like a drill sergeant.

“Is this because of Garnet’s party?” I ask Mary, because she’s the only one who doesn’t look too frazzled to talk to me. I know today is the day of Garnet’s promotion ceremony.

“Yes. The Duchess just told Maude that the party for Garnet will probably be bigger than she expected. ‘Probably,’ she said. Zara and Maude don’t know what that means.” Mary looks worried. “The Duchess always gives exact numbers for events. She’s quite particular about it.”

I chew on this bit of information as I head up the stairs. I pass Three and One, a bulky Regimental with a shaved head, in close conversation with each other. I hear Three say, “. . . posted at all entrances, so at least twelve extra men,” before they disappear down another hallway.

“The kitchen is going crazy,” I say to Coral when I arrive, because she likes it when I fill her in every morning. “The Duchess is planning quite the party for your husband.”

“I know, it will be even bigger now,” she says, taking a sip of orange juice. “Is Elizabeth still mooning over William?”

“Why will the party be bigger now, miss?” I ask, sensing there’s more to that comment.

Coral gives me a conspiratorial smile and I lean toward her, eager in the way I know she likes when she is telling a secret. “I spoke to the Duchess last night before dinner and I said, wouldn’t it be just so lovely if the Jewel could see the surrogate again? I mean, she is carrying the future Electress of this city, after all. It would be such a boost to morale, what with everything happening in the lower circles. And the Duchess said it was very thoughtful of me and of course, it seems so cruel to deprive this city of celebrating the next generation of its leaders. So the surrogate is coming to the party after the ceremony! Isn’t that exciting!” She gives me her most serious look. “I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, but you’ll keep this a secret, won’t you, Imogen? Promise me.”

I can’t breathe. I can’t think. Why? Why now, after keeping Hazel locked up all this time? She’s not even pregnant—won’t people notice that? Coral’s pleas had nothing to do with it, I’m certain. The Duchess suddenly wants Hazel in public. There is a threat there, a very real, potent one and I can’t see it, I can’t understand it.

All I can do is force out a lie to the girl looking up at me earnestly.

“Yes,” I say. “I promise.”

Thirteen