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I WAS DREAMING.
In my dreams I was flying, and then I was falling, and then I was flailing.
And then I slammed into the waking world.
“Huh?” I woke up, nearly shooting out of my chair. At once, I noticed the uncomfortable ache in my back and my neck; the smell of soot shot across my senses and pain pierced through my forehead. I was unable to process how much time had passed since I had fallen asleep.
Blinking, I looked around and steadied myself. I had fallen asleep in a chair next to Tulia’s bed after we had brought her back to the house.
At the small tapping on my knee, I rubbed my eyes clear of the morning blur to see Tulia looking up at me.
The speckles of dots across her face had scarred over, but I saw no signs of permanent trauma in her eyes.
“Tulia!” I cheered, carefully reaching over to embrace her. “You’re awake.”
She smiled weakly, rolling her eyes, as if to say with all of her regular spunk, “I’m alive.”
“I’m so glad. We were worried for you.”
The eyes crinkled again, this time with curiosity.
“We, including Ben and ... Lady Penelope, too,” I said, answering her unspoken question. “My grandmother.”
Her eyebrows crinkled again, and then she exhaled, defeated.
“I won’t let her hurt you,” I promised.
Her fingers, stiff with bandages mixed with dried blood and healing herbs, flicked at me. She was not afraid of Lady POW.
I hesitated for a long moment. Part of me knew I should go and call for Amir and let the others know Tulia was awake. We needed to know what happened to her, and who was behind it.
But ...
“Why didn’t you tell me about her?” I asked.
Tulia reached over and took my hand, gently squeezing it. Our eyes met, and for the first time in a long time, I had to guess at what she was trying to tell me.
“Did my mother want you to keep us from her?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Why?” I asked. “Was it because of Lady POW—er, Lady Penelope? Or because of the Order?”
Her expression gave me the answer long before she did. Tulia knew about the Order; I did not have to explain it to her. As I mentioned it, she closed her eyes, as though to stop any tears she might shed.
She nodded again. Her hand tightened in mine, as she slowly signaled her answer to me.
“The Order has many enemies.”
“Enemies? You mean like the person who attacked you last night?” I bit my lip. “And the people who killed Dr. Artha?”
For a quick second, I saw the surprise on her face, and then I saw it transform into tired resignation. Tulia nodded again.
I sat back in the chair, slumping over with a sigh. It was easy to see what had channeled Máma’s decision to keep her children a secret from her mother, especially if Lady POW was as relentless a leader back then as she was now.
Tulia slowly moved her hand, placing her palm over her heart. She patted it twice, before nodding to me.
“I am sorry.”
“I know.” I closed my eyes and sighed. I would forgive her, of course, just as I had forgiven my mother. It was hard to say if Lady Penelope would forgive her, and I was petty enough to hope she would not. Lady Penelope’s anger seemed to be more of a punishment than my rejection.
I jolted upright in my chair as the door opened behind us.
“Well, you’re awake.” Lady Penelope’s voice was as sharp as ever, leaving me to wonder if she was talking to Tulia or me.
Tulia’s speckled face twisted into a grimace.
“I was hoping that we would not meet again, either. Family reunions have never been pleasant for us.”
“Family?” I asked.
“Just how much have you kept from them, Tulia? Were you just acting under Dezda’s orders? Or maybe Jakub’s?”
“Who’s Jakub?” I asked.
“Your grandfather,” Lady Penelope replied with a disdainful snort. “Tulia is his half-sister.”
Tulia nodded as I looked at her. She gave me a small, rueful smile. Her fingers moved over mine. “A bastard child.”
I said nothing. And nothing happened. I did not ask any questions, nor did I start spewing accusations or lashing out in anger. I was getting tired of being surprised, but I continued to sit there, still and silent, somehow waiting for more surprises to come along.
“Which is why I’m not terribly surprised that she has betrayed us, come to think of it,” Lady Penelope continued.
Tulia rolled her eyes, and I just stared blankly between the two of them. I was numb to the tension around us, even though I could sense it.
“Since she has neglected to tell you our wonderful family history, it would be better for you to wait with the others in the library. Your curiosity, Eleanora, as endearing as it can be when it is not inconvenient, would only keep us from getting down to business.”
“But if she is family,” I objected, “then I should be here for her.”
“Operating like a business is better, when your family is full of secrets and lies.”
“I’m part of the business, too, now that I am a member of the Order.” I stood up, facing her, prepared to fight her objections.
“And as such, you should listen to my commands.” She crossed her arms in front of her and shook her head. “Your anger right now is exactly the reason you should leave. You struggle to keep your focus enough.”
Tulia brushed her fingers against my skirt. I turned and watched her nod, telling me she would be fine, and it was true that I should go.
“I want Amir in here first,” I said slowly. “He needs to check her injuries.”
“Go and send for him, then. I can trust him to remain silent.”
Tulia made a small movement, telling me she was still tired and wanted to rest longer. I began to translate for Lady POW, but she shook her head.
“There’s no need. I know what she is saying. It has been many years, but we have not forgotten how to communicate.”
“Fine. I won’t bother trying to help you again,” I muttered, irritated at her lack of graciousness.
As if to prove it, Tulia signed a vicious insult, and Lady Penelope scowled. For a long moment, they stared daggers at each other.
When they finished their silent battle, Lady POW turned back to me. “Go and get Amir. He might as well tend to her for a few hours, and then we can ask her our questions. I will stay here until he arrives.”
I frowned.
“There are a few questions I have for her.” Lady POW arched her brow at me. “And besides, we will need her for our investigation, Eleanora, so you need not worry that I will allow any further harm to come to her.”
“I didn’t think you would,” I said with a sigh, before moving around her and heading out the door. “But when she has rested enough, I am coming back with Ben. We both deserve to know the truth, especially after last night.”
Lady POW scowled, but she said nothing. I had to wonder if she was more frustrated I refused to do what she wanted or if she was more upset she could not bring herself to correct me.
I took comfort in the opportunity to escape. My body ached from sleeping poorly, my mind was fuzzy and full of too many possibilities to worry exclusively about one reality. My clothes smelled of pungent smoke, and my hair was falling from the last of its pins.
But most of all, I was weary.
It seemed everything that had changed since the night of Lady POW’s arrival ran up to me, catching me all at once. Since then, I had a completely new life; I struggled to imagine what life would have been like if Alex and Teresa Marie were still to be married, if I had never been freed from Cecilia’s servanthood, and if I had never learned the truth about my mother, my work, and my home. My life.
All I knew was things were different, and there was no going back. There was only going forward, and there was no guarantee that there would be any rest or renewal.
The magic of Prague’s far away city had dimmed, and in my disillusionment, I encountered a terrible plot to overthrow the kingdom. I had watched as one of my dearest companions almost burned and bled to death, and I saw that same companion turned into an unrecognizable family member. I was constantly being pulled in all sorts of directions.
Sighing, I shook my head. I was not just tired of being surprised. I was tired of being disappointed.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
HOURS LATER, WE WERE still waiting for Tulia to wake up again. Despite the delay in the investigation, I was glad for the break. I was able to get a bath and wash my hair, change my clothes, and take a proper nap. I was also glad that Lady Penelope sent out our regrets for the evening, citing my twisted ankle from the previous night as the reason I would not be in attendance for Society’s delight.
She informed me of her decision when we were in the library together, still waiting to hear from Tulia.
“Thank you,” I replied, clutching the book in my lap. I was ignoring it as Lady POW worked at my father’s desk, but it helped to feel I had some protection from her direct study.
“That was good thinking on your part last night, you know.” She gave me a reluctant smile. “It gives us an excuse to stay away, and it will still make people talk. Perhaps their pity will be even more useful than your presence.”
“I’m glad it helped. At least I am good at something, even if it is lying.”
Lady Penelope’s hands tightened together. “I suppose I should apologize to you, Eleanora.”
The book dropped to the floor. “What?”
Lady Penelope smirked. “I know. Shocking, isn’t it? And you have already had quite a few surprises lately.”
“That is an understatement,” I agreed. “But not one worth your apology.”
“I do not want to apologize for the truth,” Lady Penelope corrected. “You are doing well as a member of the Order, and I am proud of what you have done so far. If I do not express it, it is usually because I am not accustomed to surprises, either.”
“Is it a family trait?” I asked with a small smile.
“Probably,” she replied. “Just as curiosity is, no doubt. But my apology is more for the matter of our instruction. You are family first, and it has been a very, very long time since I have had to worry about family before work, if, in all fairness, I have ever done so.”
I watched her as she said it, and it was hard to fault her as anything less than genuinely repentant.
Ben had said before that everyone was devastated by Máma’s death, and it looked like the truth; but much like the truth, I did not realize it affected others as much as it did me.
“I’m just glad I am not a failure,” I said.
Lady Penelope cleared her throat again, clearly uncomfortable. “These are early days between us, Eleanora,” she said. “Our time will stretch out into eternity, and we must make it count. If there is any failure between the two of us, it is with me.”
Lady Penelope met my gaze, and I felt a small ripple of approval from her. “Thank you. I did not want you to be angry with me.”
“You should never fear my anger,” Lady Penelope said. “Not as long as we are on the same side.”
I nodded.
“From what Amir told me about your adventure earlier,” Lady Penelope continued, “I can understand the reasons for it. I am glad to hear that you have good friends in the city. I cannot imagine Cecilia has made it easy for you to meet with them since your father’s death.”
Was she talking about Ferdy? I frowned, wondering if Amir had embellished our relationship in order to protect me. Lady POW would not fault loyalty, especially if there was good cause for it. Amir did not know the exact nature of my interest in Ferdy. Was it possible he had misread my interest when I told him? Or maybe I had given too much of my affection away?
I shrugged. “Oh, well, I really just met—”
“And it does help that they are apparently well informed of the city’s secrets and news. Imagine the surprise when people find out there is an actual heir to the Bohemian throne. Tulia confirmed the report.”
When she saw my troubled look, she added, “I told you earlier, Eleanora, I had a few questions for her. When you left, I asked them.”
“So you know the truth, then?”
“Yes. Empress Maria Anna was pregnant when your mother arrived in Prague. That was the reason she was worried about the kingdom, primarily. She did not want the Revolution to claim her son’s life, even if he could not inherit the throne.”
“It also makes sense that she called for the Pope then,” I said. “She would have been very concerned about her situation, as a Catholic mother.”
Lady Penelope shrugged. “All mothers worry for their children. I know your mother must have worried for you.”
There was no doubt in my mind that Lady POW was right. I was not happy with Tulia and my mother’s deception and secrecy, but I was sure of their love for me.
“You suspect Karl Marcelin is the heir,” Lady Penelope said, changing the subject.
“He is the right age, and Lord Maximillian, the Duke of Moravia, is interested in working with him. Karl told me that His Grace wants him to marry Lady Teresa Marie. And it makes sense, from what I heard, if their plot is to free the kingdom from the empire.”
Lady Penelope snorted. “Freedom from the empire would only lead to its death. But I commend them on their vision. It is a noble goal, even if it carries great risk and flawed methods.”
“If Karl does get the position of Minister-President,” I said, “he would be able to push for his election as King of Bohemia, wouldn’t he?”
“In theory.” Lady Penelope looked down at the scribbled mess before her. “The king would have to be ratified by the constitution of Bohemia, which would require acceptance by the Upper and Lower Houses, including the Bohemian and German Diets, and by the Reichsrat. That is a lot of votes.”
“Is there any way he could do it without all those?” I asked. Karl did not seem like someone who would worry about defeat when it came to getting what he wanted.
“Only if the majority of them were killed,” Lady Penelope said. “Many people have died in the recent string of murders, but it is unlikely he would be able to continue using that method. If, indeed, he is behind the murders at all.”
“If he is the heir, and working toward the crown, it is something to consider.”
“To consider? Absolutely. To accuse? Maybe. But judgment at this point is early. We would need something that directly links him to the killings.”
The door to the library swung open, and I was surprised to see Harshad enter. I had not seen him much over the past few weeks, and when I did, it was only for moments, if not seconds, at a time.
“Well, Pepé, you know what the Scriptures say,” Harshad said, as he made his way over to the desk. He held out a small square of linen before her. “Ask and you shall receive.”
“You know who it belongs to,” Lady Penelope cheered. She stood up in triumph, snatching the handkerchief out of his hand. “Tell me who the unlucky bastard is.”
“The man in question was a worker in the household of Mr. Roman Szapira,” Harshad said. “While John was not able to follow your enemy into the house, he did see our culprit go into the servant’s entrance at the Szapira mansion across town.”
“Szapira?” I repeated. The name sounded familiar. Only a second passed before I remembered where I had heard it. “That’s where Karl is staying for the season, until the Advent Ball.”
“Well, then, we have our proof.” Lady Penelope smirked. She clapped her hands together eagerly. “It seems that Mr. Marcelin is determined to gain his throne, no matter what he has to do.”
“I don’t think he is like that,” I said, suddenly flushing over as I thought of his sincerity and eagerness in wanting to dance with me. There was nothing sinister about him that I had seen. “Maybe there is another reason why our attacker was at Mr. Szapira’s house.”
“I do not believe in coincidences,” Lady Penelope said. “And that is not just because of location. There is timing to consider, too, and opportunity.”
Harshad met her gaze, and rather than switching to another language, I watched as they communicated with their eyes. I saw the thrill of discovery in Lady Penelope’s, and the grim hesitation in Harshad’s eyes.
“I give up,” I groaned. “I can’t read your minds, as you two apparently can.”
“Roman Szapira has recently completed renovation of Prague Castle’s wine cellar,” Harshad said. “He would know his way around the castle very well. And he would be able to infiltrate it. Marcelin has only recently struck up a good friendship with him since he returned to Prague.”
“That minimizes Szapira’s role,” Lady Penelope said. “Marcelin must have a plan to take care of his adversaries at the Advent Ball. That is when Count Potocki is supposed to announce his official last day as Minister-President. He told me so himself at the Summerhouse Ball.”
I had been wondering if Count Potocki gave Lady Penelope any useful information after Karl escorted me out of the ballroom.
“We have received more than one invitation for the Advent Ball,” Harshad said. “So we will be there without cause for suspicion.”
“Good.” Lady Penelope pursed her lips together. “Now we just have to plan what we will do once we are there.”
That is also when Lord Maximillian wants to announce Karl’s engagement to Lady Teresa Marie. I thought about what Karl told me when he had escorted me out to my carriage the previous night.
As Lady POW and Harshad continued to discuss the likely scenarios, I was briefly taken aback, realizing it had been less than a day since I found out Karl was the heir to the Bohemian throne, and that he was infatuated with me to the point he was almost risking his political future.
It had also been less than a day since I had seen Ferdy—and less than a day since I had kissed him. My cheeks burned at the thought of him and my heart began to beat faster inside my chest.
Then, just as quickly, all color and blood drained from my face as I realized that if Karl did do something at the Advent Ball, Ferdy would be there, too. He was going to be in danger.
I can’t let anything happen to him.
My heart lurched, imagining Ferdy poisoned, his body still like Father Novak’s, surrounded by any number of other corpses. Or maybe it was possible he would be stabbed, I thought, thinking of Dr. Artha.
I stood abruptly, so fast even Lady POW and Harshad turned to face me.
“What’s wrong, Eleanora?” Lady Penelope asked. “You have a strange look on your face.”
“It’s ... it’s ... ” I stammered, trying to put my thoughts into words properly.
Before I could manage, there was another knock at the door, and Ben poked his head inside. “Tulia’s awake,” he said. “She’s ready to answer more of our questions.”
Ours, not yours.
Lady POW looked at me once more, silently asking me if I was going to say anything. She wanted to know what concerned me, and I did not want to share with her the newfound fear in my heart.
While she had just commended me for my quick thinking, I did not want her to see me as weak for caring so ardently for a boy like Ferdy. From what I had seen of her, she would only see it as an unnecessary complication.
I could not risk losing him to Lady POW any more than I could willingly risk his life at the Advent Ball.
I shook my head, and Lady Penelope allowed me to keep my silence on the matter. As we walked toward Tulia’s room, I decided to talk to Ben once we were able to learn more from Tulia. Between the two of us, I knew we would be able to come up with a plan to save Ferdy.