A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1)(32)

“Oh?” It was all I could think to say. I liked Eliza’s spirit, but I didn’t like her being so mercenary about Magnus. If a man talked about a woman that way, I’d have called him a cad.

“He’s not the Magnus seal bearer; his cousin is. And his cousin is fat and married. Shame.” She sighed. “One never thinks of handsome boys as being without wealth. Beautiful women who live in poverty are an everyday tale.” Eliza clapped her hands, and the shopgirls departed. “You’ll have three day dresses and three for the evening, along with gloves and accessories and such. Not your commendation gown, though; I’m going to dream up something special.”

It occurred to me that Eliza was used to having her way over every living creature.

“Perhaps we might discuss it together,” I said.

“Nonsense. My taste is bound to be better than yours,” she said, waving her hand as if to dismiss me.

The remark stung. “There’s no need to be rude.”

Eliza gasped, putting a gloved hand to her cheek. “You’re cross with me.”



“No, I’m not,” I said, but to my surprise she shrieked with glee.

“No one’s ever cross with me! No one ever calls me rude! Listen, that settles it. I know it’s almost two months off, but you simply must be our special guest for the Court Players’ annual Dream.”

I had no idea what any of that meant. “Pardon?”

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You know, the play? It’s a social obligation every year, and it would be tedious except that the Court Players are the only troupe with actual faeries as actors, so it’s marvelous. You’ll be in our box. Say yes. Right now.”

I’d never been to the theater before. The closest I’d come was the Christmas play we performed each year at Brimthorn, so this was massively exciting. “Thank you, yes,” I said, feeling overwhelmed.

“Not at all. This is wonderful. I’m ever so glad they found a lady sorcerer I could be of an age with. When the last one was alive, I was too young.”

That was a baffling thing to say. “The last one was four hundred years ago. We were all a bit too young to be her friend.”

Eliza looked at me as if I were an adorable fool. “No, dear, four years ago. Remember? Gwendolyn Agrippa?”

“What are you talking about?” I felt as if I’d missed an important conversation.

Eliza gasped again. “They never told you? Oh, they’re positive fiends, all of them. Keeping you ignorant of something like that, well.”



“What are you talking about?” I couldn’t help speaking harshly. Eliza rolled her eyes.

“Gwendolyn Agrippa was a sorcerer. Or at least she was going to be. She tested positive for powers at her baptism when she was a baby—don’t look shocked, they baptize girls as well as boys for tradition’s sake—and you can imagine everyone’s reaction when she was found to have an active ability. The first girl in four hundred years! She received a stave, was an Incumbent in her father’s house. Good Lord, did they think you’d never find out? They thought she was the prophesied one, you know. Then she died of that piddling little fever, and they had to find another. So I’m ever so glad you’re here.” She beamed.

I thought I would be sick. Palehook had said I’d much to live up to.

I always thought Miss Agrippa to be among the brightest lights in our society. Some had clearly believed Gwen to be the prophesied one. Which meant that some would search for reasons to despise me. After my recent efforts in the obsidian room…

“You look ill,” Eliza said. “What’s wrong?”

“This is a great deal to take in,” I murmured.

“Don’t tell George I told you. Dear boy, he’s positively the most wonderful brother, but he does tend to think his word is law. Back in a tick,” she said, and bounced off to drag Blackwood out of his conversation with the seamstress.

Watching them, I wondered what Blackwood thought of Gwendolyn Agrippa’s status as the prophesied one.



We were soon back out on the street. Eliza drove off in her family carriage, leaning out the window to wave to me.

“Come next week for tea!” she called.

“She likes you. Eliza doesn’t like most girls,” Blackwood said, sounding rather impressed. He absently twined a pink silk ribbon around his hand. I was certain the pretty seamstress had given it to him.

I smiled wanly at his comment; my mind was preoccupied.

—

“A SURPRISE, MISS,” LILLY SAID WHEN I entered my room that evening. Seven parcels lay on the bed. “Your clothes from Madame Voltiana.”

“That was just hours ago!” Incredulous, I opened a bundle and uncovered a gorgeous wine-red evening gown with gold embroidery. “How is it possible?”

“Madame Voltiana’s special. Works like magic. I suppose it is magic, isn’t it?” Lilly giggled as she laid out my clothes. “These’ll suit you ever so much better. How about the red for tonight, miss? We’ll do your hair lovely again.”

Besides the gowns, there were stockings, a chemise, even knickers trimmed with lace. Everything was pure white; in my old life, such delicate things would have been impossible to keep spotless. There were soft goatskin gloves in fawn and cream. I petted one against my cheek and sighed. Every Christmas Eve, I’d listened to Jane Lawrence whisper about how she longed for kid gloves. Perhaps I could send her a pair this year.