The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, #1)(40)

Tamsin still looked dumbstruck, like Mistress Masterson was speaking a different language. “But . . . if the ranks shifted, then that means . . . I’m fourth.”

“Yes.”

It was a rare moment of Tamsin being stunned into silence, and I felt a lump in my throat. Jasper, seeing her dismay, gave her a stiff smile. “You’ll dazzle them as an emerald. Even if you aren’t invited to all the elite parties, I know you’ll be in high demand. I’m proud of you. I’m proud of all my girls—though it looks like my son managed to find the top jewel this season.” Jasper didn’t sound particularly proud of that. The top three had previously been all his acquisitions.

With the sudden dramatic turn of events, I’d nearly forgotten Cedric was here. I looked at him now and saw that he was quite possibly the most shocked person in the room. He couldn’t even fake a smile.

Jasper gave a few more encouraging words for the whole group, telling us how excited he was to take us to Adoria next week. He had significant trade to do and had chartered two ships for the journey. We’d be traveling with the girls from Guthshire Manor. Swan Ridge and Dunford would be in the other ship.

When we were dismissed, a flurry of excitement broke out, and I was immediately swarmed by girls wanting to know how I’d achieved such a feat. It was a relief when Mistress Masterson pulled me away to discuss a few logistics.

“It really is remarkable,” she told me in the privacy of the study. “Master Jasper wondered if there might be some deceit involved, but I told him if you’d found a way to cheat in playing the harp or dancing the Lorandian two-step, then that itself deserved some sort of reward. Remarkable.”

I swallowed. “I guess I just learned more than I realized. A lot of lessons from when I was a lady’s maid came back to me.”

“Well, we’ll all work hard to get these initial bumps fixed. I think it should come together fairly easily. The diamond attire is all white and silver, which will look nice on you as well. You’ll have to set aside some extra time for Miss Garrison to alter the clothes for you this week.”

“It’s no problem,” I said, still stunned at just how well my plan had worked. “Let me know what you need from me.”

Cedric appeared in the doorway, his earlier shock now covered by a jovial grin. “Mistress Masterson, do you mind if I borrow Adelaide when you’re done? I know this change must be a little daunting, and I just wanted to give her some encouragement.”

Mistress Masterson beamed. “Yes, of course. We’re all set.”

Winter still held its grip, but the sun had come out enough to make the day pleasant. Cedric suggested we go for a walk to enjoy the weather, but I suspected he just wanted to ensure we weren’t overheard. I felt small relief that he led us to a grove of hawthorn, rather than the old forest where he’d held the Midwinter ritual.

“What,” he demanded, “have you done? Are you completely out of your mind?”

“I’ve saved you, that’s what I’ve done!” I’d expected surprise but was a little taken aback by his vehemence.

He raked a hand through his hair, messing up where it had been neatly tied in the back. “You weren’t supposed to attract attention. I told you that on the first day! Didn’t you hear Mistress Masterson? No one does this. No one makes a score change that vast. No one gets a perfect score! No one.”

“I—”

“Do you think everyone’s just going to marvel about this?” he continued, pacing around. “Do you think they’ll all just chuckle and shake their heads? Someone’s going to ask questions! Someone’s going to wonder how a lady’s maid from a countess’s house performed so perfectly after months of average behavior! Someone’s going to make the connection that maybe that maid isn’t actually a maid!”

I strode up to him, hands on my hips. “So what if they do? Better I’m caught as a runaway noble than you outed as a heretic! Besides, in a couple of weeks, we’ll be on our way to Adoria. None of this will matter.”

“Don’t be so sure,” he said darkly. “These kinds of things can follow you anywhere.”

“What’s the worst that can happen? They haul me back to Grandmama? I’d rather that than you on the Osfro gallows!”

“You don’t think they’d hang me for kidnapping a peeress of the realm?” he asked, leaning toward me.

“No. I’d make sure you were innocent of any involvement. I’d take the full blame—but it’s not going to happen. Even if someone follows us to Adoria, I’ll be married before they can lay claim to me. And that,” I added proudly, “is the whole point of this. These scores are just the beginning. Wait until I’m there. I’ll dazzle them all. There’ll be a bidding war. I’ll have men eating out of my hand.”

“I don’t doubt it,” he grumbled.

“Don’t make fun of me,” I returned. “Because of what I’ve done, you’ll get the biggest commission of the season. You can even have some of my surety money. Maybe it won’t cover your whole stake in Westhaven, but it’ll certainly make things easier if the painting scheme falls through.”

He looked me over and declared, “Nothing involving you has ever been easy.”

I balled my fists at my sides. “The words you’re looking for are ‘Thank you, Adelaide, for going to all this trouble to help me out.’”