The Everlasting Rose (The Belles, #2)(55)

The bargain is sealed.





Lady Arane’s office glows like a sun trapped in a box. Night-lanterns and miniature sky candles warm the space amid the darkness of the caves. Tall bookshelves line three walls with frayed spines of old titles. Maps of the kingdom and its cities along with cameo portraits of Sophia’s cabinet and other unfamiliar faces cover the table.

A dozen or more women stand when we enter. They’re all various shades of gray, their straw-textured hair styled in different ways and full of multicolored powders, and their black eyes stare back at us with curiosity. They salute Lady Arane. Her presence sends a wave of serious energy through the space.

“Be at ease, everyone, and have a seat. Please welcome Camille and Edel,” she directs.

The women nod.

“Belles, these are more of my disciples,” she says to us.

The women introduce themselves in rapid succession, and I can’t hold on to all of their names. Two additional seats are brought for Edel and me.

Lady Arane removes her cloak, handing it to a nearby woman. A tiny gavel is placed in front of her. She taps it on a wooden pad. “I hereby call this official meeting in session. Thank you, loyal Iron Ladies. May your threads always remain strong,” she says.

“And may your web serve you well,” they chant back.

“First order of business is reviewing the modification boxes. Are they still on schedule to be distributed tonight?”

“Yes, Lady Arane,” one replies. I think her name is Liara.

“Let me see them. Our trip above was fruitful in many ways.” Lady Arane winks at me, then turns back to the woman. “I left more items to be given to all.”

One woman stands and returns with stacks of hat boxes. She unhooks their closures and exposes their contents—toilette box items and rudimentary beauty products.

“I thought you all embraced a life without beauty,” Edel sneers.

“These are for medicinal purposes. Choosing to live as a Gris person and embracing your natural template does have its challenges. We’re not ignorant or untruthful about it. These items help our residents cope with the pain of it all.” She lifts a vial. “This is eye serum.” She shakes a tub of crème. “This softens the hair to prevent it from falling out.” She closes the lid. “Get the point?”

Edel scowls and sits back in her chair.

Lady Arane returns her attention to her people. “Have the latest newspapers gone out?”

“Yes,” one answers. “Just an hourglass ago. We sent the newsies and transports. The Spider’s Web should reach major cities by the time the afternoon papers are distributed.”

“Good.” Lady Arane nods. “See, girls, what we’re doing here?” She turns to me, her dark eyes burning into mine. “Do you know what we really and truly want?”

“To get rid of Sophia,” I reply.

“Yes.” Lady Arane nods. “But I’m going to teach you three lessons while I have you. The first, when bargaining, never show your complete hand. Always keep the thing you want most tucked deep down.” She drums her fingers on the table. “The ultimate goal is to force the House of Orléans to fall. To trigger another Beauty Trial.”

“But I thought you wanted to teach the world of Orléans to embrace a life without beauty,” I say. “Not another Beauty Trial. Is that ritual even real?”

The women fixate on me. The heat of their glares sends a nervous ripple down my spine.

“And wouldn’t that be up to Princess Charlotte?” Edel adds.

“The people will have their say,” she replies. “Even if we do succeed in removing Sophia and Charlotte takes the throne, her newly appointed cabinet won’t solve the core issue—changing how beauty work affects this kingdom. We need an eradication of the old way, and new leadership as the first step.”

“I assume you mean you. That’s what this is about, isn’t it? Your play for power,” Edel challenges.

The women gasp.

“Edel,” I say.

“How dare you! Her web is the strongest!” one says.

“She catches every fly—and even lions—in her threads,” another barks.

“She is blessed,” a third adds.

Lady Arane lifts a hand, silencing the angry women. “I want Charlotte on the throne so she can call for a new Beauty Trial. That is all. I have no delusions of grandeur about her actually dissolving the monarchy of her own volition or deciding that beauty work is killing the world and she should abolish it out of the goodness of her heart. Not all those who demand a change of leadership want to take on the task for themselves. I want a citizen of Orléans to prove that they have what it takes to lead. If we succeed and there’s a Beauty Trial, let me enter and prove myself worthy. Let the gods choose me.”

“You would make a wonderful leader for Orléans,” one woman chimes in.

The others agree with applause.

Lady Arane taps the gavel. “Thank you for your support, but we all must be given a fair shot. The first step is to go see Princess Charlotte and petition her with our desires. See if she plans to challenge her sister’s coronation and ascension. We will go see her immediately. There are only two days left until the official ceremonies begin and Sophia reveals that body.”