After luncheon, a letter arrived addressed to Amelie. Grey, the butler, delivered it to her on a silver salver, there was a small, folded note on there for me too.

Curious, I took the note and unfolded it as Amelie broke the seal on her considerably more fancy letter.

Servants' hall. 8:00.

The message was short, I almost rolled my eyes at it. Despite the fact that Amelie was now technically in charge of the running of the house, I always seemed to be putting out fires with our staff. I suppose their anger was fully justified though - after all, most of them had lost their homes and livelihoods. Tucking it into a fold of my skirt, I turned to Amelie, who was enraptured with the contents of her letter. She wouldn't even answer my questioning, simply placing it on the table in front of me.

Gently, I lifted the paper up. It was far heavier and far better quality than my little note, but upon glancing at the seal, my lips stuck together in fear. This letter was from the palace.

Madame,

In fitting with their celebratory honeymoon tour, we humbly invite you to host Princess Henrietta and Prince Gavrila in your residence for a night. They will arrive with entourage to your home on the 15th of April, ready for their tour of Oldcliff on the 16th.

Regards,

LACHLAN KENT, MASTER OF THE HOUSEHOLD

On behalf of Le Roi Thomas de Berelyia et Yllers

My hands were shaking by the time I finished reading.

"We have so much to prepare!" Amelie exclaimed, striding over to the fireplace to tug on the call bell.

I was still shaking.

Gavrila was coming here.

What would he say when he saw me?

Would he threaten my life again because I hadn't come to seek him out?

Would he hate my lying to him?

Would he even recognise me?

"Miss Evangeline, what is wrong?" Amelie sat back down next to me, taking my hands in her cold, pale ones.

I tried shaking my head to dispel all of the terrible thoughts which rose to my mind. "You and Jon have been so good to me these past few weeks, all things considered." I muttered. "But you must do one more thing for me." Amelie frowned, running a gentle hand down the side of my face. Whilst the gesture was well intentioned, it sent a shiver down my spine which took me back to that morning in the cave, when he was still weak and on the verge of death. I took a breath, preparing to ask the favour. "I need you to let me hide. They can't know I'm here. I-I can take up pre-prepared food into my room, I have books and, and I'll just keep to myself. I'll look after the younger children if you want, in recompense so the nurse can have a break? I'll organise all the arrangements for you and-" I barely realised how breathless I was until I stopped.

Amelie brushed away tears I hadn't realised were there.

"In case you haven't noticed, we're trying to be your new family," She murmured quietly, moving a loose bit of hair over my shoulder. "If that means we have you sit out whilst the entourage stay here, so be it. We'll support you. But if it's alright, I'd like your help to organise, and I'd like you to talk to me about why you're so afraid of them. Go on, chérie, go dress for the afternoon."

Once I was safely up in my room, I rang for Hannah to come and dress me. As far as I knew, Jemima and Dot were still working in the palace, where they had been through my season. There was no reason that they should've been killed along with my family, so I held out hope.

Hannah arrived quickly and silently helped me out of my morning gown, tying me instead into the navy velvet afternoon gown I had selected. It was another custom of the Baracosians, to get changed thrice in one day. We used to practice it in Ilragorn, but only when in very fancy company, and many years since.

As the meek little maid laced me back up, I found myself staring at the sword I kept resting on the windowsill. It's bright red scabbard was starting to fade, but I kept it on. Who could blame me for wanting to conceal the blade which still sported my blood on it? It sat opposite my bed, such that the first thing I saw every morning reminded me why I kept quiet, why I submitted to the de Balivan family, why I was safer without Gavrila.

I still had no idea why he had left it with me. I didn't understand why I had taken it either, to be honest. All I knew was how exhausted I had been, returning from the Place Émeraude - which had been empty, when he'd told me it would be busy - to see a hasty letter full of lies, his beloved sword, and the ring I wish I could part from. And I knew that Prince Gavrila was a broken man ever since he parted with his sword.

"Will that be all, miss?" Hannah asked gently, pulling me out of my thoughts. I nodded, once, then turned to leave myself, barely knowing where I planned to go until I found myself in the nursery. The two youngest members of the de Balivans seemed always able to cheer me up whenever I got lost in my thoughts, plus their day nursery was right next to my room.

Estella and Hugh were playing together with a little clay tea set as their nurse stood to receive me. I still felt hollow, though, when I sat down on the floor with the two young children, accepting an empty cup from Hugh, who smiled youthfully at me. Estella crawled into my lap, taking the clay cup from my hands and forcing it into my mouth instead.

All our eyes flicked up as the door opened once again, this time to Perry, who was wearing an easy smile for his little siblings. The smile visibly dissolved as his gaze settled on me. My arms instinctively worked their way around Estella's little cotton clad body as Perry's face contorted into anger.

"Get out!" He yelled, pulling his brother and sister away from me in one swipe. "You're not Melanie. You never will be! Get out!"