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“Is Ash there?” I was too cowardly to ask for him earlier, but I want to hear his voice. I want to know he’s not still mad at me.
So I’m completely unprepared for the silence that follows.
“What?” I ask. My heart kicks into a sprint. “Did something happen to him?”
“Ash is gone,” Raven says finally.
“What do you mean gone? Where did he go?”
“To the Bank,” Sienna says as Sil mutters, “Damned fool.”
It’s like all the air has been sucked out of the room. The Bank. Ash has gone to the Bank.
“No,” I gasp. “Raven . . . tell me it’s not true. Please. He . . . he’ll die there.”
“He left a note,” she says, and I can hear paper crinkle. Then she reads aloud. “Violet. I’m sorry but I had to try. I hope you can forgive me. I couldn’t just abandon them. I need to be worthy of a place in this new world we are fighting for. I love you more than my own life. I will see you again. I will be there on Auction Day. Stay safe. Ash.”
“Forgive him?” I spit. “Is he insane? I won’t get the chance! He’ll be dead before he makes it five feet in the Bank. He’ll be—”
“Violet.” Raven’s voice is soft and steady. “He’s gone and all the shouting in the world won’t change that.”
“But he . . . he . . .”
“Ran off without listening to you? Yeah. He did. You two are pretty well suited for each other, to be honest.”
I fold my arms across my chest. “I had a plan. I have people helping me. What’s he going to do, bang on doors and ask if any Society members are home? Walk up to Madame Curio’s and ring the bell?”
“We already know he can get into the companion house without being seen,” Raven says. “And as for the rest . . . well, he’s not stupid. Why are you so sure he’ll get caught?”
My shoulders slump. She’s right. I’m refusing to believe Ash is capable of surviving on his own. “It’s just . . . if I lose him now . . .”
“I know,” she says gently. Then she sighs. “You should try and get some sleep. Sounds like you have a big day tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” I say, but my thoughts are far away, with Ash, wherever he is. Still in the Farm? On a train? In the Smoke already?
“We’ll talk to you again soon,” Indi says, clearly feeling it’s safe enough to join the conversation.
“If you see the Countess of the Rose, stab her for me with a fork or something,” Sienna says, referring to her former mistress.
“If you see the Lady of the Stream—”
“Good night,” I say firmly, before Olive can get started.
“Good night,” Sil says.
The arcana falls with a tiny thump onto the bed and I think of how fragile the connection to my friends is, this little silver tuning fork keeping us together.
“Be safe,” I whisper. Then I settle down into the pillows, sleep taking me quicker than I would have thought, exhaustion overcoming my anger and fear for Ash.
Ten
A BELL IS RINGING SOMEWHERE NEAR MY HEAD.
I swat at it sleepily, wondering why Turnip’s harness is making so much noise. My hand connects with metal and then falls onto something soft.
The bed. The palace. The Jewel.
I sit bolt upright. Coral’s bell is ringing wildly. I scramble out of bed, throw on my lady-in-waiting dress, and shove my hair up into a hasty bun with the arcana inside. I scratch at the lace collar as I run down through the servant’s quarters, slowing my pace when I reach the end of the glass corridor. The halls of the main palace are vacant. I slip behind the tapestry and run down the stone steps, finding my way to the kitchen much faster than I did yesterday. Cora is leaving as I enter, carrying a tray laden with a cup and saucer, cutlery, and a covered dish.
