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I left the room, making sure to seem out of sorts as I walked toward the closets where the housekeeping staff kept the cleaning supplies. I grabbed two cloths and a bottle I knew the ladies used for polish and went back to the room.
I knocked and Vanessa’s terse “Enter” almost made me laugh. She truly must think she’s queen already with the way she acts so busy. I knew though that if Noah didn’t have plans for her, she expected others to entertain her and never went out of her way to schedule things. Unless they were to her benefit.
She slammed her hand down on her vanity when I entered, and though I made sure that my gaze didn’t linger, I saw she was reading her mail already.
“Sit on the other side of the room, you may use the chair, I suppose, and get to work. I have errands for you when you’ve finished. And don’t make a sound.”
Since she gave me the order not to make a sound, she saved me the trouble of having to answer at all.
I picked up her gaudy jewelry one at a time and only occasionally glanced up to see what she was doing. She hadn’t started writing yet and I worried she wouldn’t while I was there. Eventually, when I was about halfway through cleaning her jewelry, she took out some paper from her vanity drawer and began frantically writing. She was pensive and, I noticed, didn’t throw any drafts out, which was, in a way, impressive.
“All done,” I said, not looking her way to ensure she felt comfortable to continue. I laid the final piece of jewelry in its drawer and closed everything, gathering the supplies like I was readying everything to leave.
Vanessa held up her hand, raising one finger, like I was a little dog being trained on when I could release and get my treat. I shuddered at how much she treated those beneath her like animals.
“Get the oil lamp from the bathroom, now.”
I turned behind me, walking into the bathroom and glancing to the sealed-shut deceptive mirror across the room. How many people had been frequenting Vanessa’s room with updates for whatever coup they were planning?
Coup was most likely too strong a word since she hadn’t forced Noah to propose. My stomach clenched. I’d much rather him have felt like he had no choice than willingly wanting to make Vanessa the freakin’ queen.
The letter she’d been writing was already folded, and she snapped her fingers at me as I returned to the room with the lamp. She took her time, heating the wax she had and marking her seal on the letter. She rose from the vanity, giving me a once-over while I stood, picking up the items I’d set down to get her the oil lamp.
“I wish I could stand having you around more so that you could be put to good use, but I can’t. Take that letter to the mail room and go do whatever it is you do out of my sight. I have to get ready to see Noah.” Her little smirk at the end told me that she had most definitely been filled in on the rumors. She practically waited for a reaction from me.
I couldn’t decide if ignoring or laughing in her face would be best—well, best in the moment. Laughing at her would surely get me banished in one way or another.
Instead, I ignored her and grabbed the letter.
“A ‘thank you, milady’ would be appropriate, Cora.” Vanessa chuckled like she had gotten under my skin. Little did she know, my moment of truth was about to come and she’d be the one banished.
I turned slowly though, bowing my head. I wouldn’t curtsey, no matter what this bitch demanded right now. “Thank you, milady.”
When the door clicked, I ran, dropping the polish in the housekeeping wing and the rags in one of the dirty baskets lining the halls.
I didn’t know where to go to read the letter, but it had to be out of sight.
Slow down.
I stopped immediately, realizing flying around the halls would draw attention. Regardless of who I was serving and how demanding she was known to be. I couldn’t make a mistake now, when I was so close to the finish line.
I moved gracefully with purpose back down the halls and toward my room. A few guards were around, and one or two of the staff, but everyone else was out doing their duties or their own things and so the timing was in my favor.
I reached the tapestry leading to Noah’s library before I knew where my body was taking me. It would be safe, as long as Noah wasn’t there. Which he shouldn’t be at this hour.
I walked inside the quiet sanctuary and heard nothing. I hid behind the first shelving unit of books, my hand holding the letter, shaking as I opened it.
I broke the seal, unfolded the letter, and read to myself.
Father,
You must tell me what news would make you so eager to write our progress. Gerald has told me nothing of urgency in our meetings, and if something is amiss, I must be informed at once. I am on schedule on my end. The prince is a joke, eating out of my hands, and he will be easily manipulated when the time comes. That dumb lovestruck fool is wrapped around my little finger. I’ll have him out of the way in no time, if the Seelie don’t get him first.
The king will be a challenge but is old in years and untimely circumstances wouldn’t be out of the norm should we need drastic measures. The queen is smitten; however, she will be a problem when the time to take control comes. I’ve got her more unfortunate situation planned out flawlessly, and nothing would incriminate our family. A little accident. Just like you taught me, Father.
I’ll move on with things as planned unless I hear otherwise.
Your Daughter Faithfully,
