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Such a heavy silence settles over our group that I jump when there’s a knock on the door.
Cassius rises from his chair to answer, returning a minute later with two sealed letters and a small package. There’s nothing written on the outside of either envelope. He hands one to Lawrence and the box to Della. Lewis, Bram, and I sit patiently while they each open their missives.
Cassius remains expressionless as he reads his letter, but Lawrence glowers at his. I wonder if they say the same thing or something different since it didn’t seem to matter which one either of them opened.
Lawrence stands, crumpling up the parchment then tosses it into the fire, scowling while it burns. Then when Cassius is finished, he does the same, though he looks far less irritated.
“Well?” Della asks when neither of them offers an explanation.
Without turning, Lawrence says, “The fucking sewers.”
I have no idea what that means, but after a beat, Della bursts into laughter, leaning back and clutching her stomach. I throw her a questioning glance when she regains her composure.
“The bulk of our forces need to be guided through one of two entrances,” she explains. “It seems Cassius got the servants’ side entrance, which leaves poor Lawrence with the sewers leading into the lower levels.”
My face contorts from the effort of holding in my laughter at his reaction. I feel guilty until I see the wolves looking away as they try to hide their amusement.
A low growl rumbles. “I will have to take several baths to get that stench off me. How would it look if a court member came reeking of shit and piss? I would be a disgrace,” Lawrence grumbles to himself. “Will you open the box already?” he snaps.
Della huffs as she unties the twine. “Don’t take it out on me. I’m not responsible for your assignment.”
Inside are three gold items. A pair of cufflinks, a delicate chain necklace, and a raven skull cravat pin. She takes the necklace and then offers Lawrence the first choice of the remaining two items.
Cassius retakes his seat, a signal to get back to the matter at hand. “We will leave in two hours,” he says, then pauses to give the wolves a pointed stare. “The two of you can decide among yourselves who will go with each of us. We will need your help guiding everyone through.”
The two wolves eye each other.
“I’ll go—” Bram starts.
“We will draw lots,” Lewis interrupts.
More discussion follows for the next two hours. From where everyone should be, when to act, what signals to watch for, what to do in case something should go wrong, and every eventuality in between that any of us can think to plan for.
That is, everything other than one crucial detail.
When there’s finally a lull, I take the opportunity to speak. “How will I get inside?”
Cassius looks at me, head cocked to the side. “Through the front, of course.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CLARA
Sighing heavily,I sink deeper into the warm bath until I’m submerged up to my chin. The mixture of scents I’m too unfamiliar with to name wafts into the air with every ripple along the smooth surface of the water. Here, I am forced into inaction.
Waiting for something to happen is always the worst part.
It makes each minute pass agonizingly slow. I’ve gone over the plan countless times, imagined so many ways things could go wrong, and planned for how to bring things back on course.
Yet none of it has eased my tattered nerves. The closer the time comes to put the plan into action, the tighter my insides twist.
“I have never heard so much discontent from someone lucky enough to use such rare oils,” Della calls from the other side of the door.
“I’ve been in here for hours,” I return.
Della sticks her head in and shoots me an unimpressed look. “It’s been less than one hour.”
“What if I don’t get there in time?” My voice comes out small and frayed by worry.
