You Are Mine (36 page)

“
Riskier than what I've
already been doing?”

“
Perhaps.” Would asking
Zade to help work? Especially with the trouble I've already brought
him. Is there a way to find out without endangering Katherine even
more? However I word it, he knows Katherine is the tarnished I talk
with most. “I could talk to Chancellor Zade. He's different than
the others. It's possible he might be willing to help.”

Her silence says a lot.

“
Forget I mentioned
it.”

“
No, it's fine. You just
surprised me.” She lowers her voice further. “Do you really think
he would be willing to help, or would he turn me in?”

It would be easier if I knew. “I can't
say for sure.”

She lifts her head. “When will it be
implemented?”

“
I don't know.
Soon.”

After a minute of silence she says,
“He sought me out to pay me more than he should have for the
dresses. I've seen how he treats you and your sisters. And Waverly.
I think it may be worth it.” A look of determination fills her.
“Let's try. There are others who will need help too if it works and
I want to know he's trustworthy before putting them in
danger.”

“
Others pretending to be
tarnished like you?”

“
I'm the only one
pretending. That I know of, anyway. I probably shouldn't have said
anything, but if you're willing to help
—
” She shakes her head. “I know
tarnished who would like to avoid the law.”

I nod, curious, but not wanting to
push her. “Let's see if we can find him.”

Her face loses some of its color, but
she stands and follows me out. It doesn't take long to find him. A
servant directs us to his study. Why is it always the
study?

My hands shake, but I don't hesitate
to knock. I've already asked much of him. But this is the only way
I can think of to help. I hope my instinct is right and he doesn't
turn Katherine in and punish me. The thought makes my stomach
churn. I want to take back my offer, but the door opens before I
can do anything.

Zade looks us over, then opens the
door wider. “Please come in.”

Once we're seated, Zade at his desk
shuffling through papers, he asks, “What can I do for you? Do you
need more money for the dresses?”

“
No, you've already given
too much,” Katherine says.

“
It's something else
entirely.” I swallow, build my courage, and say, “Remember the new
rules on the tarnished?”

He puts down the papers and stares at
me. “Of course.”

His gaze almost makes me
lose the last bit of courage I have, but I push on. “Katherine was
wondering
—
Or rather, I was wondering and Katherine agreed that we
should ask if you could help. With the law.”

“
You want me to explain
it?”

“
I've done that.” I tug at
my gloves. How much do I give away? “We were wondering if you'd
help her circumvent the law.”

He pushes to his feet and paces to the
window. “You know I'm already being threatened. If anyone knew of
this, there would be nothing to stop them.”

Which is exactly what I don't want,
but I can't leave Katherine to be killed by them either. “I
know.”

“
But I didn't.” Katherine
moves to the door. “Forget we ever asked.”

“
Wait.” Zade turns toward
us. “Forgive me, I didn't mean to burden you with my issues. I'll
help.”

Katherine pauses, gaze moving between
the two of us.

I say, “Let him. Please.”

“
You're really willing to
help me,” Katherine says, “even though I'm nothing but a tarnished
and you could die because of it?”

He lets out a huff and rubs the back
of his neck. “They will probably be angry at me for risking it, but
yes, I will help.”

Who are they? It doesn't sound like
he's speaking of the council, but who else would it cause problems
for?

Katherine rushes over to him, throws
herself at him in the form of a hug, and bursts into tears. “Thank
you. So much. No one's ever willing to help a tarnished except
other tarnished. But now I have Serena and you.”

“
Of course you do, we'll
help however we can,” he says.

The door bursts open. I
leap to my feet. Phyllis. She stands there, a tray in her hands and
a smirk on her face. “Your lunch
Master
Zade.”

Fear rips through me. What did she see
and hear?

Chapter
Thirty-Five

A
fter several days I'm still haunted by Phyllis interrupting
our conversation. There's been no word of any trouble because of
it. Yet it gnaws at me constantly. Both Katherine and Zade have
been acting as if nothing has happened, except to talk once of what
they will do when the law is enacted. That time, Zade cast his
salmon, no eavesdropping spell. Even I didn't hear that
conversation.

Katherine sits calmly. She points to
the bundles she left on the bed earlier before she met with Zade.
“There are a few new dresses for you.”

“
You didn't have to do
that. How did you find the time?” Especially with everything else
going on.

“
I've been able to hire
four more workers.” She waves her hand dismissively. “You've been
good enough to wear the dresses to deliver the invites and it's
brought business. I wanted you to have some new things to
wear.”

“
You're too
kind.”

“
If it brings as many
requests for new dresses as my others have, you'll be the one doing
me a favor.”

I laugh. “Then by all means, you can
make more whenever you like. Any other orders?”

“
A few friends of
Annabelle and Councilman Daniel came in. Each wanted at least three
outfits. All of them wanted me to do their gowns for the ball. One
is still skeptical. But Annabelle's more excited than you. She even
took a pair of breeches.”

“
She did!” I try to
picture the well-mannered woman in men's wear. The image refuses to
come to mind.

“
Don't worry. She looks
great in them.” A mischievous grin slides onto her face. “Your
sisters should be trying on their dresses, should we go
see?”

“
I'd love to.”

She stands. “Don't expect to see
anything for the ball with your new things. You won't see your gown
until that afternoon.”

We head for my sisters' rooms. “I've
never been so curious about a dress before.”

“
Glad to be of
service.”

We arrive at Cynthia's room and
knock.

A muffled, “A moment please” is called
through the door.

While waiting, Katherine gives a sly
smile. “There's something else in there you may want to peek at
when you're ready.”

If it's not the ball gown, what could
it possibly be? “What is it?”

She shrugs and gives a sly smile. The
door bursts open.

“
Come in,” Cynthia
says.

Katherine enters, but I hesitate. “I
need to check something. I won't be a moment.”

“
Don't worry about it.
Bethany won't be ready for a while and I haven't even
started.”

I hurry up the stairs to my room.
Several packages await me on my bed. Which one could she be talking
about? I sort through them, feeling their weight. I grab the
lightest. None of the others have been like this. Curiosity tugs at
me. Bethany isn't ready yet. There's time. I run my fingers over
the package. Opening it shouldn't take long. I undo the string. A
nervous flutter dances inside me.

Despite my sudden misgivings, I push
the wrappings aside. Black cloth sits before me. That's not so bad.
No need to fear. But why is it so small? I pick it up and give it a
good shake. Two separate pieces unwind, one on each side connected
together at the top.

I yelp and drop them. They flutter to
the ground. “Breeches?”

What was Katherine thinking giving
them to me? I stare at them, and then move toward the door. Before
I can open it, I sigh. I can't leave them sitting there for anyone
to see. Waverly will be back before I am. And what if my sisters
want to see my new dresses when they've finished with
theirs?

Those tiny black things call to me. I
inch to them and lift them, pinching the soft material with a thumb
and finger. I move toward the bed. Under it should be good enough
for now. When I get there, I can't bring myself to throw them
under. This is ridiculous. I have no use for them. But, I can't
bring myself to hide them. Finally, I've crossed the line. I've
gone completely mad.

Yet, here they are, waiting for me. It
would only take a moment to change into them.

“
Ugh.” I reach for the
laces of my skirt. Soon I'm wearing only my blouse while holding
the breeches. This was a silly idea. With a deep breath, I struggle
into them and tie the laces at the waist. The bulk of the gun
strapped to my thigh is visible. That won't work at all. I don't
want to wear them around anyway, just curious.

They feel...tight. Though they aren't
too tight, I suppose. I bend my legs. The material stretches with
my movements. They aren't too snug, but more constricting than they
should be. Will they damage my circulation?

I tread across the room. It's almost
like walking around in my underthings. How can men stand wearing so
little? It is easier to move though. Less material to get caught in
things. Despite thinking they were constricting at first, I may be
able to do more in them.

I stroll across the room again. And
again, but faster. What else can I do? I run. Jump. Leap onto my
bed. Just as I'm leaping off, the door opens. Phyllis's face flash
across my view.

I slam onto the floor with a
groan.

Before Phyllis has a chance to do
anything, I stagger to my feet, ignoring my aching body. “What are
you doing here?”

Instead of answering, she steps inside
and closes the door. Zade's life is the one in danger, not mine, so
I shouldn't be worried. But I am. My gun is useless, trapped under
the breeches. I inch to the cord that will ring in the servants
hall.

“
Wait,” Phyllis says. “I'm
here to warn you, not harm you.”

Once I'm within reach of the cord, I
ask, “What do you mean?”

She eyes my breeches. “Why are you
wearing those?”

“
Not your concern.” My
hands bunch.

“
You're right.” Her voice
loses the haughty tone its always had. “I've been reporting to your
Father.”

I raise my brows, but don't respond.
It's hard to stay unaffected when her words set my heart
racing.

“
My family is deeply in
his debt. We have no hopes of paying it off before we die. Which
will be soon for my Father. He's old. If the debt isn't paid off
before he dies, my sisters, mother, and I will be
tarnished.”

That could be me and my family if we
were in debt. Even though I know the tarnished are so much like us,
they're restricted in many ways. It makes my anger soften, but I
don't budge. “And?”

“
Your Father said the more
information I told him, the more debt he'd forgive. When I made you
drink the tea, he got rid of half the debt. Half!” Her eyes are
wide and begging. “I've told him lots of little bits about the
dresses and your seamstress, but he said it wasn't enough. He
needed more and if I could find something big, he'd forgive the
rest of the debt.”

I stride toward her, fear and rage
pulsing through me. “What did you do?”

“
I told him about the
conversation I overheard with Chancellor Zade, the one where he
promised to help your tarnished seamstress.”

My fist wants to fly into her.
Hard.

Her voice is faint. “He's planning
something, I know it. But he won't forgive the debt. Says I'm too
valuable here and is going to keep me waiting. You helped the
tarnished, can't you help me?”

“
Help you?” My fist shakes
from unreleased tension. “Help you? You've ruined us. Get
out.”

She doesn't move. I let out a half
growl, half scream. She scrambles for the door. Now I know for
certain, my insisting on helping Katherine will bring trouble. I
can't have freedom for myself and trying to get it for her is going
to cost all those I love. What will Father do?

Chapter
Thirty-Six

“
C
ome in,” I call out.

A lower class servant I don't
recognize enters. “I was asked to bring you this with utmost
haste.”

A chill flurries through me as she
hands me a note. I barely notice her departure. Ever since I told
Zade what Phyllis said and he told me not to worry, I've done
nothing but. I've never had a note from someone outside the
household before. Who would send me one? Does it have to do with
what she said? The chill grows colder as I open it.

Serena,