I WOKE WITH A HEADACHE. I moaned as I rubbed my temple, then yelped when the action sent a sharp pain across my arm.
โHere,โ Mary said, coming to sit on the edge of my bed. She held out two pills and a glass of water.
I slowly pushed myself up to take her offering, my head throbbing through all of it. โWhat time is it?โ
โNearly eleven,โ Mary said. โWe sent word that you werenโt feeling well and wouldnโt be at breakfast. If we hurry, we could probably get you ready for lunch with the other Elite.โ
The thought of rushing or even eating didnโt sound appealing, but I thought it was wisest to get back into a normal routine. It was becoming clear just how much weโd risked last night, and I didnโt want to give anyone a reason to suspect anything at all had happened.
I gave Mary a nod, and we both stood. My legs werenโt quite as reliable as Iโd have liked, but I moved toward the bathroom anyway. Anne was just outside the door, cleaning, as Lucy sat in a wide chair sewing sleeves onto a dress that had probably been designed for simple straps.
She looked up from her handiwork. โAre you all right, miss? You gave us quite a scare.โ
โIโm sorry. I think Iโm as good as I can be.โ
She smiled at me. โWeโre ready to do what we can to help you, miss.
You only need to ask.โ
I wasnโt completely sure what she was offering, but I would take her up on any help that might get me through the next few days.
โOh, Officer Leger stopped by, as well as the prince. They both hoped you would let them know how you were feeling once you were up to it.โ
I nodded. โAfter lunch, Iโll take care of that.โ
With no warning, my arm was in someoneโs hands. Anne was looking closely at the wound, gingerly peeking under the bandages to check my progress.
โIt doesnโt look infected. As long as we keep it clean, I think it will heal nicely. I wish I could have done something better. I know itโll leave a mark,โ she lamented.
โDonโt worry. The best people all have some kind of scar.โ I thought of Marleeโs hands and Maxonโs back. They both held permanent marks of their bravery. I was honored to join them.
โLady America, your bath is ready,โ Mary said from around the bathroom door.
I took in her face, then Lucyโs, then Anneโs. Iโd always been close to my maids, had always trusted them. But something changed last night. It was the first time those bonds were tested; and in the light of day, they were still there, strong and holding.
I wasnโt sure there was a way to prove that I was as loyal to them as they were to me. But I hoped an opportunity would show itself.
If I focused, I could lift my fork to my mouth without grimacing. It took an extraordinary amount of effort, to the point where I started sweating in the middle of the meal. I decided to stick to nibbling on bread. I didnโt need my right arm to hold that.
Kriss asked how my headache wasโwhich I guessed was the story circulatingโand I told her I was fine now, though my head and arm were impossible to ignore. That was the extent of the questioning, and it looked as if no one had guessed that anything was out of the ordinary.
As I chewed a bite of bread, I debated how well the other girls would have done if they had gone in my place last night. I decided the only person who would have fared better was Celeste. Without a doubt, sheโd have found a way to fight back, and I was a little jealous for a minute that I wasnโt more like her.
Once our trays were carted out of the Womenโs Room, Silvia came in and asked for our attention.
โItโs time for you ladies to shine again. In a week, weโll be having a small tea party, and you all, of course, are invited!โ I sighed to myself, worried about who we were meant to entertain this time. โYou wonโt be in charge of any preparations for this particular party, but you must be on your best behavior, because this will be filmed for the public.โ
I perked up a bit. I could handle that.
โYou will each invite two people to be your personal guests at this tea party, and that will be your only responsibility. Choose wisely, and let
me know your two contacts by Friday.โ
She walked away, leaving us all mentally scrambling. This was a test, and we knew it. Who in the room had the most impressive connections, the most valuable ones?
Maybe I was being paranoid, but it felt as if this task specifically targeted me. The king must be searching for ways to remind everyone I was useless.
โWho are you picking, Celeste?โ Kriss asked.
She shrugged. โNot sure yet. But I promise theyโll be spectacular.โ
If I had Celesteโs list of friends at my disposal, I wouldnโt be nervous either. Who was I going to invite? My mom?
Celeste turned to me, her voice warm. โWho do you think youโll bring, America?โ
I tried to hide my shock. Even though weโd had a little breakthrough in the library, this was the first time sheโd addressed me the same way she would a friend. I cleared my throat. โI have no idea. Iโm not sure I know anyone who would be appropriate to invite. It might be better if I bring no one.โ I probably shouldnโt have been so open about how disadvantaged I was, but it wasnโt as if the others werenโt aware.
โWell, if you really canโt find anyone, let me know,โ Celeste said. โIโm positive I have more than two friends who would like to visit the palace, and I could make sure you at least have an idea of who they are. If you want to, that is.โ
I stared at her, tempted to ask her what the catch was; but, looking into her eyes, I didnโt think there was one. Then I was sure of it when she winked at me with the eye that Elise and Kriss couldnโt see. Celeste, the consummate fighter, was pulling for me.
โThank you,โ I said, feeling truly humbled.
She shrugged. โNo problem. If weโre going to have a party, might as well make it a good one.โ She leaned back in her chair, smiling to herself, and I was sure she was picturing this event as her last hurrah. Part of me wanted to tell her not to give up, but I couldnโt. Only one of us could have Maxon in the end.
By the afternoon, I had the rough outline of a plan, but it was dependent upon one big thing: Iโd have to get Maxonโs help.
I was sure we would find each other before the end of the day, so I didnโt let myself worry about it too much. For the time being, I needed to
rest again, so I headed back up to my room.
Anne was there, waiting with more pills and water. I couldnโt believe how calm she was about it all.
โI owe you one,โ I said, downing the medicine. โNo,โ Anne protested.
โYes! Things would have been a lot different last night if you hadnโt been there.โ
She gently took the glass from me. โIโm just glad youโre okay.โ
She started walking to the bathroom to dispose of the water, and I followed her. โIsnโt there anything I could do for you? Anything at all?โ
She stood there at the counter, something clearly on her mind. โReally, Anne. It would make me so happy.โ
She sighed. โWell, thereโs one thing. โ
โPlease tell me.โ
Anne raised her eyes from the sink. โBut you couldnโt let it slip to anyone. Mary and Lucy would never let me live it down.โ
I creased my forehead. โWhat do you mean?โ
โItโs . . . itโs very personal.โ She started fidgeting with her hands, something she never did, and I knew this was important to her.
โOkay, come talk to me about it,โ I encouraged, wrapping my good arm around her shoulder and ushering her to the table to sit with me.
She crossed her ankles and put her hands in her lap. โSee, itโs just that you get along with him so well. He seems to think so highly of you.โ
โYou mean Maxon?โ
โNo,โ she whispered, a wild blush filling her cheeks. โI donโt understand.โ
She took a deep breath. โOfficer Leger.โ
โOoooh,โ I said, more shocked than I could express. โYou think itโs hopeless, donโt you?โ
โNot hopeless,โ I insisted. I just didnโt know how to tell the person whoโd promised heโd always fight for me that he should pursue her instead.
โHeโs always speaking so kindly of you. I know if you maybe mentioned me to him, or could even find out if heโs got a girlfriend at home โ
I sighed. โI can try, but I canโt promise anything.โ
โOh, I know. Donโt worry. Iโve been telling myself it wonโt happen, but I canโt stop thinking about him.โ
I tilted my head. โI know how that is.โ
She put a hand in front of her. โAnd itโs not because heโs a Two. If he was an Eight, Iโd want someone like him.โ
โLots of people would,โ I said. And that was true. Celeste noticed him, Kriss said he was funny, and even that Delilah woman sounded like she had a crush on him. That wasnโt even taking into account all the girls back home whoโd chased him. Hearing things like that didnโt bother me so much anymore, not even from someone as close to me as Anne.
It was one more thing that made me sure that my feelings for Aspen were gone. If I was happy to suggest that someone else should take my place, then I really didnโt belong with him.
Still, I wasnโt sure how to broach the subject.
I reached over the polished wood and put my hand on hers. โIโll try, Anne. I swear.โ
She smiled but bit her lip anxiously. โJust please donโt tell the others.โ
I held her hand tighter. โYouโve always kept my secrets. Iโll always keep yours.โ