Of course. That woman again. The older version of Evelina. The charity patron. The soft smile. The muted rose gown. The thank you for saving Lady Celia. The House of Gentle Mercy tour.
How neat. How vile.
Lady Evelina swayed. The Empress caught her by the elbow before she could fall. A kind gesture. Useful too. The court saw it.
Excellent.
"Where is Lady Marielle now?" I asked.
No one answered. Which was also an answer.
"She was not invited?" Father asked.
Bernard shook his head. "Not to the restricted rehearsal."
"She wouldn't need to attend," I said. "Not if the program was already in place."
The rehearsal master whispered, "She revised the script this morning."
Arthur looked at him. "What did you say?"
"She revised it," he repeated, voice shaking. "Lady Marielle sent the amended order before dawn. She said the Grand Duke's revisions had been accepted but must be harmonized with sacred continuity. I didn't know what it meant. I thought it was ceremonial language."
