Pace and Jilly smile and talk to their well-wishers, but like the rest of the royals their eyes are constantly searching.
I feel his gaze before I see it. Just like the first day, when Alex died, Pace looks at me and his so very blue eyes implore me. He does not ask for forgiveness. He asks me to believe in him.
I do. Pace has been steady and sure since the day we met. It is me that doubts both myself and us together. There is a reason for this charade. I allow myself a slight and tremulous smile, and I can see relief flooding his eyes. Jilly must feel it also, because she looks at Pace and then at me and smiles.
“I don’t think anyone would mind if you had a private word with your savior.” It is Findley, behind me. “And no one should think anything inappropriate, as long as his fiancée is present.”
I do not turn to look at him. I keep my eyes on Pace. “What do you know of this?” I ask.
“I know that sometimes it is best to wait for your moment instead of charging straight ahead. It is hard to fight a good battle when your best soldiers are dead.”
“I know Pace was forced into this,” I say. “I just cannot imagine why.”
“It speaks volumes that you still believe in him,” Findley says. “For both of you.” He leans in closer. “You seem overwrought. If you go upstairs and to the last room on the left, you can take a moment to gather yourself.”
I make my way around the groups of gathered people. I keep my head down so no one will notice me. Let them think I am shy and afraid. After all, I was held a captive by the shiners my entire life, I do not know how to act in such esteemed company. I make it to the staircase and glance around the room. The only one who is watching me is Findley. My father is deep in conversation with the king, and Ellen hangs on her son’s arm as Pace talks to a group of young women. Jilly is with her parents. I make my escape up the stairs.
The hallway is long, running from the front of the house to the back. Another staircase is on the other end. It could be a way to escape. I am not going anywhere until I talk to Pace.
I cautiously turn the knob of the door and peer in. The room is dark except for one candle on a table. After one last look around the hallway to make sure I am alone, I go in. I hear a familiar chirp, and Pip flutters to my shoulder. I drop my bag and shawl on the bed and take the tiny canary in my hands. I hold him up to my cheek.
“Oh, Pip, how I have missed you,” I say. “I wish you could talk and tell me how it fares outside. I miss Jonah and Ghost, and I am so worried about our friends.”
The window is open, left that way by Pace no doubt, so Pip may come and go as he pleases. He only puts him in his cage to protect him, not to keep him prisoner. I realize now, he was the same with me. Yes, he asked me to tell him where I was going so he would not worry. He never put limits on me, except when he was afraid of losing me.
I go to the window. It looks out over the back lawn that stretches all the way to the dome. While the workers live on top of one another in tenements, the royals have all this room. What do they do with it? Use it for fun and games as near as I can tell.
Close to the house there are small squares filled with blooming plants. From here I can smell their sweet aroma. It is quite lovely. Benches and statues are scattered about and a plant-covered archway leads to the painted lawn beyond. From there I see a boxed-off area with a net stretched across it and rows of benches that rise up, one behind the other. Beyond that are a few small buildings tucked up beneath the curve of the dome. Probably housing for servants. The area is so open that anyone walking around would easily be seen. Or maybe it is just my shiner eyes that make it seem so. Perhaps I could escape that way and make my way to David and Lucy’s place. From there it is just a matter of going down into the tunnels.
I hear a noise at the door. I sit Pip down on the sill and turn.
“Jilly.”
She comes to me in a rush and grabs my hands. “It’s a charade, Wren. You’ve got to know it’s all for show.” Her green eyes implore me. “Pace loves you and only you.”
I nod, too overcome with relief to speak. I believed it, but hearing the words is such a relief. Jilly hugs me. “We are all in grave danger. So many things have happened.”
“What has happened?” I ask. “I’ve been kept in a room. I don’t know anything beyond what my father has let me know.”
Jilly leads me to the bed, and we sit down on the edge with my hands gripped in hers. “First of all, James, Mr. Hatfield, David, Lucy, and Harry all got out as far as we know.”
“Through the tunnels?”
“Yes, they sent a message back in by Pip. It just said ‘all out.’”
Another sense of relief sweeps through me. “You sent me the first note.” Jilly nods. “Why didn’t you go with them?”
“We were all at David’s when James showed up. Filchers followed them. Someone had to delay them to keep everyone from being followed into the tunnels.”
“And since you are a royal it was up to you.”
“Yes. I just started screaming like they were attacking me and raised such a ruckus that everyone couldn’t help but watch. From there the enforcers showed up. I don’t think the filchers found the tunnel, but they are watching the house. They know they went in and have yet to come out.”
“Do you think if we went that way they would see us?”
“Yes, they would,” Jilly says. “And not only that, your father has stationed an enforcer on the premises.”
“So there is no hope of escape that way.”
“Or a way for anyone to get in to help us. Pace sent a note out saying that way was compromised.”
“So why the false engagement?”
“Yes, that.” Jilly drops my hands and rises from the bed. “Sir Meredith knew I had to be involved with the seekers. In addition, when you, Pace, and your other friend…”
“Levi.”
“Yes, Levi. When you arrived on the scene it was quite embarrassing for your father because there were royals present. Very high-ranking royals, one of which is my father. He had to come up with an explanation for why his daughter was being chased by filchers and surrendering on the steps of our government building.
“So he came up with Pace being sent down below as a spy and my being held captive my entire life.”
Jilly smiles. “You’ve heard the gossip.”
“Just since I arrived here.”
“He manufactured the lie and made Pace and me a part of it. Our lives in exchange for our cooperation. Pace refused at first, he felt it was a betrayal to you, but between his mother and me, we brought him round.”
“Stay alive to fight another day,” I say, recalling Findley’s words. “Ellen hates me.”
“Yes, she does,” Jilly says. “Sir Meredith has told so many lies she doesn’t know what to believe. She was never held prisoner, you know. Your father told her he brought her in for her safety. She actually thought the shiners were using Pace. She still thinks he’s under some sort of spell you cast on him. Pace is pretending compliance because he is afraid for you.”
“My father has spun so many lies and manipulated so many people that it is a wonder he can keep up with it all.”
“It may catch up with him soon,” Jilly says. “He has downplayed the recent events. More people are grumbling now. They are worried because the fans are gone.”
“They don’t honestly believe that it is still burning out there?” I ask.
“They are questioning. They know it is not safe. They just don’t know why.”
“It could be, if we all worked together.”
“So Pace has told me,” Jilly says. She comes back to the bed and sits down once again. “I want to go outside so bad I can taste it.”