Page 105 of Heartless

As the crowd broke into another bout of laughter, Cath launched to her feet. ‘I need to use the dressing room.’

The King took no notice as she inched past, too enthralled with the fake joker, but Mary Ann started to rise to come with her. Cath gestured for her to stay. ‘I’m fine. I’ll be right back.’

The stairs into the lobby echoed with her footsteps as she rushed down to the main level, gripping the banister to keep from tripping on her skirt. Only once her feet had hit the final step and she’d spun around the rail did she hear Jest’s rumbling voice – followed by the higher-pitched, snooty tone of Margaret Mearle.

Catherine reeled back, ducking behind a pillar.

‘. . . about as pigheaded as they come!’ Margaret was saying.

‘An apt description,’ agreed Jest, though he sounded tired, ‘but stubbornness is not always a flaw, particularly in matters of love.’

Margaret guffawed. ‘Love?’

‘Indeed, love, or so it seems from my perspective. You ought to see how his eyes follow you around a room. Small and beady they might be, but they overflow with affection, nevertheless.’ Jest cleared his throat. ‘The moral of that, of course, is that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” ’

‘I’ve never heard such a moral, and as I’m sure you’re well aware, I am most knowledgeable in the matter of morals.’

‘I think I read it in a book.’

‘Well.’ There was a long hesitation. ‘It is a decent sort of moral, I suppose.’

‘There was another too. Something about the depth of skin . . . not as apropos, I fear.’

‘He is both thick-skinned and thick-headed.’

‘Two of the Duke’s finer qualities. I might also add that he’s an impeccable dresser.’

Margaret hummed, unconvinced.

‘And brave,’ Jest added, ‘as showcased when he stood between you and the Jabberwock at the ball. And also loyal and compassionate, even to his servants – I hear he refuses to let go of his cook, though I’m told she’s quite dreadful.’

‘But I don’t understand it. He’s always been so rude towards me. I’ve never felt so judged in all my life than when I’m in his presence, with that snooty look he gives everyone, and the way his nose turns up.’

‘Could it be, Lady Mearle, that you’ve judged him unfairly? What you call rudeness might be nothing more than his inability to speak easily with a girl he admires.’

‘Do you really believe he feels this way?’

‘He told me so himself, Lady Mearle. What reason would I have for leading you astray?’

‘It just seems so . . . so sudden.’

‘I assure you it’s been brewing for longer than you realize. Here, he asked that I give you this.’

Catherine heard the crinkle of parchment.

‘What is it?’

‘An invitation to join him in his theatre box tonight, if you’d care to, along with your chaperone, of course. He said he would leave a seat available, in hopes you might accept the invitation.’

Margaret let out a delightedoh.The paper crisped some more. ‘I . . . well. I suppose it couldn’t hurt . . . just for an evening . . . after all, I am not the sort of lady to dally about indecisively when faced with a man’s well-intentioned admiration.’

‘I wouldn’t dare suggest such a thing, Lady Mearle. I hope you’ll enjoy the rest of the performance.’

Catherine pressed herself to the pillar, inching around to its far side as she heard Margaret’s footsteps approaching. She ducked beneath the stairs’ banister as Margaret floated past, and was just letting out a breath when a flurry of feathers assaulted her face and acawblared in her ears. Catherine stumbled away from the pillar, flattening herself against the wall and beating at the ferocious bird.

Raven twisted away and flew upward to alight on the sculptured bust of a stern-looking playwright.

‘Raven!’ Jest scolded. ‘That wasn’t nice at all.’

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