Hannah gave her an approving nod. Then, her satisfaction fizzled until grim silence settled over the room. “Good luck tonight.”

Wren would need it, although the plan was theoretically simple. After Wren took the key from Lowry, she and Hal would go to the east wing, find their evidence, and slip out of Colwick Hall unnoticed. Tonight, they’d get as much distance as they could from this infernal place. Come morning, they’d part ways. Hal would go to Vesria, Wren to Danu. But she tried not to think about that part. Instead, she imagined the relief of knowing Hal was safe at home—and the triumph when she presented their findings to the queen.

“Thank you.” Wren met Hannah’s gaze in the mirror. “If I don’t make it out—”

“Don’t.” Hannah retrieved the mask from the dressing table and considered it thoughtfully. “You will. Besides, you’re not doing this alone. You never were.”

Wren swallowed down the knot of emotion in her throat. “True.”

“And if you’re nervous,” Hannah continued, “there’ll be no shortage of liquid courage tonight. I’ve seen the cellars, and they’ve nearly been emptied.”

“Oh,” Wren said with forced cheer. “How reassuring.”

Hannah placed the mask against her nose and knotted the ribbons at the back of her head. Once it was in place, she clapped her hands together. “Now you’re ready. You look terrifying.”

Wren did. The mask was positively ghastly. In the mirror, the deep set of the eyeholes made it look as if she had no eyes at all. Round empty sockets stared back at her. Hannah pinned a black feathered headdress to the back of her ironed curls.

“All done.” Wren turned away from her reflection and stared down at Hannah. After a tense moment, Hannah took her hands. “Be careful, won’t you?”

“I will. I promise we’ll set this right.” Wren squeezed her hands. “I’ll write to you after it’s all over.”

Hannah left her alone with dread clawing its way up her throat. Wren collapsed onto the seat by the vanity and retrieved a vial from the drawer. It was filled with a thick, clear liquid. This dose of chloral hydrate would knock Lowry unconscious within thirty minutes. All she had to do was doctor his drink in front of hundreds of potential witnesses. She’d faced worse odds. Even so, her stomach twisted itself into slick, anxious knots. Wren closed her fingers over the vial to steady herself.

Three sharp knocks on the door startled her.

“Come in.”