Just as Jaya began to realize who she was looking at, Penelope whispered, “That’s Caterina LaValle, the only daughter of Italian American multimillionaire Matteo LaValle. There are rumors he’ll be running for the Senate soon. Anyway, people call her Queen Cat behind her back.… She kind of rules this school.”

Caterina LaValle, as in the Caterina-and-Alaric “institution” Daphne Elizabeth had just told her about.

Caterina looked up once her friend had taken her picture. “Oh, hi there,” she said, flashing a brilliant smile. She ran her fingers through her mahogany hair, and it cascaded back down in undulating waves around her shoulders.

“Hi, Caterina,” Penelope said, her voice breathy with deference. “This is Princess Jaya. From Mysuru, in India. She’s new.”

“Just Jaya,” Jaya corrected easily, smiling. “Jaya Rao. Pleased to meet you.”

“So, what do you think of my dress?” Caterina asked, pirouetting for them. “A custom Valentino. Daddy had it packed in with my things as a surprise. It’s for our Homegoing dance later this year.”

“It’s beautiful,” Jaya said, and meant it.

It was the kind of dress that dripped money, even if you couldn’t put your finger on why. As Jaya took Caterina LaValle in—her model cheekbones, hair like a silken waterfall down her back, flawless makeup that looked airbrushed on—she realized the repugnant Alaric had chosen someone exactly the opposite of her to have his summer dalliance with. Jaya suddenly felt horrible for Caterina, with her shiny teeth and expensive ball gown.

“Well, excuse me,” she said, turning to go, a combination of pity and guilt squirming in her stomach. Jaya might be poised for some major Emerson sabotage, but this girl was an innocent as far as she was concerned. She didn’t enjoy knowing about Alaric and Daphne Elizabeth when Caterina didn’t. “I should finish unpacking.”

“Wait.” Jaya felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Caterina.

“Penny, come here,” one of the girls on the bed called, waving a magazine. “Tell me if this hairstyle is too much.”

Penelope, obviously thrilled to be included, pushed past them and into the dorm room.

Caterina stood close to Jaya, still smiling, though her eyes glinted with something dark and sly. “Beautiful pendant,” she said, nodding appreciatively at Jaya’s throat. “You have good taste.”

“Thank you.” Jaya smiled. “The credit belongs to my father, though.”

“Mm.” Caterina cocked her head. “You know, I once visited Kerala with my father on a business trip. I spent a good amount of time at a resort with Sri Devi Nair, one of the daughters of the royal family in that region.”

“I know Sri Devi,” Jaya said carefully, unsure of why, exactly, they were having this conversation. A few girls walked past, waving and calling out to Caterina. She responded with a dignified bow of her head but kept her eyes on Jaya. “My family and her family are old friends.”