He rapped on the door, requesting the dress from the guards. Fingering the lace in a reverential manner, he searched for each name. “I take pride in being able to read this, you know. It is so complex; it takes a practiced eye.”

Scarlet nodded. “Thank you. You will find that it is complete.”

Still studying the fabric closely, he said, “Someone uninformed would not be able to recognize the names. They would have to be clued in, told, to seek them out, and then, as I mentioned, have a practiced eye”—his voice lowered, menacing—“to discover the name of each filthy person.” Venom punctuated his last few words. Eyes narrowed, he studied her. Even Claire’s loud shrieking outside did not distract him. “Why are none of the people on my lists reaching the guillotine, Seamstress?”

She swallowed and stumbled on her words. “I—I don’t know. We have tried to figure it out. Claire wears the dresses herself, and we deliver the message. Perhaps the problem comes from your messenger before the names reach me . . .” Her voice trailed off.

Robespierre’s eyes, glinting and menacing, accused her of treason. “Impossible. At times, I dispense with the messenger and deliver the notes myself.”

When Scarlet raised her eyebrows in question, Robespierre responded, “Of course. A little disguise, nothing too terribly complicated, and I can roam the streets myself with no one the wiser.”

“I see. Then I don’t know. I stitch the names, deliver the lists—”

He stepped closer to her. “And warn the denounced. There is no other explanation. As soon as I deliver the lists to you, the people disappear from France. So careless. If only you had let a few of them die, you would not be suspect.”

Sensing she had no other recourse and that she would indeed be entering the prison this afternoon, she asked, “And what of the others?” She pointed to the women outside. “Must they also suffer from your accusations?”

Shaking his head in frustration as the noise outside escalated, he said, “They are guilty of their own crimes. Too overzealous, critical. Their actions would throw us into a massive civil war. We don’t need division within when we are facing enemies from Hungary and others without.” He motioned for the guards to enter. “Take her with the others. Place them all in a cell.”

Shoving her along with them, the guards exited the shop and herded the fighting limbs and claws of the revolutionary women down the streets toward carriages and prison carts.

Chapter Twenty-Four