34

The Truth

I pale beneath my white powder.

The dauphin looks at St. Juste. “Who’s this?”

“No one,” I say in a dismissive voice.

I hear a faint splutter from St. Juste.

“Escort him back to the ball,” the prince orders the guards.

They take St. Juste firmly by the elbow and lead him away. St. Juste doesn’t protest and I don’t watch him go. If I want to protect him, I must pretend he’s nothing and no one to me. Not that I’ve much of a choice; the prince has me by the arm and is dragging me into the Salon de la Reine before I can say another word.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

“I came to find the inspector,” I say.

The prince’s face falls, but Javert looks at me, frowning darkly.

“Who are you?” she demands.

“My name is Nina Thénardier, Inspector.”

“You break into the Tuileries during the biggest ball of the season so you can see the inspector?” the dauphin says incredulously. “I waited and hoped for years to get word of you.” He stares at me with an intensity I’m not sure I like. “You and Ettie are the only friends I’ve ever had. The only people who aren’t afraid of me. I think of you every day, every night.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Every night?”

He reddens, but only slightly. “Yes, every night,” he says boldly. “I’ve even wished you’d make good on your threat and sneak in one night to slit my throat. Anything so I could see you again.”

I don’t really have time for these reminiscences, and shift my feet as a familiar feeling of annoyance rises in me. “The night I left you, Ettie was kidnapped, and it’s taken me two years to locate her.”

The prince stares at me. “Kidnapped?” He steps toward me with arms outstretched. “Nina, I’m so sorry. Do you know who took her?”

I cross my arms. “An ex-convict named Jean Valjean. Rumor has it the inspector has been tracking him for years. And I’ve found his hideout.”

Javert gives a start and stares hard at me.

“I thought the inspector would want to know,” I finish innocently.

“Why didn’t you come to me for help when this first happened?” the dauphin asks, a slightly hurt note returning to his voice.

“What could you have done? You’re no good at finding criminals, and you wouldn’t know the first thing about disappeared paupers.”

I’ve responded too quickly, and he blinks at me, wounded.

“I could have been a friend.”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t need friends. I need someone who knows how to deal with Valjean. I need her.” I point at the inspector.

The prince sighs and rubs a hand across his forehead.

“In two days I’ll send soldiers to rescue Ettie from this Val—” he begins.

“No!” I interrupt him. “You don’t understand. Ettie isn’t safe. We must act now.”

“Tell me the address and I’ll have guards stationed there to ensure she remains safe.”