“If these are the stories they are telling in the streets, then things are as we have long suspected,” the queen says, looking at the dauphin, her voice as sweet as treacle. “If you think your crown, your blood, or your name will protect you, then you are mistaken, my son. We must show them the same mercy that they are prepared to show us.”

She turns abruptly to us. Ettie is practically cowering behind me.

“Don’t be afraid, child. We’ve enjoyed your most illuminating tale.” She gives us a far-too-wide smile. “In fact, we are so grateful for the entertainment that we would like to extend our offer of hospitality. We’re having a ball tomorrow evening, and we would be enchanted if you would both stay to enjoy the festivities.”

Ettie looks delighted by the idea and comes out from behind me to smile shyly at the queen.

But I know better. The queen is clearly dangerous. We should leave the palace immediately. Once I’ve found the grain stores we can slip away.

The queen glances at her husband, who is struggling to redo the buttons of his shirt. His belly hangs out, soft and sad, and he looks entirely forlorn. “Come, my dear,” she says. She rises and takes him by his elbow, leading him out of the room.

With a swishing of silk on waxed wood floors, she’s gone.

21

The Sisters

“I’ll accompany you to your chamber,” the dauphin says, rising. The doors open for him and he ushers us out.

“Oh, Nina, a ball! Can you think of anything more exciting?” Ettie claps her hands together in delight as we meander down the endless corridors. She turns and sees the look on my face and hesitates. “We can stay for the ball, can’t we?”

“You have very little choice,” says the dauphin.

I frown.

“It is time for us to leave here, Ettie,” I say firmly.

The dauphin pauses. “It’s better not to cross Mother,” he says. “After all, she is your queen, and her command is law over you.”

“What did you say?” I ask in a dangerous voice.

“Well, you’re her subjects, so technically you belong to her, and to my father.”

“I belong to no one,” I say sharply as Ettie grabs my arm.

The prince frowns. “That’s just not true. I am the dauphin of France. One day, I’ll be king, and everything and everyone will belong to me. You’ll belong to me. I can have you arrested if I choose. I can have you executed if I want. I—”

I slap him hard. The sound rings through the corridor like a shot.

“Nina!” Ettie scolds.

The servants gasp and start to come toward us, but the dauphin waves them away.

He stares at me, clutching his cheek in amazement. “You struck me.”

“I’ll do worse if you ever again presume to tell us we belong to you. We are the Wretched. We belong to no one but our Fathers. You and your kind may rule over most things in this land, but you do not rule over us.”