The final chords of music drifted through the room, and the lights dimmed. Where was Sabine?

Indecision still racking me, I began making my way through the tightly packed nobles toward the stage. My priority needed to be Genevieve, not keeping Marie within my grasp. If anything happened to Cécile’s mother because I deviated from the plan in pursuit of my own interests, she’d never forgive me. Then the choice was rendered moot as the curtains to one side parted and Genevieve stepped into the ballroom.

Chapter 54

Cécile

The music of the first half echoed through the ballroom, an eerie and haunting accompaniment to my mother’s voice. No, not my mother’s voice: Anushka’s. I knew it was fact, but my mind seemed set on rejecting the truth, on holding me back from the actions I needed to take.

“Cécile!”

At the sound of the hissed whisper of my name, I turned between my escorts – to see Sabine standing only a few paces away. She was dressed in an elaborate evening gown, her hair pinned up and jewels hanging from her ears, and I realized she must have come with Tristan. She started toward me, but one of the guards hurried to intercept her.

“Mademoiselle de Troyes is not to be troubled until after she performs,” he said under his breath, pushing her back toward the curtain.

Sabine could warn Tristan; could keep him within the crowded ballroom until I had the chance to explain the truth to him, to temper his reaction. “I want to speak to her.”

The guard held me back, shaking his head. “After.”

Only then did I realize the music had ceased, and that the grinning courtiers vying for Lord Aiden were pouring off the stage. A hand with spiked fingertips closed over my shoulder, and I turned around to see the wicked mask hiding my mother’s face. Anushka’s face.

“Are you ready, darling?”

The King’s compulsion swiftly and violently took hold. My hands whipped up and caught hold of her wrists with a grip I hadn’t known I’d possessed. Kill her!

Anushka’s jaw tightened beneath the mask, and she tried to pull away from me. “A touch of nerves, I see.”

My mind grappled with ways I might kill her, but without a weapon, the guards would stop me before I had a chance. But they couldn’t stop Tristan. With a wicked sense of glee, I felt his name rise up in my mind, along with the vision of her dead at my feet.

But it wouldn’t end there. It would be chaos. The guards would attack Tristan, and how many would die? I needed to get her alone, and knowing that she planned to kill me tonight, that shouldn’t be hard.

I forced my hands to relax and fall away from her wrists. “Dreadfully nervous.” I swallowed. “Will you watch me, Mama? Out front where I can see you?”

With one hand, she removed the horrid mask from her face and then smiled. “Of course, dearest. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”