“Never mind.” I smiled, practically giddy to have my worst fears proven wrong. “I must have the wrong address,” I said, although Middlings on the street readily recognized Raven’s name, and all of them had pointed me to this house. Since the woman at the door clearly thought I was High Kith, I tried to think of what someone of my supposed rank would say. “Forgive me for having disturbed the peace of your home.”

“My home?” She looked at me blankly. “This is my mistress’s home.”

It hadn’t even occurred to me that the woman could be a servant. My shoulders hunched. I felt the worn grief that comes when you deceive yourself into thinking that what you fear isn’t true, and then are struck with the fact that it is.

“Please,” she whispered, “don’t tell her I answered the door looking so unkempt. She is very particular. I had no idea she was expecting someone of your kith.”

“Take me to her,” I said, and she led me through elegant rooms to Raven, who was drinking a pot of pink tea, her skin smoother than I had ever seen it, her hair a rich dark brown. A porcelain plate bearing sugared flowers rested on a frail table. She had just placed a flower in her mouth when she saw me enter the room. Her face slackened in surprise. A hand went to her throat, touching the gold chain of the necklace that disappeared beneath her batiste dress fringed with simple lace. She looked caught in the middle of a crime.

“Oh,” she said.

“You used me,” I said quietly.

She ordered her expression into one of delight. “My dear Nirrim!” She stood and embraced me, kissing my cheek, and pulled me down to sit beside her on the lilac jacquard sofa. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Never mind. We will sort it all out, you and your ama. So that arrogant foreign lady has released you from her service, has she? Well, good riddance! I never liked her. But what a fine dress she has given you. This blue makes your green eyes so brilliant. You are not allowed to wear such a hue, you know that, but here”—she leaned forward with a conspiring whisper—“we can do as we please, you and I. You there,” she snapped at the maid. “Why are you standing about? Leave at once. My daughter and I wish to speak in private.”

“Daughter?” I said numbly as the young woman scuttled from the room.