The Madame paused and looked at the Gray Matron to explain herself.

“Nox is my personal servant girl. Come here, Nox.” Agnes waved her hand quickly, ushering the young woman to stand behind her and away from the prying inspection of the Madame.

Amaris watched with panic as Nox hesitated. She recognized the reluctance in Nox’s step. Her friend didn’t know how to intervene. She twitched her hands, almost as if fighting the urge to throw her arms around Amaris. Nox was powerless, and Amaris knew it. Instead, she held Amaris’s gaze, conveying a sense of calm and reassurance onto her. The look told her Nox was there for her, even if there was nothing to be said.

“But this one.” Millicent stretched a hand to touch Amaris’s face, cooing absently as she drew her fingers over her features. “My, what a pretty shade of purple. Milk and cream and moonlight, you are.… Such angelic features, this one.”

“Have you ever seen anything like her?” Agnes prodded.

“Truly, I haven’t,” the woman purred. She stared into Amaris’s eyes for a long moment.

Amaris resisted the impulse to flinch, showing whatever strength she could conjure as she held the Madame’s evaluating stare.

“Come,” she commanded. Millicent herded Amaris into the dorm room behind her with a shooing sound. The lavish woman acted as though she were the true matron of the house, clearing the other children from the room and its many cots in a demand for privacy. Two younger girls scattered, leaving their things in disarray as they hurried from the space.

“Shut the door,” Millicent said curtly to no one in particular.

Nox and Agnes trailed behind Millicent’s formidable presence. Agnes complied, closing the door to the dorm room.

“Disrobe,” Millicent commanded. Her face was cold as she watched Amaris impatiently.

Amaris gaped, looking from Madame Millicent to Agnes. Her lips parted in appalled speechlessness. She clutched at the edges of her tunic as she looked to the matron, silently begging the woman to help.

“What?” Amaris croaked weakly.

“I need to see if you are unmarked,” the woman said, annoyed.

Agnes gestured for Amaris to hurry up.

Nox started toward Amaris in a wordless protest. The Gray Matron lifted a hand to keep Nox behind her. It was as if Agnes knew that one plea from Amaris would be all it took for Nox to interrupt. The Gray Matron addressed the Madame directly, saying, “We have taken extreme precautions. She’s a rarity. She’s been spared from any activities that would mark her.”

Millicent didn’t look at Agnes. Her beady, birdlike eyes remained fixed on Amaris. “Forgive me if I’m unwilling to take your word for it. Disrobe, girl.”

Her hands did the opposite. Amaris crossed her arms in front of her. The room was too cold. The request was too vile. Her head swam as she shrank under Millicent’s withering stare.