Midnight Jewel
Page 93

   “He hunts heretics, you know,” I said.
   She let go of a dress and turned to face me. “What are you implying?”
   I shrugged. “I don’t know. It just bothers me to see people persecuted for their beliefs when they aren’t hurting anyone. Doesn’t it bother you?” We’d never really discussed religion. For all I knew, she hated heretics too.
   But something flashed through her eyes. Doubt, maybe. It vanished quickly as her normal resolve took over. She clenched her hands. “He’s an intelligent man. If something’s wrong . . . well, I’m sure he’ll reconsider. Don’t look at me like that, Mira! He’s a governor. No one can give me the kind of life he can. He’s anxious to have a wife once he’s set up there. And I’m anxious to be one.”
   “I just want you to be happy, that’s all.”
   “If this works out, I will be.” She stared off for several moments, caught in her own thoughts. “Well, that’s enough about that. Let’s get back to figuring out what I’m going to wear. And what you’re going to wear. We’ll get you a husband yet.”
 

   But it wasn’t a husband I was after that night. All sorts of wealthy and important people packed the manor, many more than had come to the anniversary party earlier that week. A number of guests had even traveled from other colonies. A governor’s son becoming the governor of a new colony was a huge event. A crowd like that offered pros and cons. More people meant more eyes. More people also meant it was easier to blend in.    I found Governor Ryan easily. He was a large, gregarious man who loved his wine and, from the conversations I overheard, gambling as well. His eyes fell on me once, his expression first puzzled and then disapproving. He returned to his companions and never looked at me again. It had been a while since I’d received such blatant condescension. Not all of Cape Triumph’s elite accepted me, but most had at least become used to seeing me at social events.
   I didn’t need the governor. I needed his letter. If he had it on his person, I was defeated. I’d pickpocketed before, but only in private. Governor Ryan was constantly surrounded by people, and there was no way I’d penetrate that circle. If the letter was somewhere in the house, then my task was only slightly less impossible.
   “But, Father, think of the money we’ll save!”
   “No. Our fortune wasn’t built on human lives, and that’s not going to change.”
   I just barely caught the familiar voices above the room’s buzz. After a quick scan, I spied Rupert Chambers resting in a small alcove, with a visibly agitated Cornelius standing over him. I started to retreat, but Cornelius caught sight of me at the last second. He dashed over and practically dragged me to his father.
   “Miss Viana! What a delight. Father, aren’t you happy to see her?”
   Rupert gave his son a sharp look. “Don’t try to distract me with that poor girl. Not that I’m displeased to see you, dear.”
   Cornelius tugged me to a chair. “Sit, sit. Your feet must be tired.”
   I normally wouldn’t mind visiting with Rupert, but other matters demanded my attention. “I’d love to, but—”
   “Just a small break,” insisted Cornelius.
   “Let her go,” exclaimed Rupert, in a roar of a voice I’d never expected to hear from him. “By the Six, leave her alone and let her go dance with men her own age.”
   Cornelius balked at the tone in his father’s voice and dropped my hand. I curtsied to Rupert. “I don’t want to interrupt your conversation, Mister Chambers. I’ll catch up with you later.”
   I hurried off before Cornelius could stop me. What had that been about? Nothing should surprise me about the Chambers family by now, but they still managed it.
   I weaved through the chattering guests, getting a sense of how the estate was laid out. I’d been here a few times but never before needed to know the floor plan. I watched which corridors servants and family went through. Finally, after much scrutiny, I gambled on which way would lead me to the residential wing and hovered near that doorway. I waited until I was confident no one was looking in my direction and then made my move.
   At first, I thought I’d guessed wrong. I walked past a study, a closet, a parlor, and rooms that didn’t even seem to be in use. So much excess. But at long last, a bend led me into a hall of closed doors. I opened the first and found a tidy bedroom that showed no signs of occupancy. It was a start, though.
   Door after door revealed a few more guest rooms, as well as Governor and Mistress Doyle’s massive master bedroom. Not far from it, another large bedroom was filled with trunks and crates. Warren’s, no doubt, ready for travel. Two doors after that came a guest room with a rumpled bed and a small trunk. I slipped inside and lit a small lamp.
   The trunk was locked, and I let it be while I searched the usual places: the desk, the bed, the bureau. Nothing. If it was here, it’d be in the trunk. I knelt down and pulled out my pick kit. The lock popped open with little effort. Inside, I found ordinary traveler’s items. No letter. I tilted my head, gauging the trunk’s height. Running my hands around the trunk’s interior, I found a small catch. I couldn’t help a laugh. It was Grant’s cabin all over again. And to think he’d said I wouldn’t need those skills in this case.
   I opened the second lock and lifted the trunk’s bottom. There it was, a sealed envelope. I broke the wax and pulled out a single piece of paper filled with gibberish. Well, not gibberish, but a string of Lorandian words that made no sense. It had to be a code.
   I put the trunk back in order, snuffed the lantern, and headed back to the hallway. I’d learned enough to know I couldn’t just take it. I stopped by the study I’d passed earlier and lit another lamp. As hoped, paper and pen sat neatly on the desk, and I quickly began to copy the strange note. I couldn’t let Governor Ryan know what had happened. From there, it was back to his bedroom to return the letter. I waved the original over the lantern, somewhat melting the seal back together. Hopefully he’d think it was crushed in transit.