Page 9 (1/2)

Clarkson was doing his best to coned, calh was childlike And when he broke, it was a ain

It wasn’t as if I was a stranger to suffering At ho heat Even though being a Four should offer some level of security, I lived close to poverty

This would be a new hardship to endure That was, of course, if Prince Clarkson chose ht? And wouldn’t thatabout, miss?" Martha asked

I smiled and reached for her hand "The future Which is pointless, I suppose What comes will come"

"You’re a sweet one, miss He’d be lucky to have you"

"And I’d be lucky to have him"

It was true He was everything I ever wanted It was all the strings attached to hihtened me

Danica slipped into another pair of Bianca’s shoes "They’re a perfect fit! Okay, I’ll take these, and you take rinned from ear to ear

No one told us to stay out of the Woirls opted to do just that Instead, we gathered in groups and hopped fro on one another’s clothes and talking the ays did

Except it was different Without the queen around, the girls turned intowell, girls Everyone see about protocol, or being perfectly ladylike, we let ourselves be the people ere before our nairls ere at home

"Danica, I think we’re close to the same size I bet I have dresses that would ith those shoes," I offered

"I’ll take you up on that You got one of the good sets Also, Cordaye Have you seen the things her hed I didn’t knohat they did, but Cordaye’sin ways I didn’t see on anyone else Nova’s dresses were also a notch above everyone else’s I wondered if whoever won the Selection would have her pick of the maids I depended on Martha, Cindly, and E here without thee to think about?" I said

"What?" Madeline answered, ruh Bianca’s jewelry box

"One day, it won’t be like this Eventually, one of us will be here alone"

Danica sat doith me at Bianca’s table "I know Do you think that’s part of why the queen is so angry? Maybe she’s been alone too much"

Madeline shook her head "I think that’s by choice She could have anyone stay as her guest if she wanted She could move an entire household into the palace if it pleased her"

"Not if it bothered the king," Danica replied

"True" Madeline went back to the box "I can’t get a read on the king He’s kind of detached fro You think Clarkson will be like that?"

"No," I answered, s to myself "Clarkson is his own person"

No one added to the discussion, and I looked up to find Danica’s devilish grin

"What?"