It turned out that being asked for favours and being set upon by eager social climbers at every meal were to be the least of my worries. That very same grey-haired maid from that morning had showed up again that afternoon to oversee my preparation for the ball. Brenna was all forced smiles while Elspeth shrank into corners and darted around the suite like a frightened little mouse.

The grey-haired maid, whose name, I soon discovered, was Millie, had disdainfully rejected each of the three outfits Brenna had laid out for me. She'd turned her nose up as she perused my wardrobe, making it seem as if the dresses Andrew had commissioned from the best dressmaker in Paris were the work of amateurs.

"Her Majesty will doubtlessly request some additions to fill out such an inadequate wardrobe, but I suppose this will have to do for now," Millie said, her curled upper lip never once relaxing into a pleasant expression as she laid out a sapphire brocade gown. Brenna, clearly having heard the palace gossip about me, had been planning to dress me in a gown of such pale silver that looked it almost white. I knew she was doing her best to make me look regal and bridal at the same time, but clearly the queen had other plans by sending her maid down to inspect my wardrobe.

"Dress her in this and do her hair in a pile of curls. A string of pearls and something simple for her ears, but nothing more than that," Millie said, before she took her leave.

"And who exactly is she to be telling me how to dress?" I demanded, as a shaky Elspeth laced my corset while Brenna got to choosing the jewels.

"She's one of the queen's ladies' maids," Brenna said, as if that should answer the question.

"Well I don't care what this Millie character thinks, I'm wearing the silver dress," I said defiantly. Brenna shook her head, fixing me with a look as she sighed.

"While I would very much enjoy thumbing my nose at Millie as well, if you turn up in anything other than what the queen has requested, Elspeth and I will be sacked," Brenna said. Her words hit me like a slap.

"So now I can't even choose my own clothes?" I asked, looking over at the sapphire dress.

"If I may be frank, my lady?" Brenna asked. I looked over to her in surprise.

"You may always be frank, Brenna. And please, call me Libby," I said, wondering why she was suddenly twisting her apron around and addressing me so formally. Elspeth's tiny hands were still shaking as she tied off my laces.

"The rumours say that you're now Prince Andrew's favourite," Brenna said, holding up a hand to still my tongue when I opened my mouth, "It's to be expected that Her Majesty will be taking a much more active interest in your appearance, demeanour, and reputation if that is indeed true."

"But Brenna," I said, "We're not even engaged!"

"I know, my lady," she said. The hint of sadness in her eyes as she held the sapphire gown up to me ripped open that pit of terror in my stomach.

"Do you mean to say that this will only get worse?" I asked, looking down at the dress that I'd laughed at when I'd tried it on in Paris. It was beautiful and elaborate and seemed like it should be on display in a museum rather than draped over my impetuous shoulders. I could see why Millie had chosen it, for it was very much fit for a queen.

"I mean to say that Her Majesty will do everything in her power to ensure that whomever Prince Andrew chooses will be the perfect image of the ideal court lady. Refined and beautiful with exquisite taste, polished manners, and ladylike deference," Brenna said, handing the dress to Elspeth while she steered me towards the vanity table to start setting my hair.

I swallowed as I looked at myself in the mirror. While the dress and the jewels would do something to make me appear beautiful and tasteful, the ladylike deference was the one trait I knew I would never be able to gain unless the queen planned on sewing my mouth shut. It had taken nearly all of my willpower this morning to face her and maintain my composure, but I'd still let slip a few too many harsh words.

I watched as the colour drained from my face while my traitorous brain returned to the old, sinking dread I'd felt after the opera. After all, even if she hadn't meant to, Brenna had just perfectly described Adelaide Winters.

***

Thanks to Millie having chosen my dress for me, there was no delaying Brenna and Elspeth in preparing me for the ball, though I tried my very best to sabotage their expedient efforts at every turn. The hallway was filled with debutantes when I emerged, so I plastered on a smile and waded into the fray, desperately seeking out a friendly face. Annabelle was surrounded by her gauntlet of scowling ladies in waiting, so I avoided her despite her waving me over. Georgina finally emerged and I beelined towards her, very nearly knocking her over in my haste.

"You certainly look stunning tonight," she said, looking me over as she pulled on a pair of gloves. When I noticed she was wearing her fur-lined cape I groaned.

"As do you! But you're leaving, aren't you?" I asked, following her down the hallway.

"Sadly yes," she said, "Though I do hope you have the most lovely time."

"Oh she will," came a snide voice from behind us. Ashley loomed over me as Georgina and I descended the stairs.

"How marvellous that you're planning on making my evening more enjoyable," I said, the sarcasm dripping as I smiled.

"Anything for the prince's favourite," she said, drawing out the last word as if it were an insult. Georgina made a derisive cluck in her throat.

"Careful Ashley, your pretty face might stick that way," I said, "Though such a sneer really helps your true self shine through."

"You'd do well to remember my last warning," Ashley said, "The higher you climb, the farther you fall."

"How wonderful that I'm back on solid ground then!" I grinned, doing a little pirouette on the marble entrance hall floor as I took the last two stairs at a leap. Ashley was still glaringdown at me, but Georgina drew me away into the crowd of arriving nobles, towards the palace's front doors.

"Did you say something to your brother?" she asked, casting a wary look around before she spoke.

"No, but I'd be delighted to!" I smiled, "I'm so happy you-"

"No, please!" she pleaded, cutting me off, "Please don't say anything. He's just been...different lately. So perhaps it's for the best."

I stared at her, well aware that my face had fallen flat. At this point, there was absolutely no way I wasn't bringing this up to my brother, no matter what she said.

"Have a lovely time at the ball," she said, shooting a look towards the swarm of inductees that had emerged from the men's wing. I watched her go, my stomach sinking. What had happened? I'd assumed that Xavier's reaction at breakfast had been because he was oblivious, not because something had gone wrong.

Determined not to let this ruin my evening, I gathered my skirts and flounced into the ballroom, gratefully accepting a glass of punch from a passing servant. The thrones were vacant while the nobles arrived, a few of them already dancing when I walked in. I cast a look around for familiar faces, only to spot a tousle of auburn hair on the other side of the buffet table.

"What were you thinking!" I demanded, bounding up behind Xavier where he was lurking in a corner, nursing a glass of punch. He lifted an eyebrow.

"I was thinking how much I'd prefer a warm brandy, my slippers, and a good book to this whole spectacle," he said, gesturing to the glittering ballroom with his punch. I groaned.

"Really Xavier, are you already eighty and gone senile? I meant about Georgina!" I said, "Do you have any idea what a wonderful per-"

"I know exactly how wonderful a person she is," he snapped, "But she also happens to be a very high-born colonel's daughter."

"What's that got to do with anything?" I asked.

"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm a university dropout with no title and not a penny to my name," he said bitterly, "There's no sense in falling in love with a woman whose father will never approve of me."

I started at him as he glared at the dance floor, moodily swirling his punch. I'd seen Xavier upset before, but for him to be this worked up...

"What's happened?" I asked. He pursed his lips, taking a sip of his punch to buy himself time to think.

"Vee, tell me," I commanded. He shot a glance down at my face, which held a mix of panic and concern, sighing.

"I've been told in no uncertain terms that the title is going to Edward, even despite him abandoning us. Father refuses to pass him over," Xavier said, finishing his punch, "So it seems that I'll be headed to India."

"You can't go," I blurted out, panic mounting inside me. It was one thing when Xavier was away at Oxford, but quite another thing for him to journey half a world away. Even though we hadn't spent much time just the two of us, the thought of him not being around the palace anymore set my stomach to twisting.

"We don't all have princely benefactors," he said gently, offering me a rueful smile.

"What if I asked Andrew to secure you a place at the Royal Conservatory? It wouldn't be Oxford, but-" I started, desperately racking my brain.

"I'm having a hard enough time accepting his charity as it is," Xavier said, setting down his cup to take my hands in his, "Please, Libby, you need to understand that I want to stand on my own two feet. All my life I'd always thought that meant as a professor with the family money to support me. Now, it seems I'll have to live on what I can earn myself."

I was inhaling to spew something else when the music came to an end and the royal fanfare sounded. I couldn't help but look over towards the thrones, only to have Xavier lift my hands to kiss them.

"Go get your prince," he said, that same rueful smile on his face. I couldn't bear to leave him like this, but I also couldn't bear to watch Andrew give his first dance to someone else because I was lurking in a corner.

"Vee..." I started, only for him to shake his head, taking me by the shoulders to turn me around.

"We can talk about this later," he said, before giving me a gentle push towards the dance floor.