Chapter 4 – Head Mistress
My wolf yips, trotting back and forth in my soul, encouraged by how well this is going. I like being Betty, she says, her tongue lolling, her head low as she keeps her eyes on our quarry. Betty is tricky Betty is fun.
But I just swat her rump and bid her to be quiet. I have to concentrate.
“It’s so nice to meet you too, Max,” I say, smiling shyly at him.
I jump a little – fake of course – when a new tray of food settles in front of me.
“Enjoy!”
My head whips up at the sound of that voice, my surprise genuine this time when my eyes meet my cousin’s blue gaze.
Cosette gives me her most peaceful smile, folding her hands neatly in front of her flour-spotted apron. “Anything else I can do for you, Celestial?”
I do my very best not to clench my jaw as my cousin’s eyes crinkle at the corner, just a little wicked.
“No,” I say, breathy, shaking my head so hard my braids jump. “Thank you so much for bringing this – and I’m so sorry about the first one.”
“Oh, please don’t be – it’s our pleasure to serve.”
Cosette turns on her heel and walks calmly back to the kitchen. My wolf snarls but I turn my attention back to the boys, making a very quiet mental note to seek my revenge later.
“So,” Max says, giving me his famous mega-watt smile as he bites into one of Cosette’s delicious almond croissants. “Betty. Where are you from?”
I straighten my shoulders a little, an eager expression coming to my face as I pretend to be proud. “I’m from Madena,” I say, nodding, naming a northern province famous both for its orchards and its reclusive nobility. “This is my first time south.”
“Madena,” Kai says – the Beta with the close-cropped dark hair. His voice echoes deep in his broad chest as he hums, considering my answer as he pushes his spoon around in his cereal. I watch as he goes through his mental rolodex of nobility, trying to figure out who the hell I am.
After all, not just anyone can saunter up to Witloch and waltz right in.
Unless they’re me.
“Wait, so,” Philip says, giving me a friendly smile and leaning closer like we’re already pals. “There’s no chance that you’re Elizabeth Spencer, right? Daughter of Jacob Spencer?”
I beam at him, quite pleased that someone’s clever enough to do my work for me. “You know dad!?”
Philip’s lovely smile grows, showing a perfectly straight line of very white teeth, not an ounce of suspicion in his eyes. “I don’t know him personally, but my father does a great deal of business with him. You Northerners don’t get down here often, do you?”
No. They don’t.
Which is precisely why I picked Elizabeth Spencer to impersonate. All the noble bloodlines a girl needs, but no one of any note has ever seen her. Perfect.
“No,” I say, shaking my head before tilting it to the side, letting my eyes go wide with wonder. “But I’ve always wanted to come to the South and the Capital – it’s so wonderful down here – so warm, and so cosmopolitan.” I drop my gaze and do my best to blush. “It’s kind of…a dream come true.”
“Well, we’re glad you’re here, Betty,” Max says. I look up at him through my lashes, watching as his smile spreads, his eyes moving over my face. “I’m sure we’ll all be very happy to show you a good time.”
“Wow,” I whisper. “Everyone is just as nice as I hoped they’d be. Well…” I glance to the right at the girls’ table where Jacqueline’s shoulders are still stiff with rage. “…Almost everyone.”
“Don’t worry about Jackie,” Philip murmurs, leaning forward conspiratorially and giving me a wink, his auburn curls falling into his face. “She’s just obsessed with Ma-“
“Phil,” Max murmurs, shooting him a glare. “Don’t be rude.”
Philip just laughs and mumbles something about the truth. I smile widely, looking around at the boys with delight because Betty would just love to be in on the secret. And quite frankly, I don’t mind it much either.
“So,” I say, still soft and breathy, ignoring my food, “what do you all study? Is there –“
“Celestial?”
We all turn at the sound of the harsh voice. I tilt my head back, looking up at the very chic woman dressed all in green who glares down at me.
“Might I ask who in the heavens you are? And what you are doing in my breakfast hall?”
I shrink away towards Max, pretending to be afraid. His hand is instantly on my shoulder, squeezing it in support.
“This is Elizabeth Spencer, Headmistress,” Max says, his voice all authority now. “Surely she was to be expected.”
The Headmistress’s mouth falls open like a guppy as she turns her eyes back to me.
I raise my fingers in a tenuous little hello, acting my heart out, pretending to be afraid she’ll scold me or kick me out at any moment. Max, sensing my tension, clears his throat.
The Headmistress blinks back to the moment, glancing at him and then back at me. “But – you were meant to be here two weeks ago, Celestial Spencer,” she says, shaking her head. “We assumed you had made other plans.”
“There was…a lot of snow…” I whisper, my shoulders going up around my ears. God, I’m going to get a neckache if I keep having to do this all the time. “Am I…should I leave? I came all this way…”
“Of course not,” the Headmistress snaps, straightening her shoulders and half turning towards the door, gesturing towards it. “You are, of course, more than welcome Celestial. But if you will come with me? We need to reprocess your paperwork.”
“She hasn’t even eaten,” Max protests, tightening his hand on my shoulder.
I turn to him, looking at him again like he’s the great hero of my life. He seemed to like that, after all. “It’s okay,” I whisper, smiling softly. “I’m not even really that hungry. I’m…too nervous.”
“Betty, you should eat,” he says, all kindness, all faith.
God, this nation’s Prince is such a mark. This is going to be the easiest con of my life.
“I’ll take this,” I say, standing and lifting the almond croissant off my plate, remembering that it’s what he ate. “Um, they’re good, right?”
“The best,” he says, beaming at me.
I nod to him, whispering my thanks again, and begin to follow the headmistress as she starts for the door.
Three…
Two…
One…
“Betty!”
Bingo.
I turn, willing surprise to my face. Nearly the entire breakfast hall turns to watch as the Prince gets to his feet, leaning over the table towards me.
“We study in the garden most afternoons,” he says, smiling again that golden-boy smile. “You should come!”
My lips curl up, a smile blooming across my face like I’m the luckiest girl in the world. “Okay,” I say, giving him a tiny wave with my fingertips. “I’ll try.”
“Celestial,” the Headmistress says, getting impatient.
I turn and follow her again, sending my wolf hearing out across the room, wanting to know the response to my show. After all, I am a girl who appreciates a bit of applause after such a masterful performance.
“Max,” Philip says, laughing softly. I can almost see him shaking his head, his curls bouncing. “You always did like a wounded bird, didn’t you?”
“We don’t know her, man,” Kai says, more wary. “You shouldn’t have invited her to study.”
I make note of this, ensuring that Kai is next on my list.
“Oh, come on, she’s a nice girl,” Max murmurs, barely audible now that I’ve reached the door. “Just want to…make sure she has a nice time here.”
“Yeah,” Phil says, his voice low with good-humored disbelief. “You really just want to give her a good time, don’t you.”
I hear the boys laugh and – just as the cherry on top – I turn at the door, looking back at Max.
I catch his eye. And bite my lip.
His shoulders visibly loosen as he smiles.
I slip out the door, my wolf’s toes tapping eagerly as she lifts her snout and howls our victory.