And found nothing. Finding her here on display had been a foolish hope.

Leaning against a wall, I watched the ladies swarm around, their questions – about the costumes, music, and dance steps – filling the air. Even though the set was only in the beginning stages, I could tell it would be magnificent. Both of them, for Monsieur Johnson was explaining that there would be a change during the break between acts. The darkness of Vice – my mother’s role – was what they were constructing now, and I watched her move amongst the giggling ladies as she explained their parts. Julian walked with her, his face more relaxed as he adopted the persona of the devil meant to tempt them.

“You watch them as I do.”

I jumped, Lady Marie’s sudden appearance at my elbow startling me out of my thoughts. “Pardon?”

She chuckled, and to my astonishment, leaned her own shoulders against the papered walls. “You’re watching the girls like you’re looking for something within them, but you’re uncertain what. I often find myself doing the same.”

It was her I was watching now. Was I so obvious, or did she know more about me than she was letting on? “I’m curious to see how they will perform,” I said, watching her face for any sort of reaction. “I hope my scrutiny has not upset any of them – it is merely habit.”

The corner of her mouth turned up, but she kept her eyes on the scene in front of us. “I doubt it. They are all used to scrutiny. More so, I think, than you are.” Her eyes went to mine and away again. She knew I was lying.

I swallowed. “Why do you watch them, my lady? What is it you are looking for?”

“I’m not sure.” Her smile fell away, and she shook her head once. “That’s a lie. I do know what I’m looking for, or, rather, whom.”

Though I desperately wanted to press her, I knew it was not my place.

“My son, Aiden,” she eventually said. “It is near time he was wed, but he stubbornly refuses to consider any option put to him.” She sighed. “One day, he will be the ruler of all the Isle, and he will need a strong and intelligent woman by his side in order to do it. That is the purpose of this masque – to put all his options on display for him. He needs to choose well, for the woman will carry a greater burden than anyone realizes.”

It sounded so crass when said that way – as though all these young women were animals on an auction block. Although in fairness, it was certainly no worse than how I’d been selected. At least they were willing.

“My brother is under his command,” I offered timidly, uncertain why she was revealing this information to me. “He speaks very highly of Lord Aiden.”

“He would.” There was heat in her voice. “His command is all that he attends to now – it is as though he has no time for anything other than military pursuits.” As abruptly as her anger arrived, it vanished. “Though that was not always the case. At one time, it seemed his entertainments would consume him. But this last year he’s changed – become melancholy and brooding, prone to disappearing for days at time. I hardly know him.” She huffed out a breath, and waved her hand as though to dispel the tension of her words. “Young men, Cécile – they are impossible.”

I ventured a smile. “Perhaps during our performance, he’ll realize that the one he’s looking for has been here the entire time.”

“Perhaps.” She straightened and stepped away from the wall. “Sometimes what we are looking for is right in front of us, but more often, I think, one must look long and hard, for she will not reveal herself so easily.”

Her words echoed in my ears, and I bit my tongue to keep from reacting.

“Your mother is performing for us tomorrow night, as she has done so many times over the years,” she said, her eyes searching mine. “Although I understand you will soon be taking up her torch, and it will be your voice gracing our dinner parties.”

“I can’t find it in myself to believe she truly intends to retire,” I said, tension rising up my spine as it dawned on me that this woman was far more familiar with me than I was with her. Fred had said that contact with La Voisin would bring the attention of those in power down upon me, but what if it already was? Lady Marie du Chastelier had no reason to care who I was, no reason to seek out my attention. No reason, unless she knew I had a darker purpose for being in Trianon beyond performing onstage.

“Believe it,” Lady Marie said. “Genevieve’s time on the stage is over, but I’ve no doubt you’ll make a wonderful successor. Your talents, it would seem, are endless.”

“I’ll do my best.” My words sounded breathy, and a bead of sweat ran down the back of my leg. She was not talking about my voice…

“Are you quite well, dear?” She touched my arm, and every muscle in my body twitched. She frowned.

Get control of yourself!

“Sorry!” I took a deep breath, trying to control my pounding heart, but it did no good. “My apologies, my lady. I’m overwhelmed – I didn’t expect this.”

Lady Marie’s frown melted away, but that did nothing to ease the tension singing through my veins. “Such an innocent little thing you are. Hard to believe, given whom you’ve been spending time with…”

“Please excuse the interruption, my lady, but Monsieur Johnson is asking for my daughter.”

My mother had appeared out of nowhere, and was now standing next to me. She knows about the trolls, my mind screamed, but I forced a smile onto my face.