Chapter 11: Slippers

Nobody spoke.

The only sound was the lake slapping against the pier posts.

I felt the Emperor's arms go stiff around me.

"I didn't touch her," I said.

My teeth were chattering so hard the words came out in pieces.

"I never got close enough to touch her."

Rose sobbed into her borrowed cloak.

"I felt her hands on my back," she said. "Right here. I felt them."

Prince Lucan stood up slowly.

He looked around at all the masked faces on the pier and the shore.

He looked sorry.

He looked like the gentlest man in the world.

"I wish I hadn't seen it," he said. "But I was on the shore, by the boathouse. I saw Lady Vivi walk up behind her. I saw her put out her hands."

A long breath went through the crowd.

That was it.

In the book, the prince's word was the end of Vivi.

Nobody at court ever doubted Lucan Aurelian.

"You said you'd be at the pavilion," the Emperor said quietly.

Lucan spread his hands.

"I went for a walk, brother. I'm sorry. I know you care for her."

The Emperor didn't answer.

I could feel him breathing behind me, slow and hard.

I pushed his coat off my shoulders and stood up.

My legs nearly went.

I made them hold.

"Bring a lantern," I said. "Please. To the end of the pier."

Nobody moved.

"Do it," the Emperor said.

A footman ran up with a lantern on a pole.

I took it from him with my good hand.

I walked the last few steps to the end of the pier, to the dead lantern on its post.

Everybody on the pier shuffled after me to see.

I held the light down to the boards.

There, at the foot of the lantern post, sat a pair of white satin slippers.

They were set side by side, heels together, toes pointing neatly at the water.

You'd leave them by your bed.

Three feet away lay my own slippers.

One was on its side.

The other was upside down at the edge of the boards, where I'd kicked it off before I jumped.