The two of them glanced over at Sir Chez.

  “Are you going to quote Aunt Eileen?”

  Em watched him warily and he laughed.

  “You know she’s right. The more support and respect you can gain in upper society, the smoother things will be for his lordship.”

  Em sighed.

  Flint was a lot of things. But a businessman was not one of them. He could say and do the right things long enough to get out of trouble, but not long enough to create friendships. And growing up with him as her role model hadn’t given Em any kind of advantage.

  At least she passed her etiquette lessons. Flint would forget to do up all his buttons if Ralph wasn’t there to help him.

  Maybe that’s why…

  She took a deep breath. No. The biggest problem wasn’t her education or her etiquette or even her clothes (even if all of those had an impact).

  It was her gender.

  All of it put together and she had a losing hand.

  She couldn’t be herself. So even if she made connections with high society, they didn’t take her seriously. It was a problem she hadn’t foreseen when she made this move.

  Em allowed Sir Chez to help her into the carriage before he and Todd followed.

  Todd leaned on his knees.

  “Now where?”

  Em grinned. “The bookstore.”

  Todd’s eyes lit up.

  They had a game which they had perfected over the years. It only worked because he and Em coordinated clothes to look like lesser nobles. And because they chose bookstores meant for the middle class.

  Todd would stroll into the bookstore and pretend to browse.

  Em would follow along and make grumpy comments. “This is boring!” “Can we eat now?” “Are you done yet?”

  They didn’t have to pretend too hard to seem like a brother and sister pair, even though they looked nothing alike. Then Em, who’d be scanning for something useful, would yank a book off a shelf and toss it at him.

  “Here’s a book! Can we go now?”

  Sometimes Todd would accept it right away. With exaggerated impatience. Sometimes he’d scoff, put it down, browse some more, then go back and pick it up.

  The shopkeepers weren’t fooled.

  Em doubted anyone was fooled. But it was appearances that mattered. Todd was the male of the pair, so it was socially acceptable for him to pick and pay for the book rather than her.

  Sometimes she’d be more bold and go to the ‘backroom’. But the backroom usually had only novels and she had little time for those. Not that she had money for them either.

  Even though she was the one who made the azuremere money, she usually sent it all to Flint. Then he would send some back based on what he could spare. This kept up appearances. Otherwise Aunt Eileen would wonder where her money came from.

  It was a relief that Flint never asked.

  Em usually spent all of it on what she needed, not on what she wanted. So novels were usually a ‘no’.

  The pair were quietly going through the routine of squabbling over Todd’s selection, when the book was yanked right out of his hands. They both looked up in surprise. No one had ever interrupted their game before.

  “Advanced Accounting.” The woman looked up, raising an eyebrow. “That’s a heavy subject. Do you intend to be an aide or a head butler, boy? Usually knights,” she glanced at his sword, “don’t need that kind of information.”

  She was talking to Todd but kept smiling at Em. Em fought the urge to drop into her deepest curtsey.

  If Empress Madeline Cyrin wanted everyone to know who she was, she wouldn’t have showed up in a middle class bookstore like this. Wearing worn-out mercenary clothes and without makeup.

  Or maybe she didn’t care if anyone recognized her.

  But Em didn’t know which, so she wouldn’t give the woman away.

  “I, uh, Your Maj-”

  Em stopped Todd from bowing and greeting the woman by slugging him in the side.

  He gasped, instinctively wrapping his arms around his middle.

  “That’s what he says,” Em said. Loudly. “And when he gets the position, he’s going to set me up with a rich husband.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes!”

  Em beamed and took the book from her. Shoving it at Todd. “Go pay for your book. I’m going to chat for a minute.”

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  Todd sent an uneasy glance toward Chez, who had stayed outside but was watching through the window. Then he trudged toward the counter. Repeatedly glancing over his shoulder to check on Em.

  “I must make him nervous.”

  Madeline’s voice was full of laughter.

  Em lowered her voice. “He’s my bodyguard. And he doesn’t know you.”

  “I thought he recognized me well enough.”

  Em snorted. Then winced. Dang it! No matter how many etiquette lessons she had, it still took her a while to slip into the ‘lady’ role after being home for months.

  She pretended to clear her throat. As though that’s what she meant to do all along.

  “What brings you here, ma’am?”

  Madeline pulled a book off the shelf. The Advanced Mathematics of Star Systems. Em raised an eyebrow and the woman grinned.

  “Being a sorceress means I don’t have to have someone buy my books for me.”

  “I envy you.”

  Madeline threw back her head in a laugh. It was a guffaw that would have made Aunt Eileen cringe.

  Had Em seen the Empress laugh like that before? It gave her a strange sense of déjà vu.

  “Tell me, are there any other books that have caught your eye?”

  Em shrugged. “I’ve been studying history, politics, economics, and practical mathematics.”

  “You like those subjects?”

  “I’ve grown to like them. Mostly.” Em leaned forward, cupping her hand around her mouth. “But what I really like are romances.”

  Madeline grinned. To match Em’s conspiratorial posture, she also leaned in and whispered.

  “Hoping for romance yourself? Truthfully, you’re a couple years tardy. Most ladies get engaged by the end of their debut year. But it’s never too late.”

  Em blinked.

  She hadn’t thought about it at all.

  “Um, no. I just like to read them. When I can.” Hurriedly, wanting to change the subject, she added. “But I can’t right now. I’m almost out of pocket money.”

  “I see.”

  Madeline’s smile was a little sad as she straightened up. But maybe Em imagined it because the smile became broad instead.

  “Can I trouble you for a favor, miss Emmaline?”

  “Yes?”

  “Usually I bring a friend to distract me from how boring all of this is, but I came by myself today so I’m going a little insane. Would you follow me around for a bit? I’ll buy lunch.”

  Em hesitated, glancing toward Todd who was heading back.

  “I’ll buy lunch for your two shadows, too.”

  Em beamed. “I accept.”

  She’d been wondering if she could justify an expensive cafe or if they should just go home.

  Even though Em passed news about the Empress to Flint, she and Madeline had rarely spoken to each other. In fact, the few times Em had been around Madeline, they had been under the careful eye of Thiago.

  So neither of them had relaxed or said much.

  Now, all the tension was gone as they wandered around the bookstore with Todd following behind. (The poor guy found himself acting as Madeline’s grocery cart.)

  She and Madeline talked.

  Really talked.

  They both liked practical clothes (which came up when Madeline asked her about her trip into town). They both hated math but were pretty good at it. They were both annoyed with the expectations of being women in high society. And they both preferred chocolate over strawberry cake.

  “How is your brother?”

  Madeline said it casually as she pulled down a history of merchant guilds. She put it on Todd’s growing armload.

  “Well, in his last letter he said he’s alright but tired and can’t write much. Which usually means he’s up to his ears in some issue, and he’s pretending he’s fine.”

  Madeline raised an eyebrow so Em explained.

  “Usually he prefers to tell me what’s going on instead of how he’s feeling. But whether he’s telling me what’s going on or how he’s feeling, he almost always uses the other to hide what he means.”

  Madeline chuckled. “Such as?”

  “‘Waghorn is meddling in this or that.’ Which means he’s annoyed.” Em grinned and crossed her arms in an imitation of one of Flint’s poses. “‘I saw the sunset today and went back to work.’ Which means he thought it was beautiful enough to notice. ‘You’re coming home as soon as the season’s over. That’s an order.’”

  “Which means?”

  Em laughed. “Which means, ‘I miss you.’”

  Madeline chuckled too, pulling out another book and letting her hair fall into her face. Hiding her expression.

  “Yes. That sounds just like him.”

  Madeline had Todd put her books on the counter. Then shooed him away so she could take Em to the ‘backroom’.

  “You’ve inspired me,” she said as soon as the shopkeeper closed the door. Leaving them alone to browse the secret shelves. “I wish to try a romance. Do you have any recommendations?”

  “Well, I haven’t read many myself…”

  Em found one and gave it to Madeline.

  “Any others? Even if it’s just one you want to read? I need three more.”

  So Em picked three more (with a few envious twinges in her gut) and they both left the room.

  They took only a few more minutes to pay for Madeline’s large stack, plus a few bags to carry them in, and leave the store. Sir Chez and Todd were both waiting outside by now. At Madeline’s signal, Todd quickly stepped forward to take the bags.

  “Would you drop those off for me, young man?”

  “Um, where would you like me to take them, uh, ma’am?”

  He couldn’t quite meet Madeline’s eye.

  Madeline beamed then leaned forward to whisper in his ear. His head snapped up in surprise. Then he hesitated, shooting a look at Sir Chez.

  “It’s fine. I’ll keep the ladies safe.”

  Todd nodded and walked away.

  “Meet us at Madam Laura’s Cafe,” Madeline called after Todd. Then Madeline took Em’s arm. “Shall we? I’m starving!”

  By the time Todd joined them, the women were already sitting and they had ordered enough food for all four of them. At Madeline’s insistence, Todd sat down with them. But Sir Chez steadfastly refused. Taking a spot by the wall instead, where he could watch the doors and windows.

  The conversation shifted back Madeline’s mercenary days, especially stories about her and Flint.

  Madeline told stories meant to make Em laugh. And Em did so, trying not to ‘heehaw’ like a donkey (Eileen’s phrase). But she often busted up louder than she meant to.

  “That man never tried to swindle your brother again.”

  Em laughed. “He’s lucky it was Flint! Anyone else, they would’ve cut off his hand.”

  “Well, Grimshaw did order a sound lashing.” Madeline put down her cup. “Let me tell you about the time I fainted-”

  “Excuse me, my lady? I was told to give you this.”

  Languidly, Madeline turned her attention to the waiter. Who bowed apologetically, holding out a piece of folded paper.

  “Ah, yes.” Lazily, Madeline took the paper and waved the man away. “Thank you.”

  She opened the note. Then her eyebrows twitched. Pressing her lips together, she smashed the paper into a small ball and glared out the window.

  “Is everything alright?”

  Madeline took a deep breath and turned back to Em. Her expression was suddenly… tired.

  “Yes. One of my business ventures collapsed and another is about to bear fruit. That’s all.”

  Em frowned as she watched Madeline tuck the note away. Not sure which part to comment on. The good news or the bad news?

  Then she suddenly leaned forward, eyes sparkling.

  “Ma’am?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You said it’s a business venture, right?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  Em clenched her hands on the table, looking at her pleadingly. “How are you doing that?”

  Madeline raised and eyebrow and slouched back in her chair. “What do you mean ‘how’? I learned business principles and executed them.”

  Em shook her head before Madeline could finish.

  “I mean, how are you doing it as a woman? I consented to be here so I can make connections with other nobles and do business, too. But no one will deal with me directly! And without using my connections, I have nothing. I’ve tried hiring proxies, coming in disguise, everything! No one will work with me because I’m a woman.”

  Madeline lifted a hand to stop the flow of Em’s words. Her expression troubled.

  “Miss Emmaline.”

  Em leaned forward more. Eyes hopeful. Which just troubled Madeline more.

  “It isn’t because you’re a woman.”