"Excuse me?"

Penelope wiped her eyes. "Close the door."

Maren frowned, marching for the door and casting a cautious glance through the hall. Lady Juniper's hips switched as she carried laundry at the end of the way, but it hadn't seemed like she heard anything. Softly, she closed the door and pressed her back to it.

"Lady Penelope, are you out of your mind?" Had anyone overheard she could have been punished for speaking informally. But she was so dumbfounded that there didn't seem like any better way to respond.

Penelope shrugged. "The invitation is designated for me and I decline. It's that simple."

Even with the room closed off, she lowered her voice as she approached. "But your parents--,"

"Won't know if I'm gone too. I can leave at the same time, except my carriage will take me to Nathaniel. The carriage you get into will head to the Beast prince." Penelope spoke matter-of-factly. With all the confidence of a lady of privilege and a tinge of rebellion. Her sadness from earlier faded away, replaced with a steely gaze and an adamant tone.

"The Beast Prince?" Maren craned her neck hoping it would help her hear the nonsense better. "He's one of the Fire Fae. He has a crown and a kingdom."

Penelope scoffed. "And that is supposed to make him less of a beast?"

Maren let that sink in, surprised that it was deeper than she expected from Penelope. The noble girl continued, "I have fought for Nathaniel and a future with him. I'm not giving that up."

So I am supposed to give up my mine?

Maren didn't ask it aloud, but she let herself feel the implications of that. A meaning between the lines.

Penelope said, "Can you pour me a cup of tea?"

Before her mind could carry her away, Maren grabbed the tea pot. It trembled in her shaking hands. "Of course."

Those blue eyes locked on the side of her face. Soon enough, a cup of lukewarm tea sat before the noble girl and Maren added two sugar cubes because that was how Penelope liked it. Her mistress said, "It's good that we're the same age. You're skinnier than I am, though. A lot skinnier. There's also the matter of your darker complexion and dark hair."

Maren trained her frustration, clasping her hands before her lap like that would keep a lock on it. "Your point, Lady?"

"Well, you'd need something to wear. Also, everyone knows what I look like." Penelope shrugged, waving away her own concern. "But I suppose it wouldn't matter since you might not even get picked."

Maren wasn't sure if she was offended by that or not.

"He is choosing for himself who he'd like to take away--,"

"And why can't I choose?" Maren blurted. She didn't know where it came from, the defiance, but it didn't feel like going away. "I never agreed to any of this. There are other maids in this house. Don't I have a say?"

Penelope raised an eyebrow. A tad slowly, she took a sip from her teacup and hesitated. Like she had to pick the right words. "I... suppose you do." The girl put her cup back onto the saucer and softened her expression. "Mare, I would not ask you if I didn't trust you. You've been my most trusted friend since children. We're like sisters."

Perhaps once, but they could never be sisters now.

Maren shook her head, the rush of emotions far too much. "What if he did pick me?"

Penelope scoffed. "I would never let you stay there. Don't even think like that." She leaned forward, her voice boiling down to a whisper. "Here's the thing. I need to marry Nathaniel, and it won't take long. A few days, give or take. As soon as his ring sits on my finger, he and I will come for you and we'll bring you home."

The idea might have been comforting if Maren could stomach the idea of living under Nathaniel as much as Penelope. Living under them together. But it was that or a forest of the unknown. Fire-wielders and faerie tricks.

"You would come for me?" Maren asked.

Penelope put a hand over her heart. "Nathaniel and I would not rest until you were back."

"Penelope, I have to think about this." Maren tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly aware of how dark it was compared to Penelope's waves. Suddenly aware of the color of her hands and how thin her fingers were.

"Please, Maren," said Penelope. "Consider it. It's all I ask."

Maren left the room with her mind a jumbled mess. Impersonating Penelope was not easy, but it was plausible in the face of a man that had never seen her before. Even easier under the concept that he might find her dull, too thin, or not to his tastes. She could have a night to dress up, mingle, act like one the ladies she knew all about but never understood. That night didn't have to be for the prince. She could wear Penelope's bejeweled shoes for a few hours.

But that wasn't the point. She would be putting herself in jeopardy. Putting her life in the hands of chance.

Lost in her own battle, Maren passed Lady Juniper and bound down the steps to the first floor. The way from the foyer to the servant quarters was swift, as she took two more corridors to the kitchen--and stopped short.

Entering through the back door was a young man with sandy blond hair and a bow and quiver strapped to his back. His blue vest hugged his chest, his hands pushing up his sleeves as he cautiously glanced behind him and closed the door. Sunlight poured through the kitchen's windows onto flour-stained countertops and white cabinets. White granite finishes and marble floors. Yet, as soon as Nathaniel turned around to face Maren, he was the brightest thing in the room. And when he smiled at her, her heart sank to her knees.

"Maren," he said, trying to catch his breath. He grinned apologetically, thick eyebrows arching in concern. "Is Penelope upstairs?"

For a second, she lost her voice. She could only nod.

"Do you think she'll stay up there? I need to talk to you." His hands pulled at his collar--hands Maren so clearly remembered being wrapped around her waist.

She hesitated, every nerve in her body telling her to turn back and warn Penelope, but every beat of her heart holding her in place like she'd lose sight of him if she so much as turned around. Gripping the kitchen island for balance, her voice was raspier than she wanted it to be.

"Nate, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see Penelope and her father turned me away. He seemed upset."

"Penelope told him you were going to marry her." She shouldn't have said it so abruptly. She wasn't sure what had gotten into her, this urge to be honest. Then again, she'd always been honest, just quiet about it. And Penelope's declaration unsettled more than the Highmore family.

"Is it true?"

Nate scanned the doorway before rushing to her and grabbing her hand. "No. It isn't."

So badly did she want to snatch it away, but his touch felt too good. Too familiar. He drew a thumb over her knuckles. "But you were on your way to see her," she said.

"To refuse her, again. She's been talking about marriage in the last few times I've seen her and she's let herself get carried away with it. It's all she thinks about." Nate's other hand rested on Maren's cheek, his green eyes searching hers. She couldn't help it, but she recalled the light in his gaze when he met her for the first time, followed her around the market as she grocery shopped. And when he genuinely laughed with her during the times they were together, the way that they glazed over with desire when she told him she loved him. The way they saw her, bare and vulnerable before him when she decided to give herself away so long ago.

"She had to get the idea from somewhere," Maren said.

Nate sighed heavily through his nostrils, closing his eyes for a while before bringing his hands to her upper arms. "She saw me with a ring."

"How did that happen?"

"Last time we were together, I found one in the market. I walked past it at first when I was with her, but before we left, I went and bought it. I think she saw me and she's expecting something."

"Why buy a ring if you aren't going to use it?"

Nate chuckled breathlessly, "because it's for you."

"What?" she stammered.

He fished into his back pocket, pulling out something silver and amethyst. It was a delicate thing. A small gemstone, a thin band. Minimal, but perfect. He lifted her hand and slid it onto her ring finger.

"I can't wear this," Maren breathed.

"Maybe not in front of her, but you can have it so that you know. I may court Penelope, but I can't erase you. You came first."

It took everything in her power to tear her hand from his. "You made a choice, Nate."

He groaned. "You know it isn't that simple, Mare. She has the money to--,"

"You broke my heart." She stepped back. "Go find her."

"Maren," he said, reaching for her again.

She sidestepped out of his range, extending an arm to the door. "Go."

Nate wallowed in the suspense, not quite getting it. But when the command registered, he stared, wide-eyed and upset, before leaving her there. She released a sigh she hadn't realized she'd been holding, leaning her forearms on the island and letting her head fall. Seeing him took strength. It always did. This visit, though, drained her energy. She examined the ring and its lovely fit on her finger. She imagined that wedding and what it would have been. Small and intimate, but everything to her. By the stars, it would have been everything.

It took her a second to collect herself. Lady Juniper mentioned more tasks besides bringing Penelope afternoon tea, and by now she was probably in for a lecture. Maren straightened her skirt, noting her new piece of jewelry. It was too pretty to just throw away. For now, she'd keep it.

"I took you for a lazy maid, but I never took you for a whore." Lady Juniper entered the kitchen, her coy smile chilling the atmosphere. She approached Maren as a vulture approached a carcass. "You're a very busy girl when you aren't at Penelope's hip. I wonder... does she know?"

Maren hid her hands behind her back, wringing them together. "There's nothing to know."

"On the contrary. How much do you think they'd pay me for my loyalty if I shared the secret I just heard?" The head maid halted inches before her face. The woman stifled a smile, likely stifled a laugh. "I can't wait to find out."

"Lady Juniper, please." Maren swallowed, balling her fists. "You can't say anything. It isn't like that."

"A liar too?" The older woman laughed mercilessly. "This family picked you up off the streets and this is how you've repaid them. I sincerely hope you aren't too old to return to an orphanage. Homelessness isn't for the faint of heart."

Maren stormed to the door and slammed it shut, blocking the knob with her body. "Tell me what it'll take to keep you quiet."

"Oh, how frightening." Bemused, Lady Juniper shook her head. "What could you possibly have to offer me, fool?"

Nothing. Not even a coin in her name. But that didn't mean Maren couldn't do something. Whatever it took, she prepared to put it on the table.

"I told you to tell me what it'll take."

Lady Juniper raised her chin. "Have you heard about the riches of the Fae?"

Maren was going to be sick.

The head maid went on. "They have trees with golden leaves, and the gold is real. They have ornate palaces, breathtaking parties, trinkets and bobbles that cost more than you're worth. Valuables that could pay for a happy life for the rest of your days. I heard your conversation with Penelope. She's offered that you take her place. If you want my silence, take her bargain and go to the Neverin.

"You are already a liar, already a lecher, so becoming a thief will be easy. Bring me something of value, something that could buy me my freedom from servitude and a house on the hill. If you return this item to me, I hold my tongue."

It was Maren's turn to laugh. "You want me to steal from the Fae?"

"And return it to me, yes. If you were wise, you would steal something for yourself as well."

Maren shook her head. "You're asking me to do the impossible. Even if I did go to the ball, there's no guarantee he'd pick me to go to the forest."

Lady Juniper shrugged. "You better hope he does. If he doesn't, you will have nothing else to live for here." The older woman trained her stare ahead and sauntered from the kitchen, being sure to bump shoulders with Maren as she vanished around the corner.

That night, Penelope sat by the fireplace in her room thumbing through a book until her door creaked. Her blue eyes brightened as she watched her closest maid wander into her chambers.

Maren smiled weakly, uncertain of how one should feel when putting their life in the hands of another.

"I'll do it," she said. "I'll take your place."

(A/N)

Hm. Maren isn't innocent and I think that's why I love her so much.
Anyway, the plot progresses.

Next chapter? Our first bulletproof boyscout fairy. Can't wait.