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"I don’t care to put it on yet" I stretched as far as the carriage would allow "What’s the point? There’s tih"

He leaned back, one hand on rinned lazily and looked down, and that’s when I noticed that my white corset was covered all over in black smears I found similar stains on my wrists and hips

"Whathave you done to h, and I felt er

"It was Verusha’s idea She said ht notice So she rubbed ink into theuess, with the sweat, itrubbed off"

"Ink I’ar Snow Ball covered in ink?"

He covered a snort of laughter, badly, in a cough "Isn’t there some way to clean it off? I don’t have another handkerchief Maybe soave him a halfhearted kick "Idiot There’s no snow The first snow coer and rubbed at the stains that ht actually show, the ones on my wrists "Ink on your hands Ink that will rub off Fools This is too iht rip was stronger than I remembered His voice was soft and deadly "I , but that doesn’t mean I’m your subject, princess"

I went still all over I had to Damn him

I sed hard and snatched my hand away, but we both kneas only because he let lared at each other, the air still between us, the crunching of stones under the carriage wheels the only sound I rubbedinto a daain, ruining the iood teacher," he said

36

The next tie’s curtain, I was surprised to see that it was dark and ere nearly to our destination It was odd, how it seeether forever, but also as if we’d had only a few stolen minutes The forest was the last step of the journey We’d be there soon, provided nothing tragic happened There was a carriage ahead of us and another behind, so at least ould arrive in a crowd The less we stood out, the better Which meant, I supposed, that I needed to put on my dress

"It’s almost time" I checkedup my dress to step in "Don’t you dare touch your coat Do you know any led his black-streaked hands "Only with the piano and your body"

I rolled ently pulled it oversleeves would cover most of his mess, thank heavens I tried to think about what I rear Snow Ball, of the accouests There would have to be toilets, of course, and someplace with mirrors and water I also knew that there was a way for couples to disappear discreetly, so at least ould have excuses if our behavior was strange or conspiratorial Still

"We have to do soled inupof his old recklessness and his new self-possessed sness "I took a lesson fro the fabric, he pulled a bit of cloth froloves that I remembered fros, but at least they’re the right color"

"Try to keep your hands hidden, then A country rube in gloves is better than an abo me "I’m not an abomination I’m a Bludman"