I forced myself to my feet. The tailor, after making sure I was upright and unharmed, immediately rushed from the room to retrieve a towel and a servant to clean the mess.
My soggy notes were beginning to fall apart in my hands, to wet to even maintain their paper shape.
“Linda,” I said, going to her.
She scrunched her nose as I came close, as if the very sight of me disgusted her. I was disheveled now, true, with my gown damp in some places and my hair a mess. But even so…
“Can I have those names again?” I asked. I knew she had written them down same as me.
She quickly hid her notepad from my sight. “If you lost those names, then this is on you, Piper. You need to learn to take responsibility.” She narrowed her eyes. “We wouldn’t want anyone to think you had unfair advantage.”
“It’
