Not that I have the slightest idea when that might have been.
"Very well. The Magister continues to favor me. "
"He is wise," Tessa breathed. "He recognizes an invaluable treasure when he sees one. "
Nate touched her face lightly with a gloved hand. Tessa Will ed herself not to stiffen. "Al down to you, my darling. My veritable little mine of information. "
He moved closer to her. "I see you wore the dress I asked you to," he whispered. "Ever since you described how you wore it to your last Christmas ball, I have yearned to see you in it. And may I say that you dazzle the eyes?"
Tessas stomach felt as if it were trying to force its way up into her throat.
Her eyes darted around the room again. With a lurch of recognition, she saw Gideon Lightwood, cutting a fine figure in his evening dress, though he stood stiffly against one of the wal s as if plastered there. Only his eyes moved around the room. Gabriel was wandering to and fro, a glass of what looked like lemonade in his hand, his eyes glowing with curiosity. She saw him go up to one of the girls with long lavender hair and begin a conversation. So much for any hope that the boys did not know what their father was up to, she thought, glancing away from Gabriel in irritation. And then she saw Will.
He was leaning against the wal opposite her, between two empty chairs.
Despite his mask she felt as if she could see directly into his eyes. As if he were standing close enough to touch. She would have half-expected him to look amused at her predicament, but he did not; he looked tense, and furious, and . . .
"God, Im jealous of every other man who looks at you," Nate said. "You should be looked at only by me. "
Good Lord, Tessa thought. Did this line of talk really work on most women? If her brother had come to her with the aim of asking her advice on these pearls, she would have told him straight off that he sounded like an idiot. Though perhaps she only thought he sounded like an idiot because he was her brother. And despicable. Information, she thought. I must get information and then get away from him, before I really am sick.
She looked for Will again, but he was gone, as if he had never been there.
Still, she believed him now that he was somewhere, watching her, even if she couldnt see him. She plucked up her nerve, and said, "Real y, Nate? Sometimes I fear you value me only for the information I can give you. "
For a moment he stopped and was stock-still, almost jerking her out of the dance. "Jessie! How can you even think such a thing? You know how I adore you. " He looked at her reproachful y as they began to move to the music again. "It is true that your connection to the Nephilim of the Institute has been invaluable. Without you we would never have known they were going to York, for instance. But I thought you knew that you were helping me because we are working toward a future together. When I have become the Magisters right hand, darling, think how I Will be able to provide for you. "
Tessa laughed nervously. "Youre right, Nate. Its only that I get frightened sometimes. What if Charlotte were to find out I was spying for you? What would they do to me?"
Nate swung her around easily. "Oh, nothing, darling; youve said it yourself, theyre cowards. " He looked past her and raised an eyebrow. "Benedict, up to his old tricks," he said. "Rather disgusting. "
Tessa looked around and saw Benedict Lightwood leaning back on a scarlet velvet sofa near the orchestra. He was coatless, a glass of red wine in one hand, his eyes half-lidded. Sprawled across his chest, Tessa saw to her shock, was a woman-or at least it had the form of a woman. Long black hair worn loose, a low-cut black velvet gown-and the heads of little serpents poking out from her eyes, hissing. As Tessa watched, one of them extended a long, forked tongue and licked the side of Benedict Lightwoods face.
"Thats a demon," Tessa breathed, forgetting for a moment to be Jessamine. "Isnt it?"
Fortunately Nate seemed to find nothing odd about the question. "Of course it is, sil y bunny. Thats what Benedict fancies. Demon women. "
Will s voice echoed in Tessas ears, I would be surprised if some of the elder Lightwoods nocturnal visits to certain houses in Shadwell havent left him with a nasty case of demon pox. "Oh, ugh," she said.
"Indeed," said Nate. "Ironic, considering the high-and-mighty manner in which the Nephilim conduct themselves. I ask myself often why Mortmain favors him so and wishes to see him instal ed in the Institute so badly. " Nate sounded peevish.
Tessa had already guessed as much, but the knowledge that Mortmain was most assuredly behind Benedicts fierce determination to take the Institute from Charlotte still felt like a blow. "I just dont see," she said, trying her best to adopt Jessies lightly peevish demeanor, "what use it Will be to the Magister. Its just a big stuffy old building. . . . "
Nate laughed indulgently. "Its not the building, sil y thing. Its the position.
The head of the London Institute is one of the most powerful Shadowhunters in England, and the Magister controls Benedict as if he were a puppet. Using him, he can destroy the Council from within, while the automaton army destroys them from without. " He spun her expertly as the dance required; only Tessas years of practice dancing with Nate kept her from fal ing over, so distracted was she by shock. "Besides, its not quite true that the Institute contains nothing of value. Access to the Great Library alone Will be invaluable for the Magister. Not to mention the weapons room . . . "
"And Tessa. " She clamped down on her voice so it wouldnt tremble.
"Tessa?"
"Your sister. The Magister still wants her, doesnt he?"
For the first time Nate looked at her with a puzzled surprise. "Weve been over this, Jessamine," he said. "Tessa Will be arrested for il egal possession of articles of dark magic, and sent to the Silent City. Benedict Will bring her forth from there and deliver her to the Magister. It is all part of whatever bargain they struck, though what Benedict is getting from it is not clear to me yet. It must be something quite significant, or he would not be so Will ing to turn on his own. "
A rrested? Possession of articles of dark magic? Tessas head spun.
Nates hand slipped around the back of her neck. He was wearing gloves, but Tessa couldnt rid herself of the feeling that something slimy was touching her skin. "My little Jessie," he murmured. "You behave almost as if youve forgotten your own part in this. You did hide the Book of the White in my sisters room as we asked you to, did you not?"
"Of-of course I did. I was only joking, Nate. "
"Thats my good girl. " He was leaning closer. He was definitely going to kiss her. It was most improper, but then nothing about this place could be considered proper. In a state of absolute horror, Tessa sputtered: "Nate-I feel dizzy-as if I might faint. I think its the heat. If you could fetch me a lemonade?"
He looked down at her for a moment, his mouth tight with bottled annoyance, but Tessa knew he could not refuse. No gentleman would. He straightened up, brushed off his cuffs, and smiled. "Of course," he said with a bow. "Let me help you to a seat first. "
She protested, but his hand was already on her elbow, guiding her toward one of the chairs lined up along the wal s. He settled her into it and vanished into the crowd. She watched him go, trembling all over. Dark magic. She felt sick, and angry. She wanted to slap her brother, shake him til he told her the rest of the truth, but she knew she couldnt.
"You must be Tessa Gray," said a soft voice at her elbow. "You look just like your mother. "
Tessa nearly jumped out of her skin. At her side stood a tal slender woman with long, unbound hair the color of lavender petals. Her skin was a pale blue, her dress a long and floating confection of gossamer and tul e. Her feet were bare, and in between her toes were thin webs like a spiders, a darker blue than her skin. Tessas hands went to her face in sudden horror- was she losing her disguise?-but the blue woman laughed.
"I didnt mean to make you fearful of your il usion, little one. It is still in place. It is just that my kind can see through it. all this"-she gestu
red vaguely at Tessas blond hair, her white dress and pearls-"is like the vapor of a cloud, and you the sky beyond it. Did you know your mother had eyes just like yours, gray sometimes and blue at others?"