Jack shifted his gun belt on his hips. “This isn’t a place you can fight, Charlotte. Women in the city aren’t like you.”
“I don’t care,” Charlotte said, ignoring how silly that pronouncement sounded. “I’ll find a way to help.”
“Yes, you will.” Meg’s voice startled all of them.
She’d entered the cave unnoticed while they’d been arguing.
Ashley went to meet her, reaching for her hands but then quickly pulling them away with a glance over his shoulder toward Jack and Charlotte. “What are you doing here?”
“Charlotte’s not the only one who knows how to sneak through the Catacombs,” Meg told him with a teasing smile. “You should know that better than anyone, Ashley.”
Though it was dim in the cavern, Charlotte thought she noticed a blush painting her brother’s cheek.
“I’ve been thinking about this.” Meg gave a meaningful look at the Dragonfly. “And about Grave.”
“What about Grave?” Jack asked.
“He can’t stay here,” Meg replied. “I don’t know why, but I know it’s not safe. If I can take him to the city, there are people I believe can help me to understand why the boy troubles me so.”
Disappointment fell heavy on Charlotte’s shoulders. She’d assumed Meg had taken her side when it came to Grave. “But you’ve been so kind to him.”
“And I’ll continue to be,” Meg said. “But I can’t ignore my instincts about him. Until I understand who . . . or what he is, I won’t risk this place and the people I love.”
Ash raked his fingers through his hair, giving Meg an uneasy look. “I don’t disagree that Grave presents an unusual problem. We don’t know who he is, but Meg—you know that this mission is important. We can’t take the extra risk of bringing him along.”
“I’m telling you that you must.” The steel in Meg’s voice made Charlotte straighten up in surprise. She’d never heard Meg talk to Ash, or anyone, that way.
Jack and Ash looked as startled as Charlotte felt. Jack recovered first. With an apologetic but uncomfortable clearing of his throat, he said, “I don’t think there’s a way for us to conduct our business and keep an eye on Grave.”
Ash quickly nodded in agreement.
“You won’t have to,” Meg said, calm but unyielding. “Charlotte and I will deal with Grave while you see to your secret meetings.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened, and she clapped her hand over her mouth to cover her smile when Meg spared her a tiny, conspiratorial smile. Charlotte couldn’t help but marvel at Meg’s brilliance. Of the Catacombs’ inhabitants, Meg was the one person Ashley couldn’t say no to.
Tugging at his collar, Ash went mute and threw a pleading glance at Jack.
Jack’s shoulders hunched up as he faced Meg. “I don’t think you have a realistic grasp of this situation. How do you propose we should take you and Charlotte into the city?”
“Leave that to me,” Meg told Jack. “Though I will need you to acquire some papers for me. I assume you’ll have no trouble doing that, given that you must be forging your own.”
Jack replied with a grudging nod. “What kind of papers do you want for Charlotte?”
Ignoring Jack’s glower, Meg answered, “As I’m sure you know, the social season is about to begin in New York.”
Charlotte’s brow furrowed. “What’s that?”
“It’s when the young women from the Empire’s best families are presented to society,” Meg said. “You’re the right age to make your debut. It will give us the perfect cover under which to move freely through the Floating City.”
“Why would they have to be presented?” Charlotte asked.
“It’s a formality,” Jack said. “More silly trappings of an overindulgent system that fattens its rich while starving its poor.”
Ash grunted, making a sour face at Meg.
“Don’t be so somber, Ash,” Meg quipped. “Charlotte, the girls are presented so everyone knows they’re looking for husbands. It’s basically the starting line for a great race of matchmaking.”
“Oh.” Charlotte frowned, then she blushed. “Oh.” She looked at her brother in alarm.
“I’m not going to let Meg marry you off,” Ash sighed. “This is a ruse, Lottie. A good one, I’ll admit, but I don’t like it. Not at all.” He finally directed his frustration toward Meg. “My sister is not some society peacock. I don’t want her anywhere near this.”
“It doesn’t matter what you want,” Meg replied. “She is the best person for this role, and she can handle herself if things go badly.” Lowering her voice, Meg continued, “Ashley, I would never ask this if it weren’t important.”
Ash held her gaze and then nodded.
A sound crawled out of Jack’s throat that was something of a sigh mixed with a groan. “I guess I have some homingbirds to send.”
Meg turned to give him a beatific smile. “Yes, my dear, you do.”
“Escorting a debutante will make moving through the city much easier,” Jack said to Ash, with a sour face. “As much as I hate to admit it.”
Finding herself flushed with excitement, Charlotte wrapped her arms around her waist. “When are we going?”
“Ash and I were planning to leave in a few days. We have the aircraft, and if I can get the papers to establish your lineage for partaking in the season, I don’t see why we shouldn’t stay on that schedule.” Jack pointed at the Dragonfly. “She’ll get us transport to the dirigible traveling to the Floating City.” He swiveled around so that his finger pointed at Charlotte. “You give us access to the city itself.”
“I truly can give you access to the city?” Charlotte lifted her brows.
“Well, not you, you.” Jack tugged at his shirt collar. “But the fine lady Meg has proposed we make you out to be will enjoy all the privileges of New York society.”
Despite her suddenly dry throat, Charlotte managed a tart response. “Are you suggesting I’m not a lady?”
Ash laughed, and Charlotte glared at him.
“Trust me,” Jack told her. “You should thank Athene you’re not the type of lady I’m talking about. Once Meg starts teaching you all the rules and etiquette, I think you’ll be cursing the moment she came up with this cockamamie scheme. I’d say your best bet would be to adopt a shy and docile persona. Then again, I realize that’s probably asking too much.”