Fortune lives under the mansion at Malmaison, which means, at the root, “a house badly.” There are ladies in the house, and a man with dark eyes. There are parties and roses. There is plenty of food in the garbage.

Fortune’s warren is small and dry. To pass the time she’s learned to sew with thorns; she finds silk in the garbage too, and scraps of lace–

Until one day she finds herself with a gown of haute couture, cream with wine slashes. Her size. She wouldn’t pass for a lady. Unless she kept her face in the dark.

Fortune dares.