Alyce has never dreamed of visiting the king. To a member of a minority group that opposes his rule, his brooding, glum palace is associated only with imprisonment and death. Though it's been a long time since any Sherban was arrested, Alyce feels little in common with her ruler and is quite content to stay unnoticed. Until a mandatory summons to the King's court dance leaves her no choice. An older, alternate version of The Prince's Ball. Shorter and with a different ending.

In an invented land based on Victorian Italy, a local peasant girl lands a job as translator for a wealthy foreigner intending to do mission work in South Blensia. South Blensia, a neighboring country, is in the throes of a revolution and their elderly monarch is in hiding. Consuela has little in common with her well-meaning but naive employer, an older woman from a religious community, or with her trio of silly young lady friends. But when a greedy plot and a bumbling new friend descend on the missionaries, Consuela must come to the rescue.

As the daughter of an 18th century Spanish Duke, Victoria is no stranger to intrigue. When a masked assassin causes her beautiful older sister to disappear and rumors arise of a planned threat to her father—and eventually the throne—Victoria travels dangerously across the country in search of her sister. But is Bella really the one in danger after all? Or is it Victoria herself?