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Anya’s mouth opens. I squeeze her foot lightly under the table with mine. She closes it.

Irina looks unimpressed. “Who’s Lily?”

“My best friend. Auntie Ir you already knew that.”

Irina clears her throat. “Right, dear. And this is important, how?”

“Anya was invited. She really wants to go, but Nikolai is worried about security,” I say, trying to make my face as sad as possible.

“He said no,” Anya says, then immediately looks at me like she has betrayed the plan before she even knows what the plan is.

I smile at her. “He said no to me,” I correct gently. “Which makes sense. I’m new here. I don’t know the family protocols. I wouldn’t expect him to take my word on safety arrangements.”

Irina’s expression changes. “But you,” I continue, “are family.”

Anya looks at me like I have just pulled a knife from my sleeve.

Irina lifts her chin. “Yes.”

“And you know Nikolai’s expectations better than I do.”

“Of course.”

“If anyone could make a simple birthday party feel properly supervised, it would be you.”

The praise lands exactly where I intend it to.

Irina tries to look modest and fails. “Well, I do know how to handle these things.”

“I’m sure you do,” I say warmly, while my soul steps away from my body in protest. “It would mean so much to Anya.”

Anya stares at me. I stare back.

Say nothing, child. I’m committing fraud for you.

Irina looks at Anya. “You really want to go?”

Anya hesitates, then nods. “Yes. Very much.”

“And where is this party?”

“At Lily Harrington’s house,” Anya says quickly. “Her mother knows Papa. Well, not knows knows, but from school events. There will be only our class girls and Lily’s cousins. And cake. Pink cake.”

“She has mentioned the cake,” I add. “Several times.”

Irina’s gaze shifts back to me. “And you would go?”

“I would have to,” I say. “Nikolai put me in charge of her lessons today, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable sending her without someone familiar.”

That’s not exactly a lie.

It’s an aggressive rearrangement of the truth.

Irina’s eyes narrow. “You?”

I give her my nicest smile. “Unless you think Nikolai would prefer Anya to attend without the person she feels most comfortable with right now.”

Her jaw tightens. Anya suddenly becomes extremely interested in her worksheet. I can see Irina fighting with herself.