Frostbitten Fairy Tales

by Melanie Karsak

  Someone like me.

  The thought struck me hard.

  No. No, it was not like that. I was in love with John. John had set my world afire. His love was like an inferno burning its way through my life. We were just waiting for the moment to be together.

  But if my love was so absolute, why did my feelings for Kai seem so confused? Was I just being jealous? That was ridiculous, wasn’t it?

  I breathed in deeply. I could still smell Kai’s cherry-scented soap clinging to his bed linens. The smell, mixed with the heady masculine musk, was divine. It was like being with him.

  It occurred to me then that if I married John, I would rarely see Kai. I wouldn’t have his company, his garret window across from my own, his smell to comfort me.

  I rolled onto my back and looked up at the images painted on the ceiling above Kai’s bed. His grandmother had painted a window trimmed all around with vining red roses. And outside his window, she had painted an elaborate dragon perched on top of a castle, a plume of fire rolling from his mouth. Standing before the castle was a boy holding a wooden sword. Gram had painted Kai’s nine-year-old likeness.

  I smiled at the image. A tear slipped from the corner of my eye into my ear. If I couldn’t stand one night without Kai across from my garret window, how could I stand a lifetime?

  I rose and wiped away my tear. Maybe Kai was entitled to his own life, but not like this. If Gram were here, she would take Kai by the ear and drag him away from Captain Behra’s ship. But since she wasn’t here, it was up to me to keep Kai from danger. That woman was like the dragon breathing fire, a dangerous inferno. Kai was too good to see the evil and mischief in others. But to me, her ill-intentions were all too apparent. It was time to put out the flames.

  Chapter 16: What Elyse Heard

  The early morning sunrise lit the sky with shades of pink and purple. The ice on the Thames glimmered beautifully, reflecting the opalescent rays of the sun. The image of it reminded me of the inside of a clam shell, pearly white with a rainbow of pastel hues. The magnificence of the image, as if the Thames had been dipped into an enchanted glow, could not have been more in contrast with my sour mood. Inside me, I railed back and forth between Kai and the captain, then at myself for my senseless fury, then back again. At times, my anger even levied itself at John, who seemed to have no good reason to treat me like some tart he should keep secret. I might have been a woman with a profession, but that did not make me a harlot. My bitterness spilled over to Marion and her petty jealousies. And once more, my anger would shift again to Kai.

  Since it was early in the morning, life on the icy Thames was just beginning to stir. Fires were being rekindled, wagons with fresh loads of ale were rolling in from the city, and the vendors opening their tents for the day yawned open-mouthed as they nursed steaming cups of tea. I frowned at the pleasant images, angry with them for being in such sharp contrast to my anger, then set my sights on the foreign ship. If Kai was still there, I would take him by the scruff and drag him home.

  Overnight, several more tents had cropped up on the ice near where the ship was docked. I dodged through a row of tents which lined the space, stepping over piles of timber and rope. I was just about to exit the narrow alleyway between the tents when I heard the sound of voices. A man and woman were having a heated argument.

  No, not just any man and woman. It was Captain Behra. But the other voice struck me as familiar as well.

  Standing beside one of the tents, I stopped for a moment and listened.

  “I’ll have no more of this, Tia. Send him away,” the gentleman said.

  “Or what?” the captain replied with a snort. Tia? Was that her first name?

  “Or you know what. Two can play at this game.”

  “You started this in the first place, mooning over her. Did you want to make me jealous? You didn’t even think about me until I took a lover.”

  “Took a lover?” the man said with a hard laugh. “You have taken a love, which is far crueler.”

  “What do you know of love?”

  “Much. Which is why you need to let him go.”

  “Then you must agree to cease your affections as well.”

  “There is no affection, merely admiration. If you were not so proud, you would be able to see that. Are you so low that you cannot admire another woman’s gifts?”

  “Gifts? Is that what you’re calling those pert breasts? Those pale cheeks?”

  “I have no interest in her breasts, cheeks, or anything else. Jealous, Tia, you’re making excuses so you can delight in mortal flesh. And how have you come by it? Through trickery and drunkenness and for what, a petty slight?”

  “Petty? Petty? You call me petty? You are the one who is petty. You are the one who has done wrong.”

  “Again, I have no affection for any woman save my wife. Admiration, yes? Esteem, yes? But no one owns my love save you.”

  “Pretty words.”

  “Truth, my Tia. Let us make amends. Give me what I want and I shall leave this place.”

  “What you want?”

  “My son.”

  The woman laughed. “You lost him fairly. Is all this…are all these games, these taunts, because of Robin?”

  There was no reply.

  “How dare you,” the woman stammered. “How dare you play with me over such a thing? I will not be ruled by you, not now, and never again. I do not believe your pretty words. I will crush you and your esteemed girl. And I will break her love between my thighs until he has forgotten her.”

  The captain said no more. I caught sight of her as she headed back across the ice toward her ship.

  Left behind, the unseen gentleman sighed then turned. From the sound of his footfalls, he was headed my way.

  I suppressed a yelp then turned and ducked into one of the tents. My heart thundered in my chest as I gripped the fabric of the tent door. I cast a hasty glance behind me to find two workmen fast asleep inside. The tent stank of ale and body odor.

  Taking a deep breath, I peered out the crack of the tent door.

  I bit my lip when the baron walked by.

  The captain and the baron were lovers? Were married? And for some reason still unclear to me, they were quarreling. The child, Robin, seemed to be the reason. Was he really their son? But more, were they talking about Kai and me? Was I the girl the baron esteemed? Had she trapped Kai because of me? A dragon indeed, and a dangerous one at that.

  I needed to get Kai out of there. But I would need help.

  Making sure that the baron was far out of sight, I dashed out of the tent. Happy to take in a breath of unspoiled air, I filled my lungs with the frosty morning scent then turned and headed toward the Ice House Theatre. The men in my company were not soldiers, but they were not to be trifled with either. I would have to enlist their help if I had any hope of retrieving Kai. The captain’s plan exposed, I knew my old friend needed my help more than ever.

  As I headed back toward the Ice House, I replayed the conversation I’d overheard again and again in my mind. The captain had been so cruel to the baron who had been nothing but kind and gentle. Why did some women become so rough? What happened to make them lose their softness? Was there any way to mend their frozen hearts? Perhaps the answer to retrieving Kai was not in a show of force. I stopped then turned around, heading back in the direction toward which I’d seen the baron travel. Even the Thames would eventually melt under the warmth of the sun. Maybe the captain could as well. The gentleman had been nothing but kind to me. Was there a way I could help him make amends?

  I rushed down the ice. I turned a corner and spotted the baron. He marched angrily toward the other end of the river, away from the captain. Lifting my skirts, I rushed to catch him, but a pair of hands suddenly stopped me.

  “Elyse? Elyse, is everything all right?”

  I turned and looked to find John holding on to me.

  “John?” I asked, blinking hard. “John? What are you doing here?”

  He shook his head the
n smiled softly at me. “Perhaps you would not believe me if I told you. You look frightened, Elyse. What’s wrong?”

  The foreign gentleman was now out of sight. Where had he gone?

  I sighed heavily. “It’s Kai.”

  “Ah,” John said, looking annoyed for a moment. “Then you must tell me all about it, but first, I have something I must ask you.”

  “Ask me?”

  Then, quite unexpectedly, John took my hand and knelt on the ice before me.

  “Miss Elyse McKenna, will you be my wife?”

  Chapter 17: Nothing Some Fraternal Love Can’t Fix

  I stared at John. He handed me a small clutch of yellow roses that I hadn’t even noticed before then pulled a ring from his pocket. It was a small gold band. I stared at it then looked back at him. His honey-colored eyes shimmered in the morning sunlight.

  John was grinning, but after a few moments passed, his smiled faded. “Elyse, you haven’t said anything.”

  “Kai,” I whispered, looking back over my shoulder toward the ship. Only the masts were still visible.

  “Kai. Kai? Doctor Murray?” There was an edge to John’s voice I had not heard before. That edge brought me back to the moment. John had proposed. John had just proposed. And in reply, I had said “Kai.” At the mere thought of it, I burst out laughing. My overly-loud laugh echoed across the frozen river. I knelt and met John’s eyes.

  “Oh, my dearest. I think I’ve quite lost my mind. Please, please forgive me. It was just such a shock. I was distressed and…and, of course, I will marry you!”

  John smiled, and reaching out, he slid off my glove. Moving carefully, he slipped the dainty gold ring on my finger.

  The metal was cold against my skin. “It’s beautiful. Oh, John,” I whispered then threw myself at him, falling into his embrace. “I am so sorry,” I said with a laugh.

  “No, I am quite at fault. I…I wanted to ask you yesterday morning but I lost my nerve. I set my resolve this morning and came here with only one goal stubbornly in mind. As soon as I saw you, I knew I had to say it or I would lose my nerve again.”

  I giggled. “But why would you ever worry? You know that I care for you.”

  “Because…because when I asked you to marry me just now, you responded by speaking another man’s name.”

  I balked. He was right. “Doctor Murray is like a brother to me. He is in trouble. My mind is in a fit over it.”

  John nodded. “And, because, perhaps it sounds silly, but I know many other fine gentlemen have tried for your attention, but you rebuked them. A beautiful and talented woman like you could have any man you wanted, no matter his station. Even Byron could not take his eyes from you.”

  “Byron cannot take his eyes off any woman. John, I would love you if you were a cobbler’s son. It doesn’t matter to me that you are Lord Waldegrave. To me, you are only John.”

  “Do you really mean that?” John exhaled so deeply that he shuddered.

  “John?” I asked. He looked like he might be ill. Had his nerves been so awry?

  “I…there is something more I must explain. My father’s health is nearly spent. But I have learned something of his will,” he said then reached out to touch my cheek. “He has written contingencies into the inheritance of his estate. Upon his death, I will take over his title only on the condition that I marry my cousin, Miss Harold.”

  I gasped.

  “But if I am married before my father passes, this will void this condition of his will. I’ve met with my lawyer about the matter. He has confirmed it in light of the laws of heredity.”

  Something about this struck me as odd. The thought passed, however, when a new realization dawned on me. “Then we must wed at once.”

  John smiled brightly. “Yes. That’s right. So, how does tonight suit you?”

  “Tonight? I…please forgive me, I do understand the need for expedience, but I must make some arrangements. Do you think your father will last the week? I will need to arrange it with my company, and I need to acquire something proper to wear. And…” I said then paused. John’s startling proposal had quite caught me off guard. More than ever, I needed Kai’s advice. How could I elope with Lord Waldegrave without Kai’s opinion on the matter? And how could I just leave Kai in this state? No. It wasn’t right.

  “And there is the matter of your friend,” John said with a sigh. For a brief moment, I saw him smother what appeared to be exasperation. He took a breath then said, “Very well, tell me what has happened.”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but suddenly the whole tale felt very silly. I was concerned because…because Kai had fallen into a liaison with an unseemly lover and was acting out of character. Kai, I had to remember, was a young, single man. How could I explain to John that it was more than just random carousing? Something was seriously wrong.

  “You’ve met Doctor Murray. How would you describe his character?” I asked John.

  “Dreadfully serious. Intellectual. Kind, of course, at least to you, but far too dour for my taste.”

  “Yes. That is him exactly. I’m afraid Doctor Murray has gotten himself caught up with Captain Behra, a lady captain on one of the ships frozen into the Thames. She and her crew are of the wildest sort, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say she was holding him captive. I need someone to retrieve him. I went myself, but he was quite insensible.”

  “You mean disagreeable?”

  “I mean drunk and, perhaps, under the influence of the poppy.”

  At that, John laughed. But when he saw the expression on my face he said, “You cannot be serious? Him? Why that’s impossible.”

  “Yes. This was why I was so flustered. Really, Doctor Murray is the only person I have in this world. If we are to wed, even an elopement, I cannot leave without his blessing. And I certainly cannot leave him there in this condition. And now…what is the time?”

  “Nearly nine.”

  “I’m supposed to be on stage in an hour!” My stomach quaked. Suddenly I felt like my world was turning upside down. So many different emotions washed over me. I was elated by John’s proposal, furious with Captain Behra, or Tia, or whatever her name was, perplexed by and feeling annoyed with the baron, and still angry with Marion. And, above all, I was frightened for and upset with Kai. I sighed heavily.

  “Tomorrow night will work fine, my love. I will make the arrangements for us, and you may settle your affairs. For now, please be at ease. But do keep your discretion in this matter. We can’t have gossip reaching my family’s ear before we are married.”

  “Of course,” I said.

  “Now, go prepare for your performance and don’t worry. I shall chase Doctor Murray off the captain’s ship. Nothing a stiff cup of coffee and a good kick in the arse won’t fix.”

  I laughed out loud, surprised by his informality. “Really? You will do that for me?”

  “Elyse, it has been clear to me from the start that you and Doctor Murray are very close. I can see that he will always be a part of your life. And if he is like a brother to you, then he is a brother to me as well. And I know how to deal with a rowdy and out of sorts brother who is too deep in his cups and lost to the enchantments of a lovely woman.”

  “You really are too good to me.”

  “As I promise to be all your life. If you will have me, beggar that I am.”

  “With my body and soul.”

  “Promise?”

  “I do.”

  John looked quickly around us. Seeing no one close by, he leaned in for a kiss. His lips brushed mine, and I caught the taste of anise in his mouth once more. “Now, go and play your Persephone. Put that wrinkled hag Marion to shame. Show them what my future wife is made of. As for me,” he said, then nodded with his chin toward the ships.

  “Thank you.”

  “Anything for you, my love,” he whispered then kissed me on my forehead. “I’ll come as soon as I have the issue settled for you.”

  Setting a kiss on my cheek once more, he turned and headed toward
the ships.

  I moved in the direction of the Ice House Theatre once more. Now, however, my heart was light. Of course, John would help me with Kai. Now, Kai would be safe, and I could revel in the fact that I was about to become a bride.

  Chapter 18: The Mouse

  As I made my way back to the theatre, my heart beat hard in my chest. I’d stuffed my gloves into my pocket. I inhaled the perfume of the roses. Their sweet scent carried the smell of summer. As I walked, I twisted my ring around my finger. It felt so odd to be wearing it. I looked down, realizing that I hadn’t even had a chance to examine it closely. The petite golden band shimmered an orange color in the morning sunlight.

  My thoughts were disordered. But the further I walked, the deeper the realization came over me that tomorrow night, I would become Lady Waldegrave. John’s father’s will perplexed me. If the will stipulated that John should marry Miss-Whomever after his death, then what would happen when a marriage license was revealed dating before the death? John said his lawyer confirmed it would be all right. But did that make sense? I knew very little of the law. And if his estate did not pass to his only son, if there was some problem, then what would be done? John had no siblings…or did he? Now I wasn’t sure. Regardless, tomorrow night, I would be wed. I would need to stop by the dressmaker and see if she could fashion me something suitable by tomorrow. I sighed a little, lamenting for just a fleeting moment the lack of a charming church wedding in Twickenham. But it didn’t matter. What mattered was that I was going to wed the man I loved.

  What also mattered was Kai. I had faith in John, and this matter seemed better handled between men. I could hardly tell if Kai was insensible or just being capricious. Had he been jealous of John and me? Was he acting this way just to get my attention? Did he know that the captain was married to the baron? Surely he knew that, right? If he was, indeed, amorous with her…well, I hardly knew what to make of it, but the idea of it filled me with loathsome anger.