Frostbitten Fairy Tales

by Melanie Karsak

  Clearly concerned, Robert frowned but said nothing more. “Very well. Let’s make with the masculine trappings then. Sit,” he added, motioning for me to take a seat.

  A few moments later, Robert got to work applying the sticky resin that would hold the beard onto my face.

  “Elyse, what happened?” Lizzie asked as Robert got the costume ready.

  “John was a liar, no more, no less,” I said. My heart ached, and yet I chided myself. My instincts had been screaming at me from the start that he was not to be trusted, but still, I wanted to believe him. Why? Was he right? Was I so desperate for a title? How had I been so stupidly duped? I felt ridiculous. But John was wrong about one thing, it was not the title I’d wanted. I’d wanted a faerie tale. The love affair had all the usual trappings: poor orphaned girl meets a rich handsome gentleman, rich handsome gentleman sweeps her off her feet, rich handsome gentleman proposes. And then, the happily ever after, right? But nothing really works like that. Not even the real faerie tales. After all, Snow White had to die to find a man who really loved her. I should have known better. I should have trusted the voice inside me that knew John was false. And worse, I should not have left Kai’s fate in the hands of a man I’d loved quickly and foolishly.

  Lizzie sighed. “So many times we are played the fool. When will we ever learn we shouldn’t fall in love with a man we just met?”

  “Such men ruin the name of honest gentlemen. Speaking of which, honest Iago,” Richard said, lifting the beard.

  I nodded.

  Robert worked quickly applying it to my face. After a few moments, he stood back then nodded. “You make a very ugly man, Miss McKenna.”

  In spite of myself, I laughed. Remembering the mirror in my pocket, I pulled it out and looked at my reflection. The beard looked a bit like I’d glued a beaver to my face. He was right, I was a very ugly man. But in the dim twilight, it would do its job.

  “Let me brush your hair back,” Lizzie said. She pulled my hair back into a tight coif like gentlemen sometimes wore.

  Robert handed me the costume then turned to go, but he paused first and said, “Elyse, I don’t know what manner of trouble you’re in, but please be careful.”

  “Thank you,” I said with a soft smile.

  He nodded then left.

  “He’s right, you know. And just where are you going with this manly costume and Marve’s wagon?” Lizzie asked.

  My heart slammed hard in my chest. I didn’t have time to be afraid. I fought off the fear that wanted to overwhelm me. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for Kai.

  “I’m going to save my friend.”

  “Your friend?”

  “Doctor Murray.”

  “Ah, so you’re going to save the man you really love,” Lizzie said.

  I froze in place at her words then looked into the little hand mirror, remembering the fleeting vision I’d seen there the night before. The man I really loved? Was she right? I bit my bottom lip then nodded.

  “Yes,” I whispered, the word seeming like an admission that had come from deep within my heart. “Yes.”

  Chapter 28: What Elyse Said

  Dressed as the cinder girl’s father, my fake beard itching, I drove the wagon toward The Frozen Mermaid. There, one of the baron’s men stood outside waiting. When I first arrived, the man did not recognize me. Only when I signaled to him did he nod in affirmation then went inside. I waited a few moments more. Then the baron and ten of his gentlemen emerged. Upon seeing me, the baron smirked. He tipped the brim of his hat toward me then turned and headed toward Captain Behra’s ship.

  Taking my cue, I clicked to Marve’s mule, then directed the wagon across the ice. As I drove near the captain’s ship, a few of the sailors gave me a hard look. It was the moment of truth. I drove, looking as though I was intent on a destination somewhere further down the ice, and tried to hold my body in a manly posture. Not finding me of interest, the men looked away. I rode into the dark then slowed the wagon.

  “Tia!” I heard the baron yell. I looked back. He and his men stood at the end of the plank. “Tia, come out here.” His voice sounded far sterner than I had ever heard it in the past.

  The sailors on Captain Behra’s ship moved down the plank, their weapons drawn.

  I kept my face shadowed but watched as a very annoyed looking Captain Behra finally appeared on deck.

  “Ill met by moonlight, proud Tia,” the baron called.

  “What, jealous baron? Get hence. You know I’ve forsworn your company.”

  “Perhaps, but would you hear my apology?” the baron called in reply.

  That was my cue. Snapping the reigns, I moved the mule cart in a wide arch that circled back to the far side of the Captain’s ship. I spared just one last glance back.

  Captain Behra smirked. Gripping her sword, she pushed past her men as she made her way down the plank.

  I inhaled deeply and drove the cart to the back of the captain’s ship.

  I listened as the baron and the captain exchanging barbs.

  And I waited.

  The baron would keep his promise.

  Everything would go as planned.

  He owed it to me.

  He would keep his promise.

  A few moments later, there was a cheer from the other side of the ship.

  I waited.

  One of the torches on my side of the ship suddenly went dark. A rope ladder dropped over the rail.

  I looked up to see the smiling face of the boy, Robin, looking down at me. He winked at me then disappeared. I waited a few more moments, listening as the sound of voices faded into the night. It had worked. The captain and her men had joined with the baron’s and were moving away from the ship.

  Hands shaking, I tied off the reins then crawled into the back of the wagon. Taking hold of the rope ladder, I gave it a tug. It seemed to be securely attached. I bit my lip, steeled my nerve, and climbed up. When I reached the rail, I peered on board. There was no one on deck. At the end of the plank, one of the captain’s men stood sentinel.

  Moving quietly, I slipped onto the ship. Keeping low, I sneaked toward the door of the captain’s cabin. I carefully lifted the latch and snuck inside. My heart pounded in my chest. The room within was very dim. It took my eyes a moment to adjust to the light. Only a few candles lit the space. The heavy scents of alcohol and opium lingered in the air. Plates with pomegranates and other fruits sat half-eaten. Moving quickly, I rushed toward the captain’s bed where Kai lay half unconscious.

  “Kai,” I whispered, rolling him over.

  His shirt was undone. He looked like he’d been sweating, and his skin was very pale. The scents of smoke and drink wafted off of him.

  “Kai,” I said, shaking his shoulder.

  He frowned at that. “Don’t touch me. I told you I do not want you. Stop touching me.”

  My stomach churned hard. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “For the love of all things holy, Kai. Please, wake up.”

  This time, he opened his eyes. When he looked at me, he frowned. “Captain, the fungi you gave me is having the strangest effect on me. I see Elyse in the face of your sailor. You know, I really must be going soon. She’ll be worried,” he said then closed his eyes once more, chuckling stupidly.

  His words and the terrible condition he was in evoked such a rage in me that I wanted to choke the captain to death.

  “Kai, it’s me. I’m disguised. You need to come with me. Kai, wake up,” I said, shaking him again.

  Kai’s eyes opened momentarily. He studied my face. “Elyse?”

  “It’s me. Now, you need to get up before the captain returns. We need to go. Now.”

  “I feel sick. Elyse, tell Gram to come get me,” he said then closed his eyes once more.

  At that, I grabbed him by the arms and tried to pull him from the bed. He was limp and heavy. I slid his legs to the side of the bed then tried to lift him. It was no use. I tugged hard, trying to lift him, but we both ended up on the floor. I set my head
on his chest.

  “Kai. Kai, please. I cannot do this alone,” I whispered. “You are not yourself. You need to leave with me now, or we will never see one another again. We will lose one another forever.” Reaching up, I pulled off my beard and stuck it into my pocket. Everything was in ruins. If I couldn’t get Kai to leave with me, then I would have to stay and face the captain.

  “It’s okay,” I said then, brushing a lock of his hair away from his forehead. “It’s okay. I’ll stay with you. I won’t leave you here. If you can’t leave, then neither will I,” I said. “Kai, do you hear me?”

  “Elyse?” he whispered softly. “My stomach feels strange.”

  I set my head on his shoulder. Tears rolled down my cheeks, wetting his shirt. Taking a deep breath, I looked up. I wiped my tears then reached up and touched his cheek. “Kai, I love you,” I whispered. “I love you with all of my heart and all my soul. I’ve been a very foolish girl. The idea of losing you…I cannot live without you. Kai, I love you,” I said. Leaning in, I placed a soft kiss on his lips.

  At first, there was no reaction. His lips were warm and soft, but he didn’t return my kiss.

  I kissed him harder then, putting my hands on his cheeks, pressing his body closer to mine.

  This time, however, he pulled back.

  “No,” he said, a sharp, angry tone in his voice. “No. You have no right. Get away from me. My heart belongs to only one woman.”

  My stomach clenched into a hard ball.

  I was too late.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered then pulled back.

  At the sound of my voice, he looked up at me once more. This time, however, his eyes were clear. His brow furrowed deeply as though he was just coming to himself.

  “Elyse?” he whispered.

  He looked around, a confused expression on his face. “The captain? Where did that whore go? She was just here. She tried to—Elyse?”

  “Yes. Yes, I know. And we need to go. Now. Before she returns. Can you stand up?” I asked. Rising to my feet, I reached down for him.

  “I’ll bloody well try.”

  Steadying myself, I helped Kai stand. Once he was firmly on his feet, I led him to the door. Moving quietly, I unlatched the door and peered outside. The captain’s man was no longer at the end of the platform. I didn’t see him anywhere on the ship.

  Wrapping my arm around Kai’s waist, I nodded to him. “Come with me. Quiet.”

  Wordlessly, Kai followed me to the rail of the ship. I could tell he was weak on his feet, but there was no helping it. I had the baron’s word that he would keep the captain away, but he may not be able to manage for long. What would happen when the captain realized she had been fooled? We needed to hurry.

  “There is a ladder here. You’ll have to climb down. Can you make it?” I whispered.

  “Yes.” I could tell from the sound of his voice that he was trying to sound confident, but his slumping body told a different tale.

  “I’ll go first and try to steady you,” I said. Making sure Kai had hold of the rail, I swung over the side of the ship and started down the rope, moving quickly to the wagon below.

  “Kai. Now you,” I said.

  Moving slowly, Kai crawled over the rail.

  My heart slammed in my chest as I watched him struggle to hold on to the ropes. His foot slipped as he tried to feel for the rung.

  I tugged on the rope ladder, guiding the rung under his foot.

  “Doctor? Where are you going?” the captain’s henchman yelled from the deck of the ship.

  Kai moved with purpose then, trying to get down the ladder.

  The sailor appeared at the side of the ship above us, glaring down. He stared at Kai, then me, his eyes narrowing. He pulled his sword from his belt and lifted it.

  “Kai! Jump,” I called.

  Kai turned and leaped into the wagon. He grunted a little as he landed, but landed all the same.

  A second later, the sailor dropped his sword on the rope ladder. It fell half in and half out of the wagon.

  “Go,” Kai called weakly.

  I snatched up the reins and snapped them, clicking loudly to the mule who must have been dozing.

  From the deck of the ship, an odd-sounding trumpet signaled loudly. Its warning sound echoed across the ice.

  “Oh, Bottom. Move, please,” I called to the mule, snapping the reins again. This time, the mule got some spring in his step, and he rushed quickly away. I moved the mule carefully across the ice at a quick clip. We were already a good distance from the ship when I heard shouting.

  A sharp wind blew, and with it, a fog seemed to roll across the Thames, enveloping the space between the Frost Fair and the riverside in a thick mist. I clicked at the mule and drove the wagon off the ice toward the city. Only once we were off the ice did I look back at Kai. He sat slumped along the side of the wagon. He was not himself, but he was there. That was all that mattered. I needed to get him somewhere safe quickly.

  I turned the cart in the direction of the Hawkings’ workshop. He could rest there until he regained his composure. I drove down the bumpy cobblestone street, focusing so completely on my task that I didn’t stop until the wagon pulled in front of the Hawkings’ home.

  I rapped loudly on the door then waited, staring pensively back out at the ice. My heart thundered in my chest for fear that the captain would chase me here to seek out her revenge. Perhaps Master Shakespeare had taught me to expect too much drama. This wasn’t Hamlet, after all.

  “Miss McKenna?” the footman said.

  Master Hawking and Isabelle appeared in the foyer behind the servant.

  “Miss McKenna?” Master Hawking said, coming to the door.

  “It’s Doctor Murray,” I said, turning toward the cart. “He’s unwell.”

  Without another word, Master Hawking, Isabelle, the servant, and I went to the wagon where Kai sat staring at the frozen river, his brow furrowed in anger.

  “Kai,” I said, setting my hand on his shoulder. He was startled by my touch but then softened when he looked at me. “Kai. Come inside. Master Hawking will see to you. You’ll be safe here,” I said, whispering the last.

  He nodded grimly then slid off the back of the wagon. I slipped one of his arms over my shoulder while Master Hawking took the other. I noticed that he was walking with a limp.

  “What happened?” Isabelle asked, her wide dark eyes taking in the situation.

  “Bad people doing bad things,” I answered.

  Isabelle led us to the parlor just off the main foyer. She moved a stack of books from a chaise, and Master Hawking and I lowered Kai into the seat.

  “Elyse, my ankle,” he whispered, seemingly embarrassed. “Can you remove my boot?”

  I nodded then unlaced his boot, slipping it off. It was already swelling.

  I turned to Isabelle. “Can you bring some ice?”

  She nodded then rushed out of the room.

  “Kai, are you all right? Shall I call the Bow Street Runners?” Master Hawking asked, a distressed look on his face.

  Kai shook his head. “No. I’ll be fine now.”

  “I am so very sorry to bring another problem to your door, Master Hawking. It seemed urgent to get Kai somewhere safe,” I said.

  Master Hawking placed his hands behind his back then nodded affirmatively. “From the smell of you, Kai, I’d almost think Elyse just pulled you out of an opium den.”

  Kai frowned. “There has been some subterfuge done to me, I am ashamed to say.”

  Master Hawking nodded as he rubbed his chin. “I think I have something that will help if that is the case. I’ll be back in a moment,” he said, leaving us alone.

  I sat down on the chaise beside Kai then stared into my hands as I bit my bottom lip, trying to think of what to say. So much had happened. So much had gone awry. I shook my head and blinked back my tears.

  “Elyse?” Kai finally whispered.

  I took a deep breath then looked up at him.

  “I love you too.
With all my soul. My mind is cloudy. I don’t quite understand what has happened, but I do remember some things. I…I, too, have been a very silly man. And, I admit, a jealous man. I don’t know how to live without you. I can’t. Don’t…please don’t leave me. Elyse, I love you,” he whispered then reached out and wiped a tear off my cheek. “I can’t live without you.”

  “I love you too.” I leaned in and placed the gentlest of kisses on his lips. This time, I was met with the full force of the man I’d known my whole life. I’d spent each day at his side, a friend, a companion. But it had always been more. He had always been a part of me. Why didn’t I see that it was more than friendship? It had always been the deepest of loves.

  “Oh,” a little voice squeaked from the door.

  Reluctantly, I pulled back and looked to find Isabelle standing there.

  A wave of emotions washed over her face: frustration, jealousy, understanding, and then acceptance. In one swift moment, it seemed that Miss Hawking had accepted that any hopes she’d had for her and Kai were not meant to be. She beamed a bright and honest smile toward us.

  “Here is the ice,” she said, holding a cloth. “I went outside for it. A man passed by, told me the Thames is breaking up below the bridge. They are evacuating the ice as quickly as possible,” she said, seeming to look for any bit of conversation to change the subject. “It’s like a parade passing out there.”

  “Oh no,” I whispered, turning back to Kai. “I have Marve’s wagon. My troupe.”

  Kai nodded, understanding at once. “Don’t leave me long, and please be careful.”

  “Don’t worry. Just stay here and rest. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Kai kissed my hand then nodded to me as I turned and rushed to the door. If I didn’t hurry, the Ice House and all of her belongings would sink into the Thames.

  I slipped into the wagon once more and grabbed the reins. Clicking at the mule, I turned the cart and headed quickly back to the ice.

  Chapter 29: Seeing Stars

  My hands shook as I drove the wagon back onto the river. Everything was in commotion as the Bow Street Runners had joined the Frost Fair officials in hurrying everyone off the ice. Rows of carts rushed both on and off the ice. I snapped the reins and pushed Bottom toward the Ice House. My eyes scanned the crowd for the baron and the captain. With the river cracking open, surely the captain had better things to do than worry about Kai and me.