Her knees shaking, Selena shut the door and locked it again. Fortunately, the footman had been too distracted to notice her. She shivered. But he easily could have, and he'd inform her uncle she was here, probably for a reward so he could visit his Mags.
She glanced about the cramped room. Although he'd not noticed her, the flimsy lock wasn't enough. She wedged the chair beneath the door. 'Twas the best she could do. If only she'd a staff or dagger for protection. To distract herself, she returned to Aragon's sketch. Hopefully, her trembling hands wouldn't ruin it.
Chapter 8
Aragon sighed when he returned home for luncheon after his ride with Devon and stopping by Broad Street to purchase sketch journals and enchanted pencils for Selena. If only he could have given them to her in person. But Mother's scolding would be much worse if he continued delaying it, so he'd best face it now.
His shoulders tensed as he strode into the family dining room. Mother and Father were alone at the table. Usually, Hawke or Mel joined them for meals, although Mel's presence was more sporadic since he lived and served at the Great Temple.
Aragon gritted a smile as he sat beside Father at the head of the table. "Is Hawke visiting Wren?" Wren was the best friend Hawke refused to admit he loved. Her parents, Sir Alaric and Lady Diana Keyes, were also their parents' best friends.
Father chuckled and shook his head. "He received word from his merchant friend this morning and bolted. Goddess knows when he'll return."
Aragon nodded and served himself stuffed quail, his skin tightening as Mother set down her utensils with deliberate care. Her scolding was about to begin already. Wonderful.
Mother frowned at him. "Did you enjoy yourself last night?"
Aragon swallowed. He had, but admitting that would worsen her scolding, so he shrugged and ate his quail instead. Judicious silence interspersed with pleading glances at Father was often the best way to handle Mother.
Father sighed as Mother pursed her lips and said, "Because your guests last night didn't. Lady Elisabeth and Miss Reid waited for you for nearly three hours."
Aragon almost shuddered. Why had she invited those two? Thank the Goddess he'd escaped dinner with them. "I'm sorry they were inconvenienced, but I didn't invite them or know they were coming."
Mother's eyes glinted. "I invited them for you to consider as your bride. And you knew we'd guests—I cautioned you not to be late."
Aragon sipped his wine. "I was unexpectedly delayed." By an unexpectedly spellbinding lady. Tingling swept through him as Selena's forthright manner and delightful dimple flashed before his eyes. "Besides, I don't wish to wed Lady Elisabeth or Miss Reid."
Mother sighed. "You must wed some lady soon. When he was your age, your father and I had been married two years, and you were on the way."
Aragon set his jaw. Mother's candidates might actually interest him if they were more like Selena and not grasping court flirts. "If you find candidates I could love, I'd gladly consider marrying them." He'd not settle for less.
Mother began to reply when Father interjected, "Caro, leave the boy alone. Lady Elisabeth and Miss Reid only have the benefit of being available. We don't want either as our daughter-in-law."
Mother grimaced but nodded. "True enough, Eldridge, but Aragon needs a bride." She rose. "I must be off. Diana and I have fittings at Celeste's. If only I had a daughter-in-law to join me." She tsked and swept from the room.
Once she left, Aragon shook his head. Mother was nothing if not determined.
Father chuckled then asked Aragon about the council meeting. They discussed that while finishing luncheon. 'Twas strange being the one to describe the meeting rather than hearing about it.
Afterward, Aragon wrote to Devon's people about the black witch and Midor. That done, he forced himself to read instead of visiting Selena. If he disappeared again, his parents would become suspicious, but he could risk visiting her tomorrow.
* * *
The following afternoon, Aragon purchased some items for Selena, ate dinner at The Gold Griffin, then headed to the brothel and pounded on her bedroom door. "Open up, wench."
Selena jerked open the door and goggled at him. Other than smudges beneath her eyes, she appeared well.
Warmth filling his chest, he hustled her back inside and locked the door. "Sorry for that, but acting like the brothel's usual patrons should attract less notice. How are you?"
Selena almost smiled as she smoothed her hair. "Well enough, though I'd trouble sleeping last night."
Aragon captured her hands then drew her to the bed and sat beside her. His throat tightened. "Did something happen?"
Selena licked her lips. "Not really, but I kept fretting it might."
He squeezed her hands before releasing her to extract a jar of strengthening charm from his satchel. "I purchased this today from an alchemical witch shop. Paint the door and lock with this, and they become stronger than stone." He handed her a dagger and one of the paired communication mirrors from the satchel. "And carry these with you in case of trouble. The dagger to defend yourself, and the mirror to contact me." He grimaced. "I've nothing to protect you against magic yet, but the royal witch is creating a protection charm, so hopefully, I'll have it next time."
Her dark-gray eyes glowing, Selena gripped the jar, dagger, and mirror against her chest. "These are wonderful."
Aragon blushed as he extracted a book of verse by an obscure bard. "I also have this. Hawke swears Lantos is brilliant, so I hope you enjoy it." And although Hawke was a rakehell, the verse couldn't be too bawdy since Wren adored it too.
Selena dimpled and accepted the book. "I'm sure I will, thank you." She reached under her pillow. "Before I forget, I've some things for you too." She opened her reticule and thrust it toward him. "I bargained back almost half your gold."
He stared at her. How had she managed that? Regardless, she needed it more than he did, so he'd not accept it. "You keep it for whatever you need. Although you can't spend it here without attracting notice." He withdrew all his smaller coins and offered them to her. When she shook her head, he scowled. "Don't be prudish. I know it's not entirely proper, but you need it."
Selena sighed as she added the smaller coins to the gold in her reticle. "True, and nothing about living in a brothel is entirely proper. But your gold wasn't the only thing I have for you." Her gaze dropping, she set aside her reticle then slid a page from her sketch journal with a blush. "'Tis my favorite mountain glen from home. A thanks for those sketch journals and extraordinary pencils."
Aragon gaped at her lifelike sketch. "'Tis exquisite." The colors were bold with the dawn sun, trembling dew, and verdant trees almost appearing in motion. She must miss Upper Ashville terribly. He tucked the sketch in his satchel and glanced at her. Could they talk about her home without provoking her grief about her parents? "What's Upper Ashville like?"
Selena's gaze unfocused as a faint smile curved her lips. "Small and quiet. We'd only two minor witches, and most villagers were goat farmers or worked in the nearby copper mine. My family was the only gentry within half a day's ride, and Lord Nolan, the mine's owner, rarely visited."
He eyed her, his heart stilling. Goddess, her village was even more isolated than he'd realized. "I suppose you didn't socialize often then."
Selena shrugged. "We attended house parties a few times a year with other gentry families within a days' ride." She lifted her chin. "If your mother asks, I do know how to dance and participate in social events."
Aragon swallowed. But she probably hadn't met more than a dozen eligible gentlemen her entire life. Acting on his attraction would just be exploiting her inexperience. He must allow her to meet other gentlemen, or she might choose him by default. His chest tightened. And she deserved to feel love, not just gratitude, for her chosen husband. So he must restrain himself. He leapt up and grabbed the jar of strengthening charm. "We should paint your door."
Selena tensed, her lips flattening. "Very well."
They painted her door, and
while they waited for it to dry, he moved the chair across the room from the bed then asked her to read aloud some Lantos verse. He fled as soon as her door dried, promising to return with the royal witch's charm.
Although Aragon burned to visit Selena again, he forced himself to attend a ball the following night instead. His parents would suspect something if he eschewed all court events. Yet his mind kept drifting to Selena while he danced with other ladies. How was she faring in the brothel? Was she scared? Or bored? Or lonely?
When he returned home, he eyed the communication mirror paired to Selena's. Should he call her? He picked up his mirror then dropped it. Using the mirrors would drain them, and Selena might need hers later. He'd have to wait until tomorrow evening to see how she fared.
* * *
Late the following afternoon, the royal witch wrote that her protection charm was ready. Aragon was about to leave to fetch it when Mel arrived. Although he burned to see Selena, Aragon delayed his plans to remain home for dinner. 'Twould appear odd if he ate elsewhere when Mel was visiting.
However, he barely spoke during the lively conversation between his parents and his brothers, and as soon as dessert was finished, he leapt up to leave. He must get to the palace to collect the protection charm before Lady Juliet left for the evening.
His parents exchanged a glance then Father said, "Could we speak in my study for a moment?"
Aragon tensed but nodded. He followed Father into the study and settled in the chair before the desk. Hopefully, this wouldn't take long. "What did you wish to discuss?"
Father frowned and leaned toward him. "Is something wrong? You've been distracted recently."
Aragon almost winced. Yes, because he kept thinking about Selena. Of course his parents had noticed. At least Father was asking rather than Mother. He eyed Father across the desk. Perhaps he should explain. Although Father would tell Mother, she must learn about Selena sometime. And Father always knew how to explain matters without riling her. "Nothing is wrong, but something extraordinary happened the other day."
Father cocked his head. "Oh?"
Aragon straightened. He must edit his words with care so his parents would fully support Selena. "The night I avoided Mother's matchmaking dinner, I stumbled across a lady hiding in a brothel from her uncle and the black witch he hired."
Father frowned. "A black witch? Alarming."
Aragon grimaced but nodded. "Devon's people are hunting him, but the lady shall hide in the brothel until he's captured. We can't risk him discovering her. Although I've provided charms to protect her during her sojourn there."
Father's eyes narrowed. "Why so much effort for a lady you just met in a brothel?"
Aragon stiffened and glowered back. "Because she deserves it. When trapped, she bravely took action few ladies would have. Plus, she's genuine and sweet."
Father studied him for a long moment. "I see..." Then he arched his brows with a wry smile. "What are your plans after the black witch is captured?"
Aragon coughed and shifted in his chair. "I thought Mother could present her at court. Then she could permanently escape her uncle." When Father chuckled, he added, "Despite hiding in a brothel, she's still an innocent. And she'll interest many gentlemen, unless they require a fortune."
Father flashed a crooked grin but only said, "Your mother shall enjoy presenting her. She'll finally have a young lady to join her at Celeste's."
Aragon relaxed. With Father's support, Mother would agree to present Selena. Good.
Father leaned back in his chair. "Sounds like you've everything handled, but if you require further assistance with that black witch or your lady, please let me know."
Aragon rose, warmth suffusing his chest. "Thanks, Father. I must be off." Once he fetched the protection charm, he could see Selena again. At last.
Chapter 9
When Aragon pounded on her door, Selena tossed aside her sketch journal and leapt from the bed. Finally. He'd not visited yesterday, and she'd missed him even though she'd kept herself occupied sewing dresses, reading his gift, and sketching. She beamed at him as she relocked the door.
Aragon handed her a gold pendant. "Here's the royal witch's protection charm. It shall ward you against magic for the next six months."
Her stomach fluttered as she eyed the gold gargoyle. 'Twas the perfect form for a protection charm since gargoyles were renowned for their protective nature. "Such a strong spell must bear a high magical price."
Aragon shook his head. "Not from us. Lady Juliet said it draws power from the spells attempting to influence you."
Selena gulped a breath. What an ingenious spell. No wonder Lady Juliet was the royal witch. "I hope such a spell wasn't too expensive."
Aragon shrugged, a blush tinting his cheeks. "Your safety is worth the price."
Warmth filling her chest, she flung her arms about him. He was amazing. Despite love not striking her at once, his kindness was slowly winning her heart. She craned to kiss him, her body tingling.
Yet Aragon jerked away before their lips could touch then removed her arms from his neck and stepped back.
Selena stiffened. Why had he refused her kiss? Because they hadn't fallen in love within moments of meeting? Her breath hitched. Was his kindness mere charity?
She sighed and slipped the protection charm over her head. Then she gasped when the gold gargoyle and the contraceptive charm warmed as if left in the afternoon sun.
Aragon frowned and leaned toward her. "What is it?"
Selena grimaced as she slid the thin bracelet from her wrist. "The protection charm just destroyed the contraceptive charm Madam Lorelei gave me. I could sense it absorb the magic."
Aragon frowned at her door. "I hope it won't destroy the strengthening charm on your door too."
She shuddered. She'd not feel safe living here if it did. But how could they test that? Her gaze fell on her sketch journal on the bed. "If the protection charm doesn't destroy the enchanted pencils, the door should be fine."
Selena curled on the bed and began a new sketch, and the gold gargoyle remained cool, and the pencils still changed color. She relaxed with a sigh. "The enchanted pencils mustn't count as influencing me, unlike the contraceptive charm." She darted across the room to touch the doorframe, and the protection charm still didn't warm. "The door doesn't either."
As she returned to the bed, Aragon settled in the chair across the room then asked her about life in the brothel, but he kept glancing away and shifting in his seat.
Her heart squeezing, she forced a bright smile as she described her days. Her almost kiss had embarrassed him, so he left not long after. She sighed as she locked the door behind him. Hopefully, he'd return soon.
* * *
Protected by the powerful charm Aragon had provided, Selena enjoyed her first decent sleep at the brothel, so she rose early, ate breakfast, then slipped out to the miscellany shop to purchase more cloth. She'd just returned when Madam Lorelei asked to see her.
Selena swallowed as she settled in the plush chair before the madam's desk. What could the madam possibly wish to discuss?
Madam Lorelei pursed her lips. "Yesterday Mags mentioned a rumor you should hear. One of her patrons said his master is hunting a niece who disappeared a few days ago."
Selena tensed. The patron must be that footman with Mags earlier. And Selena had mentioned her uncle when arranging her proposition with Madam Lorelei, so the madam must suspect she was the missing niece. "Oh?"
Madam Lorelei arched a brow. "And the niece's description was remarkably similar to you. Light brown hair, freckles, gray eyes."
Her pulse surging, Selena lifted her chin. Yes, the madam realized Selena was the missing niece. But what did she intend to do? "Surely plenty of other ladies possess the same."
Madam Lorelei's lips quirked. "Perhaps. But how many of them are also named Selena, Lena?"
Selena winced. If only Madam Lorelei had accepted her bluff. But no sense in crying for spilt unicorn water. She eyed the madam.
"What do you intend to do?"
Madam Lorelei shrugged. "The same as I have been. Even with your portion, Lord Treyvan is paying me well to keep your presence secret. And once bought, my loyalty is steady—until the money runs out. Not that your patron must worry about that."
Selena's chest loosened. Thank the Goddess the madam was honest. And that she knew nothing of the black witch. Knowing his involvement might have altered her loyalty. Most wouldn't cross black witches for fear of curses. Selena suppressed a shudder.
Madam Lorelei tilted her head. "So I'll remain silent about your presence here, and I'll make sure my girls do the same. But I think it's best if you remain in your room as much as possible, especially when my patrons are around. I can't control what they do outside the brothel."
Selena nodded. She'd avoided being seen before, but now she must be even more cautious. So she'd only leave her room to fetch meals. No more trips to purchase cloth. Fortunately, after this morning, she'd enough for a few more dresses. She sighed then rose. "Thank you for informing me about the rumors and for your loyalty, Madam Lorelei. Lord Treyvan and I truly appreciate it."
She swept a curtsy then darted back to her room. She locked the door behind her then sank on the bed and fingered the gold gargoyle nestled between her breasts. Considering everything Aragon had provided, she should be safe as long as she remained hidden. But hopefully, his people would find the black witch soon. During his next visit, she'd ask about their progress and mention her uncle's hunt.
* * *
So when Aragon thumped on her door the following evening, Selena dropped the dress she was sewing and ran to unlock her door. Not only must they discuss matters, but she'd missed Aragon as much as before. If only he could visit every day.
Once she relocked the door behind him, Aragon extracted a deck from his pocket with an easy smile. He'd clearly forgotten her almost kiss before. "I brought cards. What would you like to play?"
The Spellbinding Courtship: Calatini Tales Book 0.5 Page 5