"I didn't have anything to change into, and well..." She would not admit to him she couldn't take the dress off on her own.
Hatter sat Sunny on the ground and took Melody's elbow in his palm, tugging her toward one of his workrooms. "I apologize. I didn't think about the fact you didn't have night clothes. I did, however, prepare a new gown and slippers for today."
A black and white brocade gown hung on a dress form in the middle of the room. "But...when did you have time?" She'd thought the lilac dress looked like something Cinderella would wear, but the new one put it to shame.
"Couldn't sleep." He gave a faint smile. "I wandered in here to work for a while before retiring a second time. We must travel into the White Kingdom today to deliver a gown to the queen. There should be enough time to return before..." He released her arm and began unlacing her bodice without needing to be asked.
Before Wonderland rejects me. It'd happened to Cadence, so naturally it would happen to her too. But why did Hatter seem to be bothered by it when he'd done all he could to keep her at a distance? It confused her, made her imagine things that would lead to disappointment when the inevitable happened and she found herself back in the woods behind her childhood home.
***
As Hatter unlaced her dress, he tried desperately not to notice how the light played across tendrils of her hair, or how soft her creamy pale skin was when he'd accidently brushed his knuckles against it. His throat ran dry and he stepped back as soon as he'd completed his task, quickly setting himself to unhooking the new gown and handing it to her.
He'd realized the night before that Melody deserved to see some of the kingdom before she left, not just his dreary house. Instead of sending Marchy to deliver the dress for the queen as usual, he'd take it himself and bring her along.
Melody would miss the Festival of Flowers by a day, but he was sure the queen would be excited to meet her. Of course, he'd have to explain how she came to be there, and likely would risk a penalty for illegally encouraging the White Rabbit to bring a findling into Wonderland, but his queen would be more forgiving than the Red Queen. Hatter almost sympathized with Gareth for being destined to wed into the other kingdom. The Red Queen had less tolerance for, well, anything.
The one rule the White Queen took seriously regarded dress code. Only white and black clothing was allowed within the castle, though not the rest of the realm. She encouraged creativity and colors of all kinds. Her reasoning for a dress code stemmed from her belief that while she governed them, everyone was treated the same within her four walls. The coloring gave it a visual effort, or so she claimed. Hatter found it very dull, indeed, to be limited to two color choices, but he honored her wishes when he visited.
Melody emerged from behind the curtain, holding the top of her gown up at her shoulders. She gave him her back, and he swallowed at the sight of her skin tempting his resolve, but he buttoned her up anyway. He'd intentionally put the buttons on the back so she'd need assistance even though he'd chosen not to add a fancy bodice to this gown. The material shimmered, and the long, bell sleeves hung nearly to the hem at her feet. The queen would adore her.
After checking, with much satisfaction, that her feet had recovered from their mistreatment from incorrectly sized shoes, he directed Melody to head out to the tea table for breakfast. Marchy was sure to have brought food over by now, and Hatter needed to dress for the day.
White was not his best color, so he often wore black when at court. Dark pants and a crisp white shirt. His waist coat, jacket, and top hat were black as well. After he added his watches, he inspected himself in the mirror and sighed. He needed...something to complete him. He'd often thought as much, but never quite put his finger on the missing piece.
Outside, Marchy rose from his seat and held his palm up as Hatter approached the table. He paused several feet away when he noticed the stressed expression on his friend's face. "I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen. Threatened to bite my fingers off if I dared to remove her. I think your findling has gone rabid."
Perplexed, Hatter glanced down the table to the seat Melody had claimed last night, but no one sat there. Where had she gone? Turning toward Marchy, he crossed his arms, but then his gaze dropped to the bottom of the armchair across from him. White, glimmering material with traces of black fanned out over the grass. Her head and torso were blocked by the chair's back. Melody had claimed Devrel's place. Directly at Hatter's side.
Emotions roared within him at the revelation, crashing over each other in a struggle for dominance. Naturally, he was appalled she would dare apply disorder to his table. She didn't know their ways, yet failed to adhere to them when they were explained. His blood heated at her rebellion. At her will to sit next to him. To remain close to him. She'd taken her place beside him and he liked it.
I am in so much trouble.
Melody peered around the back of the chair. "Are you going to stand there, or are you going to eat breakfast?" She disappeared around the side again, but Marchy continued to stare at him as though the world would crumble apart at any moment and prayed he wouldn't take the blame for it.
Hatter started to laugh, and once he did he couldn't stop. He placed his palms on his knees and guffawed until tears pricked his eyes and his side knotted. Melody and Marchy gawked at him as he regained his composure. Mayhap he'd finally gone as mad as they said he already was. As mad as a hatter.
Straightening, he ambled to Melody's chair and draped his arm over the top of it. She tilted her head up to see him. She really was beautiful, with wide blue eyes as soft in hue as cornflower. "You're in Devrel's chair."
"Is that why you were laughing?"
"No."
"What was so funny?" She leaned farther back to see his face better, and her delicate forehead furrowed as she tried to decipher what his answer could be.
He grinned. "I was laughing at myself."
At this, Marchy dropped into his chair with a snort and took a long gulp of tea. Hatter returned his attentions to Melody and added, "Why, pray tell, did you decide it was at all proper to claim another's seat?"
"Well," she began, and folded her hands in her lap over her napkin. "Devrel was rude, and I don't care if he's offended I took his seat. And...if it is really to be my last day in Wonderland, I want to experience it at the fullest, not from halfway down the table, alone, while everyone else is at this end enjoying their tea. Is that a problem?"
"Yes, Hatter." Marchy stirred a fresh cup of tea. "Is that a problem?" He arched an eyebrow.
His friend issued an unspoken challenge, wanting to see if Hatter would cave to a pretty face or stand his ground. 'Twould seem Marchy never learned he didn't give into pressure. He'd remained unwed all this time, living on the outskirts of the kingdom and running a business on his own terms and monetary system. At his table, things went the way he said they did. Therefore, he didn't feel it was entirely his fault when he uttered the next sentence without thinking of the implications.
"If Wonderland doesn't return you, you can have Marchy's seat."
The silence that followed his words spoke volumes. Finally, Marchy sputtered, mumbling about nerve and disrespect for tradition and values. Melody's skin flushed a striking pink color and her lips parted. There was a speck of crystalized sugar on her bottom lip from the pastry she'd been enjoying. Hypnotized, Hatter couldn't look away. Without thinking, he leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers, swiping the sugar away with the tip of his tongue.
Melody gasped, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, holding him closer, and she kissed him back. He kept his hands on the arms of the chair, afraid if he were to touch her in that moment that things would progress further than he could allow. Hatter would have continued kissing her if Marchy hadn't cleared his throat dramatically from across the table.
He stood, ran a palm over his chest, and adjusted his hat. Marchy's hands were clasped as he glanced from Melody to him and back again. Even the dormouse judged them, standing on his back legs from beside a
teacup, nose twitching.
"You are aware," Marchy said, "that you just committed a marriageable offense in the White Kingdom. There were witnesses."
Melody covered her mouth. "But...it was only a kiss." Her voice was husky and Hatter nearly groaned at the implications. He curled his hands into fists and stomped his desire down before he made a fool of himself.
Marchy nodded. "Aye, and a good thing too. Are you trying to destroy his marriageability for good? You're lucky it was me, and not one of the others. That it occurred here and not at court... It's a good thing I'm going with you today. No telling what kind of trouble the two of you could get into unsupervised. And you!" Marchy glared at Hatter. "You know better."
Hatter scoffed. "You commit 'marriageable offenses' every week, so don't use that argument with me like you have a clean slate."
"That's true, but I do not do it in front of other people."
"That dormouse has seen it all, I'd wager."
Marchy patted the mouse's head. "Hawthorn is my lookout. Why do you think I've never been caught? And don't think any of those scheming women at court haven't tried to lay a trap to bait me. Have you seen me? I'm gorgeous." One of his rabbit ears twitched and there was a sparkle in his soft brown eyes.
"They wouldn't make him marry me knowing I probably won't stay," Melody chimed in. "Would they? That's absurd. Cadence said she kissed Gareth in full view of the Red Queen and her court when she visited."
"Mayhap not," Marchy agreed. "They were set to wed should she remain, though. There's been talk of it since she left. Also, he's Gareth, the hero of heroes and all that. Hatter is merely the strange man who lives on the outskirts of the kingdom and hosts daily tea parties consisting of one or two guests, if any." He cringed and looked to Hatter as he took his seat, finally, at the end of the table next to them. "No offense."
"It's fair. It's true. Those who care are the two of you." He groaned. The incessant rhyming spurts had grown tired long ago. Hatter couldn't meet Melody's gaze. He didn't want her to see him as mad. No, he wanted her to see him as a normal man. While he wasn't sorry he'd kissed her, he also couldn't take it back. Sending mixed signals would do neither of them any good, and he didn't want her to suffer as her sister had.
"I have a wonderful idea," he said, choosing to no longer acknowledge the kiss. It was safest that way. "Let's change the subject." He grabbed a scone from the breakfast plate and poured a cup of tea, but through the berry flavors and the hot tea, all he tasted was the sugary sweetness of Melody's lips pressed against his own.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The Red Kingdom looked exactly how she remembered. The stones of the castle were black as pitch against the bright sky beyond. Cadence exited the Tulgey Wood and nearly fell over. After they'd left the Queen of Hearts' castle, they'd run across the drawbridge, and into the forest. They'd had to scale the wall a bit farther down than they'd come through in case the bandersnatches were still about, but they hadn't slowed down since. Her throat was parched. They'd not come across another water source, and she'd kill for something to drink. "We made it. We..." Cadence searched around for signs of her companion but couldn't find him. "Squirrelpoleon?"
He wasn't there. She called for him, searched around. Nothing. He'd taken her where she wanted to go and then disappeared. Cadence reluctantly abandoned her hunt for him and crossed the field to the castle, knowing she had to warn the kingdom about the Jabberwock above all else, even if the queen didn't like her very much. If Gareth was there, at least she would have accomplished her original quest. But what if he was already married to someone in the kingdom? Would her appearance be welcome or disastrous? Would Melody be there? Had she truly come in before her, or had the rabbit hole been coincidently placed where she'd find it? She'd know some of her answers soon enough.
Two guards in shiny gunmetal armor crossed spears in front of her path as she tried to head into the castle courtyard. "Invitation only today. No villagers."
"Please, I have to see the queen. It's an emergency," Cadence pleaded.
The one who hadn't spoken opened the visor of his helmet and squinted at her. "Explain."
Not wanting to cause alarm or anything, she kept it simple. "Look, I'm a findling. Today is my last day. If I don't have an audience with the Red Queen, I can't tell her what I saw beyond the wall."
The first guard gasped. "Beyond the wall is forbidden. Memories of the atrocities committed by the Queen of Hearts sour the very soil. The queen will be most displeased you were there."
She rolled her eyes and rubbed her forehead, patience slipping away at a steady rate. "Can I speak to the queen or not?"
They huddled together whispering and shooting looks at her. Finally, they nodded at each other and the one on the right went through the gates, presumably to ask the queen if she wanted to speak to her. Of course, they hadn't asked her for a name, so the queen might not realize it was her, if she even remembered her at all. She still wasn't clear on how much time had passed.
When the guard returned, he beckoned for Cadence to take his arm, and then he escorted her through the gardens and winding halls of the castle. As far as throne rooms went, this one was as open and beautiful as any fairytale castle's should be. Red banners hung from walls, and the striking carpet splitting the center of the floor toward the thrones gave color to the dark stones. The guard left her with a bow. Cadence took note that the king wasn't present, but the Red Queen rose from her throne and froze when recognition hit.
"So it is you." Her voice was cold, unwelcoming. "How did you come to Wonderland this time?"
Cadence decided to let her squirm with the mystery of the unknown. She could have at least pretended to be pleased to see her again. "Good day, Your Majesty." She curtseyed. "I've searched for a way back all year. Seems it paid off."
The queen narrowed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and then glided toward her. The crimson of her gown moved like wine pouring onto the carpeted flooring. Her jet hair once again sported ruby droplets. A small golden tiara perched atop her head with a single blood-red garnet shimmering at its center.
"Afraid I will prevent a repeat performance if you told me how you accomplished it?" She circled around Cadence, aggression radiating from her that hadn't been present before. Had she controlled her disdain the last time for Gareth's sake?
"Are you so certain I will be rejected twice?"
The queen tossed her head back and laughed, but even that appeared graceful on her. "Sweet findling. Of course you will. Why ever did you believe otherwise? Gareth has moved on, and no one expected you to return."
Cadence's heart sank. "Is he here?"
"No. He's in the White Kingdom for the Festival of Flowers. After which, he's to be married." The queen reached over and stroked her cheek. "Oh, dear. Don't look so crestfallen. These things happen. I let him have his fun the last time because you were nothing but a passing fancy. He's moved on, and it seems you must do the same."
Words were unattainable. Heartbroken, she closed her eyes and fought to hide her pain from the queen. She'd tried so hard to make it back to him, but was too late.
"My guard says you had something important to tell me from your unfortunate journey into the doomed Kingdom of Hearts. What is it? Your gallant effort to return for love is not an emergency. Tragic though it may be." She sounded so broken up about it too.
She'd momentarily forgotten her reason for rushing to see the queen. "Um, I'm not sure how to tell you this, but...there's a Jabberwock on the other side of the wall."
The queen took a step back, and then she snorted. "Very amusing. Gareth slew the Jabberwock. It is the whole reason he's so beloved, you see." She'd spoken distinctly, as though Cadence had difficulty comprehending words.
Though she wanted to cry, she refused to be intimidated by this woman's hostility. She stood up straighter. "There's another."
"You've never seen one. Besides, you reek like someone who has been buried in their cups for days on end. I'm appalled you deign to come
into my kingdom, command to see me, and spread such nonsense of things you do not understand."
What a bitch. "Gareth described it. I smell like this because I had to hide in an empty cask until the damned thing went away."
"You have an overactive imagination, much like that petulant child Alice."
Cadence flinched. Multiple therapists tried to tell her she'd imagined her experience. Now that she was back, she expected people to believe her when she told them the one creature they feared most was roaming around. Furthermore, she was not some adolescent child prancing around exploring. She genuinely wanted to do them a favor by warning them of the Jabberwock. "Whatever. If you don't want to listen, fine. I'll tell the White Queen. I'll have to leave now so I can make it before my time is inevitably up."
"How selfish of you." She moved closer, wrinkling her nose, and spoke in a menacing tone. "This isn't about telling the White Queen about some creature you assume is a Jabberwock. You want to see Gareth, to destroy what dignity he has left. He will marry into my court, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Do you understand?"
Even though the words stung, Cadence didn't let her expression portray it. Besides, she'd made one minor slip. She'd said Gareth had moved on, but if he wasn't married yet, there was still hope. Suddenly some of the pain lessened. "It's not about him. It was when I arrived yesterday, but that was before I saw the Jabberwock. My entire day has been spent trying to reach you, not him." She made to brush past the queen, but the woman stalled her. Sharp nails dug into her bicep.
"You need to eat, drink some water, and prepare before journeying to the other kingdom. You look like death."
Gee, thanks for the compliment. However, she couldn't say no to water and food. Nodding, Cadence allowed the queen to escort her to a small table in the far corner of the throne room. A pitcher sat there, and several goblets alongside a tray of cakes.
The Unraveling (Wonderland Book 2) Page 8