“I don’t know what to do,” he lamented, pacing back and forth. “My father will never believe me, and I can’t tell him about you.”
“Come and eat something. Maybe that will help,” she said, setting their plates down on the table. “This is the last of the chicken, so we’d better enjoy it.”
Colin picked up the piece of fried chicken and took a bite, thinking it tasted even better the second day. “My brother would love this chicken,” he said, remembering how they used to fight over fried chicken when they were kids.
Then it hit him. “My brother,” he said.
“What about your brother?” Darby asked, confused.
“He’ll listen to me,” he said. “He’s never liked Samuel. Tomorrow I’ll go to the castle and talk to him; he’ll help me expose him, and I won’t have to tell him about you.”
He saw the mixture of emotions on Darby’s face and got up from the table, pulled her to her feet, and held her. “I’m sorry, Darby, I wasn’t thinking. If I go back tomorrow, I won’t be able to come back.”
She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly for a long time, then looked up at him. “But we still have tonight,” she said.
He scooped her up in his arms and headed for her bedroom, their dinner forgotten on the table. When they finally emerged from the passion-filled haze, Colin lay with Darby's head on his chest and pictured himself in his own room the next night without her. It was a shock to realize that he hadn’t even thought about going home in days, had in fact gotten used to his life away from the pampering of a royal life.
That was when he began to imagine a Ballentine where it wouldn’t matter if she were common or royal: their love would be all they needed. He drifted off to sleep thinking of life with Darby in it and promised himself that he’d come back for her, even if it meant leaving the crown behind.
He woke before the sun rose, dressed quietly, and slipped out of the farmhouse, afraid that if he had to say goodbye, he’d never leave. Walking through the early dawn, he smelled the lavender in the air and felt a stab of loss, but didn’t stop, instead put one foot in front of the other and pushed on.
The sun was just rising when he got to the gatehouse that protected the royals, and he remembered the day not so long ago he’d snuck through a side gate in humiliation. He felt like a different man today, so he boldly walked up and said, “I’m Prince Colin, and I’d like to go home now.”
The guard, who’d been half asleep, looked at him, then at his clothes, and laughed. “That’s a good one, buddy, but it’s not going to work,” he said. “You’re not the first one to try this crack of dawn thing, and you don’t even look like the prince. I know him, and you aren’t him.”
Colin could only stare at him, his mouth hanging open. “I really am the prince,” he said but with little conviction.
“Get out of here before I call the guards,” the gatekeeper said.
He turned and started back to the farmhouse, wondering if fate was keeping him with Darby, if some power was arranging things so that they stayed together. But he had bigger worries; fate’s interference in his life would have to wait until he’d dealt with Samuel and his treachery.
When he slipped back into bed, Darby opened her eyes, a bit surprised to see him. “I thought you’d be gone by now,” she said, then saw the look on his face and sat up. “What happened?”
He looked over at her, a stab of desire shooting through him at the sight of her rumpled hair and the blanket only covering one breast. “I think someone is keeping us together,” he said, then pulled her underneath him.
They were still trying to catch their breaths much later when Darby said, “You didn’t tell me what happened.”
“They wouldn’t let me in,” he said, grinning at her. “I’m not sure what to do now.”
Darby slid out of bed, taking the sheet with her and wrapping it around her chest. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” she said, crossing the room to the door. “Coffee?
He didn’t answer at first, the beginning of an idea swimming around in his head. Then he sat up in bed and asked, “Do you have a formal gown?”
“Formal? Where are we going?” Darby asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
“To a party,” he said.
***Darby***
Darby wasn’t sure about Colin’s plan and walking up to the boarding house, as they were called in Ballentine, didn’t help her confidence any. “Are you sure about this?” she asked, looking up at the house that was painted a bright shade of pink.
“Relax, they’re not going to try to recruit you,” he said. “They’re just Fae like you.”
“I’ve just never been inside a house like this,” she said, holding back a little.
“It looks just like any other house,” Colin said.
“How do you know Ruby anyway?” she asked, then wished she hadn’t. “Never mind.”
They reached the door, and Colin rang the bell. “It wasn’t Ruby I came here to see,” he said. “And I haven’t been here for a long time.”
Darby knew that she had no right to be jealous, but it flared to life anyway, leaving her slightly cross. When the bell wasn’t answered right away, she tried to pull him off the porch. “I don’t think anyone is home.”
“Just relax, Darby; it’s going to be fine,” he said, pulling her back up next to him.
The door was finally opened by an old woman whose face lit up when she saw Colin. “Prince Colin, what are you doing here? Ms. Ruby’s going to be so happy to see you,” she said. “Come in, come in.”
“Hi, Patrice, is she awake yet?” Colin asked, pushing Darby inside.
“Oh, you brought a guest with you,” Patrice said. “You’re wanting a room then?”
Colin shook his head. “I just need to talk to Ruby, please.”
“A new girl then,” Patrice said, eyeing Darby up and down. “She’s a bit skinny, but she’ll do.”
Darby gasped, shocked that the old woman would think she was here for a job, but Colin put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. “Patrice, we aren’t here for any of those reasons; could you please go get Ms. Ruby?”
Patrice looked back and forth between them several times, then a smile broke on her face. “Now I see how it is,” she said. “I’ll go get Ms. Ruby.”
Only a few minutes later, a beautiful older blonde Fae came sweeping into the room and wrapped her arms around them. Then stood back and looked at Darby. “She’s not what I expected, but it’s about time you grew up, Colin. It is a bit of a shame that she’s not royal; what are you going to do about that? Is that why you’re here to see me?”
Colin laughed, and Darby tried to smile, but the woman had overwhelmed her. “It’s good to see you too, Ruby,” he said. “I am here to get your help, but it’s not quite what you’re thinking.”
Half an hour later, Darby was letting Ruby shove her into another dress, wondering if they’d ever find the right one. She was still wasn’t sure she liked Colin’s plan or if she could pull it off, but she was willing to at least take it this far.
“We’re never going to find a dress that makes me look like a royal,” she said when it took Ruby and Patrice both to strip the last one off.
Ruby threw the dress on the floor and stepped up next to her. “Have you taken a good look at yourself in the mirror? I’ve been watching you Darby, and you have more class and sophistication than most of those women that live on the hill. I can see why Colin fell for you, and let’s not forget that even for a Fae, you’re very beautiful.”
She and Patrice disappeared into the closet again, and she stood staring at her reflection in the mirror, trying to see what Ruby saw. Trying to process the fact that Ruby thought Colin had fallen for her, and what it might mean for their future. But then she heard Ruby’s voice from deep in the closet and shook off the dangerous thoughts.
“I’ve got it. We’ve been looking at this wrong the entire time,” she said, coming out of the closet with a shimmering
white dress in her hands.
Darby couldn’t help but gasp when she saw the glimmering creation and reached out greedily, then put her hands down, afraid to touch it. “Oh, Ruby, I can’t wear that,” she said, noticing the way the older woman was cradling the dress.
Ruby stepped up next to her and held the dress up in front of her, then sighed. “I’ve been holding onto to this for a long time. I always thought I’d have a reason to wear it, but I think I’ve been holding this for you.”
She looked at the dress again, then nodded her head. “But only if you’re sure.”
“Let’s try it on first,” Ruby said, slipping the dress over Darby’s head, then standing back.
Darby gasped at her reflection. “It’s perfect,” she said.
“It was yours all along. I just didn’t know it,” Ruby said, a big smile on her face. She reached up and pulled Darby’s hair away from her neck. “You’ll be the belle of the ball, and Colin won’t know what hit him when he sees you in this dress.”
Her stomach clenched in anticipation, and she wished she could share this night with Fiona, who had always dreamed of being whisked off to the castle with a prince. But then she remembered why they were going to the castle, and the romance of the whole thing disappeared.
“Ruby, what if I can’t do it? What if they recognize Colin before he can get to his brother?” she asked, the weight of what they were doing heavy on her suddenly.
Ruby turned her back to the mirror. “Look at yourself; not only are you smart, but you’re quite beautiful. Have a little faith in yourself and in Colin. Go to that party tonight and be yourself, and for heaven's sake, have some fun.”
Darby turned around and hugged the older woman. “Thank you for helping us and thank you for keeping my secret.”
“No one will ever find out from me that there’s more than Fae blood running through your veins,” Ruby said. “Now, let’s see what we can do about all that hair.”
Chapter Seventeen
***Colin***
Colin waited impatiently for Darby to get to the castle; the mustache glued to his lip itched, and his ridiculous clothes were a size too small. He just wanted to get inside, find his brother, and fade back into the crowd, but from the looks he was getting, that wasn’t going to be easy. Just as he started thinking that Darby had decided not to come after all, he saw a carriage come up the long drive and stepped back up onto the walk.
When the woman stepped down from the carriage, he almost turned away, then realized with a lurch of his stomach that it was Darby. She took a couple of tentative steps toward him, making her dress shimmer in the moonlight, and his mouth watered. Her hair was swept up in a complicated twist, exposing her long neck, and shapely shoulders.
“You look incredible,” he said, swallowing several times when she smiled at him, and her cheeks turned pink.
“Ruby said this was the perfect dress, but...” her words were cut off when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
When he let her go, she was a little wobbly on her feet, but he tucked her arm into his and said, “Now we’re ready,” then led her up the stairs.
She held her head high as if she marched into the castle every day, flicked her cape at the servant that greeted them, then began to chatter at him. “Oh, darling, look: they’ve redone the entryway. I wonder what else has changed. We really shouldn’t have stayed away for so long.”
Colin wanted to burst out laughing, but instead, he led them down a long hallway lined with servants to the main ballroom. “It won’t be very crowded in there, but don’t let yourself get separated from me,” he whispered as they walked through the big doors.
No one seemed to notice them as they skirted the edges of the room; even in the crazy disguise, Colin blended in with the rest of the guests, some dressed even more elaborately than he was. He scanned the crowd as they made their way around clusters of chatting people, holding on to Darby’s hand as tightly as he could.
Then he spotted his brother by the bar on the other side of the room, and he abruptly changed direction, pulling Darby onto the crowded dance floor. “He’s over by the bar,” he whispered.
They danced their way across the floor, then slipped back into the crowd and made their way over to where Jamison was standing talking to another man. Colin slipped up next to him, waited for the other man to leave, then held out his hand and said. “I’m Colonel Forkington. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
His brother's eyes got big. He studied Colin for a second, then he pulled him away from the bar. “Let’s find someplace private to talk.”
Colin nodded and followed his brother out the back door to the ballroom and down the hallway to a small library where they used to play as boys. As soon as the door was shut and locked behind them, he turned on Colin.
“What are you doing here dressed like that? Is this another one of your games? Because Mom and Dad aren’t going to be happy when they find out that you’re here,” he said. “Do you have any idea how mad they were after Samuel showed them the bill the hotel sent over here?”
“I had to sneak in here because the guards won’t let me in,” Colin said, then realized what his brother had said. “Wait, what hotel bill?”
“The one you racked up at the hotel,” Jamison said. “Dad said that he’s never letting you come home after he saw it.”
Colin groaned. “Jamison, I haven’t been at the hotel; go into town and ask them,” he said. “Samuel is lying, and I know why.”
“Don’t try to drag me into the mess you’ve made,” Jamison said. “I don’t want any part of it.”
He looked at his brother, then played the only card he had. “Jamison, have I ever lied to you?”
That froze his brother for a second. “No, you haven’t,” he finally said.
“Then sit down and listen to me,” Colin said.
His brother looked at him skeptically but walked across the room and sat down in a chair by the fireplace. Colin followed him, pulling Darby along behind him, and Jamison noticed her for the first time. He watched Colin settle her into a chair, then raised his eyebrows at Colin.
“This is Darby; we’ll get to her part in all this in a second,” he said, smiling at her and stroking her cheek before sitting down across from his brother.
His brother’s eyes were wide, shifting from between Colin and Darby, but he didn’t say anything. “Colin, what’s going on? You’re starting to scare me,” Jamison said.
“You won’t be scared when you hear what’s been going on in Ballentine right under our noses,” Colin said. “First of all, I haven’t been at the hotel. I’ve been staying outside of town with Darby. She saved my life after I got stabbed with a knife that was cursed with black magic.”
Disbelief appeared on Jamison’s face. “That sounds like a good story, but I’d rather hear the truth,” he said.
Colin pulled up his sleeve and showed him the scar on his arm. “Is that enough proof for you? I think that’s going to be there for the rest of my life.”
Darby nodded. “It won’t ever go away,” she said.
Jamison looked over at Darby, his eyes narrowed in distrust. “If she healed you, that means…”
Colin waved his hand in the air. “That isn’t what matters right now,” he said. “What matters is that Samuel is a traitor; he’s working with the Unseelie.”
Jamison opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Do you have proof?” he asked.
“Not yet; that’s why we came to you,” Colin said.
“You’d better explain,” Jamison said, still looking at Darby suspiciously.
***Darby***
Darby felt the hot sting of Jamison’s eyes on her as Colin told his tale and couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to believe him. Their story sounded too fantastic to be real, especially when Colin glossed over how she’d been able to cure him, but she’d made him promise that he wouldn’t tell anyone the truth. The fact that she only had a little magic in her blood and far more Fae wo
uldn’t save her if the truth got out.
When Colin fell silent, Jamison got up and paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, glancing again and again at both of them. “So, you want me to believe that our father’s most trusted advisor is really working for the Unseelie, making way for them to capture Ballentine? That’s a stretch, Colin.”
“I know it sounds unbelievable, but there’s more that you don’t know,” Colin said, getting to his feet and making his brother stop pacing. “Did you know that today, instead of helping people clean up after the storm, the guards were out taking all their food? Did you know that there are places in our perfect little town where magic and evil are given free rein? How do you think I got this?”
Darby wanted to jump in, wanted to tell him what it was really like to live in Ballentine, but she knew that this time, it wasn’t her fight. Jamison turned and walked away from him again, weighing his words, then turned back and looked at Colin for a long time.
“What happened to you out there? I’ve never heard you talk like this. It’s like you’re a different person,” he finally said.
Colin looked over at Darby. “I found someone who managed to get it through my thick head that there is an entire town full of people who spend their lives working so I can live like this,” he said. “I found someone who showed me that a hard day’s work can feel better than anything else in the world—well almost anything.”
Darby felt her cheeks turning pink, but she held Colin’s gaze, smiling because he was a much different man than the one who’d demanded that she change his sheets every day. But the sound of Jamison clearing his throat broke the spell between them, and she looked down into her lap, her heart pounding, butterflies in her stomach. The love that she’d seen in Colin’s eyes in those brief few moments filled her with hope and scared her at the same time.
“I just don’t know, Colin; this is a lot for me to handle right now. There’s a party going on out there, and I’m supposed to be there. Someone is going to notice if I’m gone any longer,” he said.
The Fae Prince: (Fae of Ballantine) Page 10