by Jenni James
“’Tis what I thought as well.” Aleck lowered his voice. “Even the king did not believe it was truly happening until just a little bit ago.” He shifted on the chair. “Princess Cascadia had a pure look of fright about her when she told me. I believe her word for word. Something is happening to those girls, and no one knows what.”
“Is that why the king is sending out the proclamation?” Mother asked quietly as she brought the freshly made teapot over and sat down.
“Yes. He needs help and is asking for anyone he can get to solve the mystery for him.”
Rebecca let out a low whistle. “Will there be a reward?”
“Yes. The greatest reward I have ever heard of.” He leaned in. “Whoever can figure out how the girls are dancing and what is happening to them will receive one of the princesses to wed.”
Mother dropped her cup, spilling tea all over the table.
Rebecca quickly jumped to fetch a towel to mop up the mess.
“Mother, are you well?” Aleck asked.
She took the cloth from Rebecca and began to wipe at the tea. “Promise me you will not try to solve the mystery,” she said, her gaze avoiding his.
“Why? For I have already promised Princess Cascadia I would. But it—”
Her eyes snapped to his. “No. You did not.”
“I did.”
She searched his gaze a moment and then closed her eyes. “You mean the princess asked you to try to solve the mystery?”
“Yes.”
“She asked you because she is hoping you will decipher it.”
“Yes. But even though I promised I would, I was going to tell her I changed my mind today and I cannot do it.”
Mother nodded as she placed her elbows on the table and her face in her hands. The tea-soaked towel hung limply from her fingers.
“Mother, what is it?” he asked.
“You are in love with her, are you not?” she mumbled into her hands.
“Quite possibly,” he answered truthfully.
He thought he heard her utter a small moan before sitting up right again. “Very well,” she said. “Very well. Then you must do so. You must go to that castle and solve the riddle prior to any of the other men.”
“It is too risky, and I could lose my place as a gardener if I was not able to perform my duties. Staying up all night trying to solve this, I would not be fit to be seen, let alone work.”
Rebecca clutched his hand. “But you must, Aleck. If she has asked you to do so, you must try.”
“If I lose work as the gardener, what happens to us?” He shook his head. “No. Even if we had the money to spare, there is no guarantee I would be able to sort through the mystery before anyone else. It would be madness to attempt it.”
Rebecca released his hand and sat up, a mischievous smile making its way across her lips. “But what if we can guarantee you are the only one who cracks the mystery?”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Yes, Rebecca, that look on your face quite frightens me,” Mother said.
“It frightens me too.” Aleck chuckled. “It was just the sort of look she had when we were little, before we would get up to no good.”
Rebecca folded her arms. “I start working for Hattie tomorrow.”
“Go on,” he said.
“The only way to break an enchantment is with an enchantment. Everyone knows that. So, if I were to find a way—through Hattie’s expertise, of course—to allow you to have an advantage over the other men who attempt this thing, then I believe you may actually stand a chance to solve it and win the hand of the princess.”
Could she be right? It was almost worth trying, if he had a bit of his own magic on his side. “You are brilliant.” Aleck laughed.
“No. I think the word you meant was genius, for I have always been just that.”
Mother pushed up from the table in a rush, collecting all of their cups as she did so. “Time to get those children out of bed—and you off to the castle. It is ten to seven as it is.”
He glanced at the old clock upon the mantle. “Good gracious, it is.” Quickly he stood up and gave his sister a kiss on the cheek, and then his mother. “I will have to come back and plant the bulbs later today, then.”
His mother shooed him away. “Never you mind. I can plant them just the same as anybody. Now go, and win the heart of your princess.” She bit her lip and glanced away from him.
“What is it?” he whispered.
“’Tis nothing.” She pushed him to the door. “Now go. I will give the children their treats as well. Go.”
“Yes. And I will let you know soon what Hattie says,” called Rebecca.
There was nothing else for it. He had to get to the castle; there was no time to lose. With another quick kiss on his mother’s cheek, he ran down the steps and up the lane. His heart pounded as he attempted to balance the odd feeling of dread and excitement looming within him.
CHAPTER SIX
CASEY WANDERED INTO HER father’s study, but he was not there. She debated waiting for him, but quickly dismissed the thought. Who knew how long he would be away? If he was out with kingdom business, it could be hours before he was back again.
But she wanted to talk to him now, or soon. The past three days, he could not be found anywhere near the palace. There would be times since their mother died when he would disappear, never bothering to tell his daughters where he was going or for how long. It was quite irksome.
Frustrated, she walked around the large desk and plopped onto his sturdy, high-backed leather chair. When she was a girl, she used to sneak in here constantly and sit upon his seat, waiting for him. She leaned over and pulled a few drawers open at random, just seeing if things had changed any since the last time she had poked around. There were his writing quills and papers, ledgers, wax and seals, just as always. Several notes and miscellaneous documents were settled within another drawer. Reaching up, she pulled open the smaller top drawer and found a letter inside.
Curious, she brought it out. It was from her aunt, Lady Daphne.
My Dearest King Reginald—
My dear brother, it has come to our attention that something strange has been happening with our daughters, and we wonder if perhaps you have heard of such a thing before, or if you could advise us on what to do. We are quite distraught over the matter. It would seem our three girls have been suffering an ill-fated dancing lesson of sorts each night when we retire for the evening. They have no recollection of such incidents—only their tired feet and tattered shoes are left for evidence. Indeed, we fear greatly for their safety and—
Casey gasped as the note flittered from her hands. She and her sisters were not the only ones going through such a fate! Their cousins were, too. How odd. What was happening? Her father must have gone to them immediately to see how best he could be of assistance. No wonder he was not anywhere to be found.
She quickly picked up the letter and placed it back within the drawer where she had found it, then rushed out into the sunshine. After a few moments, she found Aleck bent over in the south garden, pruning the lower parts of the hedge. His shears were snipping away in an expert rhythm. She was about to step forward and announce her presence when two other gardeners made their way over to him. Glancing around, she realized he was working on the large hedge with these men.
Silently, she stepped back and took a path away from the trio, hoping they did not see her. Since a few days ago when Aleck warned her, she had been careful not to come too near.
Except now she needed to speak to him. Now more than ever, she wanted to discuss her fears with someone. She quietly made her way several paces around the corner to a worn stone bench. She sighed as she sat down and pulled her feet up under her.
Who would be doing this to them all? And why go after her cousins as well? Oddly enough, it gave a small comfort to know she and her sisters were not the only ones in the midst of such odd occurrences. But it also made things more and more curious, for what was to gain by havi
ng princesses dance about at night?
Was this some sort of cruel jest? An amusement to treat the girls as puppets? Her heart clenched and she wiggled her sore toes within her walking boots. She and her sisters needed help. They needed a miracle. Someone must be able to get to the bottom of such a thing. Someone other than her father, who had spent nearly a week attempting to solve it himself. No, they needed someone who could think above the enchantment they were put under to unravel it.
She needed Aleck.
And why him?
Casey fiddled with the skirts of her dress for a moment. What was it that drew her to the gardener to begin with? It made no sense. None of her other sisters even looked his way. True, he was handsome and young, but what was it that actually interested her? Why did her heart flutter so much just knowing he was near?
She adjusted herself more comfortably on the bench and leaned back. Her mind wandered through several little memories of him. The way the sun glinted off his hair. The way his smile started at one corner of his mouth and slowly widened. He really was quite striking.
She thought of the times she had watched him rush to help another worker whose load was too heavy and about to topple over. Or fetch and carry for the older serving women. How many times had she seen him stop what he was doing to help the younger lads with their chores so they would not lose their positions at the castle?
She grinned.
He was always thinking of someone else. Quick to think of their comfort before his own. Perhaps that is what it was. She saw the goodness in him and knew if he ever fell in love, that woman would be very lucky, indeed. He would treat her as if she were royalty, for it was how he treated everyone.
Also, if she were honest with herself, she knew it was his attention to another’s suffering, and looking beyond what others did, that made her believe in his ability to solve her own problems. She grinned again. Or maybe it was just the prize of winning him that made her wish he could do so. Whatever it was, she prayed it would be him who solved it.
“Hello there.”
Aleck’s deep voice caused her to jump slightly, but it was more from awareness and happiness than being startled out of her reverie.
She glanced up and smiled. “You came.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“OF COURSE I CAME,” Aleck said. “When I noticed your distressed look, I wanted to leave my post immediately and come to your aid. Forgive me for not being able to sooner.”
Her heart leapt at his frankness. “I did not know you saw me. Could you truly tell I was upset?”
“Most definitely.”
She stared into his deep gray eyes and allowed the soft feeling of warmth to weave over her entire being.
“Though, you do not seem too overly troubled at the moment.” He grinned charmingly.
She blushed and looked away. “It is only because you are here now.”
He sat down on the bench with her. “Are you going to leave me in suspense, or will you tell me what is wrong?”
She glanced over at him and searched his features. How to begin? “I was poking around my father’s study and found a letter from my aunt, Lady Daphne of Carisbrooke Park. She has asked for my father’s help. It would seem her daughters are experiencing a similar phenomenon. They wake up each morning to their shoes in tatters and their feet worn and swollen.”
“You are jesting.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I wish I were. I believe my father left to investigate as soon as he received the missive a few days ago.”
“You suppose that is where he is?”
“Yes. Though, I am not sure. I did not even know he was gone until just now.”
“You are not certain? Does he not tell you when he is about to go somewhere? Say farewell to his daughters?”
Ha. If only their family was as close as that. “Royal families are not knit as tightly as normal ones. I can go days without ever seeing my father and wonder if perhaps he has taken a trip, only to find he has been home the whole time.”
“What?” He looked shocked. “How can that be? I do not live at home, but I am aware of everything that happens within my house—all of my brothers’ and sisters’ doings, my mother’s, everyone. Mother will be certain to send me word if she travels, even on a short day trip to see her sister or one of her friends.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
How odd. How would it be to be constantly apprised of the whereabouts of her siblings and father? “Has your family always done so, or is this a new habit since you lost your father?”
He chuckled. “Always. This is not new at all. Are you certain you will go days without seeing him? And you live under the same roof?”
“Well, it is a big house.” She grinned when he rolled his eyes. And then she pursed her lips together. Was it wrong that her father would prefer to take his dinner in the study than interrupt his work to eat with his daughters?
It was all she had ever known. After her mother passed away, she talked to Nurse or the governess most. Now that she was older, she usually received her information of the castle goings-on from one of the maids, or Hull, the butler. Rarely did she think to trouble her father for much. She would sometimes wander into the king’s study and chatter away with him for a while. But all in all, they kept mainly to themselves. The girls played and helped each other, and her father ran the kingdom.
But with the scariness of the past several weeks and the ruined slippers, her father had become more involved. At first it was all due to the amount of money he was spending by having new slippers made each day. Now, thank goodness, it was because he was worried for them. He was finally more concerned about their plight than just the amount it was costing him.
“So your cousins are suffering the same odd nightly occurrences?” Aleck asked. “You are sure?”
Oh, goodness! She was so lost in thought she had nearly forgotten he was there. “Quite. My aunt described what was happening to her daughters, and word for word, it is what we are experiencing. It is baffling, really.”
“It is.” He leaned forward and rubbed his chin. “If such a thing is going on with Lady Daphne’s family, we must presume it is occurring with others as well. Perhaps even in several kingdoms.”
She gasped. “Do you believe so?”
He shrugged. “Why not?”
“I assumed it had something to do with our families being linked together.”
“Perhaps that is all it is, but until we know for sure, we should be willing to explore all possibilities.”
She stared at him in amazement, her eyes tracing his strong fingers as they stroked his jaw.
“In fact, it would make sense,” he continued. “If there were others who experienced this sort of phenomenon, they would have more dancers.”
She must not be following him. “I beg your pardon?”
“Right now, we know of two royal families whose daughters are suffering this same way. But what if there are more?” He sat up and looked at her. “What if there are royal families of sons, as well?”
“As if we are attending a ball of some kind? And dancing with partners and not just on our own?”
He nodded. “Precisely.”
“Oh, my word. I had not thought of such a thing. Actually dancing with people I may know.”
“Men’s shoes are sturdier than your silly scraps of cloth and ribbon you call dancing slippers. So if they had no recollection of dancing, chances are they would not have noticed the wear on their evening shoes for some time.”
She gasped. “It makes sense.”
“It makes the most sense yet. Why would anyone target just your family? No, it is more probable that they are enchanting all the royal children above a certain age—those who were old enough to attend a ball.”
“And we have been dancing in our sleep together.”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
He shook his head. “I do not know. Why would anyone wish to hurt you like this? Mentally or
physically.” He glanced at her feet.
“Perhaps they did not think we would ever find out. They didn’t realize our shoes and feet would reveal what had happened.”
“Perhaps.” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I do believe you may be right. With the enchantment such as it is, I would assume the culprits were hoping to do this without anyone being the wiser. Hence the reason why you have no recollection of anything.”
“Are you still certain you wish to attempt to solve this mystery?”
His gaze locked with hers. “If all the royal children are under the same spell, as we think they might be, it will be a little difficult for any prince to be awake enough to solve it.”
“I did not think of that. In other words—”
“In other words,” he said, “I may just be the only one who could.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
LATER THAT NIGHT, ALECK lay awake on his bed, his mind whirling over this great puzzle. It was one of his worst flaws; he simply could not sleep when he was trying to figure something out.
Assuming he was correct, and indeed someone was disturbing the royal children in their sleep, the largest question was why? What was the motive for doing such a thing? Forcing children to dance while they slept did not seem to be a practical enchantment on the surface. There must be something much greater that he was missing. If only he could pinpoint what, then the answer to who was behind it all would reveal itself.
Ugh. He punched his pillow and rolled over.
Sleep. Just sleep. Soon enough, the answers would come on their own. He knew this from past experience, but still, his mind continued to roam.
He was most plagued by his mother’s odd answers the other day. Did she know more than she was letting on? And was she somehow connected to this all? It did not make sense. He was extremely close to her and he could not believe she was mixed up with shady characters who would do something like this. For if she was involved, he was certain she was not working alone.