The Order of the Eternal Sun

by Jessica Leake

  “It was my pleasure. Shall we return to our makeshift ballroom? Perhaps more gentlemen have arrived. I invited a dear friend of ours, Lord Richard Borough, who is quite a bit older than you, but he’s always a delight to talk to, and I understand he’ll be bringing a dear friend of his own.”

  “I do enjoy someone with the gift of conversation,” I say, though my mind is still occupied with trying to convince myself Wallace isn’t stalking me. “I hope you’ll introduce us.”

  “Of course,” she says, leading me back to the ballroom. “Oh, it seems they’ve already arrived. Richard!”

  A tall, blond gentleman turns toward us at Lady Sotheby’s call, but it’s his friend beside him who makes my mouth go suddenly dry.

  “Claire, wonderful to see you again,” Richard says, and Lady Sotheby leans in to give him a kiss on either cheek.

  “Richard, you must meet the Honorable Lucy Sinclair,” Lady Sotheby says, turning to indicate me, but I can hardly tear my gaze away from Lord Alexander. “Miss Sinclair, may I introduce you to Lord Richard Borough?”

  “How do you do,” I say automatically, even as my heart races.

  Richard turns to introduce us to Alexander, who smiles cautiously at me.

  I stare shamelessly into Alexander’s eyes and let him take my hand in his in greeting. Was it he who was watching us in the library? But almost immediately I dismiss the idea. The man I saw was far larger.

  “So this is the lovely debutante you told me of, Alexander,” Richard says with a warm smile. “My dear Miss Sinclair, I’m very glad to make your acquaintance.”

  “Heavens,” Lady Sotheby says with raised eyebrows, “you already know each other? What a lark!”

  “They know each other well enough for Alexander to talk of nothing else,” Richard says.

  I blush as a burst of surprised pleasure races through me, and I try to dampen my body’s response. It cannot be merely coincidence that both Alexander and Wallace are here in Bath. Alexander’s smile widens—he at least seems unembarrassed by his friend’s admission.

  “Might I have the next dance?” Alexander asks.

  “That would be lovely,” I say. As fate would have it, one dance ends and the next begins—a waltz.

  Gloved hand in his, we begin the dance, and I stare at him, so dashing in his white tie and black tailcoat. I pray that my suspicions are wrong.

  “I’m surprised to see you in Bath,” I say finally, forcing myself to stop staring and act halfway intelligent.

  “You must think me terribly forward, but I confess it was all rather innocent—an invitation from Richard to stay at his townhouse.” He leans close. “Though I would be lying if I said knowing you were here didn’t factor into my decision.”

  I smile weakly. My emotions war with one another: logically, it isn’t a good sign that Alexander has showed up unannounced and unexpected when Wallace has done the same. What it means, though, is beyond me. And yet, I feel myself being pulled toward Alexander, like he is the moon and I am the tide … no matter how much I should guard my heart.

  In the end, caution will win out. I didn’t almost watch my sister lose her life to a member of the Order not to have learned that not everyone can be trusted.

  “I’ve upset you,” he says after a moment.

  My gaze jumps to his. “Oh, no. At least, not in the way you think. It’s only just …” I stop myself, weighing the consequences of telling him about Wallace. In the end, I want to see his reaction. “Do you know that gentleman we came across in the National Gallery—Lord Wallace, I believe?”

  His whole body stiffens. “How could I forget?”

  “Yes, well, I’ve seen him, and it’s just that—”

  Alexander abruptly stops dancing. “Here?” His gaze sweeps the room.

  I give him a little tug to continue dancing, and he does so, thankfully. The last thing I need is to draw Colin’s attention—or worse, James’s. “Not here—at least, I don’t think so—but in town. At the Royal Baths, in fact.” The wary look on his face is enough to confirm my own fears, so I begin babbling. “We were there for a tour, and he rather made an impression on me—it was the intensity in his eyes, I think—so when I caught a glimpse of him, I was sure it was him, though I couldn’t see his eyes—he was across the pool from where I stood.”

  “Lucy, I can’t explain right now, but would you believe me if I said he was dangerous?”

  My heartbeat thunders in my ears. “Yes.”

  “What did you mean by you didn’t think you saw him here?”

  “I thought I saw someone watching Lady Sotheby and me when we were in her library, but I’m sure it was nothing,” I hasten to add when his face stills. “Another guest, perhaps … or a footman.”

  He looks as unconvinced as I feel. “And your sister and brother-in-law, have you told them anything?”

  I shake my head. “What would I tell them? I hardly know myself.”

  “You should stay close to them—don’t go off on your own, even if you have your friend with you.”

  “You’re frightening me.”

  “Forgive me, I don’t mean to. I only want to impart to you how dire the situation is. I’d like to explain, if only we could steal a moment alone—”

  The waltz ends then, and we both hear approaching footsteps. Fully expecting Colin, I glance up at James in surprise.

  “You aren’t upsetting my sister-in-law, I hope?” James asks with deceptive lightness to his tone. His eyes, however, say something altogether different.

  “James, don’t be silly.” I inwardly curse my expressive face. “We were only talking.”

  “That’s not what it looked like to me,” James says, his tone inching closer toward belligerent.

  I glare daggers at James, wondering why the Thornewood men have to be so overbearing. Alexander, however, looks entirely unaffected by James’s threatening behavior. “I would never intentionally upset Lucy.”

  “But you managed to anyway.” James turns to me, giving Alexander the cut. “Will you dance the next dance with me?”

  “No,” I say, feeling a rush of satisfaction at the surprise on James’s face. “Not after such bullying. Alexander and I have more to discuss.”

  “It’s fine, Lucy,” Alexander says. “Another dance with me is against the rules anyway, yes? I will seek out that painting you mentioned in the library and find you before the evening is over.”

  He gives James a cold once-over and then turns and walks away. Stiffly, I move into position for another waltz with my new partner.

  “Why must you treat him so unkindly?” I ask the moment we are out of earshot of the other dancers. This time I school my features to have an outwardly polite smile, else I will quickly earn the reputation of being foul-tempered with all my dance partners. “You say it is not because of his background, but I cannot see why else you would take such an instant dislike to a perfect stranger.”

  “You cannot?” James says with a snort. “Because he’s an arrogant prig, and he was clearly telling you something distressing. What could he have said during an innocent dance that could upset you so? More importantly, why is he here?”

  My temper flares. “He’s here because he’s free to do as he wishes.”

  “Lucy, do not be coy. It doesn’t suit you.”

  My eyes narrow, and my face flushes. “You needn’t dress me down like I’m a child. I hardly think you need to be privy to our conversation.”

  He glances away like I slapped him, and I hate the resulting guilt. “You may be right, but you cannot deny it’s suspicious that a man none of us have even heard of turns up at not only your invitation-only debutante ball, but in Bath of all places.”

  His words resonate within me like the tolling of distant bells. They are my own thoughts, but I’m too angry to concede. “He had an invitation to my ball—”

  “His father’s.”

  “He still had an invitation, and his friend, who is well known to our hostess, invited him to Bath. Coincidenc
es, all.”

  “Hm. And he wasn’t aware you’d be in Bath?” I fall silent, and he nods. “Will you tell them, or should I?”

  I know he’s right, and knowing it causes frustrated tears to prick my eyes. I can only imagine what Colin and Papa’s reactions will be. Forbidding me to see Alexander again—at least until Colin can have his man investigate him—is a given, but I fear Colin will decide my whole Season has proven to be too great a risk.

  “I’ll speak to Wren tonight,” I say tightly. “If you’ll kindly refrain from speaking to your brother, I would appreciate it.”

  “Please don’t be cross. I only want to look out for you.”

  Thankfully, the dance comes to an end, and I pull away from him angrily. “And what makes you think I cannot look after myself?”

  I turn and stride away before he can answer, but not before his expression of surprised hurt embeds itself in my heart.

  FIFTEEN

  IN the motorcar on the way back to the townhouse, Wren can sense my stormcloud of a mood, but she is careful not to say anything to Colin. Instead, she uses our silent code: a subtle tilt of her head, eyebrows raised in question. I nod once to tell her we need to speak later.

  “I’m embarrassed to say I’m still hungry,” Wren announces. “Lucy, darling, will you keep me company while I have some tea when we return?”

  “Of course,” I murmur, my gaze sliding to my brother-in-law’s face. He seems faintly amused, but says nothing. James and Rob are, thankfully, in the other motor, so I don’t have to endure any of James’s knowing looks—at least until we arrive home. I’ve had quite enough of them both since they refused to leave my side at the ball, preventing Alexander from talking to me further.

  The motor rolls to a stop, and the chauffeur hurries around to open our door.

  “I’m rather tired this evening,” Colin says as we make our way toward the house. “Would you mind terribly, my love, if I turned in?”

  “Not if you don’t mind that I will be taking tea with Lucy in the library,” Wren replies as the butler takes our wraps.

  He shakes his head and gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Good night, then,” he says.

  We watch him walk up the stairs for a moment, and then Wren turns to me and loops her arm through mine. “Shall we talk?”

  “I think we’d better.”

  “Hale, could you have tea brought to us in the library?”

  “Yes, my lady,” he says.

  The fire in the library is still crackling cheerfully when we enter—no doubt Papa has only just gone to bed. I have that bone weariness that only comes from a night spent on my feet, but my mind is too agitated to relax. Instead, I stand before the fire.

  Wren crosses the room to the chair closest to me and sits. “Will you tell me what has you so overwrought?”

  “It’s probably nothing, but I thought you should know. Also, James has threatened to tell you if I don’t—not that I wouldn’t have told you, of course …” I take a steadying breath. My words always tumble out of me erratically when I’m agitated. “When I accompanied Alexander to the National Gallery, a man interrupted us there—a hulking, intimidating sort of man. He made a sort of veiled threat toward Alexander and seemed to be much too interested in me, but he left soon afterward. The trouble is … I saw him here. In Bath.”

  Wren’s face stills. Before she can respond, Hale enters with tea.

  He must sense the tension in the room, for he sets the tray down and quietly leaves.

  “When did you see him?” Wren asks, her voice deceptively calm.

  I shift from foot to foot. “At the Roman Baths. And perhaps … perhaps tonight at the ball. But I’m not at all sure about that, so—”

  “Lucy! Why did you not tell me?”

  “Because I didn’t want to upset you over nothing—I only had suspicions. I still only have suspicions. It’s only that Alexander confirmed them tonight.”

  She wraps her hands around her still-full tea cup, her eyes sad. “It pains me to say this, darling, but I have my doubts about Alexander as well. I know you found him intriguing. It’s only that his appearance here, and his connection to this man you speak of, is suspicious. We cannot be too careful, after all. I learned that particular lesson for us both.”

  My first reaction is to deny that Alexander could be anything like the man who nearly ruined Wren, but of course I don’t know that—not for sure. I can’t know anything for sure. And Grandmother had said I would be in danger….

  “You’re right—I will endeavor to be more careful. Truly.”

  “I know you will,” Wren says with a kind smile. “So what shall we do about this? The moment I tell Colin, he will whisk you away to the country and keep you under lock and key—the Season be damned.”

  I meet her gaze. “I think I should try to contact Grandmother again.”

  Her eyes narrow. “I trust you mean our Sylvan grandmother.”

  “Yes, of course. It’s only that … you had Mama’s guidance during your debut, and I know Grandmother could do the same for me.”

  “I don’t suppose the Roman Baths helped influence your decision.”

  “It may have, though I’m not saying I should do anything so drastic as crossing over.” Not yet anyway.

  She looks at me sharply. “You think it was a portal?”

  “I only know that we both felt the arcana, but of course I couldn’t say for sure—it was something else I wanted to ask Grandmother.”

  “Lucy, your talk of portals and crossing over is making me nervous.” Before I can protest, she holds up a hand. “But I agree with you. You should reach out to Grandmother and see what she has to say. Perhaps she will know just how much danger you face, and we can respond accordingly.”

  My shoulders relax with relief. I don’t know why I thought she’d fight me on it. “You won’t tell Colin?”

  “Not yet, but I won’t be able to keep it from him forever. I have a condition, though. I’d like to be with you when you draw the runes. It’d make me feel better to know I was there if you needed me—if anything should go wrong. Even spiritually crossing over has consequences.”

  “That’s a condition easily met. Thank you, Wren. Are you up for it tonight? I don’t want to waste any time.”

  “Yes, but we should let Emily and Devi help us prepare for bed first—then we can be sure we won’t be interrupted.”

  We make our way upstairs after ringing for our maids, and dread weighs my every step. What will Grandmother say about Alexander?

  If he isn’t to be trusted … I almost can’t bear to know.

  Dressed in satin nightgowns and robes, our hair loosely tied back, we sit cross-legged on the floor just as we used to as girls. To avoid waking Colin—or alerting him if he is awake—Devi helped Wren change in my room. Wren and Colin have never even entertained the idea of separate sleeping arrangements, and to their credit, none of the servants blinked an eye about it. It makes me smile whenever I think of it, though, not only because it’s terribly romantic, but because of how horrified it would make Grandmama. How Wren would love to shock her.

  I’m glad I had the forethought to bring some of my drawings—including the one of the Himalayas. Fitting, it would seem, since I am hoping Grandmother will enlighten me as to Alexander’s true character.

  All that’s needed now is a fresh rune. I draw it carefully, a rune of my own creation. It is a combination of the swirling eye that means “homeland” and the tipped hourglass that means “portal.” I’ve practiced drawing them so many times that I make the marks in just a few motions.

  “There will come a time when I can bring you along,” I say, more as a promise to us both. I cannot shake the feeling of guilt that I will be able to see Sylvania and our grandmother again without Wren.

  She smiles beatifically. “Have no care for me in that regard, Lucy. Was it not I who was able to read our mother’s journal entries? It’s only fair that you should be privy to a piece of Mama’s legacy.”

&n
bsp; “How do you always know the very thing to say that will make me feel better?”

  “Because I’m your elder sister, and it’s my job. Now hurry up and touch your finger to that rune. I’m exhausted already.”

  I take a deep breath and do exactly as she suggests.

  The first moment in Sylvania is always the hardest. Along with the out-of-body experience, I am thrust into a beautifully alien world, and my senses are pulled in so many different directions: the fairy-tale loveliness of the trees, the glimpses of creatures so much like our own deer and squirrels and hares, and yet so much more, the awesome sight of the city of Cascadia down below.

  I follow the little trail of stones the fox—no, Rowen, I remind myself—showed me before. I scan the line of trees as I walk, searching for a glimpse of white. Before long, the wind picks up, and the trees around me murmur, adding a music of their own.

  Half-princess, one says, and the word travels from tree to tree, until they all repeat it.

  Seeks the Queen’s aid.

  This message travels, carried on the breeze. I pause in wonder to watch them, to turn that word over and over: half-princess. How could that be when my mother was effectively exiled?

  I continue on the path, wondering if it will be Rowen who will find me first or Grandmother. I have no doubt they know I’m here, but my stomach twists as I fret whether or not they will come quickly.

  I reach the top of the trail that overlooks the city, glittering against the backdrop of the mountains. The roar of the waterfalls is loud, even at this distance, and I can only imagine the sound up close.

  All the hairs on my arms stand on end, and I look to the sky. A fiery bird soars through the clouds, its red and gold wings cutting through the mist. It is much bigger than I remember from my first visit, and for a moment, I’m struck with a douse of cold fear.

  Suppose this isn’t Serafino at all?

  But then I see a truly amazing sight: an equally fiery-haired woman upon the bird’s back. Her golden gown trails behind them as the bird banks and begins its descent toward me. He hovers in the air a few feet away, his powerful wings beating the wind into a frenzy.