by Joyce Lavene
“We’re not going anywhere but to the castle.” He picked me up like I was a rag doll. “At least you’re not. Unless you want to go to the hospital, you have to take it easy the rest of the day.”
I leaned my head against his broad shoulder. “Whatever. I just want to go home.”
“I know. We’ll find you somewhere more permanent soon. In the meantime, you need someone to take care of you.”
It was a nice thought. I closed my eyes and let him carry me without protesting. I was surprised when he put me on the front of the horse and climbed up behind me. The rain had slacked off as we ambled away from the Field of Honor. Chase’s arms were around me. Everything was right in the world.
What I hadn’t counted on was the photo-perfect image we had created for hundreds of visitors. Cameras flashed, and people yelled, “Huzzah!” I kept my eyes closed and ignored them, but I knew it was going to be hard for Chase to do the same. It would only take a few minutes for our pictures to be on the internet.
It created a spectacle. Visitors to the Village loved a romance even more than a fight. They lined up to watch Chase and me ride slowly down the cobblestones. People threw confetti and flowers. It wouldn’t have surprised me if Adventure Land began ordering a couple to do this every day.
Chase rode right up to the castle gate. It was still guarded by Gus Fletcher, the huge, ex-wrestler.
“Hail, Sir Knight!” Gus shouted at Chase. “Looks like you’ve been hunting.”
“Get the door, huh, Gus? I’m taking her inside for the rest of the day.”
“In a very public way, too. I admire your stamina, sir.” Gus saluted him before he opened the door to the castle.
And immediately inside the door stood Isabelle. She was so angry that I thought she might explode.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded. “Why are you bringing her here?”
“Because she has nowhere else to go right now. She can have my room until tomorrow.”
I was between Chase and Isabelle with them talking across me like I was invisible. It was an odd feeling. I wanted to volunteer to leave and get Chase out of this, but a bigger part of me hoped this was the last straw for their relationship. The sooner they broke up, the sooner I could step in and console my husband.
“You forget that you and I share a room.” Isabelle sharply nodded toward me. “She’s not sleeping in my room.”
“And you forget that I have a room of my own here,” he replied. “That’s where I plan to take her.”
He walked by her—it had to be tiring carrying me around.
“You’ll need that room for yourself,” she shouted after him. “You’re not sleeping in my bed tonight, Chase Manhattan!”
I realized as I peeked over Chase’s shoulder that dozens of people had followed us to the castle. They were murmuring to each other and taking pictures. It wasn’t the best publicity, but Adventure Land had a policy that any publicity was better than none.
Gus was laughing as he closed the castle door. I shut my eyes again and sighed.
Isabelle didn’t follow us to Chase’s rooms as I thought she might. He took me to one of the suites used for special visitors to the Village. They weren’t rented and could only be gifted by one of the high-ranking employees of Adventure Land or through an invitation by the king and queen.
“You know I didn’t mean to cause trouble for you.” I sat up as soon as Chase put me on the bed. “I’m okay. Let’s go look for the killer.”
He gently pushed me back on the huge pile of pillows. “Don’t worry about it. Isabelle will get over it. You stay here and rest. I’ll let housekeeping know that you’re here for the day. Let them know if you need anything.”
“Chase—”
“If you don’t rest, I’m personally taking you to the hospital and you can’t squire for me ever again.”
“You already said you have to fire me.”
He glanced at the door to the suite. “Yeah, well maybe that’s not gonna happen now. This might be it for me and Isabelle.”
“I’m sorry. Are you going to take me to the hospital on your horse?”
“No wonder Canyon decided to break up with you,” he growled. “You can be really annoying.”
“I’ve been told. But thanks for this. I promise to stay here in luxury and air conditioning all day and let people wait on me. No problem.”
“I’ll be back later to check on you. No parties or male guests. This is my bed after all.”
He leaned over and carefully kissed my forehead.
I was in heaven as he left me. I sighed and enjoyed my expensive surroundings.
“It’s worked out for the best, as I said.” Starshine was on the bed beside me. “I knew you thought I was crazy, but here you are, in Chase’s bed for the night.”
“Not exactly what I had in mind but better than sleeping at Tony’s place. Thanks for hitting me in the head with the rubber axe.”
She giggled. “Oh, any time, dear. What are fairy godmothers for if not to grant your most important wishes?”
I got up and wandered through the suite that was made up of the huge bedroom, a sitting room, and a luxurious bathroom. My clothes were filthy. I stripped them off and decided to take advantage of the enormous marble bathtub before I did anything else. Who knew when I’d have another chance for a real bath?
Housekeeping said they would call Stylish Frocks and have a new costume sent over for me. I also asked for a hot fudge banana split to be delivered in about two hours. It seemed like that would be enough time for me to soak off all the dirt and sand.
Starshine flitted around the suite, turning the television on and off, and looking at herself in the mirrored wall by the bed. Her response to her surroundings would have been something I expected from a child. She even hopped up and down on the bed a few times. At least she was enjoying herself.
In the meantime, my bath was full and scented with jasmine bath salts I’d found near the tub. I gladly removed my squire’s costume and sank into it with a sigh. The hot water made parts of me hurt that I didn’t know were injured. It had been a couple of hard days compared to my soft existence at the Art and Craft Museum. I had been a much younger version of myself when I’d worked at the Field of Honor in my Village. I knew what needed to be done, but my body didn’t like doing it.
I looked in a gilded hand mirror I’d taken from the pink marble cabinet top. My face and the side of my head were already bruised. My hair was full of sand. I slowly sank beneath the water until my whole head was submerged.
I wanted to stay like that longer than I could breathe underwater, but was careful not to make that a wish. I never knew which wishes my fairy godmother was going to grant. I didn’t want to end up with gills or something.
There was a strange sound outside the bathtub. It was almost like the air pump on an aquarium. I shot up out of the water and was face-to-face with Chase.
“Sorry.” He quickly turned away.
I grabbed the only thing I could find close at hand—the mirror—and held it across my chest. The bubbles that had been there were rapidly fading.
“What’s wrong? Did you find the killer already?”
“No. I didn’t even make it out of the castle. Queen Olivia and King Harold are holding a special audience to decide about the two duels. I had to come back for you because you’re the only witness to both of them.”
“Oh.”
“They already left something for you to wear. You’ve got a few minutes to get washed up and dressed before we have to talk to them.” He ran his eyes down my naked body.
I sighed and remembered how much I liked it when he looked at me that way.
Chapter Twelve
“Okay.” I blinked the jasmine bubbles out of my eyes. “I can be ready. No problem.”
I waited for him to leave the bathroom. He didn’t.
My heart did a quick leap. He found me attractive enough to ogle even in this Village. There was hope for us.
I di
d something I would never have done before Chase and I were a couple. I pretended that I didn’t know he was looking and slowly got out of the tub, bubbles and all. I thought his beautiful brown eyes would bug out. It was very gratifying since I felt the same way each time I helped him get ready for the joust.
He mumbled something and quickly left the room. I giggled.
“That’s the spirit,” Starshine said. “Show him what he’s missing. You’re actually much better looking than Isabelle—in a healthier way.”
“I know I’m not a size zero, if that’s what you mean.” I grabbed a large towel from a heated rack and dried off. “I can handle it. I’d look like a freakish skeleton if I weighed what she does. Besides, if I was as skinny as her, my feet would really look big.”
Chase rapped on the door, but didn’t peek again. “Who are you talking to? Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.”
My fairy godmother and I both giggled and then shushed each other. I began to think she was rubbing off on me.
My naked pose against the doorframe between the bathroom and the bedroom was wasted since he was in the sitting room. I sighed as I saw the lovely violet-colored gown spread out on the bed. I thought Portia would send another pair of britches for me. Normally I wouldn’t have cared, but it was possible that Chase and I could have dinner together if Isabelle was true to her word and didn’t want to see him. The gown would be perfect.
I put it on over the clean violet shift that had come with it. It had a deeper neckline than a peasant would wear unless she was trying to attract attention. I left the corset on the bed. I hated those things. The back of the gown had dozens of tiny buttons. I knew I couldn’t reach them. That’s why women who could afford such things during the Renaissance could also afford a lady’s maid.
That didn’t stop me. I walked into the sitting room with the back open to my waist and turned for Chase to button it. We did this at the Dungeon all the time. This was no different in my mind. I hoped it jogged something in him.
“This dress is perfect with your eyes.” He applied his fingers to the buttons. “Sometimes Portia can really do the right thing. I bet if Canyon saw you in this, he’d be sorry you broke up.”
Canyon? Was he really thinking about him as he buttoned my dress? That wouldn’t do.
I slowly pressed myself against him. “Sorry. I kind of lost my balance.”
He put his hands on my waist to steady me. “That’s okay. I hope you don’t have a head injury.”
“I don’t.” I smoothed my hand down the front of my gown as he finished. “I’m fine. How do I look?”
Chase smiled as he took my hand and gallantly kissed it. There was nothing slobbery or too personal about it—he didn’t turn it to kiss the palm as he usually did. But it was still very nice.
“You look beautiful. Are you ready?”
I nodded and stepped into the slippers that went with the gown. I tucked my hand into the crook of Chase’s left arm, and we went to see the king and queen.
The personal quarters of King Harold and Queen Olivia were more elaborate and more expensive than anyplace else in the castle. They had beautiful tapestries on the wall from all over the world, expensive Renaissance paintings, and sumptuous furniture.
The furniture was heavy, Renaissance inspired, and exactly right for the large rooms. The carpets were woven in shades of red and brown and carefully laid across the stone floor. Heavy drapes hung over the windows that overlooked Mirror Lake. On sunny days, the light streamed in, creating shadows and pockets of color around the room.
I knew it well—I’d cleaned it often when I’d worked here.
King Harold was seated in his favorite chair that had large, carved wood arms. He was a little round, but he was every inch a king. Queen Olivia, despite her enormous appetite for men, maintained her slender figure. Her crown was the same size as the king’s. She wouldn’t have it any other way.
Livy and Harry, as they were known in the Village, had been the two top sales people for Adventure Land in their day. They’d been offered this sweet lifestyle for their years of service and lived up to their titles whenever possible.
“Your Majesties.” Chase bowed and addressed them.
“Sir Knight.” King Harold inclined his head, almost losing his crown. “Welcome.”
“Chase!” Queen Olivia giggled almost as much as my fairy godmother. “We are so pleased to see you. We certainly hope your squire is well.”
“She is indeed well, Your Majesty,” Chase said. “May I introduce Lady Jessie Morton?”
“Oh!” She seemed surprised. “We did not know your squire was a lady.”
“Welcome, Lady Jessie.” The king laughed. “I daresay the men on the field had no problem discerning which gender you are.”
I curtsied. I’m very good at the curtsy, having had years to perfect it.
“Thank you for your kind wishes, Queen Olivia—King Harold. How is Princess Pea?”
The king and queen exchanged puzzled glances.
“Is there a princess in this castle with that name?” King Harold asked.
I realized that Harry and Livy hadn’t had a baby yet in this Village. I should have kept my mouth shut or at least not opened it so wide.
“We do not recall any princess by that name.” Queen Olivia glared at me as though she’d realized the mistake I’d made.
“Forgive Lady Jessie,” Chase said. “She suffers from trauma to the head due to her accident this afternoon.”
“Of course.” King Harry was quick to understand. “But let us speak about these coming duels, Sir Knight. It isn’t that we don’t approve a few duels. They are, after all, good for business. The visitors love them. But they must be properly advertised, which is why they must be brought to us for approval.”
“We hear that one of the duels is over your lady love, Chase.” Queen Olivia fluttered her lashes at him. “Perhaps that is the best reason to duel. It is certainly the one most likely to be understood by the crowd. Did someone say something against Princess Isabelle’s honor? You aren’t a man to challenge another lightly.”
“It was not over love, Your Majesty,” Chase said. “The Bailiff laid hands on my squire, Lady Jessie. He was overly familiar with her, and I took umbrage at that since she is my servant.”
Again, the king and queen exchanged what those of us in the Village called their ‘speaking’ looks.
“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, my boy,” King Harry said. “But isn’t Isabelle a bit put out by your duel over the lovely Lady Jessie?”
“We have not spoken of it, sire,” Chase replied. “Princess Isabelle and I are experiencing… other difficulties.”
The queen frowned. “And we were so anticipating a royal wedding soon. There’s nothing like a big wedding to bring in the crowds.”
“By your leave, Majesties,” Chase added. “There has never been talk of marriage between myself and Princess Isabelle.”
Both the royal personages looked disappointed but carried on with their decision-making process.
“And your other duel,” King Harry said. “This is a challenge from Sir Reginald, is that correct?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. He felt that I had dishonored him by leaving the joust before it was finished. I only did so because my squire was injured.”
“It seems to me that Lady Jessie might not be your best choice for a squire,” Livy drawled.
“Perhaps not, Your Majesty,” Chase acknowledged. “But she is my squire and attending to her needs was in no way dishonorable.”
Both the king and queen agreed with that.
“We have made a decision,” King Harold said. “The duel between you and Sir Reginald shall not commence. Our visitors wouldn’t understand honor on the field, I fear.”
“But a matter of the heart is quite another thing,” the queen said.
“Not a matter of the heart,” Chase corrected.
“Yes, yes, I know.
But what do you think the crowd will see with the beautiful Lady Jessie standing at your side as you defend her from the bullying Bailiff? I see wonderful internet headlines.”
“We need at least a week to get word out to all the news sources and properly advertise the event.” The king gestured, and his steward, a dwarf named Marcus Fleck, came forward. “Take care of this, Fleck.”
He nodded, and Chase and I were dismissed from the king and queen’s chamber.
“Sir Reginald isn’t going to like that,” I said.
“Neither is Isabelle,” he replied.
The rain continued drumming on the roof of the castle. From the windows, I could see the drenched and empty Village far below. I wanted to ask Chase if he’d eat dinner with me. But though I’d been bold in the bathroom, the words wouldn’t come. I figured he’d probably take the time to make up with Isabelle.
He walked me back to his room, and we stood outside the door for a few minutes, not saying anything.
“I hope you have somewhere to spend the night,” I finally said. “If not, I’m sure you can find some room here. It’s a big suite. I could sleep on the sofa.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll find a spot in the castle.” He smiled. “Just get some rest. Tomorrow we find the killer.”
I hoped he was right. I was way past ready to go home.
“All right. Well, thanks again for your help. And your room. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay.”
I opened the door to go inside, my heart feeling like lead in my chest.
“Jessie?” He paused.
“Yes?”
“How about dinner tonight?” He glanced at his watch, the one he wasn’t allowed to wear when the Village was open. “In about two hours?”
“That would be great. Thanks.”
“See you later.”
I closed the door behind me after he’d walked away. Starshine was already bouncing on the big bed. I kicked off my shoes and joined her.
“Dinner with Chase!” she yelled. “That’s a great start. Wasn’t it at a dinner here at the castle when you knew you loved him?”