As he came within arm’s reach, her hand stretched out, and touched the scar on his face. It went from his eye down to nearly his jaw. He was fortunate that he still had his sight. The gentle touch of her fingers reminded him of when she’d asked about it while they were at luncheon the day before.
He could tell that many wanted to ask, but Thea had been the one to speak to him about it. When she asked, he felt conversation around him still.
“A sword to the face? How is that possible?” Her hands flew up, reflexively seeking to protect herself from even the thought.
“I turned the wrong way,” he said with a grin. “Didn’t get my sword up fast enough, and caught a blow to the face for my troubles. It looks worse than it is. My pride in my pretty face took the biggest hit.” He smiled even more widely. “Never fear, Princess. I can see you just fine.”
He recalled that she had laughed. There was none of that humor visible now. How could he be so angry, yet so drawn to her? It made no sense.
With his anger came thoughts of blame. While he shouldn’t be doing this, she had even less reason, and no excuse.
“Who are you?” She whispered.
He cocked his head. Her question made no sense, so he ignored it. He crossed his arms, and set his path. “So, my lady, what would your Prince Sebastian think? You are still betrothed, are you not?” It wasn’t really fair to taunt her like this, but she was still betrothed. And he wanted to wound her.
She gasped. Her eyes went wide again, and then narrowed. He could see the lines of anger settle upon her. Good.
“He would be most offended that you dared to touch me.” He marveled at the hauteur in her tone. She fell back on her upbringing easily.
“And Casimir? That was his name, wasn’t it? That other prince? Did he not foolishly declare for you as well?”
Her face flamed red, and then just as quickly, the color drained from her. She pushed herself off the door. The fury radiated off her like rays from the sun. “Do not dare to speak his name! You are not fit! He was the sort of man you will never understand and certainly never be!” He thought he could see the sheen of tears in her eyes.
“Oh, I am so very sorry, my lady.” He bowed low, a mockery of manners. “Was Casimir also aware of your jewelry with hidden secrets?”
He took a step back as she advanced. “You know nothing of Prince Casimir. He was a finer man on his worst day than you will ever be. Do not dare to speak to me of him, not ever again. You’re not fit to say his name!”
With those words, she burst into tears, turning towards the door of his room, and covering her face, sobbing.
Hadden stood, watching her. He felt ashamed. Angry though he was, he’d been insulting, and now she was huddled against the door, crying her eyes out.
He grew alarmed as she sank to the floor, still crying.
Words tumbled out. “He didn’t know! He didn’t know anything! No one knows anything, no one can ever know! Only…only…” she sobbed harder, her words stopping. “It’s my fault. Everything is my fault! Ulric, Archibald, Casimir! When will this end?” She covered her face with her hands.
Without warning, her tears stopped. She looked up at him, horror on her face.
He squared his shoulders. There was nothing to be done. He needed to face this, face her, and get through it. “You owe me the truth, my lady. How many men will it take? How many have to die for you?”
“You have no right to speak to me so. I cannot tell you anything. If there is a secret, you must discover it for yourself. I must now ask you to leave me.”
He nodded. “Gladly.” He knew he was being rude, but he couldn’t help it.
She gave him the barest of nods, and turned away.
“You’re dangerous to me, Princess.”
“What?” She turned back to him.
“I must keep my wits about me to puzzle out the truth of this place. You addle my wits. But I will speak this to you, speak truthfully, and then I shall not speak of it again.”
“Of course.” He could see she didn’t understand what he was talking about.
“I enjoyed kissing you. I’d probably enjoy it again.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked from the solarium to the main door, exiting quickly. He didn’t want to hear what she might say.
Hadden collapsed against the door after he closed it. He felt as though he’d just come out of a hard battle.
He knew she was poisoning him. Well, trying to. He was sure, after they had spoken, that she had done the same for all the other poor bastards who’d made this trip before him. But her conversation with the woman last night showed him it was not her desire. Her breakdown showed him that she was not happy about it, and if he guessed, carried the weight of their deaths as a personal failure. That didn’t lend itself to the idea that she was a murderess, gleefully plotting the deaths of these men. Or his death. It still didn’t negate the fact she was still doing it. He remembered what he’d heard last night. She believed her sisters were in danger. That’s what she’d told Adelaide. That she wasn’t willing to risk any of them.
He shook his head. He’d suspected that there was more to this than met the eye, but this was ridiculous. He had to sort through it, however, as it was his life on the line.
He had to separate thoughts of this from kissing her. He hadn’t planned on that. Once underway, he couldn’t imagine not kissing her. He had to win this. He had to be able to kiss her again.
Would he want to choose her should—when—he won? He didn’t know. But a woman who stirred such emotion was worth another kiss, another opportunity to explore. Even if she was toting poison in her jewelry. From here on out, he’d pretend to ignore her fiddling with the pendant.
Then he would see what he could. See if they disappeared again like they had last night. Parts of last night seemed a dream. He needed to make sure that it was not, and that he could deliver his proof to the king.
He was exhausted, but he had to return. All he wanted was to go back to where she was, hold her in his arms, and kiss her again.
***
He avoided her the rest of the day. He went back to the gardens, and Sebastian wasted no time in cornering him.
“Well?”
“I thank you for allowing me to speak with her,” he gritted through his teeth. “The lady and I are not in agreement over the matter I brought to her.”
“What did you speak of, Sir Hadden?” Sebastian sounded angry.
“My lord, as a matter of honor, I cannot tell you. As I warned you, she probably will not be happy with me. But I have done no harm to her.” If you didn’t count kissing her most intimately, he thought. No need to tell Sebastian that.
Sebastian glared, but when Hadden didn’t speak again, he turned away.
Thea didn’t return to the gardens. That was fine with him. His feelings towards her were too unsettled.
At dinner, he was between Emaline and Adelaide. Thea sat on the other side of the king, next to Sebastian. She didn’t look at him, not once. It bothered him, although he couldn’t tell why.
His thoughts went over their kiss again and again. He’d never kissed any other woman that way, not ever. He certainly had never been bold enough to touch a woman along her neck. He felt his face flush at the thought. At that moment, he hadn’t given one fig for what was appropriate. All he’d cared about was the woman in his arms, and how he could get closer to her.
Which didn’t seem likely to happen, given her avoidance of even looking at him tonight.
He went to his room after eating. He was truly tired, but more than that, he was unsettled. He paced around his room, restless, and irritated.
Roysten came in. “Why are you not down in the hall? There are musicians tonight.”
“I am poor company. You’re free to go. I’ll try to sleep some. I want to follow them again tonight, and I am already short on sleep.”
Roysten shook his head. “Suit yourself.” He went to the door. “Send for me if you wish to come down,” he s
aid, as he opened the door and walked out.
Once Roysten had left, Hadden threw himself onto his bed. He hadn’t planned to have actual feelings for any of these girls!
A soft knock at his door drew him from his thoughts.
“Enter,” he called out.
The door opened slowly, and a head entered first, followed by the person of Thea. He sat up, alarmed. He wasn’t sure he wanted to see her just now.
“My lady, this is most irregular. What can I do for you?”
Her eyes were troubled as she came towards his bed. “I wanted to apologize. I had no right to strike you this afternoon. It was poorly done of me, and I ask your forgiveness.”
To her credit, she truly looked sorry. He sighed. “My lady, I meant what I said earlier. I do not apologize for kissing you. For speaking openly, I apologize for not being as kind as I ought to have. As for your apology, there is no need. You behaved as a lady taken by surprised. There is nothing to forgive.”
Actually, her slapping him had stirred his blood as much as her kiss. He wasn’t going to tell her that, though. He’d get slapped again, and probably deservedly so. It was unfortunate that this princess raised high emotion in him in a way her sisters did not. He knew this because he’d been trying to stir something up with the rest of her sisters all afternoon. While pretty and charming, none of them, damn them, had the attraction for him that Thea did.
He got out of bed. “You have me at a disadvantage, my lady. If that is all, I suggest you leave. It wouldn’t do for either of us to be found here.”
Whatever she’d been expecting, that hadn’t been it. He could see that in the way her shoulders drooped. She didn’t argue with him, though. She walked quickly to the door.
“My lady, wait, if you please.” He came up behind her just as she reached the door itself.
“Yes?” She looked over her shoulder.
“You…you must keep your spirits up,” he said. That wasn’t what he wanted to say, but he’d changed his mind at the last moment. “I appreciate your words.”
She looked at him silently for what seemed a long time. “Have we never met before? There are things about you that…” Now it was she who didn’t finish her sentence.
“I can assure you, my lady, we have not met before this.” He smiled at her, wanting nothing more than anything to pull her to him and kiss her again. Why did she have this effect on him? It was maddening. A few moments around her and he couldn’t think clearly.
She smiled, and slipped out the door. Once it closed behind her, he frowned. What was that about?
He could turn this over in his head until he went mad, and still wouldn’t have an answer. Better to get some sleep before tonight. He still hadn’t figured out why he had been awake and Roysten had not.
He got back into bed, and willed his mind to be still.
***
When he woke, the candle near his bed guttered. He threw back the coverlets. “Roys?” He called.
Roysten’s head popped out from his side chamber. “You rang, oh noble knight?”
Hadden looked at him. His face was red, and he looked more cheerful than usual. “You’re drunk,” he said.
“I’ve been extremely social,” Roysten corrected. “Thought you’d might like to know, your lady is all deep in thought. She sat at the table and barely spoke a word. Her beloved, however, is another story. He was most attentive to the Lady Adelaide, and Thea didn’t seem bothered one whit. There’s much speculation over the matter, although most seem to think Sebastian won’t give up the crown.” He hiccupped.
“Well done! What else?”
“They think you’ve been poisoned and that’s why you kept to your rooms today. Something to consider for tomorrow.”
“It depends on how long the revelry lasts tonight,” said Hadden. “Go to bed. I’m going to lay down again.”
“Gladly” said Roysten. “This information gathering is hard business.” His head disappeared, and Hadden could hear him fall onto his bed. Looked like he’d be solo this evening regardless of whether he could wake Roysten. Probably better, with the amount of ale Roysten had consumed. He didn’t often see his friend drunk. He’d lie down for a bit longer and wait to see if any of the princesses peeked in as they had last night. He took up the cloak, and put it in the wardrobe. He didn’t want anyone else picking it up. Not even Roysten.
When he opened his eyes, Roysten was shaking him. “What? Is it time to follow them?”
“What are you talking about? It’s morning, Hadden. Do you mean to tell me you didn’t follow them last night?”
Hadden sat up, panic setting in. “No! I lay down, as it was still early, and the next thing I knew, you were waking me up. Why did I not wake last night? Did you wake at all?
Roysten shook his head. “No. I had far more ale than I ought to have last night.”
“You did, but I doubt it would have mattered. You didn’t awake even when I tried two nights ago. I can’t believe I didn’t wake up.”
“There’s some sort of magic that sets over the place,” said Roysten. “I’ve never stayed asleep through someone waking me.”
“Surely you didn’t have too much ale that night as well?” Hadden teased. He was upset he’d not been able to follow the princesses, but he knew where they went, at least. He was not completely at a loss in terms of solving the mystery.
“I had but a glass or two!” Roysten protested. “We need to see what was different about two nights ago compared to last night.”
“Your ale consumption,” shot back Hadden. Roysten glared at him. “All right, all right, let’s go back through both nights. Can you have some breakfast sent up for us? I don’t want to try to field the hall this morning.”
Roysten went out of the room, and was back within minutes. “Done,” he said. “More questions about your health, but I assured them you were well and hale, and chose to eat in chambers before committing the entire day to the pleasure of the ladies.”
“Did you really spout such tripe?” Hadden rolled his eyes.
“Something like,” Roysten said, laughing. “Got away, and got breakfast coming so it worked.”
“Something was different last night. We just have to decipher what it was,” said Hadden. “Let’s go through the first night. What did we do?”
“Took the wine from Princess Perch,” said Roysten. Now it was Hadden’s turn to glare. “We dumped half of it, and went to bed.”
“What did you do when you went to bed?”
“What I normally do. Set out what I needed for the next day, looked over what you needed, and took off my boots and hose.”
“I did the same.”
“What did you do with the cloak?” Roysten asked. “I’ve yet to see it.”
“It’s right here,” Hadden said, going to the wardrobe. “I put it in here last night—” He stopped. “Wait. Wait. The first night, I put the cloak on before getting into bed. That must be it. The cloak renders the wearer invisible. If there is a spell, as you suspect, then maybe it kept the spell from working against me?” He looked at Roysten, who shrugged.
“It’s a good as a guess as any,” he said. “Wear it tonight.”
Further conversation halted for the arrival of breakfast. They fell on the tray like wolves. Once they were finished, Hadden picked up the conversation.
“You really believe it’s that simple? I’m having a hard time accepting it.”
“What’s the only thing you’ve done differently from your nightly routine?” Roysten didn’t appear as bothered. “Outside of the massive amounts of sorcery and enchantment, which I wish we were not meddling with, that is.”
“We’d have no chance if it weren’t for this sorcery and enchantment.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Fair enough.”
“Finish up. You need to go out and be social and we’ll test your theory tonight.”
Hadden nodded. He finished eating, and then Roysten helped him to get ready. H
e ventured out to meet up with all twelve of the princesses. As Roysten had told him regarding last night, Sebastian paid lip service to Thea. He offered his arm to Adelaide all afternoon, along with Thea.
Hadden stayed close to Thea, picking up where Sebastian fell down. Once or twice, Sebastian shot him a grateful look.
Hadden was happy to be close to Thea, although he had no idea what they spoke of. There was a walk through the grounds, and then a picnic on the far lawn, and the pins were brought out for bowls. His thoughts kept returning to what lay ahead.
By the time everyone returned to the castle, he had no patience for further dancing attendance. He excused himself and made his way to his room, asking a passing footman to bring him a tray.
He ate in silence, wondering where Roysten was. His continued solitude, although self-imposed, irritated him greatly. When Roysten finally returned, he was in a towering temper.
Which wasn’t fair, but he shoved that thought away.
“Been out drinking again?”
“Not at all. Been talking and listening. The entire court thinks you’re sick and is sure that tomorrow will be the end of you.”
“Is that all? They thought that from the moment I stepped forward.” He tossed the apple core he’d been eating onto the tray.
“It’s also been noticed that you have spent more time with the Crown Princess than anyone else, and all are wondering what magic Thea has to keep drawing the suitors to herself. Surprisingly, none of this talk comes from her sisters. They all seem most concerned for her.”
“They told you that?” Hadden lost some of his anger in surprise.
“No, fool. I was being helpful fetching and carrying. I heard them. I told you, I’m no more than a wall to most of this court.”
“This is it tonight. I’m going to go alone.”
“The hell you are.” Roysten glared.
“The cloak isn’t big enough to cover both of us. But what we’ll do is both get into my bed, and I’ll cover us both with the cloak. Then, when I follow the princesses, I want you to look around. Aren’t there attendants in their rooms? Where are they when all this goes on? See if everyone else is sleeping so deeply they can’t be woken. And Roys,” he said. “If you hear the princesses come back in and I am not in within a few minutes, make a fuss. Go looking for me. I don’t want to get trapped below.” He couldn’t explain the horror he felt at the idea. “It’s not easy to keep up with them without being noticed.”
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