“That he might come back?” Hector guessed and Penny’s heart jumped at hearing her biggest dread articulated. She nodded again, hanging her head.
“You must think I’m such a coward, letting a silly thing like this reduce me to such a mess…” Penny whispered, trying to bridle in her emotions, wanting to keep everything inside, safe and hidden. When she chanced a look at Hector, he shook his head. They shared a long gaze in which Penny realized he understood her irrationality and emotional scars more than she could ever know. For a brief moment she felt she could grasp at the aching misery that lay behind his unguarded gaze, but then it slipped from her fingers like grains of sand, falling back into darkness.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before? This is―”
“I know!” Penny cut him off, feeling foolish. “I know it could be relevant to why this is happening to me, or important information otherwise. I just didn’t really feel―”
Hector interrupted her admittance with a vehement shake of his head. “I was going to say it’s not something you should have to deal with by yourself,” he said, his comforting words ringing in her ears. Penny had never felt so vulnerable and her heart pattered away like a runaway train. She found she could not look at Hector until he made a small movement toward her.
Her eyes fixed on his face in exhilarated nervousness as he reached toward her. For a moment she thought he was trying to embrace her and her heart leapt straight into her throat, but instead he placed a hand on either side of her head, covering her ears. Frozen in confusion, Penny stayed still until she heard and felt the crackle of magic. It flared around her ears for a short moment and died away, like a sparkler going out. Hector withdrew his hands and gave her the smallest of smiles. She blinked.
“Wh-what did you just do?” she patted her ears to make sure they were still attached to her head. Nothing felt out of the ordinary. Hector stood up briskly from the bed.
“I made it so you won’t be able to hear the thunder tonight―but it will only last until morning. Let me know if you need it again, it’s no trouble,” Hector told her, crossing his arms over his chest. Overjoyed, Penny was at a loss for words. Hector laughed at her stunned expression.
“Thank you for telling me, Penelope. It was…it…well, you know,” he finished with a gesture of his hands. She smiled, pretending she understood what he meant, too overwhelmed by emotions to do much else.
Hector coughed, looking shy. “Get some sleep. The ball will be here quicker than you know it. Goodnight.”
Penny sat in silence for a moment after he left, then realized she had not spoken her gratitude. “Thank you! Thanks, Hector!” she shouted at the wall, hoping he heard her. There was no reply, but she was sure he must’ve heard. It was quiet now and the sound of the rain had become less menacing. Penny stared out the window at the midnight blue smears of water that rippled down the window. When a flash of light came, only a small shiver of fear licked at her heart.
The castle looked like a mirage shimmering through the light drizzle that hung like a diaphanous curtain in the air. The tops of the trees were frosted with moisture, glinting in the lights streaming from the castle and its magnificent gardens. One by one the carriages rolled up to the gates, all number of strange feet clicking, padding, and plodding over the rain-slicked road. Above a patchwork of clouds cluttered an otherwise brilliant purple, star-speckled sky.
Annette was breathless with excitement. “Ooh, the decorations are phenomenal this year! Time to go, time to go!” she trilled, clapping her hands.
Annette led them down the winding garden path, pointing out a collection of fine topiaries, elegant fountains, and carved statues of mythic maidens and beasts of legend. Tiny glowing insects trapped in crystal orbs hung from the limbs of trees, hid in bushes, and floated on the surface of the fountain’s water.
The castle entrance was a yellow-orange mouth, radiating warmth and cheerful voices. Two more guards stood in front of the behemoth doors, and when Annette curtsied to them, they escorted the entire party inside the castle without needing to check the guest list. Penny detected a hint of excitement in the guard’s eyes.
“Right this way, if you please…” The second man bowed and led the group up an indigo carpeted staircase and down a cavernous hall toward the ballroom.
The ballroom was ablaze with spinning and glittering movement. Diamonds and emeralds adorned noble ladies, shining like they each contained a galaxy of their own. The entire dizzy scene was lit by a gargantuan chandelier that hung above like a spider made from thousands of pieces of ice. Tantalizing smells of the rich buffet hit, the prepared food so enticing it alone could have served as decoration. Girls in white dresses drifted by like merry ghosts, weaving between the cloth-covered tables sprinkled with a variety of regal centerpieces. They entered with their escort, who cleared his throat to address the crowd, many of whom stopped dancing to see who had arrived.
“Miss Annette Deveaux, Master Gavin Deveaux and entourage,” the man proclaimed, bowed again, and departed. Penny felt very small watching Annette and Gavin take their respectful bows to thunderous applause.
Sifting into the crowd, Annette greeted all the important party guests with formal exuberance. Hector and Gavin drifted away to find somewhere less chaotic, while an uncomfortable Penny and Simon hung around Annette as she socialized with various leaders of provinces. Not ten minutes into the party, Penny noticed Simon had his eyes set on two identical young women. Forgetting his duty, he trailed after them. Penny watched him go, inadvertently catching the glances of a group of goblins huddling near the corner of the ballroom as they glared about at the partygoers. Looking far less intimidating was a crimson dragon with cobalt hair and eyes, socializing with other party guests. Penny stared at his ruby-bright scales as he popped a pofflin leg in its mouth as if it were a malt-ball.
“I think that’s Ambassador Farful. He’s been working to better the way dragons are treated in the Nation of Men…things are still tense, even though the Dragon Wars ended a century ago,” Annette whispered, and led Penny off on a tour of the room, pointing out some of the more prestigious guests in the crowd, including brilliant scholars of magic, mechanists, scientists, famous artists, crafters, and historians. Annette tried to locate the representative from Trulle, the capital city of therion Nation, but she could not.
“Therios aren’t usually ones to rub shoulders with humans, and even though many of them are invited to the ball every year, their representative rarely shows up. Oh, look there! That’s Cardinal Rhea!” Annette hissed, pointing across the room. Penny caught a quick glimpse of a woman in a long cloak wearing a metal blinder over her eyes and a silver headdress over her inferno of wild red hair. She remembered Madam Elise speaking about this woman and tried to get a better look at the Cardinal, the leader of the priestesses.
“Funny…she rarely leaves the Grand Cathedral. Still no sight of the king, either…or Deimos…” Annette mused.
“Maybe we should meet up with the others,” Penny suggested, spotting the top of Gavin’s head and working her way through the thick crowd to his table. Simon was also sitting at the table with the twins, a dashing smile on his face as he performed little tricks with the help of his magic wand. Hector was eyeing him with distaste from across the table.
The moment Penny and Annette sat down, the twins erupted in a chorus of squeaky giggles as Simon produced a bouquet of roses and irises from within his cloak for each of them. Penny wondered if they were in fact laughing because he was performing everyday magic under the pretense that they were fantastic wonders, but decided not to say anything. Their enthusiasm died when they noticed Annette, and Penny watched in amusement as they gaped at the famous actress. Annette broke the awkward silence and introduced herself. Penny shot a glance toward Hector, who gave her a tired smile. She was about to speak when a cold, satiny voice crept up behind them.
“Why, Nettie. You decided to come after all!” the voice cried.
An electric shock went through
Penny. Valentine leaned against the back of a chair, clad in a scanty black silk dress that displayed most of her ample bosom. Penny felt magic being sucked from her body and saw from the color running out of Simon’s face that Hector had drawn some from him as well. Gavin narrowed his eyes at Valentine, a protective scowl on his impeccable face. When it became apparent Annette wasn’t going to reply, Valentine looked over Gavin’s effeminate ensemble with a raised eyebrow.
“My, aren’t you brash, Nettie. Showing up to a distinguished event with your manservant looking like such a joke. There is a dress code, you know…or does fashion confuse you as much as your own gender issues, darling?” Valentine taunted as Gavin blanched and cast his eyes away. Annette was on her feet in an instant.
“How dare you…” she hissed in a low voice, so as not to disrupt the cheerful spirits around her. “Get out of my sight this instant or I promise you I’ll find a way to have you thrown out. And I think you of all people wouldn’t want to be embarrassed in front of all of Iverton again, am I right?”
Valentine took a lazy puff of her scented cigarette and blew a cloud of purple smoke in Annette’s face. Penny saw her eyes water, but Annette’s face remained locked in the same fierce scowl. Valentine shrugged, turning tail but still looking back. “As you command, princess...” She flipped her hair and sauntered off to mingle with the crowd.
Annette collapsed back in her chair, still livid. An intense silence floated over the table for a minute or so after Valentine had gone.
“I should’ve…I can’t believe she’d even―” Annette snarled, but Gavin held up his hand.
“Oh, Nettie, dear. Don’t give a second thought to a trollop like her. She parades around with the vile arrogance of high society and has none of the importance to match,” he scoffed with an unfazed grin. Despite his attempts to comfort her, Annette remained reticent.
“Miss Annette, please. Whatever you do, don’t antagonize her. Remember…” Hector warned, and she nodded, understanding his unspoken meaning. Simon looked between the twins, who both seemed uncomfortable, and stood up, taking each one by the hand.
“Come with me, ladies. Let’s go get some drinks, hmm?” He led them away, moving an arm around each of their slender waists as they made for the bar.
Annette frowned. “Some bodyguard he is,” she drawled. She remained sullen until a young man with wavy locks of golden hair slid up to the table. Annette squealed with delight as others swarmed them. Penny recognized the group as the cast of Anthony Adonis and listened as they chattered away about the ball and the latest scandals between mutual friends. After a short time, Annette’s male co-lead, Fredrick, cocked his head to the side.
“Come on, love, let’s go greet the others, hmm?” Fredrick smiled and an energetic Annette stood up and grabbed Gavin by the hand, stopping to address Penny.
“You don’t have to follow us around now if you don’t want to. She won’t dare try anything while we’re all in the open―she’s too crafty for that.” Annette waved and joined the rest of the cast. Though Penny had no interest in shadowing Annette while she gabbed with the egotistical actors who fawned over her, it still stung a bit to be dismissed. After half an hour of watching Annette from a distance, Hector rose.
“Where are you going?” Penny asked in surprise.
“To find something sugary and smothered in whipped cream,” Hector said, and she followed.
Penny lingered behind Hector as he selected several sweets from the spread on a table. Near the buffet a disgruntled-looking man barked orders at his underlings, instructing how to set up the plates of food.
“Do you think Deimos will dare to show his face?” Penny wondered aloud as they returned to the table.
“I’ll bet he’s here somewhere. I doubt Valentine has the wherewithal to abduct Annette on her own, but still, keep your eyes open, Penelope,” Hector advised as he chewed his éclair. Simon returned to the table, a dejected look on his face and a glass filled with amber liquid and ice in his hand. Penny knew better than to ask what had happened.
A loud fanfare of music blasted over the chattering of the partygoers. Penny watched the crowd shift away from the center of the ballroom and she tried to peer over heads to see what was happening. Somewhere, an official-sounding voice roared over the crowd.
“Esteemed guests, please enjoy this rendition of the Filleniese Waltz, demonstrated by His Majesty the King and Cardinal Rhea.” Music soared from the live string quartet in the far corner of the ballroom. Penny caught flashes of Cardinal Rhea’s flaming mane of red hair through the gaps in the crowd, but little else. The joyful tune was short, and the crowd erupted into thunderous applause as it ended, breaking ranks and milling toward the dance floor.
Simon sprang up from his chair as the music started again and charged toward Penny, his hands outstretched. Her heart sank, knowing what he wanted.
“Penelope…dear, sweet Penelope…might I have this dance?” He swept her hand from her side and held it in a delicate grasp. She pretended to laugh, feeling her chest tighten as she thought of an excuse.
“I’m really not much of a dancer. Besides, don’t you want to ask Annette to dance before that Fredrick guy does?” Penny jerked her head in the direction of man who’d played Anthony Adonis, pleased at her own quick thinking.
Simon’s eyes flickered, and he nodded with resolve. “Wish me luck!” he said, cutting through the crowd, bumping into people left and right without apologizing as he made a beeline for Annette.
Penny’s eyes turned to the dance floor, where couples draped in jewels and fine fabrics twirled and laughed as they spun to the beat of another lively waltz. They all looked so carefree, fluttering about as light as if they drifted on balmy gusts of wind. Maddie had tried to educate Penny in the art of dance since the early days of their friendship, but Penny had never been coordinated enough to succeed. She felt a hand on her bare shoulder and jerked around to see Annette looking at her, breathless and stunned. Penny surged to her feet, ready to strike.
“What happened? What do you need? Where’s Deimos?” Penny grasped her by the arms and looked her over, and Annette’s face melted into a smile. She giggled a little and shook her head.
“Sorry I scared you! It’s nothing important, but Simon’s asked me to dance and―”
“Of course you said no?” Penny finished for her and was dumbstruck when Annette shook her head.
“I wouldn’t refuse a dance to a friend! I just don’t want to go up there alone with him, you know? People will start stupid rumors...if we all go together it’ll be easier,” Annette urged and Penny’s stomach twisted. She had known from the first mention of the ball that this was bound to happen.
“Ah, um…I can’t. I’ll look like an idiot up there without a partner.”
Annette huffed and looked around the room for someone; spotting Hector sitting by himself, she gasped as if experiencing a small epiphany.
“Dance with Hector. Go on, ask him.” Annette pushed her toward the table where Hector picked at a slice of cake. Penny tried to dig her heels into the ground, protesting that this wasn’t the solution she had in mind. Penny fought her until Annette called out for Hector to come join them.
He rose and trudged over, looking suave in his new suit. Penny whispered one last plea, but Annette would have none of it. Hector stepped up and stood in front of Annette, awaiting orders. Annette slunk behind Penny and gave her a hard push. Penny could feel her cheeks burning and cursed Annette.
“Hector! Penny wants to dance with you, but she’s too shy to ask!” Annette sang. Penny looked at her in horror, feeling humiliated even as she caught Hector’s surprised expression out of the corner of her eye.
“Beg pardon?” he stammered.
Annette beckoned to Simon to come join her as the song came to an end and the couples on the dance floor bowed and curtsied. Simon floated up, took Annette’s hand, and the two of them stepped onto the dance floor. He appeared quite happy with all the pairs of eyes now glued to the
m. Penny thought she could see Valentine sneering and was caught off guard when Hector touched her elbow. She shivered and shook her head.
“Oh, no, no! Annette was just being silly― I―” she tried to protest, but when she caught sight of Hector’s smile the words died in her throat.
“Humor me?” Hector requested, taking her by the hand and drawing her toward Annette and Simon.
Penny let herself be pulled along, giving one last excuse. “But I honestly can’t dance! I’m not trying to be modest, or―”
“Good thing I’ll be leading then,” he teased with a hint of a smile as they took their place beside Annette and Simon.
The music started, and Hector led Penny around in perfect time, his hands clutching her waist. She had trouble fitting her hands around his high shoulders and strained to make herself taller. He led her through the complicated movements, laughing at Penny’s lack of finesse. She rudely instructed him to shut up, which only made him laugh harder. He looked at her and smiled.
“You’re wearing that thing I bought you,” he observed, eying the star-shaped barrette that had turned a periwinkle blue to match Penny’s gown. Penny was surprised he had noticed. They danced in silence for a while, and as she got used to being swept around, Penny had to admit there was something enjoyable about the twirling of a waltz.
“Tell me, how does a humble professor know how to dance so well?” she teased, but her question held genuine curiosity. He grinned and leaned closer to her ear.
“That, my good lady, is a secret,” he whispered and spun her, making Penny feel even dizzier. His answer aggravated Penny, but she lost her burst of annoyance when he dipped her effortlessly.
In the final moments of the lilting tune, Hector drew Penny close, until her face was up against the folds of his shirt. Penny could clearly hear his heart pounding an irregular beat in his chest. She realized with a start that Hector was probably just as nervous as she was and for whatever reason, this relaxed her. She shut her eyes, feeling his arms poised on her waist as the song slowed. Penny inhaled, discovering that Hector smelled very nice, like sweet cedar pines and freshly done laundry. Without her permission, a rose-colored feeling swept through her, both wonderful and terrifying. They broke apart as the song faded, Penny’s heart feeling like it was galloping away faster than she could follow.
The Angel of Elydria (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 1) Page 22