To her surprise, a fair number of her sisters were smiling and nodding.
“You knew? This is not a surprise to you?”
Celestria smiled. “It was very obvious when the two of you were near one another.”
Esmay nodded. “And the pair of you trying so hard to pretend otherwise!” She and Celestria laughed, with Serafina joining in.
“I didn’t see that!” Isobel interjected angrily. “I didn’t see it at all, and if his attentions to me are any indications, it was a fleeting emotion.”
Thea could see that in spite of the angry words, Isobel was hurt. “I am sorry to say this to you, Isobel.”
“Well, you can’t have him. You’re betrothed to Sebastian. That means Casimir is free to make a choice elsewhere.”
“Indeed he is.” She replied calmly. Thea wanted to shout back, tell Isobel that Casimir didn’t think the betrothal was the end of their hopes, but Isobel was already angry enough. Enflaming her sister more would not be productive.
“The night of the ball, he and I met after I spoke with Father. I was taken by surprise by the announcement, as was Casimir. We had things to...discuss.”
“You snuck away? After Father betrothed you? Are you mad?” Adelaide finally spoke. “What if someone had caught you? Did you think at all, Thea?”
“Someone did. An old woman.” Every one of her sisters gasped. They all knew the manner in which this offense would be viewed.
“She taunted me, although she did not seem as harsh with Casimir. I was frightened. I am afraid I did not take a kind view of her behavior and told her so.”
“That did not go over well, did it?” Adelaide asked.
“Not at all. Without warning, I fell when a bright light, like a thousand candles, flashed in front of me. When I stood up I was not in the woods—”
“You went out of the castle to the woods?” Mirabelle was horrified.
“I know, I know!” Having started, Thea was impatient to get it all out. “I did not make the wisest of choices. The point is, I ended up in a room, a stone tower is what it looked like. There was a woman there. Maybe Mother and Father’s age. Pretty, but...not at all nice.”
“How so?” Asked Celestria.
“She told me I was not good enough for Casimir. That like my father before me, I was selfish and spoiled, and I would hurt him by continuing to associate with him.”
“On what basis would she say such things?” Emaline asked. “How dare she call Father and you such?”
“She was most insistent that our characters were as she saw them.” Thea pursed her lips. “There was no speaking to her, no reasoning with her. She told me I needed to cast aside the poor behavior I had grown up with and give up Casimir.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That I would make decisions that were best for me, and the interference of someone like her, someone so wholly unconnected to me or our family, would have no bearing on my choices.”
Thea sighed. “It was not well done on my part. I admit I was angry and scared. When she realized I was not going to be moved by her, she told me that my selfishness, just as my father’s before me, would be my undoing, and that I had laid a curse upon myself.”
She could see the questions forming, but held up a hand. “I asked what sort of curse, and she just laughed and said that I’d see. Then she told me I ought to keep this information to myself. And that she felt certain I wouldn’t, but she was warning me anyway.”
She stopped speaking.
“Then what?” Angharad asked.
“I was back in the forest again with Casimir and the old woman. It was as though I had never gone anywhere and had merely tripped and fallen.”
“I am not seeing the connection,” Esmay said slowly.
“When I awoke this morning, I had been dreaming about dancing in a hall and walking through a forest that glittered. I’ve dreamed it the past three nights. Each time, I wake feeling frightened and afraid to move. When I finally moved, I saw that I wore one of my ballroom slippers, and my toe was bleeding. The toe and heel of the slipper was worn completely through! After the dream, I was so frightened. I started to scream, and Archibald came in. In my haste, I blurted out that I had been cursed. You saw the rest. I told about the curse, and he died within moments of me saying something.”
No one spoke. When the silence stretched on, Thea spoke again. She could not stand it.
“I think our dreams are the curse. When I spoke of it, I as good as signed Archibald’s death warrant. Am I correct that we have all been dreaming of a hall and woods and dancing?”
Nods all around. Thea looked around. She could see the sun through the windows of the solarium. The day had moved past midday.
“Then this is your fault.” Of course. Isobel.
“I think so, and then I am not so sure.” Thea worked to remain calm.
“How is it anything but your fault? You are greedy and selfish, Thea. It’s not enough that you will be the queen of two great kingdoms, and Father has secured a good man for you. Now you must hold the heart of another and bring this sorcery from a madwoman down upon us. Why can you not give up Casimir? You have no right!” Isobel stood, advancing on Thea.
“Must you always win? Must you always have the best, regardless of what anyone else wants? Did you ever think that your betrothal may have been at the expense of others as well?” She didn’t look at Adelaide. She didn’t have to. Thea knew her sister was hurting and stayed silent out of respect for her.
“I didn’t think anything of my betrothal!” Thea lost her temper. “I didn’t even think of Sebastian at all! I did not want to marry him! I wanted—I want—Casimir! He is the one I love!”
“You certainly can’t tell!” Isobel shot back. Beatrix reached up to pull her back, but Isobel shook her hand off. “You’ve been flouncing about like you’re already queen! What constancy! And if he loves you so, why has he spent the last three days with me?”
“Has it been just you, Isobel?” Thea pulled her anger back in.
“You shouldn’t know either way! Keep your concern to your betrothed!” Isobel sneered the last word.
“I cannot help loving whom I love. Nor will I apologize for it. I had no idea what Father was planning. Had he spoken with me beforehand, I would have politely but firmly declined the honor of Sebastian’s hand. I am sorry to cause pain to you in the telling of this, Isobel,” Thea softened her voice. She was sorry.
“I don’t care what you are! So tell me, Princess, how are you going to right this?”
“I don’t know.” Thea answered simply. “I really don’t. I didn’t even believe it until this morning. I thought Catrin a powerful enchantress, but not that she’d really cursed me.”
“Why must we suffer for your pride and arrogance?”
“I don’t know,” Thea said again. “I don’t know that you are. Is everyone having the same dream?” All of them, even Isobel, nodded.
“Then it would seem you are. I am so very sorry. I wish that I could change this.”
“You can!” Isobel stomped her foot. “Give up Casimir, and this...enchantress, this witch, will stop the curse.”
“I don’t know that she will. I don’t even know if this is the curse,” said Thea. “And I cannot stop loving Casimir. It is not something that one douses and it’s done, as with a fire. I love him. Not being able to be with him does not change that.”
“So how are you supposed to give him up?” Sybbl asked.
“I don’t know! I don’t know!” Thea threw up her hands. “There is little that I do know. I am not supposed to talk about the curse. I did, and you see what happened.”
“Are you not worried about us?” Viviana asked.
“Of course I am! I could not speak after my outburst this morning, once I saw what happened to Archibald. I could not believe I had just doomed all those I love.” She hung her head.
“Nothing has happened to us. Perhaps it is because we are part of the curse with you,” said Sybbl
thoughtfully. “You should not say anything to anyone else, though, Thea.”
“I will not. I didn’t even want to talk to any of you. But if the stricture applies to all of you, I did the harm already this morning.”
“That’s rather callous, don’t you think?” Beatrix asked quietly.
“I am callous no matter what I do,” said Thea. “I debated refusing to talk to you. I don’t want to endanger you more than I have.” She could feel the sob fighting to come out and swallowed to push it back down.
“I think that you had no choice,” said Adelaide. “You are right. The witch doomed you regardless of what course of action you decided on. I, for one, am glad you have chosen to be honest with me…with all of us.” She smiled at Thea, and for the first time since the ball, Thea could see the sister she’d always been close to.
“Thank you. I am so sorry, more than you know.”
“I know you are, Thea. I must also ask for your pardon. I have not been fair to you, not since Father made the announcement. I have known that your...your heart was not in it,” said Adelaide.
Thea reached over and hugged Adelaide. “Oh, Addy. I knew, but I didn’t know how to broach the topic.”
“This is all well and good, but it doesn’t negate the fact that Thea’s actions have brought death to our home, and that she further threatens it,” said Isobel.
“Izzy!” said several voices.
“What would you have me do, Isobel?” Thea turned to her. She felt so bad for Isobel. She also was beyond the limits of her patience with her.
“Show the witch! Show her you are done with Casimir! Go to Father and suggest he offer Casimir one of his daughters to help seal the rift! Then the witch will know, with Casimir also betrothed, that you have given him up!”
It made sense to Thea. It made perfect sense. “Will that make you happy?” She asked quietly.
“It will not bring back Archibald. It will not negate the risk you have taken with all of us. But it will show the witch you have given him up.”
“He will not have you, Isobel.” Sybbl spoke up.
“What do you mean? We don’t know that! We have only Thea’s word that he feels the same for her!” Isobel rounded on Sybbl.
“When has Thea lied to us? No, she did not tell us of her romance with Casimir, but as he had not made a formal request for her hand, that was the honorable way to handle the situation. She did not throw a tantrum or shame us when Father betrothed her, although I assume that is why you wished to speak to him that night?” She looked at Thea, who nodded.
“I have been with you when Casimir attended us, Izzy. He is not in love with either of us, gallant though he was.” Sybbl’s kind tone could not dull her stark words.
“But it could grow!” Isobel protested.
Sybbl shook her head. “I don’t think so. His feelings for Thea would have to be gone. I don’t see that happening. How, if I may inquire, did Casimir take the news of your betrothal?”
“Poorly,” said Thea, thinking of their words when he’d come to her in the hallway outside her door. “But once we had spoken, he told me that nothing is final until the priest proclaims the marriage and to not give up hope.” She looked away. She didn’t want to see Isobel when she said that.
“I hate you!” Isobel half-screamed. She burst into tears and ran from the solarium to her bed. Thea could hear her throw herself onto it, and the muffled sobs that followed.
She leaned back, covering her face with one hand. What she’d said to Beatrix earlier was true. No matter what she did, it would not be right.
“I am sorry,” she said, sitting up. “I wish I had not been so scornful with the old woman. I think she and Catrin are connected somehow. I wish that I had mastered my fright and not been arrogant with Catrin. Had I not been, perhaps I would not have put myself in this place, and all of you with me. In asking for your forgiveness, which you are under no obligation to give, I also ask for your help. What ought I do? I find myself lost, sisters.”
“Are you going to tell any of this to Sebastian?” Adelaide asked.
“No. I think he already knows that Casimir has feelings for me. I cannot say if I have been clever enough to hide my own. I would not risk his life that way, for all that I do not wish to marry him. It may be just coincidence that the chandelier fell on Archibald. If it was not—Addy, I can’t chance it. I don’t wish to risk his life that way.”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right. Are you certain that it was the telling that caused Archibald’s death?”
“I am certain of nothing other than Catrin means to make me suffer!” Thea stood and slammed her cup on the table. “I do not understand what I did that was deserving of this! Yes, I was not polite, even downright rude. Yes, I was haughty. This is beyond retribution for my behavior. She told me...oh.” She stopped, thinking about her conversation with Catrin.
“What?” Asked Viviana.
“She said I was a danger to Casimir. That he was too good for me, and I would pull him down if I did not give him up. That if I truly loved him, I would let him go and not bring him to harm.”
“What does that even mean?” Asked Beatrix. “How can you bring harm to Casimir, or anyone, for that matter? We are a peaceful kingdom. Casimir doesn’t desire war or conquest. He works hard to ensure all those of the realm prosper. How can that be harmful?”
“I don’t know,” Thea said. She tapped her finger on her chin, going through the conversation again. “She told me she had long known both my and Casimir’s families, and that based on that, she had to save Casimir from me and my family.”
“That makes no sense,” said Esmay. “Are you sure she is not just a madwoman, Thea?”
“I would love nothing more than to agree with you. But she pulled me from the forest to a room in a flash of light and sent me back the same way. That is something more than mere madness. She may indeed be mad, but she is an enchantress. I didn’t even think they existed.”
“Was she warty and old and crooked?” Asked Viviana.
“No. She was the age of our parents, perhaps, and pretty. She also said she was a princess, but I am not aware of any princess with her name or any who practices the magical arts.”
“I think she’s carrying some sort of grudge against our house,” said Beatrix.
“Yes, well, it’s having the desired effect,” said Thea, looking past them all to the sleeping chamber. She could still hear Isobel crying, although the sobs had lessened.
“Creating discontent within our house would work towards assuaging that grudge,” said Sybbl. “Even if he doesn’t know of the particulars, this has already hurt Father and will hurt Mother.”
“What do I do? This is all such a mess!” Thea threw up her hands again. “I am thankful to speak with all of you, but that doesn’t help me with what I ought to do.”
“We go on as before. We see if we can figure out what is going on with our dreams. We don’t speak of this to anyone. Not a word,” Emaline stood up, glaring round at the rest of them. “I agree that we can’t know if it was the curse that caused Archibald’s death, but I do not want to have another die to find out.”
At the sight of her sisters nodding in agreement, Thea started to cry. “Thank you, thank you,” she wept. “I am so grateful to be able to share this with you and not have you shun me for it.”
“I would imagine you will carry more guilt than any of us could hurl at you,” said Sybbl bluntly. “I see no need to add to that.”
At her words, Thea wept harder. She had not expected to be forgiven. Accepted? She was not sure what. She certainly had not expected to be believed. The relief at being able to speak to another was immense. Adelaide put her arm around Thea’s shoulders, and Thea wept unreservedly.
The priest’s arrival was announced. Thea’s tears and Isobel’s absence were not even questioned, given the circumstances. Thea sat long with him, planning the funeral. It would be what she would want for any member of the family. Finally, the priest too
k his leave. She looked out the window.
“It is nearing time for the evening meal. Are we going to be seen out tonight?”
“What do you think, Thea?” Serafina asked.
“I think we ought to, for the sake of Archibald’s memory. As much as I hate to say it, to quiet the gossip that has had an entire day to simmer. Do you think we might prevail on Isobel to join us?” She gave a quick glance to the sleeping chamber.
“I don’t know, but I will ask her,” said Sybbl. “I think she might, for Archibald’s sake.” She disappeared into the room beyond.
“I am ready to leave here. We’ve been here all day!” Mirabelle stretched.
Thea smiled at her. It was harder to be cooped up for her younger sisters. She stood and went to the door, beckoning to a serving girl. “Would you tell my parents we wish to dine with them this evening?”
The girl sped away as Thea closed the door. It was odd that she hadn’t seen either of her parents since her father left this morning. Nor had Sebastian come by. It really was not done to ignore your betrothed after something like this.
With her hand still on the door handle, she thought it over. Her father had not seemed overjoyed with Sebastian yesterday. While he had been when he made the announcement, none of that joy was present as they talked in the gardens. She had been surprised by the change in her father’s manner toward Sebastian, but too focused on talking with both Casimir and Sebastian to question it at the time. She would need to figure a way to diplomatically ask him about it. Her heart leapt at the thought that he might be having second thoughts.
It would not do to focus on such happy considerations. She pushed them to the side and went to prepare for what would, no doubt, be an emotionally draining evening.
***
Thea eyed the court. The gossip mill was in full swing. When she and her sisters had come in, an excited murmur had run through the room. None of the guests who had traveled to celebrate her betrothal had left. If anything, the crowds of people looked greater. No one seemed worried about the death of a valued courtier.
Thea's Tale (Sisters Of The Curse Book 1) Page 10