Lady Alma

by A. G. Marshall

Our progress through the forest was slow at best. Ethan staggered like a man who had spent too much time in the tavern, but he looked handsome while doing it. Rosa kept a firm grip on his elbow to keep him from walking into trees.

  Lorenzo wrapped his arm around my shoulder and leaned on me for support. This pushed my hoop skirt to the side, so it hit every tree we passed. The dress snagged and tore, but I kept going. Now was not the time to worry about clothes.

  Finally, we reached a road. The moon shone brighter now that we weren’t under trees. Rosa snapped her fingers, and the star above her head disappeared. She watched Lorenzo for a reaction, but he was too focused on standing to notice her illegal magic.

  “This looks like the path to the market,” I said.

  Lorenzo raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t ask why I knew the path to the market.

  “The castle is that way,” Rosa said.

  She nodded at the spires that peeked from behind the trees, and we walked in that direction. It was easier now that we were out of the woods, and that gave me time to think.

  Lorenzo had kissed me!

  He had also been stabbed, but the kiss felt more significant at the moment.

  Why had he kissed me? Was he simply grateful that I wasn’t repulsed by his scars? Did he even remember doing it? He was weak from blood loss, after all.

  Was he playing a game as Carlo had thought from the beginning?

  Or did he truly care for me?

  I glanced at him. He smiled at me but was breathing too hard to speak. I smiled back and turned my focus to the road.

  If he liked me, that raised another set of problems. I wasn’t noble. He was a prince. His parents would never agree to his marrying the daughter of a former guild master. My money might lure desperate noblemen, but it wouldn’t sway the king.

  I needed Tía Teresa. If anyone knew how to deal with this situation, she would. Maybe I could go shopping with Renata tomorrow and sneak away to the Dark Market.

  In the meantime, maybe we could figure out who had attacked us.

  “Ethan, was that man wearing your cloak?”

  The strangely handsome Ethan nodded.

  “Do you think he stole it from the ball? There was quite a bit of commotion after you left, Alma.”

  I could imagine.

  “So someone at the ball stole it,” Rosa said. “That doesn’t help much.”

  “But it does help some.”

  “I studied the ball through the fairy spyglass and didn’t see anything suspicious,” Lorenzo said. “Whoever it was, they were subtle about it.”

  He paused for a moment to catch his breath, and we gathered around him.

  “We could check the guest list,” Rosa said. “You have a record of everyone who was there.”

  “What about the servants?” I said. “The attack was done with magic.”

  Lorenzo frowned.

  “I’d like to think they’re all loyal to Castana, but I suppose the staff could have been involved. Or someone may have sneaked in disguised as a servant.”

  When he had recovered, we walked in silence until we reached the city wall. The gates were closed and locked. Rosa studied the rocks with an appraising eye.

  “There are plenty of handholds. I could climb it and open the gate.”

  Ethan shook his head.

  “Too dangerous. They might think you’re invading. Do you think we could blame cultural ignorance if I climbed it and was caught?”

  Lorenzo looked scandalized.

  “Climb it? Surely we don’t need to climb the wall.”

  The scars on his forehead crinkled together when his eyebrows raised. Rosa shrugged.

  “We’ll have to keep walking then. Will someone be stationed at the main gate?”

  Lorenzo nodded.

  “They leave it open and guarded.”

  We kept walking. Ethan staggered towards the wall, and Rosa pulled him away.

  “Ethan, what is that ring doing to you?” she asked.

  “Keep going,” Ethan said. “I’ll be fine.”

  He didn’t sound fine, but he hurried forward before anyone could protest. Rosa wrapped his arm around her waist and kept him close. This slowed us down, but at least he didn’t crash into anything.

  The moon hung low in the sky by the time we reached the main gate. Lorenzo stopped before we rounded the corner.

  “I need to put the ring back on,” he said. “The guards won’t recognize me without it. They won’t let us in.”

  “You’re not healed yet,” Ethan said.

  “I’m fine.”

  He held out his hand. In the moonlight, the scars looked more bronze than red. There was something decorative about the way they covered his skin.

  After a moment’s pause, Ethan pulled off the ring and handed it to Lorenzo. The Salarian’s face changed back to normal, and he took a deep breath as if he had been underwater and just resurfaced. He stood straighter and relaxed his grip on Rosa.

  Lorenzo put on the ring, and his scars disappeared in a gentle glow. His face transformed until it looked like a portrait again. He stumbled, and Ethan caught him.

  “That charm is taking your strength,” Ethan said. “You shouldn’t wear it while you’re healing.”

  “You shouldn’t wear it at all,” Rosa said.

  “I don’t have a choice.”

  Lorenzo limped towards the gate without waiting for us. I turned to Ethan.

  “You should disguise yourself. Someone is trying to frame you for stabbing Lorenzo. It would be better if no one knew you’d been out tonight.”

  Ethan pulled his hood over his face. Rosa removed her cloak, cleaned her hands on it, and offered it to me. I wrapped it around my skirt to cover the gaping holes the trees had ripped in the fabric. We caught up to Lorenzo, rounded the final corner, and reached the gate.

  Five guards stood at the entrance. They stood in formation when we approached, and one notched an arrow in his bow.

  “Identify yourself!” the guard with the arrow shouted.

  Lorenzo raised his hand and showed his signet ring.

  “Prince Lorenzo of Castana and friends.”

  The guards stared in shock for a moment. Then they lowered their weapons.

  “Your Highness, what are you doing outside the castle?”

  “He came to check on me,” I said. “He was concerned for my safety when I stayed home from the ball.”

  The guards didn’t look satisfied with that explanation. I wouldn’t have been either. They looked to Lorenzo for answers, but he was focused on staying on his feet.

  “We convinced him to stay for dinner,” I added.

  It would be much easier to keep the fairy visit a secret if everyone believed Lorenzo had been paying a social call.

  “He’s been stabbed,” Rosa said. “He needs a doctor immediately.”

  So much for the social call.

  Rosa’s words jolted the guards into action. Two of them picked Lorenzo up, ignoring his protests. The rest ushered us towards the castle.

  “Give them a carriage,” Lorenzo insisted as they carried him away. “Escort my friends home.”

  And then he was gone.

  The guard in charge turned his attention to Ethan.

  “We’ll expect a full report from you,” he said. “And you can expect a reprimand from the captain. You know the prince isn’t to leave the city without at least four guards. Especially not after dark.”

  Ethan nodded. His disguise had worked so far, but it was only a matter of time before they noticed the deception. How much trouble would he be in for impersonating a guard? I glanced at Rosa, and she winked at me.

  “We need an escort home,” Rosa said. “He’ll do.”

  She gestured to Ethan. The guard shook his head.

  “He’s needed to answer questions, miss.”

  Rosa straightened to her full height, which made her taller than a few of the guards. She looked down her nose at them. The effect was intimidating. Noble, even.

&nbs
p; “You will prepare a carriage to take us to the estate of Don Arturo. I am his daughter, Donna Rosa. One guard will be sufficient as an escort. I see no need to remove any more of you from your duties. That will be all.”

  The guards watched her, only halfway convinced. I stepped beside Rosa, standing as tall as I could, which was almost enough to get me to her shoulder now.

  Since I had fairy beauty on my side, I fluttered my eyelashes at the guards for good measure.

  “My sister and I have had a difficult night,” I said. “Prince Lorenzo was so kind to offer us a carriage. I do hope you won’t delay obeying his orders.”

  “What are your names?” Rosa demanded. “Your captain will hear from my father. He is a member of the prince’s council and won’t appreciate that we were kept waiting.”

  The guard swallowed.

  “My apologies, Donnas. We will prepare a carriage for you at once.”

  “See to it,” Rosa said.

  She sat on a small bench by the wall. I joined her. My hoop skirt bounced up as I sat, and I held it down to keep it from flying over my head. Ethan stood behind us, copying the guards’ stiff posture.

  “Was that alright?” Rosa whispered.

  “You were marvelous. You acted like a true donna.”

  “That was terrifying,” Ethan muttered.

  A few minutes later, a carriage pulled up to the gate. A sleepy looking footman opened the door but didn’t offer to help us inside. Rosa started to jump in, then thought better of it and allowed Ethan to lift her up the step. I needed all the help I could get. My hoop skirt was far too wide to fit through the carriage door. Rosa pulled, Ethan pushed, and eventually I tumbled through. Ethan hopped in after me before anyone could order him to stay.

  I stayed quiet on the drive to the estate, watching out the window and searching the woods for the man who had attacked Lorenzo. Rosa and Ethan shared theories about the fairy magic they had learned from Celia. We made it home without incident.

  Getting out of the carriage in a hoop skirt was as troublesome as getting in. Ethan pulled on my arms while Rosa pushed from behind. Finally, I came loose and toppled onto Ethan in a flurry of fabric. Rosa hopped out after me.

  “Thank you,” she said to the footman. “You may leave us now.”

  The footman had been pretending not to watch our struggle. He nodded to Ethan.

  “I’m supposed to bring him back.”

  “We require his further assistance,” I said. “We will lend him a horse to return when he finishes.”

  “There is no need for you to wait,” Rosa said. “We have plenty of horses.”

  She walked away. Ethan followed her. I jogged after them, holding up the hoop skirt. We reached the door and held our breath. What would we do if the coach didn’t leave?

  The footman snapped the reins, and horse hooves clattered on the pavement as the carriage rolled down the driveway.

  We opened the front door, wincing when it squeaked, and collapsed on a settee in the foyer. Ethan’s green eyes twinkled. They were no longer bright with magic, and his freckles had returned.

  It was a relief to have him looking like himself again.

  “I expect they’ll find the guard has disappeared tomorrow,” Rosa said. “What a shame. Someone with such a bright future disappearing without a trace.”

  “Not too bright a future,” Ethan said. “Your antics tonight earned me an official reprimand.”

  “Oh, you’re still getting a reprimand.”

  Donna Senona.

  “Alma, where have you been? The horses returned without you hours ago.”

  And Father.

  They came down the staircase arm in arm. Donna Senona carried a lantern. When she got closer, I realized it was light magic rather than a candle that glowed inside.

  “Mother, the light,” Rosa said, nodding towards Ethan.

  “Don’t try to distract me,” Donna Senona said. “Where have you been all night? The truth.”

  There was an awkward pause as we all looked at each other.

  “We’re sworn to silence,” I said finally. “Prince Lorenzo swore us to silence.”

  “We’re your parents.”

  Donna Senona claimed the title as if it were far more important than a royal decree. Her scowl deepened when none of us spoke.

  “The prince swore you to silence?” Father said. “You’ve been with Prince Lorenzo this whole time?”

  He studied me, trying to decide what was different about my face. Finally, he gave up and shook his head.

  “Alma, where did you get that dress?” he said.

  “Something happened at the ball,” Donna Senona said. “Rosa, you fell under some sort of enchantment and hurried away.”

  “I was ill. I should have stayed in bed.”

  Rosa looked at me as she said it. Her expression was part accusation, part admiration.

  “And the prince?” Father asked.

  “The prince brought her home,” Ethan said. “Alma and I woke up when they arrived.”

  “Then why weren’t you here when we returned?”

  Donna Senona fixed her gaze on Rosa, but her daughter shook her head.

  “Alma is right. We’ve been sworn to silence.”

  “Hmm.”

  I didn’t like the stubborn glint in Donna Senona’s eyes. It said she wouldn’t give up until she got what she wanted.

  Rosa seemed to be thinking the same thing. She glanced at me again then turned back to her mother.

  “We can’t tell you,” Rosa said. “But you can ask the prince when he calls. I’m sure he will soon.”

  “And why do you think that?”

  Rosa widened her eyes into an innocent expression.

  “Because he kissed Alma.”

  Chapter 29

  Everyone gasped, including me.

  “You’re not even of age yet. How dare he?”

  Donna Senona looked scandalized.

  “Is it true, Alma? The prince kissed you?”

  Father looked more like his old self than he had in months. An ambitious gleam sparkled in his eyes.

  “This is an outrage!” Donna Senona said. “I knew no good would come of your behavior!”

  “Even after the scandal?” Father said. “He doesn’t mind being associated with you after what happened at the ball?”

  They kept talking, but their words blended together until I couldn’t make them out. I glared at Rosa and clamped my mouth shut. They wouldn’t let me speak anyway.

  Ethan yawned loudly, interrupting the barrage of questions.

  “It’s late,” he said. “Please excuse me.”

  He hurried away, removing the guard’s cloak and crumpling it into a ball as he climbed the stairs.

  “May we go to bed as well?” Rosa asked. “This evening has been rather tiring.”

  Donna Senona glared at her. Then at me.

  “Go,” she said. “But we’re talking about this more in the morning. And don’t you dare sneak out of the house again. I don’t care if the king himself asks you to go.”

  Rosa and I curtsied and hurried up the steps. I scowled at her as soon as we turned the corner.

  “I had to distract them,” she said. “Mother would have kept us there all night.”

  “So you told them about the kiss? You’re unbelievable!”

  I ran to my room and slammed the door. After a few moments, someone knocked.

  “What?”

  “Do you want me to help you change? That dress might be tricky.”

  I opened my mouth to tell her I could handle it, then remembered that I couldn’t. Not while I wore the fairy necklace, and I wasn’t sure what would happen if I took it off. Divinia hadn’t mentioned that.

  I looked down at the enormous red dress. Sleeping in it would be uncomfortable to say the least. The hoop skirt was wider than my bed.

  It wasn’t worth risking the curse to undress. I opened the door and glared at Rosa.

  “Fine, but I’m still mad at you.�
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  She closed the door behind her and snapped her fingers. The red dress disappeared from my body, and a satin nightgown replaced it. I studied myself in the mirror.

  The nightgown was shorter on me than it had been before. Divinia really had made me taller. I turned around, admiring my figure. I was a bud again, and the extra height made me look slimmer.

  “Why did she change you so much?” Rosa said. “I thought she was just going to reverse the salt curse. You look as strange as Ethan did when he was wearing the ring.”

  We both studied my reflection. I supposed you could call the effect a little strange. At least, I didn’t quite look like myself. I smiled anyway. My face lit up, and my eyes glittered. I shook away the doubts, and my gleaming hair bounced around my head. I ran my fingers through my perfect curls.

  “Is it the necklace that does it?”

  Rosa gestured to my silver necklace. I nodded and tucked it under my nightgown.

  “I suspect it is similar to Lorenzo’s ring. Not as strong, of course. It uses my soul loop to change my appearance.”

  Rosa bit her lip.

  “Alma, I’m sorry I told them that you kissed Lorenzo. I didn’t know what else to do. I had to distract them.”

  “Well, you certainly did that.”

  I turned away from my perfect reflection and sat on the bed. Rosa joined me.

  “Do you think he’ll call on you? Ask Father’s permission to court you after your quince?”

  “Even if he wanted to, he’s the prince. He has to marry a donna.”

  “Is that actually a law?”

  “It might as well be. You really didn’t learn court etiquette growing up?”

  Rosa’s expression said she’d had far better things to do as a child. I sighed.

  “Dons and donnas can marry anyone, but the royal family must marry nobility. The only way Lorenzo could marry me is if I married a don and took his title, and then that don died.”

  “I suppose that could be arranged.”

  It took me a moment to realize she was joking. I shook my head.

  “I hope Father doesn’t make him feel awkward about it.”

  Rosa shrugged.

  “I can’t believe you kissed the prince.”

  I tried to glare at her, but I wasn’t really angry anymore. So much had happened tonight, I wasn’t sure what to feel.