Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
I sat in the carriage across from the new acquaintance Brandle had intended to meet and watched the well-dressed woman struggle to keep her panic at bay.
“Breathe, Mrs. Wimbles,” I said softly. “All will be well.”
She nodded and took several calming breaths in vain. I touched her energy and willed her to remain calm regardless of what might happen during our visit. She relaxed visibly.
“Thank you, dear.”
Liam’s annoyance surged from his perch by the door. Neither he nor Eadric liked that I was alone with Mrs. Wimbles. However, I’d convinced them it was more discreet for me to arrive with her for a social call than it was for the four of us to demand an audience with the last “acquaintance” introduced to the heirs.
“Do you think Ascott will see us?” she asked.
“I do,” I said.
I’d already touched my will to Mrs. Wimbles and determined that she truly supported the rightful heirs taking the throne. She was willing to do anything to get rid of the Foul Queen since she’d lost her husband to the woman’s wrath when he refused to surrender their grown son for breeding.
Learning what that meant had almost been my undoing.
The queen wasn’t using men and women to breed the children that she was sacrificing to prolong her life. No, she was taking men, fair of face and physique, to breed with herself. Rumors were that she cast spells during the act, hoping to create a powerful child—one who would reverse the aging the queen had already sustained. The spells involved blood magic, and the men never survived.
My thoughts briefly turned to Edmund before I forced them to the task at hand as the carriage slowed.
“We’ve arrived,” Liam said through the door.
“Thank you…Liam,” Mrs. Wimbles said.
I could feel how uncomfortable it made her feel to address him so informally.
He opened the door and helped us down then ran ahead to knock on the door. The butler who answered only looked at Mrs. Wimbles and me. I smiled beatifically under his regard.
“Please tell Mr. Ascott that Mrs. Wimbles has come to call with a guest.”
The butler showed us to a sitting room while Liam returned to the carriage. Neither he nor Eadric had liked this part of my plan, but I saw no other way. If they openly arrived at the traitor’s door, either we would be turned away, or all of us would be caught. As long as I remained hidden, I was safe. As far as Mrs. Wimbles knew, I was a simple caster helping the heirs attempt to find their missing brother.
A distinguished man with a greying beard and welcoming smile strode into the sitting room.
“Ladies, welcome to my home. To what honor do I owe your visit?” he asked.
“I wanted to introduce you to my new acquaintance, Miss Cartwright,” Mrs. Wimbles said. I rose and curtseyed gracefully. “Miss Cartwright, allow me to introduce Mr. Ascott, an old friend of my husband’s.”
The man smiled and bent low over my hand.
At the moment of our contact, I touched his mind and searched for any hint of betrayal. Like Mrs. Wimbles, he devoutly wished for the heirs to overthrow the queen. He feared that she would discover the son he’d hidden away in a distant corner of the kingdom. The lad was a few years older than me, and the elder Ascott thought that, with my gentle bearing, I’d make a fine wife for his son.
I smiled in return and allowed him to guide me back to my seat.
“From where do you hail, Miss Cartwright? I thought I’d met all the fair maidens in Adele.”
A servant entered the drawing room while carrying a tea tray set for three.
“My father and brothers hid me away in a far corner of the kingdom when I was born. They told me I was a beauty from my first breath and feared a hectic life chasing away suitors.”
Mr. Ascott chuckled as I’d hoped. “Since you are here, I deduce their plan did not work?”
“It did not. The quality of the suitors they needed to chase away had simply decreased. So here I am, where my father believes I will find a suitable match.”
I reached out to accept my tea directly from the servant, and our fingers touched. I felt her hate for the rich and her despair for the child taken from her. Her yearning and desperation boiled over, and she wondered if the guard would also be interested in news of a maiden from the countryside.
In her mind, I saw her last conversation with the guard. She’d gone to them to share the appearance of a handsome young man at her employer’s home. She’d been certain the news would interest the queen and win her favor.
“Sleep,” I said.
The woman partially fell onto the table. My teacup rattled, but I steadied it and met Mr. Ascott’s shocked gaze.
“Your servant went to the guard and reported that you met with a handsome young man from the countryside. She overheard your arrangement for him to meet with Mrs. Wimbles today and conveyed his expected arrival.”
“His highness never arrived,” Mrs. Wimbles said calmly.
Mr. Ascott’s gaze shifted between the two of us. “Who are you truly?” he asked me.
“A friend of the princes. They asked me to help find their brother.”
He looked down at the maid, and I felt his contempt.
“Her child was taken,” I said. “She was desperate and did not know who she had reported to the guard. She only hoped to gain favor and ask for the return of her child.”
His shoulders slumped.
“It is a story told again and again in Adele—children taken in the night, never to be seen again. Her hope to see her child again is a foolish one.”
Setting the tea aside, I touched the woman’s hand again and searched her mind more deeply.
“The child was taken a year ago. Her husband killed himself. Her mind broke in her grief. She sought employment here, hoping to find a way to regain her child even though a part of her knew that wasn’t possible.” I removed the memory of our visit and soothed the edge of her grief with happier thoughts of the people she’d lost.
“Please take pity on her when she wakes,” I said, withdrawing. “The fault is not hers but the queen’s.”
He nodded and rose when I did. Mrs. Wimbles did the same.
“The purpose of our visit was solely to look for a clue as to where Brandle might have gone. If he was taken by the guard as a potential breeding partner for the queen, where would he be kept?” I asked Mr. Ascott.
“In the castle. She keeps the young men close to her. They’re fed well and cared for until she needs them.”
My skin grew hot and tingled dangerously. “It’s time for us to take our leave. Thank you for your time.”
“I hope to meet you again, Miss Cartwright.” He wondered if I would be willing to retire to the countryside with his son.
Retiring to the forest with my companions sounded like a dream, and I shamefully found myself wishing we had never left.
Forgive me, Eloise, I thought as I nodded my farewell and left the house.
Liam helped us into the carriage and didn’t ask questions when Mrs. Wimbles said to return to her home. When we arrived, she gathered all five of her servants and introduced me openly as a caster who would test their loyalty as Liam and Eadric stood to the side, dressed as one of her staff.
When I touched the arm of the last person and detected nothing, I nodded to her.
“Your home is safe.”
She hugged each one of her servants and asked the head of the household to give each of them an extra gold.
“Speak of nothing you see or hear here,” she said.
I thought of Maeve’s spell that had bound me to silence and felt torn. Casting the same on these servants would ensure our safety. Yet, I also knew the pain of such a spell. But did it need to be painful? Had it been so because we’d been unwilling or because Maeve wished it? Intuition told me it was the latter.
“Wait,” I called when they would have left. “May I cast a spell to ensure your silence? It won’t cause you harm. If you attempt to speak to anyone outside of this home regarding the visitors who have called in recent days or in the days to come, you will simply lose your train of thought. It’s for your safety as well as Mrs. Wimbles.” They agreed, and after briefly wishing Garron was there to guide me, I touched my energy to theirs and focused my intent.
“There. It’s done,” I said.
I turned toward Eadric and Liam, who had remained quiet observers.
“Brandle was taken by the queen’s guard, not for who he is but for his pretty face.”
Eadric swore colorfully. Although Mrs. Wimbles didn’t look shocked by his profanity, she felt it.
“Anger and fear are emotions we all endure,” I said to her. “Even royalty. It would be wise for us to return. Before we do so, may I also cast the spell upon you?”
She readily agreed, and I took more care when casting on her, adding a forget spell regarding the brothers' identities.
“Thank you for your help and support,” I said.
We left her home and returned to the previous residence where I was prepared to repeat the process.
“Pogwid already ensured everyone here would never speak of their highness’ existences or yours should you ever join them,” Philip said.
“What do we do next?” Eadric asked, looking between me and Liam.
I opened myself to the energy of the people in and around Adele. Near the edge of the forest, Garron had almost joined his brothers, and the guards near our home still waited patiently for our return.
Previously, I’d never looked at the castle, fearing attracting the queen’s attention, and I hesitated to do so this time, especially after what transpired earlier. I closed myself off again and looked at Liam and Eadric.
“Garron is close to reaching Darian and Daemon. They likely won’t return until dark,” I said.
“If Brandle and Edmund are in the castle, there is little we can do for them except carry on with our plan,” Liam said.
The search for casters, though, likely would take more time than either brother had.
Frustration threatened to overwhelm me, and I felt the tingle that forewarned an impending loss of control. I turned to Eadric, who stood beside me and, uncaring of our audience, pulled him down for a kiss.
His hunger met mine willingly, and his desire blanketed me, soothing away the frustration and helping me remember something more than fear for Brandle and Edmund. I wasn’t alone. And the men of the glade would never forsake one another no matter the difficulties.
Eadric eased back with a gentle kiss and searched my gaze.
“Speak what you need, and it is yours,” he said softly.
“You already gave it. I was dangerously close to allowing my frustration to rule me. It wasn’t Mr. Ascott who betrayed Brandle’s presence but a maid desperate for her child. I do not fault her, but the damn Foul Queen. It’s the queen who has turned neighbor against neighbor. The queen who forced the casters into hiding. And the queen who is taking the kingdom’s strong men. She is a blight that must be removed.”
Liam’s arms circled me from behind, calming the agitation that had grown.
“I think it would be wise to throw a dinner party,” he said. “With you in attendance, perhaps they would be persuaded to move sooner against the queen.”
“Or, at the very least, be willing to introduce our Sparrow to their casters.”
“They have casters?” I asked.
“Most of the noble family do, Princess,” Philip said, reminding me of his presence. “We openly employ the weaker ones and keep the stronger ones in secret. The noble families protect and support them, and the casters protect and support us.”
I leaned back into Liam’s arms to contain my burst of irritation.
“We’ve been here four days. How many noble families has Brandle met with? Why has only Pogwid come forward?”
Philip lowered his gaze and bowed slightly.
“Forgive me. I have been making discreet inquiries to meet with the other families, fearing I might draw the queen's attention.”
Before I could assure Philip I did not hold him responsible, Liam spoke.
“Our time for moving cautiously is at an end. Arrange a dinner for tonight for the nobles we’ve already met. Beginning tomorrow, we will host small luncheons and dinners to introduce your recently returned niece—” he ran his hands over my arms “—from the countryside. We won’t stop until each noble family has been contacted.”
“Some families are loyal to the queen,” Philip said nervously.
“I don’t think they are truly loyal,” Eadric said. “She isn't the type of person to foster close relationships or loyalty. Most likely, she controls them in some way.”
I thought of how Maeve had controlled Eloise and me and agreed with Eadric.
“But we will heed your counsel, Philip,” Liam said. “Though we cannot postpone meeting them all, I vow not to speak of anything significant until we’re certain of their true intent.”
“How can you be certain of their intent?” Philip asked.
“ They cannot,” I said, stepping out from between the brothers. “However, I can.”
I could feel Philip’s concern. It stemmed from doubt. He didn’t doubt I was a caster; he doubted my experience dealing with his peers who might be more adept at hiding their intentions. He also feared I was no match for the queen and that the heirs to the throne would lose their only chance to reclaim their birthright because I wasn’t strong enough.
His concerns were quite valid, so I didn’t attempt to persuade him out of any of them. I simply waited for his decision. After a moment, he bowed his head.
“I will send out the invitations immediately,” he said.
Eadric waited until Philip closed the door behind him and pulled me back into his arms.
“I don’t like that we need you to attend these meetings,” he said. “Brandle was trying to keep you from them.”
“Why?” I asked, hugging Eadric in return.
“I think Brandle’s disappearance proves how dangerous they are,” Liam said.
I eased out of Eadric’s arms and faced Liam. His soft brown gaze swept over my face as I placed my hands on my hips.
“Staying in my home was dangerous. Running through the Dark Forest was dangerous. Scaling the cliff was dangerous. Yet, I’ve survived it all.” He took my hands and brought them to his lips.
“Which is why we want to protect you. You’ve suffered enough.”
I exhaled heavily. “Life is filled with dangers, Liam, and I am not interested in being sheltered from them. Let me live beside you, not in your shadow or locked away in some room for my safety. That’s not living.”
He kissed my forehead. “I would like to see Brandle deny you when you state it like that.”
A laugh escaped me. “He and Edmund can be equally stubborn when it comes to my safety.”
“Garron too,” Eadric said.
Someone lightly knocked on the door.
“Enter,” Liam called.
The moment the door opened, I felt the woman’s judgment. Philip hadn’t felt anything notable when I’d kissed Eadric and Liam; however, the maid entering had strong thoughts about my impropriety for allowing Liam to stand so close to me.
Liam didn’t stop me from stepping away from him and remained quiet as I walked to the woman and took the tray from her.
“Not everything is what it seems,” I said. “I’ve done far more to be deemed improper than to embrace a man.”
Goading another to force them to reveal their deeper thoughts was something I considered Eloise’s specialty. However, I wasn’t without skills of my own, and they proved themselves when the maid’s expression reflected her shock.
Her chaotic thoughts imagined what indecencies I’d allowed Liam—only Liam, though. Her affront almost hid her yearning. She knew who these men were and wished she’d been able to catch the youngest’s gaze since status didn’t seem to bother him.
She thought me a maid.
Humor lit within me as I recalled how the men in the glade had first reacted to me as well.
Then her thoughts turned to catching Eadric’s eye since Liam was obviously taken.
The whole while, she still looked properly aghast.
“What is your name?” I asked her.
“Margret,” she said.
“A beautiful name. It was my mother's.” I looked at Eadric and lifted the tray toward him. He immediately fetched it from me. Margret’s thoughts churned. She questioned why a prince of the kingdom—even a dethroned one—would answer to my beckoning.
“She was a very open and understanding woman. I hope you’re the same.”
“Miss?” she said, clearly confused.
“I am not a simple maid. Nor am I simply a caster.”
She began to fear she offended me.
“You did not offend me. I’m merely telling you that I am more than either of those things. I am the woman who will do anything to help the princes regain their throne. Even love all of them if that is what they ask of me.”
“We do,” Eadric said.
“In return for giving everything I am to help them free this kingdom from the queen, I ask that you do not judge me harshly for the choices I’ve had to make along the way or for the happiness I’ve found despite the hardships I’ve suffered.”
Her chaotic thoughts slowed as she grasped what I was saying, and she took my hand, her grip firm.
“Forgive me,” she said. “I was wrong to think ill of you.”
“Ill?” Liam echoed softly behind me.
“You will not be the last to think of me so. I do ask that you remind others of all that the princes and I have given in return. I’ve lost my mother. My father. Perhaps even my sister. But I am committed to staying and helping however I can until the queen no longer sits on the throne.”
The woman nodded, and I felt her embarrassment and wish to leave. Her shame for thinking ill of me was just a bit heavier than her thoughts of me loving all of the princes.
After she left, Eadric led me to the lounge where I sat in Liam’s lap while Eadric fed me bites of a sweet biscuit Margret had delivered. I could feel the weight of their concern.
“Are you upset?” Liam asked finally.
“About Margret’s thoughts of me? No. About everything else? Yes.”
“Even the biscuit?” Eadric asked cheekily.
“Not the biscuit either. It’s one of the fluffiest I’ve had in a long while.” With a pang, I thought of Judith and the sweets she used to make in our kitchen.
“I am well-rested yet so very tired,” I said. “Although I don’t regret meeting all of you, I miss my old life—the simplicity of it.”
Their worry climbed, and I patted Liam’s arm. “None of that, now, or I’ll stop sharing my thoughts. I only meant that I am prepared to face whatever I must for all of this to end, and I look forward to the day I can spend hours lost in a book, learning about spells and casting, with only the interruption requests for affection from the needy men in my life.”
Liam hummed his agreement and kissed the back of my neck.
The door of the sitting room burst open without warning, startling me. Eadric was on his feet in front of me before I could see who it was. I could feel Philip’s tumultuous thoughts and his fear, though.
“Apologies, Your Highness,” he said in a rush. “I received word of a public hanging. All nobles are to attend.”
My heart shattered at one very clear thought, and I stood.
“Pogwid,” I said.
Philip nodded.
Intuition told me I needed to go despite the increasing tingle of warning. Why though?
My mind raced. The spell I’d placed on her would ensure she wouldn’t be able to speak my name and should protect her power, but what of her life? I couldn’t—no, I refused—to hide and allow the queen to take Pogwid’s life. While I knew I lacked the knowledge to face the queen, Pogwid did. Perhaps if I were there, I could lend her more of my energy.
“As your niece, it is right that I should go with you.”
“No,” Liam and Eadric said at the same time.
I turned and set my hand on both of their chests, just over their hearts.
“Forgive me. I am not a woman you can push into a corner. Cherish me, but never again attempt to cage me.”
Eadric groaned. “It was one time.”
I grinned slightly. “One time too many.”
“If you insist, then we will accompany you,” Liam said.
“It’s too dangerous, Your Highness,” Philip said.
“I won’t dissuade you,” I said. “However, it would be wise for one of you to remain to prevent Garron, Darian, and Daemon from rushing into a potentially dangerous situation when they return and find us absent.”
Liam closed his eyes.
I could feel his frustration, so I stood on my toes to kiss his chin. He caught me up in his arms and kissed me soundly, pouring all his fear and need into it. When he finally released me, I was breathless and thoroughly distracted by his desire for me.
“Eadric, you should remain,” Liam said. “If the queen and her people took Edmund for his pretty face, yours will surely attract their attention.”
“As will yours,” I said. “Your servant clothing does little to detract from your handsome face.”
“He can remain with the carriage,” Philip said. “Nearby but easily overlooked. We must hurry.”