Chapter 10
Ten
After a couple of weeks, Hugo’s life settled into a normal routine of dinner parties, riding in the park, and trying to keep up with the random household repairs.
Jessamine naturally had thrown a fit about Dorian working in a bookshop but seemed to quiet suddenly when he brought home his first bonus for selling books he’d repaired.
Apparently, his magical skill had made his books quite collectable, and business was now booming at Mr. Cuthbert’s bookshop.
His younger brother’s success had made Hugo eager to try his hand at Mrs. Weatherly’s glassblowing emporium, but Jessamine remained adamant that he focus on finding a husband rather than employment.
Meanwhile, Augustine had also proved handy at bringing in money through odd jobs and selling fish or rabbits he’d hunted. For now, Hugo was content not to look too closely at Augustine’s money-making skills. It was the only way Hugo could sleep at night.
The one good thing about keeping busy was that he’d pushed Prince Everand and his handsome face from his mind.
Mostly.
Hugo tightened the grip on the rifle in his hands as he stepped over a fallen log. “Why the hell am I the one out here hunting the fox?” he muttered under his breath as he shoved another branch out of his face.
This was most certainly a job better suited for Augustine. Yet, his brother had vanished after breakfast, shouting about some errand as he escaped the house, leaving the task of hunting the fox who’d been terrorizing their chickens to Hugo.
After yet another chicken had disappeared, leaving behind nothing more than a scattering of bloody feathers, he knew he couldn’t put off the task a moment longer.
There was no point in getting more chickens if they didn’t fix their fox problem first. They didn’t have the money to keep feeding a fox.
He and Augustine had discussed it more than once, and they were certain a fox must have a burrow somewhat close to the house.
The problem was that Hugo had done little hunting over the years. It wasn’t a sport he enjoyed. The socializing and the riding were great. He wasn’t a fan of the shooting, so it wasn’t something he excelled at.
In the end, he told himself that it would likely be enough to just scare the fox away. It would start looking for food somewhere other than their chicken coop. At least, that was what he hoped.
As much as he hated that this task fell on his shoulder, he couldn’t complain too much.
The sun was shining, and the trees were heavy with thick green leaves.
It was a perfect spring day, and he was enjoying being away from the hustle and bustle of the world.
There was no pressure to be witty and make the most engaging small talk while daydreaming about sneaking out of the parlor through the closest window.
While Hugo might have forgotten about the prince, his mind still wandered to the masked stranger who’d spun the straw into gold. He’d seemed to be a carefree figure who didn’t have the weight of the world on his shoulders. He could travel about the kingdom and pursue any adventure he wished.
But why did he wear the mask?
And what had he been doing in the royal palace? It couldn’t be for any good reason. At least it had worked out for Hugo.
He was so lost in thought, he almost missed the rising cacophony of thunderous horses racing toward him until it was almost too late.
He was in the middle of a large meadow bathed in golden sunlight when almost a dozen riders broke from the shadows of the tree line.
Hugo lifted his gun out of instinct to protect himself despite being outnumbered.
His heart hammered painfully in his chest, and his hands trembled as swords and guns leveled on him. The riders circled him.
“Who-who are you?” he stammered even as his brain registered the men wearing the uniform of the royal guard.
“Drop your weapon and lift your hands above your head or be killed on the spot!” a soldier barked in a gruff voice.
Hugo tossed his rifle onto the soft new grass and placed his hands on his head.
“What are you doing in the woods?” the soldier demanded.
“I-I-I’m fox hunting.”
“Fox hunting, hmm?” a very familiar voice purred. Hugo’s cheeks heated, and his heart flip-flopped. He watched as two of the soldiers maneuvered their mounts, making way for another rider to come forward.
Prince Everand approached on a chestnut horse, looking devastatingly handsome in a black uniform with bright-silver buttons that caught the late-morning sun. Even his teasing smirk couldn’t detract from his handsomeness.
“Your Highness.” Hugo exhaled, his brain reduced to useless mush.
“And have you now located your fox?”
A choking noise escaped Hugo at such blatant flirting, but the prince’s grin didn’t waver for a second.
“There’s a fox…killing our chickens. I thought I’d kill it or at least scare it away,” Hugo mumbled, feeling so very inadequate under the harsh gaze of so many soldiers.
Everand’s smile softened until he heard a ripple of snickers from the guards surrounding Hugo, and his expression froze. It was as if his features were carved from ice.
“Enough, Captain. Call off your men. Mr. Baker is a friend of mine and is no threat to me or the kingdom,” the prince snapped.
The captain of the guard barked out orders while Everand climbed down from his mount. The guards all lowered their weapons and relaxed.
“You can lower your hands now, Hugo,” Everand stated, amusement bubbling in his voice.
“Oh, yes.” Hugo dropped his hands to his sides, embarrassment continuing to burn through him. As thought returned to his brain, he realized he was standing before the prince, and he’d not bowed to him yet. “Your Highness,” he gasped and bowed.
Everand’s warm chuckle washed over him, and a hand squeezed his shoulder, pushing him straight again. “No need for that. We were the ones who startled you. Have you had any luck in finding your fox?”
Hugo shook his head. “Not yet, but I fear I have little experience in hunting.”
“I thought people used dogs to help protect their chickens. Our Hunt Master also keeps a pack of them to flush out our quarry.”
A wry grin twisted Hugo’s lips. “I’m sorry to say that Lucy is twelve years old and sleeps soundly through the night.
She’s not quite the watchdog she used to be and is much slower now when it comes to the chase.
My brother Dorian keeps her too well fed to want to bother with a fox.
However, one of our neighbor’s dogs just had a litter of beagle puppies.
They’re too young now to help with the fox, but we’ve been promised one after they’ve grown a bit.
” Hugo bit his tongue to rein in his babbling mouth.
It was a struggle to keep from slapping his hand across his lips out of embarrassment. Who dared to babble at the prince?
But instead of the same bored expression Everand had worn during their ill-fated luncheon, the prince’s eyes lit up. “I bet they are adorable.”
“Incredibly adorable,” Hugo gushed, his tongue escaping from his teeth. “I visited the puppies a few days ago, and they’re still awkward on their feet, tumbling over everything.”
“I always wanted a dog, but Mother said dogs didn’t belong in the palace chewing on the furniture. We have dogs for hunting parties…”
“But you want one for a companion,” Hugo finished softly for him.
“Yes.”
The single word sparked something inside Hugo, and his breath caught in his throat.
Was it possible that he’d been wrong about Prince Everand?
Had he met him at a bad time? It felt like he wasn’t even the same person now.
Sure, he was still the flirty rogue, but there was something vulnerable and soft hidden away that Hugo longed to get to know.
Yet, even as that thought crossed his mind, the captain of the guards cleared his throat. Hugo and the prince jumped, breaking the stare that had trapped them.
Prince Everand straightened and took a step back. “You should return home. It’s too dangerous for you to be out here. Bandits have been spotted in the woods. We’ve come to get rid of them, but there’s a chance they could find you before we find them.”
“Bandits?” Hugo choked out. That was the first he’d heard of any bandits or cutthroats in the area, and news traveled fast through Buckleford. He needed to get home to protect his family. Their home was outside of town and surrounded by woods, making it an easy target.
“Of course. Thank you for that information.”
Prince Everand bent and picked up Hugo’s rifle. Their fingers brushed as Hugo reached to take it from him, and Hugo cursed the hot flush that washed through him.
“Be careful,” Prince Everand admonished.
“You too, Your Highness.”
Hugo took one step away from the prince, eager to put some distance between them so he could start thinking clearly. Except guards on horseback surrounded him. Not that it mattered. Beyond them were endless woods that appeared all the same no matter which way he turned.
He was lost.
“Um…Your Highness,” Hugo began and paused to swallow hard. “Did you and your men enter the woods by way of the main road? I seem to have gotten turned around.”
Everand’s deep laughter cut through the forest, and Hugo couldn’t help chuckling at the sound. Even if he was the butt of the joke, it was amusing. What were the chances of them meeting in the woods today? And of course, Hugo found himself in trouble yet again.
“Come.” The prince waved him over to his horse. “You can ride with me. I’ll get you at least pointed in the right direction prior to leaving you.”
“No, Your Highness. I couldn’t let you go to such trouble for me,” Hugo argued, but Everand had already turned his attention to the captain.
“Leave a couple of men with me while I take Mr. Baker to the edge of the woods. You continue your patrol. We’ll catch up,” Everand ordered, earning a salute from the captain.
Well, there was no point in arguing now.