Chapter 11 #4
Theo frowned as he remembered the young noblewoman confirming that Simeon had recently visited family in that area.
How recently? And now, after he’d apparently been absent from his master all day, a suspicious fire had broken out not too far from the capital.
Hadn’t he also been with them when the tower collapsed, almost crushing Elowen and Lady Sophia?
Theo distinctly remembered hearing his intervention praised.
It was the first he’d heard of the servant, the first day he’d arrived in Toledda.
And Simeon had showed up after the dam burst, too.
Unease and suspicion swirled through Theo.
The worst of it was that Elowen wouldn’t want to hear his thoughts.
She had some kind of attachment to the servant.
The familiar and hated spark of jealousy tried to light inside him again, and he fought back against it, trying not to let it color his judgment. Impossible to tell if it had done so.
He was relieved when the uncomfortable silence was broken by Lord Bertrand, regretfully saying that he’d best see his sister and servant home after all. Theo had never been more glad to see the back of anyone.
Elowen started to move toward the royal wing, but Theo stepped after her.
“Wait, Elowen.”
She turned, looking up at him with a questioning, almost hopeful expression. Theo swallowed, wishing all he wanted to say was an attempted apology as he’d earlier intended.
“How well do you really know Simeon?” he asked, his voice gruff with the discomfort of the question.
Elowen’s smooth brows drew together. “What do you mean by that?” There was an accusatory note in her voice.
“Only…how well do you trust his intentions?”
“His intentions?” She was moving rapidly toward haughty offense. “He’s never shown any sign of improper behavior toward me.”
“No.” Aware he was bungling it, Theo shifted forward, laying a hand on her arm to stop her as she half angled herself away. “I don’t mean that.”
Elowen stilled at once, swallowing visibly as her eyes flicked to his hand on her arm then up to his face.
“Then what do you mean?”
Speaking low, Theo laid out his suspicions, searching Elowen’s face as confusion was replaced by disbelief then alarm.
He thought she would refute his words, but she was silent for a long moment after he finished speaking.
“Why are you telling me this?” she asked at last.
Theo let his arm drop at last, rocking back and frowning at the question. “Because…because I thought it might be important for you to know all this. And I thought you might be able to help me understand it.”
“Really?” Her expression softened. “I appreciate you giving me your trust, Theo, I really do. But you’re wrong about this. There’s no way Simeon would be involved in anything like these disasters.”
Her words were confident, but he saw the unease in her eyes. His information had unsettled her. He wanted to press her for more, but for one thing, they still stood in the bustling entranceway, and for another, she really did look tired after the day.
“I understand,” he said, inclining his head in acknowledgment. “Hopefully the truth about all these incidents will come to light in the investigation.”
“Yes,” she agreed faintly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He watched her go, her movements graceful even in her weariness.
Her hair had come partially loose over the course of the day’s ride, and the effect was very appealing.
He wondered fleetingly how it would be if he could follow her, if they were retiring to the same room, if they were truly allowed to speak privately, to be just Theo and Elowen away from the eyes of the court and the expectations of their positions.
But that wasn’t the case. And even though both Elowen and her father had assured him that the alliance was secure, he was sure they weren’t telling him everything.
And he couldn’t shake the suspicion that the problems with the magic, the series of disasters, and the unconfirmed wedding date were all connected.
And this Simeon was mixed up in it in some form or another, that much was clear.
Theo strode from the entranceway, finding his quarry just outside the royal stables.
“Paulson.” He beckoned his guard to him, and the man hurried forward.
“Is all well, Your Highness? I was just checking our horses were properly cared for, and all seems in order.”
“Paulson, I have a job for you.” Theo spoke quietly and quickly, scanning the area to make sure no one could hear them. “The Torrenese royal guards have immediate security well in hand here. I want you to leave the capital and make some inquiries.”
“I don’t like to leave you, Your Highness.” Paulson sounded uneasy.
“I trust it won’t be for long,” Theo said. “None of the locations in question are too far away.” Still speaking at a murmur, he gave his instructions. “Be back as soon as you can,” he said, dismissing Paulson with a nod.
Theo’s mind was on the following day as he returned to the castle. He wasn’t needed at the tournament until the afternoon. In the morning, he would avail himself of the castle’s library for all the information he could learn about a specific aspect of magic craft.