Chapter Five Wilde #2
Apparently, I should have asked my fellow attendants for help spying on the champions.
I followed the attendant to his ‘hidey-hole’, which was now crammed full of eavesdroppers.
The scent of musk and sweat clung to the air but everyone ignored it as they positioned themselves to peer through the available holes.
Without seeing the other side, I didn’t know exactly what we were looking through, but the ragged edges of canvas implied it might be a painting where all the subjects’ eyes had been cut out.
Connor caught my curious glance and whispered, “Exciting, isn’t it? Thinking that anyone could be on the other side, looking back at you while you’re thrusting—” he cut off when the person next to him jabbed an elbow into his side.
“Shh, they’ll hear you!”
With so many crammed into the hidey-hole, we were each only allowed one eye hole to peer through. I was backed into one corner with someone sitting on my foot, another person’s head in my stomach, and a third person using my head as an arm rest.
Maybe my original method of spying was better after all.
Although I couldn’t complain about the view.
From my spot, I could see the whole small but lavish dining room.
The table was already set with plates and silverware but no food.
Brendon, Rick, and Kit were the only people gathered around the table.
I wondered how the other parents’ absence would be explained.
The door opened and the five royal champions walked through. They didn’t take their seats, instead spreading out in a line before their audience. They stood in two groups, the space an important distinction. Maximus, Delilah, and Fitz stood on one side, Trey and Angelica stood on the other.
An attendant came over to whisper something to Fitz. Pain flashed across his face before smoothing out into stoicism. He cleared his throat and announced to the room, “We’ve made our decision.”
I leaned closer to the portrait, straining to hear every word.
I needed to know as much as possible about their upcoming quest to infiltrate it—no, that sounded too evil.
Join them? Assist them? Something more neutral.
I didn’t care about their failure or success as long as I found a way to bond with Trey.
“We’ve agreed to marry.”
I stared at Fitz, waiting for him to laugh at the tasteless joke. They weren’t getting married. They were going on a quest. Marriage shouldn’t even be an option. There were five of them. Yes, Fitz had sisters, but they weren’t here, they didn’t count, and this was not supposed to happen.
Fitz kept talking, like this was a serious discussion and not some prank they were playing on everyone. “Angelica will marry Trey.”
Angelica wrapped her grimy little fingers around Trey’s bicep and leaned her head against his shoulder, a smug smile slipping over her lips like snail slime.
“And while we understand it’s unconventional, Maximus and I will both marry Delilah.” Delilah looped her arm through both men’s and beamed up at them.
“Two husbands?” Kit exclaimed.
Finally! Someone understands why this cannot work.
“That sounds exhausting,” Kit finished with a laugh. “Are you sure you don’t want to marry Angelica instead? Wives are better, trust me.”
“Husbands have their perks,” Brendon said, picking up Rick’s hand and kissing it sweetly.
I searched everyone’s expression, expecting someone to object to this farce. But the parents barely glossed over the logistics and immediately launched into wedding planning. As if this would really happen. As if Trey would bind himself to someone else for life.
I backed away from the portrait, but my knees struck the woman behind me.
I started to fall backwards and instinctively reached out for something to catch myself.
The next person grunted when I grabbed his shoulder, and he jerked away from me.
His momentum sent him into the next person, and they both wobbled precariously, forward and backward, toward the portrait, away from it.
“What are you doing?” someone on the bottom demanded. They shifted, trying to stand up.
“Stop!”
Too late, they’d thrown the wobbling duo forward. They fell like dominoes, taking half of the eavesdroppers with them as they tore through the painting.
The chatter in the room stopped as all eyes turned toward us.
The tangled, thrashing pile at my feet was so busy and confusing that most people only glanced at it briefly before looking directly at me. The broken canvas framed me, hiding the other eavesdroppers and giving them time to flee before they were identified.
Trey’s eyes unerringly found mine and his brow furrowed with confusion, and maybe a little recognition? Though he probably only recognized the footman his cousin had harassed. This was the worst time to be recognized—I would absolutely be fired.
Delilah’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Her lips silently formed the first letter of my name.
The situation could not be salvaged. Trey was engaged, Delilah recognized me, and all the staff caught spying on their masters would probably be fired.
I snapped my fingers and commanded, “Reset.”