Chapter 15
Luna paused halfway down the stairs, pressing one hand to the wall, the other to her racing heart.
For some moments, she couldn’t move. She could only stand there, listening to the sound of Ward’s footsteps as he wandered around the shop below.
Listening as well to the absolute silence overhead.
She felt caught between two polarities, unable to move one way or the other.
Equal but opposite forces seemed to pin her in place.
Then, with a whispered prayer of, “Green Mother save me!” she shook her head, drew her shoulders back, and dragged in a breath.
Smoothing down her iron-styled ringlets, she lifted the front of her voluminous skirts and continued her descent.
It was time to face Ward. And whatever this evening would bring.
Feeling strangely cold inside, Luna stepped out from the stairwell.
Ward was across the shop with his back to her, but she spotted him immediately.
Even from behind, he looked magnificent.
He wore his dress uniform, which she had never seen before in person, only caught a brief glimpse of in a teacup vision.
All dark blue and white and gold, with long tails and tall boots.
He looked as though he belonged on the billboard for a historical romance flick.
Luna cleared her throat softly.
Ward turned on heel, and his eyes bulged at the sight of her. “Why—why gods damn and smite me!” he swore, jaw dropping. “Luna Talbot, is that you?”
A flush stole up Luna’s throat. She didn’t quite like the intensity of the admiring gaze he sent running all over her, but she plastered a smile on her face.
If she had to play at being John Ward’s girl tonight, she’d better make a good show of it.
“Do you like?” she asked and gave a little spin.
The silky flower-petal skirts flared lusciously around her legs, and the dew-drop jewels caught the light in delicate glints and sparkles.
But Ward’s gaze remained focused on her, not her gown.
Luna began to feel rather exposed when she came back around and found him obviously ogling her.
Too bad she didn’t have some kind of wrap or shawl to wear.
At least Mr. Grimm had provided her with the sorcery cream.
It might be bootlegged, but it was certainly effective: her tattoo was completely invisible.
Which, of course, was illegal, but somehow she didn’t think Ward was going to complain.
It wasn’t as though he wanted to prance around in public with an obviously heptagram-marked woman as his date.
Ward drew closer, shaking his head. An expression of awe suffused his features. “I must be the luckiest bastard in Ballycastle tonight,” he murmured.
Luna’s flush deepened. For some reason, she found herself straining her ears for some sign of life from Mr. Grimm.
But there was nothing. No sudden clatter on the stairs, no emotion-choked voice calling out her name.
It was as though he’d suddenly poofed out of existence.
Would he not even come to see her off for the evening?
Ward reached out, caught her hand, dragging Luna’s attention back to him. He grinned down at her, dimples blazing. “Just wait until you see what I rented for tonight! Seeing you in that dress, gods! I’m glad I did too. You deserve the best, Luna Talbot.”
So saying, he motioned toward the front shop window. Luna looked. And then looked a second time. It was her turn for her jaw to sag in shock. “Is that . . .” She stopped, blinked, and tried again. “Is that a carriage?”
It was. An actual, bona fide, horse-drawn carriage, parked on the curb of Addle Street.
White and gold, with flickering coach lamps, a uniformed driver in a powdered wig, and a footman clinging to the back.
Two white horses with golden plumes between their pricked ears munched from feedbags, unbothered by the automagic mobiles trundling by.
The incongruity of the sight was so incredible, Luna was obliged to pinch herself, just to make certain she wasn’t hallucinating.
Finally, she turned to the man beside her. “What possessed you, Ward?”
“Oh, you know.” He shrugged easily. “Seems like if I’m going to sweep you off your determinedly-planted little feet, I might need all the props I can get.
Speaking of . . .” With a bow, he offered up a small corsage.
It was made up of white gardenias. Not a match for her pink-and-yellow rose gown, but not a clash either.
“I picked this up for you at Bloom’s Bliss on the way down here,” Ward said.
“Thought it would dress up your little green number, but uh, I guess it’ll have to do. ”
“Thank you, Ward,” Luna said, accepting the flowers and holding them to her nose for a little sniff.
“They’re lovely.” Suppressing the part of her which resisted wearing flowers from any shop other than The Arcane Bouquet, she slipped the elastic loop over her wrist. In the same moment, Ward’s hand slithered familiarly around her waist, and he swooped in for a kiss.
Luna just managed to turn her head, receiving a big smack of lips on her cheek.
She tittered nervously, hoping he wouldn’t take offense. “Shall we be off then?”
Ward fetched her winter coat from behind the counter. It was a shame to cover up her glorious gown with such a shabby article, but she’d not thought to borrow Joan’s fur. At least she’d have some protection against the winter cold, not to mention Ward’s uncomfortably admiring gaze.
They emerged from the shop onto the sidewalk, and the uniformed footman jumped down from the back of the carriage and hastened to open the door, pulling out a stepstool.
It was all so foreign and elegant and strange.
Luna hardly knew where to look or how to feel.
Yes, she’d driven a horse-drawn cart back home in Crimble, but dear old flea-bitten Gwendolyn Astoria was hardly comparable to these magnificent specimens of equestrian beauty, in their gold-embossed tack and their feather plumes.
The carriage itself was an absurd contraption, and Luna wondered if they would look glamorous or ridiculous when pulling up in the governor’s driveway.
The footman offered his hand, and Luna moved to climb aboard.
She paused, however, one foot on the stool.
Turning, she looked back over her shoulder, up to the apartment window overhead.
Her eyes searched. But she could see no sign of a stern-faced person behind the reflections on the glass.
Mr. Grimm seemed to have lost all interest in her or her doings.
Apparently, he was more than happy to play fairy godfather and send her off for the night with another man.
“Luna?” Ward’s voice broke through her churning thoughts, warm with concern. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, Ward.” Setting her teeth, Luna climbed into the carriage, pulling her massive skirts in behind her. “Let’s go to the ball, shall we?”
Though no stranger to the glamorous dwellings to be had among the elite of Ballycastle, Luna found she was entirely unprepared for the sheer size and splendor of the Governor’s mansion.
She’d thought Bruxley Hall was something; this was ten times more magnificent.
A veritable palace, complete with marble columns and courtyards and almost painfully symmetrical formal gardens.
An enormous fountain dominated the central circle of the driveway, a monstrosity of mythic creatures spouting foam from their throats.
No expense had been spared to bring the magic on this night.
The gardens were lit up with thaumatic lights, casting an enchanted glow over everything.
Peering through the carriage window, Luna could see gorgeous men and women in spectacular garments strolling the garden paths.
Apparently the splendor of this ball was too much to be contained indoors.
Most impressive of all was the atmosphere.
Surely sorcery must have been used to cast such a balmy, spring-like air over everything contained within the high brick walls.
Green Magic simply wasn’t powerful enough for a working on that scale.
Luna wrinkled her nose, half-convinced she could smell the hypocrisy.
Apparently, the Ballycastle elite were allowed to utilize sorcery when convenient, even for an event to which SSSD officers were invited.
She found herself wondering what had become of all the confiscated black-market Dire Matter which Ward and his fellows had rounded up last night.
Did the governor keep it locked in his own cellars for personal use?
“Are you feeling all right?”
Luna turned to find Ward watching her closely as the carriage rumbled slowly along the drive, wedged between luxury automagic mobiles. Hastily, she painted a smile on her face. “Yes, of course. It’s all very splendid, isn’t it?”
Her date laughed. “I’ve got to say, the way this carriage lurches about is making me a bit seasick. Maybe I should have just rented a limo or something!”
“Oh, no, the carriage is a nice touch,” Luna hastened to assure him before turning her gaze back out the window again.
In the back of her mind, she heard the long-ago echo of Extremely Great Aunt Amelia’s voice, spoken over a cup of bitter tea: “My, my! For such a scrawny, ill-favored little creature, you’ve got quite the romance in store for you.
I see ballgowns and carriages, moonlit gardens, and a daring man risking all to save you from certain doom. ”