CHAPTER EIGHT VILLAIN WITH A HERO’S FACE
DINING HALL
SAL? DE MESE
brAN CASTLE
“You do make the best entrances, Wadsworth. Half the young men at that table want to marry you now. I’ll have to work twice as hard on my fencing skills to defend your honor.”
I loosed a breath as Thomas folded himself into the seat across from me, plate piled high with savories from different regions, likely intended to accommodate students from across Europe.
And sweets. Mrs. Harvey had been right about his affinity for desserts.
I’d been so distracted by the boy I was certain was on board the train, I hadn’t noticed Thomas near the buffet.
“I hardly believe that’s true. I just made enemies, is what I did.” I stole a scone from his plate after he’d slathered clotted cream on it. “Anyway, I dislike all of the young men at that table, Cresswell. No need to turn in your scalpel for a foil just yet.”
“Careful, now. You’ve voiced the same charming sentiments about me. I get jealous rather easily. I want to have a duel, not raze the academy or burn it to the ground. Though it might improve Moldoveanu’s attitude, actually. Promise you’ll visit me in my cell?”
I smiled despite the topic and inspected my friend. “You know no one could ever annoy me as much as you, Cresswell. Hopefully they’ll think twice before mocking me again.”
“I’m quite certain it won’t be the last time you’re teased.
” Thomas grinned while he covered another scone with cream.
“Men enjoy the hunt. You have now proven you aren’t easily won, which makes you an interesting challenge.
Why do you think so many heads are mounted on walls?
Displaying trophies of our accomplishments is like saying ‘I’m strong and virile.
Just look at that stag head in the study.
I not only hunted it, I set the trap and coaxed it into my lair.
Here’s some brandy, let’s pound our chests and shoot something. ’”
“You’re saying you’d like to trap me and hang my severed head above the mantle, then? That’s so utterly romantic. Do tell me more.”
“Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat, interrupting us. “Would you mind if I sat here? V? rog?”
Even while sitting, Thomas somehow managed to stare down his nose at the dark-haired boy who’d rudely laughed at me earlier and was now standing beside our table. There was nothing lighthearted in Thomas’s expression now.
“If you promise you’ll be nice.” Thomas slowly pushed his chair back, the limbs screeching against the floor in protest. He’d not moved far enough to allow the young man to come between us.
I was reminded of how tall and long-limbed he was, and how he could use it as another weapon in his arsenal.
“I’d hate to see Miss Wadsworth embarrass you. Again.”
Tension pooled from him in thick waves—so dark and turbulent I was nearly pulled under.
I’d never known Thomas to show such strong emotions before and thought there might be something else going on besides his annoyance on my behalf.
Perhaps Thomas had already encountered the dark-haired boy and it hadn’t gone very positively.
It didn’t take much to deduce that this wouldn’t end well. The last thing either of us needed to contend with was Thomas being expelled for—whatever he was about to unleash. Right now he was every bit the villain with a hero’s face.
“How may we help you, Mr.…?” I allowed the question to hang in the air.
As if Hell wasn’t unfolding around him, the young man angled himself toward me in an intimate way, and I reconsidered who was in danger of being thrown out of the academy: Thomas might very well be the one holding me back from landing a well-deserved slap.
“I apologize for my earlier behavior, domnisoar?,” he said, accent soft and lilting. “I also beg forgiveness for my companions. Andrei”—he pointed to the brute, who nodded curtly in response—“and Wilhelm, my cousin.”
My attention drifted back over to the sickly young man from the train. Wilhelm’s color was even darker than before. Such an odd shade. It appeared as if he’d gotten smudges of reddish dirt on his face. I’d never seen a rash quite so horrible before. Beads of sweat dotted his brow line.
“Your cousin seems unwell,” Thomas said. “Perhaps you should tend to him instead.”
We watched as Wilhelm hoisted a large black cloak around his shoulders and hunched toward the door. I needed to speak with him, find out what he might know about the victim from the train.
The dark-haired boy moved into my line of sight. “Permite-mi s? m? prezint. Er… allow me to introduce myself properly.”
He offered a shy smile, but it faded a bit while I kept my expression neutral. If he thought turning his charm on exceedingly high would endear him to me, he was quite mistaken. He sat taller, and an air of station dropped across him as if it were a velvet cloak settling into place.
“My name is Nicolae Alexandru Vladimir Aldea. Prince of Romania.”
Thomas snorted, but the young prince kept his gaze locked onto mine. I inhaled sharply, but made sure surprise didn’t show in my features, assuming he’d dropped his title in hopes of seeing the reaction he’d gotten from some other young men and women.
My suspicion was confirmed when his smile faltered, then vanished altogether the longer I went without reacting. I’d not allow myself to be treated so poorly, then swoon in the next breath. His title could likely buy much, but it couldn’t purchase my affections.
The entire room went silent as a church service while they waited for me to speak. Or bow. I was probably breaking all manner of protocol by not standing immediately and dropping into a curtsy. I smiled sweetly and leaned in.
“I’d say it was pleasant meeting you, Your Highness, but I was raised to not utter untruths.”
To keep from being entirely improper, I offered a slight incline of my head and stood.
The expression on Prince Nicolae’s face was exceptional.
As if I’d discarded my glove and slapped him with it in front of all these witnesses.
I almost felt sorry for him—it was probably the first time anyone had offended him so ruthlessly.
Whatever was he to do with someone who wouldn’t hang on his every princely word?
“Mr. Cresswell,” I nodded toward my friend, “I’ll meet you outside.”
The boy with the red curls, sitting nearby, shook his head as I gathered my skirts.
I couldn’t tell if he was impressed or disgusted by my audacity.
Without looking back, I left the room. Clanking sounds of forks falling onto plates, mixed with Thomas’s deep chuckle, accompanied me into the hall, where I allowed myself a small laugh of my own.
Even the Italian brothers had lifted their attention from their studies, their eyes wide as petri dishes.
My satisfaction was cut short when I noticed Headmaster Moldoveanu standing there near the open doorway, vein pulsing in his forehead.
He moved swiftly toward me, and I swore a great winged beast was prowling along behind, talons scraping the stone.
I blinked. It was only his shadow, made enormous by the torchlight.
“Careful whom you make enemies of, Miss Wadsworth. I’d hate for more tragedy to befall your already fractured family. From my understanding, the Wadsworth name and lineage are nearly wiped from existence.”
I flinched. Father had posted a rather vague obituary regarding my brother’s death, though the headmaster sounded as if he suspected foul play. He inspected me closely, lip peeled back in what was either a smile or sneer.
“I wonder how strong your father would remain should something terrible happen to his last remaining child. Opium is an unpleasant habit. Rather hard to recover from completely. I’m sure you’re aware of that, though. You seem to be mildly intelligent. For a girl. I hope I’ve made myself clear.”
“How did you—”
“It is my duty to unearth every morsel about prospective students. And I do mean every crumb. Do not make the mistake of believing your secrets remain yours. I uncover them from both the dead and the living. I find truth pays quite well once discovered.”
A coil of slick fear twisted in my intestines. He was threatening me, and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. He stared a beat longer, as if he could glare me from existence, then marched into the dining hall. I slumped only after he’d made it to the far side of the room.
“Breakfast is now over,” he announced. “You may do as you wish for the remainder of the day.”
I quickly ran to my room to fetch my winter coat and a new pair of gloves, anxious to be outside this wretched castle and its miserable inhabitants.