Chapter 11 The Carriage #2
Huffing out a breath, Luci picked up the basket and tucked it under her arm.
Luckily, Calcifer was a predictable sort of cat.
It was about noon, which meant he would be sunbathing on the large windowsill that overlooked the front of the manor, having just finished his lunch.
Sure enough, sprawled on his back with his paws curled up close to his body, legs stretched, the great orange beast was purring contentedly.
It was astounding that Brielle should want to leave the clockwork of Blythe.
Every moment and every incident is written in perfect surety.
The same routine every day. No mysteries or chance for scandal.
Just the sweet aroma of strawberries and reliability.
There was nothing better to be found in the hills and mountains of Meridea.
Everything they needed was right here.
“Sorry to interrupt, but turns out we're going on an adventure,” Luci said, setting down the basket next to Calcifer.
The cat cracked one green eye open and eyed Luci like she was a troll come to offer him a one-sided bargain. It was probably accurate enough.
The nice thing about Calcifer was that he was either too lazy or too ginormous to fight when manhandled.
So though his purring ceased and his eyes were wide, he didn’t try to run when Luci scooped him up into one arm and grabbed the basket with her other hand.
In fact, aside from an audible wheezing that said he was distressed, the cat was remarkably still as she walked him towards the carriage where Brielle was already seated, and Prince Ira waited at the door.
Those dimples were on full display as he watched Luci struggle with an overgrown cat and the basket. At least he had the good sense not to save the day.
“Would you prefer I relieve you of the cat or the basket?” he said, meeting me halfway.
It was tempting to kick the gravel below her feet, but somehow she managed to show restraint.
Either way, she made a point to step around him, ignoring the ache in her arms that begged for reprieve.
What she was not going to do, though, was give the prince the satisfaction of rescuing her.
After all, this was all his fault on every level.
His chuckle grated along her skin, but Luci ignored him as she reached the carriage.
“Calcifer!” Brielle called.
She reached out and took the beast, pressing kisses to his cheeks and head.
There was no objection from him, and in fact, when she set him onto her lap, he resumed his purring symphony lulled by Brielle’s pets.
He did, however, reserve a glare at Luci for the inconvenience and disruption of his schedule.
“Don’t look at me, it’s her fault,” Luci said, hopping into the carriage.
She settled across from Brielle and calculated all the reasons this was a terrible idea. To begin with, a pale sheen collected over Brielle’s face, and her bright eyes held a glaze to them.
“Change your mind.” Luci pleaded.
True to her nature, Brielle winked at her and shook her head.
“No, thank you, I’m quite determined,” she said.
Luci groaned and settled back into the plush seat, resting her arm on top of the wooden lid of the basket. If Brielle was determined on this course, then at least Luci would be there to make sure she took her tonics and rested when she needed.
“Would you like a sleeping tonic for the ride?” Luci asked.
The answer was a roll of Brielle’s eyes. Stubborn.
“All right, that should do it.” Prince Ira said.
This carriage wasn’t big enough. Being stuck inside Blythe was one thing, but spending the next hour in his company was unfortunate to say the least. He slid in and settled next to Brielle, patting Calcifer’s head gently. The cat didn’t bother to open his eyes, now soundly asleep.
“He might be the largest cat I’ve ever seen.” Prince Ira said, closing the door and tapping the side.
The carriage lurched to life, and Calcifer’s eyes popped wide open, flicking back and forth. Brielle’s giggle was an evening breeze as she leaned down and buried his face in his fluff.
“It’s all right. Just a little ride,” she murmured.
A small protest of a mew broke from him, but when he was certain the world was not going to implode around her, he settled back into her lap, tucking his paws beneath him.
“He’s a menace,” Luci said, clicking her tongue.
The truth was that Luci was very fond of the little miscreant. He was good-natured and eager for company. Not to mention, he made Brielle happy. Maybe that was how she would view Prince Ira in time.
She eyed him while he petted the cat, smiling down and exchanging words with Brielle about Calcifer’s softness and demure nature.
Brielle’s smile lit up her too-pale house while she regaled him with the time Calcifer walked by a candlestick and lit his bottom on fire.
The two of them seemed to be always laughing like life was meant for levity and joy.
He was everything Luci would have picked for Brielle if she could have. If she was forced to share her friend, Prince Ira was more than she could have asked for. Kind, thoughtful, with an easy laugh. Still, he was too perfect. It felt like a facade of sorts, a mask.
For a moment, Luci was standing at the ball in a pretty dress, wondering how many people saw his genuine smile and feeling strangely lucky that she was one of them.
Then he tricked her into a room of mirrors and proposed to her best friend.
She couldn’t fault Brielle for falling for his charm when she’d done the same.
“I don’t know what it is about carriages, but they always make me sleepy.” Brielle yawned.
“I offered you a tonic,” Luci said, eyeing her friend with suspicion.
She shrugged and let her head fall back on the red plush behind her, shutting her eyes.
“I don’t want to be drowsy when we get there. I think I’ll just rest my eyes for a moment if you both don’t mind,” she whispered, half asleep.
No one slept like Brielle Treveon. The world could be ending, and she would still nod off amidst the screams. It was a trait Luci had long envied in her. Certainly, Luci’s waistline would be smaller if lack of sleep didn’t end up meaning midnight trysts with the kitchen.
“Of course not, do you need— “ Prince Ira trailed off as Brielle let out a long breath, head tilted to the side.
“Don’t bother, she’s already asleep. If you want to find actual magic, you can figure out how she does that.” Luci said.
Prince Ira raised his eyebrows and shook his head, clearly impressed as he should be.
“I’m lucky if my tossing and turning only lasts an hour.” He made a show of running his hand over his chest. “I can’t be sure, but I think this feeling— could it be envy?”
Despite her resolution to despise him, Luci felt the corner of her lip pull up.
“Does it hurt terribly?” she asked.
He clasped his heart and curled his lips in pain. “I might die from it. How do people endure it?”
Rolling her eyes, Luci's laugh was hoarse and out of place.
“Are you always this dramatic?” she asked.
She made the cardinal sin of turning her gaze from the countryside back to him after he didn’t respond for a few moments. Green fields with scattered trees gave way to the crown prince with a smile that reached ear to ear, dimples on full display.
“I made you laugh,” he said.
Scratching a phantom itch on her nose, Luci sniffed and returned to watching the countryside pass and monitoring each bump of the carriage.
“Hardly. I was merely being polite,” she said.
“Lying to the crown prince is a punishable offense, Miss Blackthorn,” he said.
“Good thing I’m not lying,” she insisted.
Where she expected more pushback, instead, the prince let out a sneeze, one after the other, until Lucinda counted a grand total of three. Withdrawing a handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped at his nose, sniffing loudly.
“Are you all right?” Luci asked.
As he cleared his throat, his red eyes came into view, as well as a small dark spot below them that reminded Luci of her sleepless nights.
“I’m fine,” he waved his hand in nonchalance.
Deciding the prince was a liar, Luci scooted herself down the bench to assess him more closely.
Sure enough, his eyes were now slightly puffy.
Lifting her hand, Luci touched the back of it to his forehead, but he wasn’t on fire by any means.
No cool sweat to his skin. She reached for his cheek, but he grabbed at her hand, holding it between his two.
“It’s the cat. I’m allergic to cats, but I’ll be fine,” he said.
Luci stared at him and back at Calcifer asleep on Brielle.
“Why didn’t you say something?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Brielle wanted him with her.”
Brielle. The mention of her best friend was ice water over her, and she pulled back her hand and retreated to her corner of the carriage.
She had quite lost her mind for a moment, rushing over to him like he was a damsel in distress.
In fact, her heart beating fast and erratically told her she was too on edge.
If she didn’t clear her mind, she wouldn’t be able to think clinically.
Eye swelling, redness, and sneezing. His body was reacting unfavorably to Calcifer, but that wasn’t an ailment that Brielle ever endured, so there was no tonic within the basket that was sure to work.
Still, if it were an inflammatory process, Ginger and turmeric might serve the purpose.
Lifting the basket cover, she withdrew the vial and held it out to him.
“I don’t know if this will help, but it’s worth a try,” she said.
He shook his head and sniffed once more.
“I’ll be fine. The same thing happens when I’m around my sister’s dog. Master Hartrich has tried for years to come up with a solution, but it’s a minor inconvenience. Once we get home, it’ll take about three hours, but I’ll be back to normal.”
“Maybe he’s not a good healer,” Luci said, grabbing Calcifer from Brielle’s lap.
His purring ceased immediately, but when he realized it was only Luci abducting him, he curled back up and resumed his purring with the help of a few strategically placed pets.
Lazy cat. It probably wouldn’t make a difference, but putting as much distance between the prince and Calcifer was worth a try.
Without Calcifer, on her, Brielle murmured something, her head lolling to the side to rest on Prince Ira’s shoulder. He stiffened for only a moment before he placed a careful smile on his lips and readjusted his position so that Brielle could lie more comfortably.
A sour sort of feeling burned in Luci’s stomach, reminding her of when she ate too much roast from time to time. It felt as if she were intruding. Neither of them would say it to her, but they were engaged. Luci was only along because Brielle needed her.
Taking a deep breath to steady her, Luci forced her attention out the window, where gray clouds gathered above, mirroring her own feelings.
Maybe it was seeing Brielle with someone that she might end up needing more than Luci.
Simple jealousy. The truth was, there was no convincing Brielle that this was the wrong path, so Luci would have to find a way to live with her jealousy.
All she could hope was that Prince Ira was worthy of her.