Chapter Twenty-six
Sadie
I barely spoke on the flight to Ireland.
In fact, I fell asleep, so exhausted by the anguish of having to leave Vermont.
The boat ride to Verdalach passed with more silence from me as well.
My parents and Cian talked to each other, frequently trying to add me to their conversation but not meeting with any success.
With each mile of distance I put between Greenridge and myself, another portion of my heart turned to absolute stone.
All that organ did now was keep me alive.
It felt nothing else. Certainly no joy, no peace.
No love.
When we finally reached the palace, I had no idea what time it was, what day it was, whose life I was leading. Defeat weighed heavily on me. I’d almost done it. I’d almost created a brand new life, free from this place and its outdated ways. I’d almost been able to keep my true soulmate.
I’d almost achieved a happily ever after.
But all that was gone now, blown away like leaves on the autumn breeze.
All I had now was years and years of playing princess, of enduring being Cian’s wife, of longing for that perfect life that had been within my reach in Vermont.
It was strange that, although I’d been playing a role as Sadie Rodgers, being Princess Aislinn felt more pretend instead.
We entered the palace where a dozen ladies in waiting were lined up on the grand staircase.
“Transform the princess back into the princess,” my father ordered.
In the next moment, I was surrounded by the ladies and ushered up the stairs. I put on the brakes though and turned to look at Cian.
“Orla and Fionn,” I said. “Free them now.”
“Not until you marry me.” Cian folded his arms across his chest.
Something on my face, in the glare I sent him, changed his mind, however, and he let out a huff. “We’ll consider their release a wedding present for you.”
“I don’t care what you consider it.” My fingers curled around the stair railing. If it had been any other material aside from stone, I would have left indentations as I imagined strangling Cian around his stupid neck. “I want them freed and delivered to me immediately.”
Cian bowed to me, but the gesture exuded mockery. “Rest assured that as soon as your appearance returns to that of Princess Aislinn, your servants will be returned to you.”
“They are not servants,” I said. “Orla and Fionn are my friends.”
“They work for us,” my father said. “They are servants.”
The ladies in waiting urged me back into climbing the stairs. As they bathed me, groomed me, and dressed me, I caught glimpses of compassion in their eyes. They understood why I’d run away. They’d no doubt considered doing the same on many occasions.
“I’m sorry,” I finally said.
“For what, Your Highness?” one of them asked then lowered her gaze. “Forgive me. I should not have questioned you like that.”
“No. It’s fine,” I said. “I’m sorry for your lives here. For how my family has treated you.” I turned to face them. “For how stuck you all must feel.”
Shock registered on each of their faces. No one had ever spoken to them this way. As if they were real people with real thoughts and real emotions and real dreams that spanned beyond these palace walls.
I took the hands of the closest lady. “What is your name?” I’d never seen her before. In fact, all the women were new. Cian and my parents most likely had organized a new collection of ladies in waiting because they didn’t trust the old set.
“Laoise, Your Highness,” she said.
I asked the other ladies and committed their names to memory. “I promise I will treat you all with the respect you deserve. I’ll protect you as best as I can.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Laoise said, the sentiment echoed by the other ladies.
If I was going to be a captive here, I’d at least use what little power I held to improve their lives.
When the ladies were done primping, I regarded myself in the mirror. “There she is. Princess Aislinn Síomóin of Verdalach. How I loathe her.” I turned to Laoise. “Tell Cian your work up here is complete and that the princess requests Orla and Fionn be sent to her at once.”
Laoise curtseyed and scurried from the room while I dismissed the other ladies. I sat on the edge of a chair trimmed in velvet, wishing with all I had that I was seated on the couch in Hank’s cabin.
Or better yet, snuggled deep in bed with Beckett wrapped around me.
He must have known I was gone by now. I was still unsure of the time, but it was dark outside and the flight was long and Verdalach was a different time zone than Vermont.
Surely, enough time had passed, however, that Beckett had come to the cabin to pick me up for our costume shopping trip and had found me missing.
What had his reaction been? I probably should have left a note or texted, but Cian and my father had left no time for that.
Maybe it was for the best. If Beckett believed I’d abandoned him without a second thought, he’d be angry and wouldn’t come looking for me and he’d be safe.
We’d had a magical time together, but it was just a fond memory now.
One I would cling to when I had to spend the rest of my days standing by Cian’s side as his wife.
A soft knock sounded on my door.
“Come in.”
I ran to Orla and Fionn the moment they stepped into my room. The three of us hugged so tightly I feared we’d snap each other in half.
“I missed you both so much!” I cried.
Orla squeezed me tighter. “Oh, this place was terrible without you in it.”
“The worst.” Fionn gave me an extra squeeze. “You are truly the only light in this whole damn country.”
“I’m so sorry you were arrested because of me.” I held each of their hands. “I was selfish in leaving.”
“No, you weren’t.” Orla wiggled our joined hands. “You were brave and we were so hopeful you’d get the life you wanted.”
“But you came back,” Fionn said. “Because of us. You came back to save us.”
“Of course. I would never let you suffer because of the part you played in helping me escape Verdalach.”
“We should have been more careful,” Orla lamented. “We came so close to truly freeing you.”
“Though we’re overjoyed to see you again,” Fionn said, “it breaks our hearts to know you were dragged back here.”
“Was it going well in America?” Orla asked.
I gestured for them both to sit with me by one of the floor-to-ceiling windows in my chambers. We huddled together in the dark and cold room.
“It was wonderful in America. Like a wish come true,” I began. “The heroes in your romance books, Orla? They’re real. I found one.”
I proceeded to tell them both about Beckett, his family, my business, my clients, Hank and the cabin, and the small-town charm of Greenridge, Vermont. When I was done, I ached for all of that even more.
“And now you’re stuck in a tragedy instead of a romance.” Orla’s shoulders slumped.
“Maybe we were crazy to think our plan to get me out of my obligations here would ever work.” I sighed and rubbed my temples, trying to alleviate the banging headache plaguing me.
I should use some of my mindfulness techniques, but doing breathwork reminded me of everything I’d left behind in Vermont.
“I don’t think it was crazy,” Orla said. “We almost got away with it.”
“True,” Fionn said. “When it was first discovered that you were gone, Cian made a big show of barking orders about finding you. Your parents fully supported him and many resources were assembled to locate you. It was all hushed though so as not to draw public attention to your disappearance.” He drew in a breath and sifted it out slowly.
“As the days passed, then the weeks, however, their eagerness to find you waned.”
Orla nodded. “It was as if they gave up. I overheard Cian asking your father about marrying one of your female cousins.”
Just as I’d suspected he’d do. His lust for power was not attached by any genuine feelings for anyone. Aside from himself.
“Then, that laundry staff member came forward,” Fionn said, “and the search was back on. In a matter of hours, Cian had us brought to him, accused us of helping you, showed us the picture of you at that mindfulness event and your website.”
“He suddenly knew exactly where you were, Fionn and I were arrested, and Cian and your parents were headed to America to bring you back,” Orla explained.
“And now we’re free, but you’re imprisoned again.” Fionn rubbed my arm.
“I’m afraid this is my destiny.” I took Orla’s hand and Fionn’s. “But at least I have you two.”
Orla put her free hand atop mine. “Always.”
“We are loyal only to you,” Fionn added. “And if you want to escape again, we’ll help you.”
Orla nodded. “We’ll just have to—” She stopped talking when I held up a hand.
“There will be no more escaping,” I said. “I’m certain that at least a few of those ladies in waiting are spies for Cian or my parents or perhaps both.” I scanned the room. “Someone might be listening in on us right now for all I know.”
Orla and Fionn both surveyed the room as I had, but with so many shadowy spaces and little crevasses, we’d never be able to spot anything definitive. My friends both sported worried expressions on their faces and I felt compelled to comfort them.
“Hey,” I said, drawing their gazes back to meet mine.
“As long as I’m here, I will make sure you are both protected.
Though Cian and my parents succeeded in bringing me back to Verdalach, they also now know I’m capable of leaving.
If they don’t want me to embarrass them or the country, I’ll always have something to bargain with. ”
Orla and Fionn’s faces relaxed a little, but not enough.
“Let’s do some yoga together,” I suggested.