Chapter 6 The Labyrinth
CHAPTER SIX
THE LABYRINTH
Breakfast had been left outside the main chamber of Lilyanna’s room with a curt knock. When I went to retrieve it, the corridor was deserted once more. I declined her offer to join after I’d laid everything out and slipped outside under the pretense of finding more tea.
In the light of day, the walls were even more stark.
Devoid of any homey touches, the dim light from the sconces neither warmed the air nor the atmosphere.
The flagstone floor was swept clean and the corners free of spiderwebs.
I’d heard no one moving about last night.
I’d hardly slept, what with listening out for Lilyanna and chiding myself for every second that slipped past when I should be resting so I would be refreshed and able to formulate some kind of plan today.
There had to be staff somewhere. Maybe I’d find them in the kitchen.
Matron must run such a tight ship that the help was stowed neatly away, neither seen nor heard.
I’d hoped the castle would be bustling, full of people watching and listening discreetly—the kind I could barter with.
The prince had to have secrets stored here somewhere.
I turned the corner expecting to see the dining room, but another identical passageway stretched before me.
How was I supposed to memorize the layout when everything shifted?
I should get some twine to thread my way through the labyrinth, marking the nearest exits.
I stopped and rubbed my eyes. Maybe the floor plan was mapped in my subconscious, and I just had to relax.
“What are you doing?”
I started. Clement stood in front of me, a heavy frown on his face. I suspected it was his default look. That, and irritation.
“Going to the kitchens. This place is a maze. It’s like the walls move.”
He scoffed. “You think the walls move?”
I pursed my lips. Was it too late to make a joke out of it? He’d not appreciate it anyway. It’d just bounce straight off his immaculate uniform and puffed chest.
His gaze floated over my shoulder. He paused, hand sliding to the saber by his side.
Before I could turn, he grabbed my arm and tugged me down an intersecting corridor.
It was so narrow, he had to tow me behind him.
I jerked my arm away as we emerged back within the wide aisle that led to Lilyann’s chambers.
Or at least I think that’s where we were.
I squared up to him even though I was at least a foot shorter. Heat splotched his neck, and his hand clasped the hilt of his saber. He leaned forward, speaking in an angry whisper.
“Why are you out by yourself? You do know women are going missing. I have enough to do without patrolling your whereabouts as well.”
“Just from in town, though. I’m safe within the castle, right? Only the prince’s fiancées have mysteriously met their ends within the boundaries you so rigidly patrol, my friend.” Goddess save me but winding him up was delightful.
He hissed through his teeth, lowering his face toward mine but didn’t answer my question.
“Am I in danger, Clement?” I repeated.
He pursed his lips, fingers drumming an obnoxiously loud rhythm on the diamond hilt at his waist. “Stay with Lady Lilyanna. That's your job.”
“But that’s not an answer. Stop speaking in riddles and tell me.”
“You’re supremely irritating,” he growled. Thrum-thrum-thrum, his fingers relentlessly struck the diamond.
“I’m annoying?” It took every ounce of self-control I had to not rip the saber from his hands to stop that infernal noise.
He stared at the ceiling, but whether hoping a slab would fall directly onto me or him, I didn’t know.
“You’ve been here less than twenty-four hours.
You arrived late, and you seem to have no idea what you’re doing and are incapable of doing the one job you’ve been told to do.
” He pointed at Lilyanna’s door down the corridor.
I opened my mouth to retaliate, but Clement was staring over my shoulder again. He stiffened.
The prince strolled down the corridor, the Bryn on his heels. “There you are Clement, you read my mind. And, Tam, isn’t it?” The prince smiled at me, dimples popping.
Why did he look so perfect? He was the spitting image of his portrait, not a flaw to be seen.
“Tam? Yes.” Heat itched across my chest and stained my cheeks. “That’s right, Your Highness.” I dipped into a half-curtsey, half-bow. Why was my tongue so thick and my throat so dry?
Clement grimaced behind the prince, and the Bryn arched an eyebrow.
“Please never do that again, Tam,” the prince said with a gentle laugh. “And not only because I have no idea what you were trying to do. Grovel? Spasm?”
Even my ears burned as I tried to mold my face into a neutral expression.
“I don’t wish to be treated like royalty, it’s why I left my mothers' dominion and set up here by myself.”
I nodded. I needed to scratch my neck or fan my face. The embarrassment was cooking me from the inside out.
“I like to treat my staff like family. My mothers hate it, of course, which, along with this tempestuous northern weather, means they rarely visit.” He shrugged and his smile widened. “And I have no plans to change.”
Okay, this was good. Maybe that would mean he would be easier to access.
It would certainly make spending time around him while chaperoning Lilyanna far more enjoyable as well.
My marks were usually conmen, criminals, and embezzlers.
I never asked Siobhan for the details of what they’d done but their secrets spilled out eventually. None had been innocent.
Acid crept up my esophagus, spurred by my wildly thumping heart. How was I to mark him, to physically destroy his life? Was he supposed to deserve it?
I shook myself. It didn’t matter. It never mattered.
The prince gestured for me to walk, and I led him the few paces down the corridor toward Lilyanna’s door. Clement kept himself inserted between us, enforcing his stupid three-foot rule.
“I’ve come to give Lady Lilyanna and yourself a tour of the castle. I heard there was some trouble finding the dining chamber last night?” the prince said.
That must have been what they were laughing about at dinner. “Yes, the layout is a little confusing.”
“The castle knows where you need to go. Sometimes when I find myself quite lost in an unexplored section, I just ask the walls for guidance and a passageway simply opens up before me, squirreling me back to the start.”
Was he messing with me? Clement had been adamant I’d been seeing things, but the prince was now insinuating the castle was magical?
Surely that went against every law in the queendom.
I wanted to call him on it but also didn’t want to offend him at the same time. This was not a problem I usually had.
“That’s useful,” I said. Goddess strike me down, what was wrong with me?
He gave a noncommittal reply, and Clement widened his eyes, subtly shaking his head. I ignored him.
“I’ll go and get Lady Lilyanna ready.” I dashed inside without knocking and shut the door. I pressed myself up against it, nothing holding me there but confusion.
“Where did you go? It doesn’t take that long to find tea.” Lilyanna paced the floor, leaving a large gap between herself and the hearth every time she passed.
“I got lost. Again. But the prince found me, he’s outside and wants you to join him.” I tugged on the neck of my sweater, still hot and flustered. He was unnervingly handsome up close.
“You were alone with the prince?” She stopped circling.
“Well, not alone. The guards were there, obviously. Although there would be nothing wrong with that surely. It’s not like I sought him out while your back was turned.”
She pursed her lips.
“Well, you’re dressed, so shall we go?” I waved at a half dozen discarded boxes scattered over the floor. Hats, furs, shoes, all manner of finery pawed through and left. I didn’t know what she was looking for, but it’d fall to me to tidy it all up later.
She huffed. “It’s Lady Lilyanna. You need to address me properly when we’re in company.”
I groaned, not bothering to hide my eye roll.
She twirled to face the door, her skirts buffeting my legs and pointedly waited. I groaned again, stepped around her and opened the door. I was halfway into a mock curtsey when I remembered who was standing on the other side.
The prince raised his brows, lips quirking as I stood to the side, and he reached for Lilyanna’s hand.
“You look beautiful as ever.” He kissed her hand gently and then wrapped it around his arm. “I hope you’ve found something amongst the gifts I left to please you.”
“Of course. I’m happy with everything you’ve chosen.”
I shook my head, knowing he had to have seen the mess in the room she left behind. I would’ve been happy with even one of the silken wraps or cashmere lined gloves. At least he was trying to make her feel comfortable.
They fell into step down the corridor with Clement and Bryn slotted in behind them. Without enough space between their bodies, I was forced to trudge along behind.
If only I could take the prince’s arm as well.
How easy it would be to stumble and dig my extended nails through the sleeve of his jacket.
Maybe I would enjoy walking beside him first though.
It wouldn’t hurt to take at least one lap around the castle.
It wasn’t every day that I was allowed this close to royalty, even if he didn’t act like it.
Lost in thought, I tripped over my own feet and almost crashed into Clement’s back. He gave me his now familiar irked expression and continued walking.
“I hope your maid is working out for you,” the prince said to Lilyanna. “She was highly recommended. Royal postings, tenured service, it really was quite an impressive list of credentials.”