by Aya Ling
I lean back in my chair. “You know, I’ve always been wondering how the peers are okay with this new electorate system, after they’ve been used to the hereditary legislature. Just a week ago, they’d have fought tooth and nail to preserve their power.”
He grins. “Do you know what I said in Parliament that morning, before the bomb went off? I told them that if they continue to block the tax bill, I will create enough peers from the commoners.”
“Huh?” I know the monarchy can knight someone who has made a great contribution to society, but creating peers just for the sake of passing the law? “Can you actually do that? It’s like you are coercing them into agreement.”
“Since I learned Charlie Quinn had formed the Union, I had a premonition that the old system could not survive. Augustin’s predicament confirmed my worst fears. I wished I could instigate change, but as you know, I do not possess executive or legislative power. It did not occur to me until one day I sat down and went through the things I am allowed, that this idea came to me.”
“Awesome.” We both grin at my modern usage. I glance at the desk; there’s only one pile of letters. Edward is more efficient at taking care of letters than I. “So how do you feel taking over my job? Bored to tears?”
“It cannot compare to working in the gardens. However, this letter will be of interest to you.” He passes me a long white envelope. “The author may surprise you.”
“Katriona Bradshaw?” My jaw drops. “Why would she be writing you?”
“It is an apology to you, after she learned her sister tried to have you killed.”
I scan over the letter. Katriona is doing well in the north—she has reunited with her mother, and she is currently running Lady Bradshaw’s estate. She has not found love yet, but she is hopeful that one day she will find someone who values her. She sends her best wishes, concluding that even if I never came back, she didn’t think she could spend the rest of her life with Edward.
It’s ironic, honestly. Katriona, who was overlooked and ignored, ended up the lady of a manor, while her sister is banished from the country.
“Oh my.” I come across a rather unflattering description of Edward. “Katriona even said when she looked back at the days she spent with you, you were no different from a block of ice.”
“Not when it comes to you.” He turns me to face him, setting his hands firmly on my shoulders. Recognizing the desire in his gaze, I close my eyes and lean in. But before our lips touch, brisk footsteps sound on the floor.
I move away, embarrassed. Unlike Mabel, Amelie isn’t fazed when she catches us in an intimate embrace.
“There’s an urgent message for both of you.” She places a large, crimson-gold card on the table. “My apologies for interrupting. Please, carry on.”
We look at each other and I giggle. “Oh my God,” I wipe a tear from my face. “How can she maintain such a serious face?”
Edward turns the card in his hands, and his expression changes.
“What?”
“It’s a wedding invitation.” Edward hands me the card. I recognize the crest of Somerset House—the first time I’ve seen it was in a personal invitation sent by his cousin.
Oh my God. Henry and Elle are going to be married. Finally.
* * *
I throw a handful of delicate pink petals into the air when Elle, the beautiful bride, walks slowly down the aisle. She holds a magnificent bouquet that is a colorful contrast against her simple white dress. All the roses, peonies, and ferns in the bouquet are handpicked by Galen. Peach-colored ribbons stream from the bouquet, so long that they trail to the floor. It’s a miracle she doesn’t step and trip on them. But then, Elle is nowhere near as clumsy as I am.
The palace chapel only has a dozen rows of benches, but they’re enough for the small, select group of guests. There’s Mrs. Thatcher, Billy, Mr. Wellesley, the Duchess and Grand Duke of Somerset, Galen, Poppy and Mr. Davenport, the king and queen, a few other close relatives, and Miss Cavendish. When Elle returns from her honeymoon, we will gather and discuss the reopening of Princess College. With the taxes from the peerage, we should have enough funding to attract teachers and pupils alike.
Henry, dressed in a simple black velvet suit, waits at the alter, which is decorated with pots of lavender and white hydrangeas, also courtesy of Galen’s work. It must be a far cry from the elaborate wedding that the duchess must have had in mind, but after the bombing of Parliament, even she knows it is better not to flaunt a costly wedding, as Lillie did. They could have waited until the people gradually forget about the stupendous wealth of the peers, but both Henry and Elle are determined not to postpone their marriage any longer.
Mrs. Thatcher is wiping tears from her eyes when Henry and Elle say their vows. She could never have expected that her adopted daughter, brought up as a servant in a lady’s household, would turn out to be the daughter of an earl and even marry a duke.
Poppy is sitting next to me, a huge grin on her round face. She looks less exhausted now, as she tells me Mr. Davenport agreed to hiring a live-in nanny, and they have continued to schedule date nights. When the priest proclaims Henry and Elle man and wife, and they kiss in front of everyone, Poppy leans toward me and whispers, “Isn’t it the grandest thing? Elle won’t get those lonely looks when she comes over.”
“Actually, now that she’s married, she might have less time to visit us.”
“Oh well, she is marrying a duke.” Poppy’s eyes are gleaming. “When is your wedding, Kat?”
Sometimes I have the urge to introduce a bill in Parliament, in order to decrease the time between the decree nisi and decree absolute. Three months has never seemed so long. But considering the many new laws that must take priority, I tell myself it doesn’t make that much difference. Edward and I are living together in the suite, though we continue to sleep in separate bedrooms, due to his injured ankle and mulish insistence that we shouldn’t be intimate before marriage.
* * *
On a bright, sunny morning, it arrives. I could frame the piece of paper that declares Edward, Prince of Athelia, is now an unattached man and free to marry anyone of his choosing.
“Katherine Wilson. Finally, you will be officially mine.” Edward brings my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles, as though we were at a ball.
That’s it? Looks like I have to take the initiative.
“Now that our marriage is settled.” I lay my other hand on his chest. “Can we finally sleep together? I have been craving your body for ages.”
He raises an eyebrow. “That is not an appropriate thing for a young lady to say.”
“A young lady you are proposing to spend the rest of your life with.”
He chuckles. The next second, he sweeps me into his arms and carries me to his bedroom.
“Consider yourself forewarned.” He sets me on the velvet spread and places his elbows on both sides of my head, his eyes filled with burning desire. “I shall not let you out of this bed until you are completely exhausted.”
After a long, passionate night, we fall asleep in each other’s arms. I’ve barely dropped off to sleep when there is a popping noise.
I crack an eye—Edward wasn’t kidding when he said he’d make me exhausted—and my drowsiness instantly is chased away. A mottled-green goblin is hovering on top of the bed, his wings flapping, his yellow eyes round and wide.
Krev has appeared.
“Dang, girlie.” He lets out a whistle. “Sleeping with Eddie already?”
I sit up, pulling the blanket up to my chin. “Krev! What are you doing here?”
Edward grips my hand and glares at Krev. “She is not leaving.”
Krev sticks out his tongue. “As if I’d do that, after all the trouble getting her here. I came to tell you we’ve found every book Barthelius made, and destroyed almost every passage to your world. Once the last passage is removed, you’ll never be able to access your own world.”
Last time he came to Athelia, he had already told me that P
ippi was doing penance by closing off the routes between Athelia and my world. I knew it was going to happen, but still, a pang enters my heart as I think of Mom and Paige. For the rest of my life, I will only have my memories of them.
I swallow and nod. “I understand.”
“There’s another thing you’ll be glad to learn.” Krev flies closer. “Remember when I said the magic used to create the oxygen spell is used up? There was a goblin, Yasuk, who had taught Borg the oxygen spell and many more. Yasuk went into hiding since Borg’s downfall, but Morag tracked him down and gave him a series of tasks to make up for his involvement in the war. One of the tasks she ordered him to do is to create a spell to last for three days in your world.”
“Wait…what?” My head is spinning. “There’s another goblin who can help me survive in my world?”
“Actually, he can do a spell for both you and Eddie. Morag has always felt bad for you two, ever since she blocked your memories of Athelia. She’s a romantic at heart, just like her daughter. Females.” Krev shakes his head and makes an exasperated noise. “She’s been searching for a way that can let you bring Eddie to your family, and assure them you are safe and happy. If she weren’t so persistent, we’d never have found Yasuk.”
“Oh my god.” I gape like a fish. I’d love to have Edward meet my family, but never expected that it would be possible.
“Remember, girlie, this is going to be your one and only chance. After Yasuk creates the spell and we get you back to Athelia, Barthelius will have the last passage removed. We can’t afford another disaster like yours. It used to be a source of entertainment, but after the war with Borg, and your separation from Eddie twice, Barthelius decided there can never be any communication between the two worlds. So, are you taking this chance or not?”
“Are you kidding me?” I look at Edward, who gives me a firm nod. “When can we leave?”
48
Kat
Morag has gone out of her way to arrange everything for our trip back to America. As the only portal left is the one in Cornwall, Edward and I will have to go to Professor Bartlett’s house in the beginning, where we’ll take a taxi directly to the local airport, transfer to Heathrow, and catch the next flight to Vancouver. Morag had communicated with Professor Bartlett, who’s thrilled to hear from the goblins again, and promises to do everything he can to assist us.
“Your mother is getting married,” Krev says. “We’ll coordinate your trip so you can attend her wedding. In fact, if it weren’t for your mother, we would have sent you back sooner. Barthelius wants to have the passages destroyed as soon as possible.”
At this point, I’d throw myself under a bus for Morag. Or, in the world of Athelia, a speeding carriage with horses gone berserk.
Since we’ll be gone for three days, I discuss with Edward how to arrange it so we won’t be missed. Furthermore, we’re not sure if the king can spare us. We’re still pretty busy with rebuilding Parliament and preparing for the first voting for the Athelian people. In the end, Edward enlists the help of his mother. Queen Isolde, having learned that the goblins are going to transport us back to my world for three days, is astonished of course, but after a long time explaining, she agrees to help us.
“I can persuade your father you deserve a vacation after that shocking day at Parliament,” she says. “And Kat has been working herself to death. I can take over her role while you both are gone.” At my look of disbelief, she laughs. “Come, Kat, this is going to be my chance to be part of this new system. It’ll be a refreshing change from my usual routine. But are you sure you’ll be back in three days?”
“Positive. We can’t survive in my world without the goblins’ magic. We’ll have to come back before the magic runs out.”
Edward is also beside himself that he’s getting to visit my family. Outwardly he maintains his mask of calmness, but as one of the few close people in his circle, I know he’s nervous.
“Come on, Your Highness,” I say on the night before we’re leaving the palace. I’m lounging on his bed, reading, while he’s pacing in the room. “They’re going to love you, I swear.”
“It is not their opinion of me that worries me.” Edward approaches the bed and sits on the spread. Raising his hand, he caresses my face. “It is you. I worry you will be overcome with emotion and pain, because…this is going to be the last chance.”
“Well, I can’t pretend that I won’t break down, but before Krev appeared, I never thought I’d get to see them again, much less with you.” I lean forward and kiss him. “I’m gonna be sad, but you’ll be there with me. That’s what really matters.”
* * *
Krev finds us at an inn near the mountains up north. Here, near the fairy realm, the magic is strongest. He wastes no time transporting us to the goblin’s dwelling, where we spend a short but memorable time meeting up with Barthelius, Morag, and Pippi. Then the oxygen spell is performed on us so we can breathe in my world’s air. Both of us are sporting bright red marks on our arms when we are brought to the last portal that will connect us to our world.
We stumble through the portal, which is a glowing light in the distance. For a moment, it feels like I have been blinded, but then I get up. As I blink and look around, we are on a large, rolling hill. The weather is perfect, warm and balmy, and the sky above is a refreshing blue, as though it were painted from watercolors.
Edward rises and looks around, his brow furrowed.
“Your world looks… normal. Where are the gasoline carriages you mentioned?”
“That’s because we are on the hills. Wait until we reach civilization. Are you all right? No bruises or anything?”
“Perfectly fine.”
“Right. There’s no time to lose. We’ve got to reach my family as soon as possible.”
We rush down the hill until we run into a group of tourists. All look super surprised, because Edward and I look nothing like hikers or backpackers. Since the clothing in Athelia is way more old-fashioned, and it’s not like we can wear the fancy apparel from the palace, I had done my best to select something that won’t make us stand out in our modern world.
I’m wearing a pink pastel cotton dress with short sleeves, but it reaches right to my ankles. It looks like I am going to go to a country dance. Edward, on the other hand, looks like a classic film star in his long gray trench coat—one brave girl asks him if he’s a foreign celebrity. He looks confused, and I quickly assure them we’re ordinary folks.
“Um,” I say, offering a bright smile. “My husband and I are stranded in this area—stupid, I know. Can you tell me how to get to the nearest town?”
The tourists look astonished, but they’re willing to guide us to the local town. There’s a cab waiting for us at the bus station—Professor Bartlett had arranged it to pick us up and drive us straight to his house.
“Extraordinary,” Edward whispers as the driver starts the engine and we roar down the street. “It is as magical as you described.”
I grin. “This is just the beginning.”
Patty, the dog, barks when we reach the cottage. She remembers me.
Professor Bartlett opens the door and beams. “Katherine Wilson,” he says wondrously. “What a pleasure to see you again! And this is…dare I say…little Isolde’s son?”
“Yes,” I grin. “Edward, meet your mother’s tutor. Remember that your mother had a tutor who taught her new ideas? This is the man. He also ripped up a book and was transported to Athelia decades ago.”
Edward holds out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
The moment he speaks, Professor Bartlett’s face lights up. “That is exactly how your mother spoke,” he says, and there’s tears in his eyes. “You look more like your father, but there’s something in you that reminds me of Isolde. Come in.”
Under previous instructions from Morag, Professor Bartlett had taken care of booking our flights to Canada. The real trick is our passports. To make things easier, Morag created two fake passports for Edwa
rd and I. We’ll be traveling under fake names, as British citizens. If we’re questioned, I’ll say we’re visiting friends in Canada, and use Ryan’s Vancouver address.
The kettle starts whistling. Professor Bartlett moves to the kitchen, but I say, “Can he get it instead?”
Professor Bartlett shows Edward the stove, and how it’s powered by electricity. For the moment, he’s like a child. He’s completely fascinated by how technology works in our world. While Professor Bartlett and Edward engage in an exploration of modern technology, I call Mom.
Mom might be busy with wedding preparations, as it’s Paige who picks up her cell. “Paige! Guess who’s calling?”
“Kat!” she squeals. “The professor said you’re coming back, and I couldn’t believe it. Oh my God—so you’re at his house now?”
“Yeah. I’m also bringing Edward.”
Paige lets out another squeal. This is so unlike her, acting like a fan girl at a rock star’s concert. “The storybook prince really came with you? Oh my God!”
She keeps asking me questions about how I managed to come back, until I tell her I have to go. We need plenty of time to get to Heathrow.
I open my old-fashioned satchel and present Professor Bartlett a golden pocket watch from Athelia. He had insisted on paying for our trip, even though Mom could reimburse him.
“It’s beautiful,” he says, opening the lid and marveling at the clockwork. “They don’t make watches like these in modern days anymore. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Katherine.”
