Edwin rose as well. “Are you certain? I mean, of course. Goodnight.”
Taking my lamp, I headed back out of the library. I paused at the door and looked back at Edwin who was staring at me with such a forlorn expression that I almost rushed across the room to him.
Almost.
“Goodnight, Edwin.”
He smiled then nodded. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Good god, were there ever two more awkward people in the world? Grinning, I turned and left. Maybe, just maybe.
Chapter 19: Not Quite Milk and Cookies
We spent the following day getting ready. The rug in the princess’s room was cleared, and we worked at drawing the pentacle underneath, reinforcing it with faerie warding. Faeries were slippery creatures. Though not part of my routine beat, I knew there were others who monitored their movements. A full troupe hadn’t been spotted in London since the Frost Fair of 1814. But then it was the good faeries, the Seelie, whose Golden Troupe who had appeared. I had no idea when a dark creature from their world had last been seen. Perhaps it was Sir Gawain who’d last tangled with a boggart. But Gawain had won. Would we be able to do the same? Much depended on the princess, who didn’t seem the slightest bit inclined to be helpful.
“Just look at this floor. Mother. Mother! Look what they are doing to my floor,” Princess Helena said with a stomp of the foot.
“They are doing it to protect you, my dear,” Her Majesty reassured the child.
“Rubbish. They are ruining my Christmas, and you are letting them! How will I ever play with my new dolls in such mess? How will I try on my new dresses if they are here in my room? If they scare Santa Claus away with their occultism, I shall have them both hanged.”
“Helena! Occultism? Please. Now, get what you’ve come for and let’s go. We have guests to meet.”
“You’ll have to buy me a new rug. The bottom of this one will be completely ruined after this,” the Princess said, snatching a red bow trimmed with beads from her dressing table before heading back to the hallway.
Queen Victoria paused to watch our work.
“Mother!” Princess Helena screamed from afar.
“I’ve gone through twelve governesses. Twelve,” the Queen said to no one in particular then turned and followed the unruly child back outside.
When we were done, Edwin went to check in with the palace guard while I prepared the mistletoe. If worse came to worst, either Edwin or I would have to cross into the Otherworld to retrieve the missing children. If we didn’t get the children out by the stroke of midnight, it would be too late. Once Christmas arrived, Krampus would be gone, and his victims along with him.
I stared at the fireplace.
And if we were wrong, if Krampus did not come for the princess tonight, then another child would be lost. The rest of them too. But I had no doubt in my mind that Princess Helena had to be the target. She was the naughtiest child I had ever seen.
“Do you need anything?” a voice called from the door. I looked up to see Prince Albert standing there.
I curtseyed. “No, Your Highness.”
He gave me a curt nod. “I understand you tracked the beast to the Duck House. My wardens tell me there is evidence of fire in the building.”
“Yes. We tried to capture the beast there, but we were unsuccessful. Fire was involved, but ineffective.”
“I wanted to rebuild that building anyway,” he said with a thoughtful smile then looked from the drawing of the pentacle on the floor to me. “My wife tells me you and Agent Hunter are the best in your agency. My daughter is precious to me. We understand that the beast will come for her no matter where we go, what we do. My men will be here. We cannot let this monster have her. Do you understand? You must protect her. My daughter, my children, are everything to me.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I do. I will protect her, or I will die trying.”
The man nodded once more, and without another word, he left.
After he’d gone, I wondered then about the fierce love between a parent and child. If a parent could love their child no matter their temperament, love them with all their flaws, and love them fiercely, then how had I ended up on the steps at Saint Clement Danes?
Chapter 20: Why So Naughty?
It was very late when Her Majesty tucked Princess Helena into bed. The Queen lay down beside her.
“Princess,” Edwin said, standing at the child’s bedside. “Don’t be afraid. Agent Louvel and I are here. We will protect you. And your father and his men will be stationed just outside the door. No matter what you see, don’t be scared. We are all here to keep you safe.”
“Scared? Of a boggart? Daft man. Only a bad person would try to scare a child on Christmas eve. Shame on you, sir. My mother should have you relieved of duty and stripped of title. See to it, Mother,” the child said with a yawn then fell asleep.
I raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Her Majesty shook her head. “Edwin, what should I do?”
“Now all we can do is wait.”
The Queen looked down at the sleeping princess. “It is my fault,” she said. “Despite my best efforts, I could never calm her temperament nor her tongue.”
“Don’t judge yourself so harshly, Your Majesty. Children often sprout in the opposite direction of their parents’ care just to spite them,” I said, hoping to comfort her.
“As I did,” Edwin said with a smile that the Queen returned.
“And may we all thank God for that,” she told Edwin with a soft laugh. “But she has put herself in danger. I fear for her,” the Queen said as she brushed a stray strand of hair away from her daughter’s face.
“We’ll protect her,” Edwin assured her.
Her Majesty laid her head back down then collected her child in her arms. To my surprise, the little princess sighed contentedly and wiggled deeper into her mother’s embrace. While she had the mouth of a devil when she was awake, asleep, Princess Helena was the picture of sweetness.
I looked at Edwin, who nodded, and we took up our positions not far from the fireplace.
And then, we waited.
And waited.
The chime of a grandfather clock somewhere down the hall had just sounded eleven fifteen when the air in the room stirred like someone had opened a window. A cold breeze filled the room, a flurry of snowflakes whooshing out of the fireplace as green light filled the princess’s chamber. I smelled the familiar scent of peppermint and heard the jingle of bells.
From my spot in the darkness, I saw the beast emerge.
His eyes were fixed on the princess’s bed. He never even passed a glance our way.
Edwin moved out of the darkness. He nodded to me. I lifted the length of chain I was holding and threw the other end to Edwin. He caught it before the beast could even see what was happening and, working quickly, we ran toward one another, binding the chain around the monster.
Krampus howled angrily, and jerked at the chains that entangled him, but having stepped fully into the pentacle hidden under the rug, he was frozen.
“What is this? What is this?” the beast yelled.
The princess sat up in bed, the queen rising beside her, gathering her child protectively into her arms.
Princess Helena’s eyes grew wide.
The monster laughed, tugging on the iron binds Edwin and I had wrapped around it.
“We know what you are now,” Edwin said, rushing behind the beast to bind his wrists with the garland of mistletoe. Between the steel, the trap, and sacred herb, we had the monster right where we wanted it. “Now, you will leave the princess in peace, and you will release the children.”
The monster laughed. “You will never get the children back. They belong to my world.”
“Not until midnight, they don’t,” I said. “Release them,” I said then pulled my gun, aiming it on the monster.
The beast snarled. “Go get them yourself, Little Red.”
I g
lared at him.
“What children?” the princess demanded. “What children are they talking about?”
“The beast has kidnapped eleven children. You were intended to be the twelfth,” the Queen explained.
While we had informed the haughty princess of all this before, apparently she hadn’t listened. Maybe it hadn’t seemed real until there was a seven-foot monster in her bedchamber.
At that, the princess stood up in her bed. “You! You nasty creature. How dare you capture my subjects? Where are they? Release them immediately.”
Krampus laughed. “They are there, proud princess.” He looked back at the fireplace. With a bob of his pointed chin, the portal opened wider. Though the portal was surrounded by green flames, we could see a cage in which all the children were trapped.
“The children,” Victoria said with a gasp. She rose as if she was planning to go retrieve them herself.
“No, Your Majesty,” Edwin said. “Stay with Clemeny and the princess. I’ll go.”
Krampus laughed. “Try it, foolish mortal.”
“No, Edwin. Let me,” I said then moved toward the fireplace. “I can see,” I said, motioning to my mooneye.
Not waiting for him to reply, and not letting myself have a moment to think better of it, I moved toward the portal. To my surprise, however, I met with a barrier blocking my path. I couldn’t break through.
Krampus laughed. “Who are you, werewolf hunter, to enter my world? You have the right blood, but you know nothing.”
Frustrated, I turned and pressed my pistol into the beast’s back. “Set those children free now. Silver may not burn you, but I’m guessing being shot at close range will smart a bit. Set them free. Now.”
“If you kill me, and they will live among my court forever.”
The princess hopped off her bed. In her long pink nightgown, she approached the beast. Edwin moved toward her.
“Let those children go,” she told the monster.
“And why would I? My realm is for monsters, for children like them and you,” Krampus said with a hiss.
Angry, the princess kicked the monster in the shin, making him laugh.
“You see,” he said.
“If only a monster can enter your world then so be it!” the princess declared, and without another thought, she turned and ran straight into the fireplace and out of sight.
“Helena,” Queen Victoria screamed which prompted the bedchamber door to open and a flood of soldiers, headed by Prince Albert, to appear in the room.
“Ready your weapons! Aim—”
“Stop,” I called, stepping in front of the firing squad about take down the beast.
“Helena, Helena,” Queen Victoria screamed, fighting against Edwin who was restraining the queen as she struggled to get to the fireplace.
“Agent Louvel, Agent Hunter, explain yourselves,” Prince Albert demanded.
“Sir, we need the beast alive to keep the portal open,” I hastily explained as I looked down the barrel of a dozen muskets.
“Helena,” Victoria called.
I looked back toward the fireplace. The image on the other side was distorted. I saw movement. The green firelight flickered.
Once more, a cold breeze whipped through the room. A whirlwind of snowflakes blew across the bedchamber.
“This way. Right this way. Everyone hold hands. Hang on tight, and don’t be afraid. Right this way,” I heard Princess Helena say.
Gasping, I stared.
Hand-in-hand, the princess led the children out of the fireplace, out of the Otherworld, and away from Krampus.
“There. Go to my father. There,” she said, ushering each child toward Prince Albert. I recognized little Elizabeth from the miniature of her that her father had worn. The guttersnipes were well-marked by their clothing, as was little Nawali the stable boy. I counted as each child rushed out and ran to the prince. Eleven children and the princess. Twelve in all. All safe and sound.
Princess Helena turned and faced down the monster.
“Go back to your realm where you belong. You are forbidden from entering our world ever again. Do you understand?”
“Brave little princess, it hardly matters what I understand. Do you understand why I have come? All of you?”
The terrified children hiding behind the prince nodded vehemently.
Krampus turned to the princess. “And you?”
“Point taken. Now be gone, monster,” she said.
Hands shaking, Queen Victoria came to stand in front of Krampus. Her large, piercing eyes met his. “May mistletoe bind you,” she said, sketching an arcane symbol in the air before her. “And let mistletoe ward you,” she said, drawing another symbol in the ether. “Wherever the sacred plant is present, you will not pass,” Queen Victoria added, finishing off her…spell? “Tell the Unseelie Queen that if I find any of her underlings in my realm once more, she will face my wrath,” she added in a low, dark whisper then motioned to Edwin and me.
Grabbing the beast, we pushed him back through the portal.
The fireplace sealed once more just as the clock in the hallway struck twelve.
Princess Helena smiled. “Happy Christmas, one and all.”
Chapter 21: Sinners Reconciled
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Though it was midnight, the entire royal household was awake. The children sang as they gathered around the large Christmas tree in the royal family’s parlor. Princess Helena had spent the last half hour trying to convince her brothers and sisters that she was telling the truth about what had happened. Of course, they thought she was pulling a prank. I could see from the fire in the little princess’s eyes that she was growing increasingly angry, but she managed to keep a lid on her anger. Seemed Krampus had taught her a lesson after all.
Messengers were sent to the families of the children to inform them that their little ones had been recovered and could be safely retrieved from Buckingham.
“I will spread the fashion,” Queen Victoria said, linking her arm with Edwin’s. “Mistletoe has always been a favorite. I will decree it the most festive thing for families to keep a bundle of mistletoe in the home during the holidays.”
“And how will you ensure they follow the fashion? Some will find it too pagan, remembering its Celtic roots,” Edwin said.
Victoria snapped her fingers. “We’ll tell them that if they spot their love standing near the mistletoe, they can snatch a kiss.”
“We shall have a shortage of mistletoe in England,” I said with a grin.
We all laughed.
Smiling, I looked at the children. While the families would soon arrive for Elizabeth, Tobias and the others, the poor street rats would not be so lucky.
“Your Majesty, some of the children are without homes, without families,” I told her.
She nodded. “So I was informed. I have offered them places here. Always room for another page or stablehand.”
My queen continually surprised me. I curtsied to her then crossed the room to Lucas and Tom, the boys from Saint Clement Danes. Lucas stood with his arm linked around a girl’s—presumably Bunny—waist.
“Boys,” I said, nodding to Tom and Lucas. “I will be returning to the Saint Clement Danes area tonight. May I take you home?”
Tom nodded. “Yes, please. You’re Agent Louvel, Widow Louvel’s granddaughter, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’ll be leaving shortly,” I said, glancing back at Edwin, who was joking with the queen.
I turned to Lucas. “And you?”
He gazed at Bunny. “Her Majesty offered us work here. I think I’ll…I think we’ll stay. Never thought I’d get to work at the palace. How can you say no to that?”
I smiled at him. “I’ll inform Pastor Rosenberry,” I said, secretly delighting in anticipation of the Pastor’s shocked expression. “Tom, I’ll be leaving in a moment.”
The boy nodded.
Queen Victoria left Edwin to make her rounds about the room. I rejoined Edwin. “I need to take Tom back to Saint Clement Danes. Since my grand-mère lives close by, I thought… Well, it’s Christmas, and she is alone.”
Edwin shifted. “Oh. Yes. Well, it’s very late. I am sure she’s worried about you. And young Tom must be exhausted.”
“Yes. Well, I wanted to mention… My offer of dinner stands, if you’d still like to come.”
Edwin looked down at me, his eyes soft. He smiled gently. “I’d like that very much.”
Hell’s bells. I’d nearly forgotten. “I must warn you, my grand-mère is under the impression that you and I are very close to being affianced and that you're desperately in love with me.”
Edwin smirked, raising an eyebrow. “Is she?”
I felt my cheeks redden. “A simple misunderstanding.”
“I shall do my best to humor her.”
I smiled. “I’ll see you later tonight then.”
Considering it was not long after midnight, tonight was accurate even if it was still dark outside.
He nodded. “Be safe.”
“You too.”
Leaving Edwin, I went to the queen and princess. “I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. I’ll return Tom to Saint Clement Danes and retire for the evening.”
Queen Victoria nodded. “You are commended for your service, Agent. I cannot thank you enough.”
“You are very welcome, Your Majesty.”
The princess stepped forward and curtsied to me. “Thank you, Agent. I can see what you risked for me, for all of us. Thank you.”
I smiled at her then curtsied. “You’re very welcome, Princess.”
The child nodded to me then turned back to the others.
I grinned at Victoria, whose eyes delighted in the small change—at least for tonight—in her child.
Waving to Tom, I motioned it was time to leave.
I cast one last look back at Edwin, who stood by the fire. My heart ached to leave him there. But there was still Grand-mère to contend with, and keeping her enthusiasm for my fictionalized version of Edwin was going to be more challenging to manage than taking down Krampus.
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