Prisoner Princess (Belles & Bullets Book 5)

by Caylen McQueen

  “You drive, if you think you'd be so much better at it!” Kieran barked a reply as he pummeled the motocarriage's horn. “You look so damn smug, but you probably couldn't drive for shit!”

  As the horn blared, Lyneah winced. “I wouldn't be surprised if Kieran swerved to hit him,” she said. “They hate each other, after all.”

  “I don't know,” Tobias disagreed. “I'm probably the only one who knows them both. I like to think they have a sort of... mutual respect for each other.”

  Tobias' opinion was challenged when Kieran hopped down from the motocarriage and Doon shoved him. “Look, you've practically ruined my deck! And why would I need to drive this piece of strap metal and rubbish when I have an airship? I don't waste my time with useless vehicles.”

  “This vehicle isn't useless, she's beautiful!” As he protested, Kieran got revenge. He gave his rival a violent shove.

  “She's not beautiful, she's got bloody bullet holes!”

  “The holes give it character!” Kieran claimed, stealing Carol's words.

  “Then maybe I should stab it a few times with my sword, huh? Would that give it even more character?”

  “Maybe I should stab you a few times with my sword!” Kieran countered. “That would give you more character! I'm sure Captain Doon as a corpse would be vastly more tolerable than what I'm looking at right now!”

  “You really are an ungrateful idiot.” Doon threw up his arms and laughed. “I'm taking you to Bordeaux, and this is how you treat me?”

  “Oh, boo hoo. Why don't you go cry about it, Francis? I'm sure I've broken your damn heart.” Kieran started to draw his sword, but it didn't make it out of his sheath. As soon as he saw Ella heading toward him, Kieran released his weapon and crossed his arms. Even before she spoke, he looked chastised.

  “Are you being naughty, Kieran?” Ella asked. “I heard yelling.”

  “It got a little... heated,” Kieran admitted. “But now that I've seen your face, my mood is infinitely better.” Wrapping an arm around Ella's shoulders, he steered her away from Francis Doon. “Ella...” he lowered his voice, “you aren't angry with me, are you?”

  One of Ella's eyebrows raised. “No. Why? Should I be angry?”

  “Well, I did lie and tell everyone you were my girlfriend. But maybe it didn't bother you? Hell, maybe you liked it?” Kieran sounded hopeful.

  “It didn't bother me. I thought it was kind of fun.”

  “I'm just trying to figure out why everyone believes it.” As they strolled the deck, Kieran slipped an arm around Ella's shoulders and held his breath. He expected her to shrink away from his affection, but she didn't. “You're probably the loveliest girl I've ever seen. They've got to be thinking to themselves... how did a beautiful girl like that end up with a big brute like Kieran?”

  “I'm sure they're not thinking that. I'm sure they're thinking...” Ella's voice trailed off when she felt a subtle rumble beneath her feet. “Ooo... is the airship taking off?” When they lifted off the ground, she ran to the side of the airship to watch their ascent.

  “You better hold on to the rail, love,” Kieran advised her. “I doubt you'd fall off, but you can never be too careful.”

  Ella's fingers curled around the rail as they soared above buildings and trees. She was standing close to one of the ship's propellers, and its hot wind whipped back her braided hair. “This is amazing...” she whispered, barely loud enough for Kieran to hear.

  “Aye. I've always wanted my own airship, but... unless you're disgustingly rich, you steal one, or you inherit one, it's a bit difficult.” Kieran started to wrap his arm around her again, but he didn't want to test his luck.

  “Look... birds!” Ella gasped as she pointed at a flock of ducks flying in a skein. “We're as high as they are!”

  “I know, so look out for their droppings! It's easier to get shat upon when you're so close you can practically smell the feathers.”

  Ella's nostrils flared when she turned to the man at her side. “Kieran... you're kind of ruining the moment.”

  “Sorry.” Kieran croaked an apology. For the next few minutes, he didn't utter a word. He gave her a moment to enjoy the ride in silence—he wanted her to be in a good mood before he asked his next question. “So, uh... Ella.” As he leaned toward her, Kieran's mouth curved into a grin. “Would you, uh... would you like to have dinner with me sometime?”

  “Sure.”

  He was surprised by how easily her answer was given. “Really?”

  “Sure,” she repeated. “Why wouldn't I? I like you. You're a good man. I think you're a lot better than you give yourself credit for.”

  “And... here comes Miles,” Kieran sullenly reported. “Try to look like you like me.”

  Ella giggled. “Try? But I do like you!”

  As he came closer, Miles held his ice-blue monocle over his eye. He seemed much more interested in looking at Ella, even though he said, “Hello there, Mr. McCray. It's lovely to have you on our airship again.”

  “If only your captain agreed.” Kieran had such an aversion to Doon, he didn't even want to utter the other man's name.

  “And is this the girlfriend I've been hearing about?”

  “Uh... yes!” Ella answered the old man's query on Kieran's behalf. Thrusting a hand toward Miles, she said, “I'm Ella.”

  “It's nice to meet you, Miss Ella,” Miles said as he gently took her hand. “You're as beautiful as I've heard.”

  A tiny groan rumbled its way up Kieran's throat. Every time someone else believed his lie about Ella, he felt a little bit guiltier. Ella didn't seem to mind, but he hated to get her caught in it.

  “So, I hear we're heading to your hometown?” Miles' monocle never left his eye.

  “Yes. Bordeaux. And I'm excited to see my brother again. He's the reason I went to the capital, to get some medicine. Kieran was kind enough to take me.”

  “Anything for my beautiful girlfriend,” Kieran added with a wink.

  As Miles studied her, perhaps a bit too intently, Ella exclaimed, “I never imagined I'd be on an airship! It's strange to think we're heading to Bordeaux just for me. I'm sure no one else wants to go there.”

  “Well, it really isn't the greatest town in the world, love,” Kieran told his faux girlfriend. “It's more like the worst place in the world. I should really get you out of there, find a better home for you.”

  Ella's eyebrow raised. If it was a lie on top of his lie, she was disappointed in him. “Would you really do that?”

  Ella would never know his answer, because Miles interrupted. With a slightly tremulous finger, the old man pointed at the necklace she wore. It was a custom-made old metal owl with multicolored eyes. One of his eyes was a ruby, and the other was a jade. “My dear, where did you get this?”

  “From my mother.” Ella removed the owl necklace and handed it to Miles, letting him get a better look at it. “It used to he hers. I've always thought it was unique, so...”

  “And what was your mother's name, dear?”

  “Jessa Clark.” Ella turned to Kieran and frowned. “She passed away a few years ago... which is sad, because you would've liked her, Kieran. She was funny, smart, wise. I'm sure she would've liked you too.”

  “I would've liked her,” Kieran agreed, though it felt a bit odd to do so. Ella was talking to him as if he was actually her boyfriend—not that he minded.

  “Miss Clark...” Miles began. When he finally moved his monocle, he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “This might come as a bit of a shock, but I believe you might be my granddaughter.”

  Twenty Eight

  The next morning, Julian had to summon a great deal of courage to check his reflection in the looking glass. He hated to see himself. His left eye—brown, shining and bright—was replaced by a fleshy red hole. It wasn't bleeding anymore, but it hurt like hell.

  “At least I'm not completely blind,” Julian half-heartedly whispered to his frowning reflection. “Or dead.”

  He was trying t
o make himself feel better, but he couldn't deny that it was life-altering. For almost thirty years, his handsome face and charm let him sail through life. Looking at his reflection, he felt neither handsome nor charming. He barely recognized himself.

  “Maybe it will... grow... on... me?” Julian's suggestion had him shaking his head. It was ridiculous to think a gouged eye was something he could learn to tolerate, let alone appreciate.

  For nearly ten minutes, he couldn't stop staring at the stranger in the mirror. His fingers shook as they buttoned his vest. After slipping into his boots, he shrugged on a hunter green greatcoat, and completed his look with a sharp brown top hat. Even if he'd lost a part of himself, Julian was determined to look his best.

  “Well, Jolly...” Sighing, Julian slipped his first mate's eye patch out of his pocket. “I never thought I'd need this, but...”

  As soon as the hole was covered by Jolly's green eye patch, there was a knock on the door. Secretly, Julian hoped it would be Lettie, since they were staying in the same hotel. His wish was granted. Seeing her behind the door was the first good part of his day, although her eyes were unmistakeably sorrowful.

  “Oh! Julian! You're wearing Jolly's eye patch?”

  Julian stepped away from the doorway and motioned for her to step inside. “Indeed I am. And it matches my coat! How convenient, no?”

  “Oh god, Julian...” Lettie dragged her hands across her face. For at least the dozenth time, she said, “I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry about your eye! I feel awful!”

  “Why? I don't,” he lied. “I quite like it. It makes me look more like a rogue.” With a grin, he ran a hand along the brim of his top hat. “The ladies will love it, I'm sure. They can't resist a rogue, can they?”

  “Oh, Julian...”

  All of a sudden, Lettie threw her arms around him with such force, Julian stumbled backward. When he regained his balance, he said, “See? It's working for me already. The eye patch is drawing you in like a moth to a light. I always wondered why Jolly was such a hit with the ladies. Now I know.” Jolly and his eye patch were actually the opposite of a success with women, but Lettie didn't need to know that.

  “You're just saying all this to make me feel better.”

  “Not at all! Julian only says things to make Julian feel better,” he insisted. “Or haven't you figured that out yet?”

  “I'm so sad...” Lettie's words were muffled by his clothes. Her face was thoroughly buried in his shirt, and she didn't plan to let go of him anytime soon.

  “Don't be sad, Lettie.” When he heard her sniffling against his coat, Julian realized she was crying, so he wrapped his arms around her and cradled her head to his shoulder. “I'm not sad! Well... not about my eye, anyway. It's a shame about Jared.”

  “Oh no... Jared!” Lettie squealed his name as she squeezed Julian's waist. “I got him killed, didn't I?”

  “No no no. We already talked about this! Jared and I made our own decisions, and that's how we got ourselves into a mess. It had nothing to do with you.”

  “It had everything to do with me!” Lettie protested. “If I hadn't been stupid... if I hadn't gotten myself captured... he'd still be alive, and you'd have both of your eyes!”

  “Bah! Who needs two eyes?” Julian lightly stroked her hair as he asked the question. “If there was a cyclops in here, do you think he'd complain? I'm sure he'd think you were pretty silly for fussing so much.”

  “A cyclops?” Lettie rolled her eyes. “Alright, now I know you're just trying to cheer me up! You're saying strange things.” When she finally let go of him, Lettie wiped her tears on the cuff of her coat.

  Julian shrugged. Maybe he was trying to cheer her up, but the fact of the matter was, he needed cheering up as well. “So... Lettie... we should probably get out of the capital soon,” Julian said, suddenly sounding very serious. “We don't know who might be looking for us.”

  “True.”

  “Are you heading to Baltmoor?”

  Lettie heaved a lengthy sigh. For the longest time, she desperately wanted to get back to her father and fiance, but after everything that happened, it didn't feel quite as important. “Where are you going, Julian?”

  “Featherstone Manor. I already hired a driver to take us there... and by us, I mean myself and Wiggly Joe. He's coming with me. I need a new airship, a new crew. I doubt I'll stay there too long, mostly because of Gram. I shudder to think of her reaction when she sees the eye patch.” Julian pointed at his face. “I should probably prepare myself for her inevitable apoplexy.”

  Ignoring most of what he said, Lettie asked, “Can I go with you? I don't really feel like being alone right now.”

  “Of course! You needn't even ask. I'd be thrilled to have you along! As would Wiggly Joe, I'm sure.” After their extended hug, Lettie's hair was disheveled, so Julian smoothed it down and tucked it behind her ears. When he felt her leaning against his hand, he was momentarily distracted. “I, uh... I... oh! If you come with me, I can give you back your airship and take you to Baltmoor, as we originally planned. I have no idea how we'll manage to fly it with just you, me, and Wiggly, but I'm sure we'll figure something out. Hell, maybe we can recruit Gram for our crew. She'd strike fear into any enemy's heart, I'm sure.”

  Lettie chuckled. She hadn't expected to laugh so soon after their shared trauma, but Julian was really trying to lighten the mood, and she loved him for that.

  Love. As soon as the word entered her mind, Lettie tried to push it out. There was no way she was in love with Captain Featherstone. It was a ludicrous thing to consider, even for a moment. She felt sorry for him—and that was the only thing she felt.

  “Well then...” Julian glimpsed the clock on the wall. “We should really be on our way. On a carriage, the journey to Featherstone Manor will be a long one. Are you prepared for that?”

  “I am.”

  “Good.” On the way out of the room, Julian held the door for her. “Just so you know, it's a pleasure to have you along for the ride, Captain Jordan.”

  As they made their way to the hotel's front entrance, where Wiggly Joe was waiting for them, Lettie was lost in thought. For some odd reason, she felt relieved to be in Julian's company again. Even Wiggly Joe's lopsided smile and crooked eye were strangely reassuring. Now that they were reunited, Lettie hoped she wouldn't have to leave them anytime soon.

  When they approached their carriage, Julian groaned, “Ah... I can smell the horse manure already! It's been ages since I've ridden in a proper carriage, you know. I've been spoiled by my airships.”

  “I think you've been spoiled by a lot of things, Julian,” Lettie teased him. “Money, women, titles...”

  “True enough,” Julian agreed. As he handed her into the carriage, a tiny smile hovered on his lips. Now that Lettie was with him, Julian's unflagging optimism was slowly returning.

  It felt good to have her with him.

  Twenty Nine

  Less than twenty-four hours after fleeing Thomas Harriot's cottage, Isabella was tempted to turn around and go back. Not only did she miss Tom—which she did—but she was utterly and completely lost. The capital was larger and more dangerous than she thought, and she had no idea where to commence the search for her brother. She felt hopeless.

  For over an hour, Isabella sat at a fountain near the square and attempted to sort through her thoughts. She tried to ask herself where Nico might go. To what location might he be drawn? She didn't have a clue. There were so many faces, so many people and so many locations, she felt overwhelmed.

  “At least I have a weapon,” Isabella whispered as she clutched Tom's gun. Every time she thought about him, tears sprang into Isabella's eyes. Only when he was gone did she truly start to appreciate him. Until she found Nico, Thomas Harriot was probably the only person in the world to care for her.

  Cared. Isabella's mind corrected her. He might have cared about her once, but after she held him at gunpoint, she doubted he would feel very affectionate toward her. Every time she thought about
going back to his cottage, she had to remind herself it wasn't an option. No matter how much she wanted to return, he wouldn't welcome her back.

  When she started to believe it was an option, Harriot's words replayed in her head. If we meet again, there's a good chance we won't be meeting as friends. He couldn't have made it more clear for her. He didn't want her back.

  Isabella tried to forget about Tom and focused on what she needed to do: find her brother. According to Nico, pubs were decent places to gather information, so she went into a pub called Hooligans—which, in hindsight, probably wasn't the best one to choose. The pub's patrons looked every bit as sketchy as its name suggested.

  Isabella's uneasiness grew when she realized there were very few women in the room. Apart from a pair of barmaids, Isabella was the only female. At first, she thought about turning around and finding another pub, but she had something to prove to herself. Don't be scared, don't be scared, you're not scared. Her mind was trying to convince her, but her thumping heart said otherwise.

  “Uh... hello?” Isabella tiptoed to the table of a toothless old man. He was ancient, but he had one of the friendliest faces in the room, so she decided to take a chance on him. “Have you seen a young man around here? He's uh... he's about average height, with brown hair and brown eyes, and uh... um...”

  “Wot? You jes described a lot of people!” he boisterously replied. “You ain't gon get nowhere with a description like that!”

  “You're probably right.” As soon as the old man opened his mouth, Isabella felt frightened by him, so she decided to ask someone else. “I'm sorry for wasting your time.”

  Isabella approached another table, where two men were sitting together. One was bald and smoking, and the other one had huge biceps and a curly mustache. Both of them were equally off-putting, but she told herself to be brave. “Um... excuse me?” She looked nervous about interrupting their dinner. “Have you seen a young man around here? He's in his early twenties, with brown hair... and thick eyebrows like mine.” She hoped her description was more sufficient this time.