After a while, Belle offered me her hand to help me out of my chair, and I rose to step into her arms. She embraced me and, to my surprise, pulled me against her chest and spun me around in a circle. Both of us laughed. Only Belle could have made me so happy with such a serious task facing us.
“May I have this dance?” she asked as she set me on my feet. I curtsied, and she wrapped a strong arm around my waist, stroking a possessive hand along the curve of my hip. With Belle leading, we danced in the middle of the bedroom, not caring that there was no music. As I had expected, my lover was a fine dancer, incredibly easy to follow. Belle's smile made me wonder if my slippers had grown wings and lifted me into the air.
“I have never had a better partner,” I said as we moved together. It was the truth. Her eyes lit up and her cheeks flushed to match mine. The compliment had touched her. It was the truth. I knew that Belle had wanted to dance with me at the ball, in front of everyone, and that she was jealous of my dances with the prince. I needed her to understand that the best dancer in the world—and Brendan was a good dancer—would never compare with her.
***
The second night of the ball began much like the first. The women swept by in their colorful dresses, leaving traces of perfume where they walked. The men danced with them and stood around the food, talking and exchanging greetings. I weaved through the crowd, looking for Prince Brendan and, secretly, Belle. My lover's absence was a gripping ache in my chest. I would only dance with Belle tonight in my mind.
As I was searching for Prince Brendan, he was also looking for me. It took him only a few minutes to catch sight of me and walk over. “Good evening, Ellie.” I curtsied, and he bowed. He was wearing his army dress uniform of red and gold, and he cut a dashing figure. Many girls would have thought him a dream, but not me. My dream had already come true.
“Would you like to dance with me again? If you are not going to run away from me, of course.” He took my hand and lifted it to his lips, but he was not forward enough to remove the glove. I was relieved. I did not want him to notice my rough hands.
“Of course. I ran last night to avoid my sister, and could not find you afterwards.” As the orchestra struck a pavane, I silently thanked my father for insisting on dancing lessons. He had claimed that I would have to dance at my wedding. Secretly, I wished Belle and I could share that special dance. I remembered what Belle had told me the morning after we had made love for the first time. “You asked me to be your wife...” That helped to fill the small, unsatisfied corner of my heart.
A strange heat on my face told me that several pairs of eyes were watching me. My smile faded as I noticed the unhappy expressions that surrounded us. Several young women were staring holes through my back, wanting their turn in the prince's arms. I hoped that they did not draw any more attention to me. Luciana could not study me too closely and figure out who I was.
“You look lovely tonight,” Prince Brendan said. His hand pressed lightly on my waist to guide my steps. I forgot the jealous women, but I could not forget my thoughts of Belle.
“And you look very handsome.” The prince and I smiled at each other. “Thank you for the compliment. This dress belonged to my mother. That makes it one of my favorites.”
“I am glad that you have something to remember her by.” I was pleased that he did not apologize for my loss or fish awkwardly for a reply. Prince Brendan really was charming.
“You understand.”
“He isn't dead, of course, but I carry my father's sword on patrol. He gave it to me when I was twelve. There were not many opportunities for him to use it anyway. It makes me feel connected to him.”
“I heard that you were stationed at the Amendyrri border, along the Forest Pass.”
The prince looked surprised at my interest in the subject. We paused as the orchestra changed to a waltz and began to dance again. “A lady, interested in a soldier's life? How shocking,” he teased.
“You are not just any soldier. Besides, Amendyr itself interests me. I have never been afraid of magic.”
“I wish I knew more about it,” the prince admitted. “That's Cass and Cieran's job. But I never understood why my father and some of the nobles are so afraid of it. Magic can be very useful.”
Although I was delighted that Prince Brendan seemed to have more progressive views about magic than his father, I saw an opening in the conversation and dove for it. “It can also be dangerous. Has anyone ever threatened you with magic?”
Prince Brendan looked thoughtful. “Not that I am aware. I suppose Cass or Cieran would head it off before I heard about it, unless it was serious. Why?”
“You are the prince.” I nearly stumbled as we moved across the floor, but managed to correct myself in time. My slippers were beginning to pinch my feet. “I expect you are dealing with one assassination or another constantly.”
Brendan laughed. “Not at all. Why, Ellie, you certainly have conversations about the strangest topics. I find it rather endearing.” My stomach twisted unpleasantly at the affectionate comment. I knew it was necessary, but I could not dismiss the guilt I felt for lying to the prince.
The hours passed quickly, and we conversed easily. Occasionally, he gave a dance to another girl, but he always returned to me. Throughout the night, I kept careful watch for Luciana. I saw her out of the corner of my eye twice, watching Brendan and I dance, but the crowd always moved between us before she could recognize me from such a distance. I did not see Belle, and her absence left me lonely and sad beneath fake cheerfulness.
The third time I saw Luciana, she approached us in the middle of a quadrille, her face set and her hands clenched. I lowered my chin, tucked my shoulders, and flew out of the prince's arms without a goodbye, running awkwardly in my tight slippers. “Ah, I wondered if you would run again,” Brendan called after me, pushing aside several startled bodies as he chased me.
Clutching my skirts, I ran for the front door, ducking and weaving through the partygoers faster than Brendan, who could not squeeze his larger figure by as easily. The cool night air shocked my skin as I shouldered my way through the door, ignoring the curious stares that followed me. Matthew was waiting for me, and the horses lifted their heads as I ran for the carriage.
As I hurried down the stairs, I felt resistance when I tried to lift my feet. I stopped and looked down, cringing as I noticed the black pitch that had been smeared over the bottom steps. The terrible smell filled my mouth and nose, and I wondered why I had not noticed it before. I tried to move, but one of my slippers was caught in the sticky mess. I finally pulled myself free and began hobbling to the carriage, both of my slippers covered in black goo.
As I threw myself into the carriage and slammed the door, still covering my nose and mouth with my hand, I saw Prince Brendan waving after me. Matthew ignored him. He clicked his tongue and urged the horses into a run.
CHAPTER 4
MATTHEW WAS HELPING me out of the carriage when I saw a large shadow flying up the road. It took me a few moments to make out the shape of a coach pulled by a team of white horses. Prince Brendan had followed me all the way from the palace. At first I was relieved, because it meant that he and Luciana were miles apart. Then I remembered all of the bad things that would happen if Prince Brendan found me. No sensible lady would want to be caught after running away from the prince.
I ran for the first hiding place I could think of—the chicken coop. Matthew or Cate usually fed the irritable birds in the morning, so I had never examined the small wooden box except in passing. As I crouched behind the damp smelling boards, straining the muscles of my back, the chickens inside stirred. “Clu-cah, clu-cah, nightstalker hides. Tuck beaks in wings, danger outside!”
“Shhh!” I hissed as loudly as I dared. “Be quiet! I'm not a fox, I'm a person.”
The chickens grew louder, encouraged that I was speaking a language they understood. “Are you a friend? Come in! Come in!”
I groaned, covering my eyes with my hand. Songbirds
were bad, but chickens were worse. “That doesn't even rhyme. Just please be quiet. Er…a nightstalker is coming.”
That closed their beaks for a solid ten seconds, but then I heard a frantic scrabbling inside the coop interspersed with cries of “Nightstalker! Nightstalker!” I regretted saying anything at all to the stupid creatures.
Silently, I lamented my position. Here I was, crouching behind a chicken coop in the middle of a night, hiding from a prince because my stepsister wanted to take over the kingdom, and trying to convince a bunch of excitable birds to be quiet. On top of all that, my slippers were still covered in pitch, and they smelled terrible. I was tempted to leave them behind when I made a run for the manor. Oh mother, if you could see what kind of trouble your daughter has gotten herself into now, I thought glumly.
My head rose as a twig snapped several yards away, and I nearly stopped breathing. The chickens were still babbling amongst themselves. “Oh no, I woke them,” a deep voice said, and a few seconds later, someone cried out in surprise. From the groans of pain that followed, I guessed that whoever it was had fallen. Seizing my chance, I darted from the chicken coop to the back of the stables, clutching my skirts to keep them out of the way.
“Oi, stop!” a familiar voice called, and I halted mid step, nearly falling into the mud.
“Matthew!” I ran back to the chicken coop where the stableman was laying on the ground, clutching his knee. “What happened?”
“Saw you run back 'ere, girlie. Tried to find ya, tripped over a branch.” I helped Matthew to his feet, brushing off his coat as he stood.
“Oh, I’m sorry, your shirt is ruined.” His white shirt was covered in dirt, but the black overcoat seemed fine, at least in the dark.
“That dress ain't in great shape neither,” he said, eyeing me. I must have looked a state with mussed hair, pitch on my shoes, and my mother's beautiful silver dress covered with mud. “His Highness went inside after he took a peek in the carriage. Your lady drove up seconds af'er he did. She saw the prince and headed him off, sayin' you were took sick and couldn't be seen.”
“Belle is here? But what about Luciana?” I was shocked that Matthew had also figured out my secret, but decided not to say anything.
“She were alone when I saw her.”
That meant that Luciana was stewing at the ball while the prince, Belle, and I were hours away at Baxstresse. If I had not been cold, dirty, and tired after my misadventures, I might have laughed. Someone would probably lend her a carriage, or she could hire one, but the mess would take a few hours to sort out, especially since most of the people in the palace would be searching for the absent Prince Brendan. I still could not believe that he had left his own birthday ball to follow me.
Matthew gestured with one hand, about to continue his explanation, when both of us heard voices. I grabbed his arm and helped him limp behind the chicken coop, where we crouched down shoulder to shoulder.
“Are you sure you would rather leave?” Belle asked, her voice floating up through the darkness.
“No. Honestly, I want to sneak back home before my parents throw themselves off of a rampart.”
“I promise she will be at the ball tomorrow, Your Highness.” I heard a slightly sour note in Belladonna's voice, but only a lover would have noticed it. She was obviously still a little jealous of Prince Brendan's interest in me.
“As long as I have your assurance that she is all right.”
“Of course. My sister has been strange since her recovery .She meant no disrespect by running off.”
I frowned in the shadow of the coop. Belle was not near enough to see, so I glared at the ground instead. We were going to have a serious talk once Prince Brendan left. Strange indeed!
“Of course. Now, if I…ah, here it comes.” The sound of carriage wheels crunching on a gravel drive was audible from our hiding place. There were a few more quiet words exchanged between Belladonna and the prince. Less than a minute later, Matthew and I listened as the carriage drove off down the manor drive.
Once the prince was a safe distance away, Matthew and I crawled out from behind the chicken coop. The chickens had worn themselves out running around and squawking, and they gave us no parting comments. Belle caught sight of us picking our way around mud clods in the dark and hurried over to grip Matthew's arm when she saw that he was hurt.
After Matthew's ankle was wrapped and I cleaned myself up, Belle met me her room. I rested on the bed, watching as she undressed. I not bothered to dress again after my quick wash, and my greedy eyes took in every detail of her body. I watched as her careful hands undid her bracelets, necklace, and earrings and placed them in her jewelry box.
“So, I have been strange since my recovery?” I scolded as she closed the wooden lid, only sounding a little put out. Mostly, I was glad that Belle, the prince, and I had survived another night without injury.
“You were strange from the moment you were born, but I was too polite to tell the prince.” Belle sniffed, pretending to sound offended. She had succeeded in peeling off her outer dress without assistance, but was struggling with her corset. My gaze fell on the lovely pair of breasts that stood out from her torso as she arched her back, fumbling with the laces.
“You are not polite at all. In fact, you're very rude. Here, let me help you.” I got out of bed, hardly noticing the cold floor under my bare feet. I was too distracted by the sight of Belle in her corset and underskirts. I kissed the back of her neck as my fingers undid the hooks and eyelets, sighing into her warm skin. Belle took a large breath as the corset fell open, stretching her shoulders to enjoy the freedom of movement. I rested my head on her chest, and she wrapped her arm around my waist, pulling me tighter against her side.
“Are you going to help me with the rest of this?” she asked, tugging at her white underthings.
I smiled. Despite the problems with my wardrobe and my hurried departure from the ball, the night had ended on a positive note. “Maybe.” I lifted my chin so that our lips were a breath apart. “But you have to apologize for implying that I was touched.”
Belle laughed. “You are touched. I'm touching you right now.” Her fingers walked along the curve of my naked hip and crept around to pinch the vulnerable swell of my backside.
I swallowed a soft cry as her warm hand tried to steal between my legs. “I think that both of us have already had enough excitement for one night,” I said, halfheartedly attempting to leave her embrace.
Still smiling, she kissed my golden hair, trying to coax my legs apart. “You can never have enough excitement. Open for me?”
I closed my eyes as she began a soft line of kisses from my ear to the corner of my mouth. “We're not in bed yet,” I protested, my last defense.
“Why do we need a bed?” Half-dressed and wild looking with her corset unlaced and her underskirts bunched together, Belle backed me up until I was pinned between her and the wall. “I want to have you right here.” I recognized and accepted the look in Belladonna's eyes, the one that said she needed to reassert her claim to me. Privately, I was amused that someone so bold, so strong, so confident, constantly needed to reassure herself that I really did belong to her. It was rather endearing.
Too far gone to ask for permission, her eyes rolled back into her head as she cupped me—soft, wet, and vulnerable—with her hand. She joined our lips in a deep, probing kiss that stole my breath and set my head spinning almost as much as the fingers that slid effortlessly inside of me. We were motionless for one long, shared heartbeat.
“Mine.” She growled into my neck, leaving two well-placed nips on the curve of my throat. “Tell me...”
“I'm yours, Belle,” I whispered before our mouths sealed in another kiss.
Her hand drew away, leaving me empty, aching. No. My lips formed the word, but nothing came from my mouth. I lifted my hips, seeking purchase on something, any part of her, but Belle was too busy tearing at her skirts, trying to push them down to her ankles. I pulled at her unlaced corset until, by s
ome miracle, I tugged it over her head and threw it aside.
Finally, with twin sighs, we pressed together again. Everything was warm, naked skin and frantic heartbeats, and there was nothing between us. My head rolled back against the wall as her fingers found me again, teasing my entrance before pushing inside. I hissed as I stretched to take her hand, but I spread my thighs wider, relishing the slight sting.
She began moving inside of me, curling her fingers forward to catch against my front wall as her thumb swiped in firm circles. Her thrusts were long and deep enough to lift me onto my toes. I was helpless to do anything but wrap my arms around her neck and cling to her while she had me.
Our cheeks brushed together as she pressed her forehead against the cold stone wall, panting heavily. With her lips beside my ear, I could hear every gasp, every shuddering cry. Even though I was the one being taken, I adored the noises she made as she touched me. They made her seem feral, unrestrained. “Come for me, Ellie. I want to feel you fill my hand.”
My hips jerked with the first waves of release at her command. I fluttered wildly around her fingers, and spots danced before my eyes. Each pull of her fingers drew a flood of wetness from me, and I shuddered and cried out with each contraction. Belle had to support me by pressing me against the wall until I stopped trembling in her arms.
“I love you, Ellie mine,” she said softly as I strained to catch my breath. I moved away from the wall and sank to my knees. “What are you doing?”
Instead of answering, I placed a kiss over the curve of her knee and gazed along the line of her legs, past her stomach and breasts, to smile up at her. I wrapped my arms around her hips, resting my cheek against her thigh as she eased her fingers into my hair. “Make me.” I blushed furiously, unable to meet her eyes, but the words hung between us.
The Second Sister (The Amendyr Series) Page 18
