by Tara Brown
It was the end of their conversations.
James drank his beer, Wen ate, and Lenny dreaded eight days of her mother’s company in a small carriage. She hadn’t taken the threat seriously until that moment, and now she was in added agony imagining how it would play out.
The three of them stared out at the crowd in silence, each heavy with their own burdens.
Chapter 6
As the party ended, Lenny made her way to the door with Wen next to her. James had left prematurely, using his early wake-up as an excuse. Lenny envied him that. She had to wake early too, but it wouldn’t suffice as an excuse for her no matter how hard she bargained.
Amaya walked to them with a contented smile on her face. “Did you all have a lovely time?” She sounded filled up from all the love and blessings she’d received.
“We had a perfect evening, Amaya. But the real question of importance is, did you?” Hilde asked.
“A marvelous time,” Amaya swooned.
“Is Father getting the carriage?” Lenny asked the only question of importance in her eyes.
“Of course.” Hilde hushed her.
“Shall I escort you—?”
“No!” Hilde interrupted Wen’s question which was naturally directed at Amaya, and nearly pushed Lenny over as she stepped into Wen’s embrace. “Wen, walk me to the carriage please.” She batted her eyelashes at him sweetly.
He blushed but Lenny suspected it was with disappointment more than anything. “Yes, of course, Miss Hilde.” He put his arm out which she took smiling sweetly.
Amaya sauntered along behind them, properly engaged now. She wore a small ring with an emerald on it. The ring would be worn on her right hand for a fortnight until the wedding, and then Josu would put it on her left hand. Another tradition Blockley was fond of.
“Take my arm, Lenny, I have a spare.” Uncle Alek appeared out of nowhere from the crowd around them and slipped her arm into his. Her aunt Mildred lifted her nose just a little and refused to speak to her.
“Oh, Amaya, what an event. Everyone had to have come. The hall was so full, I daresay I felt overcome several times.” Mildred reached for Amaya, who took her hand and held it. “The heat would’ve been unbearable, had the splendor not been so worthwhile.”
“It did feel like the receiving line went on forever,” Amaya added.
“It did go on forever,” Lenny muttered, but only her uncle heard it. His mustache lifted ever so slightly with a grin.
“Did I mention, you look very pretty tonight?” Uncle Alek whispered as they walked from the hall though the band continued to play softly.
“You yelled at me because you didn’t recognize me,” she teased. “Which is basically the same thing as a compliment.”
“Indeed,” he agreed, laughing. “Uhhh—you didn’t happen to see Uncle Cyril at all, did you?” he asked with a strangeness to his tone.
“No.” Lenny nearly said thank the gods but she managed to fight it. “I don’t think I saw him or Gran, but I know Gran hasn’t been feeling well all week. She told Amaya she would see us next week. Why?”
“No reason,” Alek said softly, shaking his head. He nearly said thank the gods as well, but also managed to fight it. He’d had bothersome thoughts of late regarding his eldest brother, Cyril, and he feared he might have had something to do with the dead girl. She was the age Cyril normally went after, Lenny’s age. Pushing the thoughts aside, he picked up the pace a bit, escorting his wife and niece outside.
Carriages lined the lantern-lit streets when they got onto Mason Street. It would be a long time before Edwin would be able to pull the carriage up.
“You girls wait here. I’ll go and see how far Edwin is.” Uncle Alek walked from Lenny’s side, leaving her to stand alone as Hilde, Mildred, and Amaya clustered around Wen, teasing him about something.
A noise startled Lenny, forcing her to turn as a dog she didn’t recognize began rubbing its dark fur against her white gown. She patted him behind his ears. “Where did you come from, boy?” she asked, stroking his fluffy face.
He closed his eyes and smiled at her with his dog face, reminding her of Ollie, which in turn made her laugh. “You like that don’t you, boy?” she asked to which he panted.
“Lenny, your dress will be covered in fur,” her mother’s sharp voice burst out of nowhere. She arrived with a bag of gifts given to Amaya and Josu in celebration of the happy event.
“Luckily, it’s the end of the evening then, isn’t it?” Lenny asked quietly, really only offering her cheeky retort to the sloppy face before her.
“She really is the worst,” Mildred grumbled about Lenny, loud enough that she might hear.
Not in the mood for the disagreement her aunt clearly wanted, Lenny left them, followed by the dog, and walked to one of the benches next to the clock tower. She sat and scratched the dog’s ears as they watched the crowds pour from the hall.
Her feet throbbed from the uncomfortable shoes that had been forced on her. She reached down, fighting with gasping breaths, but managed to untie the shoes enough to wiggle her toes.
The dog had been staring contently but something caught his eye, and he jerked to look behind them, toward the dark side of Mason Street which had no lanterns lit. It led into an alley behind the booksellers.
Movement caught Lenny’s eyes.
A shadowy figure.
She squinted her tired eyes to get a sharper view, flinching when she saw a pair of yellow eyes glowing from the darkness between two buildings. The dog whimpered but his hackles went up as he crossed her body with his, standing between her and the yellow eyes.
Lenny was stuck staring, wondering if they saw her and yet certain they did. They were there, sucking the limited air from her chest with shock one moment and gone the next. She stood abruptly, glancing about, but it seemed no one but she and the dog had noticed them. The black dog stayed, standing as though protecting her.
“Are you well, Miss Ilen—Lenny?” Lord Ivor asked, breaking the tension in Lenny’s stomach, but not by much as he sauntered over.
“I am. I was enjoying the peace for a moment,” she defended her being alone in the dark with a strange dog. Lord Ivor’s eyes followed hers to the alley.
“You seem startled.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, certain she’d be deemed mad if she tried to explain the yellow eyes. They had to be on a man; they were at the correct height but that was impossible. Who had yellow eyes and how had they glowed so brightly in the shadows?
“I believe your father has managed to position the carriage in the line and should be pulling up any moment. Shall I escort you over?” He offered his arm.
Knowing what duty demanded and exactly how painfully upset her mother would be, Lenny slipped an arm into his as the dog rubbed against his pants. “Thank you.”
“And I suppose I am relieving you of your duties of being Lady Ilenia’s companion. Good boy, Henry.” He scratched the dog behind his ears before he began walking.
“You know him?” she asked as they turned toward the carriages.
“Indeed, he accompanied me from Waterly. He’s mine. He’s a runner, the days of exercise do him good. He gets tired of milling about all the time.” He smiled down on her, and she hated that her opinion of the man was improved marginally because of the visibly well-loved pet.
“He’s sweet,” Lenny said, wishing the dog was anyone’s but his, but also not certain why she disliked him so.
“Indeed.” Lord Ivor grinned. “I hear you have a couple of large hounds from the North? I’m eager to meet them.”
“I do.” She wondered at his knowing this. “Wolfhounds.”
“They’re magnificent. I got to see a pair at a hunt once. They gallop as a horse does.” He smiled and for a moment Lenny didn’t mind being on his arm or being escorted by him. If he liked her dogs, all the better for her. “I assume you’re bringing them to Waterly City?”
“I am. They go everywhere with me.” She hadn’t been cert
ain how to get the dogs on the trip, but her mother couldn’t refuse Lord Ivor.
“Do they ride in the carriage with you?” he said with his mocking tone from earlier.
“They do not.” She sniffed. “Because I prefer to ride my own horse.”
“You ride your own horse, own two wolfhounds, and dive better than any man in the kingdom?” He paused alongside the hall, turning to face her. “I am struggling with what to make of you.”
“And why should you care who I am or what I do?” Her indignant tone was unmistakable.
“Because I’m to be your family, of course.” He grinned. “Or have you not heard?”
“You’re marrying Hilde?” Lenny fought not to stammer the question or struggle from his arm. His escorting her from the shadows was a great offense if Hilde was to be his bride. And for no reason at all, or maybe because she imagined he was being a bit of a flirt, it bothered her he might marry her sister.
“Absolutely not.” He laughed wickedly. “It’s safe to say, Hilde is the last woman on earth I would consider.”
“You should be so lucky!” Lenny snapped, hoping he was ashamed of his words.
“You mistake me. I’m sure many men would be grateful to marry Miss Hilde, but I am no such man.” He lost some of the humor, sounding content and not judgmental at all. “I prefer a companion who is made of stronger stuff.”
Lenny knew what he meant. She’d met many sailors who preferred the company of men to women and kept it to themselves to avoid conversations on the matter. She respected the discretion they asked for and didn’t pursue the subject with Lord Ivor. “I see,” was all she said.
“No, I don’t think you do.” He mused, “My cousin, the prince, is marrying your sister.” His eyes danced with the twinkle of mischief again. “Did you truly not know who Hilde was betrothed to?”
“Mother has kept it a secret.” She didn’t bother to play his game and offered only the truth.
“What a disservice she does her own daughter.” He wrinkled his nose. “How cruel. Though I don’t suppose the marriage is anything less. Forcing strangers to unite.”
“Wait.” Lenny’s stomach began to ache as the next words to leave her lips were in a whisper, “You don’t mean Prince Landon?” It was obvious which prince as there was only one in Dahleigh.
“Indeed.”
“Isn’t he a child? How old is he?” It was Lenny’s turn to wrinkle her nose.
“Sixteen on his last birthday,” Lord Ivor answered quietly. His words made Lenny’s stomachache worsen. She and her sisters would turn nineteen in the winter. “I’m stunned you honestly didn’t know why you were coming to the city.”
“No. And now you must keep this secret that you told me.” Lenny felt panicked by the information. “You told me nothing and we never spoke. Good evening.” She curtseyed and hurried away, not even petting Henry once more.
Her sisters were climbing into the carriage when she rushed around the corner to them.
“There you are!” her mother scolded her with her tone.
Wen took her hand in his and helped her into the carriage. “Night, Lenny.”
“Night, Wen. See you tomorrow.” She sat with a grunt. The rib she was certain was out of place gave her a stab.
But the rib wasn’t what was on her mind.
Her eyes darted to her mother’s, then Hilde’s.
She felt ill knowing Hilde had been promised to the prince of Dahleigh, a boy two years younger than they were and famous for not much beyond being ill his entire life.
How could her mother be so cruel as to doom Hilde, her favorite, into a marriage of opportunity and pain?
The thought stayed with Lenny long enough that the next thing she noticed was the carriage coming to a stop as they were home.
She hurried inside, not waiting for her family or helping her father with the carriage, limping by the time she got upstairs to begin the process of removing the dress.
It took nearly dislocating her shoulders, both dogs watching her with confused gazes, but she managed to undo enough laces to get the back open and slip the dress from her body. She wheezed, trying to get a full breath. She collapsed onto her bed in nothing but her undergarments and watched Ollie and Scar maul the dress, no doubt after the scent of Henry on the frock.
Her head spun with details, drowning her in them.
But each detail was a puzzle piece that slipped into place.
Lenny knew, though obedient, Hilde would never give her heart and soul to a sickly boy all so their mother could have a daughter on the throne one day. If the boy lived that long.
These thoughts plagued her until she fell asleep.
Chapter 7
The sunlight came in the window, resting bright beams of light on Lenny’s face. She winced and blinked as OIlie and Scar nudged her with their cold noses, leaving wet marks on her cheeks.
“I’m awake,” she grumbled, not certain how true the statement was.
Ollie nudged her once more. She could tell by the bigger nose leaving a larger wet spot.
She scratched his head and blinked until her eyes were open though burning and stinging from the lack of sleep.
The feelings she’d had before bed crept back in, whispering of her fury.
Lenny had thought many details of her sisters’ arranged engagements seemed odd, but to discover they were being lied to was much worse.
She climbed from the bed, noticing the soreness that remained in her ribs as she got dressed and hurried downstairs. It was dawn, meaning she had little time to get her chores done before heading to the docks to meet her uncle Alek.
When she reached the stables inside the large barn, the ox, the cattle, and the horses greeted her with excitement. The little orange kitten ran sideways at her, purring before it made contact. She dropped to her knees on the dust and hay-covered floor to scoop up the tiny bundle of fur as it ran its face along her thumb.
“Good morning, sweet Sir Kitty. How was your sleep?” she asked softly petting the kitten and smiling up at the faces of the horses hanging their heads over the doors to their stalls.
She loved being in the barn, particularly in the morning when the animals were most affectionate. They were hungry.
“You missed quite the party,” she muttered as she did her rounds, scratching faces and stroking ears. “The whole town was there, and it was all sorts of pomp and protocol.” She rolled her eyes as she began opening the pens, all the while letting Sir Kitty crawl over her shoulders.
Asher neighed at her knowingly.
“There was a dog.” She turned to Scar and Ollie. “Henry. I think you’ll like him, though his owner was something else.” She paused and thought on Lord Ivor. What was it about him that made her feel obligated to dislike him?
She plucked the kitten from her hair and placed him down so she could grab the clean bucket from the storage stall and started toward Emma-ray and her sister, Bessie, the best cows in the all the worlds. They hated everyone but Lenny and her father.
Sir Kitty followed knowing his breakfast was dependent on her work in the barn.
Seeing him following her, Lenny laughed. “Oh, Sir Kitty, I know you’re hungry, but you have to give me a minute to warm my hands or else Emma-ray won’t have any milk for either of us.”
Sir Kitty stood between the big work boots and observed.
A while later footsteps entered the barn. “There you are,” Amaya shouted across the barn at Lenny, interrupting the quiet of the morning. The kitten ran at her, and she scooped him into her hands. “Did you even sleep or just come out and start chores last night?” she teased Lenny.
“I have to get to the docks. I thought I might help Father since I assume the packing brigade will be too busy to do anything around the farm,” Lenny responded crossly as she continued milking the cow.
“I asked Mother to postpone the wedding and allow me to come to the city with you lot. She said if Josu agreed, I was allowed. Which means I’m coming too!” She was far too
excited.
“You do realize it’s eight days on the road. At least a fortnight in the city. Then eight days home, right?” To Lenny the entire thing sounded unnecessary.
“I think it will be fun. And we’ve never seen the city,” Amaya added as she danced her long slender fingers on her sleeve for Sir Kitty, poking him in the belly and making the kitten attack her with bunny kicks and savagery. “His tiny teeth hurt.” Amaya giggled as the kitten bit and kicked her arm.
“That’s enough. Or you really will have scratched-up hands and Mother will be furious,” Hilde said as she entered the barn and picked the protesting kitten from Amaya’s arms. “Oh, Sir Kitty, come let’s get you some cream, shall we?”
The kitten looked stunned as he was lifted into the air and the fun was stopped. He tried to protest but even he knew Hilde was not to be trifled with.
Lenny paused milking and Hilde poured some cream into the dish. She and Amaya stood, watching the kitten eat.
Lenny noted Hilde was already wearing a fancy dress, and her hair was pinned up in a twist she had perfected. The tendrils she had curled at her sides flitted softly in the breeze that had picked up and was coming in the wide barn doors. Her contemplation of her sister was interrupted by their mother’s voice shouting at them to come in for breakfast.
“Amaya, put the horses and sheep in the field. Hilde, finish filling the water troughs please.” Lenny gave them instructions out there; the barn and fields and animals were her domain.
“When are you going to town?” Hilde asked as she walked to the door. “Mother wants you to change before you go.”
“What are you talking about?” Lenny inspected her tight black breeches and the white tunic she’d stolen from her father. “It’s just a bit of sweat and dirt. And I’m going in the water, no point in changing.”
“Lord Ivor will be there. Mother wants you to look your best,” she scolded Lenny.
“Lord Ivor can kiss my—”
