The prince’s words trailed off, his grin disappearing as he caught sight of me and Horatio. He whipped the garter behind his back, making an effort to finger-comb the disorderly waves of his blond hair. As disconcerted as he was, years of royal training came to the young rascal’s rescue. He managed a very creditable bow.
“Er…Good evening, my lady. Commander.”
Amy giggled. “Thash no lady. Thash my older sishter.”
“Oh, frap!” the prince muttered, but did his best to offer me a charming smile.
I had no idea what Horatio might be thinking, but he was more equal to the situation than I was.
“Your Royal Highness.” He returned the prince’s bow with a stiff one of his own.
What exactly was the protocol when one catches a prince trifling with one’s little sister? I suppose I should have curtsied instead of stalking toward the prince. Some of my more murderous thoughts must have shown on my face because he stumbled back from me.
“This is not at all what it looks like, my lady. I—I mean, Miss Upton.”
“Oh, is it not? Prince Dall!” I snapped, staring pointedly at his bitten fingernails.
The prince curled his fingers into a fist in an effort to hide the ragged cuticles. “No, you are quite mistaken. I am Prince Dashiel.”
“Then you must have been rechristened since you entered the ballroom.”
“Don’t be shilly, Ella.” Amy hiccupped. “That is my Prinsh Dashie. Think I don’t recca—recaanish my own beloved?”
“I think you would be fortunate to know your own name at the moment. All thanks to this young villain.”
“Ella…” Horatio laid his hand on my arm in calming fashion, but I shook him off.
“Madam, I-I assure you,” the young prince stammered, “your sister and I have done nothing wrong. Upon my honor.”
“Your honor, Prince Dall?” I snapped. “Do you or any of your brothers have any? If you have done nothing wrong, exactly what are you hiding behind your back?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” The prince’s lofty tone was ruined when his voice cracked.
I seized his arm, trying to drag his hand from his behind his back, but Horatio intervened.
“Ella, that’s enough!” Horatio pulled me away from the prince. “Your Highness?” The commander held out his palm in demanding fashion.
Red-faced, the prince produced my sister’s garter and dropped it in the palm of Horatio’s hand.
“Her garter broke,” the prince mumbled. “And her stocking fell down. I was just trying to help.”
“Oh, I’ll just bet you were,” I began, but Horatio cut me off.
“I think it would be best if Your Highness returned to the ballroom and your other guests,” he said.
“What? No!” I protested.
Grateful for the chance to escape, Prince Dall seized upon Horatio’s suggestion. He dodged past me. Without even pausing to say goodbye to my sister, he bolted down the corridor.
“Dashie! Don’t go,” Amy wailed.
I snatched my sister’s broken garter from Horatio and shoved it into my hidden pocket with the orb. I started to charge after the prince, intending to haul the young wretch back and force him to account for his actions, but Horatio restrained me.
“Let him go, Ella.”
With Horatio’s strong arm about my waist, I fumed, watching the prince disappear. As soon as Horatio released me, I rounded on him. “How could you let that rapscallion saunter on his way after he lured my innocent sister down to his wine cellar so he could have his way with her?”
“He didn’t!” Amy cried, her eyes filling with tears. “You are ruining everything, Ella. Oh, Dashie!”
Horatio and I ignored her as he attempted to reason with me. “You must not fling out such reckless accusations. You do not know exactly what happened between the prince and your sister.”
“And now I have no way of finding out because you just let him go!”
“No good could come of forcing a confrontation with Prince Dall. Surely you must see that.”
“Why? Because that nail-biting little weasel would just lie his arse off?” I huffed an angry sigh. “No doubt you are right. What I need to do is demand an audience with the king and inform him of his son’s iniquitous behavior.”
“That would be an even worse idea. Prince Dall might find a way to blame whatever happened here on your sister and the king would of course side with his son.”
“And as the king’s loyal Scutcheon, whose side would you be on, Commander?”
“Your sister’s,” Horatio said quietly. “My main concern and yours should be to protect her reputation.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my reputashion.” Amy sniffed. “Don’t you be scolding me, Ella. What have you been up to with your commander, running around all barefoot?” She swayed on her feet as she pointed accusingly at my discarded shoes.
Much to my annoyance, I felt a telltale rush of heat to my cheeks. “We are not discussing my behavior, but yours. How could you be so wantonly reckless, Amy?”
“You think I have been w-wicked but I haven’t been and neither has Dashie. He loves me. He’s going to marry me. I’m going to be a princhess.” Amy hiccupped and placed an unsteady finger against her lips. “Shh! It’s got to be a shecret for now.”
“Oh, Amy!” I groaned at my sister’s gullibility in believing she was beloved by a young man who had not even been honest enough to give her his true name. But I could hardly fault Amy for that, not when I had once been as big of a fool, taken in by Prince Ryland’s deception.
My sister swayed dangerously. When Horatio steadied her, she blinked up at him. “Didn’t know you were twins, Commander.”
Horatio looked startled. “I’m not.”
“Then why are there two of you?”
Amy went cross-eyed and she moaned. “Oh, I think I need to shit—sit down.” She backed away from Horatio and slowly slid to the floor. As she plunked down on her bottom, she knocked against one of the suits of armor.
Amy gazed blearily up at it. “Oh, pardon me. Didn’t shee you there.” Leaning her head against the wall, she sighed and closed her eyes.
Even when she was not drunk, Amy possessed the enviable ability to doze off anywhere and in the most uncomfortable positions. The way her head drooped to one side reminded me of all those times when she had been a little girl and I had found her asleep in her ponies’ stall, nestled against a bale of hay.
She looked so young and innocent, I felt a lump form in my throat. Prince or no prince, if Dall Helavalerian had done anything to hurt my little sister, I silently vowed to kill him. Bending down, I shook her shoulder gently.
“Amy? Amy, please, dearest. You’ve got to wake up and come with me.”
Amy roused enough to push my hand away. “Jush five more minutes, Ella,” she mumbled.
I expelled a frustrated sigh. After the way I had snapped at Horatio, I was ashamed to appeal to him for help, but I did not need to do so. He was already hunkering down beside me.
“If you would allow me?” he asked diffidently.
I gave him a grateful nod and scooted out of his way, so he could scoop Amy up in his arms. My sister’s eyes flew open.
“Whoa!” she cried, stiffening.
“Your pardon, Miss Amy. I need to get you and your sister away from here.”
“You need to start calling me ‘Your Highnesh,’ ” she insisted groggily. “But we give you permisshun to carry us.”
Horatio’s lips twitched but he replied gravely, “Thank you.”
He exchanged a wry glance with me as Amy burrowed her head against his shoulder. Glad as I was to have Horatio take charge of my sister, I could not help asking anxiously, “How are we going to explain what happened to her? If anyone should imagine that she has fainted…”
I let the rest of the thought trail off, but Horatio understood me well enough. He grimaced.
“I already have enough difficulties to deal
with because of swooning women. Fortunately, we need not go through the ballroom. I know a back way where no one need see your sister. Just follow me.”
He set off down the corridor opposite the one I had taken to reach the king’s treasure room. As I scurried after him, he came to an abrupt halt and glanced back at me.
“Ella. Your shoes?”
“Oh!” I breathed, grateful for the reminder. “You keep going. I will catch up.”
As I darted back toward the hall of armor, I reflected that this was the second time tonight I had nearly forgotten my dratted slippers. Fortunately, they were right where I had dropped them when I had collided with Horatio.
As I bent to scoop them up, I thought I heard a door creak. I straightened abruptly, my heart quickening. The back of my neck prickled. I looked anxiously about me, but the hall seemed as silent and empty as it had ever been.
I hurried to put my slippers back on, wincing as I eased the left one on over my sore heel. I hobbled along as best I could to catch up with Horatio. My sister was not exactly a lightweight. I marveled at how easily he could carry her and still maintain such a stride.
As I trailed after them, I could not help reflecting that, at least, Amy’s drunken escapade had diverted the commander’s attention from my own illicit activities. I was ashamed of the thought.
Horatio led the way up a narrow winding stair that brought us out into the bustling kitchen area of the palace. I was alarmed when everyone from the head cook to the pot boy stopped what they were doing to stare at us. Even though Horatio was only the commander of the Midtown garrison, he was clearly held in awe and respect by the palace denizens.
After he had a few quiet words with the head cook, the matronly woman offered up the use of her own private quarters. Horatio soon had us tucked away in a small sitting room, safe from prying eyes. As he deposited my sister on a cozy settee, he instructed a young page to go and fetch my stepmother.
I hovered just inside the door, feeling rather useless. Usually I was the one having to rescue my family from the brink of disaster. It was an odd sensation to allow Horatio to take charge and assume that burden. I might have been able to enjoy it more except for my guilty conscience.
I thought Amy had fallen completely insensible. But as she nestled her head against the settee cushion, she murmured to Horatio, “You’re a lovely man, Commander.”
“Er…thank you.”
“And my sishter likes you pro-prodig—quite a lot.”
“Does she?”
“Yesh, but it won’t do. Sorry, but you can’t marry her ’cause you’re a foundling, prob’ly part ogre. Not good enough for our Ella.”
“I know that,” Horatio replied sadly.
I flinched, wishing that my sister would just shut up and pass out. Horatio caught sight of my expression. Misinterpreting the cause of my dismay, he drew close to me and murmured, “You must not be anxious about your sister. I have sent for your stepmother and ordered your carriage to be brought round to the kitchen yard. Everything is going to be all right, Ella.”
“Thanks to you, and I trust you will pay no heed to any of that nonsense Amy was spouting. She has no idea what she is saying when she is drunk.
“Not that my sister has ever been drunk before,” I added hastily. “I fear that all the royal attention that she received tonight went to her head, along with the wine. Pray, do not think badly of Amy. She can be impulsive at times, but she is not wicked. Ordinarily she is a very well-behaved girl.”
Horatio smiled. “I am sure that she is. I only wish…” His smile faded as he continued, “Why did you not tell me at once the real reason you were down in the forbidden hall was to search for your sister?”
“Well, I…I…” I faltered, all too conscious of the stolen orb hidden in my pocket.
“Did you not think that I would help you, that I would not understand?”
“Well, um, it was very wrong for either Amy or me to be in that part of the palace and…and you are the king’s sworn commander.”
“You must believe the same as your sister does,” he said in a voice thickened by hurt. “That I am part ogre, a most rigid, stiff-necked, unfeeling kind of brute.”
“No, of course not! I would never believe that!”
“I hope not. Because I would do anything for you, Ella. Anything within my power.”
He gathered my hand into the warmth but I could not even bring myself to look him in the eye. If I had felt guilty about deceiving him before, I was now utterly wretched.
“If you ever find yourself in such difficulty again, you must promise to come to me.”
I hung my head and mumbled, “You are very kind, but I could not take advantage of—”
He pressed my hand. “Promise me!”
I forced myself to look up at him and the earnest intensity in his eyes was more than I could bear.
“Very well. I promise.”
“Good.” He rewarded me with a tender smile that I did not deserve.
The only way I could assuage my guilt was by vowing that from now on, I would do my utmost to be Arcady’s most respectable law-abiding subject. No more teasing Mrs. Biddlesworth that I might be an unlicensed witch. No more harassing royal heralds and above all else, no more involvement in Mal’s dangerous schemes.
“Unfortunately, I must leave you now,” Horatio said, although he made no move to release my hand. “I really do need to find Mercato and speak to him.”
“Because you have other Midtown citizens to rescue from the consequences of their follies. You need have no more worries about me. As soon as I have gathered up my stepmother and my other sister—”
I broke off in dismay. “Netta! I have hardly caught sight of her all evening. I have no idea where she is. What a horrible sister I am! I should have been looking out for both of the girls instead of dancing with those silly princes and—”
“Calm yourself, Ella. Netta is fine.” Horatio squeezed my hand reassuringly. “I chanced to see her myself earlier out walking the gardens. I believe she has been accompanying Sergeant Wharton while he makes his rounds.”
Sergeant Wharton? The name sounded familiar. I recollected that he was the exceedingly tall young sentry who had comforted Netta when we first arrived. My sister had seemed quite smitten with him, but I hardly thought my shy Netta would have dared to seek him out. Exactly what had Mal put in that elixir he had given my sisters?
“You need have no fear for your sister in the company of Ned Wharton,” Horatio said. “He was under my command before he transferred to the palace guard. I found him to be a most estimable and honorable man. But I will go find your sister and fetch her here at once.”
“You have done more than enough for my family already. It is more important for you to seek out Mercato. I am sure I can manage to locate Netta without getting into any more trouble.”
“I hope so.” Horatio arched one brow dubiously. “It is nearly midnight. Finding your sister in the crowd after the fireworks start might prove more difficult.”
“Nearly midnight?” I gasped. “No! It surely cannot be as late as that?”
“I fear that it is.” Horatio gestured toward an ormolu clock ticking upon the mantelpiece.
Twenty minutes until twelve, the hour that I had agreed to meet Mal to hand over the stolen orb. Our last words as he had climbed out my bedchamber window echoed through my mind.
Midnight. Do not forget. If you are not there at the rendezvous, I will assume something has gone wrong and come looking for you.
And walk straight into the arms of the palace guard? Don’t be ridiculous, Mal. Just be patient and wait for me. I will be there.
But patience had never been one of Malcolm Hawkridge’s virtues.
“Ella?” Horatio’s voice cut into my panicked thoughts. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh no. I had just forgotten about…the fireworks,” I lied, wishing my face were not so transparent. “I will be sorry that I have to miss them.”
To my relie
f, Horatio accepted that reason for my consternation. He emitted a rueful sigh. “I confess that when I came here this evening, I had hoped to watch the fireworks with you and perhaps take you into supper afterward. Presumptuous of me, I know. I have no reason to suppose you would—”
“I would have liked that very much,” I said, adding with genuine regret, “We never even had our dance.”
“Perhaps there will be another occasion. I hope you will permit me to call upon you again.”
“Certainly you may. I will be most anxious to hear about your meeting with Mercato.”
“Then I promise I will come to see you first thing tomorrow morning.” He paused, adding diffidently. “If you would like.”
“I would like that very much.” I smiled, trying not to sound anxious as the clock ticked off another minute. I attempted to ease my hand from his, but his grip tightened.
Horatio glanced toward Amy, who finally seemed oblivious to her surroundings. He drew me closer and I could tell from the longing in his gaze how badly he wanted to kiss me again.
The man certainly deserved it after all he had done for me. I tilted up my head in silent invitation. As Horatio bent closer, my heart quickened with anticipation. I wondered if this kiss would be as heady as his last one had been.
Suddenly I forgot about the time, forgot about Mal, forgot everything as I lost myself in the smoky heat of Horatio’s eyes. Our lips were but a breath away.
Unfortunately, at that moment, the page flung open the door, ushering my stepmother inside. Horatio and I sprang apart, but not quickly enough. Em drew up short, her mouth falling open.
I was further dismayed when I saw her old beau, Lord Redmond, trailing after her. When His Lordship also halted in surprise, I felt my cheeks burn bright red. Horatio colored a trifle, but he managed to snap off a military bow.
“Prunella Upton! What in the world is going on?” my stepmother cried, her indignation focused on me. “All that foolish page would tell me is that one of my daughters was in dire need of me.” Her glare shifted to include Horatio. “I can see that the fellow did not exaggerate.”
“I am fine, Em,” I said. “But Amy is not.”