I spent the rest of the day giving Emmeline a crash course on etiquette, everything from a proper curtsy to how to address a social superior. The courtiers liked to pretend it all came naturally to them, that their noble blood gave them grace and civility beyond that of the common man. But they trained from childhood in courtly manners.
“This is a waste of time,” Emmeline snapped.
We were practicing the proper method of backing away from royalty after being dismissed. Turning one’s back on them was inexcusable.
“I just need to get in, get the jewel, and get out.” She gestured sharply. “Who cares if I don’t properly suck up to some stuffy nobles in the meantime?”
“The actual theft is only part of the equation.” My foot tapped the floor in annoyance before I stilled it. “The rest is avoiding suspicion. We want the Court to overlook us. I don’t want them to even remember your name when they think back on the ball. If you make a fool of yourself, they’ll remember you. And when every palace guard and official is trying to track down the jewel, one of them might question why Sir Valen’s lover was acting so strangely.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she rubbed her face.
She worked the rest of the day without complaining. It was… exceedingly suspicious. Was she trying to lull me into complacency? Make me think she was cooperating so I’d lower my guard, letting her escape?
We ate dinner in the same small nook as breakfast, the garden outside cast in shadows. Nin had placed candles and a vase of flowers on the table in a hopeless attempt to make the atmosphere romantic.
“You’re doing much better,” I said, watching Emmeline eat. “Especially with the cheese.”
I’d half-expected her to devour the cheese platter like a starving animal. She’d waxed poetic about the food when impersonating Lady Celestine. The lady wasn’t known for a love of cheese (Was anyone?) so that must have been Emmeline’s real personality shining through.
I almost smiled in remembrance of the conversation—almost, before I stopped myself. We weren’t chatting at a party anymore. I was using her to steal the Selenian Jewel. I could fake friendship to manipulate her better, but I couldn’t let myself feel any genuine affection.
“I have noble blood, sir,” she said in a nasally, snooty tone. “A commonplace food such as cheese isn’t worthy of touching my superior skin. And I certainly don’t need toeatit.“ She waved her fork with a flourish. “I subsist on an over-inflated ego, not food.”
I smothered my chuckle as ruthlessly as I’d stopped my smile. Then the crystal on my armband flared with heat, and I dropped my fork.
“Excuse me.”
I shot up, flung open the window, and leaped outside before Emmeline could say a word.
Earth's blue glow brightened the night sky, but thick trees shrouded the area around the chateau in darkness. I plunged into them, startling a few birds that took off into the air.
The crystal remained hot against my skin. I’d upgraded the protective spell around my property after last night’s intrusion. The crystal on my armband would heat in alarm when anything larger than a rabbit passed over my wall.
But I saw no one. Dark trees surrounded me, and the flowers amid the thick grass glowed. A leaf fell from overhead, twirlinglightly in the air before landing soundlessly on a tree root. It was the only movement in the entire garden.
A slow, systematic search would uncover the intruder. But I couldn’t stay out here long, or Emmeline would seize her chance to escape. I glanced worriedly back at the chateau. Then I closed my eyes and listened.
Behind the chateau, a pegasus snorted in the stables. Muffled voices came from indoors—Emmeline and Nin, presumably—and the faint clip-clop of hooves came from somewhere down the street. An owl hooted in the distance, and ahead of me, someone took quick, ragged breaths.
I shot towards the sound, and a figure took off running.Big and broad, short hair, most likely male, I noted as I raced after him. He was sprinting toward the stone wall surrounding my land.
I ducked under a low branch, leaves smacking me in the face. The trespasser had a head start, and I pushed myself to close the gap between us. I couldn’t let him escape. I had to find out why he was stalking me, whether it was related to my plans.
He reached the wall and quickly climbed. As he heaved his bulky form upward, recognition hit me. I slowed in shock—only for a second, but it was a second too long.
He leaped over the top of the wall and vanished from sight. The street lay on the other side, and no doubt he’d take off running. I could give chase…
I slowed to a stop, though my heartbeat kept racing at high speeds. If I went that far from Emmeline when she wasn’t shackled, I might as well give her a pegasus and open a portal to Earth for her.
Cursing, I stalked back to the chateau. I knew the identity of my trespasser, but what was he trying to accomplish? It could be nothing, just a boneheaded attempt to make a nuisance of himself. Or it could be the complete undoing of all my plans…
Emmeline was waiting for me outside.
“What the hell was that?”
Chapter 11
Emmeline
