I’m grateful.It would have sucked to have kept it mostly together through actual time travel and then have a breakdown over a dress.
Anne helps me into another dress, this one still not what I would have picked if someone had toldmethey were going to go traipsing through the dirt, but at least it’s not made of silk.
Anne walks with me through the palace hallways until we make it the patio overlooking the back garden.Lush green trees sway in the gentle breeze and provide privacy for the outdoor space in the middle of a city while a lake in the background draws birds to the area.Dense shrubberies dot the landscape, and the focus is a more naturalistic looking garden than the formal gardens of the eighteenth century.
“You don’t need to come with me.I’m just going on a walk in the gardens.And it’s gated around here, so I think I should be safe.”I slowly back away from Anne and toward the garden space.“How much trouble could I possibly get in while I’m in the gardens?”
It’s a good thing TV hasn’t been invented yet, because if Anne had ever seen a sitcom, she would know that is the cue tonotleave me alone.That would be the cue to lock me up in a tower and throw the key away, because I just signaled to her that I was most definitely going to be getting into some trouble.
Luckily for me, Anne isn’t up on her sitcoms, so she shrugs and stays where she is while I walk into the gardens.I give her a few more minutes to make sure she’s not going to change her mind and come back out, and then I sneak around the side of the palace, running as quietly as I can.
But it’s a giant building, with very long sides.And I’m wearing so many layers.Which means my sneaky run quickly descends into a fast walk.And even quicker, that deteriorates into a regular walk where I’m panting but still trying very hard not to make too much noise.Which makes the panting louder, because of course it does.
I’m in academia.I do not break out of palaces or evade the Queen’s Guard; I read books.This is new to me.
But I shouldn’t have been worried.I passed some guards and they didn’t even bat an eye at me wandering around the place.I can see how that kid snuck in and sat on the throne, early in Victoria’s reign.Then again, I would assume news has spread that I’m a guest, and guests can walk around the gardens when they want.
When step one of the escape plan is done, I turn to step two: finding transportation.
I could lie to the stable workers and say Victoria gave me permission to take a carriage out.I’m getting so good at lying lately.
Then I remember that the stables arebehindthe palace.Closer to where I started from.I turn to make the slow walk back, sad at the unnecessary cardio, when someone grabs my arm from behind.I scream and throw both hands up as I turn, ready to defend myself from whatever fresh hell this time wants to throw at me now.
CHAPTER15
“Oh, Leo.It’s you.”My hands, grateful they don’t have to protect me anymore, go to my chest in an effort to calm my pounding heart.
“Steady on.”Leo removes his hand and holds both of his arms up, apparently worried about my fighting ability (which he really shouldn’t be).
“You shouldn’t grab women, all creepy-like.”
“I am sorry.Next time I grab a woman, I shall endeavor to be less creepy about it.”
“Maybe don’t grab women unexpectedly at all.”
“Also a path I could take.”He takes in my appearance, my hair askew from the aforementioned running, my slightly puffy sleeves sticking to my arms because of sweat from, again, the running.“Where are you off to?”
“Nowhere.Just having a nice, very normal walk.”Yes, Meera.Totally normal walks are usually described as normal.No more questions needed.
“Well, I was coming to call on you.May I walk with you?”
“I…” What would be a legitimate reason to tell him to get lost?It’s already getting late, and if I walk with him, that’s even less time to be out exploring for my way home.
But he is my partner.And I’ve gotten him enough dances in the past few days that I think I can start getting into the weirder requests I mentioned as part of the deal.This could be the red flag that makes him rethink our deal, but I can’t continue lying like this, so I have to take the chance.
“Did you come by carriage?”I ask.
“Yes.”
“Great.Let’s get in it.”
“Although I do approve of taking walks in a carriage, does that not somewhat defeat the purpose?”
“This is one of those times I’m going to need your help, without question or judgement.”I cross my arms over my chest so he knows I mean business.Even though I have nothing to bargain or threaten him with if he decides he wants out of the strange requests.
“Then by all means, we shall go.”Leo calls for his carriage back from the groom who was about to take it away.“Out of curiosity, how many of these requests will you make?”
I hold my chin up.“You did not specify a number when we were negotiating the proposition.Therefore, it’s unlimited until you’re married and/or I’m home.But I will try to not abuse it.”
