“I’ll see to him, Mademoiselle!” Oliver and the pony set off after Pegasus, trotting to catchup.
Angelique watched them, still marveling over Oliver, when Lucien decided to inflict himself onher.
“Lady Enchantress Angelique, you lookravishing.” The crown prince plucked up Angelique’s hand and started to bend overit.
But Angelique was too familiar with his ways, so instead she clasped her free hand around his then firmly shook their hands, pumping them up and down so she almost smacked him in theface.
“Lucien, you seem to be doing quite well.” She yanked her hands free before he could recover, then started to glide for the front doors, deciding for everyone it was time to enter the chateau. “And thank you, Severin, for allowing me to intrude upon yourhome.”
“It is our honor,” Severin said. “What brings you to Loire?” He nodded his thanks to a footman, who flung the chateau front doors open so they could passthrough.
“I am actually only passing through.” Angelique spared the entrance hall a quick glance, admiring the damask wallpaper and turquoise carpets spread across the stone floors. “I am traveling toSole.”
“Surely you must stay with my family in Noyers for a week or so before you move on to Sole,” Lucien strolled at her right side, walking unnecessarily close so occasionally their elbowsbrushed.
Angelique shifted so she clasped her hands at the bottom of her ribcage and angled her elbows out. The next time Lucien tried to brush her, her elbow jabbed him. “I’m afraid I must decline your generous invitation, Your Highness,” she said. “I must get to Sole in a timely manner, for Princess Rosalinda’s eighteenth birthday approaches, and a dark mage has been tracking her formonths.”
“That’s right; it was you who modified the princess’ curse when she was just a babe so it didn’t kill her, but made her sleep.” Elle called from the top of a marblestaircase.
She was a bit breathless—from sprinting through the castle, Angelique suspected. She had, however, transformed in a short amount oftime.
Gone was the ragamuffin look, exchanged for demure order between the artful braid of her silky hair and the once-again youthful appearance of her face. The final touch was her gauzy, red gown that exposed the tops of her shoulders and had tiny, pale pink flowers embroidered into the neckline. It perfectly showed off Elle’s artless yet gracefulbeauty.
“I’ve already called for refreshments in the rose garden,” Ellecontinued.
When Severin, Angelique, and Lucien climbed the stairs to join her on the second story of the chateau, Elle stood on her tip toes to kiss Severin’s cheek, then pushed her way between Angelique and Lucien so she could take her brother-in-law’s arm and smack it harder than necessary. “So we ought to retirethere.”
A smile that actually briefly showed a flash of his white teeth skidded across Severin’s lips. “A goodidea.”
“But it’s almost dark,” Lucien complained. “There will bebugs!”
“That, my dear brother-in-law, is what the frog pond is for. Come! We must get out there before the sun sets so we can properly admireit!”
* * *
The rose gardenwas a wash of green bushes and roses of varying sizes and colors—there were brilliant yellow and orange roses, tiny red roses the size of a fingernail, huge pink roses bigger than Angelique’s palm, and wild white roses blushed withpurple.
The garden smelled heavenly, and at the center of it was a fountain that trickled water in jeweledtones.
Surrounded by beauty and in the golden light of the dimming sun, Angelique was able to discuss her concerns with the prince and princess, who listened without interrupting her as she listed off the grievances the continent had endured—from the cursed princesses of Farset to Clotilde inArcainia.
“Individually, these issues would not be unexpected. They would still be a trial, and terrible to experience, but…” Angelique trailed on, not certain how toproceed.
I sound insane—or anxiety stricken, like I am seeing a black mage under every rock. But those storms in Ringsted…that’s not by chance—that’s a deliberateaction.
“With so many wrong-doings, it’s difficult to believe they are all happenstance,” Severin said,finally.
“And it’s been my experience as a Ranger that often things canappearto be natural, but someone unseen is moving,” Elleadded.
Angelique almost collapsed in her chair.They believe me. Thank goodness, someone finally believes me!She nodded and glanced over at Lucien, who was poking around the edge of the fountain. (He had grown bored about five minutes into the talk and had taken to wandering around thegarden.)
“Thank you for speaking to us, Angelique,” Severin said. “Though the Conclave seems reluctant to move, they are undoubtedly betterinformed.”
I hope we would be—we’re supposed to know everything involving magic!Angelique adjusted her hold on the stem of her chalice and stared at the red wine within it. “What, then, do we donow?”
“Elle and I were considering attempting to talk to royalty of other countries to see if they were also having similar problems,” Severinsaid.
“We were starting with Erlauf as they are a major military power, and because Queen Freja is stepping down and Princess Cinderella will be crowned queen in early winter,” Ellesaid.
