Gabrielle’s eyes glazed with tears, and although she blinked rapidly, a few of them still fell, leaving wet tracks down her cheeks. She blushed a little, then bent over to pick Roland up, cuddling himclose.
“Ugh, you really do reek,” Roland grumbled, eliciting a choked laugh from Gabrielle. He continued, “Angelique is my friend, Gabrielle. But I will follow you until the day one of us takes our lastbreath.”
Angelique smiled as she watched the pair, but she felt like a bit of an intruder. She glanced away and considered forging ahead without them.They probably need totalk…
“Thank you, Puss,” Gabrielle said. “And thank you for saving him, Lady Enchantress. I was soworried.”
“It was my pleasure.” Angelique peered up the hallway, trying to decide if she should make an escape or not. “I mean to leave soon to renew my search, but first I will help both of you settle into Carabas. Our tour has made it apparent that it is quiteneglected.”
“It is, but I think Gabrielle will have the funds to renovate it,” Roland said. “Phew, after she bathes, thatis.”
“What? How?” Gabrielleasked.
“By crawling in a tub filled with hot, soapy water,” Rolandsaid.
“That’s not what Imeant.”
“The funds? The answer is easy—the ogre has been hoarding wealth and treasure since he first thundered his way into Carabas. He must have quite the treasury by now,” Rolandsaid.
Angelique narrowed her eyes. “How do you knowthat?”
“I read it in one of Evariste’s correspondences,” Puss said, his black tailtwitching.
“You read hismail?” Angelique’s first instinct was to snatch Roland from the protective cradle of Gabrielle’s arms and shake some sense into him, but that would absolutely tarnish her enchantress image, so she planted a hand over her heart instead and privately promised herself retributionlater.
“Yes.”
“Yousneaky—”
“I already said I’m not going to be the new marquise,” Gabriellesaid.
“Of course you are. You’re the lost heir of Carabas—or at least King Henrik promised to let us pretend you are.” Roland’s voice was smug andpleased.
Gabrielle stared at her cat. “When did he agree tothat?”
“That time Prince Steffen accidentally peeped at you,” Roland said. “I had an excellent conversation with King Henrik in hiscarriage.”
Angelique studied Gabrielle with new interest.A prince spied on her? Well, she is gorgeous. I would still bet my best dress Roland had a paw init.
Gabrielle groaned. “I can’t keep up withyou.”
Angelique smiled but fixed her attention back on the castle. If she wanted to return to her search for Evariste in a timely manner, she needed to begin working right away—especially since her stamina wasn’t the greatest thesedays.
I can help them here in Carabas and safely use my magic, I think. While it’s technically in Arcainia, these lands are below poverty level and have been under siege by the ogre’s foul presence.She wouldn’t have to hesitate if she had anything besides war magic—the Council would approve of her aiding them,then.
But she was what she was. And she knew Evariste would never leave Carabas in the dire mess it was in, so neither couldshe.
If I could help and avoid getting in trouble, I would much prefer that, but it’s not like I can cast spells to help Carabas from the border ofMullberg.
Angelique nodded, her mind made up. “I believe I will start with some repairing spells—though it will take me twice as long to cast as it would a full enchantress.” Angelique tapped her lip as she stared down the hallway, her eyes fixated on a smashedpillar.
“I will begin designing Gabrielle’s letterhead. Your crest will, of course, include a cat,” Rolandsaid.
“I give up,” Gabriellemuttered.
“It’s always the wisest course to bow to my superior intelligence,” Roland said. “By which I mean to say, you could begin by taking abath.”
“Oh, go roll in someEssence de Fox,” Gabrielle said, muttered, stompingoff.
