I felt him shiver and kissed his forehead again.
“There’s a canyon on the Summer side of the barrier now. I haven’t seen it, but you’ll not be attempting to cross it. We don’t connect to Autumn, but Incendis is fond of fire, so I’m glad you can’t reach him.”
I got the feeling Flurry was imagining my death by falling into a canyon or burning to a crisp—and now I was imagining the same.
“I’m staying here,” I promised him. “I’ve learned my lesson.”
He squeezed me for a moment before tucking his face under my chin. His crazy not-hair poked my face, but I didn’t mind. As much as I still wanted to help break the curse or at least ease the people’s suffering in some way, I didn’t want to worry him by risking my life. Flurry cared, and I was going to hold onto that.
Chapter 9
While the Winter Court didn’t have a single piece of technology like I knew it, that didn’t stop the people living here from spreading gossip with internet-like speed. Before we came down for dinner that night, news of me going through the barrierandbedding the prince had zipped through not just the palace but the village surrounding it.
Lady Lennon—call me Giselle, dear boy—was convinced that the barriers would shatter any day now because Flurry was absolutely falling completely in love with me. I understood her desire to restore their world and all, but I really didn’t like how it felt like manipulation and sounded insincere. If Flurry and I were going to fall in love and live happily ever after, great! But not only to break the curse. I wanted and deserved real love the same as he did.
For a couple days, I let myself be absorbed into court life. I might’ve become one of Flurry’s advisors withoutmeaning to but no one kicked up a fuss so I assumed they didn’t mind. That was how I got to be present when Flurry held a sort of Ask Me Anything for the citizenry to come into the throne room and tell him about a problem to get a solution. They had a legal system that seemed fine, but he was the final say in disputes that had gone through that system and still not been resolved. The people presented their case, he listened and asked questions, and then the matter ended how Flurry decided.
I’d been a little worried this would be where he’d become some wicked tyrant. That the gloves would come off and there would be a dictator.
I shouldn’t have worried.
“And how are you doing now?” Flurry asked a woman who was trying to gain custody of her daughter from the couple who’d adopted the toddler as a newborn. “Do you have the means to provide for the girl?”
Miss Fraser looked thin and fragile in her patched clothing and ragged shoes. From her statements, she’d lived a hard life on her uncle’s farm prior to the curse. She’d lost both parents to accidents early in life and hadn’t been taken in out of kindness but duty. After the curse, her uncle threw her out as one too many mouths to feed on a farm that couldn’t grow anything, and she’d turned to prostitution. She’d given the baby up thinking she had no choice but had since joined with a group helping women learn skills and build better lives. Now she wanted her daughter back.
As much as I applauded her successes and rooted for her to build that better life, I could also see the absolutefear and desperation on the faces of the two men who’d adopted her daughter. They’d been her parents for three years, and though they too supported her mother in the changes she’d made, they refused to part with their child.
I had no idea what Flurry might decide but it had my stomach in knots as I watched and waited.
“I won’t pretend I’m doing better than I am, Your Highness,” Miss Fraser said. “I’m living in a shelter and working as a cleaner, but my health is good now. I know I will be a good mother, if I can just get the chance.”
By the looks of the adoptive parents, they were managing to live more than decently. I didn’t like that it mattered to me that they were more well-off, or that it was a point on their side that they were in a better place to take care of themselves and a child. It was reality, though, that they weren’t struggling and their daughter wouldn’t as she grew up.
“Mister Collier,” Flurry said to one of the adoptive parents, “you mentioned in an earlier proceeding that you were looking for a nanny for the child. Have you found one?”
His face flushed and he swallowed hard. “Not yet, Your Highness. But I’d like to make sure it’s understood that we aren’t unable to care for her ourselves. We simply?—”
Flurry held up his hand to stop Collier, who looked to me like he was full of regret for ever mentioning the search for a nanny. His husband put his arm around Collier as the man hid his face and might’ve started crying.
“Miss Fraser,” Flurry said, “your daughter does not know you and it would be cruel to separate her from those who have raised her for the past three years.” He paused as she let out a sob. “Listen to me. I also recognize the right of a mother to know her child and acknowledge how you are working to improve yourself and your situation. My question is, can you be in Adelaide’s life without being the sole authority in it? Can you support the parenting already established? Put yourself last and the child first?”
He meant to make her the nanny. I looked between the three parents, seeing hope, still seeing fear. Could they get along in such a dynamic?
There were two women with Miss Fraser who seemed to be acting as advisors and they spoke to her quietly now. I felt like there could only be one answer if she wanted to be in her daughter’s life because, otherwise, Flurry was going to side with the adoptive parents. She had to see that, too. But could she live with it?
After a few moments, Miss Fraser was nodding and waving off the two women before she wiped her tears away and stepped forward.
“Your Highness,” she said in a determined voice, “if Misters Collier and Durand would take me on in the role of nanny, I could swear not to abuse their trust, promise to remember my place, and do everything in my power to love and support Adelaide to the best of my ability.” She was a little breathless when she finished, but she held her head high.
“Mister Collier? Mister Durand?” Flurry said, looking to them. “Can you accept Miss Fraser as nanny toAdelaide? With provisions and safeguards in place, of course.”
Collier was still teary-eyed, but he smiled and nodded with Durand before they both said, “Yes, Your Highness.”
“It’s settled then.” Flurry leaned back in his throne, looking satisfied. “Negotiate a contract that clearly states your wishes, arrange for initial supervision if necessary, and always remember thatAdelaideis the priority.”
I was pretty sure I exhaled with relief right along with everyone else witnessing that. If Collier hadn’t mentioned needing a nanny, would Flurry have thought of that as a solution? I watched Miss Fraser crouch down in front of Adelaide as she hid behind Durand’s leg and was glad to see the little girl smile at the stranger who’d fought so hard to win a place in her life. Everything in me hoped they’d all live happily ever after together.
Beside me, Giselle tsked. “You were worried.”
