Thirty-Six
Isabel
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The next morning, I approached the constables’ office where I had been stationed with a great deal of trepidation. I had been gone for nearly three weeks, but it wasn’t the status of my job that made me reluctant to enter the building. Discovering I had been fired would almost be a relief at this point. I wasn’t certain I could stomach working for Chief Nassan any longer.
I was ready to have my talents appreciated, not belittled. And between the wages Felix would pay me until he broke the curse and the emeralds, I could afford to walk away from a job that wasn’t what I wanted.
If it weren’t for Frederic, I wouldn’t have even bothered returning to the office. But my mentor deserved answers, though I couldn’t tell him everything. Unfortunately, even Sofia had seen through my misdirections, which meant Frederic would not be satisfied. I only hoped he didn’t figure out my feelings for Felix like my twin had. He wasn’t a romantic. He’d react even worse if he knew I was in love with the duke. It would be proof to him that Felix had manipulated me.
I sighed. At least my sister didn’t question my feelings. As soon as she realized, she had adjusted her own view of Felix, trusting that I wouldn’t fall for anyone unworthy. I wasn’t sure if that was due toher optimistic nature or her trust in me, but I appreciated the support. Especially given the rumors.
According to Sofia, the most popular rumor was that Felix had abused the power of the node to force me to the castle. And though that was actually true, the townsfolk’s’ lurid speculations on why he would do such a thing were enough to make my blood boil. I wished the rumors that had villainized me had taken off instead. At least then the worst that could be said about Felix was that he was too blinded by lust to recognize a mercenary social-climber when she lifted her skirts.
But Marc had twisted the truth brilliantly. Scandal was brewing, with a member of the royal family due to arrive and hear about this misuse of power within days.
I needed to convince Frederic that nothing sinister had occurred. If I couldn’t get him on my side, then I had no chance of getting the rest of the populace to consider a different view of the duke.
I squared my shoulders and marched inside. The building was relatively small, not being the main headquarters for the constabulary in Leort. We had our own block of holding cells in the back, a waiting room, an interrogation room, and a large space with desks for each of the constables assigned to this section of the city. In the waiting room, Miss Lapine gaped at me, but I was through to the main room before she said anything. Only a few desks were occupied. The constables spent more time walking the streets than filling out paperwork.
Frederic, however, always spent the first hour of the morning writing his reports from the day before. He claimed it was the most efficient use of his time, since most people were too sleepy to cause problems so early. He looked up, ingrained habit making him check who had come through the door. It was such an unconscious scan that he was already looking back at the paper on his desk before he realized that seeing me was a surprise.
He threw his pen down and leapt to his feet. “Isa! You’re all right. Where have you been?”
I glanced around the room. Better to satisfy curious ears now. Asking to speak to Frederic privately would only make more tongues wag. I prepared myself for the outburst certain to come. “Rose Castle.”
Sure enough, every person in the room reacted. Only a handful of people, and yet a storm of outrage. Some directed at Felix, some at me. I kept my attention on Frederic, whose face was purpling with rage. I spoke softly, knowing the constables would quiet in order not to miss a word. “He hired me to help with a project.”
“Don’t give me that bull. I know you, Isa. You’d never have disappeared without a word if you had a choice.”
I inclined my head, conceding his point. “There was an element of urgency and secrecy. Also, the initial job offer came through my father, which left me in a bit of a bind.”
The constables—of course—knew plenty about my father. I felt no guilt at leading them to blame him instead of Felix for my abrupt departure. It was Edwin’s fault, too, after all.
Frederic’s eyes narrowed. “The duke’s been holed up at his estate for going on three months now. What did he need your help for?”
I raised an eyebrow. “I already said it was a matter of secrecy. I can’t discuss it.”
“That’s not good enough. I went out to Rose Castle a few days ago. I didn’t see you or anyone there.”
“That’s because the duke and I were the only people at the estate. I was busy when you came, and you were gone by the time I learned of your visit.”
“Are you certain? I waited for hours, but some magic knocked me from the hillside, and I couldn’t get back up to the castle after that.”
I was momentarily distracted. “It knocked you down the hill? You didn’t just materialize there?”
The banishment Truth must have worked differently than the one used to summon people. I wondered what happened if someone was inside when they were banished from castle grounds.
Frederic looked at me like I had grown a second head. I pushed aside my speculations. “Sorry, I’m getting off topic. Yes, I am certain. I didn’t learn of your visit until hours had gone by, and I checked around the entire base of the hillside for you. Of course, if you had knocked, instead of attempting to break a window, perhaps the duke would have allowed you entry to the castle.”
My mentor crossed his arms. “Don’t go blaming this on me. Something odd is going on in Truthhold, and I want to know what.”
“I can’t tell you,” I repeated. “But Duke Felix is not the one to blame. He is coping with a situation not of his making to the best of his ability.”
Frederic still wasn’t satisfied. It didn’t surprise me, but I also wasn’t sure what else I could say that would satisfy him. What reassurance could I add that wouldn’t raise his suspicions about my relationship with Felix?
Before I could decide, the door to the front room opened, and Miss Lapine poked her head through. “There is a messenger here for Miss Cardh. He says it is urgent.”
