Courtly Masquerade Read online

  And then it happened. I was a princess for only such a short time when my former nursemaid hurried into the room. Her pixie face and bright red hair always tickled me when I was little. A sprinkling of red freckles covered her small nose, and she grinned with delight to see me.

  And I was doomed.

  Cesil curtseyed deeply to me. “Duchess Arabella.”

  I was certain Moravia gasped. Conlan’s eyes darkened and his lips thinned considerably.

  “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see your return. And wearing your mother’s gown.” Cesil put her hands on her cheeks, as her eyes grew tearful. “You are as beautiful as your mother was, God rest her soul.”

  Truly, I don’t swoon easily, but my legs felt like the bones had melted, and I slumped into a chair.

  “Are you all right, my lady?”

  “She needs food,” Moravia said, folding her arms and looking cross.

  So I was back to being Arabella and Conlan and Moravia were mad at me again.

  “The guard at the gate said she was Princess Lynet,” Conlan said, his voice harsh. I could see then he wasn’t sure if I was the duchess or the princess.

  Cesil smiled. “Oh yes, well, everyone gets them confused, except for me and her lady-in-waiting.”

  “Who is?” Conlan asked.

  “Why Baroness DeChamplainet.”

  “If you don’t mind,” Moravia said, her voice terse, “the duchess undoubtedly needs a meal at once as peeked as she looks.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Cesil curtsied to me and I bowed my head, not trusting if I stood I wouldn’t collapse.

  Moravia turned to me after the nursemaid left.

  “Duchess Arabella?” Moravia’s eyes narrowed into ice-cold blue daggers. I didn’t want to see what Conlan’s looked like.

  “I told you I was Arabella.”

  “Lady Arabella, niece of your lady-in-waiting,” Conlan reminded me. “Not heir to this dukedom.”

  “And you were crying because?” Moravia asked.

  It wasn’t anyone’s business but mine.

  I stuck my chin up, hating that my momentary reign as princess had so quickly been taken from me. “My parents died here when I was thirteen. I’ve been Princess Lynet’s lady-in-waiting ever since.”

  Conlan stared hard at me. His blue eyes looked cold and hard just like Moravia’s. “Why had you left Foxmoor?”

  “She sent me away.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  I stared at the floor. What my cousin had tried to do was wrong. It wasn’t my fault. I looked up at Conlan and said, “She told me she’d met you and you were going to marry her.”

  “Met me?” Again he exchanged glances with Moravia. I didn’t care for their silent conversation. “Go on.”

  “Prince Renault was forcing her father to give her to him.”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  I sat quietly not knowing what else to say. Then I asked the question puzzling me. “She said she’d met with you lots of times. Why did you not think I was her?”

  “I have never met you—her, before.”

  I nodded. “She lied to me. I suspected so just to get me into harm’s way. Though I don’t know why she’s done this.”

  “Where were you supposed to be heading? Not to Castle Ro.”

  “No. To see Prince Renault.”

  Conlan just stared at me. His eyes darkened again.

  “Why?” Moravia asked.

  “I was to convince Prince Renault that Princess Lynet wouldn’t make a suitable bride.”

  “What?” Conlan said, his voice deepening in anger. He placed his fisted hands on his hips. The comment about wringing my neck came back to me, vividly.

  “Prince Sumaria,” Moravia said, running her hand over his arm to calm him, “let her speak without getting angry.”

  “Do not tell me you were to pretend to be Princess Lynet and attempt to convince him he wouldn’t care for her,” Conlan said.

  “When the princess makes me do something, I have no choice.”

  Conlan paced.

  “Prince Sumaria and Renault are brothers,” Moravia said.

  Now this was a new wrinkle in the fabric I hadn’t suspected. “I didn’t know that.”

  “Not many do as they live so far apart. What would you have done to make Prince Renault despise you?” Moravia asked.

  “I don’t know. I was to flirt with other men, for one.”

  “Something I’m sure you’re quite good at,” Conlan snapped.

  Something I was totally untrained at. “The truth be known,” I said, attempting to ignore his comment, “she’d have made it easy for Prince Renault to dislike her. She throws the most awful tantrums over nothing.”

  Conlan stopped pacing and stared at me again. “We marry for power, nothing more.”

  “Well, she is lucky, if Prince Renault is anything like you.” Except of course, for the temper Prince Sumaria and Lynet seemed to share. I could see if Renault was like his brother in that regard, Lynet and Renault’s relationship could be quite explosive. I couldn’t help smiling inwardly at the notion. “You should see who I am betrothed to. Why he is an ogre of unequaled—”

  A knock at the door interrupted my speech.

  The door opened and there stood Duke Farthington, speaking of the ogre. “Your nursemaid told me you were here, my dear. And I see you’ve brought honored guests, Prince Sumaria and...?”

  “Princess Moravia,” Conlan offered.

  Everyone exchanged customary greetings, except for me. I just sat their dumbfounded. Moravia was a princess? Was she related to Sumaria and Renault? Her brothers?

  “Come, Lady Arabella.” Duke Farthington offered his arm. “The meal has been prepared.”

  Conlan, or I guess I should say, Prince Sumaria, slipped his arm under mine instead while Moravia, Princess Moravia, took Farthington’s. The duke was not at all pleased, though he attempted a curt smile. Conlan, as it’s easier for me to think of him that way, didn’t smile at all. I couldn’t decide if he was rescuing me again, afraid I might bolt any second, or was just following protocol. I assumed, being a prince, it had to do with protocol. And yet he knew Farthington desired to escort me. Still as a prince, he outranked the duke.

  “What else have you heard about me?” Conlan asked, as we walked down the long corridor where tapestries of knights and mages fought on battlefields. His voice was low for my own ears, though, Farthington looked back at me to see what we were “whispering” about.

  “I have heard that you were most handsome. And charismatic.”

  He smiled. He had the sweetest smile that created dimples in his cheeks and a sparkle in his liquid blue eyes.

  “But,” I added, my chin tilted up haughtily, “I would revise my opinion about the charismatic part.”

  “Oh?” His smile seemed to brighten.

  “Yes, any nobleman who threatens to wring a woman’s neck is no better than a barbarian.”

  “Ah. Well, I had to remove you from the mage’s shop as expeditiously as possible because the Dark One had seemed bothered by you. I couldn’t spend time arguing with you.”

  “The Dark One?” The image of the black-cloaked mage in the shop instantly came to mind.

  “The mage dressed all in black in the apothecary shop. We saw him and hurried to see why he rushed out of the shop, because he is the deadliest of adversaries. You were the reason for his leaving so suddenly.”

  “Me? What have I got to do with anything?”

  “No telling. But I intend to find out.”

  We stepped into the magnificent great hall and again I felt tearful. Memories of sitting on the dais with my parents and watching the jester or minstrels perform at our meals washed over me with happy memories. Only now they were not the courtiers I knew from my past. Except for my nursemaid, a stable hand, and a knight, I didn’t recognize the faces that stared at us with curiosity.

  Duke Farthington escorted us to the high table, then explained who o
ur guests were. He was not the Duke of Cambria yet, and I couldn’t help being angered that he would assume that role before he married me.

  Moravia sat on one side of the duke and I the other, while Conlan sat on my right. He should have sat next to the duke, while I sat on the other side of the duke, but Conlan insisted he sit next to me.

  Again, I knew he did so to keep me in line. But I didn’t know why. If he had just rescued me from the slavers, I could understand that. But now I was with my own people, as far as he could tell. Then again, maybe he worried there was something to my allegations that the princess was out to do me in and would try again.

  “Tell me more about the Dark One,” I said to Conlan, as I buttered a slice of bread.

  “He practices the darkest magic. I’ve heard tell if a king wanted to solicit his help, he would win any war. Beware a deal made with one such as him, as it would be like dealing with the devil himself.”

  “You do not think my uncle would have anything to do with—”

  “Why were you in the apothecary shop?”

  “I was buying a map, as you very well know.”

  “A magical map.”

  I clamped my lips shut. No one knew, except my parents and by accident, Baroness DeChamplainet, that I had a couple of mage’s abilities. I rarely practiced them as usually a person was either royalty or was a mage, not both. Many felt a royal mage would change the balance of power drastically. Very rarely did anyone have mage powers. Even more rarely did royalty.

  I imagined if Duke Farthington knew I was a mage, though not school-trained, he’d have a stroke. Even the king would be upset. Might I have turned Lynet into a skunk?

  “My lady,” Conlan said, waiting for me to respond to his magical map comment.

  “Was the map magical?” I asked, wide-eyed, feigning blissful ignorance.

  He narrowed his darkened blue eyes at me. I’d made him mad again. If he had been his brother, Prince Renault, I could easily dissuade him from marrying Lynet had I still pretended to be the princess.

  “You know very well the map was magical. To me it was a blank scroll of paper. To you, it showed you the way to Castle Ro.”

  “Oh, silly me. I had no idea. I thought anyone could read them.”

  “You make a very poor liar, Duchess.”

  “Thank you.”

  He drank some of his wine and studied me with such intensity I had to concentrate on trying to pretend he didn’t unnerve me.

  I sampled some of the fowl a hunter must have shot recently. The meat was fresh and sweet and whetted my appetite.

  Then Conlan leaned over and whispered in my ear, sending a trickle of heat down my spine, “If you are a mage, my dear lady, many will want you dead.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Deep inside me, I already felt Conlan’s sentiments spoke true—many would want me dead because I was both royal and a mage. I couldn’t help my mage heritage. For the most part, I hadn’t practiced my special abilities, nor had I ever let anyone know I had them.

  In fact, I had never been in a mage’s shop before. I didn’t see that my being a mage could harm anyone.

  Had Lynet somehow found out? Wouldn’t the king have thought he could use me to further his own cause? Or did she discover I was a mage and wished to ensure her father didn’t somehow prefer me to her when he learned the truth?

  Maybe, she didn’t even know I had any abilities but just acted her spiteful self.

  Conlan handed me a piece of his buttered bread. I raised my brows in surprise. Now what was up?

  “I want you to come with me to Crondor. Meet Prince Renault as you were supposed to do.”

  “I didn’t want to play the game before. I won’t do it now,” I said tersely and avoided his peace offering.

  “My brother and I are the only ones who can protect you.”

  I shook my head. Did this Prince Sumaria want to use me against the king? I wouldn’t be used against anyone.

  “We have heard rumors the king wishes to use the mage power to conquer all of the princedoms that exist outside his borders. He would take our lands and divide it amongst his greedy lords. My people and my brother’s are well taken care of. I’m sure this is the same for the duke of Ro and others who run their independent dukedoms. But if your uncle—”

  “I’m not a mage warrior. I’m not even school-trained.”

  Duke Farthington couldn’t hear our whispered sentiments, but he leaned over and touched my cheek, bothered, I think, because the prince and I seemed so intimate. “Dear, I’ve discussed with the king that I be allowed to marry you earlier, within the month instead of two months from now as His Majesty has proclaimed.”

  “The duchess is on a mission to Crondor, and I am giving her an escort to ensure her safety,” Conlan said.

  Duke Farthington smiled as if the prince had said the funniest thing he’d heard in a good long while. “The lady is a duchess and doesn’t go on missions, as you say. She stays at home like a good duchess should.”

  “It is as Prince Sumaria says. I was sent on a mission by Princess Lynet herself. Should you wish to argue this point, you will have to do it with her,” I said, smiling.

  I knew the duke would take it up with the king at once and furthermore, that we would need to leave right after the meal.

  When he motioned to a man, I knew he intended to send a messenger immediately.

  But as soon as the duke spoke to the man, Conlan nodded to two of his men, who quickly followed the messenger out of the hall. With all of the hustle and bustle of servants carrying food in and empty platters out of the hall, I didn’t think the duke would notice.

  But just in case, I distracted Duke Farthington as best I could. “But, Your Grace, I shouldn’t be there long.”

  “A month,” Conlan said.

  I glanced back at him and frowned. If he wanted to stir the duke up, he was doing a good job of it.

  Conlan raised his blond brows at me and smiled.

  “Perhaps the lady can retire to her chambers, while you and I talk about hunting,” the duke said to Conlan.

  I straightened my back. I didn’t care for being dismissed by the princess, but she had the right to do so. But the duke wasn’t my husband yet and it was my castle.

  “I will take a walk in my gardens,” I said, and before any could stand, I hopped up from my seat and strode after the messenger and Conlan’s men.

  As soon as I headed for the entryway, all the courtiers stood. After all, I was still the lady of the manor, even if I hadn’t yet married the despicable duke.

  I was certain I wouldn’t get very far, but I knew a secret way out of the castle, if I could reach it fast enough. Drat that I wore my mother’s beautiful royal blue gown. My brown dress much more suited hasty escapes. Then I thought of my water pouch and weatherproof cloak. If nothing else, I had to get them before I left.

  Totally disheartened, I bolted for the stairs and ran down the long corridor to my suite. Inside, I found all of my things, quickly fastened them to my belt, and swung my cloak over my shoulders. Then I dashed out of the room.

  As yet, no one had caught up with me. I figured it was because Duke Farthington hadn’t a clue I was trying to escape and Moravia and the prince hadn’t expected my bolting like that. Plus they didn’t know the layout of the castle and grounds like I did. They probably wouldn’t have thought I’d head back to my chambers either.

  Then I heard voices. I hastened to my mother’s chambers through our connecting door and bolted it.

  “She’s not here, but her things are gone,” Moravia said.

  “Tell the captain of our guard, everyone is to be on the lookout for her. She’s not to slip out of our grasp.”

  The prince.

  Someone tried the bolted door. I cringed, and then dashed out of my mother’s room and back down the servants’ stairs. Because most were still busy with the meal, I encountered no one and continued down until I reached the servants’ quarters.

  If I could reach the gard
en...

  The sound of men’s voices echoed off the stone walls as they approached the hall. I hurried through another door and saw before me a dark, dank stone staircase descending into a tunnel. Did it connect with the garden one? It seemed familiar.

  The voices grew closer, and I closed the door behind me and hurried down the stairs. Using my candlelight spell, I illuminated my way, brightening the light the farther I got from the servant’s door.

  I assumed I could make it beyond the castle walls, but then what? I had food and water, but no coin. And I had no horse. Travel would go slowly. Where could I go? I knew from looking quickly at the maps at the mage’s shop, I could head northwest and eventually come to Castle Ro. Though I still needed a map to traverse the woods, valleys, rivers and streams on my way or I’d get hopelessly lost.

  If I went to Ro Castle, Prince Sumaria undoubtedly would catch me there eventually. I could no longer go to Crondor. But what about Prince Sumaria’s castle in Creshion?

  While he was gallivanting around the country looking for me elsewhere, I could go to Creshion, maybe find a lead to somewhere else I could reside.

  His place along the mountain border rested closer to my castle. And no one would think I’d go in that direction.

  I hurried through the stone passages dripping with ground water. Moss covered the stone walls and puddles of water wetted my boots. Occasionally I heard the squeak of a mouse, but that didn’t bother me like the rats did topside.

  Having played in these tunnels with others when I was a child, I had memorized every one of them. Soon I reached the door that led outside, beyond the castle.

  I pulled the door open and shut it. To the east lay Solomon’s Forest. I had to make it to there before anyone spotted me from the castle towers. I had a fairly protected hiding place as boulders hid the secret entrance. The sun had nearly set and as soon as the last rays faded from the sky, I would be on my way.

  Horses’ hooves clomped on the dirt several times nearby as the sun finally disappeared, and I assumed Conlan’s men searched for me.

  When the last sounds of horses faded away, I ran for the forest. It was close to a mile away, but there was no moon tonight, and my black cloak hid me well enough. The only way any one would see me was if they carried torches and nearly ran over me.