Page 77 of Legacy of Thorns
“You’re right, of course,” Gabrielle agreed with a beaming smile. “It’s the only explanation that makes sense.”
Finley frowned at Gabrielle, but Daphne walked away with a laugh, coming to his side and letting him slip an arm around her.
“Don’t hold it against her,” she murmured. “She’ll be embarrassed by her own attitude soon enough.”
Finley relaxed. He was too relieved at having Daphne in his arms again to stay upset at anything—especially something that Daphne laughed off so easily.
Thankfully, the guards were able to remove the sleeping men from the castle entryway—proof that they hadn’t qualified as Sleeping Beauties and would likely wake before too long. But they would wake under lock and key.
Since the enchantment had preserved the state of the castle and even the food inside, Gabrielle and Nanny welcomed Archer, Finley, and Daphne to stay the night. All three accepted with gratitude, exhausted after barely sleeping the night before.
Nisha and Morrow arrived the next day with Lorne and two others in tow. Nisha and Morrow were disappointed to hear they’d missed all the fighting, but the young woman driving the cart seemed more happy to be reunited with her horse than anything else.
Lorne soon introduced her as the mysterious Avery—who Finley still knew nothing about—and the man as her husband, Elliot. Finley thanked them both for their roles in rescuing Daphne and Archie, as well as their loan of Nutmeg, and Avery entered wholeheartedly into their plans for the future.
“King Vesper is your uncle,” she said decisively when Finley expressed uncertainty about Avery’s suggestion that he and Archer go with her and Elliot to the capital. “I’m not saying you have to live a life at court, but shouldn’t you at least meet him?” Her voice softened. “You should be the one to tell him about your father’s passing, not me.”
Since there was no response to that, Finley was forced to agree. It didn’t hurt that Archie was full of enthusiasm for the idea.
Finley’s feelings toward his father remained mixed, but he owed it to him to at least meet his father’s family and inform them of his death himself.
Gabrielle was devastated to hear of their upcoming departure until Avery suggested that she accompany them to court as well.Her devastation was immediately replaced with raptures, and she bounded away to tell Archie the good news.
“I’m not sure he’ll see it as good news,” Daphne said, clearly trying not to laugh. “You won’t have a friend in Archie for making that suggestion, Avery.”
“We can’t just leave her here with only Nanny,” Avery said, clearly unworried by Archie’s future ire. “I’ve been talking to Nanny, and even before Gabrielle’s enchanted sleep, her father kept her here, away from the world, without any other young people. She needs a chance to see the kingdom a little and meet others her age.” She glanced wryly at Gabrielle who was now bouncing up and down in front of Archer, begging him to join her in some activity he clearly didn’t want to do. “Perhaps meet some other sixteen-year-old boys besides your poor brother?”
Finley, however, felt no such sympathy for Archie. He was well-served getting a taste of his own mischief.
Gabrielle’s pleas grew loud enough to hear, and Finley gathered that she wanted them all to go outside.
“What a lovely idea!” he called across the room. “We would all be delighted to enjoy some sunshine and admire the cherry blossoms for an hour or two.”
“Finley!” Daphne chided in an undertone, but he just grinned at her.
“Admit that it sounds delightful,” he said.
She laughed. “I suppose it does.”
No one else protested, so Finley and Daphne led the way outside, everyone else following except for Nanny who was overseeing the newly hired servants from the town.
The moment they had settled themselves outside on the gently sloping grass that ran down to the lake, Gabrielle approached Archie, a blush on her cheeks.
“I picked these for my rescuer.” Gabrielle brought a bouquet of daisies out from behind her back and presented them to him.
He scrambled backward, trying to get away from the flowers.
“Oh, no…thank you,” he stammered. “I don’t need flowers.”
Gabrielle’s face fell. “Chocolate, then?”
She gestured, and one of the new servants rushed forward with a tray bearing a selection of chocolates. For a second, Archie looked tempted. Then his expression firmed, and he shook his head.
“Really, Gabby,” he said, “you have to stop offering me things. I’ve already told you that I don’t need anything.”
For the first time, Gabrielle looked irritated by something Archie had said.
“Don’t call me Gabby!” she snapped.
