Page 89 of Slippers and Thorns
“Looking for you,” Jake replied. There was a hint of irritation in his voice. It must have been a rough afternoon of searching for him to be so far removed from his normal puppy-like focus and adoration.
“Why?”
“Because I sent for them to follow us before I left,” Charlie answered for the teenager. “Where are the others?”
Jake tightened the reins when his horse tossed its head, displeased with the halt. “We split up to search for you. They should be somewhere in this area, though.”
Charlie shook his head. “We were on the path. How did you miss us?”
The younger man shrugged. “You were out of sight by the time we left the gate. We didn’t know where to start. All the guards could tell us was which way you went when you left the road.”
Sighing, Charlie pulled a whistle out of his breast pocket. “I should have done this to start with.” He blew a few blasts on it and waited. A few moments later, a distant whistle responded, and then another from a different direction.
Since he didn’t want to keep them standing still with the small amount of daylight left, Charlie led their group of three forward, signaling with the whistle every now and then to update the other two guards on their position. Before long, they appeared out of the trees. Once the whole group was assembled, they picked up the pace.
The sun was just below the horizon, its final rays lighting the sky with reds and oranges behind them, when they trotted back into the city and approached the gate behind the castle. While most of the castle’s occupants were probably preparing for dinner, a few servants were wandering through the space between the castle and the back wall. When the guards at the gate let out a shout, they gathered toward the gate, ignoring the guard who took off for the main building.
Ella supposed her absence might have caused a stir by now, even without her rather dramatic departure. She’d been gone for hours.
Thank the heavens Charlie had insisted on pausing just inside the trees so she could switch to sidesaddle.
They walked their horses calmly down the street, Charlie in the lead, with Jake riding beside her and the other two taking up the rear. A nice, relaxed procession that did not have any flavor of her being dragged back unwillingly by her loyal guardians.
After the way she’d taken off, with Charlie tearing after her as soon as he found a horse, it was critical to establish that image. Not that she really had the emotional energy to care at the moment, but she didn’t need to add to the court gossip if she could help it.
Charlie nodded to the guards at the gate as he approached. They returned the nod and stepped aside to let him pass. Ella could feel their eyes on her as she trotted past with Jake.
Surprisingly, no one had rushed out of the castle to greet them, so Ella and her guards dismounted and handed their horses off to the grooms, and then Ella bade them farewell and headed inside while they marched off to the barracks.
Instead of joining the official dinner, Ella stopped by the kitchen and begged a roll and a chunk of cheese from Cook. Perhaps the better choice would be to make an appearance so that the malicious couldn’t claim that she was hiding, but she didn’t feel up to it. For tonight, she’d let them think whatever they felt inclined to think. She’d worry about correcting them tomorrow.
Maybe.
Or maybe it wouldn’t matter soon, anyway.
CHAPTER 37
Michael
A
small delegation headed by Prince Axel arrived with minimal fanfare the next morning. Officially, they had come for a routine treaty review. Unofficially, the prince was there to corral his sister.
Michael and Ella were both lined up in the castle courtyard to greet them. Helena was there, as well, but since she was a visiting royal – and since King Phillip was rather adamant that only his family stand with him – she was a little farther back instead of snuggled up next to Michael, where she preferred to spend most of her time.
“Michael!” Axel greeted. He held out a gloved hand which Michael grasped firmly in his. “It’s so good to see you again.”
His voice sounded a little strained to Michael. “Welcome to Hartford, Axel.” Michael peered around him. “Katy didn’t come?”
“No, she wanted to, but she’s expecting, so she had to stay at home,” Axel grinned.
“Oh, is she?” Ella cut in. “Congratulations! Is it recent? She hasn’t said anything in her letters.”
Axel hesitated. “She’s a few months along. I…don’t know why she wouldn’t have mentioned it.”
“Oh.” Ella looked uncertain as to how to proceed. “I guess I’ll ask her about it, then.”
“So, where’s my sister?” Axel broke the awkward silence that had descended upon them. “I can’t believe you stole her away from my family so soon.”
