Chapter 104

Pierce chatted about the meal as they walked, and Kit wished he’d walk faster or stop talking. The scones were the same as they always were, and no, she didn’t think the eggs were a tad undercooked this morning. By the time they were in the library, she felt like she’d been walking for a mile, and maybe she had.

He led her to the back corner, away from the door, and prickles stood up on her arms as she thought about what it might be he was about to tell her. What if he truly had solved her mystery? She knew, whatever the history of the house, the story had to be enticing.

“Well, I was able to contact a few of my sources within the castle yesterday, Princess. Discretely, of course.” He smiled at her, and Kit nodded, thinking that would be reply enough for him to continue.

He didn’t. “Yes, yes? And?”

“And... it seems the woods aren’t enchanting at all. In fact, there’s truly nothing interesting about any of it. The house used to belong to a noble family, but it was abandoned long ago, and it caught fire subsequently. By lightning, no doubt. It’s been there rotting for nearly a century. It’s nothing to be too excited about, I’m afraid. I asked the name of the family, and the people I spoke to, who wanted to remain nameless, said they didn’t know, but it was something along the lines of Durby or Dunley, they thought. Really, nothing to go digging up dirt on, I’m afraid. They said they thought the family moved on to another province some time ago. Possibly as far away as Ironton.”

When he finished speaking, Kit continued to stare at him for quite a long moment, not sure what to say. It didn’t make any sense to her. Therefore, the words weren’t registering in her mind. So much of what he said didn’t fit with the world she’d built around the home. While it did look old, it couldn’t possibly be as old as he was saying, could it? And the name on the fireplace upstairs hadn’t started with a D, had it?

“Are you... certain?” she asked, once she regained her ability to speak. “The house in the woods on the east side of the castle... near the stream.”

“Yes, I’m certain. I’m sorry, Kit. I know you were hoping for something more. But that’s all I was able to dig up, and as I said, it truly isn’t anything to give a second thought to. Now, I’m not sure why it is you’re so interested in this place, but I suggest you let it go.”

There was something about his tone that seemed measured to her, and she couldn’t quite place what it was that had the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. He didn’t sound unpleasant or harsh at all. His words just reminded her of something her mother would say....

“You are certain that no one suspected why you were inquiring? That no one will mention this to the queen?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” he said with a smirk. “I am always careful to cover my tracks.”

Kit nodded, but she still had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Well, thank you for finding out for me.”

“Of course. I’d do anything for you, Kit. Anything.” Again, his tone was odd, though this time his words certainly didn’t sound like anything her mother would say. With a narrowed look in his eyes, he stepped forward, his arms outstretched, and Kit reluctantly moved into his embrace. His lips found hers, and she ignored the taste of the grape jelly from breakfast lingering in his mouth and tried to think about something else, anything else.

Eventually, he pulled away, and Kit was glad he hadn’t reached for her chest again as so far that had been the only thing more uncomfortable than kissing him. He stood staring at her for a moment, a smug smile on his face, and she realized what he was waiting for. “Would you care to join me in my chambers... tomorrow night, after the play?” While it wasn’t wise to prolong the situation, at least this would give her the opportunity to get used to the idea.

“Tomorrow?” His face fell, and she realized he’d been hoping it would be that night.

“Yes, I’m afraid I already have plans tonight.” That wasn’t exactly true—but if Pierce hadn’t stepped in front of her earlier in the dining hall, she would have. Assuming Eli didn’t turn her down, which she couldn’t fathom, even if he were allowed to.

“Very well.” Pierce’s smug smile was back in place. He gave her a small bow and then kissed her once more, giving her breast a squeeze, before heading to the door, leaving Kit wiping at her mouth and massaging her boob.

And thinking about what he’d said about the house in the woods.

It was silly, really. Any enchantment she had with the dwelling had come as a result of spending time with Eli there and nothing else. So what difference did it make why the house was there, what had happened to it, and where the family had gone to? There was absolutely no reason to give it another thought.

Which is why she should’ve probably stopped herself from heading out the door, down the hall, toward the stables.

The ground was squishy, and she wasn’t wearing a riding habit. Her gown was a dark color at least, which should hide the speckles of mud flying up on the skirt of it with each step. Her mother would never allow this, and if she found out about it, she’d be furious. Kit was stunned when she looked around and didn’t even see members of her own guard. Normally, they’d pick her up after the morning meal where the Queen’s Guard had been out in full force, but none had followed her to the library, and none were on her tail now. That should’ve been enough to make her realize something wasn’t right.

In the barn, she ran into a few stable boys who gave her a questioning look, but she only wished them a good morning and went about saddling Belle as quickly as she could. The fact that it looked like she might get away with this was both exciting and terrifying. It should’ve been alarming.

Once Belle was saddled, she climbed up quickly with only one more look around. All of the stalls were full, indicating no one else was out for a ride, which made sense since the ground was muddy. The sun hadn’t had a chance to dry it out yet this early in the day, not after nearly a week of downpours.

She only made it a few feet out into the green before realizing this simply wouldn’t do. Belle was short, and she was sinking into the muck already. Taking her out into the woods under these conditions wouldn’t be fair to the animal. With a sigh, Kit turned back around and headed for the barn.

The stable boys were waiting for her. “Bad day for a ride, my Princess,” one of them said.

“We’ll make sure she’s shiny clean,” said the other.

“Thank you,” Kit replied, sliding off of the saddle with an air of defeat. Until a somewhat familiar whiny behind her caught her attention. She turned to see Snowduster taking her in, his wide brown eyes full of curiosity. He looked jealous, as if he’d wanted to be the one to go for a ride.

As quickly as she could, Kit removed her saddle from Belle and headed into the stall that housed Cassius’s mammoth beast. She was thankful she’d arranged to keep the animal here, instead of out in the makeshift camps. Such a fine horse couldn’t be left out in the rain.

It was difficult to get her saddle around his girth since it was made for Belle, but she was able to adjust the straps. The boys didn’t say a word, and she was glad for it. They knew, of course, that this wasn’t her horse, wasn’t even the realm’s property, though technically she could take whatever she wanted. If Cassius was upset, she’d make it up to him.

Getting up on the stallion’s back was much more difficult than she’d envisioned, and she’d ended up needing a boost from one of the stable boys. Eventually, she found herself atop the great steed, thinking it unusual that after so many minutes of wasted time, none of her guards had shown up to stop her. Again, she thought it odd and probably should’ve heeded the warning going off in her head. Instead, she gave the reins a jerk and the stirrups a kick and headed off into the muck and mire.