Cinderella Spell - Laurie Lee Page 0,43
her saddle to Soliloquy. Within minutes, she walked beside Robert, their horses on either side of them. “Shall we cross the upper courtyard then take the steps to the lower fields?”
One brow lifted. “A stair challenge? Is that not how you gained a scar near your hairline?”
She rolled her eyes. “If I did nothing that risked harm, I’d have to lock myself up in the palace and never come out.”
“Can’t have that. The kingdom would be a lonely place without you.”
There was no reason for her chest to thud at his words. “Perhaps Cinderella’s coming will give me opportunity to explore more of our kingdom.”
Robert opened his mouth but didn’t respond. The look he gave added butterflies to her already discomfited self.
He’d never understood the phrase warring in the soul until now. His heart longed for Cinderella, and yet, thoughts of Marissa clouded his mind. Leave Monmoore Palace? The idea of her not being close caused an ache that did not make sense. He paused as they reached the stone Marissa used to mount Soliloquy. He waited for her to settle before pulling himself onto Chancellor using the stirrups. “We have to get past the gardens to see the guest wing.”
“Lead on, sir.” She waved. “If you take the stairs, I know to lean backward.”
He’d had to carry her. What would it be like to hold her in his arms without blood pouring from a wound on her forehead? He shook himself, leading them between the trimmed rows of young spring lettuce. Rather than risk the stairs, he moved further afield, pressing Chancellor into a run. He could hear Marissa’s laugh not far behind. They rounded the wall that divided the steepest drop from the upper courtyard to the lower. Before long, they were coming back around to the southern wing which included guest bedrooms. “Do you think she will like Monmoore?”
Marissa pulled beside him. “Who would not?”
He studied the cream-colored rock that forged the walls of the wing. “Look how the sun catches the balcony of the third window?” He pointed.
“The largest rooms are further in, but she may appreciate the long windows.” Marissa frowned. “Will she be pleased with so much sunlight?”
“Her hair is golden and her skin pale.” Cinderella had pressed her rosy lips against his cheek. The memory of it made his heart flutter. He faced the ridge of trees to the west. “How far are they, do you think?”
“The trees?” she asked, puzzled.
He frowned, and she blushed, an alluring color that tempted him to think of her lips against his. He looked away. “Of course, I mean Cinderella.”
“She is still at least three days. Is family traveling with her? How many rooms should I prepare?”
“The missive mentioned Cinderella. No other family with her.”
Marissa pushed ahead. Robert considered the line of her back and the way she held herself in the saddle. When had the little imp he’d met in the library grown into a beautiful woman? He looked at the windows of the guest rooms once more. A black bird perched on the balcony. The gleam of dark eyes sent shivers down his back. He wanted to turn and race away. Hatred and desire clawed at him across the distance.
“Robert!”
Chancellor jerked around, pulling Robert from the hold of the bird. Marissa’s horse stopped beside them. She frowned at him. “What is it? Why did you not hear my call?”
“Does a bird sit on the balcony?”
She looked. “The crow?” Her lip curled with distaste. “Wherever it has built its nest, I’d like to find it and tear it down. Rid us of its foulness.”
“You’ve seen it before?”
She nodded. “It’s flown at me. Tried to knock me from Soliloquy.”
There was more, some memory trying to come through, but Robert couldn’t get past the image of Cinderella swimming in his mind, her large eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“We should return to the palace.”
Marissa agreed. “I will get to work on preparing her room.”
“Set Abigail as her waiting maid.”
Marissa laughed. “Since when do you remember the name of serving girls?”
He shrugged. The name had come, yet he had no knowledge of Abigail. “The sooner Cinderella arrives, the sooner this madness will end.” He faced Marissa. “I will ride out to meet her.”
“Is that wise? She has all the comforts afforded royalty.”
“I cannot rest until she is here. The sooner I go to her …”
Marissa sighed, then pushed Soliloquy ahead of Chancellor. He let her go. By the time he arrived at the stable, she had already disappeared inside the