arrived in Leo’s head the same time it appeared to have landed in Marie’s.
“Oh, Leo,” Marie breathed. “Do you think?”
“Yes,” he said brusquely. He didn’t know whether to be relieved—he knew where Gabby was—or scared shitless. Frau Lehman was right. It was cold, and it was snowing something fierce.
“Let’s go,” Marie said.
“Would someone care to enlighten me as to what is going on?” the king asked.
Marie’s eyes darted around like she’d only just become aware of their surroundings, her father included. Leo couldn’t blame her. They’d been dancing in a bubble. In their own fairy tale for two.
“I’m sorry, sir,” Leo said. “My sister seems to have run off, but I know where she is, so if you’ll excuse me . . .”
“You think you can come storming in here, make some kind of . . . declaration with regard to my daughter, and just leave?”
He already was. He spun on his heel, part of his brain registering that the king’s words had been delivered in a surprisingly neutral tone. Almost like he was curious rather than angry. But whatever. He didn’t have time for this now.
“Wait!” Marie called. “I’m coming with you.”
She caught up to him outside the ballroom. It was a relief to be out of there. God, he wanted to kiss her again. She was wearing a shiny, royal blue dress. It was as fluffy as the cake-topper dress, and it matched her eyes. Her hair was loose around her shoulders. She looked incredible. She looked edible.
She also could not come with him. He shook his head. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Her father burst out of the doors, but she ignored him. “There’s no way I’m not coming with you! This is my fault. I’m the one who showed her.”
“You can’t.” Her father could not discover the cabin.
“Showed her what?” the king demanded. “What are you talking about? Where is Gabriella?”
Leo wasn’t about to let the cat out of the bag on Marie’s cabin. He hitched his head at the king. This is why you can’t come.
Marie shook her head, rejecting Leo’s silent message. “I don’t care if he finds out. I want him to find out.”
Leo sighed. There was no point in arguing. There wasn’t time.
Mr. Benz rushed over. “I have a car ready out front if that will help.”
Leo nodded, and he didn’t bother protesting as the king and Mr. Benz got into the car with them. No one spoke. Leo watched Marie as they wound down the hill. She was sitting forward in her seat, as if she could will the car to go faster, and when they’d gone as far as they could, she said, sharply, “Here.”
Leo was out of the car before it came to a full stop. He led the way to the path, shining a flashlight Mr. Benz had given him and tamping down the snow as best he could with his stupid dress shoes—Mr. Benz had pressed coats on everyone but they were all still wearing their formal footwear—so that the people behind him would have an easier time. When they had to turn off the formal path, it was slower going, but his fear propelled him forward. It was snowing too hard for any footprints to be visible, but he kept up a steady chant in his mind, like a mantra: She’ll be there. She’ll be there. She’ll be there.
He burst out into the clearing and only vaguely registered the king’s astonished “Dear god!” Leo was panting from the effort of running through the snow by the time he ducked through the doorway.
And there she was. Curled up into a little ball, asleep in a corner.
She was asleep, right?
“Gabby!” he shouted.
She woke instantly, surging to a seated position, her eyes wide.
Leo sagged against a wall, rage and relief at war inside him. Rage won. “What the hell are you doing out here?”
“I’m sorry!”
Marie was there, suddenly, with Gabby, pulling her to her feet and hugging her. Which Leo supposed he should have done first, but he was mightily pissed.
“I got so sad in the library all of a sudden,” Gabby said in a small voice. “I started thinking about Mom and Dad. And then I started thinking about how you”—she pulled out of Marie’s embrace and looked her in the eye—“said that when you came here it made you remember your mom in a good way. I thought it might work for me, too.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Marie looked devastated as she hugged Gabby close again.
Leo’s heart