Page 23 of To Steal the Sun

“Is my mother looking for me?” she asked, careful not to look toward the arch leading into the garden where Charlotte was concealed.

“She merely wants to assure herself of your safety,” the guard said, exchanging a quick look with his partner.

Gwen nodded as if that was understandable and started back toward the palace. The guards fell into step, one on either side of her. When the second pair appeared, a silent communication passed between all four guards, and the newcomers fell in behind the existing two.

Gwen expected them to lead her to her mother, but they merely kept pace as she chose her own course. Unsure what else to do, Gwen traced the familiar route back to her room, pausing for a moment in the corridor and gazing down toward Henry’s door.

Shaking her head at herself, she pushed open her own door and paused to give the guards a firm look. None of them protested when she shut the door in their faces, and she breathed a sigh of relief. As much as she wanted to go and test Henry’s door, she couldn’t risk it. Charlotte might already be on her way to the part of the garden closest to Celandine’s wing, and Gwen had to give her friend a chance to get to Henry before Gwen disrupted anything else.

She only wished she was as close to being back in Easton’s arms again.

CHARLOTTE

Charlotte’s heart pounded as she wove her way through the gardens, her ears straining for the sound of footsteps. She wanted Celandine to be the one to find her, not a random pair of guards. They might throw her out of the grounds—or worse, into a cell—without ever giving her the chance to propose a trade with the queen.

She saw no sign of Natalie as she moved. Had the other girl hidden nearby to hear Gwen’s plan? Charlotte hoped she had. At least that way the rebels would know what had become of her if everything went wrong. But it was just as possible Natalie had headed out to pursue their original mission—finding more information about the queen’s movements.

Charlotte slipped her hand back in her pocket and curled it around the apple. She no longer felt the presence of the golden ball since she had left it buried beneath the bush where she had hidden herself along with the golden halter. She didn’t want to risk carrying either one into Celandine’s presence. They were already handing over one object to her. There was no need to make it three.

In the garden with Gwen, the plan had seemed solid, but the closer she got to the castle, the faster Charlotte’s heart beat. What if the queen didn’t see her? Or what if she wouldn’t agree to the trade? If she had no interest in the apple, or decided to take her chances and seize it by force, Charlotte would be left helpless and with nothing to use to buy her freedom.

Charlotte shook her head, focusing her thoughts on Henry instead. It would all be worth it if she could see him. And she didn’t intend to be tricked into giving Gwen’s object away for a mere few minutes either. If Celandine would be bound by their agreement, Charlotte intended to bargain well.

When she reached the south side of the building, she approached close, peering into the windows she passed. The largest showed an expansive room furnished as a study and lined with bookshelves. An elegant woman wearing a glittering circlet sat at the large desk, her head bent over a stack of papers.

Charlotte immediately pulled back, her heart pounding. She had found the right place, but she needed to stage herself better if she was going to outwit the queen.

Strolling casually in front of the window, she didn’t glance toward the glass. Instead, she gazed out at the city, which stretched below the palace, choosing a place to sit on the grass and angling her body so she could keep her apparent focus on the view while giving the queen a clear line of sight to Charlotte’s profile.

As soon as she was seated, she pulled out the apple and threw it into the air. Tracking its flight, she smiled at the way the lowering sun caught on the gold, making it shine. Perfect.

It landed in her palm with a dull thunk, the weight of it nearly catching her off guard. She quickly flicked it up again, watching its rise and then descent. It was taking all her self-control not to look toward the window, but she didn’t want the queen to know she was aware of her presence, and if their eyes locked…

It flew up again and then a fourth time. When she fumbled the catch, the apple dropped to the grass and rolled a short way. Charlotte retrieved it with her best approximation of a carefree laugh. It barely squeezed through her throat, though, the semblance of calm difficult. She wasn’t sure if she was more terrified of the coming confrontation with the queen or more elated at the prospect of being reunited with Henry. Within minutes, she might be at his side, held in his arms. Waiting was both painful and never-ending. Minutes had never moved so slowly.

She’d lost track of the number of times she’d thrown the apple when a shadow fell across her. Shielding her eyes with one hand, she gazed up at the queen.

Gasping theatrically, she scrambled to her feet and dropped into an instant curtsy.

“Your Majesty,” she said, glad her voice trembled only a little. “I apologize for disturbing you. I didn’t know…”

The queen’s eyes were trained on the apple, her expression hinting at the greedy desire Gwen had been sure she would feel. But at Charlotte’s words, she tore her gaze away and looked at Charlotte’s face.

Her eyes widened, a crease appearing between her brows, and Charlotte remembered Gwen had once mentioned a portrait.

“What are you doing here?” the queen breathed. “How are you here?”

Charlotte stayed silent, reminding herself that it didn’t matter if the queen recognized her. She would have realized the connection as soon as Charlotte suggested her bargain anyway. But she needed to choose her words carefully.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to be reunited with my husband,” she said. “Nothing I wouldn’t give.”

“Even in my youth I wasn’t so foolish,” the queen said, but she looked pleased. “However, if that is truly your heart’s desire, maybe I can help you.”

Charlotte didn’t have to feign her eagerness as she looked up, meeting the queen’s eyes. “You know where Henry is? You can take me to him?”

The queen cocked her head. “Give me that apple, and I will do so.”

Charlotte looked down at it, drawing it back against her body, as if uncertain about the trade.

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