Page 40 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
This was another great thing aboutnotbeing in charge: If something happened, I didn’t have to clean up the mess.
It took an hour before everything was finished.
“Any news on why the Blackfog spies turned people into a bunch of frogs?” I asked Henrietta when our party reunited. Even as I spoke, my Perception let me know that people were coming up behind me.
Chloe’s voice answered. “To ruin my wedding?”
“It’ll be fine, love,” Countess Julia tried to cheer up her angry fiancée. I stepped back to welcome them into the conversation.
“We were supposed to be reviewing the cheese plates! And our final dress fitting starts in thirty minutes.” Chloe huffed. “Anyway, Rufus, Ineedyou for the fitting.”
“You do not.” Rufus reached out and took Bronwynn’s hand.
“Bring your wife, I don’t care, but youwillcome try on the suit we’ve prepared.” Chloe pointed at Rufus. “And then we have the rehearsal dinner.”
“No use fighting it.” Countess Julia chuckled as she turned to Lady Amy. “There is a missive from your father back at the palace.”
The woman deflated. “Then I’ll return with you.”
Rufus sighed dramatically. “Fine.”
“I guess we’ll see you later.” Bronwynn waved goodbye. Chloe and Julia also grabbed Julian and dragged him away, but not before he shot me anotherlook. I resisted the urge to wave at him, settling for a winning smile.
Even his suspicious frown looked hot.
I turned to Henrietta and asked, “Do we still have time to tour the Hall of Inventions”—the Dark Lady’s stomach chose that moment to let out an impressive rumble—“or do you want to grab lunch?”
Henrietta took my arm, careful not to break it. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse—and I’m allergic to horses!”
“Let’s go to Megan’s Tea House. I’m in the mood for something sweet.”
Henrietta nodded. “And you can tell me when you fell for Duke Julian.”
I didn’t trip. I didn’t flinch. In fact, I was incredibly proud that I simply raised an eyebrow at my friend and asked, “What makes you think I like His Grace?”
“You can’t see yourself.” Henrietta smiled. “But the way your eyes follow him … you look like you want toeatthe man.”
“I don’t eat elf,” I deadpanned while the heroine laughed out loud.
“You can’t fool me,” she teased. “You can’t keep your eyes off him, and you keep sending him this playful smile like you have a secret that you’re not going to share with him.”
I attempted to refute her claims. “He’s the person in charge—of course I’m going to check back and see what he’s doing. Besides, I’ll have you know I’m naturally this secretive, and we all know it.”
“You are a curmudgeon who delights in trolling people,” Henrietta countered. “Pun intended. But it’s not the same.Doyou have a secret on the duke?”
“Ha-ha, make fun of the bridge troll,” I mocked offense. “How would I know any of his secrets? I live in the Dark Enchanted Forest, and he lives in the Northern Ice Fields.”
“That’s not a no.” Henrietta smiled slyly.
We arrived at the teahouse, and I opened the door for us.
“It’s animpliedno.”
Megan’s Tea House was large enough for twelve small tables and a single seat at the shop window. Climbing vines hung from the walls, and plants were happily living their best life in every corner of the establishment. Since it was past the lunch rush, there were only two others in the eatery.
A faun greeted us with a warm smile from behind her counter. “Welcome to Megan’s.” Her voice was kind and welcoming. “Please place your order with me, and I’ll be happy to bring it to your table.”
CHAPTER 22
