Page 103 of Charmless
“I am sorry, Ella. You made it clear you want nothing more to do with me. But when Florian boasted about what he planned to do to you, I had to save you. I failed you a long time ago. Let me make it up to you now.”
“Do you realize the risk you are taking? Florian might do far more than maim your hand if he catches you trying to thwart him.”
“I don’t care. I am ready to die for you.”
Mal gave a derisive snort, while Horatio listened to this declaration in stoic silence. I groaned, feeling as though my head was going to explode. This situation was bad enough with the tension simmering between Mal and Horatio without adding Ryland into the mix. Another woman might have considered herself lucky to have three men ready to profess their devotion. But I felt as though this small cell had become unbearably crowded and they were cutting off my air. If Delphine’s magic shoes had the power to transport me, I would have slipped them on and wished myself far away from here.
To my great relief, Horatio reassumed command, saying, “There will be time enough to deal with all ofthislater. We need to get moving.”
Prince Ryland dragged his gaze away from me. “You are right. I came to tell you that the Chief Warder is growingsuspicious. He demands to see both of us before he will consent to release Mr. Hawkridge.”
Mal gave Ryland a disgusted look. “The warder should not dare to demand anything from you. For fairy’s sake, man! You are royalty, the son of a king.”
“Alas, I am royal in name only. I fear that I made a far better wandering minstrel than I ever did a prince.” Ryland directed a sad smile at me which tugged strangely at my heart.
I searched myself for some trace of my old resentment and anger against him, but I could not find it. All I felt was sorrow for this man who was so ill-suited for the role he had been born to play.
“I believe the warder is stalling until he can consult with my brother,” Ryland continued. “He is waiting in the outer courtyard, expecting Florian to arrive at any moment.”
Horatio choked back an exasperated oath as he bent down to snap the manacles on Mal. “Did you think it might have behooved Your Highness to mention that sooner?”
“Instead of wasting time mooning over Ella,” Mal said as he submitted grudgingly to the iron restraints being placed upon his wrists.
Ryland flushed. The prince tried to stammer an apology, but Horatio cut him short. “If Your Royal Highness would be good enough to help me get this miscreant on his feet.”
“That’s Mr. Miscreant to you,” Mal retorted, some of the old spark returning to his eyes. He scowled at Horatio. “Why aren’t you wearing a sword?”
“I was obliged to surrender it at the warder’s office. Carrying weapons into the King’s Royal Prison is forbidden, even for Scutcheon commanders.”
“Tell me you at least have a knife hidden in your boot,” Mal said.
“No, I am not in the habit of breaking the law by concealing weapons.”
When Mal gave Horatio a look of pure disgust, Horatio said, “Prince Ryland and I never intended on fighting out way out of here. Our only hope lies with the success of our deception.”
Mal sighed. “Fine. Then before we proceed any further, Ella needs to put her magic shoes back on.”
“Ella has magic shoes? What magic shoes?” Ryland asked. As he shifted about the cell, looking for them, I cautioned him to be careful, but it was too late. I flinched at the horrible crunching sound.
Mal swore. “Those magic shoes, you royal dolt.”
Ryland lifted his boot and bent down to retrieve what remained of one of my glass slippers. It was not completely shattered, but it had broken sharply in two.
“I am so sorry, Ella,” the prince said, balancing the pieces between his good hand and his wood-carved one, as though fearful of splintering the glass any further. Not that it would have mattered if he did. The shoe appeared damaged beyond repair.
I took the pieces from him, staring numbly at the broken parts, making a ridiculous effort to fit them back together as though the glass slipper might miraculously become whole again.
“Delphine is going to kill me,” I moaned.
“Delphine is the least of your worries,” Mal said. “How are we going to get you out of here now that you can’t turn invisible?”
“That’s what the shoes did? Rendered you invisible?” Ryland asked in an awed voice.
I nodded miserably.
“I thought you told me those shoes didn’t work,” Horatio said.
“They certainly won’t now, thanks to his royal oafishness,” Mal grumbled.
