Page 111 of Charmless
“Don’t worry about him. Hawkridge is here, settled in his own bed. Miss Delray is looking after him and tending to his injuries.”
“Miss Delray? Who is that?”
“Delphine Delray. Hawkridge’s witch friend and yours as well?”
“Oh.” I had never heard Delphine’s surname before. It was odd to think of her as Miss anything and that only added to my bewilderment. The last I remembered she was waiting for us outside the breach in the wall. How did she end up back here at the Hawk’s Nest? How did any of us? I experienced a glimmer of hope.
I tipped back my head to peer up at Horatio. “We managed to rescue Mal and escape?”
Horatio brushed tangled strands of hair from my brow. “Not entirely.”
“Not entirely? What does that mean?”
“We were permitted to leave the King’s Royal prison and return to the Hawk’s Nest, but the shop is surrounded by palace guards.”
I peeled myself away from Horatio and staggered toward one of the dormer windows. Forcing the casement open, I leaned out, peering at the street below. The morning breeze felt soft against my cheeks. Anything soothing about the sensation was dispelled by the sight of palace guards standing sentry below. From my vantage point, I could see at least four of them looking sharp in their crisp red and gold uniforms.
At the sound of the window opening, one of the younger scutcheons looked up at me. But a barked order from his sergeant caused the man to snap to attention. There had been more curiosity than menace in the young scutcheon’s gaze. I should have been able to draw some comfort from that, but all I felt was despair.
I said hoarsely, “Then we didn’t escape at all. We are still prisoners.”
Horatio stepped behind me. Resting his hands on my shoulders, he turned me away from the window. “I was told that the guards have been placed there for our protection.”
Told by whom? Protection from what?
Rubbing my temple, I said, “I don’t understand. Why can’t I remember how we ended up here?”
“I’ll explain everything, but I think you need to sit down.”
I didn’t want to sit down. I needed answers, but my head still felt woozy. I allowed Horatio to guide me to the chair he had vacated. He eased me down onto the cushions that still bore the warm imprint of his body. I could easily have leaned back and drifted off to sleep, so I perched on the edge of the seat, anxiously awaiting more information from Horatio.
He retrieved a small bottle of ruby red liquid from the mantle. Horatio hesitated before offering it to me. “Miss Delray- er- Delphine said I was to give you this when you awoke. It is something called Rueful Morning After, a potion to dispel any lingering effects of the pixie dust. Delphine seemed sincere in her desire to be helpful, but I don’t know if you should trust a potion brewed by a witch.”
“I do,” I interrupted, seizing the bottle from him. After the risks Delphine had taken to help me save Mal, I believed in her friendship and her magic.
Uncorking the bottle, I took a sip. The Rueful Morning After potion didn’t taste half-bad, a bit like mulled wine laced with cinnamon. As I gulped down the rest of the liquid, it sent a rush of heat down my throat and through my veins, causing me to choke. Horatio watched me with alarm.
“I’m alright,” I managed to gasp. I did feel revived, my mind clearer.
I handed the empty bottle back to Horatio. He returned it to the mantle and then lowered himself onto the ottoman opposite me.
“The potion helped?” he asked. “Do you feel better?”
I nodded. “But there are still fragments of my memory I cannot piece together.”
“What is the last thing you do recall?”
I massaged my brow as though that would help. “I remember inhaling the pixie dust and Ryland started singing. The guards were all dancing and I think Florian fell and hit his head. And I was?—”
I lowered my eyes, too embarrassed to meet Horatio’s gaze as I recalled how I had been all over the man, kissing him. There was a button missing from his uniform. I must have yanked that off in my efforts to undress him.
Quelling a blush, I continued, “Then the king’s majordomo appeared out of nowhere. He has an eerie habit of doing that.” I frowned. “Or did I just imagine he was there?”
“No, he was there. He arranged for you and Hawkridge to be brought here in the royal carriage. While he assumed responsibility for the two princes, the majordomo allowed me to travel in the coach and look after you.”
I rubbed my eyes. More vague memories returned of being lifted onto a velvet-cushioned seat, Mal sprawled opposite me. Being jostled along, Horatio’s strong arms bracing me against the sway of the carriage.
“I remember some of that.” I gave a hesitant laugh. “This is going to sound ridiculous and probably the result of being pixified. But I thought you told me that the majordomo is really Sidney Greenleaf.”
