Page 113 of Charmless
Crowding close to Horatio, we peered at the scene unfolding below us. There was no sign of Sidney Greenleaf. A royal herald dismounted from his horse and read a proclamation to the palace Scutcheons surrounding the Hawk’s Nest. We could not hear a word, but whatever the herald said, it created consternation among the guards.
Horatio frowned. “I better go see what’s going on.”
“I am coming with you.”
“No, you need to stay here until you are fully recovered. And you must be worried about Hawkridge and longing to see him.” Horatio offered me a sad smile and caressed my cheek. “Go. Be with him.”
I wanted to see how Mal was faring. But I could tell from the resigned expression on Horatio’s face that he believed more than ever that I was in love with Mal. Why wouldn’t he after the events of last night? He had witnessed me willing to sacrifice everything to save Mal, including any future that Horatio and I might have had together.
I might never be able to convince Horatio that he was the man I loved and perhaps I no longer had the right to try. Prince Florian was a notorious liar, but there was one thing he had said to me that rang true.
“Ah, Ella, what a devastating effect you have on the men in your life!”
I had brought Horatio nothing but disaster since the day I met him. If Sidney Greenleaf was able to help us and we survived this debacle, maybe Horatio would be better off without me.
I remained silent as Horatio strode from the room. When the door closed behind him, I shed a single quiet tear. Then I wiped my eyes and went to find Mal.
Propped up against his pillows, Mal sprawled atop the coverlet of his bed, a battered oak piece of furniture with newel posts shaped like cannon balls. Clad in his nightshirt, Mal’s left foot was swathed in bandages. When I leaned down to hug him, he winced, but I was relieved to see he looked much better. The purple bruises on his face had faded to an ugly green and that spark had returned to his eyes as he teased me about being unable to handle my pixie dust.
“Be fair, darling. It was her first time.” Delphine cooed.
“And my last,” I muttered.
Delphine plumped up another pillow. As she eased it behind Mal’s back, she giggled, “But it was all so amusing, especially the Chief Warder performing pirouettes.”
“Wish I had been awake to see it.” Mal grinned. “But after I blacked out, I wasn’t aware of anything until I was rudely awakened this morning by Delphine licking me.”
“A cat’s tongue can be a bit rough,” Delphine conceded.
“You weren’t Ebony when you licked me. You were in your human form.”
“It was a kiss, you ingrate.” Delphine moistened her lips. “With perhaps just a wee bit of tongue.”
Mal pulled a face and inched further away from where she had perched on the edge of his bed. But despite Mal’s disgruntled expression, the two of them appeared to be on good terms again. That accounted for the current hue of Delphine’s hair, a bright, sassy yellow.
“Anyhow I had no idea how I wound up back here in my own bed until Delphine explained everything.”
“But how did you know what happened?” I asked Delphine. “The last I recall you and Waldo were waiting for me outside the breach in the wall.”
“I got worried when it took you all so long to return and Waldo was getting fidgety. I decided to risk setting off any of Mercato’s witch-warding alarms by transforming into Ebony. By the time I made to the top of the hill, I found Mal unconscious and that crazy Mimsey Peascod dousing everyone with her pixie dust.
“Then that odd little majordomo arrived and arranged for the commander to bring you and Mal to the Hawk’s Nest. I raced back down the hill and transformed out of my cat shape. Waldo and I got back into the boat, well, after I smacked him around a bit for ogling me while I got dressed. We managed to return to Misty Bottoms just as the sun was coming up. I sent Waldo about his business, after another slap for trying to kiss me goodbye and then I gathered up a few potions and bandages from my house that I knew you and Mal would need. I whisked over to the Hawk’s Nest in the nick of time before the royal carriage and the palace guards arrived.”
Delphine concluded with a triumphant sweep of her hands. “Now, here we all are, together again.”
“But why didn’t the pixie dust affect you?” I asked.
“When I am Ebony, I am immune to magic dust, although never trust me near catnip.” Delphine’s brow puckered with a puzzled frown. “Strangely, Commander Crushington wasn’t affected by the dust either.”
Mal snorted. “Knowing Mr. Honorable, he was probably too noble to inhale.”
I glared at him. “You owe Horatio your life. I could never have gotten you out of that dungeon without his help. So don’t you dare sneer at him.”
“I wasn’t sneering, just stating a fact.” Mal grimaced as he shifted on the bed, trying to ease his stiff body into a more comfortable position. “Much as I hate it, I am fully aware that I will be forever in Crushington’s debt. Although considering my shop is surrounded by armed guards, forever might not be that long for any of us.”
“Oh, pooh! Don’t be so gloomy, Sir Sour Puss.” Delphine gave his ear a playful tweak.
“Horatio believes that the majordomo will continue to help us.” I paused as I said this, wondering how much I ought to reveal about the majordomo’s real identity. Horatio had not given me permission to share the information, but he had not exactly forbidden me either.
