Page 118 of Charmless
My stomach knotted as the wizard ambled around to the side of Mal’s bed and crouched down.
“Here, kitty, kitty,” he crooned. “Come here. What is that you are hiding in your paws?”
Greenleaf flattened himself on the floor, stretching his arm beneath the bed. Ebony emitted a furious screech. Greenleaf swore and jerked his arm back, but during their struggle, Ebony lost control of the orb.
It came rolling out from beneath the bed. Mal attempted to grab it as Ebony erupted from beneath the bed. The cat tripped Mal and they both went down in a tangled heap of legs and paws.
The orb continued to roll straight toward Horatio as though the magical object was drawn to him. He froze, but he didn’t dare touch the orb for fear of setting it aglow again.
Greenleaf could not fail to notice this as he clambered to his feet. Ebony had carved some deep claw marks on his hand. He dragged a handkerchief from his pocket to stem the trickles of blood. While he was distracted, I should have tried to grab the orb and hide it, but there was no time.
I can only describe what I did next as an impulse born of sheer panic. Seizing the fireplace shovel, I batted the orb away from Horatio as hard as I could. The orb flew and smacked against the wall. Dropping to the floor, it emitted a spark of light before cracking and splitting in two.
Ebony let out a frightful yowl and Mal gave an anguished cry. “Ella, what have you done!”
Still clutching the shovel, I stared down at the broken orb, feeling sick. My one terrified thought had been to protect Horatio but in doing so, I had ended any hope of proving he was the lost prince. I could not bring myself to meet his eyes.
But as he plucked the shovel from my trembling hands, Horatio whispered in my ear, “It’s alright, Ella. Thank you.”
He was not even upset with me. He sounded grateful and that made me feel even worse.
Mal was not taking the destruction of the orb nearly as well. He remained on his knees, his shoulders bowed in despair. Mal had risked everything in the quest for the missing heir, our friendship, his freedom, even his life. Discovering that Crushington was the lost prince had vindicated Mal’s unshakeable faith in the legend. But I had shattered his triumph with a single blow. Never had I seen my friend so close to weeping. Ebony rubbed her head beneath his chin, trying to comfort him.
As for Sidney Greenleaf, he appeared as startled by my impulsive act as everyone else. His battle with Ebony had knocked his cap askew. Straightening it, he stepped closer to inspect the broken orb.
Greenleaf had clearly wanted to regain possession of the orb for whatever devious reasons of his own. Most likely to conduct his own search for the lost prince to destroy him. I braced myself for the wizard’s anger, a flood of recriminations. But his reaction was the last thing I expected.
Sidney smiled. “Well, that ends that.”
“I am sorry,” I stammered. My apology was directed at Horatio and Mal, rather than Greenleaf. “I only thought?—”
“No need for you to explain yourself, my dear,” Greenleaf interrupted. “That orb threatened to become a source of trouble for this kingdom. It should have been disposed of years ago. Youwere wise to destroy it. Magnificently wise, one almost might say.”
An odd amusement glimmered in Sidney’s eyes, as though he was savoring some secret jest. He peered down at Mal who still had not found the energy to rise from his knees.
“Now that this foolishness of the orb has been settled, I am sure that Prince Kendrick will be disposed to grant mercy regarding any crimes committed by you, Mr. Hawkridge. But I would strongly suggest, for the sake of your health, that you take a long holiday far away from Arcady. Perhaps the Isle of Lothmara? I have heard that is a very popular spot with young men.”
Dabbing at the scratches on his injured hand, Sidney’s gaze lit resentfully on Ebony. “You had better take your cat with you.”
Mal was too dispirited to offer one of his usual sharp retorts. But Ebony hissed and would have sprung at Sidney if Mal had not prevented her by gathering the cat into his arms.
“And now for our gallant Commander Crushington… ” Greenleaf turned his attention to Horatio.
Horatio stiffened. “I expect no mercy from the king. I broke my oath as a Scutcheon commander to uphold the law. I am fully prepared to offer my resignation and accept the consequences.”
“Oh, no, no, my dear boy!” Greenleaf wagged his finger at Horatio. “Despite your recent transgression, I am confident Prince Kendrick will pardon you because of your devoted service to Arcady. There can be a certain amount of unrest among the more lawless elements of a kingdom when a new heir assumes the throne.”
Greenleaf stared pointedly at Mal as he said this before turning back to Horatio. “As Commander of the Midtown Garrison, you will be needed to keep order. Yes, all things considered, I think it advisable for the security of everyone, that you remain right where you are.”
The way Greenleaf said this left me uneasy. Did the wizardknow? Had he overheard what transpired in Mal’s bedchamber after the orb revealed Horatio as the lost prince? For all his feigned affability, I detected a hidden threat behind Greenleaf’s smiling words. Horatio would be safe if he remained a loyal Scutcheon commander. If he did not… I shuddered to think what Greenleaf might do.
“And lastly, but not least, our enchanting Miss Upton.”
I flinched as Greenleaf trained his gaze on me. “I understand congratulations are in order. According to court gossip, Lord Redmond means to wed your step-mama. Your family will move to his estate in the Heights. What a splendid opportunity for you to abandon your more adventurous pastimes.” Greenleaf’s gaze skated disapprovingly over my masculine attire. “And become the respectable young lady you were meant to be. Prince Florian turned out to be a disappointment, but I am sure with your beauty, you will have no difficulty making an equally brilliant match.”
Greenleaf sounded so sanctimonious and smug, I longed to smack him. I had to take a deep breath and remind myself, if not for the wizard’s intervention, I could be facing execution for regicide.
Greenleaf beamed at each of us in turn. “Thus, my dears, happily ever after for everyone, eh?”
