Page 86 of Charmless
I waited in triumphant anticipation for Florian’s knees to buckle in terror. Perhaps he would even wet himself as the roguein the Winking Goblin had done. But the prince merely stared at my little knife in bemusement.
“Or else what?” he repeated with a sneer. “You are going to pare some apples and bake me a pie?”
The Fear Blade hadn’t worked. But why? I was certain Florian did not have even a drop of fairy’s blood in his veins. I waved the knife at him again, my motions growing more frantic. Sunlight glinted off the blade. My stomach took a sickened plunge as I recalled Delphine’s warning.
Never draw the blade out when it can be struck by the rays of the sun. Don’t you know what happens to fear in broad daylight? It tends to evaporate.
I watched the blade shimmer, waves of heat rising off it as though the magic enchantment disappeared before my very eyes. A strange meow sounded from the cat hiding beneath the bushes. Delphine flopped over on her back, twisting her head to regard me with a look of reproach and disgust. I don’t speak cat, but I could not have understood the witch more clearly if she had shouted at me.How could you be so stupid?
By this time the equerry had noticed I was menacing the prince with some sort of weapon. He started to intervene, but Florian waved him off.
The prince easily plucked the blade from my grasp. I braced myself for his anger, but Florian appeared more amused than vexed. He contemptuously tossed the small knife aside.
“As entertaining as all this has been, I am a busy man,” he said. “I have a funeral and a coronation to plan. Let us quickly come to terms. There is only one way for you to obtain your brother’s release.”
“And what is that?” I asked in dispirited tones.
“You must agree to marry me.”
“What!” I gaped at him. “You suspected me of being of the kind of woman who sneaks off to meet with a lover in the middleof the afternoon. I just threatened you with a knife and youstillwant to marry me?”
“Everyone has their little bad habits. I am sure I can correct yours quickly enough once we are wed.” Florian smiled but his voice was soft with menace.
I shuddered. “I would rather die than marry you.”
“Alas, that would not be your fate, my dear. But if you refuse to wed me, the next gift I send to your house will not be a box of chocolates. It will be Hawkridge’s head in a basket.”
“But why are you so determined to marry me? Don’t try to pretend it is because you love me so much.”
“All right, I won’t,” he agreed affably. “Though I do find you quite beautiful. At least when you take the time to wash your face and brush your hair. More importantly, the entire kingdom expects me to wed you. I do not intend to start my reign as king with all my subjects secretly laughing at me for being a rejected suitor.”
“Whose fault would that be?” I retorted. “You should not have turned your courtship of me into such a public spectacle, stalking me all over Midtown. If you had accepted my refusal when I told you no the first time?—”
“I’ll wager you never said no to Ryland.” The prince sulked.
When I started at the mention of his brother’s name, Florian’s lip curled in an ugly sneer. “Oh, yes that’s right. I know all about your history with Ryland. Thanks to Mrs. Biddlesworth, I even know he sneaked out of the palace to see you recently. Still pining after you, is he? I can’t wait I see the anguish on his face when he is forced to watch me swoop you up in my arms and carry you off to our bridal bed.”
Florian’s eyes glittered with such malice, I could not decide if he was completely mad or simply evil.
“Ryland was right,” I cried. “I should have listened to him when he tried to warn me. Youarea monster.”
“No, I am merely a man who doesn’t like to lose or come off second best, especially to my sniveling brother.” Florian fished inside his pouch and produced a diamond ring.
“I don’t have all day for you to make up your mind, Ella. What is it going to be? Your hand in marriage or your bastard brother’s head in a box?”
I whipped my hands behind my back, agonizing over a choice that was really no choice at all. My gaze strayed to where I had last seen Delphine crouched beneath the bushes. She was still there, but she was busy grooming her paws, completely impervious to my distress. Perhaps the witch was too annoyed that I had wasted the Fear Blade to try to come to my rescue. I don’t know what she could have done to help even if she had been so inclined.
Turning back to Florian, I said, “If I agree to marry you, you absolutely promise Mal won’t be harmed?”
“I give you my solemn word of honor as a prince and future king. I will send my own personal physician to tend to your brother’s wounds and see to his comfort until our wedding day when I will order his release.” Florian placed his hand over his heart, doing his best to look sincere.
I did not trust him in the least to keep his word, but until I could think of another way to save Mal, I had no other option. I moved my hand from behind my back and held it reluctantly out to Florian.
The prince’s eyes lit up with triumph as he jammed the ring upon my finger. The diamond was enormous enough to make most women gasp with delight. But I felt as though Florian had just fastened a chain around my neck.
“There now,” he crowed. “You are already learning to be sensible and obedient. I really like that in a girl.”
He seized me about the waist and yanked me hard against him. His tongue snaked out to moisten his lips as he prepared toassault me with one of his disgusting kisses. This time I would be forced to endure it. I closed my eyes, bracing myself when suddenly a blood-curdling yowl sounded from the bushes.
