Page 22 of Charmless
I wasn’t sure if there was a law in our kingdom against turning oneself into a cat but considering that our king wanted to control all magic, there likely was such an ordinance. If Horatio tried to arrest Delphine, the blessed fairies alone knew what she might do to him. I didn’t want my commander afflicted with warts or worse still, a blistered pizzle.
Realizing that Horatio was waiting for me to finish my sentence, I concluded, “She is really fierce, that black cat. She might look quite small and harmless. But she has a nasty bite and very sharp claws. Grr!” I demonstrated by cupping my hands and displaying my fingernails.
Another man might have laughed at a woman for expressing such a nonsensical fear. Mal would likely have teased me about it. But Horatio touched my cheek and said gently, “Never mind. There is nothing for you to be afraid of. The cat is gone, and I am here now.”
Yes, he was, although I had no idea how or why when I had imagined him to be carrying out some dangerous mission far away. Horatio Crushington seemed to possess an almost magical ability to appear when I needed him, just as he had done when I had been attacked by Iggy Burt weeks ago.
I gazed upward, drinking in the sight of him. After our sunrise tryst in my garden, Horatio probably had not had the luxury of snatching a few hours’ sleep like I had. His eyes were rimmed with exhaustion and a hint of beard shadowed his jaw. But never had any man looked so wonderful to me.
I cast myself against his chest and his arms tightened around me, holding me close and suddenly everything in my world felt right again. For so many years, I had to be the strong one, looking out for my stepmother and sisters. I had forgotten what it was like to feel protected. As I nestled in Horatio’s arms, I emitted a tiny sigh, thinking I could get used to this.
Unfortunately, he eased me away from him, his eyes filled with longing and regret.
“I am sorry. I should not have. Not after you and the prince… ” He faltered and then drew himself upright, adopting a more formal tone. “May I offer you my sincerest congratulations.”
“Don’t you dare, Horatio Crushington,” I said fiercely. “I swear I will box the ears of the next person foolish enough to congratulate me.”
“You do realize it is against the law to strike a Scutcheon commander.”
“Then you will have to arrest me.” I extended my hands, wrists held together. “Please. Lock me up in your deepest dungeon where no one can find me but you.”
“I don’t have a dungeon at the garrison.”
“I’ll help you build one.”
His lips twitched, yielding to that slow sweet smile of his. He gathered my hands into his. “You truly do not intend to marry the prince?”
“How could you believe that even for a moment? I have told you many times I have no interest in becoming a princess.”
“And yet, I do keep stumbling upon you kissing royalty.”
I winced because there was a certain amount of truth to Horatio’s accusation. At the ball, he had caught me out on the balcony embracing Prince Ryland. That had not been my idea, but I had not exactly been resisting either. I had been curious to see if any feeling remained within me for the faithless lover I had once known as Harper.
“It is not my fault if the princes in the kingdom are far too free and loose with their lips, arrogantly believing that any maiden can be theirs for a kiss.” I complained. “Do you really think that I could forsake you that easily?”
“Not easily, perhaps. But I would understand if you preferred Florian to me.” His smile faded, the somber expression stealing back into his eyes. “I had already begun to have my doubts that there could ever be any happily ever after for you and me.”
“How can you say that? After declaring your love for me only hours ago?”
“I meant every word of that, but the most that I will ever be able to offer you is a name that is not even my own, a tainted bloodline.”
“Don’t mention that foundling nonsense. I told you I don’t care about that.”
“You should. I come from an unknown parentage, while Florian can trace his lineage back through many generations.”
“Probably all conceited fools like him or tyrants like his father,” I muttered.
“But you would live in a palace. You and your family would never want for anything again.”
“You sound just like my stepmother,” I said impatiently.
“You should listen to her. You would have servants, beautiful dresses, jewels and - and books. More books than you could read in a lifetime. You would have so much more than I could ever give you. You could have everything.”
“Everything. Except for what I want most.”
“What would that be?”
“This!” I seized him by the collar of his uniform and yanked his head down to a level with mine. He emitted a startledoofas my lips collided with his. Fueled by my exasperation, the kiss was more rough than romantic until Horatio wrapped his arms around me. He kissed me with a tenderness that left me breathless. I reached up to stroke his beard-roughened cheek.
