Page 23 of Pretense

Edmund held open the door for Jalissa, and she stepped inside. Instead of the damp, chilly air of the Escarlish spring day, the hot and dry air washed over her. It was so hot that Jalissa shed her light blue cloak, handing it to Sarya, her guard.

She stood on a gravel path that wound through gardens of sand, filled with prickly plants and stalky grasses. She did not wait for Edmund, but instead wandered down the path, stopping to read the labels on the cacti and other desert plants. “These are amazing! I never thought to see desert plants.”

“They are vastly different from the trees of Tarenhiel, aren’t they?” Edmund grinned as he caught up with her.

“Yes.” Jalissa could have stayed in that room forever, but as she and Edmund followed the gravel path, they stepped from room to glass room, following a loop around the outside ring of the hothouse.

Each section of the giant greenhouse held new wonders. There was a room containing a miniature swamp with plants and fungi that would be found in the ogre lands to the south of Escarland. Another room held a small forest of strange trees from the other side of the world.

After several more rooms, they entered the largest, central room. Jalissa gasped and stared.

Large trees filled the space all the way to the glass ceiling, spreading broad leaves overhead. Jungle vines and flowers draped down while either side of the pathway was lined with orchids and other rainforest flowers growing alongside a burbling creek.

Among the plants, butterflies in all colors flitted about, landing on flowers then gliding to the next one.

“Oh, good. I had hoped the butterflies would be here.” Edmund stood next to her, sounding supremely satisfied. “The caretakers release hundreds of butterflies in here every spring.”

“It is lovely.” Jalissa was sure she was gaping in a most undignified fashion, but she could not help it. With her growing magic feeling almost giddy inside her at being surrounded by so many plants, it was all she could do not to race around like a child to see everything.

This was even better than what she had imagined. Jalissa turned to Edmund, a genuine smile twitching her lips. “Linshi, Prince Edmund.”

When he smiled back, her heart gave another, rapid thump.

This was supposed to be a fake relationship. Not real. She was not allowed to let her heart get involved.

Why was it so hard to remind herself of that when Edmund was looking at her with such an adorable smile on his face?

Chapter Eight

Farrendel pressed his hands to his knees, trying to stop his legs from bouncing with his nervousness. The closed carriage rumbled over the cobblestones of Aldon’s streets, accompanied by the clop of the guards’ horses as they rode on either side.

Essie leaned forward to wave out the window, but Farrendel kept his back pressed to the seat, staying out of sight. He needed every moment to gather his wits before he faced the people of Escarland.

After another wave, Essie turned to him, her grin beaming and bright in her green eyes. “I know you aren’t excited about this, but I’m glad you’re coming with me today.”

Even if he felt nearly ready to vomit out the window, Farrendel gave a slight nod. He was glad to be seeing this side of Essie. She wore a green, Escarlish-style dress, though a simple one without ornamentation or the yards of skirts of a ball gown. Yet nestled on her red hair was her Tarenhieli crown formed of twining leaves, the one that matched the one he wore.

“We’re almost there.” She peeked out the window once again. “Looks like there is a crowd already gathered.”

A crowd. Farrendel tried to draw in a deep breath, but it felt stuck in his tightening throat.

“It will be all right.” Essie reached for his hand. “I’ll stop to talk to several people, but all you have to do is stay by my side and give me an adoring look now and then. I think you can manage that.”

Despite the tightness in his chest, he found himself smiling. “Yes.”

When she put it that way, it did not sound so hard.

“If you were to talk to one or two people, that would not be amiss.” Essie’s expression sobered. “But you don’t have to. Save your people tolerance for once we get inside the orphanage.”

He nodded, staring down at their clasped hands.

Essie squeezed his fingers. “It won’t be so scary. They’re just children.”

When she paused, Farrendel managed to raise his head to meet her gaze.

She smiled at him, though her smile was more sad than warm. “Many of the children at the orphanage are illegitimate sons and daughters of the Escarlish nobility.” The smile left Essie’s face entirely. “And many of their mothers were not willing participants like your mother was.”

Farrendel swallowed and looked away. That was one comfort he had. His parents had made mistakes, but at least he knew those decisions had been mutual. Neither had been forced.

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