Page 9 of Peril

The sounds of scrambling and rustling hedges came from behind her, but Jalissa forgot all about the other couple as Edmund’s arms came around her and he drew her into a deeper kiss.

When he pulled back, he whispered, “I’ve always wanted to try the whole kiss-to-avoid-suspicion thing, but I never had anyone to kiss in those situations before.”

Jalissa managed a laugh, but it came out as weak and lightheaded as she felt. She was not sure she could come up with a coherent response right now.

A creak from above caught her attention, and she glanced up to see Lord Etchworth swing the window open all the way and peek out.

Edmund’s fingers gently cupped her face, and then he was kissing her again. Jalissa did not even care that it was for Lord Etchworth’s benefit so he would not think they had been eavesdropping. Somehow, the edge of danger made the kiss all the sweeter.

She vaguely registered the slam of the window overhead. When she drew back this time, all she could think to murmur was, “Do you think he bought it?”

Edmund chuckled, still holding her against him. “I don’t know about him, but I sure did. Careful, princess. I think your prim and proper reputation won’t survive getting caught kissing me like that.”

That helped shake the kissing haze from her mind. She swatted his chest and stepped out of his arms. “Everyone knows it is your terrible influence.”

“True.” Edmund straightened his neckcloth, then took her hand. “I believe we’ve worn out our welcome. Ready to return to the palace?”

Jalissa nodded, sending one last glance up at the study before she and Edmund made their way back toward the ballroom and the doors that would lead them to their waiting carriage.

Yes, both Lord Etchworth and Lord Farnley were worth investigating. Whatever they were up to, they didn’t want Edmund and Jalissa to find out.

Which made it all the more important that they did.

* * *

Edmund heldJalissa’s two fingers in the elven style, the backs of their hands brushing, as they strolled up the steps of Winstead Palace after the carriage dropped them off in the front circle drive. The night closed around them, crickets and tree frogs setting up a chorus in the trees, while the lamps around the gravel drive lit the steps.

They would step inside to give a quick report to either Averett or General Bloam, depending on who was still awake. Then Edmund would walk Jalissa to the door of Buckmore Cottage before he returned to his own room in Winstead Palace.

A footman opened one of the large, double doors for them, bowing as they stepped through the doorway.

Inside, Averett paced across the entry hall, deep grooves in his forehead and around his mouth speaking to worry. General Bloam stood in the shadowed doorway to the corridor, staying out of his king’s way at a respectful distance.

“What’s wrong?” Edmund’s fingers tightened around Jalissa’s, and she stepped closer to him as if to lend support.

“I received a report from Julien while you were gone.” Averett held out a piece of paper, astonishingly long for a telegram. “A deadly illness has spread across Kostaria, and King Rharreth has requested help in finding a cure.”

Edmund’s eyebrows shot up as he took the paper. King Rharreth wouldn’t reach out to Escarland and Tarenhiel lightly. Quickly, Edmund scanned the paper, holding it so that Jalissa could read alongside him.

“I have already started composing messages to the doctors at the hospitals and the university professors to put together a team to send to Kostaria,” Averett continued even as Edmund read. “While Escarland can’t provide the aid of the elven healers, we can hopefully help them discover a cure for this illness. Based on the descriptions, we don’t want it spreading to Escarland.”

Edmund nodded, half-listening as he read. There was something about the description of the disease. He didn’t know a lot about different illnesses, but he knew poisons. And if he didn’t know better, the symptoms sounded rather similar to the effects of a poison. That rate of death seemed far too high for a mere disease.

He glanced at General Bloam where he still stood in the shadows, lifting an eyebrow.

General Bloam gave a slight nod, a dark look in his eyes.

The general had read the report and had similar suspicions.

Edmund and Jalissa’s investigation here was important, but it could wait. Lives were on the line in Kostaria. That took precedence over a mere investigation into some illegal smuggling.

Edmund faced Averett again. “I’d like to go along with the scientists you send to Kostaria.”

Jalissa’s head shot up, her eyes flicking over his face for a moment before her jaw tightened. “Wewould like to go.”

Her fingers squeezed his. She didn’t even know his suspicions yet, but she knew it must be important if he wanted to go. She would be there at his side so they could face it together.

He would have asked her to go along, but she had beaten him to it and volunteered. Thanks to her training in detecting plant-based poisons in preparation for their upcoming trip to Mongavaria, she would provide more help to the trolls than he could, if his suspicions were correct.

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