Promising Hope (6 page)

“How?”

“We ended it. Sierra and I. The curse is gone.”

Sashe took a step back, her dark eyes wide. She
glanced at Marisa again, then her own maidservant. Grace wondered
if the servants at the palace knew about the magical families. If
not, she’d definitely enlightened Marisa with the last few
conversations she’d had.

“I…” Sashe trailed off. “That doesn’t explain what
you’re doing here.”

“I’m done. I can’t help the Avialies and be with the
prince. I choose William.”

Sashe stared at Grace, her shock morphing into
disdain.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Grace’s face grew warm.
“You chose, didn’t you? You chose your baby instead of the
Avialies.”

Sashe’s face darkened, but she lightened her voice.
Grace knew it was in case anyone was listening, and they must be.
If the prince didn’t trust her, how could Tisha or Kilar? “You’re
right,” Sashe said. “I did. I’ll see you at dinner.”

She swept out of the room, her maidservant hurrying
behind her.

Grace sighed as the door shut. Marisa stepped in
front of her, her gaze on the ground. “Are you ready for your
dress?”

Marisa dressed Grace silently in all of the
trappings: undergarments, hosiery, underskirt, and of course, the
corset. “Finished, m’lady,” Marisa said.

Grace turned to look in the mirror next to the
wardrobe. She just noticed the dress was adorned with jewels and
Marisa had woven matching ones through Grace’s hair. Marisa had
painted her face with light make-up, accentuating her eyes.
Finally, Grace looked like she belonged at the palace.

Another knock on the door caught Grace’s breath—if
she could breathe in this blasted corset. She knew she should get
used to it since she was back to her normal life now. Though part
of her doubted life would ever truly return to normal.

Tisha stepped in, her father behind him. Tisha’s
hair, the color of ink, was combed back, and his dark eyes scanned
the room before he approached Grace. “Lady Grace, I trust you’ve
rested from your trip?”

“Yes,” Grace said. Actually, she was more tired now
than she had been when they’d returned, but there was no reason to
share that with Tisha.

“You look beautiful,” Father said, stepping forward
and kissing her on the cheek.

“Thank you, Father.” She smiled up at him. He gazed
back at her with a strange look on his face, and her smile
faltered. Before she could ask what was wrong, Tisha spoke.

“Your mother is nearly here, as are the guests the
king invited to lunch,” he said, “which means we must discuss where
you’ve been all this time. Or rather, where we’re going to say
you’ve been.”

Grace grimaced. “I see.” She was surprised they
hadn’t spoken about it earlier.

“It would be best to stick with the kidnapping.”

“But I wasn’t kidnapped.”

“You weren’t in your right mind, either,” Father
said.

Grace clenched her hands into fists. “Didn’t Kyler
tell you why I left? I heard the two of you talking about what to
do with me. Why would I stay around after that?”

Father’s face fell, and he uncrossed his arms.
“Grace… we were just looking out for you.”

Forcing her hands to relax, Grace shook her head.
“No, you were trying to punish me and keep me from the
Avialies.”

“Well, look what they’ve done to you!” Father said,
raising his voice.

“What have they done?” Grace asked.

Tisha glared at Father, who clenched his jaw and fell
silent. Tisha looked at Grace and said, “Would you have us tell
everyone you ran away to help with a magical curse?”

Grace half-glanced at Marisa, who was busying herself
in the bathroom, before flicking her faze back to Tisha. “I think
you just don’t want to tell everyone you were wrong.”

He rolled his eyes. “Of course we don’t. And we
won’t.”

“And who will you say kidnapped me?”

“Evan and Sierra Avialie.”

“But they—” Grace began.

“They wanted a ransom,” Tisha continued as if she
hadn’t spoken, “but William rescued you. I think that’s what
William would like the most, to avoid trouble.”

Grace’s protest died on her lips. William… yes, she
needed to do what William wanted. “Do you think so?”

“I’m sure of it,” Tisha said softly. “I just spoke
with him. He doesn’t want to worry your mother.”

“Oh, all right,” Grace said with reluctance. It would
be better this way. “But it won’t be an official charge, will it?
We’ll tell others, but they won’t be charged for my
kidnapping?”

Tisha let out an exasperated noise. “If that’s what
you want.”

“It is.”

Tisha inclined his head. “Would you come down to the
sitting room with us?”

Grace nodded. “Of course.”

She took her father’s outstretched arm, and they left
her room together. She cleared her throat and asked Tisha, “Does
Marisa know about the families?”

“To a certain point, yes,” Tisha said. “She’s trained
in combat, you know. That’s why we assigned her to you. She’ll be
able to protect you if anything goes wrong.”

Grace thought of Marisa’s muscular frame. She’d
probably need Marisa sooner or later. Grace had plenty of
enemies.

In the sitting room, William and Kyler stood by the
fireplace, chatting over glasses of wine. Grace smiled at the sight
of both of them and hurried over to them. “Kyler, are you feeling
well? I hardly saw you during the trip.”

“Yes, I’m practically back to normal,” Kyler
said.

Grace had heard an arrow had hit him in the shoulder;
he spent most of the trip back to Renaul in a special carriage with
the doctor. She’d hardly spoken with him. She examined his right
shoulder, but it looked normal.

“Don’t worry; it’s healing,” he assured her. “Still a
little painful, but fine.”

“Good.” Grace thought back to the battle: she
remembered they were fighting as Kyler tried to make Father let her
leave. She’d been so concerned with Dar. His wound had been so
deep. But Dar was okay now. He’d… something had happened,
obviously, or he wouldn’t be alive… but what? Had the Thieran
traveling with the Protectors healed him? Why would he heal an
Avialie?

“Lady Grace?” William asked.

Grace’s confusion fled, and she beamed at the prince.
“Your Highness,” she said, inclining her head.

“You’re looking well,” William said. “Much better
than we pulled you out of the jungle.”

Grace’s face grew warm, and she laughed. “I hope so.
I wasn’t at my best then.”

A wail behind her alerted Grace to her mother’s
presence, and she turned around, her shoulders tensing. Mother
threw her arms around Grace, barely holding back sobs. “Oh, Grace,
it’s so wonderful to see you. I’ve been so
so
worried!”

Grace smiled tightly, rubbing her mother’s back.

Mother quickly pulled away, sure not to make a fool
of herself in front of so many men. She wiped her cheeks and
touched the sides of Grace’s face. “You look ravishing!” She
motioned to her dress. “Your things are being taken to your room,
but this dress is absolutely stunning on you.”

Grace smoothed down the fabrics. “Thank you. It’s
Lady Sashe’s.”

“Well, I’ll have to thank her myself.” Mother brushed
a strand of hair out of Grace’s face and smiled. She curtsied to
the prince and hugged Kyler. “I heard about your shoulder. How are
you feeling?”

“Oh, I’m on the mend.” Kyler lifted his shoulder
slightly, but his face grimaced in pain a little bit. He let out a
chuckle. “Well, I could hardly do that yesterday.”

Mother’s chest swelled with pride. “You and your
father, dashing off to save Grace! Such heroes.”

Grace looked at Mother indignantly. She didn’t need
saving. She’d saved herself this time. Both her and Dar. Hadn’t
she? No matter how hard she tried, her mind couldn’t make the
connection between what happened in the cave to her reunion with
William. She only felt sure that she and Dar were safe now because
of her.

“But of course, the prince deserves much of the
praise,” Mother said. “You pursued her so diligently, your
Highness. My family is forever grateful.”

Grace’s anger melted away as she looked at William.
The thought of him searching after her made her smile. William met
her eyes, returning the smile.

“I couldn’t stand knowing she was with those people,”
he said.

Her smile fading the slightest, Grace looked down at
her clasped hands. Emotions warred inside of her: pleasure at
William’s protectiveness over her, offense at referring to her
friends as ‘those people’, lingering indignation at her mother’s
insinuation. She knew what was important, though. “Oh, your
Highness, I was so pleased to see you in that jungle.”

“Jungle?” Mother repeated.

“The kidnappers were keeping her in Nyad,” William
said.

Grace caught thoughtful Kyler’s gaze on her, and he
smiled uncertainly. He must have known the truth. Grace longed to
be able to tell everyone the truth, the way she’d told Sashe, even
though she’d gotten upset.

Sashe soon entered the room, followed by the king and
queen. King Thomas was a large man with William’s eyes. He towered
above the others, his purple tunic stretched over broad shoulders.
He came over to them with a large smile on his face.

Queen Kate was on his arm, her graying blonde hair in
a fancy braid with jewels woven through it. Her calculating blue
eyes swept across the people in the room before falling on Grace.
Her face softened with a smile, and she stepped away from the king
to hug Grace and kiss her on both cheeks. It was a ritual from
Jolen that no one else in the palace used, but the queen had been a
princess in Jolen. Grace didn’t know the queen well; she’d sat in
meetings once Grace returned from Nyad, but her mind always seemed
elsewhere.

“Lady Grace,” she now said, “I’m glad something good
came from this whole nonsense.”

Grace smiled. “I am, too.”

“I keep telling His Majesty that we could find other
uses for manpower they waste on trying to control them,” the queen
said, motioning to King Thomas.

He waved his hand. “Let’s not get into that right
now.” He inclined his head to Grace. “I’m very pleased that you’re
home safe. William was so worried about you.”

A thrill went through her, and she fought to keep her
smile from widening too much. Her mother didn’t even try; she was
beaming now. No doubt this was the happiest moment of her life:
Grace being spoken to by three royals.

“We were just talking about how brave your son was,”
Mother said. She rubbed Grace’s arm. “Without him, Grace wouldn’t
be here at all.”

Again, she got the feeling that that wasn’t right at
all… Grace shook her head. What was wrong with her? William may not
have saved her, but he left home and pursued her with the intention
of doing so. Even if she hadn’t been in danger, he thought she was
and he cared about her enough to put himself in danger, too. She
looked at William, keeping her head bowed, smiling.

He raised a glass to her. “I wouldn’t let anything
happen to her.”

Mother squeezed Grace’s arm. “Well, I thank you, your
Highness.”

“As do I,” Grace said.

“I just hope this is the end of it,” Queen Kate said.
“Just let the shape—”

“Your Majesty,” King Thomas said quietly.
“Discretion, please.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Queen Kate said before rolling
her eyes at Grace.

Grace smiled. What was the queen going to say? Just
let the shape changers… do what? Could there be any chance that the
queen was on their side?

“But Lady Grace…” Queen Kate softly touched Grace’s
arm, her eyes narrowing. “This is the end of it?”

Grace’s smile faded a bit. “Oh, of course. I’m here
to stay. Well, I mean, not the palace, per se, unless my presence
is wanted.” She glanced back at William, who raised his eyebrows at
her, almost looking playful.

“Good,” Queen Kate said, patting her arm. “I’d hate
for all of us to have to go through another ordeal like that.”

Mother cleared her throat like a lady. “Ahem, well,
Grace, we know it wasn’t your fault. Those barbarians pulled you
into this.”

Queen Kate raised one corner of her mouth. It looked
more like a smirk and it suited her face. “Of course they did.”

Grace bit the inside of her lip. The queen obviously
knew more than others in the castle. Grace got the sense that it’d
be wise not to underestimate her.

Thankfully, Jocelyn and Rebekah arrived just moments
later. Grace had to hold back tears as she hugged Jocelyn. When
they pulled away, Grace kissed her on the cheek. “It’s so good to
see you,” she said. She and Rebekah exchanged smiles. Grace
wondered what she’d thought about Dar being convicted of Grace’s
kidnapping weeks ago. Rebekah and Dar had courted for nearly eight
months before Dar went back to Shyra in order to keep Grace safe.
By then, though, Lisbeth had already found out about Grace’s
birthmark.

“So, how have you been?” Jocelyn asked with wide
eyes. “I suppose that’s a stupid question, but you know what I
mean, yes? It must have been so scary going through that
again.”

“I’m all right,” Grace said, smiling. She couldn’t
believe how much had changed. A couple months ago, Jocelyn was her
closest friend and the only secrets between them were about Dar and
Grace’s relationship. Now, Grace doubted she could ever tell
Jocelyn about what truly happened to her. It would put her in
danger, of course, and how could Grace even begin to explain
everything?

Jocelyn used to love those tales of magic from
faraway lands. She’d probably be ecstatic to learn that things like
actually existed. It made it all the more tempting, but Grace
pushed the thought aside. She wouldn’t pull Jocelyn into this when
she herself was trying to leave it behind.

She spent dinner by William’s side. They talked of
what she’d missed while she was gone. Grace’s mother and Queen Kate
had everyone laughing with their animated stories of the mishaps of
a lunch they had at Sir Henry’s manor.