The Serpent Prince (7 page)

“Quite.” Lucy popped a biscuit into her mouth and smiled serenely at her childhood friend.

They sat in the little room at the back of the Craddock-Hayes house. The walls were a cheerful rose color with apple-green trim, invoking a flower garden in summer. The room wasn’t as big or as well furnished as the sitting room, but it’d been Mama’s favorite and was cozy for entertaining a dear friend like Patricia. And the windows overlooked the back garden, giving them a nice view of the gentlemen outside.

Patricia sat back now and knit her brows as she studied the viscount and his friend out the window. The younger man was in his shirtsleeves, despite the November chill. He held a sword in his hand and was lunging about with it, no doubt practicing fencing in a serious way, although the steps looked rather silly to Lucy. Lord Iddesleigh sat nearby, either giving helpful encouragement or, more likely, searing his friend with his criticism.

What was the story that Mr. Fletcher had so nearly blurted out yesterday? And why had the viscount been so determined that she not hear it? The obvious answer was some kind of scandalous love affair. That was the sort of thing usually deemed too sordid for a maiden’s ears. And yet, Lucy had the feeling that Lord Iddesleigh wouldn’t mind overmuch shocking her—and her father—with his bedroom exploits. This was something worse. Something he was ashamed of.

“Nothing like that ever happens to me,” Patricia said, bringing her back to the present.

“What?”

“Finding naked gentlemen beside the road whilst walking home.” She pensively bit into a biscuit. “I’m more likely to find one of the Joneses drunk in the ditch. Fully clothed.”

Lucy shuddered. “I should think it would be better that way.”

“Undoubtedly. Still, it does give one something to tell the grandchildren on a cold winter’s night.”

“This was the first time it happened to me.”

“Mmm. Was he facing up or down?”

“Down.”

“Pity.”

Both ladies turned back to the window. The viscount lounged on the stone bench under one of the apple trees, long legs stretched before him, shorn hair glinting in the sun. He grinned at something Mr. Fletcher said, his wide mouth curving. He looked like a blond Pan; all he needed was the hooves and horns.

Pity.

“What do you suppose he was doing in Maiden Hill?” Patricia asked. “He’s as out of place here as a gilded lily on a dung heap.”

Lucy frowned. “I wouldn’t call Maiden Hill a dung heap.”

Patricia was unmoved. “I would.”

“He says he was attacked and left here.”

“In Maiden Hill?” Patricia’s eyes widened in exaggerated disbelief.

“Yes.”

“I can’t imagine why. Unless he was attacked by particularly backward robbers.”

“Mmm.” Privately, of course, Lucy had been wondering the same thing. “Mr. Fletcher seems a nice enough gentleman.”

“Yes. Makes you wonder how he became friends with Lord Iddesleigh. They go together like crushed velvet and burlap.”

Lucy tried to repress a snort and wasn’t entirely successful.

“And red hair is never entirely satisfactory on a man, is it?” Patricia scrunched her freckle-covered nose, making herself look even more adorable than usual.

“You’re being mean.”

“
You’re
being overly kind.”

Mr. Fletcher made a particularly showy slash.

Patricia eyed him. “Although I have to admit he is tall.”

“Tall? That’s the only nice thing you have to say about him?” Lucy poured her more tea.

“Thank you.” Patricia took her cup. “You shouldn’t disparage height.”

“You’re shorter than I, and I am no Amazon.”

Patricia waved a biscuit, nearly entangling it in her gold curls. “I know. It’s sad, but there it is. I’m strangely drawn to men who tower over me.”

“If that is your criteria, Mr. Fletcher is about the tallest man you’re likely to find.”

“True.”

“Perhaps I should invite you to dine with us so that you may get to know Mr. Fletcher better.”

“You should, you know. After all, you’ve already taken the only eligible bachelor in Maiden Hill who isn’t a Jones or hopelessly simple.” Patricia paused to sip her tea. “Speaking of which—”

“I should ring for more hot water,” Lucy cut in hastily.

“
Speaking
of which.” Patricia trundled right on over her. “I saw you out driving with Eustace yesterday. Well?”

“Well what?”

“Don’t play stupid with me,” Patricia said, looking like an irate marmalade kitten. “Has he said anything?”

“Of course he said something.” Lucy sighed. “He discussed at length the repairs to the church roof, Mrs. Hardy’s ankle, and whether or not it might snow.”

Patricia narrowed her eyes.

She gave in. “But nothing about marriage.”

“I take back what I said.”

Lucy raised her eyebrows.

“I think we shall have to place Eustace into the hopelessly simple category.”

“Now, Patricia—”

“Three years!” Her friend thumped a settee cushion. “
Three years
he’s been driving you up and down and all around Maiden Hill. His horse can find the way in its sleep by now. He’s made actual ruts in the roads he takes.”

“Yes, but—”

“And has he proposed?”

Lucy grimaced.

“No, he has not,” Patricia answered herself. “And why not?”

“I don’t know.” Lucy shrugged. It honestly was a mystery to her as well.

“The man needs a fire lit under his feet.” Patricia jumped up and started trotting back and forth in front of her. “Vicar or no vicar, you’re going to be gray-haired by the time he brings himself to the point. And what’s the good of that, I ask you? You won’t be able to bear children.”

“Maybe I don’t want to.”

She thought she’d spoken too quietly to be heard over her friend’s diatribe, but Patricia stopped short and stared. “You don’t want to have children?”

“No,” Lucy said slowly, “I’m not sure I want to marry Eustace anymore.”

And she realized it was true. What just days ago had seemed inevitable and good in a predictable way, now seemed old and stale and nearly impossible. Could she spend the rest of her life having settled for the best of what Maiden Hill had to offer? Wasn’t there so much more in the wider world? Almost involuntarily, her eyes were drawn to the window again.

“But that leaves only Jones men and the truly . . .” Patricia turned to follow her gaze. “Oh, my dear.”

Her friend sat back down.

Lucy felt a flush start. She quickly drew her eyes away. “I’m sorry, I know you like Eustace, despite—”

“No.” Patricia shook her head, curls bouncing. “This isn’t about Eustace, and you know it. It’s about
him
.”

Outside, the viscount got up to demonstrate a move, his arm outstretched, one elegant hand on a hip.

Lucy sighed.

“What are you thinking?” Patricia’s voice cut in. “I know he’s handsome, and those gray eyes are enough to make the average virgin faint, not to mention that form, which apparently you got to see nude.”

“I—”

“But he’s a London gentleman. I’m sure he’s like one of those crocodile creatures they have in Africa that waits until some unfortunate person gets too close to the water and then eats them up. Snip! Snap!”

“He’s not going to eat me up.” Lucy reached for her teacup again. “He’s not interested in me—”

“How—”

“And I’m not interested in him.”

Patricia raised an eyebrow, patently dubious.

Lucy did her best to ignore her. “And besides, he’s out of my sphere. He’s one of those worldly gentlemen who live in London and have affairs with stylish ladies and I’m . . .” She shrugged helplessly. “I’m a country mouse.”

Patricia patted her knee. “It wouldn’t work, dear.”

“I know.” Lucy chose another lemon biscuit. “And someday Eustace will propose to me and I’ll accept him.” She said it firmly, a smile fixed on her face, but somewhere inside her, she felt a building pressure.

And her eyes still strayed to the window.

“Not at all.” She looked at him warily. “Please, have a seat. I had begun to think you were avoiding me.”

Simon winced. He had. But at the same time, he couldn’t stay away from her. Truth be told, he felt well enough to travel, even if he wasn’t fully recovered. He should pack up and quit this house gracefully.

“What are you sketching?” He sat beside her, too close. He caught a whiff of starch.

She mutely turned her enormous book so he could see. A charcoal Christian danced across the page, lunging and feinting at an imaginary foe.

“It’s very good.” Immediately he felt a fool for so pedestrian a compliment, but she smiled, which had its now- predictable effect on him. He leaned back and flicked the skirt of his coat over his groin, then stretched out his legs. Carefully.

She frowned, her straight eyebrows drawing together terribly. “You’ve strained your back.”

“You aren’t supposed to notice a gentleman’s infirmity. Our manly pride may become irreparably damaged.”

“Silly.” She got up and brought a pillow to him. “Lean forward.”

He complied. “Also, you shouldn’t call us silly.”

“Even if you are?”

“Especially if we are.” She positioned the pillow behind his back. “Absolutely devastating to the manly pride.” God, that felt better.

“Humph.” Her hand trailed lightly across his shoulder; then she went to the door and called for the housekeeper.

He watched her move to the fireplace and stir the embers into flame. “What are you doing?”

“I thought we’d have supper in here, if that agrees with you.”

“Whatever agrees with you, agrees with me, fairest lady.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

The housekeeper appeared, and they conferred before Mrs. Brodie bustled out again.

“Papa is dining with Dr. Fremont tonight,” his angel said. “They like to argue politics together.”

“Indeed? Is that the same doctor who saw to my wound?” The good doctor must be a formidable debater to take on the captain. He had Simon’s best wishes.

“Mmm.”

Mrs. Brodie and the one maid returned with laden trays. They took some time setting up the meal on the side table and then left.

“Papa used to have wonderful discussions with David.” Miss Craddock-Hayes sliced a game pie. “I think he misses him.” She handed the plate to him.

Simon had an awful thought. “Are you bereaved?”

She stared at him blankly for a second, her hand hovering over the pie; then she laughed. “Oh, no. David is away at sea. He’s a sailor like Papa. A lieutenant on the
New Hope.
”

“Forgive me,” Simon said. “I suddenly realized that I didn’t know anything of your brother, despite using his room.”

She looked down as she selected an apple for herself. “David’s two and twenty, two years younger than I. He’s been away at sea eleven months now. He writes often, although we get his letters in clumps. He can only post them when they make port.” She settled the plate on her lap and glanced up. “Father reads them all at once when we get a packet, but I like to save the letters and read one or two a week. It makes them last longer.” She smiled almost guiltily.

Simon had an urgent wish to find this David and make him write a hundred letters more to his sister. Letters Simon could give her so he could sit at her feet and watch that smile on her lips. More fool, he.

“Have you a brother or sister?” she asked innocently.

He looked down at his pie. This was what came of being beguiled by dark, level brows and a serious mouth. One let one’s guard down. “I am deficient in sisters, alas.” He cut into the friable crust. “I always thought it would be nice to have a little sister to tease, although they have a tendency to grow up and tease back, I hear.”

“And brothers?”

“One brother.” He picked up his fork and was surprised to find his fingers trembling, damn them. He willed the shaking to stop. “Dead.”

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was nearly a whisper.

“Just as well.” Simon reached for his wineglass. “He was the elder, so I would never have attained the title had he not seen fit to shuffle off this mortal coil.” He took an overlarge sip of the red wine. It burned all the way down his throat. He set the glass down and rubbed at his right index finger.

She was silent, watching him from too-intense topaz eyes.

“Besides,” he continued, “he was rather an ass, Ethan was. Always worried about the right thing and whether I was living up to the family name, which of course I never was. He’d call me down once or twice a year to the family estate and look at me with lugubrious eyes as he enumerated my many sins and the size of my tailor’s bill.” He stopped because he was babbling.

He glanced at her to see if he’d finally shocked her into sending him away. She merely gazed back, compassion in her face. Dreadful, dreadful angel.

He transferred his gaze to the pie, although his appetite had fled. “I don’t believe I finished my fairy tale the other day. About poor Angelica and the Serpent Prince.”

Thankfully, she nodded. “You’d got as far as the magical cave and the silver snake.”

“Right.” He breathed deeply, trying to rid himself of the tightness in his chest. He took another swallow of the wine and marshaled his thoughts. “The silver snake was much larger than any Angelica had seen before; its head alone was as big as her forearm. As she watched, the serpent uncoiled itself and swallowed her poor little goat whole. Then it slowly slithered away into the darkness.”

Miss Craddock-Hayes shuddered. “It sounds awful.”

“It was.” He paused to take a bite of pie. “Angelica crept from the crack in the rock as quietly as she could and returned to her small stick shack to think things over, for she was quite frightened. What if the giant serpent continued to eat her goats? What if it decided to try a more tender meat and eat
her
?”

“How thoroughly disgusting,” she murmured.

“Yes.”

“What did she do?”

“Nothing. What could she do, after all, against a giant snake?”

“Well, surely she—”

He cocked a stern eyebrow at her. “Are you going to keep interrupting me?”

She pressed her lips together as if to quell a smile and started peeling her apple. He felt warmth spread through him. This was so comfortable, sitting here with her and bantering. A man could relax to the point that he forgot all his cares, all his sins, all the butchery he had yet to do.

He took a breath and shook the thoughts away. “Angelica’s flock of goats began disappearing one by one, and she was at her wit’s end. True, she lived alone, but sooner or later the king’s steward would come to take count of the goats, and then how would she explain their depleted numbers?” He paused to take a sip of wine.

Her straight, solemn brows were drawn together as she concentrated on peeling the apple with a small knife and fork. He could tell by the pinch of her brow that she wanted to object to Angelica’s lack of fortitude.

He hid a smile behind the wineglass. “Then late one night, a poor peddler woman came knocking at the stick shack’s door. She displayed her wares: some ribbons, a bit of lace, and a faded scarf. Angelica took pity on the woman. ‘I haven’t a coin to my name,’ she told her, ‘but will you take this pitcher of goat’s milk in trade for a ribbon?’ Well, the old woman was glad enough to make the bargain, and she said to Angelica, ‘Since you have a kind heart, I’ll give you a bit of advice: If you capture the skin of a snake, you’ll have power over the creature. You’ll hold his very life in your hands.’ And with that, the old peddler hobbled away before Angelica could ask her more.”

The lady had stopped peeling her apple and was looking at him skeptically. Simon raised his eyebrows, sipped the wine, and waited.

She broke. “The old peddler woman just appeared out of the blue?”

“Yes.”

“Just like that?”

“Why not?”

“Sometimes I have the feeling this story is being fashioned as you tell it.” She sighed and shook her head. “Go on.”

“You’re sure?” he enquired gravely.

She gave him a look from under terrifying brows.

He cleared his throat to cover a laugh. “That very night, Angelica crept to the cave. She watched as the giant serpent slithered from the dark recesses at the back of the cavern. It circled the blue-flamed fire slowly, and then there appeared the nude silver-haired man. Angelica crawled closer and saw that a great snakeskin lay at the man’s feet. Before her courage could leave her, she leaped forward and snatched the skin in her arms.” Simon ate a bite of the pie, chewing slowly to savor the flavor.

He looked up to see Miss Craddock-Hayes staring incredulously at him.
“Well?”

He blinked innocently. “Well what?”

“Stop teasing me,” she enunciated distinctly. “What happened?”

His cock jumped on the word
teasing,
and an image formed in his demonic brain of Miss Craddock-Hayes stretched nude upon a bed, his tongue
teasing
her nipples. Christ.

Simon blinked and pasted a smile on his face. “Angelica had the Serpent Prince in her power, of course. She ran to the fire in the brazier, intending to throw the snakeskin into the blaze and thus destroy the creature, but his words stopped her. ‘Please, fair maiden. Please, spare me my life.’ And she noticed for the first time that he wore a chain—”

She snorted.

“With a small, sapphire crown hanging from it,” he finished in a rush. “What?”

“He was a snake before,” she said with exaggerated patience. “With no shoulders. How could he have worn a necklace?”

“A chain. Males don’t wear necklaces.”

She merely stared at him in patent disbelief.

“He was enchanted,” he stated. “It stayed on.”

She started to roll her eyes, but then caught herself. “And did Angelica spare his life?”

“Of course.” Simon smiled sadly. “Celestial beings always do, whether the creature deserves it or not.”

She carefully set aside what remained of her apple and wiped her hands. “But why wouldn’t the snake be deserving of salvation?”

“Because he was a snake. A thing of darkness and evil.”

“I don’t believe that,” she said simply.

He barked a laugh—too sharp and too loud. “Come, Miss Craddock-Hayes, I’m sure you read your Bible and know of the snake that deceived Adam and Eve?”

“Come, my lord.” She tilted her head mockingly. “I’m sure you know that the world isn’t that simple.”

He arched an eyebrow. “You surprise me.”

“Why?” Now, inexplicably, she was irritated at him. “Because I live in the country? Because my circle of friends doesn’t contain the titled and sophisticated? Do you think only those who live in London are intellectual enough to explore beyond the obvious in our world?”

How had this argument happened? “I—”

She leaned forward and said fiercely, “I think you are the provincial one, to judge me without knowing me at all. Or rather, you
think
you know me, when in reality, you do not.”

She stared a moment longer at his dumbfounded face and then got up and hurried from the room.

Leaving him with a painfully aching erection.