Authors: Gloria Harchar
Maestro stared at
Glissando
for a few moments, his
eyes
narrowing. He tapped his chin, and Allegro wondered once again if Maestro had the ability to predict.
No one truly understood
the extent of
his powers.
"
There is that one,
"
Maestro finally said.
"
And you know what happens when it
'
s broken.
"
Allegro didn
'
t want
Glissando
to get all the attention.
"
A
pixie
will lose his or her
pixie
dust for two months and live with the butterflies for that duration.
"
"
The first time,
ye
s,
"
Maestro concurred with a majestic nod of his head.
"
While losing your powers for two months is not pleasant, to be sure, most likely a
pixie
will survive. But for the second offense, you will be banished from Jubilant for a duration of one
ye
ar.
"
Glissando
'
s throat worked and, for a moment, fear flashed over his features, making Allegro feel truly sorry for him.
"
This is true. I understand, Maestro.
"
Maestro tapped his chin.
"
However, the one infraction that worries me the most is the one that will endanger Jubilant
, and all of Lumière
as we know it today. The law that will break the Band of Peace and allow the Underworlders to escape.
"
Allegro drew his hand away from his
Clockwork
Blue
boutonniere, not liking the vein of Maestro
'
s thoughts.
Glissando
leaned forward on the table.
"
To which law are you referring, Maestro?
"
"
Remember Article 2, Section
I?"
"
Of course,
"
Glissando
said.
Allegro nodded.
"
Which is?
"
Maestro prompted.
"
Both of you. S
ay it.
"
"
'
A pixie cannot ever expose himself to a
human
who is not a Chosen One,
'
"
they said,
"
'
especially not have discourse with one.
'
"
"
Good.
"
Maestro smiled in satisfaction.
"
Now, I feel you
'
ve both been tempted with breaking that law, so don
'
t forget it.
"
"
We won
'
t forget, Maestro,
"
Allegro said. He gave
Glissando
a meaningful glance.
"
If you don
'
t adhere to the law, you
'
ll be expelled from our society immediately—and before you can return, you
'
ll have to right the damag
e you caused by your infraction.
Do both of you understand?
"
Allegro bowed.
"
I hear and obey.
"
Glissando
gulped, his
eyes
wide.
"
Ye
s, Maestro.
"
"
Farewell—and good luck.
"
Maestro
snapped his fingers.
Allegro and
Glissando
watched as the cloud seemed to suck him in. Then, with a glittering pop, Maestro was gone.
"
'
I hear and obey,
'
"
Glissando
repeated, mimicking his partner
'
s tone.
A pitiful attempt, in Allegro
'
s opinion.
"
Too bad you can
'
t keep your good manners when Maestro is gone. I
'
ve decided that you act so disrespectful and contrary because you
'
re jealous.
"
"
Jealous? Of what?
"
"
Of my beautiful high tones.
"
Glissando
rolled his
eyes
.
"
Please.
"
He thought of wha
t Maestro had said and
tight anxiety roped around his throat.
"
You simply must get
over your envy because we must
start working to
gether.
"
"
Bah, quit thinking everyone wants to be like
you
!
"
"
Glissando
, I
'
m trying to tell you—
"
"
That
you
'
re too vain? I already know.
"
He ignored the baiting and continued,
"
I need your help with a plan
I
have.
"
Interest flared in
Glissando
'
s cherub features.
"
Why didn
'
t
you
say so?
"
"
I was trying to. Now, my plan involves getting
Nicola
to give up her ridiculous hats, and perhaps even improve the Black Falcon
'
s reputation.
"
"
I don
'
t know how we
'
re going to do either of those things.
"
"
My idea has to do with us posing as gossiping old women. Would that break any law that you know of?
"
"Nooo," Glissando responded thoughtfully, and then smiled, his bruised face lighting up enough to hide the dark swelling. "I'm beginning to like how you think, old man."
Lady Kensington patted
Nicola
'
s arm.
"
You lucky gel. A Cinderella story if I ever lived and breathed.
"
Nicola
tried to smile as she glanced away from the small crowd attending the wedding breakfast. If only it were true.
Malcolm
had invited several prominent people from the village of
Chatsworth
to Windmere. Unfortunately, Lady Kensington was in their numbers.
Nicola
briefly wondered where he was. She
'
d seen him a few moments ago, talking to Mr. Campbell. And where were the pixies? Would they leave, now that she was buckled? To her surprise, the thought brought a stab of unhappiness.
Garlands of roses, pansies and daffodils, intertwined with English ivy, had been artistically arranged around an ornate crystal bowl of cranberry and strawberry ratafia.
An assortment of caked sugar
loafs;
pastries and treacle decorated the long table, as well as a large bowl of plum pudding.
Macedonia
of fruit, meringues a la
crème
and a chocolate cream completed the sweets. Guests milled about the dining room, their dainty plates filled with confections.
Nicola
gave her dish to a passing servant, suddenly not hungry.
Lady Kensington gave a condescending smile.
"
Now you won
'
t have to design those tedious hats.
"
A wave of heat touched
Nicola
'
s cheeks. More than once she had wondered if her hats were good, but she wasn
'
t about to let this old goat see her insecurities.
"
On the contrary, milady, I intend to continue.
"
Lady Kensington
'
s jaw slackened.
"
Don
'
t say that you
'
re going to work like a commoner.
"
"
No, she
'
s going to play like an indulged countess,
"
Malcolm
replied. He walked up behind
Nicola
, grasped her hand and pulled her near. She could feel the heat of
him;
savor his masculine scent of bay rum.
"
Nicola
enjoys her hobby. What
'
s more, I would never dream of depriving the world of the beauty and joy that
Nicola
gives with her exquisite hats.
"