Missing Lily (Tales of Dalthia) (13 page)

“Thank you.”

She gave a breathy laugh. “Why don’t you rest for a while? We have plenty of time to talk later.”

I agreed and allowed her to lead me to my room, where Missy had already arranged my things. Climbing into bed, I tried not to think about the seemingly insurmountable task of choosing my country’s next king.

***

In the morning, I found Ella in the nursery, holding up dress after dress as Guinevere rejected one after the other.

“Is she always this picky?” I asked, laughing.

“It’s either let her choose for herself or force her into one that I pick. I’m hoping she’ll grow out of it.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“I can always hire a nursemaid.”

“You wouldn’t,” I said with perfect confidence.

“But I
could
,” she declared, pointing a finger at me.

“Fair enough,” I conceded as Guin finally chose a dress. “Can I ask a favor?”

“Of course,” Ella answered without looking up.

“I need you to tell a bit of a lie for me.”

Her head snapped up.
 
“What?” she asked in bewilderment. “What could you possibly have to lie about?”

“Would you go along with it if I told my guards that I was spending the morning inside with you?”

Her brow was furrowed. “And what would you
really
be doing?”

“Going for a ride. By myself.”

She looked skeptical. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

I sent her a mock glare. “Would you like to count the number of times that you snuck away without protection?”

She looked away, blushing pink while trying to hide a smile.

“Don’t make me call you a hypocrite.”

She gave me an innocent look that was, in fact, not innocent at all. “Would you like me to have Gavin saddle a horse so that you can slip out to the stables and be on your way after breakfast?”

“Yes, please.” I sighed in relief as she went about the task of dressing Guinevere. I knew I could count on Ella. This was something that she understood all too well. I debated internally, then decided to take it a step further. “Ella.” She looked up at me. “Can I ask you something without you asking me why I want to know?”

She was puzzled over my odd request for a moment before answering. “All right. I won’t ask your reasons, but I can’t promise to answer.” I nodded, acknowledging her terms. “So, what’s the question?”

I took a breath of courage. “In what direction does Fallon estate lie?”

Chapter 11

A
N
HOUR
LATER
, I rode away from Ella’s home, unaccompanied. Since I was supposedly inside with Ella, my guards were technically off duty. Ella had happily, almost gleefully pointed me in the direction of Fallon estate and told me how far it was, then pulled Gavin into our plot and had him ready a horse for me.

There was no plan in my mind of what to do if I actually came upon Lord Fallon, but no matter how many times I called myself foolish for my actions, it didn’t make a difference. I found the pond and skirted around it, easily finding the path on the other side. I pulled my horse to a stop on top of the hill that looked over the manor and could go no further.

The minutes ticked by as I sat there, staring down at his home, watching the grooms and gardener go about their work. I felt stuck. There was no way I could just show up on his doorstep; it would cause complete upheaval for both of us. But turning my mount around wasn’t an option either. Rhys deserved to know I was all right.

The front door opened and slammed shut. My heart tightened as I recognized Rhys striding toward the stables. He was pulling on his riding gloves, his coat billowing out behind him as he walked.

A sadness settled into my chest as I watched him disappear into the stables.
 

Moments later, he trotted out on his great, black stallion. I backed into the trees a little farther to be sure he couldn’t see me as he rode across the fields.

Then an idea hit me. A ridiculous, impulsive idea, but one that I could not resist. Once he was out of sight, I spurred my horse forward and rode straight up to the manor. Sliding off, I hurried to the door and pounded on it until a frazzled Rosamond answered.

She froze, her eyes wide, her mouth gaping. “Little one,” she said, wrapping me in her warm embrace. “Miss Lily, dear, where did you go? What can I do for you?” She pulled back, scanning me with a thorough eye. “Are you well? Come in. Come in.” She made to pull me inside, but I dug in my heels.

“No, I can’t, Rosamond. I’m sorry, but I cannot stay at all.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She tugged on my arm once more, but I stood my ground.

“Will you do something for me?”

She stopped her attempts to force me inside. “Of course, anything.”

“Will you tell Lord Fallon that you saw me? Will you tell him I’m all right?”

“You will tell him yourself when he returns,” she answered in a tone that warranted no argument. “Now, come inside.”

“I cannot. I’m sorry. But I am well and I just wanted you to know.” I gave her a brief hug and then pulled away, turning to climb back onto my horse.
 

Rosamond came after me. “Miss Lily, you cannot just leave again. Please.”

I hauled myself into the saddle. “Thank you for everything, Rosamond. I can never repay you.”

“Just stay for a moment, Miss Lily.” She chased after me, panicked, and I couldn’t blame her. It was unfair, but it was the best I could do.

“Goodbye.”
 

Spurring my horse, I trotted away as Rosamond shrieked, “Miss Lily!” in exasperation.

My horse galloped up the road before I circled around the pond and came back, just close enough to watch. Perhaps staying was a mistake, but my curiosity was too great, and I wanted to see Rhys again. I stayed in the cover of the trees and watched Rosamond as she paced the yard, twisting her skirts. She gesticulated wildly to Giles when he came out of the house, and was still pacing some time later when Rhys returned. Rosamond ran to meet him, jabbing her finger in the direction I’d gone, and a moment later he spurred his stallion to a full gallop, racing down the same road I had taken.

I put my forehead in my hand and shook my head, horrified. My wish had been for Rhys to know of my well-being so that he could stop worrying and wondering what had happened to me. Instead, I had caused sheer chaos. I swallowed my emotions and turned my mount toward Ella’s house.

I plodded along, caught up in my thoughts, and was so preoccupied that I didn’t notice Nathaniel waiting for me until after I had dismounted and led the horse into the stables.

“Princess.” I turned and found him watching me, his stance as tightly wound as his voice. I sighed, unprepared for this encounter. “Might I ask for an explanation?”

My body slumped against a stall door. “I don’t want to argue about my protection.”

“Would you rather I discussed it with the king?”

My eyebrows shot up. “Don’t threaten me, Nathaniel.” I could hear my own incredulity, shocked that he would bring my father into this.

“I answer to the king, Princess.”

“You answer to me first,” I shot back.

“No. I protect you.” His words were clipped and abrupt. “But I cannot do either if you run off.”

As much as I hated it, he was right. We got along so well that it was hard to remember he didn’t answer to me at all. “All right,” I conceded in a monotone. “From now on, I’ll be a good little girl. Now go away.” I tried to appear apathetic, but bitterness had leaked into my voice and I couldn’t stop the tears that slid silently down my face.

He saw my tears, but turned away without hesitation. I could cry endlessly without being in any kind of danger, and so it was not his concern.

A few more tears leaked out, but I refused to give in to them. As upset as I was over the situation, I tried to focus on my success. I had seen Rhys today. And he had looked well.

And he had gone after me.

I forced myself to walk inside before any more tears could spill over.

Ella was in the nursery with Guin. She looked me over before declaring, “You look worse.”

“I ran into Nathaniel.”

“Oh dear.” She grimaced. “How did that go?”

“We had a lovely little argument and I was supremely rude.”

Her face fell. “Oh, Lylin—”

I held up a hand. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

She tilted her head and studied me before agreeing. “All right. Dare I ask how your ride went?”

I thought about that for moment and tried to answer truthfully. “It was...successful, I suppose.” I looked down, noticing my rumpled dress. “I’m going to change.”

“We’ll be having lunch shortly,” she said as I walked out. “Might as well meet us in the dining room when you’re finished.”

I sat in the dining hall and watched as Ella and the cook brought dishes to the table. Ella and Gavin employed no footmen or maids, only a butler, a coachman, a cook, and a housekeeper. It was a vast change in lifestyle for both of them, but it worked well. Gavin had plenty of work to do without being overburdened, and Ella delighted in contributing to the running of her household.

Only a minute passed before Gavin’s all-too-knowing gaze forced me to acknowledge him.

“What?” I asked.

“I’m just thrilled to know that my wife isn’t the only sister to indulge in clandestine exploits.”

“I’d hardly characterize it in that fashion.”

He looked at me as though I were slightly crazy, then grinned. “No need to worry. You’re in good company here.” He reached down to pick up Guinevere and sat her on his lap.

“Lorraina would disagree,” Ella said as she sat down. “And Guin should really sit in her own chair,” she hinted to Gavin, who just held Guin tighter.

“I’ll put her in her chair in a moment,” he promised, and Ella tried not to smile.

“Lorraina knows I’m in good company,” I tried to assure Ella.

“Then why has she never come to visit me?” Ella’s question was calm, but I could see the sadness in her eyes. “I’ve invited her many times and she has never once made the trip.”

“Lorraina has as difficult a time understanding you as you do her. She takes tremendous pride in being royalty and doesn’t understand how you could step away from it.”

“And you agree?”

“Of course not. I know very well that I am in good company here. I’m on the verge of spending more time in your home than I do in my own.”

“But you don’t agree with what I’ve done.”
 

I was taken aback, thinking my approval was obvious enough that she would have no reason to doubt it. Her apparent insecurity was uncharacteristic.

“I may not follow in your footsteps, but I understand the appeal.” I had always understood it, but felt the appeal even more after spending time in Lord Fallon’s home.

***

When I joined Ella for breakfast the next morning, she had a broad smile on her face. “Good morning,” she greeted.

“Good morning,” I mumbled.

Ella narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you sulking?”

My shoulders shrugged. “I want to go riding.”

“Then go. What’s stopping you?”

“I am not in the mood to be followed about by Nathaniel.”

She gave me a sympathetic smile. “I really don’t think you can sneak off again.”

“I know that, and I wouldn’t anyway.” I rested my elbow on the arm rest and stuck my chin in my palm. “I’ll survive not riding for one day.”

Ella had the audacity to roll her eyes at me. “Come now, you’re going to break my heart with that pitiful face.”

I straightened. “I’m not pitiful.”

“Well, you look it. And so I shall take pity on you and suggest that you be allowed to ride with Gavin and me without the company of your guards.”

A reluctant smile slid across my lips. “I like that idea, but I doubt Nathaniel would agree.”

“Would it be so terrible to have him following?”
 

My face contorted, conveying my feelings on the matter.
 

“Come now, Lylin. If you’re riding with me then you can ignore him entirely. Besides,” she added when I was about to object. “He’s just doing his job.”

I closed my eyes and sighed. “I know that. But he and I have always had a very easy sort of camaraderie, and when he spoke to me that way yesterday, it felt like I was no longer talking to him, but to someone else entirely.”

“From what you told me,” Ella responded slowly, as though debating whether to say the words as they came out. “You weren’t all that nice either.”

“I wasn’t exactly in the frame of mind to be nice.”

“And why is that?” I knew it was a question she had wanted to ask since I’d returned to the house yesterday. And I wanted to answer her, but I didn’t know how, or even where to begin. “Did you go to Fallon manor?”

“Yes.” It was a relief to say that much at least.