Ancient Guardians The Legacy of the Key (18 page)

Lillian
and Catherine appeared as shocked as their friend. Levi ignored the dramatic
question. To Reece’s surprise, it was Harrison who answered. “Why the sudden
concern for the Duchess? I am amazed that you care enough to inquire about
her.” He looked toward Levi. “Forgive me for this, cousin.” Then he returned
his gaze to Simone. “You’re implying that she broke Levi’s heart, when it was
Levi who decided they should not suit—and Miss Hamilton seems to have borne up
well, as she’s planning her trousseau now. No broken hearts in the tale. And if
there were, they are hardly any of your business, or your concern.” He sat back
in his chair, frustration and disgust apparent in his features. “I do hope you
haven’t entertained Reece with your nonsensical fantasies in our absence. At
least you have fulfilled your promise not to let her become lost in some
village. I must commend you all for that.” He looked at the three women.
“Nevertheless, I have lost my desire to sit in your presence any longer. I
think I speak for Reece and Levi, when I say, I believe we are finished with
your presence here, and we shall happily retire elsewhere.”

He stood and
offered Reece his hand. She accepted, and prepared to leave with him. As Levi
stood, he announced, “Ladies, after tonight’s events, rest assured, we will
finish the conversation at a later time. Until then.” He spun on his heel, and
followed Harrison and Reece out of the room.

  As the door
closed behind him, Levi quickly came up beside Harrison. They strode down the
hallway, turning down a corridor that Reece had never explored. Harrison
exhaled. “Excuse me for this, Reece, but what in all of hell has gotten into
that woman?” He demanded, looking at Levi.

Levi’s face
softened and his mouth quirked. “Perhaps she was right in her accusations about
you, my friend; it seems your mouth has become as foul as your manners are
shocking!” He laughed, and Reece joined in. The cousins seemed to have changed
places; now it was Levi’s turn to lighten the mood.

 Harrison looked at
Reece. “I will say, I am impressed with how you handled yourself tonight.”

She smiled up at
him. “I’ve had quite a few days of practice,” she laughed.

The room they
entered was unquestionably a man’s domain, complete with deep burgundy leather
sofas surrounding a fireplace. The room had dark wood paneling throughout, dark
green curtains covering the windows, and a large billiard table, which sat off
in a corner on its own. “Allow me to offer you a more comfortable place to
relax,” said Harrison.

The soft leather
engulfed Reece luxuriously. Levi sat across from her as Harrison busied himself
with glasses at a small cabinet in the front corner of the room. When he
offered to pour drinks, Reece requested a glass of wine. Harrison and Levi both
had snifter glasses filled with an amber liquid.

Harrison sat down
in a tall-backed chair. His shoulders relaxed, and he seemed to melting into
his seat. “We should have taken our dinner with Samuel in the command center.”
Harrison announced, still utterly annoyed.

Levi took a sip of
his drink, and laughed at his cousin. “You look as if you came from a battle,
Harrison.”

Harrison took a
large gulp, and with wide eyes, gestured back at the dining room with his
glass. “You feel that was far from one? I believe we should send Simone in to
battle the Ciatron; she may be the greatest weapon we have ever had, and we
didn’t know it.” He took another big gulp of his drink.

Levi looked at his
cousin as if he were seriously considering the idea. “That is an alternative.
Though, I fear the horses would sense Simone’s character, and not allow her to
ride them. She would never make it across the borders.”

Everyone laughed
and relaxed even more. Reece found comfort in having both men around again. It
was the first peaceful evening she’d had since the older members of the
household had gone.

Chapter
12

T
he next week passed without any trouble for Reece. By the time Navarre
and Allestaine arrived back at the Palace, Harrison and Levi were being
dispatched to resume their duties on Earth.

Upon their return,
Navarre was rarely around, and Allestaine made a special effort to entertain
Reece. Her first discussion with Reece when she returned was in regard to a
conversation she had with Levi before he returned to Earth. She told Reece that
he informed her about the young women’s detestable behavior in their absence.
Allestaine expressed her embarrassment for the way Reece had been treated by
Lillian, Simone, and Catherine. Without going into detail, she assured Reece
that the three women understood they were fortunate to remain in her home after
displaying such behavior.

In the days
following Navarre and Allestaine’s return, the weather became bitterly cold.
For the next three days, Reece was unable to venture outside, to take her usual
morning run, or visit her new friend, the colt. A storm made its way into the
area, bringing snowfall and dropping the temperatures even farther. The snow
accumulation was not much; however, it was the bitterly cold winds that forced
Reece to remain indoors.
Is it possible to get cabin fever in a palace?
Sure, the Palace was large, and there was plenty to do, but Reece had always
found her solace outdoors.

Fortunately,
Allestaine kept her occupied; they gardened together in the greenhouse, and
every once and a while, Allestaine took Reece into the kitchen with her to make
a special dish—usually a favorite of Navarre’s.

Reece was grateful
for Allestaine’s efforts, but she grew tired of remaining inside all day. Every
morning she would wake up to find the sun covered with thick clouds, daring to
snow again. She would make her way out onto the balcony, only to find the
temperatures were still stinging cold.

After the long week
of glacial temperatures, Reece finally woke up to the sun peeking through her
bedroom curtains. She breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly made her way over
to the windows. When she drew the curtains back, she was exhilarated at the
site of the brilliant blue sky, and not one cloud in sight. After she went
through her normal routine of preparing for the day, she grabbed a thick wool
coat, and made her way out onto the second floor balcony. The air was not as
bitterly cold with the sun out; however, it was still too cold for her to go
trudging through the snow. She hoped by the afternoon, the temperatures would
warm more and she could take a walk, even if it was down to the stables where
the colt was.

That afternoon, she
was in the greenhouse with Allestaine, picking flowers for the vases in various
rooms. She forced herself to concentrate on the aromas of the indoor garden
while arranging the vases; but it was difficult. All she wanted was to be
outside. Once they were finished, she planned to do just that. Whether or not
the temperatures had warmed since that morning, she planned to get out of the
Palace.

 As
Reece silently planned her day out, Allestaine looked up and smiled lovingly
over Reece’s shoulder. She turned to see who was there, and saw Levi standing
in the doorway.

 “Levi, it is nice
to see that you and Harrison have returned safely. It is good to have you home.
Are you on your way to meet with Samuel?” Allestaine said as she brought her
son into a loving embrace.

Levi greeted his
mother, and smiled over her shoulder at Reece, whose eyes had locked onto his.
“Good afternoon, Mother. No, Harrison opted to confer with Samuel in my place
this time. He owes me, and I figured this was the perfect time for him to pay
me back, as I was in no mood to sit in meetings this afternoon.”

“Ah. And instead
you have decided to help us ladies fill the vases—how kind!” Allestaine’s smile
was as mischievous as Reece had ever seen it.

Levi laughed. “I
think I’d rather sit in meetings with Samuel, than report for flower-arranging
duty. I’m here for Reece. From what Father has told Harrison and me about
everyone at Pasidian being forced indoors for a week, I believe she could use
some time outside the house.”

Reece looked up as
startled as a prisoner suddenly offered freedom. Levi’s eyes warmed as he
approached her, ignoring the shocked expression on his mother’s face.

The way he looked
at Reece, his smile igniting the blue of his eyes, her heart raced, and her
stomach reacted like she was on a roller coaster. She closed her eyes and tried
to get a grip on herself. Was it the prospect of going out that excited her, or
was it Levi?

She did what she
always did when her emotions reacted to the sight of him such as they were
doing now—and pushed the unneeded sentiment away. It was the only way she could
think rationally in his presence.

 “Reece, would you
join me outdoors for the afternoon?” He asked politely.

 I bet I look
like a kid on the first day of summer vacation.
“That sounds wonderful, Levi, but I was helping your
mother…”

Allestaine cut her
off. “Go, Reece. But Levi will hear from me if you are too chilled and become
ill.”

Levi offered his
arm, and Reece accepted. When she looked back, Allestaine’s sweet smile had
been replaced with a more serious and concerned expression.

As they left the
room, Levi mentioned that Jasmeen had an outfit arranged for Reece so that she
would not become so chilled outdoors. Levi waited patiently in Reece’s sitting
room, while Jasmeen went to work, helping Reece into an entirely different
style of dress than Reece had worn before.

Once
completely dressed, Reece looked at herself in the mirror and laughed. The
outfit she was dressed in was tailored in more of a masculine style. It was
still lavish in its appearance, being rich navy blue, with silver embroidered
trim and buttons. Even still, the fitted wool jacket that she was wearing over
a long matching skirt was nothing like the gowns she had been wearing lately.
Underneath the wool tailcoat, Reece wore a white silk shirt with a black velvet
waistcoat over it. Her legs would also be kept warm with black velvet breeches,
something she definitely hadn’t worn since she’d been in Pemdas.

Jasmeen finished
the ensemble when she tied a white silk cravat around her neck, covering the
last of her exposed skin. After Jasmine ensured that all of the buttons on her
jacket were buttoned, she stepped back to admire the outfit, and Reece laughed
again.

“Jasmeen, I’m
shocked that you would allow me to wear this. This outfit is nothing like the
gowns you have been insisting I wear lately.” Reece chuckled, “I guess what I’m
trying to say is, this is the first time you haven’t dressed me up like a
princess.”

Jasmeen smiled,
“Master Levi has requested that you wear this outfit outdoors with him today.
With what he has in mind, you will appreciate the habit.”

“Habit?” Reece
asked.

Jasmeen giggled.
“Oh dear, I almost ruined it. Master Levi has requested I say nothing in regard
to his plans for you–he looks forward to surprising you with an outdoor
adventure today. Now, let us put on these boots so that your feet will stay dry
and warm.” Jasmeen helped Reece into fur-lined boots, and then handed her a
pair of black leather gloves.

Once her ensemble
was completed, Reece met Levi, who was patiently waiting in her sitting room.
Levi stood as soon as Reece entered. She teased him by twirling dramatically.
“Well…what do you think?” She asked.

Levi laughed, and
his crystal eyes sparkled, “I think it will work perfectly for what I have
planned.” He approached her, and offered his arm. “Shall we, then?”

Reece placed her
hand on the inside of his arm, and they were soon walking through the Palace.
She had no idea what Levi had planned, and she could barely contain her
excitement. She didn’t know why he’d have her dress in such an interesting
outfit just to walk the grounds, but also she didn’t want to take the fun out
of it by asking too many questions. Imagining the freedom of getting out of the
house exhilarated her so much that she gripped his arm tighter.

 “Are you that
excited, Reece? I’m not sure what I have planned will live up to your
expectations.”

Reece couldn’t stop
smiling. “I’m overjoyed to be going out. I really appreciate your doing this
for me.”

Finally, they
reached their usual exit at the back of the house. As they exited, Reece stared
down past the snow-shoveled steps, and saw that a groom with a black horse
stood at the foot of the steps. Reece stared at the horse, filled with sudden
doubt. Levi softly laughed, and led them toward the steps.

 “Are
you up for a horseback ride today?”

Reece did not know
how to respond. She wanted to be outside, but a horseback ride? She feared how
it would turn out.

Her expression must
have shown her trepidation, because Levi laughed aloud. “You have nothing to
fear, Reece. Areion loves to travel through the snow, and he is very steady
upon it. He has been neglected, while I have been on Earth. I felt you both
could use some time away.”

They approached the
large, black stallion. He appeared interested by his new visitor, and Reece
admired his beauty up close for the first time. He seemed to be the essence of
power—living power, not the dead power of an automobile. His eyes followed her
as she slowly reached her hand to him, just as she had to the young colt in the
meadow. He nosed her hand and grunted, then turned his attention forward.