Aurelia (12 page)

she stayed silent.

Coward,
he thought.
Look at her.
He lifted his head and instantly regretted the action. salt water veiled her eyes, and in that moment he would have done anything to remove those tears.

"I . . . , " she managed to whisper. "I thought you came because your uncle asked you."

"He asked my father," robert corrected in a soft voice and stepped forward, unable to leave her standing there alone. "I am here"--his hands slid back up to her shoulders, this time very gently--"because of you." He could not help himself. His lips came down to hers, telling her as tenderly as possible why he had come.

Chapter Ten

INTENSITY

AURELIA COULD NOT BREATHE. Or THINK. THIS WAS not--she had not expected this. Her heart pounded in her ears as robert drew back in slow motion. she avoided his gaze, unable to deal with the emotions swarming over her chest, her brain, her hands. Heat and loss, joy and fear, desire and embarrassment.

Her eyes landed on her horse. motivated by a terrible instinct to run away, she headed for bianca. A coat of warm gray horse-hair restrained the panic. Aurelia swung onto the bare back and dug her heels into the mare's sides.

but robert stepped forward, blocking her path. His hands hung loose, and she did not dare look at his face. He must be standing there to apologize, to say he was sorry--that he had not meant it. And she could not, she
could not
listen to him say it, because somewhere deep down under all her chaos and confusion, she hoped he had.

As if controlled by another source, she urged bianca around him into a gallop, calling in a foreign voice, "I'll race you on the meadow. show me what that stallion of yours can really do!"

And she was gone, down the creek bed, over the hill, onto the meadow. she cantered bianca in a large circle. A spotted thrush burst from the brush, its harsh call scolding her for disturbing its hiding place.
Coward, coward, coward,
her mind thumped to the sound of bianca's even strides. How could she have been so rude? Why couldn't she have just blushed and turned away? What if he didn't come after her?

Horror. she was going to have to return. The picnic basket and the saddle were there.

He might think she wanted him to go away.

He might leave her behind.

He might--

The rhythmic sound of cantering hooves broke into her thoughts. Two saddles and the picnic basket tumbled to the ground. Hooves sped to a gallop. robert's hair streamed away from his face, and she heard him shout, "Come on!" as he swept past her.

The race.
she whirled bianca, heels digging into the mare's sides. The gray horse gathered speed, her smooth gait seeming to skim over the earthen surface. Air blasted Aurelia's ears, blocking other sound with the power of its roar. speckled meadow grasses blurred into obscurity. moving muscles propelled her forward, and she felt . . .

Free. Freedom must feel like this; the air, the space, the absolute absence of control. Time had suspended itself beneath the pounding hooves. she gave herself up to it, burying her head against bianca's neck and letting herself enjoy the moments of thoughtless flight.

Three quarters of the way across the meadow, she looked up to see robert circling his stallion into a loop all the way on the other side. she gasped and pulled up in astonishment, her pulse throbbing as her lungs sucked in fresh meadow air. bianca fought the bit, and Aurelia patted the sleek gray neck. "That's all right, bianca." she turned the mare toward the hill where robert had dropped the saddles. "No one ever trounced us like that before."

As she approached the slope, Horizon's familiar snout drew up on her right side. Aurelia eyed the large stallion. His coat gleamed more red than brown in the bright sunlight, and he lifted his neck and tail with pride.
Braggart,
she thought,
but you deserve it.
despite the race, Horizon's breathing remained as relaxed as earlier that day. "He may not have the papers to prove it," she said, "but he certainly runs like a desert horse. bianca and I may need a week to regain our overconfidence."

robert smiled and swung off the stallion's back. "Would you like to ride him?" he asked.

The gesture even more than the opportunity took Aurelia by surprise. she had seen the way robert treated his horse, with humor and strength and always a great deal of respect. He would not make the offer to just anyone. For the second time that day, he had left her speechless.

unable to voice her thoughts, she dismounted and let herself study the magnificent stallion as robert went about replacing the blanket and saddle. Horizon's broad chest loomed at the height of her shoulders, and his ears flicked sideways as if to tell her she had no business trying to ride him.
That is what you think.
she gathered her patience, knowing this would be no ordinary ride.

Then, taking the reins into her left hand, she mounted. Horizon froze: elbows and knees locked into place. He was testing her, waiting for her to make a mistake. One step at a time, then, no rushing ahead of herself. she patted him on the neck, and politely asked him to go.

No response.

she tried again, this time changing her tone to a command.

No response.

At her side came the sound of robert smothering a laugh, but she kept her focus on the animal below her. Holding her temper in check, she allowed her brain to click away at the problem. The stallion wanted her to dislike him, wanted her to give up and choose a simpler mount. but it was the challenge that appealed to her, that and his speed. she kicked with her heels and applied a slight pressure to his belly. Then more pressure. And more.

Horizon stood like a mausoleum.

"robert, hand me my whip," she said, speaking for the first time since mounting. robert creased his forehead and bit his lower lip as if trying not to refuse.

"don't look at me like that," she said, taking the short leather instrument from him. "I'm not going to harm your precious stallion. The worst that can happen is he'll punish me."

Exactly,
robert's face seemed to say.

The whip hit the dark rump, and Horizon bolted. Aurelia curled around his long neck, securing her grasp and letting the crop spiral to the ground as she hung on. Horizon lurched in one direction, then another, trying to hurl her off. He bucked. He reared. He raced across the meadow in a zigzagging dance of circles and lines, starts and stops. The soft earth churned under his sharp hooves and pounding hindquarters.

Aurelia waited--a still, clinging body on the horse's back. she could not win this fight with logic or knowledge, only with patience. but when it came to animals, she had patience. With Horizon, she could afford to wait. she waited until his sides heaved in huge panting breaths. sweat gleamed on the brown-red coat, and his head drooped from exhaustion.

Then she eased her chest up off the stallion's neck and began putting him through his paces. Horizon went left when she said left. He went right when she said right. He trotted, cantered, and even leaped over a fallen tree trunk at the meadow's edge.

"And how, madam, am I going to make it back to the palace on this pitiful excuse for a horse?" teased robert when she finally dismounted.

removing the saddle from the stallion's back, she plopped down on the ground. "I guess you'll have to stomach my company while he recovers." dropping onto her back, she rested a hand on her forehead. It came away shining with sweat. Her hair blew out in a halo of loose strands around her face, and she tossed the remaining hairpins into the grass. Then propping herself up on her elbow, she looked at robert.

Worry shadowed his face as he traced a design on the back of bianca's saddle.
He does nothing but worry,
she thought.
Worry about talking to me, worry about not talking to me.
"Tell me about training horses on the frontier," she said.

His face cleared. Its lines and hollows began to shift with animation, and the tone of his voice rose and fell with expression. she broke in to ask questions and to tell her own stories.

Happiness filled her, light and freeing. Aurelia recognized the feeling but from so long ago she could not believe it was real. Any moment it might flutter off with a meadowlark and leave her to cloudy seriousness.

The conversation went on and on, and the happiness floated inside her, remaining as she noted the passing of the day and the need to begin on the return journey. she got up to saddle bianca, still listening as robert described how his stallion had dropped a cocky hired hand on the paddock ground. "sounds like Horizon is a good judge of character"--she laughed, then rethought her stance--"or maybe he's just loyal."

she tightened the girth and turned to hear her friend's response. but to her surprise, robert had stood up just behind her. His eyes searched her face from less than a foot away. The proximity startled her, as did his intent expression. "Wait," he said. He reached out as if to take her hand, then pulled back, brushing her wrist with the backs of his trailing fingers.

despite herself, her heart began pounding in her ears for the second time that afternoon. Her thoughts returned to the earlier moment by the creek bed, and her body longed to flee. but something even stronger demanded she stay.

"I know it's getting late, but there's something I need to say," he continued. "I can't afford to put it off any longer, as much as I'd like." His next words cut the haze. "I have a plan to capture the assassin and whoever is behind the plot."

Happiness drained in rapid descent.

"I've tried and tried to avoid this"--he kept talking--"but without a motive, I can't accuse either the king of Anthone or the queen of Tyralt. every way I look at it, I get the same answer. I need you as bait."

Chapter Eleven

THE BAIT

AURELIA TRIED TO keep Her HANDS FROM Trembling as she entered her stepmother's dressing room. The day had dawned as beautifully as the day before, but the task ahead seemed to screen out the sunlight even better than the room's filmy curtains. elise's frown shone in the vanity glass. surely there was no real danger. even if elise was behind the plot, she would not dirty her own white hands with her stepdaughter's blood.

Nonetheless, the sight of melony sent a wave of relief flowing through Aurelia's veins.
A brief reprieve.
The younger princess sat in a wicker chair beside the vanity table with her hands folded in her lap and her ankles neatly crossed. Her cheeks glowed like polished apples, and her green dress shimmered like garden leaves. she reminded Aurelia of an illustration in a children's book.

but melony must not stay. A private talk was the only way to persuade elise to let her guard down. Aurelia gathered her courage. "excuse me, mel, would you mind if I have a moment alone with your mother?"

"Of course not." melony stood up, then moved close, clasping her sister's hands.
Are you all right?
she mouthed silently.

Aurelia nodded, trying to mask her fear, but she felt grateful when her sister's sharp tug pulled her into the hallway out of elise's hearing. The queen's wintry face continued to frown at them from a portrait on the wall. "How did you dare?" melony whispered, a tone of admiration in her voice.

"Dare?"

"I mean he's very handsome, but Father must be furious."

The scene in the throne room.
under the strain of acting out robert's plan, Aurelia had forgotten about the public request for the picnic outing. It must be the talk of the palace by now. "Father gave his permission," she said.

melony gave her a knowing look. "yes, but he expected you to refuse."

"He just lectured me on how I should encourage my suitors. besides, robert is Henry's nephew."

"That's even worse." melony sighed, leaning against the wall. "Now Father has to be careful not to upset Henry."

For some reason, the comment grated on Aurelia's nerves.

she disliked the implication that robert was somehow less worthy than the myriad of suitors her sister allowed to call. "Look, I don't know why you're surprised. you receive notes from almost every young man in the palace."

melony tilted her head. "but I don't accept them in public." Her voice scaled up. "The Vantauges aren't royal. They aren't even titled. Father would never accept a relationship between one of his daughters and . . . " The diatribe trailed off, replaced by an uneasy silence.

Aurelia stared at her sister, unsure what lay behind this unusual speech. "mel, is something wrong?"

Her sister's fist rebounded off the wall a couple of times, and melony gave a faint smile. "No. I . . . I guess I'm just realizing how limited our choices are as we grow older."

"Why? What's happened?" Aurelia tucked a loose gold curl behind her sister's ear.

"Oh, Father claims the populace is upset about the funds used for my coming-out party."

Was that all? Aurelia grinned. It was nice to know her frivolous sister was developing a civic conscience. "Never mind, mel. everyone deserves a birthday. Next year, maybe you can limit the guest list to no more than half the kingdom."

"maybe." melony lifted a hand. "but I wouldn't want to start a civil war." The blue eyes sparkled, and she turned to retreat down the hallway.

Aurelia wished her own problems were limited to party expenses. she steeled herself for the coming encounter and returned to her stepmother's dressing room.

The queen remained at her vanity table, scrutinizing the rows of pearls in her hair. A silk robe draped over her nightdress, and satin slippers protected her feet. "my goodness," elise said, her eyes tracing their way from her stepdaughter's bound hair to the pair of leather shoes on Aurelia's feet, "you girls are putting me to shame this morning. Of course I might be further along in my toilette without all these interruptions."

Aurelia bit her tongue, telling herself not to allow elise's criticism to spoil the plan. "your majesty, someone mentioned you might have heard of a geordian desert racehorse in Tyralt City."

elise's hand jolted, causing an ivory hairbrush to skid across the table. Her smooth face reflected nothing. "really, my dear, that sounds like court gossip. What did this source say the horse looked like?"

"golden, he said. He seemed certain about the color."

"And well he might, as that seems to be the only correct part of his story. I believe a golden racehorse has entered the area. One of your father's colleagues told me of it. perhaps he shared his information with your young man." elise planted the word
young
in the conversation.

Aurelia ignored it. "I should like to see the colt race."

"I heard it would not be racing here."

"so he said." Aurelia pouted, plopping into the wicker chair and knocking several pillows onto the floor. she looked up, widening her eyes in a pleading expression. "I wondered if you could use your influence to persuade the owner to change his or her mind."

elise frowned at the displaced pillows. "I am certain I could do so, but I am not certain holding a horse race would be a good use of that influence. perhaps the owner does not wish to put the horse on display."

"True. That is why I thought you could invite the colt and its rider to come to the palace arena for a private run." The word
private
dropped from Aurelia's lips with emphasis.

"I suppose that might be managed." elise dipped her fingers into a jar of lotion and smoothed the pale substance into her hands. "With a limited audience, the owner's worries might be resolved."

"No one from the palace would be there except a jockey and me."

"Are you certain you can promise that, Aurelia? I won't have the owner upset because of your little scheme."

"promise."

elise gave a dramatic sigh. "The horse belongs to the king of Anthone. you may take your proposal to him." she turned back to her mirror. "Now, I really must prepare for breakfast, my dear. you have made me dreadfully late."

Aurelia stood up, retrieved the fallen pillows, and put them in their proper places. "sorry I kept you." she struggled to maintain a slow pace as she moved toward the door.

"don't be surprised if he refuses." The queen's brittle voice followed her out.

Free of her stepmother's gaze, Aurelia hurried down the hall, her mind spinning. elise had approved of the private race, but then she had named edward of Anthone. What did that mean? Was the queen behind the plot, or was edward? Were they behind it together? Without answers, there was only one course of action.

pausing just long enough to collect minuet as a chaperone, Aurelia headed down the corridor of the west wing. edward had been placed at the far end of the hall, as far away from the royal family's rooms in the east wing as possible. she rapped on the door.

"enter," said a deep voice.

"your majesty?" she eased into the dark sitting room. Not a single window split the green brocade on the walls. The oak desk in the corner and the bookshelf beside the doorway did nothing to brighten the room, and the four chairs at the center were murky brown. "may I speak with you?" Aurelia asked.

keen eyes watched her entrance. "Certainly, your Highness." edward ducked his bald head in slow acknowledgment. "What a pleasant surprise." His tongue slid suggestively over the word
pleasant
.

she struggled not to cringe. "I've heard talk about a golden colt that has entered the area. my stepmother tells me he belongs to you."

The pink skin on edward's forehead pressed together in thin wrinkles. "Indeed," he said, gesturing to the high-backed chair at his side. "I was not aware the colt's presence had become common knowledge."

she sat tentatively on the chair's slick cushion. "keeping a good racehorse a secret is a task too great for even a man of your wealth and reputation."

His chin dipped forward, jogging the layers of loose skin along his neck. "I had heard your Highness values good horses."

"I am only interested in the best."

"I assure you I collect the very best for my stable." He stood up, keeping her under his predatory gaze.

Her flesh crawled. "That's easy to say with the colt hidden away. Are you willing to prove it?"

He glided around her, circling with unexpected ease for a man of his age. "Are you challenging me, your Highness?"

"making an invitation, rather." she lifted her chin. "I would like to see your colt race. I understand you do not want him to perform in public, but I thought you might allow him a private run in the royal arena."

A thin smile cracked his face. "A private run against another horse?"

"One," she replied. "A single stallion, a jockey, and myself as the audience."

He stopped circling and stepped closer. His rancid breath blew on her forehead. "your father and I have yet to complete our business. I have no time for watching horse races."

One less complication.
"your majesty's presence will be missed, but if the colt has as much potential as you claim, he may manage to run without it."

edward reached out and ran his index finger in a slow curve along her jaw. "I will consider your request and send you a written note if it can be arranged."

she shivered. And fled.

Not half an hour later, robert hurried toward the guest rooms himself, pushing his cousin in front of him. Chris jerked away. "robert, this is insane. Why am I doing this?"

"Think of it as a favor," robert hedged, pretending to look at the portraits between the doors lining the corridor. He needed someone's help, and he wasn't going to let Aurelia walk into edward's rooms after hearing about her last visit. The man was too unpredictable.

Chris banged his right fist with the flat of his left palm. The sound echoed down the empty hallway. "I am reminded of the time when we were children and we built the fort."

"With the chairs?"

"And uncle brian's table with the family crest." Chris gave his cousin a look.

"Hmm." robert lowered his eyes, trying to avoid the critical gaze. Floral patterns flashed beneath his feet.

"I was in charge of defending the fort," Chris said, slowing his walk, "and you were the invading force."

"As I recall, you appointed me to invade the fort."

"you invaded, all right. you busted your father's table into three pieces."

"poor structural quality," robert defended himself. He hated to think what might happen if his current plan failed. The results would be far more tragic than a broken table. He tugged his cousin forward.

"And I took the blame because you were afraid your father would be disappointed in you."

"I remember."

"Well, believe me." Chris closed a firm hand on robert's shoulder. "your father's reaction was nothing next to my father's when he saw that dent in the coat of arms yesterday."

robert looked up, feeling guilty. He had forgotten all about that. between the picnic outing and his plans to trap the assassin, not to mention uncle Henry's busy schedule, robert had not even crossed his uncle's path. "did you tell him I caused it?"

"He didn't exactly wait for me to explain. I think you're the one who owes
me
the favor."

"Then don't think of this as a favor," said robert, opening a palm and closing it in a fist. "Think of it as an opportunity."

"For what, getting caught where I don't belong?" despite the protest, Chris's face glowed with anticipation.

"Aren't you the one who said getting into trouble allows you to get your father's attention?" robert teased.

"yes, but I had enough of it yesterday." They stopped outside the door to king edward's rooms, and Chris dropped his voice. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Just go in and distract edward. Once I'm hidden inside, make sure he leaves the room. I don't know how much time I'll need. maybe ten minutes."

"What if there is someone else in the room?"

"There won't be."

Chris tapped a hand on the brass door latch. "How do you know that?"

Because no one else was in the room thirty minutes ago when Aurelia came out.
"Then take whoever else is in the room out with you as well."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

robert shrugged in exasperation and slid against the wall to avoid being seen. "you have more experience with this sort of thing than I do."

"right." sarcasm filled the syllable. Then, without giving warning, Chris barged into the sitting room. "your majesty."

"yes?" edward's voice vibrated with tension. robert could see the man's angry face through the crack in the doorway. "And you are?"

"your afternoon guide." Chris slid forward, drawing the king's eyes toward the far side of the room.

"I don't need a guide. I've visited here since before you were born." edward turned his back to the door.

And robert moved, slipping through the doorway and squeezing his body behind an upright bookcase. Aurelia had been right about that,
the perfect hiding place.
A small gap beside a bookend provided an excellent viewing spot.

Once secure, robert returned his attention to the conversation in the room. Chris had leaped into the challenge as expected. "The king said I must show you the new guest wing. He's certain you'll want to stay there as soon as it's complete."

What new guest wing?

"I can wait until it's finished to see it," said edward.

"Oh no, His majesty wants your advice. After all, what more important guest could he have than the leader of the neighboring kingdom?" Chris's wagging tongue coaxed edward out of the room. The door swung shut behind them.

robert launched into motion, out from behind the oak bookshelf, to the desk in the corner. Not a single item lingered on the stained surface. His hand flew to a drawer handle and froze.

"Odd how the king did not mention that." edward's voice echoed through the wall.