The Ugly Stepsister (Unfinished Fairy Tales Book 1) (18 page)

“Miss Katriona,” he bows and smiles affably. “I hope you are enjoying yourself this evening.”

“Thank you.” I return his smile. “If you hadn’t sent the invitations separately, my mother might not have allowed me to come.”

“Ah, it was just a precaution. Have you been enjoying yourself?”

“As long as I can get through a dance without stepping on my partner’s toes, I’m happy enough.”

He glances around the room. “Perhaps you’d like a brief respite? Mr. Wellesley informs me you are a voracious reader. I could show you my library.”

I hold on to my empty goblet. “But you’re the host. You should be down here with the guests.”

“It won’t be for a minute,” he says, putting a hand on my elbow. “Trust me, any book lover will be delighted by my collection.”

I get the sense that he wants to talk to me in private—please, please don’t let it be Elle. He guides me to the hallway, which is now deserted, then up a narrow staircase.

“Your Grace,” I begin. “About Jimmy…are you still treating him? Is he doing all right?”

He squeezes his eyes shut for a second. “I’m doing the best I can, but considering his weak constitution…even if he heals physically, he will have lost his mental faculties.”

“Like a vegetable?”

Henry frowns. “I beg your pardon?”

“I mean he’ll be like a hollow shell, having no knowledge of who he is?”

“Yes.”

A chill runs down my spine. We fall silent. The only sounds that can be heard are the soft thuds of our shoes on the carpeted stairway.

At last we reach the top—my guess is the third or fourth floor. Henry leads me to a door, unlocks it, and pushes it open. To my surprise, the inside is already well lit—a fire crackles in the hearth, a lighted chandelier swings from the ceiling, and kerosene lamps glow from brackets on the bookshelves.

It is indeed a great library, cozily furnished, but suspicion grows within me. A man is seated on one of the sofas surrounding the fireplace, and rises when we enter.

“Edward.” I stare at him for a second, then turn toward Henry. “So that’s the reason you brought me here.”

He bows. “My apologies, lady, but my cousin requested a meeting. You have nothing to worry about; he only wishes to talk to you undisturbed.” He glances over at the prince. “I should return to the guests. Don’t bother letting me know when you leave—the dance will not likely end till two in the morning.”

He closes the door. There is the sound of the key turning in the lock.

“Have a seat,” Edward says, then his voice softens. “Kat, there is no reason to fear me. As Henry says, I merely want to speak to you. Alone.”

“Um…” I’m not afraid, but being locked in with him is kind of unsettling. “Okay.”

A puzzled look flits across his eyes. “You were saying…?”

“Oh, um, it means ‘very well.’ Just an expression I picked up from the streets.”

I sit down tentatively on a sofa placed sideways to the one he occupies, so I can look at the shelves rather than staring at his face.

“Are you having a good time dancing?” Edward says, his voice gentle yet warm. I guess he’s trying to make me relax.

“Sure I am,” I grin. “But my partners aren’t.”

“Pray explain.”

“I keep stepping on their toes. Which isn’t painful for me, but for them—” I raise my feet slightly, so my spiky heels poke out.

He smiles, and for a moment I just stare at him like an idiot. Really, it’s unfair for someone to be that good-looking and a prince.

“I shall be happy to teach you sometime,” he offers. “I don’t dance a lot, but Mother has made sure I am competent. Would you like to practice in my garden? No one will disturb us there, so you don’t have to worry about any toe-treading.”

That’s when I snap my jaw shut.
Dangerous grounds, Kat.
This has gone beyond courtesy and friendship. He just invited you to practice ballroom dancing in his private garden.

God, how did I get tangled up in such a mess?

NINETEEN

I fight to contain my emotions. I can’t deny that he’s gorgeous and nice, but obviously I can’t encourage him. The safest thing to do, I figure, is to change the topic.

“Do you have news about Adam Snyder?”

The glow in his eyes fades away. “We’re still looking,” he says grimly. “Galen has sent a letter to the country estate left by Earl Bradshaw, but it’ll take some time before we receive a reply.”

“Oh.” I look down, trying not to look disappointed. Too bad they don’t have email here.

“What I meant to ask you here about, actually, is the outburst you committed several days ago. Your—er—conflict with Andrew McVean.”

My hands ball into fists. “Are you here to lecture me about what a lady should not do?”

His eyes gleam—the corners of his mouth curve up—he thinks I’m a fool.

“It certainly wasn’t effective. Flinging wine over his clothes will only damage your reputation.”

I don’t care a damn about my reputation. The words threaten to spill from my mouth, but I manage to restrain myself.

“I didn’t intend to humiliate him,” I hiss. “Jimmy shouldn’t even be working there at the first place, and now he’s dying, and the asshole just acts like it’s normal! Anyone would have been angry.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Actually, it is normal. McVean’s reaction may appear cruel and callous to you, but child labor has been around for centuries.”

“Then it should be changed—scratch that, it should be forbidden,” I say hotly.

Edward sighs. “I’ll not admit you’re wrong; it is clear the children are suffering. And adults as well—more than twelve hours a day is bound to make anyone worn out. But remember, Kat, it’s the parents who freely let their children go to work. Without the money the children are bringing in, families might starve.”

“I…” I can’t sit still, so I stand up and pace in front of the fire. What he said isn’t entirely without merit. But the image of little Jimmy, his head wrapped in bandages and blood soaking his pillow, comes back to my mind.

“Consider this: if we have a child who is faced with begging on the streets, braving rain and snow, with no guarantee of coin, while the other option is working in a factory with a stable wage—which is more preferable?”

I stop pacing and stare at him, defiantly.

“I don’t care. If those are the only options an impoverished child can have, then I’d say your leadership sucks. I mean it’s terrible if you think it’s okay to allow children to work twelve hours a day, not to mention get killed.”

For a moment he looks stunned, then a chuckle escapes him. He rises slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on my face.

“You know, I could have you hanged for daring to speak to me so.”

“No you couldn’t. You told me yourself the monarchy has only an advisory role in government decisions. If you can’t even exert power in major stuff, how can you order my execution for just saying you’re incompetent? Or does this country allow a despot on the throne?” I say triumphantly. “Besides, it’s not the first time I’ve said it and I’m still standing here, alive and well.”

Now he laughs—a genuine, infectious laugh. I can’t help but grin as well.

“You know well I speak in jest,” he says. The laughter remains in his eyes, crinkling the corners. “But even if I did possess the power, I could never harm a lady as singular as you.”

His gaze leaves my face and roams over me, taking in my violet silk dress with its alarmingly low neckline. I had protested when Elle brought out the dress, but she told me it was the fashion. I tried to cover up with a golden pendant, but still, my cleavage is evident.

My cheeks heat up and my palms grow moist. Damn, now that my anger has dissipated, I’m again tongue-tied and awkward before a guy who could give Mr. Darcy a run for his money.

“So…” My voice comes out in a pathetic squeak. “So about McVean…”

“I plan to submit a bill to the parliament.” Edward sits down again. “I will request that a law be passed. It will stipulate that children under the age of twelve should not be allowed to work more than ten hours a day—”

“They shouldn’t be working at all!”

He holds up a hand. “I understand your concern, but the parliament has always been reluctant to change. If we introduce drastic measures, I guarantee there is no chance of success. But if we adjust the working conditions bit by bit, eventually we can reach the ideal situation you speak of.”

“Eight hours,” I say. I hate to admit he makes sense, but ten hours still sounds too nightmarish. Come on, we don’t even have ten hours of school, and everyone complains all the time.

His lip curls up, slowly. An amused gleam flashes in his eyes. “Why, Miss Katriona, are you bargaining with me?”

“Eight hours,” I repeat.

We stare at each other as though it’s a glaring match, until he coughs and extends his hand.

“Deal.”

Okay. Now that we’ve settled on an agreement, I move toward the door.

“Wait.”

I turn. “The door isn’t locked from the outside, is it?” Surely Henry’s original intention was only to keep others from entering the room.

“No. Henry wouldn’t dare,” he says. “Sit down, Kat. There is still a matter unresolved between us.” His voice is firm, commanding. Even though he tells me the monarchy doesn’t wield real power, I guess he’s still used to having his own way. Back in Oakleigh, Ashley just has to flutter her eyelashes at any boy and he’ll do her bidding.

Still, no way am I going to act like a sycophant. I give him a glare and move at snail’s pace toward him.

“That day at the Fremont party.” He drums his fingers on his knee. “Your behavior was most puzzling.”

Uh-oh. My heart begins to sink. I really don’t like that suspicious glint in his eyes.

“When your servant fell into the river, you asked me to pull her out, yet there were plenty of other men nearby. However, you chose to seek me out specifically. Why?”

“Um…” I don’t dare to look into his eyes. “Be…because I know you better?”

A gleam flashes in his eyes. “Even if I were your fiancé, it would still make better sense for you to simply hail another man, not one who was in the middle of a croquet game.”

My heart pounds. He really is a bigger flirt than he appears.

I bite my lip and try to recall that day on the croquet lawn. Obviously I can’t tell him about my scheme to set him up with Elle. But I’m lame with excuses, and he’s waiting, his eyes shrewd and piercing. I have to say something.

“Because I wanted to annoy Bianca,” I blurt out. “As you probably can tell, we’re not exactly the best of sisters. I…I was tired of her always getting what she wants, and there were so many men that were vying for her attention that day. I didn’t want her to add you to her list of lovesick swains.”

His eyebrows raise. “You harbor jealousy toward your sister?”

With sinking horror, I realize I might have given him the wrong idea. He might think I elbowed Bianca out of the way because I want him for myself.

Noooooooo!

“I…um…it’s not fun when everyone ignores you or wants to use you for getting closer to your sister,” I say, rubbing my palms against my gown. I wasn’t just referring to Bianca; I’m always used to being the less pretty, less popular sister. “Anyway,” I try to speak more normally, “when I saw her flirting with you, I wanted to butt in—I mean, create a diversion.”

He stares at me for a moment, perhaps trying to decipher if I am telling him the truth.

“What about her other suitors? Did you also discourage them from courting your sister?”

“No, in fact—” I put a hand on my mouth. This conversation is getting way out of hand. “Bianca doesn’t really care for them, but it’s different with you, so I tried to stop her…maybe I shouldn’t have, but I…um, I’m sorry?”

“No need to apologize, Kat.” He smiles—a genuine one that reaches his eyes. “You needn’t worry about your sister. I can assure you her attentions are quite unnecessary.”

I smile back, relieved. But it isn’t enough. I still need him to fall in love with Elle. Now he seems to like me, but if I make it clear that I’m not interested, he should get the hint and set his sight elsewhere. He’s the prince, he can have anyone he wants.

Though looking into his warm, espresso-brown eyes with flecks of gold, somehow I don’t want to.

When I stumble back to the ballroom, a bit breathless after my conversation with Edward, a servant comes up to me.

“Miss Katriona?” He makes a courtly bow. “Your sister awaits.”

Bianca is sitting in a corner in this luxurious red velvet armchair. Two young men are gathered around her, but I can read the words “Bugger-off!” emblazoned on her forehead. When I approach, she looks relieved, even delighted.

“At last you’ve returned,” she says in a reproachful tone. “I want to go home now. I’ve sprained my ankle.”

“Allow me assist you to your carriage, Miss Bradshaw,” one of the men quickly says.

“No, let me,” the other jumps in. “I shall fetch your cloak and wraps and accompany you to the door.”

“That will be unnecessary. My sister is here.” She stands up and grasps my elbow. “Give me your shoulder, Katriona. No, Mr. Rothschild, my injury isn’t serious at all. Please don’t trouble yourself. Mr. Lindsay, I suggest you return to the dance floor. There are several young ladies whose attention should not be ignored.”

As she leans forward, putting her weight on me, her long, cold fingers dig into my skin. As much as I dislike her, I tolerate it the best I can. Once we reach the carriage, Bianca climbs in with little difficulty; I suspect her sprained ankle was merely an excuse to leave early.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” I ask. “It’s barely past midnight.”

She fires me a piercing gaze. I can feel the intensity even in the darkness.

“Don’t lie to me, Katriona,” she hisses. “First the duke sends us separate invitations, then he leads you out of the dining room. What is it between the two of you?”

I gulp. One thing I’m sure of—I can’t tell her about Edward. He clearly wished that no one would know he was at his cousin’s mansion. Besides, I can’t even imagine Bianca’s wrath if she learns I was alone with him.