Valentine's Wishes (2 page)

One of Keri’s fitness magazines caught her attention, and she spent several minutes admiring the muscular young man who stared back up at her.

Very nice. Perhaps I’ve been away from the court for too long. Fancy me finding a mortal male attractive? But this one is gorgeous. Maybe I ought to work on a wish or two for myself? There’s not much point though, there’s only one fairy I ever really wanted and I was too scared to let him know.
She sighed and hovered over to where one of Bal’s long silk scarves dangled over the arm of a chair. What a wonderful opportunity to enjoy this sensual delight. Poppy wrapped a great swathe of the scarf around her.

Mmmmmmmmmm, so lovely.

Draped in the soft fabric she curled up to nap until the girls returned.

* * * *

“Have yer heard the news?”

Cedar Heartwood arched an eyebrow at his friend Yew and handed over a cup of nectar. “No, tell me, what news?”

Yew flashed a gleam of white smile over the rim of the silvered cup, and whispered, “’Tis being said, and by some of those who should know, her majesty is with child.” Yew’s dark eyes widened before he sipped and settled back on the embroidered cushions.

“Never,” Cedar exclaimed in a hushed tone. He turned to check he’d shut the door. Even though they sat in the privacy of his rooms, it was still possible others might overhear them. Gossip always traveled fast through the court, no matter how careful one might be. He sat down by his friend and leaned forward. “Tell me more.”

“Apparently, there’s this fairy, Wilomeena. She turned up a little while ago now, cooing and ahhing, because the mortals she’s hooked herself up with are on their third babe. You know how they all go gooey and sloppy over such things.”

Cedar nodded with a shudder.
Yes, they always do.
He’d tried to make it a habit not to be around when babies made their way into the conversation. The subject made his wings itch.

“Well,” Yew went on, “the queen heard tell of it. And after long deliberation on the matter.” Yew’s dark glance rolled upward and he scowled with of this part of the tale. “’Tis being said, the queen will announce she’s to have a babe of her own, as we’ve no mortal ones here.”

“And Lord Oberon has agreed with her?” Cedar said.

“When, my friend, has our noble lord’s agreement ever been sought by our lovely lady?” Yew snorted into his nectar and coughed. “He does as he’s bid and ye know it. The consequences are too terrible if he doesn’t. And of course, yer know what it means, don’t yer?” Yew took a deep draught from the cup.

The answer burst forth like a dandelion bloom in May. “By the moon’s bright beams, they’ll all want one!”

“Indeed.” Yew gave a soft belch and a nod. “Of that I’m certain. The court will be awash with weepy females bearing. Come the autumn there will be a squad of squalling babies. Life is going to get very, very dull.”

“Do yer truly think so?” Cedar closed his eyes and tried not to let his imagination run along those lines.

“I swear to you by Pan’s twin horns, I’ve had one ask me already if I would contribute to the cause.”

“No.” Cedar gulped from his cup, stared in disbelief, and swiped away the dribble of nectar he’d failed to swallow. “Who?”

“Aye,” Yew whispered, leaned closer still and cupped his hand by his mouth. “On my way over here I got cornered by the lovely little Violet. The one I spent some time with last month. All honey mouth and sweet little sighs. ‘Don’t ye think babies are lovely,’ she cooed. She batted her eyelashes and said we need more fairies in the world. Worse than that, she asked me outright,
wouldn’t I like to call one of ’em mine
?” Yew shuddered, gave a huge sigh and stared down to his tight, satin court breeches. “’Tis enough to shrivel the mightiest of oaks to naught, it is.”

Speechless, Cedar shook his head and once he’d steadied his hand, gulped another swift drink.

“I’d wager,” Yew continued, “yer won’t get a decent lay from now until next midsummer, not without a babe being part of the bargain. I’d bet my wings on it.”

“They can’t do this, it’s…” Cedar spluttered, “…it’s terrible. Blackmail, Yew, it’ll be blackmail! I’ll not take part in it. What about the parties? The nectar? The music and dancing?”

Yew grimaced and undid the snowy froth of cravat at the neck of his elegant frilled shirt. “I’ve heard the kitchens have already been told anything served to the royal tables has to be good for females bearing. Yer know greens like spinach and watercress.”

“No.”

“Aye, did ye not see the last two nights at the top table? I’d thought ye might have noticed, lots of fruit and vegetables in the serving dishes, no nectar at all, and our lovely lady beaming rosy. One of the musicians told me they’ve started to rehearse lullabies.”

Cedar shuddered and drew a deep breath. “I’ll not stay to be caught like a crane fly in a web. I’m going to do fly about, time I did anyway.” He slammed his cup down on the small table.

“I don’t blame ye, my friend. I’d go too, but I went a while ago and can’t go again yet, which leads me to why I’ve come to see ye.” Yew gave him a grin.

“What can I do for ye?” he asked, though his thoughts had already turned to packing.

“It’s our little Poppy,” Yew began.

“Oh, I remember her, lots of red hair, a tiny little tulip-shaped freckle by her mouth.” He turned back to Yew, full of sudden attention. “She left on fly about a few years ago now.” The memory of her robbed all thought of what he’d pack. Poppy was a very luscious fairy, and if she had been a little more forthcoming, she might have been of far more interest than her brother. He’d missed her.

“I’m surprised yer remember the freckle and not some of her more famous exploits. If ever there was a fairy that should have been named Calamity, why I have to say ’twould be Poppy for sure. Anyway, no matter on that, but I’ll tell ye, I’m worried. I’ve heard nothing from her, and knowing Poppy, she could be in all sorts of trouble. I wondered if ye went, and I thought yer would on hearing the news. Could ye have a scout round on yer way, and see if yer can find out how she is?”

He gave Yew a nod. “Of course I will. If I find any sign of her I’ll let ye know. ’Tis a wide world out there though, and it might take me some time.”

“I know, but I’d like ye to see if she’s doing well, perhaps being a help somewhere or other.”

“Of course, I’ll find out for yer, or at least pick up a lead to her if I can. I’ll send a message back by butterfly. I know they’re slow but they’re more dependable than anything else. And ye? If yer stay, will ye be part of the new fashion?”

Yew gave a soft sigh. “Oh, aye, I expect so, if Violet and her like have their way. One of ’em will get me, I’m certain,” he said and sighed again. “We can’t live on nectar alone for long, can we?”

“May the blessings of Pan protect ye.” He grasped Yew’s hand in a firm grip.

“Aye, and good journey to ye when yer go.” Yew squeezed his hand in return.

“My thanks, and I’ll be off with the dawn tomorrow. I ain’t ready for this new fashion for certain.”

Yew nodded, his expression dogged when he rose to leave. “Fly well, my friend, and maybe by the time yer get back the fashion will have changed to something more palatable.”

Cedar gave Yew a swift embrace before Yew redid the lace cravat and left. Once alone, Cedar locked the door, fearful to be lured into any female’s dream desire of breeding before he had the chance to flee. He bundled some essentials into a small knapsack and sat in wait to escape at dawn.

Lucy slid into the backseat of the mini. “Keri, honey, I’m so sorry, but I simply couldn’t say no. I’ve been waiting, with the patience of a saint I might add, for James Richardson to ask me out for the last three months. I’m very sorry, darling, but the prospect of a pleasant evening with delectable James is far more preferable to a night scrubbing and cleaning. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“That’s not the point,” Keri snapped. “You agreed to do your share tonight. Bal and I shouldn’t have to do it all.”

“Sorry, love. I’ve had a text from my mom. She wants me this evening. I have to go to discuss this dentist they are trying to set me up with.” Bal gave a huge sigh and did at least appear to be sorry. “Please believe me, both of you,” Bal continued, “I’d rather clean our kitchen, including the oven, than spend the evening in a family conference about something that’s an arranged marriage in disguise, no matter how they try to dress it up.”

“I thought your gran had managed to stop them doing the ‘arranged’ thing,” Keri said as she started the car and edged it out into the end of day queue in the car park. Both she and Lucy exchanged glances. Bal had faced this kind of discussion with her family once or twice before. The talks didn’t happen too often, but every now and then a family meeting occurred, and sometimes the results left Bal tearful and apprehensive.

Bal sighed again. “Oh yes, when she came back from her visit to New Delhi, gran told dad straight, it’s no good trying to live in an era long gone by, nor by his imagined social code of a place he’s never even visited. Gran has really stood up for me, it’s the only reason I’m allowed to be with you guys. Oh, and of course, mom and dad both like you. But dad still thinks it’s his job to try to set me up with someone. And mom keeps on, ‘Come on, Baljeet, you’re twenty-three now. When am I going to have my grandchildren?’”

They laughed. Bal shook her head and slid a slender hand to smooth over her hair. “I know you guys find it hard to believe. My mom and dad both do the whole western act very well, but under it all, there’s a thousand years of tradition they hold dear, and it’s waiting to bite me in the ass.”

Keri couldn’t help but laugh at Bal’s expression, and Lucy called from the backseat, “Listen, sweetheart, Bal can’t turn her family down on such an occasion, you know it. I can’t let my ideal hunk slip from my grasp, and you can’t do all the housework on your own. Why don’t you go to the gym tonight? Get a massage, have your hair done and we promise…” She crossed her heart. “…we’ll have a real crackdown on the place tomorrow.” Lucy’s blue eyes twinkled. “I mean we still have a full evening left tomorrow to get the place ready, right?”

Keri hesitated before giving a brief nod of agreement. A night at the gym might be what she needed to buck herself up from the mood she’d fallen into in the last couple of days.

“I think that’s a great idea and I promise I’ll bring back as much of mom’s best chili spiced pakora as you can eat. Hopefully, I’ll not be presenting a side dish of dentist to accompany it.” Bal patted Keri’s shoulder.

She glanced into the rear view mirror, revved the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot onto the road. “Okay, guys, you win. I’ll drop you off at home then hit the gym and have a sauna. We’ll do housework tomorrow, after work.”

* * * *

Poppy hid behind the broad leaves of a pot of sweet basil on the kitchen window ledge. She’d been stuck inside all night. Her body ached for fresh air, but this morning all three girls had got up in time to have breakfast, so she could listen from her hiding place while her mortals sipped coffee, and they seemed in no rush as they chatted. She longed to join in their conversation.
Being one of the girls is so much fun.

“So, Bal, you’re serious about this dentist coming tomorrow night?” Lucy murmured before she bit into her croissant.

Poppy concentrated anxious to hear more.

“I couldn’t think of a way to get out of it. I had to tell mom he could come to the party.” Bal gave a sigh and drank more coffee. “He’s bringing a friend called Jez with him, a kind of chaperone to keep everything okay with the families. I always tell mom if I go out there is a chaperone and mostly there is. I always double date with one of you guys, don’t I? Anyway that’s by the by. I think if I’d tried to fudge an excuse mom would have refused to speak to me. She’s never been so keyed up about an introduction before. I have to say, she bordered on scary.This guy is what she thinks is the perfect catch.” Bal dipped a chunk of croissant into the jar of chocolate spread.

“Why? How come he’s Mr. Perfect? Do you know anything about him at all, except for his work?” Keri asked.

Poppy bit her lip.
I wonder what he’s like.

Bal chewed on the chunk of chocolate coated pastry. Once she’d swallowed, she licked her fingers and held one up. “His name is Surjan.” Bal held up another finger. “He’s twenty-eight.” A third of Bal’s fingers joined the others. “He’s a dentist with his own practice, and…” Bal sighed again and lifted both hands toward the other two girls with a helpless expression. “…he’s very well off. He ticks all the right boxes as far as mom and dad are concerned.

“Apparently, his family owns a lot of property both here and in India, they are very wealthy, and right now, he is in the market for a bride.” Bal gave a half smile. “Oh, and the really interesting bit you might like—my gran said he’s too gorgeous. Gran went on for about half an hour about how good looking he is. She got all excited, said he’s like some movie star she remembers from her youth.” Bal’s smile broadened. “I nearly passed out when she said he’d make beautiful babies! Can you imagine? My gran said that to me! She said the dentist is just like Omar Sharif.

“So, what do you think I could do, other than say yes to him coming to the party tomorrow?”

Who or what is Omar Sheriff? I bet it means he’s handsome
. Poppy gnawed at her lip.
This is beginning to sound serious.

Keri nodded. “I understand. You were unable to resist such lavish blandishments from your family, the temptation proved too much, you gave in and said he could come to the party?”

“Yes, it was either agree or be dragged to the temple next week and do the formal family introductions. I could see it in mom’s eyes. I have to be careful to keep this on my terms. You know, ‘Yes Mom, I’ll meet him, but nothing formal yet.’ If they get you as far as the temple, the next thing you know it’s Mendhi painting all round and you’re betrothed.” Bal gave a shudder and grimaced. “And that’s enough to send a girl screaming into the night.”

Poppy nodded.
It all sounds terrible.