Whispered Music (London Fairy Tales 2) (29 page)

“Why were you so foolish? I thought I’d seen the last of you yesterday. Don’t you know it’s not safe for you to be here?” He turned me around to face him, much stronger than I thought his wound would allow.

“I didn’t want anyone to find my sewing notions, they might be recognized.” I tried to pull away from him. He smelled of leather and heat and straw¯a strange and appealing scent. He must have washed himself up some this morning; though his clothes were still dusty and now covered with straw, his hair was wet and slicked back, coal black in the morning light. “I thought you might need something to eat. Let me free!”

He released me and I stumbled. He stopped my fall, grabbing my arm in the same place my uncle had just a day or so earlier for some infraction I could not remember. I pulled away, rubbing my arm as I did so.

“I didn’t hurt you. I couldn’t have.” He stepped towards me, grabbing my arm again before I had time to react. He scowled at the dark marking. A clear imprint of a hand was visible. “Who did this?”

“My uncle. May I have my things back, please?”

“Why? Why did he do that, I mean?”

“No reason. My uncle doesn’t need a reason. I live on his charity, that's reason enough.” I tried to move around him, but he stopped me.

“Why do you stay? Where is your father?” He was so big that I couldn’t maneuver past him.

“My parents are gone.” I moved to a pile of hay in the corner, desperate to put a little space between us. He’d slept on this pile and I began mussing the straw, erasing any sign of him. “And I have two younger sisters who also live on Uncle's charity.”

“No husband? You’re old enough, and more than passable.”

“You’re too kind, sir. And that’s none of your business, is it?”

“Answer me.” Apparently, he was long accustomed to giving orders and expected me to obey.

“Because no one has dared ask me!” I blurted my secret shame. I had been in love once¯until my cousin Beatrice had convinced Mark to court her instead. Beatrice was now expecting her first child and my uncle had promised Jessup Mill’s place to Mark. My eyes began to water as I thought of my heartache two years ago when they’d married. I turned so he wouldn’t see.

“Forgive me.” He caught me as I tried to rush past and pulled me to his chest. I started to protest and he covered my mouth with his hand, even as Cotton emitted a low bark just outside the barn door.

Another great read

Chapter One

Dallas, Texas
Present Day

Lexy Newberry knew the castle’s inhabitants never suffered delusions of grandeur. Its humble form inspired no poet to greatness or tourist to ask for souvenir postcards. No love-struck princess would degrade herself to seek refuge in the stocky towers, and no noble prince would see the point in storming the tattered gates. In fact, the only claim to fame the castle held was the speed with which one forgot its very existence.

Yet she had the craziest déjà vu feeling she’d forgotten not only the castle, but something much more important. Something she had no business forgetting.

“Lexy?” Her concentration shattered at the sound of Cara North’s voice. “Sorry I’m late.”

“That,” Lexy pointed to her friend, “is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.”

An odd look of pride settled over Cara’s features. “Yes. It is, isn’t it?”

“You
meant
for it to look that way?”

Cara chuckled. “I don’t think it’s possible to create the world’s ugliest castle by accident.”

“I’ll never understand you business-types,” Lexy said. The feeling slipped away. Whatever memory it held bothered her no more.

Cara pulled her back a few steps. “I did it to create a mood.” She spread her arms wide. “Welcome to the lost island of Dresdonia.”

“It’s not lost,” she told Cara. “It’s abandoned. Everyone moved to Florida. They wanted a real castle.”

Cara stared at her in mock horror. “Tell me you didn’t just say that.”

Other theme parks were evil in Cara’s opinion. The Lost Islands, the new theme park owned by Cara’s family, would open in two weeks. Lexy had been invited to a VIP preview, a last hurrah before she moved cross-country the next day.

Lexy shrugged. “Sue me.”

“And they didn’t move,” Cara said. “In 1555, Dresdonia was invaded by Anders Severon. The royal Delamere family–”

“I know. I know,” Lexy said. “You’ve told me. I came to ride today, not to learn.”

“Okay, fine. But when you enter the castle, you’ll be asked to help find the missing princess.” Cara crossed her arms in mock disgust. “Don’t blame me when you fail completely.”

“I’ll take my chances,” Lexy said. “Besides, I already told you—she moved to Florida.”

Cara punched her arm. “Stop.”

A carload of screaming guests passed over the castle’s stubby towers. Whoever heard of a castle housing a roller coaster? The dilapidated building should have been a haunted house.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow.” Cara changed the subject.

Lexy blew an errant piece of hair out of her eye, then gave up and released the tangled mess from its clasp. “Please. You’ll be so busy, you won’t even notice.” She shoved the barrette into her pocket. Cara had a new park to run, family nearby, and a steady stream of men begging for the opportunity to buy her dinner. Lexy had…well, she had the promise of a thirty-five-hour car ride to a new city filled with complete strangers and a depressing number of boxes to unpack.

Lord?
she prayed.
Seattle is where I’m supposed to be, isn’t it?

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” Cara said. “You’ll get to the West Coast and forget all about Texas. Of course, on the other hand, maybe you’ll finally find someone special.”

Lexy crushed a discarded piece of popcorn with the toe of her tennis shoe. “I don’t need or want someone special. Thank you very much.”

Cara slid out of the way as a family of five passed by, kids running up the steps to get to the castle. “Just admit it. Sometimes it’d be nice to have a man around.”

“Sure,” Lexy said. “Just like the Delameres. Fat lot of good a man did the poor queen when that Severon guy killed her.”

Cara’s expression grew wistful. “At least they had each other in the end. Think about it—a king and queen standing strong, knowing the end is near, but caring enough about their land and people to fight anyway. It’s so romantic.”

Lexy snorted. “I find nothing even slightly romantic about being slaughtered by a man named Severon.”

“What am I going to do with you? It’s all about giving yourself to a higher cause, fighting the good fight. Maybe romantic’s the wrong word, but it’s noble.”

Lexy glared at her friend. “I’ve seen too often what happens when women try to stand against an evil force coming at them. Get out of Dodge. There’s nobility in
that
. It’s called life.”

Cara paled. “I’m sorry.”

The apology hit Lexy in the pit of her stomach. Her work at the battered women’s shelter made her sensitive, but Cara wanted it to be a fun day. “No. I’m sorry. The move’s made me antsy. I should loosen up.” Lexy waved toward the castle. “Tell me about this roller coaster of yours. And not the history lesson part.”

“The Labyrinth is the most sophisticated roller coaster created to date.” Cara spoke with passion and pride whenever she talked of her work.
What would it feel like to have that sort of passion about your work?
“Even the queue’s one of a kind.”

“The castle?” Lexy asked.

Cara nodded. “The castle’s the queue.”

“You should print that on tee shirts,” Lexy said. “Maybe you could make money off the hideous thing after all.”

“Forget it. I’m not offering you a job in marketing.”

“Like I’d work for you.” Lexy walked toward the castle steps. “Let’s ride.”

****

A double beep rang out when they were steps away from the castle’s entrance.

Cara rolled her eyes and reached for the walkie-talkie at her waist. “Give me a minute, will you? The joys of park ownership...”

While Cara stepped to the side, Lexy looked up at the castle. In the afternoon light, the plaster appeared rose-colored. Odd color choice for an abandoned castle, she thought. Weren’t all castles gray? Of course, even gray stone wouldn’t make the castle look any better. Outrageous to think she remembered it from somewhere.

And then something even more outrageous happened. The castle winked at her.

Of course, it wasn’t a real wink. It was just sunlight bouncing off a tower window. Or something.

Great. I’ll never forget the ugly thing now.

She stared at the castle and waited.

It winked again.

What’s taking Cara so long? Can’t someone else run the park for a few hours?

But Cara stood alone, hand covering her mouth. Her shoulders shook.

“Cara?” Lexy walked back over to her.

“It’s Dad,” she whispered. “They think it was a heart attack. I have to go.”

Cara’s dad, Cornelius North, was a fit and trim, formidable sixty-three-year-old. It didn’t seem possible he’d have a heart attack.

Lexy put a hand on her friend’s shoulder. Memories of her own parents’ death five years ago rushed back, but she tucked them away. “Come on. I’ll drive.”

“You can’t. You leave for Seattle in the morning. You have to stay here.”

“I can’t let you go by yourself.” Lexy knew Cara was right. Cara’s parents were three hours away at a political fundraiser. Lexy couldn’t drive to the hospital. She didn’t have time.

Cara took a deep breath. “I won’t be by myself. Mom’s called a car.” They’re not even sure he had a heart attack. It was probably bad shrimp.” She took out her phone, checked the display, and stuck it back in her pocket. “You stay here and explore. Then call me on the way to Seattle and tell me what you think.”

“I hate the thought of staying here while you go to the hospital.”

“I know you’d come with me if you could, but you can’t.” Cara brushed away a lone tear. “I’m sorry…and on your last day.” More tears appeared at the corner of her eyes.

“Don’t think about me.” Lexy pulled Cara into a hug. “Let’s pray before you go.”

A few minutes later, Lexy stood by herself at the entrance of the castle. She didn’t feel like riding a roller coaster anymore. Didn’t feel like being at a theme park. Instead, she wanted to curl up on her couch and bury herself under a fluffy blanket.

But Cara would want to know what she thought of the park. And Lexy’s couch and blanket were on a moving van headed West.

She took a deep breath and walked into the castle.

****

At one point, the entrance hall had been opulent, and Lexy wondered if Cara had dust imported for the sole purpose of degrading the castle further. Woven tapestries of crimson and emerald adorned the walls, but even the linen’s tattered edges failed to disguise their richness. Above her, a ceiling that might have been gilded whispered of grand days gone by. All in all, Cara’s team had done an outstanding job of portraying a ruined showpiece.

She walked along the back of the room where windows overlooked a weedy rose garden. She wondered if it took more work to keep a garden up or ensured it stayed perfectly unkempt?

A smiling employee stood in front of a closed door at the back corner. She wore a muted green dress covered by an ivory apron. “I just let a group go down,” she said and opened the door. “If you head down the stairs, you should catch up. Be on the lookout for the missing infant princess. We think she was taken out that way.”

Through the door Lexy discovered a dark hallway. Not even a dirty window had been added to offer light. Instead, electric torches illuminated a wooden staircase. Somewhere in the background, water continuously dripped with a soft ping. Dust tickled her nose, and she sneezed.

She hurried down the stairs and tried to ignore the rustling noises surrounding her. Guests didn’t rustle.

A young man dressed in a period costume waited at the foot of the stairs.

He bowed. “Come, my lady. It is time.”

****

Two wooden doors and three dark hallways later, the roller coaster still wasn’t in sight, and Lexy questioned Cara’s one-of-a-kind queue.

“I had no idea this place was so big,” she told her guide. When he didn’t comment, she tried again. “Is the ride much farther?”

Still nothing. Odd that he wouldn’t talk. Park employees were supposed to be friendly.

“Just a minute, my lady.” The young man ran his hands over a wall and a hidden door creaked open. “This way, please. We are nearly there.”

What was Cara thinking? It had to be the most boring queue she had ever seen. The hidden door was cool, but nowhere near unique.

“My lady?” the guide finally asked.

She walked through the doorway. Dirt walls replaced stone, and real torches lit the circular room.

Well that’s just a fire waiting to happen. Cara didn’t even have the sense to put them out of reach.

A door on the opposite side of the room opened, and an older man entered.

“Did you find her, Joseph?” he asked, not even looking her way.