Page 16

Chapter 16

Olivia

L ady Emerson seated Olivia in an enormous formal sitting room in the front of the house.

“My apologies,” the noblewoman said in a stiff voice. “I wasn’t expecting visitors and so have nothing prepared. However, if you’ll give me a moment, I will ring for tea and?—”

“Please don’t put yourself out on my behalf,” Olivia said quickly, well aware that she wasn’t welcome. The household was clearly closed to visitors of the regular sort. “I merely wanted the chance to briefly speak with you.”

“And why would you want to speak with me, Lady Olivia?” Lady Emerson’s clasped hands trembled slightly.

Olivia leaned forward. “I’m worried about Marigold. She was always a good friend to me and?—”

“Too good a friend, it would seem,” Lady Emerson said quietly but with bite. “I fully understand Their Majesties’ fury toward our family. That is to be expected, and no more than Marigold has brought down on our heads. But I hardly see what you can have to complain about. My daughter elevated you beyond what anyone could have imagined—beyond reason.”

Olivia sat back, thrown off by the unexpected attack.

“I didn’t ask for this elevation ,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster. “I certainly did not seek or even want a betrothal to the prince. I don’t belong in the palace.”

Lady Emerson watched her, her brows creasing as the silence stretched between them.

“You really mean that,” she finally said, her tone incredulous. “I’ve always been good at reading people.” Her voice dropped even lower. “All except my own daughter, apparently.”

Olivia leaned forward again. “I do mean it. I had no idea what Marigold was planning, and when I found out what she’d done, I was furious. But I don’t want her to come to any harm. And I’m afraid she has come to harm. It doesn’t seem at all like her to run away in this situation, and?—”

“Unfortunately,” Lady Emerson said, cutting her off with sorrow this time instead of heat, “it isn’t at all unlike Marigold to run away. She’s done it before.”

“Yes, I know,” Olivia said, fighting down her rising frustration. “But what I mean is that she wouldn’t?—”

“After pulling a stunt like hers, can we really say that anything is beyond her?” Lady Emerson’s voice was heavy with the same sadness. “Believe me, I don’t want to believe any of it. Marigold’s father and I are desperate to find our daughter and bring her home.”

Olivia perked up at those words, but Lady Emerson continued. “But if you truly care about my daughter, the best thing you can do is to stay away from this house and keep her name off your lips. If others learn the truth she will be shunned and disgraced.” Her words finished on a suppressed sob.

Olivia’s heart twisted. Lady Emerson might believe the worst of Marigold’s behavior, but she clearly still loved her daughter and wanted to see her home and safe. If only she would let Olivia finish what she was trying to say.

Olivia tried again. “So there hasn’t been a ransom demand or anything like that? I’m worried that—” But Lady Emerson didn’t even seem to hear her, instead standing and gesturing toward the door.

“On that note,” the noblewoman said, “I must thank you for your continued kindness to my daughter and ask you to leave.”

“But I?—”

Lady Emerson’s stern expression made Olivia falter into silence. On impulse, she thrust her hand into her bag and closed her fingers around the handle of her mirror. Ignoring how odd she must appear, she pulled it out and examined her reflection, twisting so that her back was to Marigold’s mother.

With a subtle angling of her hand, she was able to capture Lady Emerson’s face in the reflective surface. A second ago, the noblewoman had been looking impatient, but in the mirror’s reflective surface, she appeared haggard and desperately worried. Olivia leaped to her feet, an instinctive reaction when confronted with someone on the verge of collapse. But when she spun around to view Lady Emerson directly, the noblewoman looked merely irritated and confused.

Olivia swallowed and thrust the mirror back into her bag. Shaken by the glimpse of what lay beneath the noblewoman’s surface, she allowed herself to be ushered toward the door. By the time she had thought of a fresh argument, she was standing outside facing nothing but a closed door.

Should she knock again? She strongly suspected the door would not be opened to her a second time. Closing her eyes, she groaned. The visit hadn’t gone well. She should have been better prepared.

But from the true emotions of Lady Emerson, Olivia wasn’t sure the noblewoman would have been receptive to anything Olivia could say. She was clearly already on the edge—teetering where any further burden of worry and fear might push her over. Was it any wonder she wouldn’t allow herself to consider the possibility of foul play? Such a fear might sink her under completely.

Olivia’s dejection turned to determination. If Marigold’s family weren’t chasing down every possibility, then Olivia had to find a way to search herself. Mere weeks ago she would have had little hope of success. But for the moment she was living in a palace, practically a princess—surely she could use that position to search for her friend.

Before she reached the street, a tall male figure turned into the courtyard, his head down and gait hurried. As he passed her, Olivia seized his arm, halting his progress and spinning him back toward her.

“Lord Cade?” she asked as they came face to face.

He met her eyes, his own going wide. “Lady Olivia!” He forced a smile and executed a hasty bow. “How lovely to run into you. I’m just stretching my legs and—” He cut himself off as his gaze swept their surroundings, and he recognized the foolishness of his words given they were standing inside Lord Emerson’s courtyard.

“Well,” he said awkwardly. “That is to say, I…” But apparently he couldn’t think of an explanation because his words trailed off.

Something snapped into place in Olivia’s mind, and she seized his arm again, attempting to give him a knowing look. He blinked back at her.

“We need to talk,” she said. “But I don’t think this is the place.”

“Talk?” Cade’s eyes shifted toward the manor behind her. “I actually need to?—”

“There’s no point going in there,” Olivia said firmly. “They probably won’t even open the door when you knock, since they’ll suspect it’s me again.”

One of Cade’s eyebrows rose. “Again?”

Olivia shook her head. “Come on. I know a better place to talk.”

She tugged him out of Lord Emerson’s courtyard and into her uncle’s. To her relief, no one saw their arrival, and she was able to lead him straight through the gardens to the back of the manor. Cade didn’t protest, following under his own steam as she led him to the back wall and out onto the hill.

“This is a nice spot.” He looked across the grassy incline and then back at the row of manors. His eyes lingered on the Emersons’.

Olivia nodded and pointed at the building directly behind them. “That’s my aunt and uncle’s manor. Until a few days ago, it was my home too. And it’s up here, on this hill, that I first met Marigold.”

Cade’s eyes snapped to her face, his involuntary response only confirming her suspicions.

“I heard she played a…trick on you,” he said carefully. “Julius told me about what happened.”

“She did fool me,” Olivia said, “and I intend to have stern words with her about it. But I still consider her a friend.”

Cade’s tense posture relaxed slightly.

Olivia fixed her eyes on him. “What I really want to know is whether Julius is aware that you’re the one Marigold is in love with.”

Cade flinched backward, the guilty look on his face providing the final confirmation. After meeting him outside Marigold’s house, clearly worried and distracted, Olivia had been nearly certain. But his response made it feel shockingly real.

“You and Marigold are secretly in love?” Her voice rose higher than she’d intended. “And you haven’t even told Julius? She didn’t even tell me!” Olivia shook her head. “But why keep it a secret?”

Cade collapsed into himself. “I’ve known Marigold most of my life—like I know all the others our age at court. But our families don’t get along. They’re rivals in every area that matters. Marigold insisted we stay quiet about our feelings because her father would never approve. She said that if he found out, he would keep us apart. I wanted to face his wrath and prove the strength of our love—to argue for the benefits that could come from uniting our families—but Marigold…”

“She’s hard to resist,” Olivia said sympathetically. “And I’m guessing she loved playing the role of star-crossed lover in a secret romance. She probably arranged clandestine rendezvous and stolen kisses in all sorts of silly locations.”

Cade flushed, and Olivia feared she had overstepped. She had forgotten for a moment that while she knew Marigold well, she hardly knew Cade at all.

But instead of showing offense, Cade straightened his shoulders and drew a deep breath as if choosing bravery in the face of something fearsome.

“I suppose that’s all it was on her side, and that’s why she’s abandoned me now. She did delight in the situation, just like you described.” He looked away. “I’ve even wondered at times if she loved the role more than she loved me specifically.”

Olivia’s heart squeezed at the pain in his eyes, and she bit her lip, unsure how to answer. The mirror had shown sincerity beneath Marigold’s dramatic manner, but Olivia couldn’t be sure how well Marigold knew her own heart. She had no idea how to judge if her friend’s feelings had been lasting and deep. Olivia didn’t even know how to judge such a thing for herself. Marigold wouldn’t be the first girl more in love with love than she was with the man.

But if Cade’s conclusion was drawn solely from Marigold’s disappearance, she could at least offer another possible explanation for that. Even if the explanation wasn’t likely to find favor with him. She just hoped he didn’t reject it outright as Marigold’s mother had done.

“I can’t see into Marigold’s heart,” she said. “But I do believe she was always sincere toward me. I can’t accept the idea that she tricked me and then abandoned me to deal with the consequences alone. And neither do I think she would have declared her love for you and then run off without a word. If she found her love had disappeared, the Marigold I know would have told you to your face.”

Cade winced and then laughed. “That’s the Marigold I know as well. She’s no coward.” His brows contracted. “But what are you saying? Do you think she’s being held captive by these unknown relations? They would have to turn their home into a prison to successfully prevent Marigold from escaping if she desired to do so.”

“She isn’t with relatives at all,” Olivia said, relieved he was taking her concerns seriously. “I’ve confirmed that with both Kasper and Lady Emerson.”

“What?” Cade’s jaw clenched, his muscles tensing. “What do you mean she’s not with relatives?”

“They think she’s run away,” Olivia said. “But I’m not convinced. It just doesn’t sound like Marigold to me.”

Cade’s face settled into rigid lines. “You think she’s been abducted?”

Olivia swallowed and nodded. “That’s the only conclusion I can come to. Kasper seemed to think it was a possibility, but I’m not sure how much influence he has with his parents. Lady Emerson wouldn’t listen to me at all. She basically kicked me out of the house when I tried to suggest it. So I can’t imagine you’d have any more luck.” She cocked her head to the side. “I assume you were going there to ask about Marigold?”

Cade nodded. “I was going to beg them to tell me where she is so I could at least send a letter.” He looked down. “She might be in danger right now, and I’ve been sitting in the palace, doubting her! She may even…” He swallowed convulsively, unable to finish the sentence.

Olivia shook her head vehemently. “No, we mustn’t think like that! If there’s anyone who can stay alive, it’s Marigold. And you mustn’t blame yourself for doubting, either. You thought her safe at home with her family, so it was reasonable to question her sudden silence.”

“I should have trusted her.” Cade sounded tormented. “But I always thought her love for me seemed like a dream. How could someone so vibrant and beautiful and brilliant love me? And then I heard she’d been chosen to wear the glass slippers...” He shuddered. “It seemed only natural they’d choose her—all the other girls at court faded beside her. And of course Julius would easily fall for her once she appeared at the ball. He probably would have already if he didn’t always hold himself so aloof—waiting to do his duty and marry his parents’ choice.”

Cade stopped and swallowed. “Marigold tried to fight it, of course. She never liked being dictated to. But Lord Emerson was adamant that she accept the betrothal, and how could I stand in the way of her becoming queen? If I truly loved her, I had to stand aside and let her step into a bigger life. It was easy enough to believe that she would forget me and learn to love Julius. I suppose I was trying to protect my own heart by telling myself she must have already fallen out of love with me…”

Olivia’s eyes moistened. Cade had been ready to step aside and watch the woman he loved marry his best friend, believing they would be happy with each other. And he didn’t even speak as if he had resented Julius. Every look and word confirmed he truly cared about both Marigold and his friend.

But even so, she slipped out her mirror just far enough to angle it toward his face. She truly thought Cade was sincere, but she had to rule out the possibility that he was merely a good actor. If Marigold had seen his true face and fled from him, it might offer an alternative explanation to abduction.

For several seconds, the mirror showed nothing, and she pressed her lips together. It was an unfortunate moment for it to stop working. But then the surface rippled, showing her a visage even more devastated and lovesick than Cade’s actual face.

Her heart softened even further, and she slipped the mirror away, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

“We have to find out what happened to Marigold. Will you help me? Surely together we can convince Julius to?—”

“To what?” asked a cold voice behind her. “I’m here, so you can ask me directly.”

Olivia dropped her hand from Cade’s arm, turning to see Julius striding toward them, jaw clenched and eyes narrowed.