Page 67 of Madness Becomes Her

When I walk back into the room, Finlo is clean as if he used a charm on himself to get clean, and the room is back together.

“I can take the couch if you’d like to have the bed to yourself.” He hangs his head, and a lump forms in my throat.

Walking closer, I slide my hand into his and look up into his honest green eyes. “No. I want you beside me.”

I don’t know if I’m ignoring what his words made me feel earlier or if that’s smart, but I don’t care right now.

Tugging him behind me, I crawl into bed.

Finlo spoons around my back, holding me close. My eyes close as his proximity soothes everything worrying me at the moment.

“No matter what happens, Tiger Lily, I’ll always love you. Even if you choose to leave.”

My eyes fly wide as he snaps his fingers, and the room darkens around us.

One tear slides down my cheek and sinks into my pillow for lost girls and the love they find, even if they have to go all the way to Wonderland to find it.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

THE FANTASTICAL VIEW OF MEMORY AND TIME

Tea in the White Queen’s castle is nothing like in the Bog. It’s orderly and sophisticated, something I find I am not the longer we remain.

I snicker as Hatter makes a funny face at me from across the table.

The queen smiles at us, still nodding at one of the ladies sitting to her left, who’s chattering in her ear.

“Tomorrow, we’ll attend the garden party. It’s the best party of the year, and I hope you two can contain your silliness whilst we’re there,” Lewis scolds.

Turning, I catch his eyes, letting my smiling face transform into a near-perfect rendition of the face Hatter had made at me moments ago.

Lewis scoffs, shaking his head. “No one’s ever serious.”

I elbow him. “Come on, Lewis. We’re in Wonderland. Nothing here is supposed to be serious!”

“There are many serious things here, Eleanor. I hope you never encounter them, however. You’ve gone through enough.”

His reply makes me blush, and I turn away, casting my eyes down at my jam-filled tart on my plate.

What had Hatter told him?

I thought everything I spoke to Hatter about was private. Had I known he’d be blabbing my secrets to everyone in Wonderland, I would’ve kept them to myself.

Lewis’ paw slides over my lap. “Don’t worry. I only know the things I’ve witnessed.”

Witnessed?

When had he witnessed anything about my life outside Wonderland?

The queen stands abruptly, her teacup spilling over and soaking her plate of tarts and finger sandwiches. “When?”

“Only an hour ago, Your Highness,” a White Guard relays.

The White Queen turns toward the table. “We must return to the Bog.”

It’s very peculiar for her to speak so plainly. Typically, she speaks in riddles and backward, opposite ways. I’ve never heard her address anyone so… normally.

“What’s happened?” Hatter asks, springing out of his chair.