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CHAPTER FOUR

A urie blinked in confusion as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen practically ran away from him. How in all of Vilastoria had he so thoroughly offended her? Women generally thought him handsome and charming…

He glared down at the offending handkerchief before stuffing it into his pocket and out of sight. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time. He hadn’t realized that not touching a woman would be so offensive. But then, perhaps he wasn’t quite himself.

He had just come back from bathing in the Spring of Ambrosia, his heart heavy with disappointment. The spring was said to heal numerous ailments—but the golden touch clearly remained after he’d washed himself.

The spring showed evidence of his failed attempt. The rocks gleamed, making the very water glitter like liquid gold. His shoulders hunched, and he felt all the more wretched and hopeless. He should have brought Mama with him instead—or maybe the water needed to be brought to her—but he hadn’t brought anything with him to carry it in, and even if he did, his faith in its powers had waned. After nearly a year of trying, would he ever heal his sweet mother from this curse?

Again, his eyes strayed to the maddeningly beautiful woman who was even now disappearing in the distance. Miss Melora, the man had called her, an angelic name to match the woman. Would he ever have a chance with someone like her without the wealth from his golden touch? Never… and yet he couldn’t help noticing how fine his glimmering jerkin looked against her gown. Her eyes had shone with appreciation before he’d unwittingly insulted her.

What if it were possible to rescue his mother without ridding himself of the curse entirely? Perhaps then he could find a way to soothe the woman’s injured feelings by plying her with gifts to match the spark in her molasses eyes. For some unfathomable reason, he couldn’t bear for the feisty, headstrong woman to be angry with him.

He hurried to catch up to her, determined to fulfill his promise to her and see her safely home. “My apologies, my lady. I meant no offense. I can see you have been having a bad day. I too, have had a rough time of it.”

He flashed a grin at her as she looked back at him. How was it she was so captivating, even when angry?

Silky dark strands of hair floated about her head like a cloud as she shook her head. Her full lips pressed together. “I highly doubt that your day can compare. Regardless, I cannot deal with your bruised ego on top of everything else right now. Why don’t you take your fine jerkin and go?”

Bruised ego? He tried not to flinch at the accusation. He had been gallantly helping her. This had nothing to do with ego. Right? Perhaps she was still upset over the handkerchief. Had he been able to offer his arm in the normal fashion, she would not be so vexed with him. A twinge of regret shimmered through his mind before being replaced by a reminder of his reduced circumstances and all he would lose without the golden gift. No! He would never be that worthless man again!

Straightening his shoulders, he reminded himself that he was possibly the wealthiest man alive. Once she understood that he wasn’t some abysmal upstart, surely she would change her tune. They had simply gotten off on the wrong foot.

“Please keep the jerkin. My gift to you. I have plenty of others. Besides, I never looked so fetching in it as you do.”

“Of course, you’d say something like that.” She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t try to give the jerkin back again. It gave him a strange sense of delight to see her wearing his garment.

As they walked, he thought briefly about the magical border around Everrose. He was glad it protected him from unscrupulous visitors and kept thieves from his gold, but he hadn’t meant to block out the entire world—especially from people like Melora. If she ever did visit, the jerkin would allow her to cross the magical border he’d cast around his land, as would any golden item he’d freely given to another person.

They soon came upon a tiny cottage in a sad state of disrepair.

He gaped. He’d thought his house was bad, but Everrose Manor was practically a castle in comparison, and that was before he’d turned it to gold. She couldn’t possibly live here.

Except, as he turned toward her, she was curtsying prettily. “Thank you, Sir, for your escort and your… gift?” Her voice rose on the last word as if she was still uncertain, her fingers running down the fine fabric. Perhaps she was questioning his sanity for giving away such extravagance. Seeing her circumstances firsthand, he wondered if she had ever seen so much gold.

He returned her curtsy with a bow. “You are most welcome. It was the least I could do after nearly plowing into you. And I wouldn’t be any sort of gentleman had I left you in such a state.” Even in front of the tiny cottage, she somehow looked utterly mesmerizing. Realizing he was staring, he cleared his throat and forced his voice to be flippant. “Gold is your color, I believe…” But his sentence unraveled midair as he got caught in her enchanting glance. “It makes your eyes shine like molten bronze.”

“Thank you.” She repeated, her voice sounding much too small for such a previously feisty woman. “I truly am grateful for all of your help, but I must bid you good day.”

No. This couldn’t be goodbye. He had to see her again! “I wish to call upon you in a few days’ time if that would be acceptable. I’ll even leave my handkerchief behind if you find it too offensive.” He smiled wryly.

An abrupt laugh escaped her lips. He found he rather liked the tinkling sound. She shook her head in confusion. “Are you quite certain? You don’t find me repellent and far below your station?”

“Repellent?” He pressed a hand against his chest and stepped back, as if physically struck by her words. “No, no, you have it all wrong. Quite the opposite, really. I’ve never met a lady as captivating as you, and I’ve been in all the courts of Valkovia.” He wished to reassure her of his desire to get to know her, especially after his epic fumble with the handkerchief.

She stood still, guarded, her eyes searching for something more. He didn’t want to scare her off. Perhaps he should invite her to come to him instead. “If ever you need me, just wear my golden jerkin and head into those woods.” He pointed in the correct direction. “Head southeast until you see a tree that has been struck by lightning; there you’ll find a pathway that will lead you to my home. You can’t miss it.” He flashed her his most charming grin.

Never had he felt so drawn to a woman! What was it about her that had him longing to swoop in and slay all the demons she faced? Was it the adorable wrinkle of her nose, the fire that lit her eyes with defiance, or was it the sweetness tempered with determination that he glimpsed beyond her beauty?

He unconsciously swayed toward her. Careful! He caught himself before she could see straight into the recesses of his unworthy heart.

His invitation still hung in the air, her beautiful eyes uncertain. He’d better try again. Perhaps a bit of charm was necessary—it worked for the ladies of court. In a voice as smooth as gold, he added, “You, my dear, were blessed by the fairies of Arindia with a beauty that shines brighter than the sun. It would be a shame to never see you again.” What was he saying? He couldn’t wax poetic about her beauty, she hardly knew him, yet the words were the truest he’d ever spoken.

The light that had previously sparked in her eyes now dimmed. “Is that all you see?”

He blinked in response, startled out of words. Was she angry again? No, worse. She was disappointed. Why? Compliments usually worked with the ladies of Valkovia.

“Good day, sir. I wish you the best in your endeavors.” She turned away from him without another word and fled into her house, the door closing with a resounding snap.

He winced. Why did he feel like the door had just been slammed in his face?

* * *

“M elora! Come quick! Sir Calix is speaking with Papa about marrying you.” Nerissa said, tugging her sister inside toward Papa’s study.

Dread pooled in Melora’s stomach. It was only a week since the incident in the marketplace. She had hoped that the encounter with the golden man would keep Sir Calix away, like the nasty rodents the mage spells in the market repelled. Unfortunately, he was more persistent than the vermin.

Melora reached for Nerissa’s hand, both to comfort her anxious sister and to steady herself as they listened at the door. The drone of Sir Calix’s annoying voice bargaining with Papa sounded through the wood. “It’s the best offer you’re going to get for her—unless, of course, you’d like to go to debtor’s prison.”

Debtor’s prison? The sisters looked at each other, eyes wide. They knew Papa had a gambling addiction, but they hadn’t realized he had fallen that far.

Melora remembered Sir Calix’s awful mention of an offer her father couldn’t refuse, and the even worse one that followed, “Soon you will be mine in every way.” He’d said that he would convince Papa to agree to his terms, but Melora still couldn’t quite believe it was happening. Alarm stiffened her shoulders. She couldn’t possibly marry the horrible Sir Calix. She had convinced herself that it would never come to that—she would leave first, escape before it was too late. She had been looking for a place to sell the golden jerkin and get the funds necessary. At least she’d been able to keep its existence from Papa. But despite her best efforts, time had slipped through her fingers, and now her worst fears were coming true.

“What are we going to do?” Nerissa whispered, the fear in her expression as palpable as the horror twisting in Melora's stomach. “You can’t marry him!”

“We’ll think of something.” She tried to appear confident for her sister while inwardly panicking. How indeed could she stop this from happening?

The men were finishing up. The sisters slipped silently away from the study door and hurried to sit casually in the sitting room. Her heart raced as if she’d run to the market and back. She wished she could run to the market now and hide away forever from all of this, but such daydreams were futile, and leaving would only anger Papa.

Unbidden, those beguiling blue eyes invaded her thoughts. No! Not now! Such frivolous fantasies were useless when reality stared her in the face. But despite her best efforts, thoughts of him had tormented her since she’d stormed away from the annoyingly attractive would-be rescuer. It only grew worse as her fate closed in. There could be no escaping Sir Calix’s impending proposal.

Papa found them. “Nerissa, come with me. Sir Calix would like a private audience with Melora.”

Her sister reluctantly left Melora to her fate, giving her an empathetic look on her way out. Sir Calix closed in on her the moment the door closed. Melora remained seated and kept her hands gripped in front of her as a protection.

He appraised her with unsettling thoroughness. “Miss Melora, you are the picture of beauty. It’s been far too long since I saw you last.”

“Has it? The days have certainly flown by for me. Why, our last meeting feels quite recent.” She did her best to keep her expression placid, not quite making eye contact with him.

He knelt before her but couldn’t take her hand in his since she was clasping her hands so firmly together. “My dear, I imagine that you already know why I am here. I have spoken to your father, and we have come to an agreement. In just two days’ time, you and I are to be wed.”

“Wh-what?” She stood abruptly, shaking her head. That couldn’t be right. He wouldn’t dare marry her without her consent. “No, I?—”

“I know it seems sudden, but with how long we have anticipated this day, I hardly think it fair that we wait any longer.” She flinched away from his touch as he reached out to stroke her face. “You don’t have to worry about a thing. I have it all worked out.”

She backed away, her head still shaking. “I’m sorry, but I can’t?—”

Closing the distance between them, he squeezed her arms. “I don’t think you understand, Melora.” He hissed, all pretense gone. “You will be mine in two days’ time. I’ve waited too long for this.”

His fingers bit into her arm as he leaned down to kiss her. She turned away, and his wet lips smeared against her cheek.

The door flew open, and Sir Calix reluctantly released her as Nerissa and Papa entered the room. Melora shot her sister a grateful look for convincing Papa that enough time had elapsed.

“I believe congratulations are in order.” Papa said. “I’m so glad everything is settled. We’ll have a simple wedding in two days’ time.”

Melora sucked in a sharp breath, desperation lodging like a fist in her throat. What could she do? Two days would be insufficient time to procure a place for herself and her sister—the several months she’d already spent seeking a refuge had proved inadequate—but staying here meant marrying Sir Calix. She just had to trust that they would find a buyer once they had gotten far away from here.

A shiver trickled down her spine. The alternative—being stuck with this vile blackguard for the rest of her life was unfathomable! Her chest tightened until she could hardly breathe. Everything felt especially horrible after the tantalizing draw of the golden man. He had called her a lady worthy of his rich cloak. For one shining moment, she’d felt more precious than gold—but that moment had been far too fleeting.

Forget his beguiling eyes. Therein lay heartbreak. She must leave behind childish delusions and find a way out before it was too late!