Page 52 of The Cinders
‘I really need to eat.’The Englishman frowned as he tugged at an errant curl.‘I get rather short-tempered otherwise.Run away, out into the big wide world and learn, my fox prince.’
‘Run?’Xian said through clenched teeth.‘I cannot run, William.I am a prince, with no such freedom.’
‘You are a pawn.’William eyed him in the mirror’s hazy reflection.‘And not a highly valued one at that, considering you have been shipped off to this poor excuse for a palace.And do not speak to me of being princely and without avenue for escape.Trust me, your position is excellent compared to others who truly are trapped by their royal blood.You do not know, stupid fox, what it is to be shackled by position.To have no avenue for escape, save for forays into this puerile world.Cease your pathetic whining.What would your mother think, to see you bemoaning your existence.She cared enough to protect you, to give her life for yours, it would seem.Do you think everyone can say such things?What more do you bloody want, you selfish fool.’
The broken shards on the floor rattled as though a wind gust took them, the weight of the air in the room all at once pressing down on Xian’s shoulders.
William drew breath; the tempest of his rage abating as quickly as it had grown.His eyes were the heart of a firestorm, and on the hand that clenched the mirror, thin lines of gold ran where his darker veins should be.
Xian held perfectly still.He knew how to handle those in a rage, or at least, he’d found a way that caused him fewer bruises.When the marchioness stirred herself into such frenzies, he’d learned the slightest noise from him, the subtlest of movements would only draw further ire.
William let his hand drop, breaking the lock of their gazes through the mirror.‘Did I not tell you my temper is awful when I am hungry?’
‘You did,’ Xian said quietly.Hehadbeen selfish, barely noticing the Englishman’s own pains until they were being shouted at him.‘I’m sorry for the trials you endure.To live without freedom is…’
‘No way to live.’William returned to dressing himself, his shoes the last to be done.‘But there we are.Never mind me, I accuse you of whining and here I am, being a tit in exactly the same way.’
His mercurial shifts in mood were certainly frightening, but so was the idea of being abandoned by the very man who’d just unravelled his life.
‘Perhaps,’ Xian cleared his throat.‘Perhaps we could meet again later…when you are less…’
‘Less of a bastard?You’ll be waiting a while.’He stood by the door, his hand resting against the wood.With his calmness came a return to sea-green eyes and pale white skin.‘I’m a shitty fairy godmother, am I not?’
‘You would be best to speak with your French friend on that matter.’
Xian was rewarded with a brilliant smile.William Black in a fair mood was a pleasant sight.‘Well, he died over a hundred years ago, so no chance there.But I can tell you, he’d agree with me.’He turned as though to leave, and Xian’s stomach lurched with desperation.But Sir William was not leaving.Not yet.He leaned against the wooden frame of the doorway, a sensuality in the way he moved.‘Here is what I shall do…you do not need a gown, nor a prince, seeing as you are one already, and there are no balls to send you to, but there is New Year’s Eve.’
‘Tomorrow night, yes.But what of it?’Are you suggesting we meet again then to discuss things?
Two days spent thinking on all that had just happened; how strange he felt, how strange helookednow, with his skin aglow.Xian would go mad.
‘No, no.I told you, I thought you would just…’ he waved his hand in wildly varying circles, ‘Justknowthings…it’s not as if I find creatures like you everyday, all tied up in knots I can’t help but want to untie.No.You’ll need to find your answers, yourself.’He raised his hands again, this time to quiet Xian’s protests.‘Or you can go off searching for the other slipper, I really don’t care.’
‘Other slipper?’Xian touched his fingers to the scarring on his cheek.
‘You did not yet know you were a fox, and were not so sneaky about hiding that shoe as you imagined.Lovely design, by the way.Where does one buy a shoe like that?I do hope they sell them in pairs normally.’
Xian hung his head.‘I didn’t buy it.They were gifted to me…and one was lost.Likely ruined.’
William clucked his tongue.‘Pity, it is a beauty.The shoemaker is a man with talented hands, I’d say.I think I’d like to meet him myself.’
‘No,’ Xian said sharply, raising his head.‘No…he is…a long way from here.’
Fine eyebrows raised once more, and Xian cursed his obvious covetousness.‘Aah, now there is a flush of colour in your cheeks at last.Do you already know how talented this man is with his hands, my cheeky fox prince?’
‘Tell me what you intend for New Year’s Eve, William.’Xian sought to steer the man away from the shoemaker.Song Lim was lost to him now, not only by the miles between them, but by the secret Xian carried; and the pain of it was greater than Xian could have imagined.
‘Very well, don’t regale me with tales of what you got up to on the shoemaker’s bench, be dull again if you must.’
‘New Year’s Eve, William.’
‘Do you wish for freedom, Veiled Prince?’
‘Of course.’
‘Then I shall give you a chance to take it.Do they have you dancing on New Year’s Eve?’
Xian frowned.‘Yes.’