Page 2 of The Last Knight (The Cursed Kingdom #5)

Chapter Two

“ N amaste,” Aubrey Macguire bent at the waist and so did her students. Conversations about what the rest of the day held began as the ten ladies who’d attended rolled up their mats, expertly tying them into straps that could be slung over their shoulders.

One woman, a pretty redhead, waved goodbye to Aubrey before walking to where she’d left her bicycle.

The village where Aubrey lived was small enough that people who lived there could walk or bicycle everywhere. Except for those, like her, who lived on the outskirts.

Ashcraig Hall, the large estate that Aubrey called home, was about ten miles from the village, just far enough that she drove her 1992 red MG, a car she’d finally convinced her father to give to her.

Thankfully the weather was pleasant, sunny with a cool wind, so she could run errands without worry of rain.

After storing her mat and Bluetooth speaker in the MG, Aubrey made her way to the first task on her list, the market.

The cooler temperature and soft music filled the space as she pulled the door open and entered.

There were only a few things on her list, but she meandered, perusing the shelves, in case something caught her interest. When she eased the shopping basket onto the counter, emptying the contents one by one, a bored looking clerk gave a lukewarm smile, taking to the task with slow movements as Aubrey placed each item into her tote.

Glancing at her watch, Aubrey hurried to meet her friend. Zina waved her over with more enthusiasm than their usual coffee date called for. She sat outside the village café, which was perfect since Aubrey had planned to ask that they enjoy the sunny weather.

“I can’t wait to share something with you!” Zina shrieked.

“Can we get coffee first?” Aubrey asked with a wide grin, her gaze sweeping over her friend. “I would ask how you are, but it seems you’re great.”

“Coffee, yes, great idea.” Zina hurried inside and Aubrey followed. Her friend went to the counter and leaned forward to study the menu. “We’ll take two lattes and two croissants.” She smiled at Aubrey. “My treat please.”

Aubrey narrowed her eyes. “Whatever your announcement is, you’re making me nervous. You only offer to pay on my birthday.”

They returned to the same table.

Zina met Aubrey’s gaze with intensity. “Guess what?”

“I have no idea.”

Zina bit her bottom lip, her lips curving into a grin. “Guess something.”

A long breath escaped. “All right, you got a promotion.”

“Oh,” Zina frowned. “I did. Totally forgot to tell you, I got a raise, but it was tiny. I’m sure I got the so-called promotion to quiet me since I found out Emma got a raise.

” Zina worked at a solicitor’s office and had an ongoing feud with her coworker.

She brightened again. “But that’s not what my announcement is. ”

A young woman neared and placed the coffee and croissants on the table’s surface. Aubrey thanked her while Zina didn’t seem to notice.

“Jeffrey asked me to move in with him. He said we should start thinking about getting married.” Zina spoke so fast, Aubrey wasn’t sure she heard right.

“But you just started dating…” she began.

“No we haven’t, girl, it’s been almost a year,” Zina exclaimed. “Besides, we see each other almost daily.” They’d actually started dating closer to five months ago, but they had known each other much longer.

Aubrey’s stomach did funny things. Her appetite disappeared. Zina had met Jeffrey through her and her ex-boyfriend, Marcus, who was Jeffrey’s best friend. Just weeks after Zina and Jeffrey started dating, Marcus announced he wanted to see other people.

After dating for three years, the sudden breakup had taken a toll on Aubrey, sending her into a deep sadness that had lingered for months. Now Zina and Jeffrey were taking the next step in their relationship.

Since Aubrey’s cousin Erin had recently married a wonderful man who doted on her and now Zina taking another step with Jeffrey, her closest friends were pairing up. She was happy for them, but it would be trickier to do spontaneous things now.

“You will have to be my maid of honor, there is no question,” Zina continued oblivious to Aubrey’s silence. “Isn’t it exciting!”

Just looking at Zina’s face made Aubrey smile widely. She stood, rounded the table and hugged Zina. “I am super happy for you. I can’t wait to help you plan the wedding. What about an engagement before we start picking colors and such?”

“Oh, it’s coming,” Zina proclaimed holding up her ringless hand. “I feel it in my bones.” She gave Aubrey an endearing look. “You’re next. Your aura is ripe for the picking.”

“That’s the coffee speaking,” Aubrey replied, settling back down and sipping her latte. “When my day comes, I’m sure no one will be more surprised than me, the professional bridesmaid.”

An hour later, Aubrey pulled up the round drive that came to the front of her home, a stately estate called Ashcraig Hall, which she’d inherited, along with her cousin Erin.

The mansion and surrounding acreage was much too big for them, but they’d grown up there and felt a kinship to the property. They could never sell it.

As she trudged up the steps to the front door, canvas tote in hand, a huge orange cat stood and stretched by the front door with an expression of superiority.

Only Oscar, a former stray, with one cloudy eye, probably from an encounter with another cat, and a jagged ear could accomplish a stance of regal indignance and get away with it.

“Hello Oscar, I apologize for my tardiness,” Aubrey said to the cat. “I bought you some sardines.”

Together they walked into the house and straight to the kitchen. Aubrey made sure to fetch the sardines first, placed a couple onto a small dessert plate, and presented the meal to the cat.

Oscar was barely impressed, slowly eating the proffered treat.

It was almost three in the afternoon, and she had plans to cook a nice meal for her cousin, Erin, and Erin’s new husband, Padriag Clarre, who were returning from their honeymoon that evening.

Soon the house would not be as empty since the couple would be living there while building a new home on land that belonged to Padriag.

Their story was a complicated one, a fairy tale of sorts. Aubrey still had a hard time believing that not only had Padriag been trapped in another realm, another reality, but that Erin had been instrumental in saving him.

Some days, she did her best to repress the things that she herself had gone through firsthand during the harrowing experience, however, current recurring incidents made it hard. Once her cousin and new husband settled, she needed to discuss what was happening to her with both of them.

It was late afternoon when Aubrey headed to the kitchen to begin preparations for their dinner.

A swift breeze blew through the room and Aubrey froze, eyes wide, scanning the surroundings.

She more sensed than saw a figure appear in her periphery, whatever or whoever it was, was tall and broad shouldered, but when she tried to turn to see the figure, it faded.

“Find it. You must find it.” The disembodied voice was many voices at once, some deep, some high. The words seemed to float in the air, repeating.

Aubrey closed her eyes and covered her ears and took deep breaths. “Stop it,” she whispered.

“Who are you talking to?” Erin’s voice made her jump.

“M-my addled brain,” Aubrey hedged and studied the couple.

Both of them radiated that unmistakable post-vacation glow, sun-kissed, relaxed, and practically humming with happiness.

They looked like they’d spent days basking in paradise and sunshine, not a care in the world.

Even Padriag, a natural redhead had somehow managed to pick up a warm, flattering hue that made him look almost golden.

Erin rushed to her and hugged her tightly. “It was so much fun.”

Padriag stood back and smiled. “It was an enjoyable time, but it is good to be back.”

Once the hugs and excited greetings were over, Aubrey waved them out of the kitchen with a mock-stern expression. “Go unpack and rest. I’ll whip something up for dinner, and you can tell me all about your adventures.”

Whether she’d unpacked or simply ditched their bags to hurry back, it wasn’t long before Erin reappeared, a small velvet pouch in her hand and a sparkle in her eye. “I got you something,” she said, and placed the bag in Aubrey’s palm.

Inside was a delicate pair of porcelain earrings, hand-painted, floral, and utterly dainty.

Aubrey went to the mirror on the wall next to the back entrance and held them up to her ears, the soft gleam catching the sunlight.

“They’re gorgeous,” she whispered turning to her cousin.

Her voice trembled slightly, and a shimmer of tears welled in her eyes.

She swiped at them with the back of her hand and awkwardly held the earrings up in front of her face, as if admiring them could somehow mask the emotion that had blindsided her.

But growing up practically glued at the hip meant Erin could read her like a book. She crossed her arms slowly, one brow arching in that signature no-nonsense way. Her voice was gentle but firm. “Okay…what happened?”

Aubrey forced a smile, though she was sure it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Nothing,” she said softly. “I’m just happy you’re back. I missed you.”

Without pressing further, she slipped the earrings back into their pouch and set them gently on the kitchen island.

Erin’s gaze never wavered. “Wine?”

Aubrey nodded, grateful for something to do. “I’ll pour.” Aubrey’s voice sounded high pitched to her own ears, and she cleared her throat. She poured two glasses.

“Zina and Jeffrey are moving in together, and she said he suggested they start planning a wedding. Isn’t that great?” She held out a glass and Erin took it.

They went to the kitchen table next to a picture window overlooking a side garden. Roses in shades of yellow, red, and white, swayed in the gentle breeze, their beautiful blooms remaining regal. Needing the fresh air, Aubrey jumped up and opened a window, allowing the fragrance into the space.

“Stop stalling,” Erin said and took a sip of the Pinot Noir. “Something is up, and now you’re worrying me.”

“This is going to sound very petty, which is why I am hesitant to share.” Her eyes stung and she wanted to curse. Why was she so emotional?

Erin leaned forward, eyes wide with concern. “Aubrey?”

“Fine, I will tell you. But it really is very silly. I am hormonal, which is probably why I’m so weepy.”

She let out a breath. “After Zina made the announcement about them moving in together and then asked me to be a bridesmaid, it made me angry, and probably jealous. I don’t want to be her fucking bridesmaid.

I don’t want to ever be a bridesmaid again.

Why does everyone automatically ask me to be in their wedding? It’s almost like they pity me.”

“I didn’t ask you to be in my wedding,” Erin whispered.

“That’s because you didn’t want a traditional wedding. Otherwise, I know you would have insisted on it.” Aubrey looked up to the ceiling. “I am not making any sense am I?”

With a soft smile, Erin took Aubrey’s hand. “I know exactly how you feel. And no, you’re not being petty. It sucks to see everyone around you finding a partner. It was exactly how I felt when all my friends found partners, except I had you.”

“I don’t have you. Not anymore,” Aubrey whispered. “Your husband should be your priority, and although I know you will always be there for me, it isn’t the same. It never will be.”

Silence fell over them, there was nothing to be said, because both knew that it was true. It didn’t matter if they saw each other every day, Erin was a married woman now, the invisible yet very tangible line that should not be crossed was drawn.

Over the years they’d had all matter of conversations at that table.

They’d discussed clothes, music, boys. Had laughed, cried and mourned in that room, with and without other members of the family.

It seemed only right that this latest chapter, the beginning of a new way of life was discussed there.

“Don’t suggest I start dating,” Aubrey said holding up a hand. “Zina began suggesting single men Jeffrey knew after the bridesmaid comment.” She rolled her eyes. “As if moving in with a guy makes her a relationship expert.”

Erin laughed. “She has always claimed to be an expert on all matters of the heart. You know she means no harm.”

“I know,” Aubrey acquiesced. Glancing over to the kitchen counter, she spoke again. “I am going to make a yummy dinner for you both tonight. Go rest up.”

After Erin left the kitchen, Aubrey went to her bedroom and retrieved her journal, with her journal in hand and a square wicker basket filled with pens and journalling ephemera, she returned to the kitchen table.

In truth, she had little to complain about.

Hers was a blessed life. No financial worries.

Thanks to her father’s shrewd investments, there was a healthy trust fund for her.

She was well physically and had the freedom to do work she adored.

If anything was missing, it was undoubtedly her own choice, as she’d always turned down any matchmaking efforts.

Not to mention, she rarely paid any mind to men in her proximity.

Sliding the cap from her favorite fountain pen, she began writing a list of what changes she had to make in order to feel more fulfilled with her life.

On the first line, she wrote… “be more open to opportunities to meet a nice man.”