Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(65)

Krev’s warning pops into my head, menacing and intimidating. In the past, when I was still Lady Bradshaw’s second daughter, I always thought of the goblin as a fun-loving prankster, annoying but never threatening. But I still feel a shudder when I remember how he loomed before me, with those huge yellow eyes unblinking, telling me that I can’t fall in love with Edward.

Too late.

“Poppy,” I say hesitantly. “Hypothetically, if someone were to tell you that you can’t marry Mr. Davenport, and that you must return to your family and stay there and never see him again, what would you do?”

Poppy looks alarmed. “Kat, what are you talking about?”

“Pretend I never told you this.” I take a sip of tea. To tell the truth, it’s too bitter for my taste, but I revel in it anyway. “Suppose the goblin shows up and tells me that I don’t belong in Athelia and I must leave Edward. What should I do?”

Poppy’s eyes go so round that she looks like a comedian. “You can’t leave His Highness! Why, you’ve been married for a year!”

“Six months,” I correct her. “Anyway, the length doesn’t matter. What would you do if you were in my situation?”

“I’d stay,” she says stoutly. “I’d tell that goblin to disappear.”

I have to smile. “But what if the goblin is right?”

“I’d stay.”

She sounds so . . . Poppy-like.

“Now, don’t you get any ideas,” Poppy says. “His Highness loves you. I’ve seen how he looks at you. You are not going to desert him. If you do, I’ll . . . I’ll . . .” She pauses, apparently unable to come up with a threat for her best friend who is also a princess. “Just forget about returning to your own world. You have a new family here.”

I nod. I do so want to reciprocate Edward’s affection. Next time Krev screams in my head, I’m going to do my best to ignore it. Maybe, if I try hard enough, his annoying voice will go away. Just as I managed to break through the memory barrier.

Someone knocks on the door.

“I’ll get it,” I say, seeing dark circles under Poppy’s eyes. As a mother of newborns, it’s impossible that she can sleep well.

Elle stands on the doorstep, her cheeks rosy red from the chilly autumn air and a large wicker basket hanging from her arm. Her dress and cloak are plain—you can’t tell that she’s an earl’s daughter, but she’s beautiful anyway. She gives me a radiant smile and takes my hands.

“I’m so glad to see you, Kat.”

“And I you,” I say, marveling at how Athelian speech patterns have influenced my way of speaking.

“Is that Elle at the door?” Poppy’s voice floats from the kitchen.

“Yes, dear cousin.” Elle comes in and sets her basket on the table. “I just got back from my father’s estate up north. Here, I brought some blueberries from our garden. The housekeeper insists that blueberries are good for new mothers. How are Sebastian and little Katriona? They’re sleeping? Then I must come back another time when they’re awake. Nothing pleases me more than playing with my niece and nephew.”

Poppy jumps up and gives Elle a hug. It’s lovely, seeing that my best friend and Cinderella are cousins. I’m already so lucky to have Edward, and even luckier to have these girls as my friends.

“How did you deal with the dispute with the tenants?” I ask. “I mean, since you’re not used to the role of a mistress, were they willing to listen to you?”

Elle smiles. “As long as you take the effort to see things from each person’s perspective, it is not difficult to persuade them to come to a compromise. I suppose it also helps that I do not issue commands, but rather offer suggestions, so they are less likely to be affronted.”

“Good for you,” I say, impressed. I knew there’s more to Elle than her usual shyness.

“How are things between you and Henry?” Poppy asks. “Has the duchess finally relented? Honestly, I don’t understand why she’s so stubborn. It’s not as if Henry is marrying beneath his station.”

“Maybe you can consider running off to Ruby Red,” I say, with a wink at Poppy. “I won’t mind being a witness at the altar again.”

Elle looks down and tugs on her skirt. “Actually, Henry has more important things to worry about.”

Both Poppy and I make indignant noises.

“Dr. Durant invited Henry to do research with him for a year.”

I let out an unladylike whoop. “Awesome. It’s what Henry always wanted.” I know that as a general rule, gentlemen don’t work. Imagine having a duke asking you if he could take your pulse or prescribe you pills. People are unlikely to take him seriously. However, doing research with the renowned Moryn doctor is another story.

“Who’s Dr. Durant?” Poppy asks. I explain, adding that I had seen Henry spending more time conversing with the Moryn physician than dancing at the ball.

“But of course, her ladyship is unwilling to let Henry go. Thomas, Henry’s butler, tells me that the grand duke has been in poor health lately. Her ladyship wishes that Henry cease his medical career and inherit the family business.”

“Family business?” I say. “What kind of family business is it that Henry has to take over?” It’s not as if he were a blacksmith or a shoemaker.