Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(86)
I am not sure if Bianca is sincere. She doesn’t seem to care whether the girl wants to enroll in our school. Maybe the girl heard of our palace outing and got interested? We did have a few more girls sign up after the outing.
Anyway, as the co-founder of Princess College, if a student is interested in the school, who am I to refuse? Even if she may be Bianca’s relative.
“Kat.” Edward approaches us, and there’s a worried look in his eyes before he turns to Bianca. “Lady Pembroke.”
She curtsies and looks up at him through her eyelashes. “Your Highness.”
Edward nods. “If you have finished your conversation, I would like to ask Kat to come and sit with me. She looks rather pale.”
I jump at the chance of getting away from Bianca. “Sorry, Bianca, but I am feeling a bit weary, to be honest.”
When Edward leads me away, his hand on the small of my back, I can sense Bianca’s eyes on us. I glance at her and flinch at the anger in her glare. She looks like she wants to take up the nearest decanter of brandy and hit me over the head with it.
40
I shiver when I open my eyes in the morning. Although the drapes around the bed are still drawn, it’s not warm enough. It has started snowing, and no matter how big a fire Amelie kindles before we go to sleep, it’s bound to die out in the morning. If only we had electric heaters in here—I tell myself to stop this nostalgia for modern appliances. When I made the decision to stay in Athelia, I was prepared to accept its state of technology as well. It’s something that I have no control of. Anyway, Edward is worth all the trouble.
I wonder what time it is. Lillie’s engagement party lasted well past midnight, and it was early morning when we got home. I wonder how we’re going to manage when Parliament reopens. Luckily, it’s the weekend today.
“Kat?” Edward stirs. He wraps an arm around my waist and nuzzles the curve of my collarbone, his warm breath tickling my skin. I could stay in this position and never want to get up. “What time is it?”
I stretch my arm through the opening in the drapes and grab my pocket watch, which is usually set on the nightstand. My fingers close around the metal chain, and I bring the clock face to my eyes. “Holy crap,” I gasp. “It’s nearly nine.”
Edward yawns. “Send in a breakfast tray.”
When I attempt to get up, his arms tighten around me. “What’s the hurry, love? You don’t have anything scheduled this morning.”
“Actually, I do. Last night at Lillie’s party, Bianca asked me to meet her at her new house.”
There is a moment of silence. “So that was what you were talking about last night. But why would she volunteer an appointment with you?”
“I don’t quite get it either,” I say honestly. “But she wanted to introduce a pupil to me. Maybe it could be some truce.”
“Then let me accompany you to her house.” Edward sits up and looks for his dressing gown. With his hair tousled and stubble on his chin, he still looks gorgeous.
“I appreciate the offer, but I doubt that’s a good idea.” I hop out of bed and attempt to rekindle the fire. “Every time she sees you with me, she looks furious. Don’t worry about me, Edward. I’m not going into a shady alley to negotiate with some drug lord. And now, I am the notorious princess who punched a man in the street and sent him reeling. Bianca won’t dare to do anything to me.”
“Very well.” Edward draws me to him and kisses me deeply. “Go, but remember to be back for lunch.”
“Of course.” I smile at him. “Trust me, I would much rather spend my time in your company than hers.”
* * *
Bianca’s residence is a perfect representation of her character. There is an elegant yet frosty atmosphere as I step inside the house. Marble pillars, glass-topped tables, stone fireplace. It lacks a touch of wood to give the home a cozy feel. The colors are mostly blue and silver, colors that match her ice queen persona.
“Good morning.” The mistress of the house greets me with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Do step in before the wind brings the snow inside the parlor.”
Two servants take my coat, my muffler, and my hat. I thank them courteously, as I do with any servant in the palace, and they look at me with a brief moment of surprise. I doubt Bianca has ever bothered to thank them.
“You have a beautiful house,” I say, making an effort to be friendly. “And very well furnished.”
“It is nothing compared to your quarters,” Bianca says coldly. “The size of this house isn’t any larger than the greenhouse in the palace.”
She definitely still holds a grudge toward me. Then why did she invite me here to introduce me to a prospective student? It has to be pressure from an elder relative. She’d never be this benevolent to encourage more pupils for my sake.
Or does she have something more sinister in mind? But as much as she hates me, surely Bianca doesn’t have the nerve to harm the princess of Athelia. Lady Bradshaw was ostracized since I made it known that she tried to have Elle drowned. Besides, I’m sure Edward would expel Bianca from Athelia if she tried to do anything to me.
We pass through the sitting room, which is decorated in the same blue-and-silver theme of the other rooms. I pause, but Bianca doesn’t stop. “What are you looking at, Katriona?”