Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(22)

We go through a maze of corridors and stairways, until we end up at a large golden-gilded door. Jér?me shoves me inside and closes the door behind me. There are several maids cleaning the room, who jump up and curtsy when they see us. Jér?me, however, barely acknowledges the gesture. He strides to another door, opens it, and pushes me inside.

“You’re going to stay here until I figure out what should be done to you,” he says, a grin spreading across his face. “Don’t you ever think of escaping. You are a criminal, and if you cause any disturbance at my brother’s wedding, death shall be your only release. Now, I must find where Salome disappeared. Do not pine for me while I am away.”

He slams the door. “Don’t even think of escaping, or I shall chain you to the bed.” I look around and discover there's a pair of handcuffs hanging on the wall. Nausea sweeps over me, and I flinch. Geez, this man is sick.

Jér?me’s laughter echoes through the door. “Till later, my lovely Athelian.”

There's the sound of a bolt being pulled into place. I also hear him giving instructions to the maids outside that no one should let me out, except when he comes back.

I look around the room. It’s gorgeously furnished, so magnificent that my eyes hurt from the abundance of pink and gold. Edward once told me that Moryn is lagging behind Athelia in terms of technology, but in respect to the furnishings of the palace, they are even more splendid than my suite in the palace.

I rush to the window and look out. I estimate I’m on the fifth floor, there are no trees nearby, and there are sentries positioned in the courtyard. Even if I can climb out of the window, I’ve no way to get down or avoid being seen.

Tears prick my eyes. Tears of frustration and fear threaten to slide over my face. My stomach growls loudly and I wish I could eat something, though that isn’t the most important thing now.

How am I going to get out of here?





13





Kat





Confined in the bedroom, I draw my knees up to my chin. I have to escape, but I've no idea how to do that. I’ve tried pounding on the door, threatening the maids, trying to gain their sympathy, but to no avail. Apparently, Jér?me has such power over them that they dare not disobey him. Which is normal. And I don’t have anything I could use to bribe them. The dress I’m wearing is fairy-made, but it’s not striking like the ball gowns Meg produced, nor could it compare to the dresses I’ve seen around here. I have no jewelry, no money. Which reminds me, even if I escape, I can’t get far unless I can steal some money.

How lucky I was when I was first transported to Athelia. At Lady Bradshaw’s house, and at the palace, I never had to worry about mundane stuff like money. Right now, I don’t even know how much it would take to get from Moryn back to Athelia. I wonder how Katriona Bradshaw fared when she survived here. It must have been even more difficult for her, considering how she ended up in a foreign country with the wedding dress and ring.

I stand up. If Katriona Bradshaw can do it, then so can I. I can sit on the floor and wallow in frustration and misery, or I can try to find out alternative methods to escape. At least I wasn’t transported to some miserable run-down place like Elle’s old house.

From how the sun shines in the courtyard outside, I gather that it is afternoon. I inspect the wardrobe, the dressers, the trunks under the bed. But all I can find are blankets and tons of dresses. There are a few corsets that look scandalous, even by our modern-day standards, and confirms that Moryn is more sexually-liberated compared to Athelia. I remember that couple kissing in the alcove in the corridor, and how they didn’t appear embarrassed when I found them. From past experience, I’ve never seen corsets revealing so much skin in Athelia. No wonder they invented the corset-free tea gown.

Can I strangle Jér?me with a blanket? I’d love to, but even though he looks foppish, my experience in karate taught me that most men will dominate me in strength, no matter how hard I practice. When he grabbed my arm, it felt that he could squeeze my bones. If it’s a contest of arm-wrestling, I’d definitely lose.

There’s a vase of flowers on the mantelpiece. Maybe I can strike him over the head with it? I can hide behind the door and bonk him on the head, but then what? The maids will raise an alarm, and I’ll be seized and sentenced to death for murder. A dead Jér?me won’t do me any good.

A horn blares outside, drawing my attention to the window. Several magnificent carriages, all of them gilded with gold, have arrived in the courtyard. Several magnificently dressed people get off the carriage, and I feel like my heart is going to burst. I may be far away on the fifth floor, but I am sure the person who emerged from the second carriage is Edward.

My heart swells; I want nothing but to cup my hands and holler to him. He must have missed me terribly. How I wish I could race up to him right now and let him know I’m alive and well.

Someone else steps off the same carriage, but it’s another nobleman. Weird. I thought Katriona Bradshaw would accompany Edward; it’s impossible he could attend the Moryn wedding by himself. Augustin invited me to come to Moryn during the State Visit. Once Edward learns I’m here, safe and sound…

I turn back to my room, filled with a new resolve. I have to get out, I need to come up with a plan. There are voices, probably from the maids outside. I go to the door and press my ear against it, wondering if there’s something from their conversation I could use.