Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(53)

We dismount and stride up to the door. A few raps, and Susan looks out. Her eyes widen for a second, and then she sinks into a deep curtsy.

“Your Highness! We did not expect you would be here today, the weather being…Please, come inside and I’ll get you both a cup of hot tea.”

Inside, the mayor is seated on his easy chair. He attempts to rise, but I hold up a hand. There is no need for him to bow; we are not at court and he has a lame leg. My attention is drawn to the man sitting across him. He has a tanned face, bushy eyebrows, and thick arms. When he speaks, there is a distinct Moryn country accent.

“Prince of Athelia,” he stammers, making a clumsy bow.

“Jacques?” I hold out my hand. “Thank you for making this journey across the sea. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. In the letter, you mentioned your identity. Now, can you prove to us who you are?”

He raises his left arm and uncurls his fingers. A ring sparkles on his palm. It is identical to the one I’m wearing, the one Katriona is wearing, and also the one that Kat wears around her neck.

“Excellent.” I gesture to the mayor, Susan, and Bertram. “We have three witnesses present. Are you willing to swear that everything you say is true?”

Jacques bows. “O…of course, Your Highness.”

“Very good.” I sit down, and indicate that everyone do the same. “Now, tell me everything you know.”





26





Kat





Of all of us, Langley is the first to react. “Er...” he looks at me, and then at Katriona. “Lady, may I inquire who you are?”

Katriona darts a look at me, her expression filled with shock...and then turning into hatred. “You told me that you…why did you come back?”

“Your Highness?” Langley looks at me with uncertainty.

My heart sinks to the soles of my feet. There’s the same sense of doom as when I first encountered Katriona at Bianca’s house, but this time it’s even greater. Why did they choose to visit at this very moment?

Bianca raises a finger and points at me accusingly. “You witch. How dare you show your face in the capital again?”

Langley looks confused. Elle takes my arm and glares at Bianca. “Don’t call her that, Lady Pembroke.”

“Hold your tongue, you insolent girl,” Bianca sneers. “You’re no different from her. You may bear a title, but at heart you’re a lowly commoner attempting to ape your betters.”

“Commoner?” Langley frowns. “Who are you calling a commoner? This is Princess Katriona and Lady Elle.”

Bianca makes a noise of disdain. “Princess, indeed! Has she been deceiving you again? She’s just a nobody who happens to look like my sister.”

“But...” Langley says, clearly at a loss how to handle this. “But she signed her name as Katriona Bradshaw...”

Crap. It’s all over. My plan—the plan I thought was brilliant—it’s totally shattered. Worse, Bianca and Katriona now know I’m back. And I had just committed an unpardonable crime of using Katriona’s name.

“What did she do?” Bianca narrows her eyes.

“Did…didn’t Her Highness intend to sign over 102 Longbourne Street to Lady Elle?”

“How interesting.” There’s a gleam of malicious intent in Bianca's eyes, and she gives me a cold, cruel smile. “May we have a look at those papers? And send for a man from the Metropolitan Police.”

“No!” Elle cries. She stands in front of me, as though she could shield me from Bianca’s wrath. “Please, I can explain, there’s no need to bring in the police.”

Nothing good can come of bringing in the police. I bolt, but I haven’t gone a few paces before the burly guard by the door seizes me. I use every move of karate I know, but his strength is overpowering. Every punch I land only makes him wince, but he doesn’t loosen his grip.

I’m trapped.

Bianca folds her arms, ignoring Elle. “Finally. Witch, you shall receive what you deserve.”



* * *



Impersonation and forgery. That’s what Bianca charged me with. It was too obvious, once Langley got the papers. The policeman sent from the nearest station seems particularly unfriendly, once Bianca stated my crimes.

“The nerve of her,” he says, sending me a disgusted look and producing a pair of handcuffs. “I don’t know anyone who’d dare to impersonate the princess. Don’t worry, Lady Pembroke. She’ll certainly be thoroughly punished.”

A shiver runs down my spine, but I refuse to let them see my fear. I’m not brave, but the last thing I want is to give Bianca the satisfaction of me being cowered.

“Stop!” Elle exclaims. “What are you planning to do to her?”

The policeman stares at her, confused. “We’re taking her back to the station, ma’am. A person who has committed a criminal offense as this can’t be let off lightly.”

“Are you saying you’re holding her at the police station until there’s a sentence dealt?” Elle says, her voice rising. “You can’t do this. She isn’t convicted; you can’t hold her. I’ll bail her out.”

“Don’t you dare interfere,” Bianca hisses. “If you impede justice being served, I can also deal with you.” She lowers her voice and speaks to Elle, who turns white. Maybe some threat to her family?