Strike at Midnight(64)
“And you need to understand that maybe we aren’t so different.” He took a step closer towards me. “Let me in, Rella. Let me get to know you.”
That was the last thing I wanted, knowing it was fear of what he would truly think of me shutting me up. But I didn’t care. He had flinched because of one word I had said. He had pulled me away from Helena because, despite his words, he must have thought the same thing as me. That I was capable of it. Imagine what he would think of the rest?
“I need to go,” I said, walking away from him.
I didn’t hear him follow, so I left him alone with his thoughts. He was a sweet guy to think there was some good in me, that there was something beneath the hard facade worth knowing. But he was wrong and he deserved better. I was here for a reason, and I needed to get my head back in the game. Not to mention I was done with dungeons and psychotic marriage-hungry bitches.
It was time to get back to work.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The Soaking of Dumpty's Breeches
The dinner banquet was a lavish affair.
Three beautifully lacquered tables placed vertically next to one another in the dining hall had been filled with the brightest and most colorful of food and drinks in preparation for us. The prince and his father were already sitting at the head table that had been placed in the opposite direction so they could look upon their guests, and we had been allowed to sit where required, as there had been no prior seating arrangements.
Goblets and cutlery of an intricate design had been placed at every setting, and there were around eighty people in the large room. The servants were in for a treat.
A great boar head had been placed not far from where I was seated, and the roasted apple in its mouth gave off a scent of cinnamon and other spices. It made my belly turn over with hunger, but even I had to admit I was glad it was only for decoration. I didn’t mind eating off a bone—needs must in some cases—but I stopped short from eating straight off the head. It felt like it was staring at me, begging me not to eat it, even if the eyes had been sewn shut.
We had decided on earlier in the day that we should split up at the banquet so we could approach different people and try to gain any information regarding the duke. I had updated Rapunzel and Melody on what had happened in the dungeons before Rapunzel had to be blinked back to her tower. Rapunzel had flitted from being relieved that the duke could still be alive, then to angry at the audacity of Helena. It had taken Mia to explain the lengths many women would go to in order to get a wealthy man locked up into wedlock nice and tight, and that had left me reeling at the thought of the prince and his interest in me. I really needed to talk to him and put an end to this for good, especially when the thought of him and his touch drove me to distraction.
Just for tonight, I could have some distance from him while I gathered my thoughts and kept him at arm’s length. Maybe common sense had been able to find him once he had returned back to the upper levels of the castle? Either way, I could have a reprieve, because after the banquet people would most likely retire for the evening to get ready for the events tomorrow. That meant the prince would stay on his table with his father and I would stay on mine.
Lord and Lady Camembert weren’t due to arrive until the morning so that avenue of inquiry would have to wait. But when we had entered the hall earlier, I had noticed Lord Peacock and decided to jump in the seat next to him before anyone else had the opportunity. I knew I had already questioned him, but he also said he knew the duke, so he might be able to help with other information that had come to light.
He had welcomed me with a smile when he realized who I was without the tunic and pink hair, but unfortunately, Lord Dumpty was like a bad smell and had taken the seat on the other side of him. So far I had been subjected to a lecture of why ladies should not enter male establishments and expect a welcome. He was obviously out of his face, seeing as he swayed from side to side as he spoke, but that didn’t stop his words of condemnation. The asshole had been taking advantage of the fact that I couldn’t threaten or do any form of bodily harm in this environment, but enough was enough. I waited for the servant to refill my goblet, then completely cut across him to talk to Lord Peacock.
“We’ve had some recent advancements on what we were discussing last time I spoke with you,” I said to him, and he hid a smile at the gasp that Lord Dumpty had let out in response to my rudeness.
“Is there anything I can help with?” he asked, and we continued to politely converse in between eating the meat, cheese, and fruits that had been made available for us to choose from.
“Maybe,” I replied. “Are you aware of a woman called Helena Heartworthy?”
“I don’t think so,” he said after pausing to chew and swallow what had been in his mouth.
“She has been linked to the duke. I thought he might have mentioned her.”
“Helena Fartworthy, more like,” Lord Dumpty said from the other side of Lord Peacock. I leaned forward to speak with him and saw that his eyes were swirling slightly from his overzealous drinking.
“Do you know her?”
“You know, Barnaby,” Lord Dumpty said, taking another sip of his drink and ignoring me. “The one who he claimed wanted a ring on her finger and spoke of nothing else. He said she tried claiming she was with child, his child—” he hiccupped then carried on “—the rumors were found untrue and then he dropped her quite viciously.”