Midnight in Everwood(36)

Stepping up onto the tip of her ballet slippers en pointe, Marietta took a few quick little bourrée steps backwards.

‘Why how marvellous. How marvellous indeed.’

The captain cleared his throat. ‘Your Majesty, she is but a local woman. I possess not a dusting of doubt that this is but some delightful novelty purchased from the Veil of Enchantments.’

King Gelum held up one long finger. His amusement was sharp-edged. ‘Now, captain, we mustn’t be greedy with the girl. You are as aware as I am that no one in Everwood, in this world, can dance in this manner, no matter the enchantments purchased. It is a wondrous sight indeed.’ He tilted his head to one side, evaluating Marietta. ‘How would you like to stay as an honoured guest in my palace?’

‘I am most flattered by your invitation, however I am afraid I must decline. I have a prior obligation I must see to,’ Marietta said. The upcoming performance of The Sleeping Beauty would see her light up the stage in the position of a prima ballerina and she could not pass on such a gift.

The king looked amused. ‘I am not accustomed to refusals.’

‘It was not my intention to offend—’

‘You are strong-willed, I admire that.’ The king’s attention lingered on her. ‘Imagine the sparkling balls and feasts where you would dance every night. Garbed by your own dressmaker, you would have a new gown for each performance you enchant us with.’ He snapped his fingers and a man, dressed in candy-cane stripes and bearing a silver tray, appeared at his side. The king waved a hand at the tray. ‘Would you care for one?’

Marietta selected a chocolate mouse with a cherry for a nose and sugar-whiskers. Temptation was a devious creature. It whispered in her ear, played to her vanities and slunk deep and deeper yet until it set her heart aflame with longing. For why did she care to return to her own world for a single performance when here she might dance as if she was one of the princesses in that old story, left with ragged shoes each morn and sleeping with a secret smile on her lips? The king admired her will. Perhaps she could be freer here, then. Frederick she would miss but she supposed she might visit him. Perhaps bring him back with her so he might learn of the delights of Everwood beside her. Or, if she truly did not care for life in the palace, she would just leave herself when the time came.

She felt rather than saw Captain Legat stiffen beside her.

Caught in a heady rush that showered her with glittering thoughts, Marietta smiled. ‘I shall accept your most generous offer, King Gelum.’

‘Oh wonderful, wonderful!’ The king clapped his hands together with childish glee and Marietta’s smile curved wider. ‘I shall have you escorted to your suite.’ He clicked his fingers and Legat stood to attention.

‘Right away, Your Majesty.’ He beckoned to Claren, who stepped forward at once.

‘Thank you kindly,’ Marietta said, allowing Claren to guide her away. When she glanced back, she noticed two guards, each suited in a livery of indigo and charcoal, stood in the shadows. Their features were shrouded with blank white masks, rendering them faceless and mute. ‘Who are those?’ she asked in an undertone.

‘They’re the Faceless Guards. Unlike the traditional soldiers that make up the official King’s Army, protectors of Everwood, the Faceless Guards work only for the king. They’re not trained as soldiers; they function purely as King Gelum’s personal bodyguards. In fact, no one’s ever seen their true faces,’ Claren said, and she cast another wondering look back. She noticed Legat shifting his gaze from her, wearing a mask of his own, his golden hair tousled as if he’d run a hand through it. The spectacle struck up again, the servers skating out to offer petits fours and goblets as the musicians launched into a fast waltz.

Marietta and Claren set foot on the winding staircase. The stairs were lacquered in rich garnet and thick cream, alternating colours in candy cane stripes. Every few steps, they passed a door. Mulberry with pointed arches, set into the curving midnight wall. She wondered where they all led. A golden cage with three women clothed in matching sapphire suits winched past them, riding down to the throne room. They all turned to fix their opera glasses on Claren and Marietta with a flash of silver-painted lips and hair, a trio of fallen stars.

‘It seems I shall be spending a little longer in your world after all,’ Marietta said.

‘So it does,’ Claren said. Although his tone was polite, he was less chipper than he had been and Marietta considered that perhaps he was envious. After all, she was to be a guest of his king.

He didn’t speak again and it wasn’t long until they halted before a door. Two faceless guards stood to either side of it. ‘Is this security really necessary?’ she asked Claren.

He tugged his jacket collar. ‘The king insists on it,’ he said at last, holding the door open for her.

She took her leave of him and entered the suite, shutting the door.

A sigh caressed the air behind her.

Marietta spun to face the two women watching her – one of which was the woman she’d seen earlier, a confection in plum and midnight shades. ‘I told you to leave,’ she said, her voice smooth and rich as buttercream. A venom-laced edge lurked beneath it that better suited the contempt twisting her glossy black lips.

‘Why did you?’ Marietta asked, her irritation blossoming. ‘I was not given to believe that I was not the sole occupant of this suite.’