Ellie and the Prince (Faraway Castle #1)(32)
He waited while she turned in her dinner tray, then fell in step beside her, even holding the door for her. Embarrassed, she tried to think of a polite way to dismiss him. “This is quite unnecessary, Your Highness. You have already far exceeded any reasonable expectations. I was totally out of place to demand your help the way I did.”
“Maybe so, but I truly don’t mind,” he told her with a genuine smile. “You can pay me back by telling me what happened on the lake today, since no one seems to know. Or else no one will tell me.”
“I can’t tell you much, since after I pulled Prince Omar out of the lake I spent the rest of the day answering questions and filling out legal forms. Again. I suppose the legal ramifications of siren enchantment might be severe, but most of the questions I answered today seemed silly and entirely unrelated to the situation.”
“You are talking to a law student, Miss Calmer. Watch your language when you speak of legal forms.”
Ellie laughed again and offered no further objection to his assistance. Not only might his attention help people forget seeing her and Omar together, but she found his dry sense of humor both refreshing and challenging. She related most of the morning’s events to him as they walked to the ballroom, then told him she expected the Gamekeeper to arrive that evening. “He usually meets me at the castle after dark—I think he checks in with the director—so I should wait around here. The brownies often tell me when he arrives.”
“I am interested to see this Gamekeeper. But hasn’t the director been away all day?” he asked as she opened the service door to the ballroom.
“She must have returned by now. Would you go and see while I clean this floor?”
“Why not?” Briar smiled, bowed, and walked away.
Ellie looked after him for a moment, frowning. Few royals possessed magic these days. She couldn’t help liking him, yet she did not think he was a person she should fully trust. But then, what boy that good-looking ever was trustworthy?
Giving her head a little shake, she entered the ballroom. Cinder sprites squeaked from the cages in the corner. “Good evening, squeakers,” she said, infusing her voice with happiness. “I hope you enjoyed being served by a prince all day.” After checking on them, she switched on a few lights in places that didn’t get natural light from the windows, took a broom and mop from the janitor’s closet, and pulled out her cleaning-fluid spray bottle. Either Briar or the brownies had cleaned the floor already, but nothing eliminated a sulphur stink like her herbal spray. She mentally infused it with the scent of a mountain breeze and set to work.
When the polished ballroom floor reflected the evening’s last rays of sunlight and the domed ceiling, she stopped, leaned on her mop’s handle, and surveyed her handiwork. Often, while working, she forgot to notice the beauty surrounding her.
Faraway Castle was truly a worthy setting for its noble and royal guests. She could easily imagine royal balls held in this room, balls hosted by a great king, long departed. The guests would have danced to the polonaise and mazurka in huge hoop skirts. Or was the castle that old? She knew little about its history, and no one else seemed to know more.
She turned around and nearly screamed. A huge, hulking figure loomed from a shadowy corner. “Oh! Gamekeeper, I did not hear you arrive.” No surprise there. He walked with the stealth of a panther.
“I entered only a moment ago.” His deep voice was quiet, yet it seemed to shake the floor. He wore a hooded cape that entirely concealed his face, of which Ellie had occasionally caught glimpses and knew better than to attempt a clearer look. She was content to remain ignorant.
“Where is your wagon parked?” she asked.
“A young prince advised me to park it beside that door.” He pointed to the delivery service entrance. “He told me you were here. I stopped by your cottage first and loaded up the sprites and imps. Are these cages ready to go?”
“Yes sir. I caught these sprites this morning. The big male went ember, but he seems to be recovering well.”
The idea of this huge creature entering her locked cottage with no effort and removing her creatures was disconcerting, but there was nothing she could do about it except be grateful that he was benevolent.
She thought she had concealed her thoughts, but his hooded head tilted slightly. “I did not enter your home,” he said.
She ducked her head. “Thank you, sir.” She should have known. His magic skills were beyond anything she could guess, and during the three years she had worked for this mysterious personage, not once had he given her cause to doubt his integrity.
The Gamekeeper bent over the cages on the ballroom floor. “They look healthy and well fed. I will not disturb them now. I tend to frighten other creatures at first.”
Ellie did not doubt it. He had many characteristics of a predator. His gloves could not completely hide the sharp claws within, and his feet, though booted just now, were large and wide.
“I will carry them out,” she offered.
“I can help.” Briar walked across the ballroom floor from the main hallway. “I met the Gamekeeper near the director’s office and told him what I know of today’s events.”
He sounded so nonchalant that Ellie gave him a close look. Encountering someone like the Gamekeeper should affect any normal person. Briar’s eyes looked wide, yet he maintained an outward show of unconcern. Bravado, perhaps.