The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale #2)(52)

Avelina shrugged. “It was never to be. I never expected to marry the margrave.”

Magdalen gave her a sad frown.

Seeing the compassion on Magdalen’s face, Avelina’s composure started to unravel. She bit the inside of her lip to try to gain control. “I will let you go to bed since it is very late. Thank you for letting me explain and apologize.”

They walked to the door together and Magdalen gave her a hug. “Please know that you will always be my friend. If I can ever do anything for you, please . . .”

“Thank you.” It was all Avelina could trust herself to say. She squeezed her tight, then Magdalen slipped out and went down the corridor to her own chamber.

Avelina walked back to the bed and curled up in a ball, too weighed down to even undress or get under the covers.





19



AVELINA HEARD THE door to Irma’s small room open. She lifted her head from the bed. She must have finally cried herself to sleep. Her eyes were gritty and her head ached.

Irma hurried toward her. “I see you are taking this hard, but this is no time to pity yourself. We have to leave, now.”

“Now? In the middle of the night?”

“It’s not the middle of the night. It will soon be morning. And we have to leave before Lord Thornbeck throws us out in the cold. Come on. Get your things together.”

“He wouldn’t throw us out while it’s still dark.” At least, she hoped he wouldn’t.

“I have heard from the other servants that he is furious.” Irma glared down at her.

Avelina did not bother to sit up. Her face felt heavy and her eyes burned. “Why should we hurry back? We will not exactly be welcomed at Plimmwald, now that we have failed so thoroughly.”

“Listen, Avelina. You are not thinking clearly.” Irma started gathering things from around the room and stuffing them in bags. “Let me make the decisions. If we leave now, Friedrich can go with us and we won’t have to ride by ourselves all the way to Plimmwald.”

“But did Lord Plimmwald not send guards to escort us back?”

Irma huffed. “We cannot depend on them. They will have heard, like everyone else, that you are only a servant girl. They’re probably halfway back to Plimmwald already to tell the earl the news. Besides, Friedrich has arranged it all, and he will lend his protection.”

“Friedrich? Is that your love’s name?”

“Yes, that is his name. While you were enjoying yourself with the margrave and pretending you were a princess, I was . . . enjoying myself as well. At least Friedrich loves me and is willing to help us.”

“Can’t we wait until morning?” Another tear leaked out as she pressed her hand over her face.

“It’s nearly dawn now! You cannot tell because it is snowing.”

“Snowing? When did that start?”

“During the night. Now get up and help me. You aren’t an earl’s daughter anymore.”

Avelina sighed and pushed herself up. What would happen to them once they were back in Plimmwald? Nothing good.

She helped Irma pack up their things. “Do you think we will make it safely back to Plimmwald with no guards?” Traveling presented many dangers.

“We have to, princess. Now let us go.”

They hefted the bags to their shoulders and left the room.

No one was around the dark corridor, with only one torch burning. Irma headed to the back stairs, the ones the servants used, and Avelina followed her. Irma certainly was in a hurry. Avelina had never seen her move so fast.

She probably should not be leaving without Lord Thornbeck’s permission. He had sent her to her chamber and expected her to stay there until he told her to leave. But he would surely not care that she was sneaking away early in the morning. He would be glad to get rid of her, of the reminder of his folly of choosing to marry the only maiden among ten who was a mere servant.

“Oh, wait! I have to say farewell to Lady Magdalen.” She turned and started back up the stairs.

“No!” Irma whispered. “We need to go now. Friedrich will be waiting; the horses will be waiting.”

Avelina hesitated. No, she could not go without telling Magdalen. “I’ll only take a minute.” She hurried to Magdalen’s door with her heavy load, then laid it on the floor by the door and knocked.

Hegatha answered, her lips pursed in a sour frown. She just stared at Avelina.

“Please, may I speak to Lady Magdalen, only for a moment?”

Magdalen came up behind Hegatha in her underdress. “I am here.”

Hegatha moved away.

“I wanted to tell you I am leaving, and to say thank you for your friendship.”

“Why are you leaving?”

“We have the chance to go back with a man to guard us, but we have to go now.”

Magdalen reached out and embraced her. “I will miss you, and I hope I see you again. Are you sure you should be leaving now?”

“Yes, I must go. Farewell, and thank you.” Avelina turned to leave so Magdalen would not see her cry.

“Come, make haste,” Irma said when she returned. “We have a long way to go.”

Irma’s gaze darted to the side, and she would not look at Avelina.

When they got to the bottom floor of the castle and walked outside, the cold hit Avelina in the face, along with huge flakes of snow that clung to her eyelashes and the dampness on her cheeks. The moon was nowhere in sight, obscured by the snow and clouds. Irma was ahead of her and she plunged forward into the darkness toward the stable.