Masque (The Two Monarchies Sequence) by W.R. Gingell

Author:W.R. Gingell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: curse, beauty and the beast, fairytale retelling, retelling classics, magic and murder

Part Two

Chapter One

I woke up in a strange bed as the night began to lighten into morning and the first sun of the triad peeked over the horizon. I gazed up at the four massive posts of the bed thoughtfully, sifting through last night’s memories, and wriggled my shoulders uncomfortably. Keenan had burrowed under the mound of pillows, pushing them up under my right side and making further sleep impossible, so I climbed out of bed and curled up in the windowseat instead. Vadim, charming child, had packed my inkless scroll-and-pen with my night things, and since dawn arrived in Civet a little before Glause, it was not inconceivable that Annabel would be up.

Accordingly, I put pen to scroll, and wrote.

Annabel, are you up?

After a few minutes, one word inked into being. Unfortunately.

I laughed softly. Morning sickness?

No: Melchior. Belle, what have you been up to?

The Glausian Watch thinks my little Papa murdered three people, I wrote. I’m collateral. Annabel, I refuse to be held prisoner by a man who dips biscuits in his tea! Get me out of here!

You know I can’t. Besides, Melchior thinks it might be for the best.

I sighed, but I wasn’t really surprised. I know you can’t. As for what Melchior thinks is best, all I can say is that Delysia is possibly the only one who doesn’t understand his ‘veiled’ references. You’re sniggering, aren’t you?

Yes, Belle. Yes I am. Don’t let it get you down; I’m sure it won’t be long before Lord Pecus clears your father. Then you’ll be free as a bird.

Unless Lord Pecus decides to suppress a little evidence in order to keep me out of the way, I scribbled glumly. I wouldn’t put it past him. Annabel, this is war!

Well, that’s what we’re trying to avoid, isn’t it? wrote Annabel practically. Be a big girl and manage. I know you can.

Oh, I’ll manage very well, I wrote vengefully. Lord Pecus will just see. I’ll not let my little Papa be suspected any longer than I must.

Just don’t get arrested for treason yourself, Belle. I’ll go into premature labour, and it will be all your fault.

Very premature, I told her dryly, chuckling. You’ve another seven months, by my count.

And I fully expect you to be home again by that time. I have to go, Belle; Jenny is beating up James. When you’re back you’ll have to teach her how to negotiate.

Keenan stirred and muttered as I laughed aloud. Very well. My love to the children.

I rolled the scroll up with a sigh, tucking the quill into the roll. Golden light was beginning to spill into the garden below me, glinting on dew-soaked lawn and lush greenery, and it was not long before I heard the clatter of a coal scuttle.

The maid who entered was masked, and I found myself surprised, though it was hard to say why. After all, my information had suggested as much, and every servant at the ball last night had been masked. It was perhaps, I thought amusedly, that one didn’t expect a chambermaid to be masked.

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