The Chess Queen Enigma by Gleason Colleen

Author:Gleason, Colleen [Gleason, Colleen]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Published: 2015-10-12T07:00:00+00:00

Miss Holmes

Quick-Wit

Lurelia was understandably startled when I informed her we must leave.

“But so quickly? And my roasted chicken hasn’t arrived. I want to know what are whipped potatoes. And where is Evaline?” she asked.

I hesitated to put my hands on a member of the Betrovian Royal Family—or any royal, for that matter—but if she didn’t come with me, I was going to have to put that concern aside and drag her out. The vampires could show themselves at any moment, and I knew from personal experience how quickly they moved and how frighteningly strong they were.

“Miss Stoker felt ill and left to go home.” It wasn’t one of my better fabrications, but I couldn’t worry about that.

“But I don’t wish to leave until I’ve eaten. The chicken sounds delicious. We don’t eat much chicken in Betrovia.”

I held up my hands in a genteel effort to remind her to keep her voice low. No one needed to hear the word “Betrovia.”

“I’m feeling rather nauseated myself . . . perhaps it’s being so high up in the air. I really must leave before I . . . well, it may not be pleasant if I don’t find a carriage soon.” I put my hand over my midriff and attempted to appear as if I were ready to retch at any moment.

Though Lurelia continued to gawk at me as if she couldn’t quite comprehend the situation—perhaps she was afraid I actually would vomit—she allowed me to escort her from the Founders’ Room.

Naturally, I had paid strict attention to the layout of the club, so I knew precisely where we were and which route we must travel to find the main entrance. Because the porter had taken us on a very thorough tour, we had several turns to make, and one set of stairs to descend. As we made our way down the corridor, I did my best to keep the princess moving quickly without appearing to rush.

We passed a number of gentlemen in groups or walking along independently. Fortunately, none of them took any notice of us and I made certain not to meet the eyes of anyone we encountered. And, also fortunately—and to my disappointment—no one seemed to recognize me as the Ankh. I wasn’t certain what that meant, but I didn’t have time to mull over that now.

Instead, as we hurried along, I listened carefully for the sounds of altercation or distress, but heard nothing besides the same chatter and occasional bursts of laughter or exclamation from behind the closed doors.

Down the stairs, then two more short hallways, pass by the Brandy Room, and Lurelia and I would be one turn from the main entrance.

One might wonder about the ease with which I allowed Miss Stoker to convince me to take Lurelia, while leaving my partner to fend for herself, but it was the best and only option. Not only was Miss Stoker equipped and prepared (at least, once I reminded her of the wooden walking stick) to combat any UnDead, it was imperative the princess be removed from the vicinity of any sort of threat.

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