Missing Lily (Tales of Dalthia) (9 page)

He was too close. “You are getting married soon?” My question sat in the air, waiting for Rhys to breathe.

“Relatively.” His voice was an unwilling whisper.

My breath stuttered as I breathed in. “Then why are you standing so close to me?”

A fraction of a moment passed before he took one step back. “My apologies, Miss Lily.”

I waited for him to say more, but he walked out of the room and I missed him as soon as the door closed. I hadn’t meant to drive him away. Or maybe I had. It was better that he kept his distance. It was better that I kept
my
distance.

My knees trembled, so I sank down into a chair. I had known this man for three days. So why was I sick to my stomach at knowing that he belonged to someone else? I had been telling myself that he was only a compassionate host, a kind soul—a friend even. Why then did I feel betrayed?
 

A knock sounded at my door and I stiffened. I wasn’t ready to face Rhys again. “Yes?” My voice quavered.

“It’s Juliann, miss.”

I opened the door. “Come in.”

She bobbed a curtsey before entering with her tray of food. “Rosamond sent up a tray, since you missed dinner. She thought you might like to eat in your room, though she says you’re welcome to come eat downstairs, of course.”

I smiled. Rosamond had a way of guessing at my moods. “I will eat here, thank you.”

She dipped her head, then set her tray on the table before moving the chair in front of it. “Anything else I can get for you, Miss Lily?”

I shook my head. “No, Juliann, I’ll be just fine. Thank you. And thank Rosamond for me.”

“Of course, miss.” A final bob and she left me to eat in peace.
 

Staring at the food, I realized I wasn’t hungry, but forced myself to eat anyway. Juliann came to collect my dishes and I went to bed, wondering why Rosamond hadn’t made an appearance, wondering how the day would play out tomorrow.
 

I had practically accused the lord of the manor of making inappropriate advances on me.
 

Sleep did not come easily.

Chapter 6

I
WOKE
THE
next morning feeling deflated. Nothing prompted me from my bed. The anticipation of seeing Rhys was squelched by my reality. Not only was he unavailable, he didn’t even know my real name. I thought long and hard about just telling him the truth, but couldn’t bring myself to do it. He was going to get married, and I felt certain that my heartache would be less knowing that he had never known the real me.

I had to get home today. Surely the river had had time enough to recede to a safe level. And the roads had been practically dry last night. It was time for me to leave. As much as I wanted to continue feeling as though I belonged here, that wasn’t my reality.

Throwing my covers back, I hurried to ready myself for the day. I had never learned to set my own hair and simply left it loose. There was no one I needed to impress.

I wrapped myself in a shawl to ward off the morning chill and left my room, intent on getting downstairs to breakfast so that I could take my leave.

I took the servants’ stairs in an effort to avoid both Fallon men. They led directly into the kitchen and were closed in on both sides. Halfway down, my feet stumbled to a halt when I saw Tobias leaning casually against the wall. Had he nothing better to do than stalk me? My body stiffened and I drew closer to the opposite wall. He just kept me fixed in his gaze, waiting to strike, and I stifled the urge to cry out for help. This was his house, after all. I was the intruder, regardless of the apprehension he instilled in me. My feet had just started to move past him when he pushed away from the wall and stepped toward me. I fell back, the rough stone of the stairwell digging into my back as I tried to maintain as much distance as possible.

“Miss Lily, is it?”

I didn’t respond as he stepped up to me, closer than necessary. He had a pleasant smile on his face, but the way he moved toward me made me want to recoil further.

“It seems that in my wine-induced haze, I may have treated you disrespectfully. Please accept my sincerest apologies.” He made a show of putting a hand to his heart and bowing low, but I could see him smiling.
 

I swallowed, said, “Good day, sir,” and stepped past him, practically running down the stairs.

Rosamond was in the kitchen and informed me that breakfast would not be officially served for some time. I asked to just eat in the kitchen and she readily agreed, seeming pleased to have me sitting in her domain.

Rosamond cheerfully set a plate before me and continued with her work, giving orders to Juliann and Cora. I enjoyed watching them interact while eating my meal. They seemed to forget I was there. When they all picked up their dishes and headed for the dining room, I nearly laughed at the way Rosamond clucked about like an overprotective hen, and I was still smiling as the door shut. Then their absence settled over me and I sensed someone else nearby. Heavy footsteps crossed the room and stopped directly behind my chair. I didn’t have to look at him to know who it was. He rested his hands on the armrests at my sides and leaned over my shoulder.

I forced my breathing into a steady rhythm, trying to control my discomfort. “Did you need something, Mr. Fallon?”

Tobias’s breath hit the side of my neck. “I make you nervous, don’t I, Miss Lily?”

There was a smile in his voice and I gave him a pointed glance, incensed by his manipulative behavior. “You mean after the way you manhandled me last evening?”
 

He shrugged as if it were of no consequence.
 

“I find you quite disconcerting, yes.” Denying it would have made me look foolish. “Do you delight in making people uncomfortable?”

His laugh was raucous. “Only some people. There is something about you that is very familiar.... In fact—” I felt him studying me and looked up to see realization come to his eyes along with a giddy smile. “I believe I recognize you.” My muscles stiffened, making my awkward position as I turned to look at him even more uncomfortable. “And I’m almost certain that your name is not what you claim it to be.” His smile went from amused to menacing.

My breath froze in my chest. “Excuse me, sir?”

He moved to my side, leaning even closer, his eyes sweeping my face as his hand reached out to push my hair behind my shoulder. He sneered, saying with relish, “You look quite different without your finery.”

My sharp intake of breath would have been audible if not for Rhys’s shout. “Tobias!”

Tobias rolled his eyes furiously, growling under his breath before turning his head to look at Rhys. “Yes, dear brother.” He pushed himself to stand up straight. “How might I serve you?”

“Join me for breakfast. We’re riding out to check the river as soon as we finish.”

Tobias sauntered toward Rhys. “Your Lordship,” he mocked, giving a dramatic little bow.

I watched him go, slowing my breath and taking in the calm of Rhys’s presence.

He waited until Tobias was out of sight and then turned to me. “I apologize for Tobias. He can be—”

“It’s not your fault.” Hearing him make up excuses for his brother would have increased my anger.

“I know he’s unsettling.”

“Very much so.” I was still staring at the door through which Tobias had left.

“Because he’s so handsome?” he asked sarcastically.

My answer was flat, unamused. “No.”
 

My blunt answer made him snort in amusement. “You don’t find him handsome, then?”

“On the contrary, he’s nearly as handsome as you.” I finally cut my eyes over to him, forcing him to pay attention to my next words. “But you know that’s not why I find him unsettling.”

His expression changed. He had been trying to lighten the mood, but I wouldn’t let him. “I’m sorry about last night.”

My gaze went to the window. “I’m fine.”

“Lily, please look at me.”
 

My eyes snapped back to his face. He had never called me simply Lily before, and it made my heart hurt. “I apologize for last night.” He emphasized each word and I suspected that he knew he had hurt me.

I didn’t want his apology. I didn’t want to forgive him. But admitting how much he had hurt me wasn’t an option. So I dug into the pit of my stomach and forced myself to be gracious. “It’s all right,” I said with a fake smile and an airy shake of the head. “Have a good meal.” He pulled out my chair for me. “And thank you for checking the river.”

His gaze swept my face, trying to gauge my sincerity. “It’s my pleasure, Miss Lily.”

I gave another halfhearted smile and walked away.
 

Chapter 7

W
HILE
R
HYS
AND
Tobias rode out to check the river, I sat in Rhys’s study, a book open on my lap but entirely neglected. Staring out at the countryside, waiting for his return, I realized how attached I was and tried to concentrate on something else, but his presence had saturated my being and my mind would not leave him alone.

I was still staring when the riders approached. Five riders. I sat up, nervous about anyone approaching while Rhys was away. Then I recognized the uniforms. Palace guards. I stood, and the forgotten book tumbled to the floor.

They were looking for me, there was no question about that. And there was no question of my going with them. I hated the idea of leaving Rhys, but it was for the best. Getting to know him better would only hurt me more. Best to leave now before he knew who I was.

As one of the soldiers dismounted just outside the gate, I ran to the desk and scribbled a note.

I’ve found a way to return home safely. Thank you for everything.

Lily

I didn’t give myself time to think of just how inadequate my message would be. It didn’t matter because it was all I could do. Running through the entry, I opened the door and slipped out, knowing that if the soldier knocked, either Rosamond or Juliann would appear.

The guard stood frozen, his mouth gaping in shock. “Princess,” he breathed.

I hurried toward him. “I don’t want to cause a fuss about leaving. Can we go right now?”

He unfroze and led me, without a word, to the group of waiting horses. The riders still sat in shock, but when I put out my hand to one, he startled into action, gripping my forearm and deftly pulling me up to sit behind him.

“Princess, how—”

“Later. Please ride.” That small command was all it took. They didn’t question my lack of explanation. They didn’t question me at all.

My injuries still pained me and I asked that we slow down when we passed beyond Fallon land. I closed my eyes, trying not to focus on my discomfort. A soldier to my right asked, “Are you well, Highness?”

I turned to him and tried to give a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. I was well looked after, but I do have some minor injuries from a fall I took before I came upon the estate.”

“But you were treated well?”

“Very well. They were extremely kind.”

“Then why the hurry to leave, if I might ask?”

Why, indeed? I sighed, trying to make sense of my reasons. “They didn’t know who I was. I didn’t want to make it awkward, foisting my title on them.”

He nodded.
 

“How long have you been looking for me?”

“Your father didn’t even know you were missing until this morning.” My eyebrows shot up. “He thought you were safely with your sister.”
 

Thinking through what had happened, I realized it was a natural assumption. I had tried to return home early, but the miscreants and the weather had brought me here. Relief filled me. At least my parents had not been worrying this whole time.

“You’re shaking, Highness.”

“What?” The words spoken from the soldier I rode with pulled me from my thoughts. He was craning around, studying me.
 

“You have no cloak, Princess.”

I looked down. He was right, of course. My cloak had been left behind, and I was visibly shaking. Another guard pulled his own cloak from his shoulders and draped it around my own. I secured it around my neck and put the hood up. It was still warm from the soldier’s body heat and I warmed quickly.

We rode for some time before a murmur rippled among the soldiers and I looked up to see what had caught their attention.

Rhys and Tobias were returning from the river. They slowed, no doubt planning on having a word with the palace soldiers.

“Don’t stop,” I commanded.
 

“I wasn’t planning on it,” said the soldier riding in front of me. None of them slowed in the slightest. They were returning me to my father. Nothing would slow them.
 

I turned my face away from Tobias and Rhys and kept my head down until we had passed the Fallon brothers.

It was cowardly, but fear for my heart kept bravery at bay.

Approaching the river, I was glad to see that the great stone bridge stood solid. The river was still high enough that water splashed over it, but the horses made the trip across with little trouble. We rode through the village, encountering the curious glances of everyone we passed. A contingent of soldiers riding through the village wasn’t uncommon, but it was still a spectacle, especially when a female figure sat behind one of them. I could tell who must have recognized me by their widened eyes and hushed conversations. It made me smile.