Fatal Fairies (Renaissance Faire Mystery Book 8) (11 page)

“I’ve seen it dozens of times. I think people forget this isn’t a real competition.”

He put me down on the lumpy, broken sofa and stood back to stare at me. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re going to have a black and blue mark on your forehead. That rubber is hard when it hits you with no protection.”

I sat up a little too quickly and was immediately dizzy. “Really. I’m fine. It hurts but nothing life threatening.”

There was a quick knock at the door before the medic opened it. “The Main Gate says it’s too hard to get the ambulance through the crowd. They suggest we bring her down there if we really think it’s necessary.”

“It’s not.” I wobbled to my feet, but was able to stand without help. “Tell them to send it back. Thanks.”

He glanced at Chase, who nodded after a moment. The medic disappeared to alert the Main Gate and the ambulance.

“All right. If you think you’re not hurt,” he said to me. “Let’s at least find you somewhere comfortable to lie down.”

It was extremely odd that Tony came rushing in at that moment. He had a crazy expression on his face as though he’d been slapped in the head with a rubber battle axe instead of me.

“Jessie? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Were you watching the joust?” Tony usually doesn’t hang out at the Field of Honor. Too much like work for him.

“No.” He put his hand to his forehead. “The last thing I remember, I was talking to a pretty girl in a yellow gown by the Lady Fountain. Next thing I knew, I was here. At least that’s what it feels like. I think I need to lie down.”

“Not here,” I discouraged. Maybe my fairy godmother had set this up so Chase and I would have some quiet time together. I wasn’t going to mess that up after she had the axe hit me.

“Well I can’t go to my place,” he blurted. “There was a flood this morning—broken water pipe. I’m not sure where either of us is going to sleep tonight. Have you completely split with the Bailiff? Maybe we could both sleep there.”

“No!” Chase said abruptly. “I’m taking Jessie to the castle. You can sleep here tonight, Tony, if you like.”

“Thanks.” Tony stared at me with a question in his eyes. “Are you and Jessie—?”

“We’re not.” I wished he’d shut up. “Don’t worry about me. Why don’t you go find the woman in yellow?”

“Okay. Good plan.” He shook Chase’s hand. “Thanks for taking care of her.”

Chase mumbled something as he shook Tony’s hand and then turned to me. “Are you ready?”

“I don’t want to go to the castle. I know the joust is off. Let’s go back to the scene of the crime and ask more questions. Maybe we can find the killer today. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

My voice sounded desperate and strange. My head still hurt, but I didn’t want to waste any time in the castle because of it. Chase and I needed to find the killer. I wanted to go back to my Village more than anything. I wanted to sleep in his arms that night, in our bed, in our Dungeon.

“We’re not going anywhere but to the castle.” He picked me up like I was a rag doll. “At least you’re not. Unless you want to go to the hospital, you have to take it easy the rest of the day.”

I leaned my head against his broad shoulder. “Whatever. I just want to go home.”

“I know. We’ll find you somewhere more permanent soon. In the meantime, you need someone to take care of you.”

It was a nice thought. I closed my eyes and let him carry me without protesting. I was surprised when he put me on the front of the horse and climbed up behind me. The rain had slacked off as we ambled away from the Field of Honor. Chase’s arms were around me. Everything was right in the world.

What I hadn’t counted on was the photo-perfect image we had created for hundreds of visitors. Cameras flashed, and people yelled, “
Huzzah
!” I kept my eyes closed and ignored them, but I knew it was going to be hard for Chase to do the same. It would only take a few minutes for our pictures to be on the internet.

It created a spectacle. Visitors to the Village loved a romance even more than a fight. They lined up to watch Chase and me ride slowly down the cobblestones. People threw confetti and flowers. It wouldn’t have surprised me if Adventure Land began ordering a couple to do this every day.

Chase rode right up to the castle gate. It was still guarded by Gus Fletcher, the huge, ex-wrestler.

“Hail, Sir Knight!” Gus shouted at Chase. “Looks like you’ve been hunting.”

“Get the door, huh, Gus? I’m taking her inside for the rest of the day.”

“In a very public way, too. I admire your stamina, sir.” Gus saluted him before he opened the door to the castle.

And immediately inside the door stood Isabelle. She was so angry that I thought she might explode.

“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded. “Why are you bringing her here?”

“Because she has nowhere else to go right now. She can have my room until tomorrow.”

I was between Chase and Isabelle with them talking across me like I was invisible. It was an odd feeling. I wanted to volunteer to leave and get Chase out of this, but a bigger part of me hoped this was the last straw for their relationship. The sooner they broke up, the sooner I could step in and console my husband.

“You forget that you and I share a room.” Isabelle sharply nodded toward me. “She’s not sleeping in my room.”

“And you forget that I have a room of my own here,” he replied. “That’s where I plan to take her.”

He walked by her—it had to be tiring carrying me around.

“You’ll need that room for yourself,” she shouted after him. “You’re not sleeping in my bed tonight, Chase Manhattan!”

I realized as I peeked over Chase’s shoulder that dozens of people had followed us to the castle. They were murmuring to each other and taking pictures. It wasn’t the best publicity, but Adventure Land had a policy that any publicity was better than none.

Gus was laughing as he closed the castle door. I shut my eyes again and sighed.

Isabelle didn’t follow us to Chase’s rooms as I thought she might. He took me to one of the suites used for special visitors to the Village. They weren’t rented and could only be gifted by one of the high-ranking employees of Adventure Land or through an invitation by the king and queen.

“You know I didn’t mean to cause trouble for you.” I sat up as soon as Chase put me on the bed. “I’m okay. Let’s go look for the killer.”

He gently pushed me back on the huge pile of pillows. “Don’t worry about it. Isabelle will get over it. You stay here and rest. I’ll let housekeeping know that you’re here for the day. Let them know if you need anything.”

“Chase—”

“If you don’t rest, I’m personally taking you to the hospital and you can’t squire for me ever again.”

“You already said you have to fire me.”

He glanced at the door to the suite. “Yeah, well maybe that’s not gonna happen now. This might be it for me and Isabelle.”

“I’m sorry. Are you going to take me to the hospital on your horse?”

“No wonder Canyon decided to break up with you,” he growled. “You can be really annoying.”

“I’ve been told. But thanks for this. I promise to stay here in luxury and air conditioning all day and let people wait on me. No problem.”

“I’ll be back later to check on you. No parties or male guests. This is my bed after all.”

He leaned over and carefully kissed my forehead.

I was in heaven as he left me. I sighed and enjoyed my expensive surroundings.

“It’s worked out for the best, as I said.” Starshine was on the bed beside me. “I knew you thought I was crazy, but here you are, in Chase’s bed for the night.”

“Not exactly what I had in mind but better than sleeping at Tony’s place. Thanks for hitting me in the head with the rubber axe.”

She giggled. “Oh, any time, dear. What are fairy godmothers for if not to grant your most important wishes?”

I got up and wandered through the suite that was made up of the huge bedroom, a sitting room, and a luxurious bathroom. My clothes were filthy. I stripped them off and decided to take advantage of the enormous marble bathtub before I did anything else. Who knew when I’d have another chance for a real bath?

Housekeeping said they would call
Stylish Frocks
and have a new costume sent over for me. I also asked for a hot fudge banana split to be delivered in about two hours. It seemed like that would be enough time for me to soak off all the dirt and sand.

Starshine flitted around the suite, turning the television on and off, and looking at herself in the mirrored wall by the bed. Her response to her surroundings would have been something I expected from a child. She even hopped up and down on the bed a few times. At least she was enjoying herself.

In the meantime, my bath was full and scented with jasmine bath salts I’d found near the tub. I gladly removed my squire’s costume and sank into it with a sigh. The hot water made parts of me hurt that I didn’t know were injured. It had been a couple of hard days compared to my soft existence at the
Art and Craft Museum
. I had been a much younger version of myself when I’d worked at the
Field of Honor
in my Village. I knew what needed to be done, but my body didn’t like doing it.

I looked in a gilded hand mirror I’d taken from the pink marble cabinet top. My face and the side of my head were already bruised. My hair was full of sand. I slowly sank beneath the water until my whole head was submerged.

I wanted to stay like that longer than I could breathe underwater, but was careful not to make that a wish. I never knew which wishes my fairy godmother was going to grant. I didn’t want to end up with gills or something.

There was a strange sound outside the bathtub. It was almost like the air pump on an aquarium. I shot up out of the water and was face-to-face with Chase.

“Sorry.” He quickly turned away.

I grabbed the only thing I could find close at hand—the mirror—and held it across my chest. The bubbles that had been there were rapidly fading.

“What’s wrong? Did you find the killer already?”

“No. I didn’t even make it out of the castle. Queen Olivia and King Harold are holding a special audience to decide about the two duels. I had to come back for you because you’re the only witness to both of them.”

“Oh.”

“They already left something for you to wear. You’ve got a few minutes to get washed up and dressed before we have to talk to them.” He ran his eyes down my naked body.

I sighed and remembered how much I liked it when he looked at me that way.

Chapter Twelve

“Okay.” I blinked the jasmine bubbles out of my eyes. “I can be ready. No problem.”

I waited for him to leave the bathroom. He didn’t.

My heart did a quick leap. He found me attractive enough to ogle even in this Village. There was hope for us.

I did something I would never have done before Chase and I were a couple. I pretended that I didn’t know he was looking and slowly got out of the tub, bubbles and all. I thought his beautiful brown eyes would bug out. It was very gratifying since I felt the same way each time I helped him get ready for the joust.

He mumbled something and quickly left the room. I giggled.

“That’s the spirit,” Starshine said. “Show him what he’s missing. You’re actually much better looking than Isabelle—in a healthier way.”

“I know I’m not a size zero, if that’s what you mean.” I grabbed a large towel from a heated rack and dried off. “I can handle it. I’d look like a freakish skeleton if I weighed what she does. Besides, if I was as skinny as her, my feet would really look big.”

Chase rapped on the door, but didn’t peek again. “Who are you talking to? Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.”

My fairy godmother and I both giggled and then shushed each other. I began to think she was rubbing off on me.

My naked pose against the doorframe between the bathroom and the bedroom was wasted since he was in the sitting room. I sighed as I saw the lovely violet-colored gown spread out on the bed. I thought Portia would send another pair of britches for me. Normally I wouldn’t have cared, but it was possible that Chase and I could have dinner together if Isabelle was true to her word and didn’t want to see him. The gown would be perfect.

I put it on over the clean violet shift that had come with it. It had a deeper neckline than a peasant would wear unless she was trying to attract attention. I left the corset on the bed. I hated those things. The back of the gown had dozens of tiny buttons. I knew I couldn’t reach them. That’s why women who could afford such things during the Renaissance could also afford a lady’s maid.

That didn’t stop me. I walked into the sitting room with the back open to my waist and turned for Chase to button it. We did this at the Dungeon all the time. This was no different in my mind. I hoped it jogged something in him.

“This dress is perfect with your eyes.” He applied his fingers to the buttons. “Sometimes Portia can really do the right thing. I bet if Canyon saw you in this, he’d be sorry you broke up.”

Canyon?
Was he really thinking about him as he buttoned my dress? That wouldn’t do.

I slowly pressed myself against him. “Sorry. I kind of lost my balance.”

He put his hands on my waist to steady me. “That’s okay. I hope you don’t have a head injury.”

“I don’t.” I smoothed my hand down the front of my gown as he finished. “I’m fine. How do I look?”

Chase smiled as he took my hand and gallantly kissed it. There was nothing slobbery or too personal about it—he didn’t turn it to kiss the palm as he usually did. But it was still very nice.

“You look beautiful. Are you ready?”

I nodded and stepped into the slippers that went with the gown. I tucked my hand into the crook of Chase’s left arm, and we went to see the king and queen.

The personal quarters of King Harold and Queen Olivia were more elaborate and more expensive than anyplace else in the castle. They had beautiful tapestries on the wall from all over the world, expensive Renaissance paintings, and sumptuous furniture.

The furniture was heavy, Renaissance inspired, and exactly right for the large rooms. The carpets were woven in shades of red and brown and carefully laid across the stone floor. Heavy drapes hung over the windows that overlooked Mirror Lake. On sunny days, the light streamed in, creating shadows and pockets of color around the room.