In Chains, C. Noble [smallest ebook reader .txt] 📗

new King Julian. He of all people was telling them not to drink! A flicker of rebellion told her to go and have several glasses of champagne, but one concerned look from Hadrian prevented her doing just that.
The meeting was dismissed and they made their way back to the raucous ballroom in pairs. Hadrian and Darcey were left in the big, dark room alone to contemplate this latest series of events.
“So, I’m going to live with you now, am I?”
“Apparently. I think you’ll like it on Marseille. It’s a place similar to yours, but it’s a larger island. We have prairie meadows, in which deer,” Hadrian winked, “and horses roam free. And instead of scarlet and gold, our national colors are violet and gold.”
Hadrian walked over to the heavy wooden doors and pushed them aside. “Shall we?”
“I think we shall, my darling,” Darcey smiled and took his offered arm. They were unsure of their whereabouts in the castle, and so followed the distant sound of the party. Eventually they stumbled into a familiar hallway and navigated themselves back to the ball.
Despite the news that she would be leaving her home again after being there only three months, Darcey had a pleasant time the rest of the night. She didn’t touch a drop of the fine champagne, and made sure to keep an early curfew. She saw her friends and family do the same, and knew that she was doing the right thing.
The mighty stone clock at the entrance of the ballroom struck midnight. Making the socially acceptable excuse that true ladies tire quickly and need their rest, she stole away to her bedroom. Tania was waiting to help her undress. Over the months, they had grown quite close.
“And well, how was your evening, Miss?” Tania asked quietly as she yanked open the bodice of Darcey’s dress.
“Ah, as good as can be expected. We danced and laughed and had a rather good time,” Darcey smiled serenely. She didn’t want to upset her lady’s maid with undue worry, but she wanted to take the girl with her to Marseille. Hadrian had assured her all manner of servants, but Tania really knew her ways.
“Miss, are you alright?” Tania’s soft whisper broke the deep revere Darcey found herself in.
“Oh! Yes…I was just thinking,” Darcey took a deep breath. She would rather ask Tania to come than to force her. “Tomorrow my family and I, along with the Dosciers and Palmas, are leaving for Marseille, the island that the Sanchez’ rule. We are staying for a considerable period of time. I was wondering if you would like to accompany me there. You are my favorite maid, and you would be well treated. You would have girls under you, and your pay would double.”
“Oh, Miss, I…I would love to go with you! If you’re quite sure it’s alright,” Tania’s face lit up. It was quite possible that she had never been off the island.
“Of course it’s alright. You are to be treated exceptionally well,” Darcey smiled in relief as her nightgown was yanked over her head. She was thrilled that Tania wanted to come. She was sure it would make her feel more at home.
Tania left shortly afterwards. Darcey realized that her maid would need to pack her things and get some sleep too.
There was a knock at her door. It was becoming almost habitual to open it and see Hadrian on the other side, usually in some dashing suit. This time, though, nobody was there. She stepped out into the hallway, pulling her silk wrap closer around her. Footsteps ran down the hall away from her. It sent a chill up her spine.
Darcey walked quietly back into her room and shut the door. She was scared and alone in this palace with an army bent on kidnapping her. Perhaps it was wiser to keep Tania around. Darcey could trust her.
She reached out and plucked the handsome dial phone from her bedside and rung up the quick service number for Tania. The maid picked up rather slowly and groggily asked what she could do. Darcey must have woken her up. Feeling bad, but scared, the young princess asked if her maid would mind spending the night in her room. A moment’s pause was broken by Tania’s unenthusiastic consent.
Minutes later a knock rang from her door. Darcey opened it and saw her tired maid in a cotton nightie standing there. Darcey rushed her inside, locking the heavy doors behind them. She set up a little bed for her maid on the nearby settee and crawled back into bed. Perhaps now she would sleep. And eventually, with her maid drifting off on the nearby plush sofa, she did.
Morning came quickly and fiercely. The skies were grey and the seas were angry. It seemed like the island was enraged that its princess would twice be plucked from its grasp.
Darcey looked at the foot of her bed and saw all of her clothes, including gowns not yet worn, packed into several dozen French cases. Tania was standing by with four little cloth sacks which held all of her earthly belongings. When she saw her mistress was awake, she quickly set about getting her cleaned and dressed.
“You know, Tania, I really appreciate all of this. I mean, you’re leaving your friends and family behind for me,” Darcey looked into her maid’s deep brown eyes. Her chestnut hair was unruly, having yet to be done. Darcey dismissed her loyal maid and told her to be back by two in the afternoon. Tania bowed her way out of the room, leaving her bags behind.
Darcey sighed and walked out onto her patio. It seemed like only yesterday she’d gotten here. She hadn’t even explored a third of the island, and now she was going to be whisked away again! But at least this time she’d have her parents and Hadrian with her.
“Darcey?” A voice called from behind her. It was caring, soft, but she could hear that fire just below the surface. It was Hadrian’s voice.
“I’m out here…thinking,” she sighed again and leaned out on the balustrade. Hadrian walked up behind her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“It’s kind of funny, really,” Hadrian smiled a little. “I’ve had to play tour guide on your island, and now again on mine.”
“Yeah, well, hopefully I’ll be back home soon. Now that I know this place, I don’t think I could stay away for very long,” Darcey didn’t look into Hadrian’s face, but out at the sea. It had calmed down greatly. Instead of the violent waves, modest ones crashed onto the white beaches. The sky was a perfectly pristine shade of blue. Birds dashed in and out of the trees and soared into the cloudless sky.
Looking out at this paradise she called home and thinking about how short her time here was, tears sprang to her eyes. It was unfair. Just because some insane freak with a manifest destiny complex was playing Caesar, she had to leave her home.
“Love, we’ve got to get the airport soon,” Hadrian said quietly. He was looking at her, his dark eyes concerned. “You’ve got all your clothes, right?”
“What? Oh, yeah. My cave-like closet is cleaned out. There isn’t a diamond left behind.” Darcey’s voice was touched with saddened, but the great majority of it dripped mockery and sarcasm. It stung, listening to her when she was like this. “Let’s just go. I don’t want to look at this place anymore.”
Hadrian visibly winced, but took the arm she offered him and allowed himself to be lead to the hall. In the long corridor, Darcey yanked back her hand and marched angrily in front of Hadrian, who followed along confused but obedient.
When they reached the palace steps, Hadrian yanked back her arm and pushed her forward. They needed to at least feign happiness if this plan would work. Darcey was making it difficult, but Hadrian’s eighteen years of governesses and rules had taught him well. He maneuvered her into their awaiting private carriage before turning and making an excuse for her behavior to their parents and onlookers.
He jumped in the carriage and slumped down across from her, waiting for one of the liverymen to close the door. One of them must have finally figured out that nobody else was getting in, because the silken door closed and the gold latch clicked shut. Hadrian wouldn’t move his hand from his chin or his eyes from the window, Darcey wouldn’t stop staring straight through him with her arms folded over her chest.
The carriage lurched forward. The great white beasts carrying their mistress and her betrothed could not understand why they were travelling to the nest of the great shining birds at so odd an hour, nor could they make out the fierce whispers coming from inside the carriage they were pulling. Given the chance, the mighty horses might have decided to listen. It was a conversation that would no doubt prove interesting. But it was not their work to eavesdrop, and with the chance firmly behind them, they pulled the coach around the great metal bird.
Their companions joined them shortly, bearing the pairs of kings and queens, and a small manner of nobility and their kin. The horses watched as great bags by the dozen were taken off the roofs the carriages and unloaded from an endless train of carts behind them and piled into the belly of the strange flying contraption.
The horses were turning back around to the palace stables when Darcey took her customary seat by the window. The seating arrangement was now different than it had been her first time on this plane. She was permitted her seat, and Hadrian his across the table from her, but her father now took the grand leather chair overseeing all and her mother stretched out on the lounger. Hadrian’s parents were huddled on one of the leather loveseats. Will and Mary Ann’s families were trying to get settled in the remaining chairs.
There was also a change in attendance. Count Ramses Diego, the tutor of crest reading, was among them. So was Madam Rosita, Darcey’s dance instructor. Tania was lurking about somewhere, probably trying to arrange the bedrooms so that everyone would be comfortable. Other maids belonging to the women of the group were milling about uselessly. Hulio Montoyez was still with them, although he was currently sitting in the pilot’s seat. But for all the confusion, Darcey could still pick out one dark figure not in attendance. Dante was missing.
Darcey didn’t have time to ponder this disturbing fact. Her father rose to his feet and boldly interrupted the chatter. “I know that many of our friends have been left behind. King Julian has allowed us use of his plane to send for them when we land. They will be with us in several days.”
Still, it was odd. Why allow the tutors to come and the eldest son of Count and Countess Doscier to stay behind? No matter, she thought. He and the others would be with them soon.
Darcey scanned her surroundings once again before settling back into her seat. Hadrian’s legs stretched out under the table, brushing hers. There was very minimal chatter, but King Julian still thought it fit to loudly call the little party to order to make further announcements.
“I mean no disrespect to our fair hosts turn guests, but Marseille is considerably more formal than Dijoubwe. The tunics and island dresses that we have so enjoyed here are not what the Marseille society will accept. The gowns and suits that we have donned to attend the Martinaque balls are the norm, and must be worn each day,” King Julian surveyed his audience. With the exception of his family, they were all dressed like the islanders that they were. “With that