Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
At long last, they were brought to a large room with tall floor-to-ceiling windows filled with beautiful sunlight, gazing out onto a garden that was bursting with colorful spring blooms. Four ladies sat in elegant pastel gowns, sipping tea from rosebud teacups.
Hugo might not have ever seen the queen in person, but she was still easy to pick out among the group. She sat on a thronelike gold chair at the head of the room while the other three were on significantly smaller chairs that resembled footstools. Their heads were decidedly lower than the queen’s.
Jessamine sank into a graceful throne-room deep curtsy, while still panting heavily, and Hugo bowed as well, praying that his fear didn’t show on his face.
“We are so honored to have received your invitation, Your Majesty,” his mother gushed.
There was a long pause, and Hugo finally heard one woman whisper, “This is Mrs. Baker and her son.” Another long pause. “From last night’s gala.”
“Oh yes,” the queen purred. There was a soft clink of porcelain, and Hugo glanced up as he straightened to see the queen hand her teacup over to a waiting servant.
Dammit. This did have to do with his mother’s ridiculous claim. So much for Augustine’s excuse that the queen had wanted their father to make an anniversary cake for them.
“Mrs. Baker, and your very handsome son, Hugo, correct?” the queen inquired.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jessamine agreed with a curtsy. A blush burned on Hugo’s cheeks. He wouldn’t ever describe himself as very handsome, but he was honored that the queen would make such a comment.
His gaze inched up so he could see the queen. She was a stately, regal woman of middle age, though she appeared several years younger than her actual age. Her features were too severe to be called delicate or lovely, but she was a very attractive, powerful-looking woman. And right now, her expression felt very dangerous.
“Lady Hawthorne attended the Winthrop Spring Gala last night, and she was telling me so many wonderful stories about the event. I’m sure you recall seeing my dearest friend and cousin, Lady Hawthorne, at the ball,” the queen continued.
Hugo’s eyes snapped to the woman the queen motioned to on her right. She was even older than the queen, with a very superior air about her. Gray streaked her dark hair heavily, and a cold smile tilted up her thin lips. It was that smile that finally triggered Hugo’s memory. She had been standing behind the group of women his mother had been boasting to. She hadn’t been with them, but it had been clear that she’d been eavesdropping on their conversation.
“I don’t believe I’ve been formally introduced to Lady Hawthorne, but I have heard of the illustrious lady,” Jessamine stated, giving a tiny curtsy in Lady Hawthorne’s direction.
“Yes, well, my cousin was telling me how your darling son has the most amazing magical gift. She stated you claim your son can spin straw into gold.”
An icy hand gripped Hugo’s lungs, freezing his breath so he couldn’t draw in even a gasp of air. Oh gods, no! By stressing that Lady Hawthorne was the queen’s cousin, she was possibly hinting that his mother had dared to lie to a member of the royal family. There was only one punishment for such a thing—death.
His brain ran in panicked circles. What was he supposed to do? Could his mother just claim that it was a silly joke? That she hadn’t meant for anyone to take her seriously? If Hugo hadn’t rushed her out of there so suddenly, she would have explained that it was all a joke. Yes, that was the course of action. It was a harmless joke, and the queen would simply reprimand them for their thoughtlessness. Possibly give them a small fine to pay.
Hugo swallowed and gathered up the courage to speak, hoping to smooth over the moment.
“Yes, of course my son can spin straw into gold,” Jessamine blurted out before Hugo could say a word. “It’s something we don’t speak of. We don’t want to brag. I’m afraid that it would bring fortune hunters to our door, and I very much want to find a good love match for my son. He has recently turned twenty-two and needs to be married.”
The world almost went black for a second. Hugo’s heart stopped, and his brain no longer worked. It wasn’t accepting new information. When given the opportunity to come clean, his mother had doubled down on her lie. Now she was lying directly to the queen and not just the queen’s beloved cousin.
He was dead. His mother had signed their death warrants. Upon their failure to return home, Hugo could only hope that Dorian would realize what had happened and would take Augustine far from Buckleford and Frostbourne for their own safety. Maybe they could find a tiny cottage somewhere. Dorian could work at another bookshop, and Augustine could…hell, he didn’t know what Augustine could do, but he had faith that his brother would figure something out.