Gossamer in the Darkness (Fantasyland)

No.

Instead, he offered his arm in a formal manner.

And stated simply…

“We must be away.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The King’s Leisure

Satrine

As mentioned, I studied the newspapers from back to front every day.

So it wasn’t a surprise when we arrived at the magistrate’s court that there were throngs of people there.

It was such because this was the trial of the century, and not simply because King Noctorno was gracing this fair city to adjudicate it, and his queen had accompanied him.

But because a member of the aristocracy was standing to defend his crimes, and the Newton paper (which, it had to be said, had a liberal bent), was in fits of glee about it.

Thus, when we arrived, there were people lining the pavements.

A lot of them.

There was also a massive police presence, in the form of actual police, but also men in smart, navy-blue uniforms that had a half-cape in admiral blue flipped over one shoulder (seriously, if I wasn’t so out of it, I would have noted how totally cool these uniforms were and how Loren probably looked super-hot wearing one). They wore admiral blue berets with short, sharp feathers stuck in. Sabers at their belts.

And held long, silver spears in their hands.

Spears!

It had to be the royal guard that lined the sidewalk from building to curb to keep the people back in order that we could get in.

And one could say, a spear was a good incentive to stay back.

However, all of this just added weight to already weighty proceedings.

As such, things were primed for people to lose their minds, something they did with shouts and cheers, when our carriage doors opened—Mom, Ansley and Aunt Mary’s in front, Loren’s and mine behind—and Ansley and Loren alighted.

And it felt alarmingly like things would careen out of control when Mom and I appeared.

Because the crowd…went…wild.

Fortunately, Madame Toussaint had outdone herself.

Mom was in a mulberry-colored confection with some shades of mauve and heather in the feathers of her hat.

I was wearing a complementary color of a warm, wintery pink with creamy accents.

Aunt Mary, as was her usual, was wearing all black.

I clutched Loren’s elbow, and he moved us swiftly, careful not to be too swift so we wouldn’t trod on Mom’s train.

I was officially totally freaked out.

And as such, was making moves by rote.

Sure, the shrieking and shouts of, “The countess lives! Long live the countess!” and “You can’t keep a good lady down!” were flipping my shit so much it didn’t occur to me these shouts were positive.

Mostly, it was because Loren had been silent and remote the entire ride there, and my heart was hammering in my chest so badly, I felt I had to have a care not to exert myself so it wouldn’t explode.

I vaguely noticed Maitland and the two, tall, gorgeous dudes standing with him at the top of the steps, one gorgeous dude having black hair, the other having dark blond.

And I vaguely heard the clamor mute when we were inside, and the doors were closed behind us.

I also vaguely felt Loren stop us and say formally, “Satrine, I wish to introduce you to two more of my brothers. Ridley Middleton, the Earl of Hartley. And Ford Holton, the Duke of Bloodworth.”

“How do you do,” I said stiffly.

They murmured in return, and I sensed Marlow startle at my reply, but I was watching Mom disappear into a room at the same time fighting back a smothering sense of dread.

“Sattie, love, it’ll be all right,” I heard Marlow murmur comfortingly.

I lifted my gaze to him, noting then that my fiancé hadn’t said anything to comfort me, not that first word.

And, like a robot, I nodded.

That was when Marlow began to look less startled, a hella lot more worried and a hella lot more than that…pissed.

His attention jerked to Loren when he spoke.

“Let’s get in,” Loren said curtly.

It didn’t escape me his two friends were watching me with acute interest.

But I was ready to move on, face whatever there was to face in that court, and then face whatever was wrong with Loren, which was clearly something he thought was wrong with me.

I mean, it wasn’t a shocker he’d finally figured it out.

Figured out I wasn’t right.

What was a shocker was that it took this long.

But as ever, if there was music to face, I’d face it.

I’d die in my bed in my room at Mom’s house, or wherever we might be spending the night that night. I’d then learn how to exist without truly existing tomorrow.

Such were these thoughts, I noticed only distantly that the magistrate’s court looked more like a throne room, but with seats set in rows for an audience.

Or maybe it was set up that way for King Noctorno, who was on a dais sitting in a large, elaborate chair, Queen Cora next to him, seated in an equally elaborate chair. Adding to this pomp and circumstance, the other kings and queens were off to the side, lounging in their own extravagant chairs.