Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

B y the afternoon, Rosa was in the kitchen, preparing for the arrival of the guests who would start to arrive that evening. She had already seen three entourages of sleek cars drive in, sending the servants into a nervous flurry of activity. Cecily and Goode had arrived from Penrith in time to ensure that their guests were settled in, keeping note of who was put where for Eli.

The Vane helicopter landed at six pm, and Rosa watched Balthasar instantly exchange a notebook with Eli. Balthasar was wearing a charcoal gray suit with a black tie and pocket handkerchief, and she had to look away from him before her face betrayed what she was really feeling.

Look at you, one morning of sex, and suddenly you are insatiable . Rosa knew that wasn't all she was feeling. While she had been with Balthasar, she had been confident and unconcerned that she'd admitted that she loved him, as if being near him reinforced every flickering heartbeat. As soon as she had been a few hours without him, her self-doubt crashed in around her ears.

What the hell were you thinking? He could have been telling her whatever she wanted to hear, and she had spilled her messy human heart out to him.

"Watch that sauce!" Vera cautioned, snapping Rosa back to the present.

"Sorry, sorry," she quickly stirred her spoon around the thickening cranberry sauce. "I zoned out there."

"Well, you had better cut it out because we are going to be run off our feet for the next week. Are you not sleeping or something?"

"No. I'm sleeping. Don't worry. Did you see that girl who turned up before? Sheesh! I thought Pearl was gaunt." Rosa changed the subject quickly.

Her sleep or lack of it was best not to consider if she was going to concentrate over the next few days. It didn't help that she could smell Balthasar's shampoo in her hair or that her body ached pleasantly with the memory of his.

"Speaking of Pearl, she's looking particularly smug, which can't bode well for anyone. I tell you that girl gives me the heebie jeebies," Vera muttered as she rolled out fresh pastry.

"Rich people are creepy. It's what gives them distinction amongst their peers."

"Those friends of theirs aren't any better. Take my advice, Rosa. Stay down here with me this week."

"Ha! I have no intention of mingling with the upstairs crowd. It's not like I'll be needed anyway. Most of them have brought their own people to serve and fetch for them."

"Good. Cecily doesn't need the pressure of attending to their every whim."

"We have an additional party of eight about to arrive," Belinda announced as she glided into the kitchen. "You should see this lady upstairs—absolutely dripping with diamonds."

"Half her luck, I'd be too afraid that I'd lose them," said Rosa, who had misplaced nearly every piece of jewelry she owned.

"She's giving Mr. Balthasar the eye if you catch my meaning. He'd better watch out because she looks like she's going to start grinding against his leg," Belinda said conspiratorially and jumped as Rosa started banging the spoon loudly on the side of the pot.

"Vera, this filling looks ready. How's that pastry going?" Rosa asked loudly over the top of their giggling speculation.

Rosa was heading back upstairs late in the afternoon with new towels when she almost fell over Belinda slumped on the ground in the servants' passage.

"Bel! Are you okay? Wake up!" Rosa said urgently, propping her up against the wall. She was gray and clammy, and as Rosa pushed her hair back, she saw the blood that had seeped into the collar of her dress.

"Bloody hell!" she cursed.

"Don't feel good, Rosa," Belinda mumbled, her eyes still closed.

"You'll be okay. Don't worry," Rosa assured as she slung an arm around her shoulder and helped her to her feet.

"Oh, the towels are going to get all dirty again," Belinda said, looking at the pile of linen on the ground.

"Screw the towels! Come on. We need to get you to the kitchen." Rosa managed to get her back downstairs and propped up in a chair when Cecily bustled in.

"My word! What happened to her?" she asked as she hurried to feel Belinda's forehead.

"I found her in the passage," Rosa said and pulled the collar back to show her the blood.

Cecily's eyes widened in understanding. "I see."

"Yeah, so do I, and I'm going to do something about it," Rosa said angrily.

"Rosa please... You can't?—"

"Watch me." Rosa charged upstairs, ignoring the looks the guests gave her. Balthasar and Eli were talking with people in the western dining parlor. Rosa stood patiently at the door until Balthasar saw her.

"Excuse me," he apologized before he joined her in the hallway.

"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Vane, but there has been an incident," Rosa said, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. Balthasar opened an empty room and gestured for her to follow him.

Once the door was closed, he whispered, "What has happened? I can smell blood on you."

"I found Belinda drained in the passages!" Rosa hissed.

"She's not dead, is she?"

"No, she's not dead! She's really sick, though. I thought you said this kind of thing wasn't going to happen, and that they would be kept under control."

"They are the Gwaed Gam, Rosa. It's like keeping feral cats under control. I will find out who she saw last and make sure I talk to them."

"Talk to them...Yeah, you do that," Rosa snapped. "If I find out another Gam has touched the staff, I will be sharpening the stakes. I promise you that."

Balthasar fought a smile. "Stakes won't kill Gwaed Gam. That's a myth. But I'll take your warning into consideration."

"Please do, sir ."

"In the meantime, I need you to clean out the southern tower," he said as he opened the door again. "It's a disgrace up there."

"As you command, Mr. Vane," Rosa growled, but as she moved past him, his long fingers reached out and subtly brushed hers. His eyes flared hot for a second before the cool mask was back up and he was joining his guests once more.

"Southern tower, you say," she murmured to herself as she stepped back into the passages.

Rosa wound her way through the maze of passages until she found a rough oak door bound with iron. Pulling out her keys, she worked her way through them until she found the right one, and the door groaned on its unused hinges.

Rosa could see footprints in the dust where someone had been recently. She shut the door behind her and walked up the dirty stone steps. The structure of the tower seemed sound, but it had a neglected, empty feeling to it.

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, I am coming to rescue you!" she called dramatically, her voice echoing into the passage above her.

The top of the tower was filled with a dusty clutter of broken chairs and old carpets. Another door led to the roof, but otherwise, it had been undisturbed. Rosa looked at where the footprints led and followed them to a rolled, moth-eaten carpet. Sticking out of the side of it was the corner of a letter.

"Bal, you sneaky bugger," Rosa gasped as she pulled it out and sat down on a dusty mat.

My darling Rosa,

I hate this. I look at these people around me, and I find no enjoyment in their company because they are not you. Tonight will be agony for I know that as soon as I lie in bed, I will smell your perfume on my sheets, its fragrance whispering to me, igniting memories and the yearning to have your mouth fixed fast on mine. I long to break out of this house and find you sleeping warmly in your bed. I would kiss your lush mouth as I ran my hands under your shirt to gently clasp the hot skin of your breasts. Thinking of your body laid out underneath me, the gleam of glistening sweat on your skin as you are undone by pleasure is enough to drive me mad.

But most of all, I long for the easiness of your company and the way I feel, as if you are the only one who has seen me for years.

Thank you for seeing me, Rosa.

Don't stop looking at me with that mocking gleam in your eye that says so forcefully, "I am not fooled by you, Mr. Vane. I know you."

Balthasar

Rosa scanned over the letter again with a face so hot, she was surprised the broken furniture didn't catch fire around her.

"Now, how am I going to concentrate on the rest of the day?" she complained as she stood up and put the letter safely in her pocket.

It was 11 pm by the time Rosa managed to escape from the kitchens. The guard dogs had been moved from the house by Eli's orders, so she only had the freezing sleet to contend with. All she wanted was a hot shower and to climb into her bed, anything to quell her eagerness for a glimpse of Balthasar. As she neared the cottage, she spotted someone standing next to a tall oak tree. Her heart flipped once, thinking he might be waiting for her, but one more step, and she knew it was definitely not Balthasar.

"Hi there!" she said brightly. "You nearly scared me half to death. Can I help you?"

"Perhaps you can assist me, human woman," he said in a deep and melodic voice. He had answered in barely a whisper, but she felt it pierce straight through her.

The man was tall and lean as he stepped out of the shadows and into the light of the lamps. He was dressed formally, almost like a Victorian gentleman, with high boots and a frock coat made of leather. He had curved black eyes and a full mouth in an otherwise angular face, surrounded by long white curls. Rosa would have thought it was a wig except that it matched his eyebrows.

"How can I help?" she asked.

"I'm looking for the one that calls himself Eli. Can you take me to him?"

"Sure can. Right this way," Rosa said, waiting for him to join her before heading back towards the mansion. He made her wary of turning her back on him. There was something wrong about him, and for all of his beauty, it made her uneasy.

"Isn't it freezing tonight?" she said conversationally.

"Quite. The Solstice draws near, and the dark time is coming," he answered vaguely, his eyes darting around the building as Rosa led him up to the front entrance. He looked at her curiously. "Have we met before? You seem...familiar."

"I think I would remember you," Rosa said. "What's your name?"

"Such a thing I would never give, but some call me Celyn."

"That's not half Welsh," she laughed nervously as he stepped nearer her.

He smelled like Christmas—a mix of sweetness, pine boughs, holly berries, cinnamon, and wood smoke. It was intoxicating, and she had the urge to grip him to her and breathe deeply. She turned away from him to try to clear her head before opening the front door.

No sooner had Celyn's boots stepped onto the threshold than Eli and Balthasar appeared at the top of the staircase.

"I believe I found another of your friends wandering the grounds," Rosa said as she watched them descend.

"That will be all. Thank you, Rosa," Eli said, coolly dismissing her.

Balthasar's eyes flickered over her once, his expression bored, before turning back to their guest.

Celyn bowed to Rosa before taking her hand and kissing it. "Thank you for your kindness, my lady."

"You're welcome, Celyn. I hope you enjoy your stay at Gwaed Lyn," she said as she pulled her hand slowly out of his. She smiled at the Vanes before shutting the door behind her.

Outside, her walk towards the cottage became a sprint, her hand trembling uncontrollably as she clutched it to her chest.

Balthasar tried to keep his face neutral as Celyn turned back towards them with a satisfied smile. Rosa, Rosa, Rosa, what have you done!

"My Lord Bleddyn," Celyn bowed low, "what a lovely home you have."

"Be welcome, Celyn. Forgive me for being ill prepared. I was not expecting you until the night of the Solstice."

"Do not concern yourself, Eli. I am here in an informal capacity. Ryn sent me through to check on preparations and ensure that you are still willing to treat with him."

"Of course I'm willing, Celyn, and so are the Lords of Albion. I'm looking forward to improving connections with the Seelie."

"Are you? Well, I suppose I'd best let Ryn know. I believe he is looking forward to your ball. We have been deprived of entertainment for a long time, and your Unseelie offspring are nothing if not entertaining."

"I'm glad to hear you say so. May I offer you some refreshment after your long journey?" Eli asked.

"At this late hour? No, no, I could not trouble you so." Celyn waved the suggestion away with his expressive white hands. "Besides, Ryn decided to impose rules on me about accepting anything from you."

"It's not like you to allow Ryn to impose anything on you, Lord Celyn." Eli pulled a mocking face. "You can trust me, otherwise, what is the point of this treaty?"

"Excellent question. What is the point of it all? You know we will never get along. It's like all families. Until we get a common enemy to stand together, we are bound to squabble with each other."

"At times, it seems like that, but I for one am tired of the squabble. None of us gains any ground, so we are doing it for no other reason than boredom," Eli replied. "That is what's pointless."

"I wonder how bored you are underneath this glamor you put on," Celyn sneered. "Is the real Unseelie under there anymore?" Power licked through the air causing Balthasar's fangs to drop without warning. Eli started to laugh, and the spell was broken.

"Are you trying to peek under my covers, Celyn?" he asked. "Perhaps if you asked politely, I would be more inclined to oblige you."

"I meant no offense, Bleddyn. You used to be so much fun when you were young," Celyn pouted.

"Time moves much faster in the human world. It suits my temperament."

"Yes, well it does have its charms. That girl, she is one of your human pets, isn't she?" Celyn asked.

"She works for me and is under my protection," Eli replied. Balthasar tensed beside him.

"Hmm, she's one of them, isn't she? Those Wylts that you like so much. Rosa Wylt. I wonder if the rose is wild or wilting?" Celyn laughed at his own joke as Balthasar's vision swam red. "Oh, I can see by your face she is definitely the former."

"Is there anything else we can do for you, Celyn? Room for the night perhaps?"

"Stay alone in a house full of Unseelie hybrids? No, thank you, Bleddyn. As much as I respect your word, I cannot trust any of the others at this time. I will be heading back to Ryn and the queen now." Celyn bowed. "You know how they hate waiting."

"I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night, Celyn. It should be a grand occasion." Eli bowed in return.

Celyn smiled snidely before leaving the house. Balthasar took one step before Eli's hand shot out and gripped his shoulder.

"Stay," he commanded.

"But Rosa..."

"Rosa will be fine," Eli assured. "If you leave now, he'll be onto you. Don't worry. There's more protecting that cottage than locks."

Celyn walked slowly across the grounds, his boots leaving no mark where they trod across the frosted ground. He could feel the power in the real world, see the wards that Bleddyn had put up around the grounds. He sniffed out the woman's scent more keenly than any bloodhound. He found the cottage where Bleddyn had placed hundreds of protection spells. There was definitely something about the girl that they loved.

Celyn took a feather from his pocket, a stretch of red silk, a sliver of pearlescent bone, and the dry twig of an oak tree. He watched the woman's shadow moving about on the second floor, oblivious to the danger she was in. As his eyes followed her, he whispered his spell, binding the objects tightly together. When it was done, he tied it to a holly bush that was busily growing in the hedge surrounding her cottage.

"Until tomorrow, my little Rosa," he whispered before blowing a kiss at her shadow and disappearing back into the forest.

Rosa scrubbed her hand over and over, but she couldn't get the sensation of the faerie's kiss off the back of it. She wished she could tell Balthasar. Maybe Eli would be able to counteract whatever it was.

You could be acting psychosomatic, and you want an excuse to see Bal no matter how standoffish he is .

She thought of going up to the attic and digging out his portrait just to see his face but dismissed the idea immediately. Besides, that portrait wasn't painted for her to treasure, but for Jane.

She made herself a cup of chamomile tea and idly scratched at her hand as she looked at the picture above the fireplace. She couldn't leave it there for Cecily to see, so she carefully took it upstairs and propped it on the mantel in her bedroom.

As Rosa pulled back her covers, she found a letter that had been hidden from sight. "Another one? How many letters did you leave me, Bal?" She fetched her tea and settled into bed.

Dear Rosa,

I know that the next week will be trying for you. You will see a side of me that I loathe, but it is unavoidable. The memory of our nights together and the hope of more in the future warm a part of my heart that I thought had been lost forever. I will think of your smile as I hide my own from the world.

Even though I cannot look at you, I long to do so, for every line of you deserves a study that I hope to one day devote myself to. Be patient with me, dear Rosa. I have not associated with a human woman in a long time. I understand that you may feel like I am hasty in the expression of my feelings for you, but they are as sincere as they are intense.

Your presence lingers in the attic like a beautiful ghost, making it seem empty and lonely without you. Know that when I'm alone up there, my eyes will be looking towards your little cottage, so close and so tortuously far from me.

I have moments of intense fear that you will reject me, that the summation of my feelings for you will turn me to ashes on the inside...and then I see your smile and the warmth in your eyes, and I know if it is fate for this love to burn me alive, then it will only be so that I can be born anew, and into the man that you deserve.

Dream of me. I will meet you there to kiss you.

Balthasar

Rosa read the letter twice before clutching it to her chest, trying to alleviate the longing she felt trapped in her ribs.

She went to her bedroom window and pulled back the curtains. In the distance, a light burned in the attic window. She touched her hands to the cold glass, staring up at where he was before closing the curtains once more and climbing into bed.

In her dreams, she was running through the forest, the knocking getting louder and louder. There was laughter in the mist and shadows. It was calling out to her like a piper's tune, begging her to join them. A woman appeared in front of her in a long white dress, her wet black hair snared with lake weed. She gripped Rosa tightly by the shoulders and shook her, her mouth working soundlessly. Rosa struggled to get away from her boney fingers that dug painfully into her soft flesh.

The woman's voice filtered through to her, high and accusing. " How dare you seduce him while I lay unavenged at the bottom of the lake! How dare he offer his love to you! He said he would love me forever. Only he is forever. Save me, Rosa. Avenge my death! Find my murderer!"

"I will, Jane," Rosa promised sleepily. "I will save you."