Princess of the Midnight Ball - Jessica Day George [77]
“I didn’t know what else to do,” Rose said, her voice sounding choked.
“I do.” Galen squeezed her elbow. “Slip along the wall here, and leave. There’s a silver boat between the island and the shore. Get out of here.”
“A boat? What boat? And what about my sisters?”
“We’ll get them. They won’t all fit. I’ll have to make two trips, so hurry.”
Lily interrupted him. “Rose! What have you done?” She pointed to the dais, where her suitor and Jonquil’s had joined Illiken and their father in an intense conversation. The king was watching them, however, his eyes on Rose.
“I asked Illiken some questions,” Rose said. “But I am not going to invite them above after all.”
“Nice that you’ve come to your senses,” the normally sweet-natured Lily snapped.
“Lily,” Rose said gently. “Slip out of the room, go to the lake, and wait by the silver boat there.”
“What?” Lily stared at her sister.
“Take Petunia and Pansy with you,” Rose went on. “Say you’re taking them to freshen up.” Her eyes flickered, unseeing, in Galen’s direction. “I need to stay and help the others,” she said.
“I’ll do that,” he insisted.
Lily started at the sound of his voice. “What was that? Galen?” She had the sense to whisper.
He put a hand on her wrist, just lightly, and she shivered. “I’m right here, Your Highness. I’ve found a boat—I think it was your mother’s. It won’t hold you all at once, so we must hurry.”
“But we’ll anger the king—”
“You’ll be out of his reach, forever,” Galen assured her with confidence he did not entirely feel. He glanced up at the dais, and saw the princes looking their way, along with their father. “Go, now! Hurry!”
Lily straightened her shoulders and tossed her head. “Well, Rose,” she said in a carrying voice. “I’ll do it myself, then.”
She marched onto the dance floor and tapped Pansy’s prince on the shoulder. “Excuse me.” Lily was speaking in a normal tone now and Galen could just barely make out the words. “I think that the younger set had better visit the retiring room. They’ve had quite a lot of excitement tonight.” She took Pansy’s hand and led her from her bemused partner.
Petunia’s prince had apparently heard the exchange, because he stepped away with a small bow as Lily sailed over to him. She had to interrupt Orchid and her partner, though. Orchid’s prince was busy watching the dais, and as soon as he distractedly handed Orchid to Lily, he went over and bowed to his father, a question on his lips.
“Hurry, hurry,” Galen muttered in a low voice. He saw Iris ask Lily something when they passed her, and join the string of princesses with an expression of relief on her face. “They’re drawing too much attention now,” he muttered, seeing the pale king shift his attention from Rose to Lily and the four younger girls. “Too many at once.”
“They’ll be fine,” Rose said out of the corner of her mouth. “Just don’t panic.”
“Rose!” The King Under Stone’s voice cut through the music. “Join us, won’t you?”
Black Wool Chain
Don’t do it,” Galen said as Rose walked toward the dais.
“I have to,” she whispered. “It will distract him.” She wound her way between the remaining dancers, most of whom were too busy watching the king and the princes to do much more than sway in place.
Galen followed on her heels, only peripherally aware that the other princesses had stopped dancing and were also moving toward the dais. He saw Poppy whisper something to Jonquil, who nodded. “Go, Poppy. Go, Jonquil. Run while you can,” Galen thought. He knew that he should follow them, to row the boat across and back for Rose, but he couldn’t leave her side.
“Dear Rose,” the King Under Stone said when they reached the dais. “What is this you were asking Illiken about? You wish my sons to visit the mortal realm?”
“It was a passing thought,” Rose said airily, but Galen was standing close enough to see her trembling. “I thought my father should meet them, sire,