The Spellbinding Courtship: Calatini Tales Book 0.5 Read online

  Unfortunately, the duchess called after a second knock, "Selena, are you in there?"

  Selena sighed and lifted her face, her temples tightening. But she didn't move or unlock the door. "Yes, your grace."

  After a pause, the duchess said, "'Tis time for luncheon."

  Selena slid from bed despite her knotted stomach. Food sounded less than appealing, but the duchess would realize something was wrong if she didn't come. "I'll be down in a few moments."

  A lump clogging her throat, Selena undid the final laces on her raspberry gown and flung it aside. Her seduction attempt had been both reckless and heartless. No matter her reason, she never should have deceived Aragon like that. She'd abandoned her principle to treat others like she wanted to be treated. And would he forgive her deceit? If he'd done the same, she'd be furious and might never trust him again. She couldn't expect him to be more tolerant.

  Her stomach spasmed as she yanked on an ash-gray dress and tidied her hair. Had she wrecked her chance to win Aragon's love? Loving him as she did, she couldn't bear to lose him forever. Yet she might have with her reckless deceit. Dear Goddess, what was she to do?

  Selena swallowed and studied herself in the mirror. She appeared somewhat wan but otherwise normal, so hopefully, the duchess would detect nothing amiss. But how could she face Aragon without blushing or crying?

  When she entered the family dining room, he hadn't arrived, so no blush or tears betrayed her—yet. She flashed a bright smile at the duke and duchess. Was it enough to mask her distress? "I'm sorry for making you wait."

  The duke chuckled from the head of the table. "Don't fret; we just arrived as well."

  Selena blinked when the duke began serving her and the duchess, even though Aragon still hadn't joined them. "Aren't we waiting for Aragon or Hawke?"

  The duchess shook her head. "Aragon went riding an hour ago—he looked as if he needed it. And Goddess knows where Hawke is; he's been out since before breakfast."

  Selena tensed then sipped her wine to hide her grimace. No doubt Aragon had gone riding to escape her. Her heart squeezed. She must apologize again as soon as she saw him. But at least she wouldn't blush or cry throughout luncheon and betray herself.

  The duchess slanted her a probing glance. "Are you well? You appear peaked."

  Selena shrugged and forced herself to begin her spinach soup. She must offer a believable explanation, so the duchess didn't connect her distress to Aragon's. "As well as can be expected. I'd trouble sleeping last night due to the black witch's escape. I tried taking a nap before luncheon, with little success."

  The duchess nodded. "I was concerned 'twas more serious when you weren't sketching in your art room."

  Selena swallowed as warmth filled her at the duchess's concern. Goading Aragon into almost seducing her and possibly losing him forever was definitely more serious. But she couldn't admit that. If Aragon's loving mother learned of their quarrel, she'd attempt to mend their relationship, and 'twas best if she didn't.

  The duke grinned while serving her and his wife broiled salmon. "Given your fatigue, I suppose you're glad to escape the whirl of court."

  Despite her distress, Selena almost smiled. And Aragon's father was always ready with a quip to cheer everyone. She leaned toward him and whispered, "Don't tell your wife, but yes. All those court events are too much for a country miss." She winked at the duchess.

  The duchess tsked, her lips twitching. "You've done well until now. Everyone extols your graciousness. And you've attracted several suitors."

  Selena almost winced. Suitors who were no longer pursuing her, much to her relief. But she couldn't explain why to the duchess without revealing her love for Aragon.

  The duchess arched a brow as she finished her salmon. "Have you decided if you prefer Edouard or Lord Ravenstone?"

  Selena sighed and studied her empty plate. No, she preferred Aragon and always had. She made herself meet the duchess's gaze with a serene smile. "Both are fine gentlemen."

  The duchess narrowed her eyes with a long hum as the duke served them cherry flummery.

  Her mouth drying, Selena swallowed and gripped her spoon. Had she revealed too much? To distract the duchess, she asked, "How soon after luncheon do you leave for the Campbells' garden party?"

  The duchess continued scrutinizing Selena. "Straight after. Shall you be fine alone?"

  Selena nodded as her pulse settled. 'Twould be a relief to quit feigning blithe serenity. "I'll amuse myself in my art room until everyone returns."

  So once Aragon's parents left, she retreated upstairs, but every time she lifted her pencil, his tight expression flashed before her eyes, and her hand stilled. Goddess, how could she have been so heartless?

  After multiple attempts, Selena threw down her pencil and rose. Attempting to sketch was futile. She must talk to someone, but she was confined to the townhouse, and none of her friends knew she loved Aragon. Even if they did, she couldn't admit her shameful seduction attempt to them.

  But the mare Aragon had loaned her would be a fine confidant. She'd listen and offer affection without judgment. Surely the house wards extended to the stables, so visiting them wouldn't count as leaving the townhouse. Plus, she'd see Aragon as soon as he returned.

  Selena skulked down to the stables through the servants' entrance to avoid Perkins. The exacting butler would protest her visiting the stables, and she needed the respite. When she slipped inside, she relaxed then nodded at the grooms and requested a currycomb before entering Ember's stall.

  The sorrel mare nuzzled her as she murmured compliments and began brushing.

  Selena's heart softened. Once the grooms couldn't overhear, she murmured, "Do you think Aragon shall ever forgive me? He's so generous—he loaned me you, after all—but 'tis a lot to forgive."

  The mare leaned into her brushstrokes with a nicker.

  Selena nibbled her lip as she continued brushing. "Perhaps if I revealed why I want him when I apologize again. I never did explain I loved him. Maybe he'd forgive me if I told him. But what if he doesn't love me in return? I couldn't bear his pity."

  The mare nudged her when her hands slowed.

  Selena chuckled, warmth surging in her chest. "Such a glutton for attention. 'Tis fortunate you're so beautiful and a delight to ride. Alas, we can't go riding today. Although 'twould help untangle my mind, it would be too risky."

  She sighed and finished grooming the mare. After a final pat, she left to return the currycomb to a groom. Yet none were there. Her skin prickled at the hush blanketing the stables. When had it gotten so quiet? She'd waited to confess to Ember until the grooms had drifted away, but when had they disappeared?

  A rustle drifted from the saddle room. Selena sighed then strode across the stables. But then she halted, her stomach tensing. Two rough men were dragging a groom across the saddle room floor. Spots flickering before her eyes, she blurted, "Who are you, and what have you done to the grooms?"

  The fairer man smirked. "Same that we're 'bout to do to you."

  Her throat tightened, and her pulse surged. Why had she recklessly confronted the intruders? Her uncle or the black witch must have hired them. And the black witch must have helped them evade the house wards. What other evil spells had he provided?

  Rushing filling her ears, she flung the currycomb at the fairer man's head then whirled to flee, not wasting breath screaming. She could do that when someone was awake to hear.

  The men thundered after her. She'd almost reached the stable door when one grabbed the back of her dress and yanked her into his rough embrace.

  Selena thrashed. Goddess, she must escape! Like before, whatever the black witch or her uncle planned would be horrifying. And 'twould probably start with an auction for her virginity. Dizziness darkening her vision, she attempted to kick her captor and scratch his face, but his grip never loosened.

  He cackled instead. "Spirited one, ain't she?"

  The darker man grabbed her chin. "Best make sure she's the one."

&n
bsp; Her chest burning, she jerked her chin free and attempted to bite him. Perhaps then he'd release her.

  The darker man slapped her and grabbed her chin again.

  The tang of blood filling her mouth, Selena glared at him but remained still. "Release me."

  The darker man snickered. "When we went to such trouble to catch you?" He peered at her face. "Freckles, gray eyes, and brown hair, just like requested. She's the one."

  Her captor chuckled. "Good. Dose her."

  Despite her galloping pulse, she widened her eyes with a smile. She couldn't escape the intruders, so she must convince them to release her. "Wait. You don't want to do this."

  The darker man rummaged in his pocket with his free hand. "Oh?"

  Selena swallowed and glanced toward the townhouse. Perhaps fear would convince them. "This is the Duke of Childes's townhouse. He's wealthy and powerful, and I'm under his protection."

  Her captor drawled, "Which is why the black witch paid us ten gold."

  "And a powerful spell to use later." The darker man pulled his fist from his pocket.

  Her stomach roiled. Ten gold was half a year's wages for men like these, and a powerful spell could be priceless. But perhaps greed would convince them. She forced a coy grin. "The duke would pay you more for releasing me."

  The darker man bared his teeth. "But then the black witch would hunt us for betraying him. No deal." He tossed a fistful of mustard-yellow powder in her face.

  When the bitter powder touched Selena, the gold gargoyle nestled between her breasts warmed as it absorbed the powder's magic. She relaxed until her vision began dimming. The powder mustn't be entirely magic. Oh, Goddess! Ice flooded her veins. Why had she waited to tell Aragon she loved him? Now she never might. Her heart clenched. Then she collapsed as stygian blackness swallowed her.

  Chapter 30

  When Aragon returned home, he grinned and slid from the saddle with Selena's melissa plant cradled against his chest. Then he tossed the reins to the nearest groom.

  Rubbing his eyes, the groom almost dropped the reins. Odd for him to fumble.

  Aragon frowned, but he burned to find Selena so he could give her the melissa plant, confess his love, then beg her to marry him, so he only said, "Give Nutmeg a good rubdown, plenty of water, and sweet oats. She'd a strenuous ride." He bounded up the townhouse steps, and as soon as the front door glided open, he asked, "Perkins, where's Selena?"

  The butler arched his brows. "I believe Miss Midor is upstairs, but I haven't seen her since luncheon."

  His heart quickening, Aragon nodded then trotted back to the conservatory, a room he seldom visited despite being the Minister of Agriculture. He preferred going outside instead. Although unfamiliar with the conservatory, he quickly found a pot and filched soil from an orenge tree for the melissa plant.

  After potting and watering Selena's gift, he smiled and brushed off his hands. They were covered in dirt, along with his cuffs, shirt, and waistcoat. His stomach fluttered. He couldn't confess his love looking like that. Plus, he was ravenous since he'd missed luncheon. Bringing the potted plant with him, he dashed upstairs to wash, change, and eat.

  Once he was finished, he tucked Selena's melissa plant under his arm and strode to her art room. He inhaled then knocked on the closed door and entered. "What are you sketching now?"

  But the air in Selena's art room was still.

  Aragon chuckled, warmth flooding his chest. She must be in her chambers. A bed would be convenient if she accepted his proposal. He loped back to the family hall. Again, he drew a steadying breath as he knocked on Selena's closed door and entered. "Taking a nap? How unusual."

  Yet the air in her chambers was as still as her art room.

  His pulse stuttered as he frowned and clenched the pot under his arm. Where was Selena? Perhaps she was reading in the drawing room, but 'twas unusual for Perkins to be mistaken.

  Aragon barreled downstairs to the drawing room. This time he didn't bother calling. Like Selena's art room and chambers, the drawing room was empty. Where could she be? His throat constricting, he left her melissa plant in the conservatory then found Perkins in the wine cellar. "When did you see Selena last?"

  Perkins blinked but followed him upstairs. "At luncheon with your parents. Miss Midor went upstairs when they left for the Campbells' garden party."

  Aragon's heart lurched. So where was she? He forced a smile as they reached the entrance hall. "She wasn't upstairs or in the drawing room. Could you check if the other servants have seen her?"

  Perkins nodded. "Of course, my lord."

  As the butler strode away, Aragon forced himself to remain in the entrance hall. He'd make the other servants nervous if he hovered. Clenching his trembling hands behind his back, he paced while he waited. Please, Goddess, let this be a simple misunderstanding.

  Perkins bustled back with a frown. "One of the kitchen maids saw Miss Midor slip out to the stables not long after luncheon."

  A chill seized Aragon's chest. Why had Selena gone outside with the black witch at large? Although the house wards covered the stables, they were the wards' weakest point due to the stables' high traffic. A powerful black witch might know a spell to trick the house wards there, and the wards didn't prevent using spells inside them. 'Twas why he'd alerted the servants and hired guards in addition to bolstering the wards. But he'd never expected Selena to risk visiting the stables.

  He yanked open the front door and pelted to the stables. His eyes leapt to the stalls for his mares. Ember stood beside Nutmeg like normal, but Selena wasn't with the sorrel mare. "Where's Selena?"

  The head groom replied, "Miss Midor visited her mare an hour ago." He shifted with a cough. "I drifted off soon after. When I woke, she'd returned to the townhouse."

  His stomach roiling, Aragon swallowed. The head groom never loafed. "You fell asleep in the middle of the day?" When the groom bobbed an embarrassed nod, Aragon asked, "What about the other grooms?"

  The head groom winced. "They did too. We'd all been up late last night playing cards."

  Aragon stiffened like a gorgon's stone victim. "I think 'twas more than that." The black witch was loose. "Did you or the other grooms notice anything odd?"

  "Other than all of us falling asleep?" The head groom grimaced. "No."

  Aragon leaned forward with clenched fists. All thirteen of the grooms falling asleep at once was odd enough. The black witch must have induced their slumber. "And Selena had vanished when you all awoke?"

  The head groom nodded. "That's right, my lord."

  "Damnation!" Fire flaring in his veins, Aragon punched a stable post and startled Mother's mare beside him. The black witch had kidnapped Selena despite all of Aragon's precautions. But the black witch's boldness wasn't surprising—a witch who could escape countless magic marshals would attempt anything.

  Aragon whirled around. He must inform the magic marshals. They must find Selena immediately. The longer they took, the more peril she faced. He scowled at the head groom. "Saddle that stallion Hawke bought last season. Now." Hawke's stallion was ornery and not usually worth the effort, but his speed outweighed his flaws with Selena in danger.

  The head groom blinked but bowed. "At once, my lord."

  While they prepared the stallion, Aragon bolted upstairs and snatched Selena's hairbrush from her dressing table. The magic marshals could use her hair to perform a tracing spell. Then he raced back to the stables.

  He vaulted into the saddle and thundered through Ormas. He wrenched the stallion to a stop before the main station for magic marshals in Ormas. He leapt down and tossed the reins to an apprentice marshal. "Here. Take him to your stables. Watch out—he likes to bolt."

  He sprinted up the steps to the desk just past the entrance, like he had this morning. "I must see Master Marshal Thurston."

  The marshal at the desk, different from the one earlier, cocked her head. "He's occupied at the moment, my lord."

  Aragon set his jaw. He'd better be. "Yes, hunting that black witch
I found. Tell him Lord Treyvan is here to see him again, and 'tis urgent."

  The marshal's eyes widened, and she touched the communication crystal in her ear then muttered his message. After a moment, she gestured toward the stairs. "Go on up. Thurston is in the back office on the left."

  Aragon managed a smile. "I remember." His pulse surged as he hurtled upstairs to Thurston's office.

  Thurston sighed when he glanced up from his huddled conference with the three magic marshals from before. "Lord Treyvan, I know you're concerned, but we're hunting your black witch as fast as we can, and continually interrupting us doesn't help."

  Aragon slitted his eyes as he halted before their desk. "I'm sorry to interrupt you again, but the black witch kidnapped Selena an hour ago." And Goddess knew what he'd done to her already. His stomach clenched.

  The master marshal winced, and his brow furrowed. "Dear Goddess. Unfortunately, nothing we've tried has found the black witch or Adan Midor. The black witch is tricky as a djinn."

  Aragon slammed a hand on the desk, blood rushing in his ears. They hadn't time for excuses. "Damnation! He has Selena. We must find him now." Before she was raped or worse.

  As his companions leaned away, Thurston raised his palms. "I know, my lord. But panic accomplishes nothing."

  Aragon glared as he yanked Selena's hairbrush from his pocket and flung it on the desk. He wasn't panicked. He was impatient. "I brought Selena's hairbrush for a tracing spell. Maybe then you can finally find the black witch."

  Thurston removed some hair and dropped it into a glass bowl. Then he added several herbs and a silver potion. He stirred the concoction before waving his hand over the bowl with a muttered chant. After a moment, he frowned and repeated his gesture and chant. Then he sighed and shook his head. "My tracing spell isn't working. The black witch must be blocking me." When Aragon growled, Thurston added, "Let me contact Lady Juliet and see what she says. Although her earlier suggestions didn't help, perhaps she knows something else we can try."