Swept Away

*Bexley*

At 5:45, I carry my suitcase down the stairs. Mother, Fiona, and Mrs. Jones stand there, tears in their eyes. I feel like a soldier being sent off to war. It’s silly, really. I’ll be fine.

I’ll be back tomorrow.

I remind my mother of that. “Don’t eat all the stew,” I say with a smile. “I’ll be wanting it for dinner tomorrow night.”

She can barely speak as she leans over and kisses my cheek. “I’ll… save some for you. I love you so much.”

Now, she’s making me tear up. “I love you, too, Mother.” I kiss her back. “It’ll be fine.”

“No one ever stays more than one night,” Fiona reminds us. “Really, it might be kind of nice to get to see the fancy castle. They used to have grand balls there. My grandmother went to one many years ago. You’ll get to see all of that.”

She’s trying to be optimistic, and I appreciate it, but I can barely manage a smile.

A sharp knock on the door has us all jumping. Mrs. Jones takes a deep breath and opens it to reveal—just Garth.

“I heard about the letter,” he says solemnly, shaking his head. Turning to me, he adds, “I wanted to come see you off, Becky.”

“Thank you.” He’s the last person I want to see at the moment, but the sound of his voice coaxes Harvey from his study so that now there are two people I don’t want to see here. They shake hands and begin to chat about hunting, a sport I detest that Garth’s entire life apparently revolves around.

No matter what happens to me at the castle, I am not a good match for Garth. Perhaps the king will be doing me a favor by ruining my reputation.

A clip-clopping sound has my stomach lurching into my throat. I peer out the window as Mother’s shaky hands position my cloak around my shoulders. 

I see a carriage coming up the drive. It’s large and ornate. All of the neighbors come out of their houses and stand along the cobblestone road, trying to get a look. “They should’ve brought binoculars,” I mutter, feeling like a spectacle.

The carriage stops in front of our house, and a very regal looking man steps out. He’s wearing a suit with his dark hair slicked back. Massive shoulders and muscular arms tell me this man is no one to argue with. If he says get in the carriage, one gets in the carriage.

“Is that him?” I whisper to Fiona. “Is that the king?”

“I don’t think so. No one ever sees the king anymore,” she mutters. “Not since he was the prince.”

I don’t know what that means, and I don’t have time to ask. A footman accompanies the gentleman to the door and knocks for him. My palms are sweaty as I turn the knob and pull it open.

A smile lights his handsome face, his green eyes gleaming. “Miss Bexley Kessler?”

All I can do is nod my head.

He bows a bit as he says, “I’m Ellison Lake, here to accompany you to the castle.” He seems polite and kind, and with such empathy in his eyes, I’m inclined to step forward and let him lead me away.

My plans are ruined when Garth steps forward, nearly knocking me into the wall. “And just who may you be?” His voice is authoritative, as if Mr. Lake is somehow infringing upon something that belongs to him.

Mr. Lake is a bit taller than Garth and broader, which is saying something because I’ve never imagined a man could be bigger than Garth. He clears his throat, but his charming disposition doesn’t waiver. “I’m an advisor to the king,” he says with a smile. “And you are?” He lifts a hand, and I imagine him crushing a watermelon in his palm.

Garth tentatively shakes Mr. Lake’s hand. “I’m Garth Roberts, Becky’s betrothed.”

My eyes bulge, and my stomach twists into a knot. I hear my mother gasp behind me, and Harvey chuckles low in his throat as if he thinks Garth’s claim will prevent the king from taking me away.

Mr. Lake’s forehead crinkles as he looks at me. “We have no record of any upcoming nuptials at the castle.”

All I can do is shake my head slightly, and I get the feeling that, somehow, Mr. Lake understands what I am thinking.

“Well, that’s simply because we only became engaged last night,” Garth replies, folding his arms across his chest, his chin in the air.

With a nod, Mr. Lake takes my suitcase from my hand. “I see. Well, I’m afraid anything that hasn’t been filed with the proper authorities won’t prevent Miss Kessler’s visit to the castle.” 

“But… the king cannot possibly expect for me to make her my bride after he… defiles her!” Garth spits.

Horror washes over me as I wait for Mr. Lake to throw the first punch in defense of the king. Garth has no problem whatsoever speaking ill of the king. That’s one thing behind closed doors, possibly even in the middle of town amongst the right people, but this man is obviously very close to the king.

Clearing his throat, Mr. Lake says, “I’m sure you’ve heard rumors about what happens in the castle, but I can assure all of you that no defiling is about to happen.” When his eyes reach mine, they are full of warmth and understanding. Despite the uncertainty of my plight, I do believe him.

Garth does not. A rumble explodes from his chest. “You expect us to believe that?”

“I honestly couldn’t care less what you believe.” Mr. Lake is beginning to lose his patience. One of the horses snorts and stomps its foot. That’s not a coincidence. Animals can sense human emotion, and this one knows there’s an issue. “Now, Miss Kessler, if you’ve said your goodbyes, let us be on our way.” Mr. Lake offers his arm and I take it. 

Garth follows us onto the porch. “This isn’t right, you know! Does he understand what everyone is saying about him? That he’s a perverted, egotistical—”

“Garth!” Harvey steps in as I feel Mr. Lake’s arm tense under my hand. “Please. You mustn’t speak ill of the king.”

Rather than turn around and pound him in the face, Mr. Lake simply keeps walking.

I turn my head to peer past where Harvey is trying to calm Garth before everyone gets arrested and see my mother and Fiona weeping and waving. I lift a hand and manage a smile, but the fear I’ve felt bubbling inside of me all day rises to the surface, and I’m afraid I might burst into tears myself.

“In we go,” Mr. Lake says, handing my suitcase to one of the footmen as he directs me inside of the carriage. I sit on one side, and he manages to fold himself through the narrow door and take a seat across from me. 

I run my hands over the plush velvet seat. It’s a rich blue that practically screams royalty. Ornate gold scrollwork climbs the walls. It’s beautiful and comfortable in here. Even with the large stranger sitting across from me, I feel safe.

A moment later, the carriage begins to move. I’m inclined to open the curtain and look back at Mother and the others, but I don’t. I think it’s best if we just leave our goodbyes as they were spoken.

“I apologize,” Mr. Lake says, drawing my attention to his warm eyes again. “This is never easy.” I can tell by the way his shoulders slump that he doesn’t enjoy being the one to come and collect the women. I’m honestly surprised no one has ever mentioned him to Fiona. He seems quite memorable. “I try to avoid it when I can.”

I nod, thinking maybe he isn’t the usual aristocrat who goes out to collect the women then. “I’m sorry—about Garth,” I stutter, wanting to pour everything out to him but thinking it unnecessary. Still, he should know, “My parents fully support the crown.”

A crooked smile pulls at one side of his mouth. “A lot of people question the crown these days. You will get the opportunity to see why. However, I’m afraid it won’t last long. When you leave, whenever that is, you won’t remember what you’ve experienced at the castle.”

A chill runs the length of my spine. “How is that possible?”

His smile broadens. “We have our ways.”

“Does it hurt?”

He chuckles, a soothing baritone that calms me instantly. “No. Nothing painful or uncomfortable will happen to you. Well, not physically anyway.” He runs a hand through his mop of unruly dark hair.

I’m not sure what that means, but I decide not to ask. I wish I could see out the window. I can only imagine what kind of wildlife we might see out the window as we approach the forest. It is dark out, but the moon hangs high in the sky this time of year, and I’m certain I might see an owl.

Or a wolf.

“What do you like to do in your free time, Miss Kessler?”

He’s trying to set me at ease, and I appreciate it. “I like animals,” I tell him, and he nods as if he somehow already knew that. “I like to observe them. To study them.”

“Interesting, and do you think you might make a career out of that one day?” Unlike Garth, he seems genuinely interested.

I shrug. “I’d like to, but my stepfather has me working in his firm more and more recently. I don’t mind working with numbers. I’m quite good at math. But I would prefer to be outside.”

“And your betrothed?” He says the word like we both understand that’s not what Garth is. “What does he do?”

I shake my head. “Other than call me by the wrong name?”

Mr. Lake chuckles again, and I can imagine many a woman doing all she can to cause him to make that sound. 

Thinking of Garth does not make me want to laugh, though. “He is a local hunter and also owns a farm and some other businesses. I honestly don’t know that much about him. I’ve only met him a few times.”

He nods in understanding. “He seems close with Mr. Moss.”

“Mr. Moss would like for him to be.” I take a deep breath, inhaling his spicy cologne. I briefly wonder about the king. If his advisor looks and acts like this, how much more handsome and charming must he be? “I haven’t lived here long, well, about a year, but most of the villagers have grown up together, attending the same schools and such. I have struggled to make friends. Other than Fiona.” He continues to nod as I talk about how we moved to Luna Hollow because my mother met Harvey through a mutual friend, and I never really wanted to come, but I love my mother and want her to be happy. I’ve probably been talking for ten minutes when I say, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Lake. I shouldn’t be rambling on.”

“Please, call me Ellison,” he says in that casual tone. “And you’re not rambling. All of that is quite interesting to me. Tell me more about Hexeton.”

I’m not sure if he’s just trying to distract me or if he really wants to know, but I tell him about the kingdom I grew up in. “The king died before I was born, and since he had no children, it’s just the queen now.”

He nods, and I should realize he already knows that. “Queen Maeve.”

“That’s right. She made a lot of public appearances when I was younger, but as she aged, she stopped coming out so much. I’m not sure what will happen when she passes away.” He only shrugs. I decide it’s time to stop talking about politics, so I move on to tell him about my grandparents’ house and how much I loved spending time there.

“These are your father’s parents?” he asks me.

“Both,” I say. “I mean… I loved going to both sets of grandparents’ houses. But yes, my father’s parents have a large forest behind their property. So of course I loved that. Grandpa would go out with me sometimes to look for animals. And Grandma would bake us something warm and delicious to eat when we got home.”

His smile is genuine. “Do you remember much about your father?”

I hesitate, not sure what I can share with this man, but then I nod, and his smile widens.