Ancient Guardians The Legacy of the Key (17 page)

Reece smiled. “I
have, thanks, and don’t tempt me with the idea that you two could go back and
pack up some normal clothes for me, either; I hadn’t considered that idea yet.”
She laughed. “As for enjoying my stay here without you, you should know that
I’ve been entertained pretty well by the lovely ‘Ladies of Pemdas.’” She
chuckled to herself at her inside joke. Harrison’s eyes brightened and he
grinned, but Levi’s posture became rigid. He looked at Reece with eyes from
which all humor had fled.

Harrison clapped
his hand onto Levi’s stiffened shoulder. “Pretty well, eh? I might have to
disagree with you, Reece. From word at the breakfast table this morning, I
believe that it was you who entertained our fine ‘Ladies of Pemdas.’” He smiled
admiringly.

Levi’s expression
was unreadable. Reece’s face grew hot and she swallowed hard, wondering exactly
what had been said, and who had said it.

“Well, I don’t
think anyone would refer to it as entertainment but—”

“I definitely view
it as entertainment!” Said Harrison. “I’m just sorry that Levi waited until
last night to have us race back to the Palace in record-breaking time. Cousin,
if we had only left yesterday morning, I believe we would have arrived in time
to watch Reece have quite the conversation with the lovely Simone!”

Reece managed an
uncertain smile, but Levi showed no interest in Harrison’s lighthearted joke.
“I only wished we
had
left earlier.” He stared darkly up at the house.

  Harrison changed
the subject. “But that is not the pressing issue here. What happened to you at
breakfast? You rode back to the house as if you hadn’t eaten in weeks, then you
vanish as we’re walking in to eat! What are you two doing out in this cold?” He
shook his head. “I would have appreciated the option of joining you and Reece,
instead of being left with the three bickering hens. I thought you were more
compassionate, Levi.”

“I went to find the
horses,” Levi said. “With the weather coming in, and the young foals among
them, we must move them from the big pasture; bring them closer to the stables.
I came across Reece where the creeks divide.” Though he answered Harrison, it
was obvious that his thoughts were elsewhere.

“Quite the little
wonderer, aren’t we?” Said Harrison. “That’s a substantial walk. Not that I
blame you. I probably would do the same if I was forced to be around those
women all day, every day.” He addressed his cousin. “I’ll send for Javian to
bring the herd to closer grounds. Samuel is expecting us to report for
training.”

  Levi nodded.
“Very well. Let us escort Reece into the house.” He offered her his arm.

“Let us,” Harrison
agreed with a laugh, gesturing dramatically toward the door.

  “Go be trained,
guys. You don’t need to walk me into the house. I’ve managed alone pretty well
for the last couple of days.”

“It’s no burden,”
said Levi. “In any case, I intend to have a discussion with the women who had
you in their care.”

  Reece didn’t
argue, but her stomach knotted. After Simone’s accusations the previous night,
she really didn’t want to risk being found with both men in tow.

As they reached the
top of the stairs, she stopped. “Levi, would it be okay if I went in alone?
Please don’t ask me to explain, it’s just something that I would be more
comfortable doing.” She raised her eyebrows and tried to smile, hoping he would
not question her request. But it was Harrison who looked down at her in confusion.
“Are you serious? Reece if this is about—”

Levi cut off his
cousin in a soft voice. “Certainly, Reece, if that is what you prefer. We will
see you tonight at dinner.” Unsmiling, he gently removed her arm and motioned
for her to enter.

She walked back into
the house alone, but her caution was wasted. She saw no sign of the young women
as she made her way quickly to her rooms.

Chapter
11

R
eece was glad she’d taken her walk early. The weather became extremely
cold outside, and she spent most of the day in her sitting room; curled up
before a crackling fire with a blanket, and a couple of books from the library.
She lunched in her room, rather than with the young women. Her annoyance with
them was subsiding, but even so, she was not in the mood to be in their
presence. She wished she could pass on dinner as well, but that would be too
public a slight, and might cause Levi and Harrison concern.

The
day passed pleasantly, and dinner time came too soon. When she entered the
dining room, the young women had just sat down at the table. Their conversation
halted as soon as she walked through the doors and took her usual seat.

“Good evening,
Reece,” Catherine managed after a few moments of tense silence.

Reece looked at the
three women sitting across the table from her, and forced a smile. “Good
evening, ladies. It’s nice to see you all again,” she lied.

Simone shot Reece a
stern look. “It is, is it? With the way you have avoided us all day, and after
our conversation last night, I felt we would never see you again.”

You hoped,
Reece thought. “It wasn’t that at all, Simone. After I
returned to my room, I realized how tired I was.” She smiled with false
sweetness. “I guess I’m not in the same shape as all of you. Trying to keep up
with all your exciting adventures finally got the best of me. I spent the day
relaxing, and I’m feeling much better now.” She reached for her wine glass.

Simone arched her
eyebrow. “Oh? I wasn’t aware we had pushed you beyond your limits; next time,
we will keep your frailty in mind.”

  “I am happy you
are feeling better and are able to join us,” Lillian said in a flat voice that
gave the lie to her artificial smile.

Reece was thankful
when the doors swung open to admit Levi and Harrison.

“Ladies!” Said
Harrison, grinning. “Forgive us! We are late, and fully aware of the
inconvenience we have caused. You all are beautiful, lovely, and charming this
evening…and I am starved.” He relaxed into the chair at Reece’s left.

“Ladies,” said
Levi, nodding briefly, and took his seat at the head of the table. Once Levi
found his seat, the staff entered bringing in the first course.

  Simone, who was
seated to Levi’s left, sipped her wine delicately. She looked at Harrison, who
sat directly across from her, “Harrison, must you burst loudly into every room?
Perhaps if you spent less time on Earth, your manners would improve. And sit
up—you look like an unruly child at the table.”

Levi never looked
up from his plate, but a tiny smile played in the corners of his mouth.

Harrison leaned
back in his chair, and rested his arm on the top of Reece’s chair. He stretched
his other arm lazily on the table. “Simone, what do you know of Earth manners?
You don’t show any interest in the place. You cast your judgments prematurely,
and make yourself into more of a fool than I.”

Reece stifled a
smile, but thought it best to focus on her plate, as Levi was doing.

Simone smiled
widely at Harrison. “Well, you certainly didn’t learn such obnoxious habits in
Pemdas. How do you expect to find a wife among the women in your land with such
obnoxious behavior?” She laughed her soprano trill. “Unless, of course, you
wish to go against duty and family by taking an Earthling for your wife. Your
boorish manners are unlikely to attract anyone better.” With pretentious
delicacy, she placed a bite of meat into her mouth.

Harrison’s
smile died. He leaned forward and addressed Simone directly. “Madam, you have
forgotten yourself most profoundly. Whatever ill manners you feel I possess, I
assure you, they are nothing in comparison to what you have just displayed, by
crudely insulting two of your fellow guests.”

Reece looked up,
startled; she hadn’t seen this side of Harrison before. “Such behavior,” he
continued, “will not find you a husband either in Pemdas, or on Earth.”

He reached for his
glass, sat back in his chair, and continued to stare at the rising red tide on
Simone’s angry face. He took a sip, and seemed to revert to his usual
good-humored self. “I can assure you of this, my lady; there are plenty of women
in Pemdas who would grant me their hand this instant, should I ask for it.
However, unlike you, I have much more important things to think about than
marriage.” He waved his hand dismissively in Simone’s direction, and then
applied himself to his dinner.

Reece restrained
herself from bursting into laughter, and noticed Levi was having difficulty
with that as well.

The three women,
obviously annoyed, now talked of trivialities among themselves, while Levi,
Harrison, and Reece ate in silence. As Reece silently studied the women while
she ate her meal, a thought came to her, and she softly laughed.

Simone gazed at her
with curiosity, while Harrison turned to Reece and grinned, “Miss Bryant?
Anything you care to share with us? I believe we could use a little humor
tonight.”

Reece looked up to
find all three women staring at her in disgust. Levi sat back, clearly amused.
He took a sip of his wine, and waited for Reece’s response.

“Well, I’m not
really sure if it’s funny or not; but I just realized that Simone was correct
last night.”

Simone’s eyes
became fierce.

“Please, enlighten
us.” Harrison said.

“You see, I didn’t
agree with her when she asked me if I thought it was dull and boring without
you guys around. It turns out, I was wrong.” She laughed and then smiled at
Simone’s heated gaze, “You were right, Simone; having Harrison and Levi back
has definitely served to make our dinner more exciting than it has been lately.
Wouldn’t you agree?” Reece finished with an innocent smile.

A sharp arch of
Simone’s brow challenged Reece’s humored expression, “Reece, I am having
difficulty understanding what you are trying to imply? Could it be that you are
trying to find a way to embarrass me in front the gentlemen?”

“I was speaking in
jest, Simone; you know, trying to lighten the evening.” Reece smiled as she
used Simone’s exact words from the previous night against her. “Actually, it’s
quite a compliment, Simone; I’ve never been one to openly admit when I was
wrong.”

“Well, Miss Bryant,
while you have paid Simone a compliment, you must know you have managed to
deeply offend me.” Harrison teased.

Levi let out a soft
laugh. “How’s that, Harrison? I believe Reece has paid us both a fine
compliment.”

“Indeed,
Levi; however, it took her until tonight to realize it was dull and boring
without us around?” He shook his head. “What a pity, I’d hoped she was better
impressed with us before we left.” He brought his attention to Simone’s deadly
gaze, and smiled wryly. “Turns out, it was only Simone who had been longing for
our return.”

Reece bit down on
her bottom lip as the horror and shock that touched Simone’s crimson red face,
gave her an overwhelming desire to burst into laughter at that moment. She
forced herself to study the food on her plate.

“Harrison, do not
flatter yourself.” Simone snapped.

“I am not
flattering myself, Simone. I am only seeking an apology from Reece.
Unfortunately, at this time, she is more interested in her plate of food, than
she is for my wounded feelings.”

Reece lowered her
head as she tried to maintain her composure. The table grew silent, and she
could feel Harrison’s gaze on her, waiting for her to respond.

She swallowed hard
and cleared her throat, but remained focused on the plate before her.
“Harrison, I’m sorry if I offended you in anyway,” she gained the courage to
look at him, “I think it came out wrong, I was only—”

Harrison grinned
and smoothly cut her off. “Speaking in
jest?
I believe that is a new
word in your vernacular, Reece.”

Reece closed her
eyes, trying with all her power to keep a straight face. She didn’t know how
she did it, but she opened her eyes, met Harrison’s grin, and kept her
composure enough to answer, “Indeed, Harrison, it is a word I learned from
Simone last evening.”

Harrison and Levi
both laughed aloud, and fortunately for Reece, Harrison couldn’t respond as
they were interrupted by the staff bringing in the second course.

The guests remained
silent as they were served, but Simone could not avoid discord for long. “How
was your visit to Sandari, Levi? I am curious, how is the lovely Isabelle?” She
smirked and glanced toward Reece.

The other two
women’s heads snapped up, looking at Simone with apparent shock. Harrison
whistled softly. Levi’s jaw tightened and his expression became dark. Simone
seemed a bit startled by his reaction.

“Isabelle? It is
unclear to me why you have taken a sudden interest in the Duchess of Sandari,
but I am sure she is well. She is to be married before year’s end.”

Simone recovered,
and put on a sorrowful expression like a mask. “Married? Are you certain? This
is astounding, indeed. How did you take the news? You must have been
devastated; I can’t even imagine. Ladies, did you hear what our Levi has just
announced?”