Other guests were leaving the room as well. Some were elderly and probably retiring to their rooms, some were no doubt going to find other enjoyments—games or trysts.
By the time I reached the courtyard, I was afraid it would be strewn with people out taking advantage of the evening.Torches, enchanted to glow red and white, lined the castle wall and gave off enough light that one could ramble around a good portion of the courtyard without fear of tripping in the darkness. I only saw one couple outside, though, and they disappeared into the obscurity of the hedge maze.
It was better not to let anyone see me staring up at the wizards’ windows. I dare not speak the invisibility chant in view of the castle door, lest someone saunter out and spy me vanishing. I ducked behind a tree and made the change there. Invisibility was such freedom, like shedding one’s finery at the end of the night.
I strolled back to the courtyard, enjoying the breeze and pausing to look at the stars. I rarely paid attention to them, but since I’d claimed to enjoy stargazing, I took note of them, crowded together in the heavens.
Ronan had told me once that no one knew where falling stars came from. All the stars were still in the heavens, accounted for, their constellations unchanged. Just as puzzling, no one ever found where the stars landed. Stars were mysterious—there and not there, continuously out of reach. When I was invisible, I felt nearly as illusive. There and not there.
I hadn’t taken many steps across the courtyard when I spotted Ronan standing by a half wall that separated a sunken garden on his other side. I stopped mid-step, worried he would see me.
Of course, he wouldn’t. Wizards couldn’t detect those who were invisible unless they cast a disclosing spell on that person. Ronan had no reason to suspect I was in the courtyard.
Unless, that was, he’d walked out as I’d gone behind the tree and noticed I hadn’t reappeared.
Well, no matter. Even if he’d seen me stroll outside and disappear, he didn’t know where I was now or where I was going. I’d traipse right by him on my way to the wizards’ wing, andhe, the one who’d given me the power of invisibility and silent footsteps, would be none the wiser. There was a sort of fitting justice about that.
I strode toward him, unafraid.
As I got close, he said, “Marcella?”
I halted a few feet away. Had my dress made a swishing noise? No, I was certain it hadn’t. How had he known I was near?
His eyes swept the area but didn’t stop on me. Perhaps he’d only been guessing when he spoke my name.
I took a couple of slow steps.
“Marcella.” The word was said with a slightly chiding tone. “It’s no use pretending you’re not here. I can tell, you know.”
Could he? Without a disclosing spell? That was ill news, indeed. I’d better find out how.
I ensured we were still alone, then murmured the counter incantation. “How did you know?” I tried to keep my voice light, as though it didn’t matter. But it most definitely mattered.
He smiled the sort of sly, enigmatic smile I remembered from our time spent holding hands. “Your perfume. I noted it when I first saw you.”
I hadn’t thought the scent was that strong. I’d have to wash off all traces before I went into the wizards’ wing again.
Ronan cocked his head. “Why are you flitting about the courtyard, trying to remain undetected?”
Yes, that. I needed a believable excuse. “I was avoiding the company of a certain gentleman.” I looked back at the doorway as though searching for said gentleman. “When I excused myself to get some fresh air, he volunteered to join me. Although I declined his company, I worried he might come after me anyway.”
Ronan’s eyes followed mine to the empty doorway. “Are you referring to the womanizing Sir Percy or the social climbing Bernard Godfrey?”
I blinked, surprised. I hadn’t seen Ronan so much as glance in my table’s direction. “You’re acquainted with those gentlemen?”
“I’ve done business with Godfrey and know of Sir Percy. Most people at court are aware of his dalliances.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t sure if Ronan was implying my ignorance proved I was an outsider or if he was warning me off.
Ronan’s gaze traveled over me, taking in my gown and headdress. “Fortune has smiled on you. A long-lost aunt adopted you into the nobility?”
It was clear he wanted more details. I wasn’t about to satisfy his curiosity. “Fortune has indeed been kind.”
He nodded, coming to his own conclusions. “I suppose everyone needs an heir, and a beautiful girl who can attract money isn’t a bad heir to have. Surely your goal of catching a nobleman’s son isn’t far away.” There was censure in his voice, a bite to the words.
“What did you expect? I tried love once, but it ended badly. Through no fault of my own, the man refused to speak to me and sold me away.”
Ronan, annoyingly, seemed pleased by this declaration. “You loved me?”