Dammit.I couldn’t do that either.
I left the study without a word. What could I say? That it would be all right? It wouldn’t. That I forgave him? I didn’t.
The walk to the staircase felt like a death march.Each stair, a death knell.Every trudging step forward bringing me closer to the end.
Keelynn sat on the front steps, rubbing her red-rimmed eyes with a handkerchief. When she saw me approaching, she stood to straighten her skirts. I couldn’t bring myself to look her in the eye as I came to stand next to her. The manicured lawns seemed to stretch on forever, reminding me there was no escape.
“Keelynn, I’m so very sorry.”
She crushed the handkerchief in her clenched fist. “So, that’s it then? I’m supposed to sit idly by and watch you steal my future?”
“Keelynn—”
“I hope you’re happy together,” she spat, skirts flying behind her as she hurtled past and shoved the door aside.
My life had turned into a disaster, and there was no end in sight to the misery.
Unless I could wish for Keelynn to take my place.
13
How didI go about contacting a fae prince? There was only one person I could think of to help. I raced across the gravel toward the stables to find Padraig brushing Keelynn’s horse and shouting orders at two stable hands. When he saw me, he straightened and started forward, meeting me by the first stall. My mare bobbed its brown head as if in greeting.
“What is it, milady? Are ye all right? Did something happen?” He reached for my dirt-crusted hand as his eyes swept me from head to toe. My father hadn’t cared enough to ask me what had happened. He’d only given out about my appearance.
Not Padraig though.
“I need your help.”
A nod. “Of course. Whatever it is. Tell me.”
I had a feeling that if I told him I’d murdered someone, he’d grab the shovel leaning against the wall and help me bury the body, no questions asked. At least there was one person in this world besides my sister I could rely on.
The stable hands watched us, listening to every word. This scene would undoubtedly be described to the maids and footmen and sweep through the rest of the household staff by dinnertime.
“Not here. I need to speak with you in private.”
Understanding crossed his weathered features, and he nodded. “Ger, finish here with Lady Keelynn’s horse. Liam, when I get back, I expect the stalls to be mucked and cleaned.” With that, he took my hand, laced it through his arm, and started for his cottage, waiting until the stables faded from view before speaking. “I assume this has to do with the bastard prince,” he said.
“I need you to find him and bring him to me.”
Padraig’s uneven steps faltered. “Ye shouldn’t seek him out, milady. Wherever the devil goes, death and destruction follow.”
I hadn’t forgotten the warning. With what had happened to Eithne, I knew it was true. And yet, I couldn’t think of any other way to get out of this situation without letting someone down.
With the lawns stretching all around us, I explained to Padraig what had happened.
“Robert Trench isn’t good enough for either of my girls,” Padraig grumbled, giving the gravel a kick.
“Unfortunately, Keelynn’s heart is set on him. And I’ll not be the one to break it.”
He ran a hand over his whiskers, mumbling to himself and casting furtive glances back toward the stables. “If I find yer man, what’s yer plan?”
“I’m going to bargain with him.”
Padraig caught my hand, blue eyes wild. “I’m beggin’ ye. Find another way. Reason with yer father. Ye cannot be in Prince Rían’s debt. Ye won’t survive.”
One wish. It was worth it. “Will you do this for me or should I find someone else to help?”