Cursed by Bandits (Once Upon A Curse)

6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

J ane was silent as we climbed the rest of the stairs. I don’t know what I expected from her, but it definitely wasn’t a quiet companion. She had learned early on that keeping her mouth shut when I was plotting was never beneficial.

I pulled on the door to my bedroom, its cry loud enough to wake anyone sleeping in this wing. Closing my eyes, I breathed a sigh of relief as I leaned against the open door, thankful my uncle had taken residence in the newer and less drafty side of the castle. The air stirred in front of me as Jane walked by. I opened my eyes to see her sit primly on the edge of my bed. It was obvious she intended for us to talk about my intentions tonight despite the exhaustion settling over me .

I yawned loudly.

“Don’t. You snuck out. Woke me up. You’re going to explain why and what you mean by enlightening.” Jane crossed her arms, causing her robe to shift and expose her very prim white nightgown.

I shrugged; it wasn’t like I planned on keeping tonight a secret from her. I jumped into my bed and wiggled my way up to the top. Jane just stared at me the entire time. Waiting.

“I couldn’t sleep because there were too many feelings to process. So I climbed out the window and went to the oak tree I told you about. The swing is still there.” It was actually rather unbelievable that the swing was still there since everything else in Lockersley had fallen into disarray.

She sighed. “I’m so sorry for, well, everything. I can’t believe no one sent word about your father.” She crawled to the top of the bed until she was sitting beside me. I laid my head on her shoulder as she settled in.

“Jane, it was like he was there, talking me through what my course of action should be. He whispered on the wind as I swung back and forth. It was like I was a kid again and he was guiding me to the resolution he wanted. I can’t ignore him.”

She took my hand in hers and squeezed it tight. “What do you think he wants you to do? ”

I sat up straight but did not let go of her hand. I loved how Jane didn’t question any of what I was saying, or try to convince me my father wasn’t leading me on this path.

“I’m going to redistribute my uncle’s wealth, give it to the townsfolk and tenants.” My eyes searched her face, looking for her reaction.

Jane looked at me, her brow furrowed as she rubbed her chin for a moment. She tapped her mouth with the index finger of her free hand, clearly deep in thought. “How do you plan on doing that?”

I shrugged. “That’s yet to be determined. I just know it’s what my father would have done.”

Jane continued to stare at me. “What about the spying? Are you still going to do that for Tuck and Will?”

The plan to spy had slipped my mind as I sat on the swing tonight. However, to find out where my uncle hid his wealth would take work and more importantly, information.

“Spying is essential for my idea to work,” I responded absentmindedly as thoughts ran through my head, one after another, some barely connected to my scheming, others very related to the planning. Based on dinner tonight, I doubted my uncle knew much, if anything, about the nunnery. He probably assumed I’d spent my time there learning how to be a lady, a skill my father even thought I needed after coming home with twigs in my hair one too many times.

“How, exactly, do you plan to spy on your uncle?”

“By convincing him I am something that I am very much not.” I turned towards her, waiting to see if she knew what I was implying.

Jane raised an eyebrow, and it was clear she didn’t know what I was suggesting.

“A lady.”

My friend stared for a moment, then blinked. Suddenly, she tossed her head back, laughing so loud I feared she would wake the keep.

“It’s not that funny,” I muttered.

“Rowan, my dear. We must go over the details of your party.”

I kept walking as if I hadn’t heard my uncle speak.

Footsteps quickened behind me, leather soles smacking against the stone floor as he hurried to catch up to me. I wanted to speed up, but I didn’t want him to know I knew he was there, so I kept to the sedate pace I had set for myself. Walking at a ladylike speed was more of a challenge than I had expected.

A heavy hand fell on my shoulder, halting my sedate pace. My face scrunched up in distaste as I fought the urge to shake off his hand.

“Didn’t you hear me calling you?” My uncle pushed on my shoulder until I was facing him.

Forcing my face into a much nicer expression, I giggled—ugh, was this really how I was going to act while I was in the keep? “I’m sorry, Uncle Jonathan, I was lost in my own thoughts and I’m afraid I didn’t hear anything.” The urge to roll my eyes was overwhelming, but I pasted a smile on my face, glancing down as I did so.

“We need to sit down and go over the plans for your party. I want to go over the guest list. See what you think of the potential suitors I’m planning on inviting.” He let go of my shoulder and placed my hand in the crook of his arm, ready to escort me to his chosen destination.

I removed my hand from his arm, clasping my hands behind my back. “Uncle, it’s so kind of you to want to celebrate my return. But I don’t need a party. I would rather not go to such an expense. It makes me uncomfortable after being at the nunnery for so long.”

“That may be, but it is expected. People want to celebrate your return.” His hand settled on the small of my back, and it propelled me forward until we stood in front of arched double doors made of solid wood. He removed his hand, and he pulled the doors open. His eyes fell on me. I could tell he was noticing my all-black outfit, one from the nunnery.

“What on earth are you wearing?” He still stood in the doorway.

I looked down at my clothes, opening my eyes wide as I looked up at him. “Is there something wrong with it? It’s the only black clothes I own, and I wanted to pay respects to my father. I know he’s been gone for a while, but I didn’t know.” Tears filled my eyes, the first thing to happen that wasn’t an act. “For me, it’s like he died yesterday.”

His teeth clenched, the tips of his ears turning red. But when he spoke, his words hid whatever emotions he was feeling. “How callous of me, of course you need time. Unfortunately, we can’t postpone the party. It’s important that people know you are back and ready for a match.”

“I . . .,” I took a deep breath to stop myself from arguing. I brushed past him into what appeared to be his office. “Of course. Whatever you believe is best.”

Any traces of my father had been removed by the man who had taken his place. Which made no sense to me. My father raised me to believe I would take his place one day. He had even shown me his will, where he had put his intentions in writing. How had my uncle taken over my father’s role? Was it because I was absent or something worse?

“Please sit.” He gestured to a dainty wooden chair. “Here’s the list of suitors I intend to invite.”

He pushed a parchment across his desk as he took a seat behind the table. Every piece of furniture was daintier than I expected it to be. The level of craftsmanship was instantly recognizable on every piece in the room. But none of it looked like something made near here, which saddened me. All the money spent on this room and none of it helped my people.

I picked up the list in front of me. “Jocelin Montfort? You think the sheriff is a suitable suitor?”

My uncle raised his eyebrow, not happy that I would question him. “He’s actually who I would choose for you. He has been very loyal since his appointment. But I did put others on the list.”

I scanned the parchment covered in my uncle’s spidery scrawl. Most of the names were unfamiliar to me, but there was one name that stood out: Connor Blackwood, the king’s eldest son. Marrying me off to the next king was an interesting way to get rid of me, if that was what my uncle wanted to do .

“I’m sorry, Uncle, I cannot make myself care about the guest list. As I said, I would rather not have this party, but since it is expected and proper, I will trust you to invite the right people.” I stood, brushing the black fabric of my clothing before walking out of the room.