White Roses a.b

chapter 37

Ashley was giddy when Andy's mysterious tower of stone deposited them into the Crossroads - arms linked, faces flushed, and lungs full of laughter. Her hair was a tangled mess, her toes were uncomfortably cold on her one bare foot, and Ash had not known before what happiness was. Her whole body was smiling. She felt that she could step off the chequered-tile floor and fly up, up, up if she wasn't careful.

They found the door to Rock Turtle Cove, and Andy opened it for her with an elaborate bow. 'After you, my lady.'

She curtsied. 'Why thank you, good sir,' she said, dancing through the door and out on to the riverbank. The bridge above them was sullen and quiet, the air still but for the chirping of crickets and the crackle of lightning bugs.

Andy shut the door beneath the bridge and followed her up to the path. She felt the tender brush of his fingertips against her lower back and the caress warmed her to her bones.

She smiled back at him and saw her contentment reflected in his face. It only took the gentlest of tugs before she was in his arms again.

No sooner had their lips touched than a warning caw darted down Ashley's spine. She gasped and swivelled her head, spotting Raven in the trees.

Andy grabbed her elbow. 'Ash-'

The night's tranquillity erupted with the sound of clanging armour and shouted commands.

Ashley cried out as Andy's hand was ripped away from her, leaving her skin burning. She turned in time to see the Two and Seven of Clubs forcing Andy on to his knees. A suit of palace guards spread out behind them, their clubs and javelins raised.

'What are you doing?' she screamed, wrapping her hands around Andy's upper arm. The guards held firm. 'Let him go!'

'Ashley! Oh, thanks to goodness!'

She spun around. Her mother and father barrelled out from behind a border of shrubs. The King, too, was there, and the sight of him made Ash's veins run cold moments before her mother wrapped her in a suffocating embrace. 'Oh, my sweet girl! My darling child! You're home! You're safe!'

'Of course I'm safe. What is the meaning of this?'

'You needn't be frightened any more.' The Marchioness stroked her hair. 'We heard all about the Jabberwock attack - much as I adore His Majesty I may never forgive his putting you in harm's way like that!' She said this with an element of cheekiness, knowing His Majesty was standing not far away and, of course, he was already forgiven. 'They said you were injured and . . . and this wicked joker had taken you to the Sturgeons! We went there, your father and Mary Ann and I, but you were nowhere to be seen and no one had heard from you and the Sturgeons said you hadn't been to see them and all I could think was that you were helpless and afraid and hurt and this awful man had secreted you away and was doing something vile and awful and-'

She was sobbing, great big blubbering sobs that turned Ash's stomach with guilt.

A loud honk drew her attention over her mother's shoulder. Her father was blowing his nose into a handkerchief, his eyes red and sleepless.

She spotted Mary Ann and Abigail, too, loitering near the tree line. Both were pale and wide-eyed. Mary Ann looked relieved, her hands pressed against her stomach.

'Did he . . .' Her mother swallowed, hard. 'Did he hurt you?'

'What? No!' Ash shook her head as her mother's words pieced together. She disentangled herself from her mother's embrace. 'He didn't . . . it was nothing like that. This is all a misunderstanding.' She spun back to the guards. 'Let him go. He hasn't done anything!'