Page 47 of Trapped By Clocks and Hearts

I still needed to do some meditation to regenerate my magic with the overnight tides, and I couldn’t do that with her around to distract me.

It seemed instead of indulging in her usual lengthy morning breakfast feast, the Duchess wanted to personally see us off. By the time I came out of my suite, she was at the front porch, Allie’s hand clasped in hers.

Tilting my head to peer at them out the big windows, I slid my hand along the staircase railing as I descended.

Energetic from being once again completely healed from her injuries, Allie ventured her last-minute questions—respectful and curious. “Madame Duchess, if you wouldn’t mind my asking…”

The Duchess interjected right away, “Why do I want to die?” She let out an airy laugh. “Darling, I have lived a long, long, long life.” Her face paled, her skin wrinkling, her entire aura dimmed as she spoke, “My sole purpose has always been to serve the Queen of Hearts. I only move when she says. I only breathe when she says. Such a life is not worth living.”

“I see.” Allie nodded, her forehead creased in deep thought. “That’s…quite interesting.”

“Interesting because Rabb has the same purpose and yet, he doesn’t feel as I do?” the Duchess prompted.

“Exactly.”

Chez popped up and moseyed over to lie out on the porch steps to sun himself.

Glancing at the cat, the Duchess’s smile was wan. “Rabb is…a little bit younger than I. And while his emotions have been all but stripped away, I still have a small piece of my Heartfire ember. It seems that to be able to do what I do for the Queen, I must have a certain measure of emotions.” She tapped her chest. “I feel sadness. I feel grief. I feel loneliness. I feel guilt. When you get to be as old as I am, all alone, carrying this burden, I imagine you would wish for the end to come swiftly as well.”

At her admission, a twinge in my own chest stung for a moment. I supposed some people would find that between the two of us, the Duchess had the worst deal of it. I was almost certain that Allie would think so too.

Allie’s frown deepened. “I am so sorry.”

“Ah, it is not for you to be sorry about. This is simply the way things are.” The Duchess waved it away. A sparkling mist surrounded her hand for a moment until the mist formed into a crystal hand mirror. “Here.” She handed Allie the gilded hand mirror.

“What is this?”

“A looking glass.”

Allie turned over the delicate glittering accessory in her hand. “Yes, but what is it for?”

“This looking glass will allow us to communicate across the river,” the Duchess said, her gaze turning wistful and faraway. “I think I shall miss my new friend. It has been such a long time since I’ve had quite intriguing company.”

Coming out of the French doors, I gave the Duchess an acknowledging nod then held my hand out to take the looking glass from Allie so I could shrink it and keep it in my pocket.

The Duchess clucked her tongue. “Even though it may otherwise seem as though you’ve made this trip for nothing.”

“Not at all.” Allie shook her head. “It was very lovely to meet you, Madame Duchess.”

“I am sorry I couldn’t be of more help.” The Duchess’s smile quirked a bit as she regarded Allie with a look. “But perhaps I could make you an offer instead. What would you say to your coming to stay here at my estate?”

Allie’s mouth dropped open. “What?”

Surprised, I jerked in my stance. On the one hand, I almost sighed in instant relief at the prospect of being unburdened of Allie’s infuriating company. But then suspicion struck me.

Was the Duchess trying to hold Allie hostage to coerce me into ending her life? Had the Duchess become aware of Allie’s true nature? Was the Duchess trying to take advantage and extract the coeur for herself? Did Chez tell the Duchess what she was?

I cast a glance over at Chez but he merely rolled over with a soft purr, not even paying the rest of us any mind.

The Duchess went on. “This big house is too quiet all by my lonesome. And perhaps with your company, I might think of wanting to die less. Plus, you might even get to fixing the cooktop and the steam baths.” She peered at Allie’s face with a solemn entreat. “If you find your home is much out of reach, I fancy you might have a place here.”

Almost startling Allie, I stepped in front of her before the words of offer even settled. “Out of the question, Duchess.” I glared at her. “I told you she is mine.”

The Duchess raised her hand to her throat. “Ah, my dear Rabb, I stake no claim on her. I was just perhaps thinking that it would be easier on you if she wasn’t around. You know I would protect her with all the magic I have.” She peered around me to meet Allie’s gaze again to promise. “I swear it. You would be safe here.”

I didn’t glance back to check for Allie’s reaction.

The Duchess’s trustworthy eyes and earnest nod indeed rang sincere but the tightness in my chest warred with my sudden headache. It was taxing to think through the reason why but I already knew my answer. I couldn’t let the Duchess control my weakness. “No. She’ll come back with me and I’ll hear nothing more about it.”