That hope carried me through the corridors and past the kitchen. Having little practice with goodbyes, I decided it was better to avoid Mrs. Crossey, and Marlie, too, for that matter. It wasn’t truly goodbye, after all. Mrs. Crossey had said I could return when I wanted. I just needed to say the word.
I made my way with my carpet bag to the bench outside the kitchen gate and watched the early sun warm the fog rolling off the Thames and clinging to the Slopes and the castle wall.
Even now, after everything, the place still reminded me of my dragonfly.
My dragonfly who was the Lady of the Fayte.
I was almost ashamed to admit that it comforted me to remember her as she’d been. That brazen insect. That charming friend.
The kitchen door creaked a warning that I was no longer alone. I braced and hoped the interloper would hurry and leave me in peace.
“We’re to be traveling companions, then?”
It was Mr. Wyck. He tugged on the wrists of a stiff tweed jacket that would have looked right at home on High Street.
I watched his eyes scan the horizon and tried to discern whether he found the prospect agreeable. Or not. “Yes, Mr. Wyck,” I said cautiously. “That is my understanding.”
He plunged his fists into his front pockets and rocked on his toes. “So, it’s still to be Mr. Wyck, then?”
“Yes, I believe so.” I gnawed my lower lip. Had I misinterpreted those tender moments between us? Did he even remember them?
“Well, look at you two!”
The burst of Marlie’s voice snapped me back from my thoughts.
She dropped a bag beside mine. “It’s going to be quite a trip. Are you ready for it?”
“I’m not sure. Are you going somewhere, too?”
“I’m going with you! I told Mrs. Crossey not to tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise. Are you surprised?”
I could only nod. It was a shock, but not unwelcome. Having her with me would make leaving easier, but still not easy.
For the first time, I belonged somewhere, yet I had to go. I knew that. I had to know why there were years—and a family—I couldn’t remember and why I had talents I didn’t understand.
At least this time, it would be my choice to be an outsider.
“You won’t be an outsider,” Mr. Wyck said plainly, still looking off into the distance.
His words jolted me. “What did you say?”
“You won’t be an outsider. That’s what you were thinking, wasn’t it?”
“But how did you know?”
He shrugged.
“Have you always…?” The possibility sent my mind reeling but I couldn’t focus on that now. The carriage was approaching.
“C’mon.” Marlie grabbed her bag and ran off to meet it.
I took up my own bag and looked back at the castle. I would be back. I could feel it deep in my bones. And when I did, I hoped I would have some answers.
I hurried to catch up with Mr. Wyck and Marlie.
And I wasn’t the only one. Lagging behind, just out of view, a twinkle of light followed, a fluttering spark in the distinct shape of a dragonfly.
~ ~ ~
THE END… for now
__________
The story continues in Slivering Curse: The Queen’s Fayte Book Two, and it’s available for pre-order. Learn more at www.DDCroix.com/Slivering-Curse.
Dear Reader
Thank you for taking time to read Dragonfly Maid: The Queen’s Fayte Book One. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review at Amazon or Goodreads. Good reviews and positive word of mouth are vital for any author to succeed.
~ ~ ~
Guardian of the Realm: The Fayte Heir takes readers back to ancient Britain and the first Fayte Guardians, told through the eyes of Eithne, daughter of the warrior queen Boudica. The prequel novella is available for free to the Readers Brigade at www.DDCroix.com/readers-brigade.
About the Author
D.D. Croix writes fantasy for teens and adults that conjures magic and history with a twist of mystery. Under a pseudonym, she also writes award-winning contemporary romance and historical novels that have been translated into multiple languages. When she isn’t plotting new adventures for her characters, she oversees O.C. Writers, a network of published and aspiring authors based in Orange County, Calif., and Speculative Collective, a showcase and resource for speculative fiction writers in Southern California. For more information, visit www.DDCroix.com.
If you’d like to be notified of new releases and have access to exclusive content and other fun stuff, please join D.D. Croix’s Readers Brigade: https://www.subscribepage.com/u5o8y9.
If you’d like to send a message, please email her at [email protected].
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Find an Error?
Despite multiple rounds of editing, errors sometimes sneak through. If you discover something amiss in one of my books, I’d like to know. Please email me at [email protected]. If it turns out to be something that slipped past the editors, I’ll thank you by including you as a Reader Angel in a future book.
Acknowledgments
These characters and this story have been living with me for a long time, and I’m thrilled to bits to finally let them loose in the world. So many times Jane and her friends had to take a back seat to Other Things, and more than once they were put off for Someday But Not Now.
Although I almost gave up on them, their voices stayed with me, and their antics grew into scenes that eventually grew into this novel (with at least two more to follow!). I’m so thankful they never gave up on me, and the fact that you’re reading these words now is a testament to their grit and tenacity.
So, see, Mom? Hearing voices can have its perks. And speaking of Mom, I must thank her as well, because I can always count on her support and encouragement, and it means the world to me. The same can be said for my Other Mom, too, as well as my Dad and Other Dad. Yes, less might be
