Riddermarch - Ellen Quellery (books to read romance TXT) 📗

the trees.

The five gentlemen breathed heavily when it was gone, looking to Ranoft and Erleon anxiously.

"You could feel that, couldn't you?" Ranoft said.

Ernest nodded. Then soon the others did also. They felt like they had stepped into a bubble, where all sound had ceased - not unlike the moment the day before during the luncheon.

"But what was it doing here?" Erleon asked.

Barely shaking his head, Ranoft murmured, "I don't know."

They walked into the grounds, heading to the manor house. Their guests followed, though the hunters wondered if they had been forgotten. The brothers went ahead without looking back.

Cedalot rushed out of the open door when they were not even twenty feet from it. He was grinning from ear to ear. "Father's back!"

Chapter Nine: Father

 

 

 

 

Ranalon Riddermarch, according to the five gentlemen guests, was a regal, yet weary-looking gentleman in his mid-forties. He was resting in a chair at the end of the dinner table, taking in questions from his anxious children and answering some them.

Had he met the Elfking?

No. He hadn't. And he had decided it was time to give it up.

Had he found a cure for their mother?

No. And he decided it was time to accept that there was no cure to begin with.

The children didn't like that answer, but most of them had suspected it from the start, especially Azuesh.

Was he intending to attend the anniversary celebration of Lord Baron Rooke and his baroness?

Their father stared at them all when they had asked that.

"Whatever for?" And he scowled. Peeking to Azuesh, then his elder sons with a private look, he said, "Lord Baron Rooke is a scoundrel. And his wife...?" He shook his head furiously. "A woman like that! I am ashamed of myself for - " He could not speak more, so filled with emotion. He then looked to his children. "You shouldn't have even gone! What were you thinking?"

All five rolled their eyes and replied in protest together.

"It was a chance to come out!" "Lots of people from all over were visiting." "They were spreading rumors that you were the sorcerer!" "We had to show them we were not freaks!" "We had to answer their challenge!"

Their father sat back, astonished. Then he looked to the five gentlemen who were standing at the side, watching it all. "I am sure this all looks thoroughly bizarre to you."

"We have seen plenty..." Ernest glanced to his fellows, chuckling weakly. "But hardly...uh..."

Lord Ranalon Riddermarch laughed, and such a fresh laugh too. It sounded less impish than the laughter of his sons. In fact, the man appeared mostly human. Except for his autumn hair and elvish build, his manner was that of any gentleman. He even brushed off the butterflies that had settled in his hair as if they were a nuisance, and he bade his daughter not to invite them in the house.

"I am sure you have seen enough to make your head spin," he said. "And heard enough to wonder about us." He then leaned toward their guests and said to them all, "My children are unique."

That was an understatement. He was unique. Lord Ranalon Riddermarch's entire life was outrageously strange. And as he rose from his chair, embracing each of his children in puzzling hugs before heading to the grand staircase, Lord Riddermarch sighed to himself as if he had finally understood the secrets of the universe and was sorry he had been so dim to have not understood them earlier.

His children stared after him.

"What is it that he knows?" Grennanod murmured.

Ranoft shared another look with his brother. And Erleon nodded.

Jastalettel dropped into her seat, stunned. "Glory be..."

"What is it?" Dale rushed to her side.

But she looked to her sister. "Azu, my apologies. You were right."

Azuesh lowered her head humbly, peeking once to Grennanod.

"No way!" Cedalot exclaimed, looking from sister to sister.

Grennanod gasped.

"What is it?" Dale asked, trying very hard to be part of it, especially for Jastalettel.

"Of course!" Grennanod dropped into the nearest chair. Then she looked to the stairs. "Poor father! All this time...?"

The elder brothers and Azuesh nodded. Jastalettel did it weakly also.

"What is it? What is it that you know?" Dale was growing flustered, looking to his friends for some help, or clue, over what was going on in the silent conversation. Ernest and Alder shrugged, hands up. Their other companions were also clueless.

Jastalettel gazed apologetically at him. "I am so sorry." And she rose out of her seat. "I do not wish to tangle you up in our mess. All this time, and we didn't realize..."

"Realize what?" Dale grasped her hands, hoping to urge out some kind of clear answer that did not end up with him leaving her side so soon.

Smiling kindly, Jastalettel said, putting her hand at the side of his face, "That we truly are cursed."

"I wouldn't say cursed," Azuesh murmured.

Jastalettel turned around in surprise. "How so? What about Mother?"

"Mother performed a miracle," Azuesh said.

All of the Riddermarch children drew in breaths. Their guests remained confused.

"Miracles," Erleon retorted, "if you recall. For there were several."

And all the Riddermarch children laughed, sharing looks.

But again their guests were confused.

"Never mind," Jastalettel said to Dale. Then she smiled brighter, tears in her eyes. "Will we see you later at The Ball?"

The gentlemen nervously laughed, exchanging looks.

"Are you really still going?" Cedalot protested. He waved an arm back to the stairs. "Did you not hear Father - ?"

"We did," Azuesh said, though she peeked to Ranoft who nodded. "But this challenge is not over."

"Indeed," Grennanod said, her voice taking on a tone of intrigue.

"Did she not say 'twenty-three' years?" Jastalettel shared a look with her sisters and older brothers.

"And a deal?" Erleon added.

Ranoft nodded.

"Is it important?" Ernest asked, leaning near.

They all nodded.

"Father was married to Mother for twenty-three years," Ranoft said. "The same as the Lord Baron Rooke."

Chapter Ten: The Ball

 

 

 

 

 

Not just a few families came to attend The Ball. From all over the country, aristocrats migrated in, including princes, and dukes. The entire day was spent preparing - and that was just the guests.

The Ball was to be held mainly in the ballroom, though it would also open out into the famous gardens of Rookshill.

Draped in flowers and sheer silk, the entire area looked like it was frosted cake. And no one could be more pleased by it than Baroness Rooke herself. In fact, she strutted around as if nothing, not even the existence of the Riddermarch children, could bother her.

Which was a good thing, because they arrived on time, dressed in their absolute best - which again, like at the picnic, seemed to be more like their clothing was created by the silkworms themselves. The ladies' gowns were in style - only the fabric was layers and layers of thin silk, colored and draped as if they were made from the wings of butterflies. The luminescence and the way they draped made them look like they were large butterflies; Jastalettel a blue swallowtail, Azuesh a yellow cabbage moth, and Grennanod a bright monarch. And the brothers wore suits that looked as if they had once been a wolf and a deer, respectively. The pattern in their suitcoats and pants, shade and coloring, were the same as those animals. Ranoft in grays and whites. Erleon in tans and whites. And they both strode in as two kings surveying their wooded realm.

The master of ceremonies announced them all.

Heads turned. Everyone got a good look. And the family entered the scene without further ado.

Dale Rawling was at Jastalettel's side almost instantly.

Grennanod's gentleman returned to her side to pay her compliments and invite her along with his party. But Lillian and her crew shied away from Azuesh, as the dinner party the night before had unsettled them once again. Yet one of the gentlemen from shooting party offered to escort her into the party instead.

The brothers walked in together, their eyes skimming over the ladies, but not really settling on one. Which was just as well. The 'coming out' was much more important for the ladies than it was for gentlemen, who had other things on their mind.

Currently, everyone slowly made their way to the dance floor.

The ladies soon found themselves engaged in the dances, while the brothers strolled the edges looking for the one lady not afraid to dance with a Riddermarch. It took a bit.

Dance after dance, the music was wonderfully played. The dancers were full of energy. Gossip spread throughout the dance floor, mostly entertaining the recent newcomers. The majority of the gossip was the same old chatter. But then new whispers were added to it.

The hunting party had run across an elf riding a boar?

Erleon had dealt with it as if it were nothing?

And the hunting party had seen a white deer, which was claimed to be a real elf... That other elf had been nothing in comparison?

Was it true?

And then the top of it all... Lord Rannalon Riddermarch had come home. And more, he was not happy to hear his children were attending the festivities at Rookshill.

When the rumor reached Lord Baron Rooke's ears, he laughed. And after that, he could not stop smiling. When the Baroness heard it, she seemed even more smug.

But those rumors were soon replaced by rumors about Prince Logan Roswood who was visiting from Elderwall. He was the most eligible bachelor at the party. Though his eye had started on Lady Eden Fardelle, it had rested on Azuesh and the others of Riddermarch family. All the ladies (including those that did not want Lady Eden to get the prince) quickly swarmed him with tales of how strange and cursed the Riddermarch ladies were...and he ought to steer clear of them.

Everything seemed to go perfectly smooth. It was a wonderful ball. Excellent music. Delightful dance partners. Great conversation. Sumptuous food. The host and hostess were in the best of spirits. And even bitter rivals at the party were willing to set aside differences to make things go right.

Which was why they were due for a disaster.

And it came in the form of Lady Riddermarch herself.

She ran in, wild and screaming, hair askew, and desperately followed by her three youngest children. After them flew in rooks, bees, and a fair number of wasps. With them, two deer ran in, and a handful of squirrels scurried around their ankles. All of them except for the rooks, which were causing general mayhem with the wasps, were with the children attempting to stop their mother.

But nothing could stop her.

And her hands were wrapped tightly around something small.

"Oh no!" Jastalettel left Dale, grabbing