The Lady and the Wish Read online

  “Wow!” Nora’s eyes rounded. “And you don’t know how she has the power to make these wishes? Could it be a ring? A genie in a lamp?”

  I shook my head. “I’ve gone through her possessions, checked what jewelry she wears each day, and searched her rooms for a magical object of some kind. Nothing at all. She can make the wishes wherever she happens to be. The only odd things I’ve noticed are that she talks to her shoulder as if something there is talking to her, and her hair moves around sometimes when there is no wind.”

  “Sounds to me like she has a fairy,” Pike observed. “A tricksy fairy that’s up to no good.”

  “True enough about the ‘up to no good,’” Nora said. “If the dolphins hadn’t found you, and if we hadn’t come along when we did . . .” She let the sentence die. We all knew what she was thinking.

  “I might have been alive again on the other side of the world at sunset,” I said hopefully.

  Pike shook his head. “Dead generally tends to be dead.”

  He was a magical being. He should know. I did rather wish he hadn’t stated the fact with such casual nonchalance.

  Nora broke an awkward silence. “Well, we can discuss things further in the morning. It will be sunrise here before it’s sunset in Vetricia, and after a long day of speed swimming I’m beat. I’m sure glad we found you, Gillian. You’re not the same as I remember you—and I mean that in a good way.”

  Remembering how blatantly I had flirted with her now-husband, I squirmed inwardly. “I can’t thank you enough for rescuing me.”

  Within moments they were asleep. Although the ocean swim had exhausted me, my brain refused to shut down immediately. It was midday back home, after all. Staring up at the stars, I remembered those first moments of cold and darkness and shuddered. If not for friendly dolphins, a whale, and two kind merfolk, I would certainly have died.

  A girl doesn’t easily brush something like that aside.

  My last thought before I dozed off was curiosity about what people at Torre Santa Lucia might be thinking right about now.

  My first thoughts when I woke up—it seemed like moments later—were “Where in the world am I?” and then “Oh yeah, on its far side.”

  Orange, yellow, and pink striped the morning sky, and I knew we must be on the north end of the island, because the sun rose to my right. Pike and Nora were still asleep, wrapped up in the one blanket and each other. They were kind of amazingly beautiful by daylight. Envy rippled through me. They were obviously happy together, the best of friends—a merprince and a former human. Like poetry. Like one of those mushy old songs.

  My romance—should I ever have one—was likely to be far more prosaic. I would probably have to settle for a low-ranking nobleman who wanted the prestige of marrying up. I wrinkled my nose. No. I needed to stop thinking that way. Better to stay single than marry someone who thought only of social rank or money. Why would anyone marry someone so selfish, like . . . like me?

  Shame sent hot blood rushing to my face. I got up and walked around to stretch my aching legs and body. Hearing deep barking, I climbed a rise to look down upon seals, dozens of them. Um. Too many, too close.

  I quickly returned to the fire and found Nora feeding it more sticks. “Pike collected our breakfast,” she explained.

  He sat on a rock, opening shellfish with a knife. “I’m known worldwide for my fire-roasted scallops,” he informed me.

  “Isn’t he the cutest thing?” Nora smiled her huge friendly smile, and I realized how much real beauty it added to her face. “I’m not sure what time the sun sets in Vetricia, but we’ll try to get you fed before you vanish on us.”

  “Thank you so much,” I said. Lame, but the best I could do.

  Pike and Nora impaled each scallop on a stick and roasted it over the fire. With a little salt and pepper from the waterproof shoulder bag she carried, they really were amazingly delicious. I ate quickly, uncertain when I might appear back in the villa. At least there my sneakers, shorts, and shirt would be clean again, not stiff with salt and sand. I didn’t even want to imagine what my hair might look like. Nora’s looked perfect. Must be nice to be a mermaid.

  Between bites, I said, “I might vanish at any minute, so I want to thank you both for—”

  Magic rippled over me. I blinked and looked around Lady B’s sitting room at Torre Santa Lucia. Evening light glimmered through the balcony windows. The scallop I’d been eating was gone, and my hands were clean. I felt around—I was dry, my hair was neat, and my cell phone was back and fully functional.

  This all might be easier to handle if there were some sense of travel through space or time or something! The rules of this magic seemed random, which was no comfort at all.

  No one else was in the room. I checked Lady Beneventi’s bedroom—also empty. As I hurried along the hall, I heard the buzz of voices below, male and female, many talking at once.

  I started down the stairs. “Hello? If you’re worrying about me, don’t. I’m back and safe.”

  Feet pounded up the stairs. Oriede and Valentina were first, with Alessandra close behind. “Gillian!” they all cried. “Where were you?”

  I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

  Valentina gripped my arms. “More to the point, are you all right?” The girls surrounded me, their expressions relieved and anxious at once.

  “I think I will be all right, but it’s been quite a night. Day. I mean, it was night there, and I was in the ocean until—”

  “Come down here and tell all of us at once,” Jacopo called from the base of the stairs. “Girl, you can’t imagine how relieved we all are to see you alive and well.”

  I was grateful for Valentina’s support while we descended the curving staircase. My knees felt shaky. Everything felt shaky.

  “You have no idea what a shock went through this house when you vanished without a trace,” Oriede said.

  “Lady B didn’t tell you what happened?” I asked.

  “Not a word.” Alessandra sounded angry.

  Many eyes looked up at us from the hallway. So many that the faces sort of ran together . . . except one pale, wrinkled face with wide eyes. Lady Beneventi stared up at me with a blend of relief, defiance, and horror. I even thought I saw her wipe away a tear.

  Elena took charge. Soon, I sat on a sofa in the entry hall, sipping a glass of water while servants brought chairs so everyone could sit and listen to my story. People were still getting settled when I saw Manny enter and stand at the back of the crowd.

  His eyes fastened on my face, his expression unreadable.

  Was he relieved, angry, or . . . about ready to keel over?

  I had no time to sift through my reactions before the others asked me to begin. Clutching my water glass in a death grip, I told my side of the tale, omitting nothing I could recall, and rather enjoyed the horrified and amazed expressions before me. Lady Beneventi’s hair was still, I noticed, and she perched rigidly on the edge of her chair with Maria at her side.

  “A whale? You really rode on a whale?” Luca exclaimed.

  “Nora said he was a young bull sperm whale. I didn’t know whales were called bulls and cows,” I added, my tired brain going off on tangents. What I really wanted to discuss was Manny’s unexpected presence.

  With him. Alone.

  “I’ve always wanted to see a real mermaid.” Oriede sighed. “Later you’ve got to tell me all about her. And the merman too. I bet he was gorgeous.”

  I merely smiled, not sure I wanted to try describing that remarkable pair. But eyes went very wide when I explained how they were able to take human form on land. “I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Elena exclaimed.

  When my tale ended, I saw my friends trying to grasp it all. Now that I sat here in the villa, even I found it hard to believe I’d really been struggling in the ocean a few hours earlier.

  Then Jacopo chased the groundskeepers outside and Elena clapped her hands and ordered the indoor staff to go about their business. Many of them paus
ed first to welcome me back, and my particular friends all gave me hugs. As soon as I had space, I walked directly to Lady Beneventi and crouched beside her wheelchair.

  “I’m all right,” I said.

  She shook her head. “It’s too late for that. You’ve told your tale.” Her voice was gruff. “Don’t try to coddle me. Take me to my rooms, Maria.”

  The maid gave me a look I couldn’t interpret and pushed the chair toward the elevator. As soon as its door closed, I sensed Manny behind me, and my entire body felt boneless.

  “Luigi tells me that at first everyone hoped you had run out into the garden or were possibly trapped in a room again,” he said quietly. “Lady Beneventi clammed up and seemed frightened, but she wouldn’t tell anyone where you were. He notified me and the family, and I hopped a flight to Vetricia from Petrovce. I walked through the door twenty minutes before sunset.”

  I turned while he was talking but kept my gaze lowered. I wasn’t sure I could hold it together if I looked into his eyes. “Gillian?” When I did look up, no higher than his chin, I realized he wore a business suit instead of his usual work clothes. An expensive-looking suit that fit him well, emphasizing his impressive build.

  He stepped forward and took my hands in his firm grasp. His presence was both familiar and foreign. Thrilled that he had come yet deeply hurt that he had stayed away for so long, I had no idea how to react.

  “Gillian, I spent the entire day imagining what might have happened to you.” Was that a tremor in his voice? “It was possibly the longest day of my life to date, and that’s saying something. When I got here . . . Luigi and Luca had to talk me down . . . Not knowing where you were, if you were in danger, if you were still in human form . . . She might have wished you into a microbe for all we knew!”

  He drew me close, and I allowed him to wrap me in a warm embrace. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you,” he murmured near my ear, his breathing uneven. My face tucked neatly under his chin; his whiskers felt rough against my nose and forehead. I breathed in the indescribably perfect scent of him while he gently rocked me back and forth. I knew I shouldn’t let him hold me like this, but it was exactly what I needed just then. I wanted it to never end.

  Hearing footsteps, I reluctantly pulled away. No one entered the hall, but instead of drawing me back into his arms, Manny kept hold of my hand and led me to a sofa between windows. Once we were seated, he began to talk.

  “I spoke with the family, and they all agree Lady Beneventi cannot remain here at the villa. We need magical help to restrain her before she kills someone. When I think of you alone in that cold ocean—” He sucked in a sharp breath, shook his head, and wrapped his other hand around mine. After a moment, he cleared his throat and continued, “It must be done, though we all know it will break her heart. This villa has been her home since Arturo brought her here as his bride.”

  My eyes burned, and I had to bite my lip to regain control. My emotions were so chaotic that I reclaimed my hands, focused on them, and fought to produce a carefree tone. “I don’t think she meant to hurt me. I mean, she was angry, but she wasn’t thinking clearly this morning. Sometimes her thoughts get muddled, you know, but most of the time we get along well. I even think she might be fond of me at times. Remember Christmas?”

  I heard him draw a deep breath. “I remember, and we’ve established that she likes you. But her muddled thoughts are part of the problem. She’s unpredictable, which makes her more dangerous. I don’t believe she would have made such a thoughtless wish if she’d been in full possession of her wits.” His hands fisted on his knees. Strong, callused hands, with clean nails and an expensive-looking watch on his hairy wrist.

  Why was I noticing so many details about this man? I was upset with him. Wasn’t I? Talk about muddled thoughts . . .

  But one clear thought popped into my head. “Today, Pike the merman said the wishes sounded like something a fairy would do. And I just now remembered: The day of the garden party—you know, when the statues came alive?—Giano said something about a fairy bringing the statues to life.”

  “Giano?” he inquired.

  “The piper statue. I told him he should thank Lady Beneventi for the party, but he said a fairy did it.” I looked straight into Manny’s eyes and saw them widen in surprise. “I know what we should do—take Lady Beneventi to Faraway Castle! They have a Magical-Creature Controller who would be able to tell us how to stop this fairy from granting her wishes.”

  He gave me a considering look, then slowly shook his head. “It’s only a few weeks before the resort opens, and we have no reservations.”

  “If the family contacted the resort now, I’m sure they would fit Lady Beneventi in. There are often empty rooms that first week. My family has gotten a suite at the last minute some years. And we shouldn’t need to stay more than a week anyway.”

  “You would accompany her? After this?”

  I nodded. “Sure, I would. Last time she got in trouble, she remembered and was good for months afterward. I don’t think she’ll forget this drama quickly. She looked really shook up to me. She’s trying to hide her guilt and regret, but it’s real.”

  His black brows drew together, but he rubbed his scruffy chin, pondering my suggestion. The man seriously needed a shave—the scruff was almost a beard. “Transportation will be an issue,” he said slowly. “We can’t send her on a train or airliner. Even taking her in a private automobile is a risk. She might get impatient in a traffic jam and wish the other cars away.”

  “I think she will behave if she has the chance to see Faraway Castle again. I know she loved it there. Please try to convince the family!”

  His brows rose and bunched in the middle. “Why do you care so much? She gives you nothing but misery.”

  I grimaced, my head bobbing from side to side. “She does, but she’s my responsibility, and . . . and I don’t want her to go to some magical holding facility. She would pine away there.”

  “She’s not a pleasant travel companion, I’m told.”

  “I can take her guff. I’m used to it. I really believe the people at Faraway Castle can help us. Last summer, someone woke up a sleeping princess who wanted to take over the world, and staff members stopped her by using enchanted trees and magical creatures. If they can do that, I’m sure they can stop one old lady from making dangerous wishes.”

  He nodded thoughtfully. But then he frowned and gave me a considering look. “You might be willing to take these risks, but other people could be affected too. Although I don’t think she intended to kill you, accidents can be deadly.” His voice cracked.

  I reached for his hand and captured his gaze. “Please, Manny.”

  His hand turned and gripped mine, and my heart drummed in my chest. What was he thinking behind those gorgeous eyes? Then he dropped his gaze and my hand, heaving a quick sigh. “I’ve got to report in to the family. I promise to make your case for Faraway Castle. I know the family would prefer to avoid scandal, so there’s a good chance.”

  My heart lifted. Why I cared I couldn’t have explained, but I did. This course of action would demand a lot of extra work and bother. I would most likely have to drive Lady B all the way to Adelboden and up into the mountains. But I could handle that. How hard could it be? And once we were at the castle, we would get the help she needed.

  Manny watched my face as these thoughts ran through my head. “I imagine you’ll meet some of your friends there,” he said.

  Oh. Right. I hadn’t thought of that.

  Lady Gillian, paid companion to a demented old tyrant. Great, just great.

  I shrugged, then sat up tall. “By now most of them know I’m working here anyway. It’s not as if I could socialize with them. This trip is for Lady B, not for me.”

  “You know, the family will forgive your father’s debt even if Lady Beneventi is moved to a facility before your year is up.” His voice held an irritatingly dry edge that reminded me of our early days.

  “But if we can get this problem w
orked out, she can stay at the villa, and I’ll finish my year,” I snapped back.

  I caught a pained look on his face, something between doubt and hope. Then he nodded and rose. He seemed to wish to say more but thought better of it. “Contact me if you have any trouble. No matter what. Got that?”

  I nodded and stood up, holding his gaze.

  He swallowed hard, then abruptly turned away. “Someone will get back to you with plans for Lady Beneventi,” he said gruffly. “Take care, Gillian.”

  “You too,” I said, unable to think of anything original.

  I watched him climb into his car and drive away. I should have run out there, grabbed his scruffy face, and kissed him goodbye. But I lacked the nerve. Aside from a few silly pecks from boys when we were children, I’d never had a real kiss. Well, not from a man I liked—Max’s attack didn’t count. I wanted a kiss from Manny.

  But to what purpose, what future? He was a commoner, a working man. Could I live without summer holidays at Faraway Castle or winter cruises on the Begaian Sea?

  I closed my eyes, remembering Manny’s embrace. He’d been genuinely worried about my disappearance. He might care at least a little for me. And I . . . I had never felt like this about anyone before.

  I was in love. Head-over-heels in love with a construction worker! What should I do? Why, let him know, of course! If I’d realized it sooner, I would have told him in person. I pulled out my phone and called Manny. My heart felt as if it might pound right out of my chest, but I didn’t care.

  “Gillian, is anything wrong?”

  He was talking on the car phone. I could hear the engine and outside traffic. “No, nothing is wrong,” I assured him. “I realized something about you as soon as you drove away. I feel like a fool that I didn’t recognize the truth sooner!”

  “You know the truth about me?” he sounded guarded. “What tipped you off?”