Page 55 of Mermaid on Heels
As they approached Bianca’s house, Bianca signaled Cedric, prompting him to instruct the footman to slow the carriage. The rhythmic clip-clop of the horses’ hooves gradually ceased as they came to a halt. Cedric disembarked first and then extended his hand to help Liriya and Bianca out, before turning his attention towards the house with his hands on his hips.
Bianca flushed under the light of the half-moon. “The house is old and nothing in comparison to the others’ around, my lord, but it’s still a house.”
Cedric dropped his hands and spun to face Bianca. “Oh, no, no, I’m sorry I wasn’t judging at all, I assure you. In fact, I hate judgments. I was merely wondering what it’d be like to live in a house like this with a quiet and unfussy life.”
He turned back to stare at the house, his voice low and almost dreamy that Liriya wondered if he was desperate to get out of his castle life as a royal.
As though reading her mind, Cedric composed himself and turned to them with a grin. “Not that I dislike my home, I simply like to have new, different experiences.”
“And it’s a motivation from your books?” Bianca didn’t shy away from asking.
Cedric flashed her a crooked grin. “Exactly.” He then diverted his gaze to Liriya. “Now, where are your famous sisters?”
“Come inside, my lord.” Bianca gestured a hand towards her house.
“Oh, please, Cedric would be fine.”
Bianca grinned. “You’re as exactly as the rumors say you are. Modest, charming, and a bookworm.”
“And my brother doesn’t believe it when I tell him I’m more famous thanheis,” Cedric muttered as he walked behind her towards the house, side by side with Liriya.
“Oh, and quite humble, too,” Liriya added sarcastically, eliciting a laugh from him.
“Do you think they’re asleep?” Bianca wondered aloud as she stepped up to the veranda.
“Oh no, they are not.” Liriya’s lips curled at the corner as she heard the rustles and shuffles and the thundering of footsteps coming from inside.
Suddenly, the front door flung open and revealed Ella. She was dressed in her nightgown with a midnight blue robe around her, her wavy, dark hair cascading down to her waist.
Beside Liriya, Cedric caught his breath.
Sessa and Kitty appeared on either side of Ella in their nightgowns, glancing past Bianca at the strange male approaching the porch, curiously.
“Who’s that?” Kitty’s small voice asked, staring at Cedric with her wide, curious eyes.
“We don’t keep our guests outside. Get inside girls and I’ll make the introductions.” Bianca shoved the girls inside and invited Cedric to enter.
Liriya met Ella’s questioning glance as she entered the foyer and shot her a small grin. She had a lot to share, but introductions first.
“Girls, this is Lord Cedric, King Luke’s cousin.” Bianca introduced Cedric to their sisters and turned to Cedric. “This is Kitty, my little sister. And this is Ella and Sessa, Liriya’s—”
“Liriya’s mermaid sisters,” Cedric cut her off and said with a grin.
Ella turned to Liriya with a meaningful look that demanded an explanation and folded her arms across her chest. “All right, what happened?”
“Nice to meet you, young ladies.” Cedric smirked at her, his words teasing, due to her obvious ignorance.
Ella shifted her gaze to him and smiled—not the sweet-Ella smile, but the one she forced for males who flirted with her just before she chased them off with a snide remark. “Nice to meet you too, Lord Cederic. Are you here to arrest us or something?”
“Arrest you and throw you into one of the best rooms in the castle and feed you with delicious meals and teach you some courtly lessons? Yes. But alas, not tonight I’m afraid. I shall come for the three of you in the morning.”
Ella looked at him incredulously as if he was crazy, before turning to Liriya.
“I got chosen as one of the elites,” Liriya blurted out.
Kitty gasped and cupped her cheeks. “Our future queen!”
“No!”