Free Keys to the Kingdom by Fiona Wilde Page A

you."
    He turned then and went out of the room. When she was sure he was gone Angelica rose from her bed and watched from the window as he wandered the herb patch under the window.
    She smiled as Quentin kneeled down and plucked a plant dotted with small yellow flowers. Then she giggled as, after smelling the sprig, he began slicing off more with his knife. When he stood up she went and hopped back in bed, pressing the cool wet cloth down on her face. By the time Quentin came back in, her skin was damp and clammy.
    Her eyes, closed when he rushed in the door, fluttered open weakly.
    "Is it ready?"
    "Not yet. But it will be," he promised.
    "Only give the wine to me when it tastes strongly of lemon."
    He rubbed her forehead and smiled before going over to the table. Angelica watched with half-closed eyes as he put the herbs in the cup and covered them with wine. Ever so often he would taste the concoction.
    Quentin had only been stirring and tasting the cup for just a few moments when he felt the first itch. It was on his face by his mouth and he rubbed the spot before returning to his mixing duties. Two sips later his forehead was also itching. Then his chin, then his neck. The discomfort spread quickly and when he turned with the cup Angelica suppressed a giggle at the sight of his face.
    It was covered in red, splotchy welts. And by the looks of him, the irritation wasn't confined to his face.
    "Here," he said, walking towards her. But no sooner had he taken a step than he dropped the cup and then went down on his knees, succumbing to a sudden rush of violent itching.
    "Aaaarrrgh!" he cried. "What's happening to me!"
    "Indeed I do not know!" she sat up quickly in her bed. "I am just so grateful that noxious mixture did not pass my lips!"
    Angelica stood and walked around him, her arms crossed. Quentin was scraching furiously now, putting the edge of his shirt up as he did to rake the welting skin underneath.
    "I can only imagine what you must be going through!" she said.
    "It's torment! Aaaargh!" he cried. "You are fortunate that I..."
    He stopped suddenly, so surprised that for the briefest second he forgot the horrible itching.
    "What are you doing out of bed? I thought you were too weak?"
    She smirked. "Well, you know what they say. Laughter is the best medicine."
    Quentin rose, a snarl on his face. He advanced on her even as he continued to scratch himself.
    "Why you little. Wait till I get my hands...."
    She jumped back and he stumbled over a footstool.
    "My lord," she said. "It would appear you do not have enough hands as it is."
    But rage breathed life into Quentin and he jumped up. And Angelica realized at that moment that her attempt to get under his skin had, perhaps been too successful. The Prince was angry and her mouth went dry with fear as she recalled his earlier spanking. He was far angrier now. If he got ahold of her.
    She turned and ran. And Quentin, while in pursuit, could not catch her as he had to stop ever few seconds to scratch.
    "Help! Help!" Angelica burst from the doorway and ran to the safest place she could think of - Lenora's suite. Lenora would know what to do. Lenora always knew what to do.
    She burst through the door as soon as Lenora opened it and slammed it just as rapidly, fixing the lock and pushing her back up against it.
    "Help me!" she cried. "He's gone mad!"
    "Who's gone mad?" Prince Kier entered the room, his expression suspicious.
    "Your brother!" she cried. "He...he..." She looked around, struggling for a new lie.
    "He became angry when I refused to serve him and threatened to beat me! He went wild, throwing things, yelling insults!!"
    Kier knew his brother Quentin and knew what Angelica described could not be true.
    He walked over and, taking her shoulder, pushed her out of the way just as the first banging on the door came from outside.
    "Don't!" she cried as he pushed her to Lenora, but Kier ignored her.
    Both the eldest son of Salazar and the eldest daughter of Randor gasped as