A Tale of Two Princesses (21 page)

     "I didn't tell the prince to hurt Mr. Raphael."

     "No, but you were sure crying and acting the child when he was here, put the thought in the prince's head, didn't ya?"

     She swallowed and then looked up. "I'm not for sale."

     "What was that?"

     "I said I'm not for sale. I'll clean the tavern, and the kitchen, and the barn, and anything else you tell me to, but I'm not going to let a strange man touch me, not ever, ever again."

     "Who do you think you're talking to? You work for me. I feed you. I clothe you. I put a roof over your head. You sass me again, and you'll be out in the cold; do you understand?"

     She looked down.

     "Answer me!"

     "Yes, Uncle."

     "That's right," he said. "You're lucky I don't take you over my knee for that mouth of yours."

     Banyan stormed off. Mrs. Crockery whistled.

     "You're getting big for your britches. I can see it now. You'll be going on about how you've worked in the castle and met the princess and the prince and all that. Well, it doesn't mean two shakes of a stick to me, you got that?"

     "Yes, ma'am."

     "Get upstairs, and I don't want to hear a peep from you for the rest of the day."

     "Yes, ma'am."

     Sienna rushed upstairs, glad to be away from her uncle and Mrs. Crockery for the rest of the day. She gathered her cleaning supplies and went to work, starting with room number one, Court's room. She moved through it slowly, looking in the wardrobe. He only had one other set of clothes. There was also a breastplate and chainmail in here, as well as a sword. On the desk, she found a small family portrait, showing a king, a queen, and two princes, him and his brother. She smiled as she looked at it.

     She came over to the bed next, the covers askew, and sat on it. She took a nervous glance at the door and then lied down. She grabbed the blankets and pulled them up to her chin, cuddling them. Then she turned over, her face in his pillow, taking in a breath from her nose.

     "Mmm."

     She climbed out of the bed and then made it, tucking in the edges and making sure the blanket was perfectly straight. She ran her hand over it so there were no creases. Next was the chamber pot; it sparkled by the time she finished with it. Then she took her broom and duster and crawled on the floor as she swept, from the corners of the room to behind the door and under the bed. When she picked up his trash bin, she found his black and silver jacket inside. A hole the size of her fist had burned through. She gathered it up and took it with her.

Chapter Thirteen

The Croquet Challenge

     The steward stepped forward. "Announcing his royal highness, Prince Court Cornelius Cross."

     Court took a deep breath, making sure the mask was firmly over his face, and then he stepped into the state room. The queen was standing. Beside her was Celeste. She too was wearing a mask, her golden hair falling down her shoulders, her dress large and poofy around her body. She seemed a little different in the daylight, though he could not place the change. He bowed at the waist when he reached the queen.

     "I am honored to return again, your majesty."

     "And we are so honored to have you with us again, Prince Cross," the queen returned, bowing her head. "May I present my daughter, Princess Celeste. Please, princess, your mask.

     Celeste took the bottom of her mask and pulled it away, revealing her face. Court's eyes spread open. She was indeed beautiful, yet for some reason, he was underwhelmed. He did not know what he had expected, but he had surely built her up in his mind into something she was not. Nevertheless, he was sure any other man would be falling over himself merely to kiss her hand.

     "Good morning, Prince Cross," she said in a lovely, tight voice, not a hint of casualness. She sounded different, somehow. She bowed her head. "I am so pleased to see you again."

     He took the bottom of his mask and pulled it away. Her eyes brightened immediately and a smile formed on her thin lips. He caught her eyes, squinting at them. They seemed different as well, as if they were not quite as bright as before. Nevertheless, he bowed his head to her.

     "The pleasure is all mine, Celeste," he said, raising his head. "And if I may, I have brought you a gift." He motioned for Wellington who was carrying the bouquet of flowers. Court took them and presented them to Celeste.

     "Flowers?" she said.

     "Wild flowers," he said.

     "What an...interesting gift," she said, her lip curling. "Betilly, do take these."

     "Shall I put them in water, your highness?" Betilly asked, taking the bouquet.

     "If you want," Celeste said. "Thank you, Prince Cross."

     "The smile on your face is my reward," Court said.

     Celeste raised an eyebrow.

     "The gesture is thoughtful, Prince Cross," the queen added.

     The queen took her seat with Celeste beside her. Court sat across from them, feeling his shirt stretch under his jacket, the buttons threatening to pop off. Wellington remained standing over his shoulder, a little underdressed. Vrine was to the queen's right, wearing all black, looking like a ghoul. Betilly took up a place to Celeste's left. She placed the vase of flowers on the table between them.

     "Tea, Vrine, if you please," the queen said, waving her hand.

     Vrine poured the tea, placing cups on the table.

     "How does his highness take it?' Vrine asked.

     "I believe I will trust your best judgment, thank you," he said.

     Vrine bowed her head and added cream and sugar. "Would his highness care for any other refreshments?"

     "This will do." He took a sip of tea, glancing at the queen. "Your majesty, may I say your lady-in-waiting is an exceptional barista."

     Vrine did not smile, but the queen did. "Thank you, Prince Cross. Truly, it is the only reason I keep her around."

     "Indeed," Court said. "The only reason I keep Wellington around is to carry my luggage."

     Celeste and the queen chuckled.

     "Thank you, sir," Wellington added, with just a hint of a droll.

     Court smiled. "And do tell me, Celeste, where is your lady-in-waiting, Homa? I did want to thank her for her pleasant disposition last night."

     "She is engaged in other matters. My new lady-in-waiting, Betilly, has assumed her duties."

     "I see," Court said.

     "Do tell me, Prince Cross," Celeste said, "what inspired such an odd gift of flowers?"

     "Odd?" he said. "Perhaps I misunderstood you. You seemed to show a keen interest in flowers last night."

     "Oh, yes," she said. "I do rather enjoy flowers."

     "Prince Cross," the queen said, "we, the princess and I, would like to formally apologize to you for your mistreatment last night."

     "Mistreatment?" he said.

     "Princess Celeste was ill yesterday, a minor cold. Her behavior was representative of one acting under the influence of a potent healing potion."

     "I did not realize you were ill, Celeste."

     "Ahem," she said. "Yes, I was rather struck. And forgive me, but I believe it would be more appropriate to refer to me by my proper title of princess."

     Court was stunned. Her behavior had changed so radically. He glanced at Wellington, who was now smiling and nodding, looking immensely pleased. Court returned his eyes to Celeste. "Pardon me, Princess Celeste."

     "Quite all right," she said. "But do accept our apology for my behavior. I take full responsibility for my silliness. I am afraid I was rather not myself. I can assure you, it will not happen again."

     Court nodded. "It's fine."

     The queen smiled. "Now that that's settled, do tell us, Prince Cross, how you have found our kingdom."

     "I find your people very friendly and welcoming. Why, just this morning a friendly girl helped me pick these flowers for you, Princess Celeste, and she was so honored to learn they would come to your hand. In fact, so pleased was she, that the center lily—" He motioned to it. "—was actually planted in memory of her late mother. She so swiftly sacrificed it with her compliments to you."

     Celeste made a face. "How ghastly! What a morbid thing to do." She chortled with her hand covering her mouth. "Peasants are ever so strange in their behavior, aren't they, Prince Cross?"

     "I did not think it strange, so much as honorable, princess."

     "I think we may have a small disagreement on honor, Prince Cross."

     "Speaking of honor," the queen chimed in, "we have just received word of your own heroic actions, Prince Cross. Is it true, did you defend a peasant boy from a dragon attack?"

     "Yes, I did."

     "Oh, how heroic," Celeste said. "But who was this boy you saved?"

     "The boy, as it turned out by my surprise, was a girl, the same girl who so willingly offered me her mother's flower. When I came upon her, she was near tragedy, but I sprang into action and was able to save her."

     "But how did you think her a boy?" Celeste asked.

     "Only by the length of her hair. It was dark when I came upon her and so assumed her a young man."

     "I see," Celeste said. "And how did you fend off this dragon?"

     "Not alone, let me assure you of that," he said. "I was scorched and Wellington here, as well as my knights, drew swords and bows and so held it back. We lost three of our company to the monster before it took flight."

     "How terrible," Celeste said.

     "We are so sorry for your loss, Prince Cross," the queen said. "The dragon has plagued our lands for three decades."

     "I have learned this," he said. "However, I do intend to make it my mission to slay it."

     "Truly?" Celeste said. "Do you think you can fulfill such a task?"

     "Yes, princess. I will not permit it to live after it has slain three of my knights."

     "But might not you die in the attempt?" Celeste said.

     "A fate I so willingly risk if I may purge your land of this scourge, and may I say, it would please me to give you its head, Princess Celeste, as a demonstration of my devotion to you and your kingdom."

     "Prince Cross," she said, almost breathless, "your bravery honors me."

     "And pleases the queen," the queen added. "Prince Cross, you are indeed a fine upstanding man. To do this thing for us is a gift beyond compare, and to do it in the name of my daughter is not a gift I shall ever see forgotten."

     "Your daughter means a great deal to me, Queen Friora," he said, and then he looked at Celeste. "I will speak the truth and tell you I was reserved in asking for your hand before I met you last night, but after our encounter, I saw you to be a fascinating, honest woman, and I did decide that night that our union would be a blessed and happy one, so long as I shall live."

     Both the queen and Celeste looked stunned.

     "I had no idea I had made such an impression on you, Prince Cross," Celeste said.

     "Nor did I," the queen said. "When you left last night without announcement, we thought we had offended you."

     "The offense was only in the princess' refusal."

     "Refusal?" Celeste said.

     "For your hand."

     The queen's neck snapped to Celeste. "Princess, did the prince propose marriage to you last night?"

     Celeste looked around the room. "I...I..."

     "It's all right, princess," Court said. "I do not mean to pressure you for an answer. I will wait upon your invitation. Perhaps by that time, we will grow together and your answer will change. But I believe I shall ever be chasing after another kiss."

     "Another?" the queen echoed.

     Celeste looked away. "Pardon me, Prince Cross, but I do not think such things are appropriate to say in front of the queen."

     "Forgive me, princess. I only meant to illustrate the passion of a man struck by your beauty."

     "And what beauty is that?" Celeste asked angrily. "You have not seen my face until this day."

     "The beauty of your spirit, princess, of your drive and excitement for life. It moved me beyond words. I think I shall never forget the wonder in your voice at the mere sheen of the floors you walked upon."

     Celeste held a scoff. "The floors? Prince Cross, please remember that I was ill last night, and so said things that perhaps I find more embarrassing then endearing."

     "I understand perfectly, princess. I do hope your mind was not so clouded that you find yourself ill-taken with entertaining me. Do you wish for me to leave?"

     "Of course she does not," the queen said. "The princess is honored to be courted by a man of such upstanding lineage and grace."

     "Thank you," he said, bowing his head. He took another sip of tea.

     "Regarding the dragon," Celeste spoke up, "why do you suppose it attacked this girl on the road?"

     "I have not the smallest hint to its reasons. Hunger may well have drove it from its den, and so found the first one upon the road. The shocking irony is that the girls' mother, if you can believe it, was carried off by the same dragon just five years prior."

     "How dreadful," Celeste said. "And when did you learn this information?"

     "As it happens, she is a stable girl at the tavern where I am lodging and she relayed it to me."

     "I see," Celeste said. "I do believe I know this tavern and the girl you speak of. In fact, I recently brought her to the castle to work in the kitchens for a few days."

     "Yes, she did mention she had worked here for you, and she mentioned how indebted she was for the opportunity. She is truly a humble girl, and so honored to have served you."

     The queen coughed. "We are not in the habit of bringing in maid servants, Prince Cross. She was an exception."

     "Yes, I had heard Avelot Castle only kept elderly female servants."

     "We find it reduces distraction," the queen said.