Hopefully her godmother would be able to visit soon. Ella de la Roche was the closest thing to a mother that Felicia had, and she craved the guidance that the witch would offer.
Felicia was in the middle of directing Tess’s unpacking when there was a knock on the door and a high, feminine voice called, “Open. In the name of the queen.”
Stomach dropping, Felicia nodded for Tess to answer. The door swung in to reveal three ladies in waiting and their queen behind them. They glided into the room as if floating on air, scanning Felicia with raised brows and sneers. The queen held her countenance in check, though Felicia could feel condescension oozing from her.
Turning out her best curtsey, Felicia murmured her respects to the older woman with the jeweled crown on her head.
“Making yourself at home so quickly, I see.” The queen held her head high and frowned at Felicia.
Trying not to roll her eyes, Felicia was unimpressed. She was shorter than everyone; people looking down their noses at her had stopped intimidating her since she was fourteen.
“I’m enjoying my new chamber, Your Highness. Thank you for your kind inquiry.”
The queen blinked.
Felicia fought a smile. Two can play at this game. Of course, the queen wouldn’t know that Felicia had had to learn quick retorts over the last four years. Otherwise, she’d have been eaten alive at every social outing that she and her father attended.
Sauntering to the wardrobe, the queen fingered a pink gown. “These are a bit large, but I’m sure that with all the luxurious food you’ll partake of here, you won’t need to have them taken in.”
“On the contrary, Your Majesty,” Felicia said in her most flattering voice. “I could never esteem myself to meet the advanced appetite of one such as yourself.”
The ladies in waiting gasped. The queen didn’t move; she watched Felicia with narrowed eyes, as if seeing her for the first time. She dropped forced politeness and squared her shoulders. “While this little visit is quite amusing, I’m here to inform you that you will be shadowing me this afternoon. To observe and retain the information you’ll need to understand your duties should you become the princess.”
Bowing her head, Felicia kept an air of distant politeness. “Of course, Your Majesty. I will do what I can to learn quickly.”
“We shall see.” With that, she swept out of the room, her ladies glaring at Felicia as they followed their queen.
Once Tess closed the door behind them, Felicia sank into the closest chair, exhaling loudly.
“What are you thinking, Milady?” Tess whispered. “You make enemies with the queen before you’re even wed.”
Felicia shook her head, her brows pulled together in thought. “No, Tess. The queen wishes to make enemies with me. I had to show her that I wouldn’t be easy prey.” She waved a hand. “That woman may be royalty, but she’s no different than all the other nobles with their double entendres and snide remarks behind my back.”
Sighing, Tess went about unpacking Felicia’s things.
Now that she was at the castle and her first confrontation over with, the long night from before was catching up to her. She lay on the soft, feather mattress and closed her eyes.
Next thing she knew, there was tapping at the door and the shadows in the room had grown longer.
Tess came into view. “The queen requests your presence, Milady.”
Bolting upright, Felicia touched her hair. It was a mess, of course.
“I’ll fix it.” Tess already had a brush and was pulling out wayward pins and placing them where they belonged.
Felicia didn’t bother glancing in the looking glass and darted out of the room, following a servant sent to fetch her and brushing wrinkles out of her best gown.
They arrived in another receiving room, this one decorated in pinks and whites. The queen sat with perfect posture, slowly sipping her tea, golden light kissing her pale gown. When Felicia entered, the queen raised one arched brow.
Heat rushed to Felicia’s cheeks, knowing that the queen and her ladies in waiting scrutinized her every move and found her decidedly lacking.
“Thank you for joining us,” the queen said. Her eyes narrowed in on Felicia’s feet and she realized that she’d forgotten to put her shoes back on.
I’ve been walking through the castle in only stockings! All her mental preparations for how to handle the queen suddenly flew out the window. Recognizing the damage was done, Felicia held her head high and sat across from the queen with all the dignity she could muster.
“May I ask why you’ve decided to forego footwear?” A tick in the queen’s jaw twitched as she asked.
Felicia wouldn’t give her the satisfaction, though it was clear that they both knew what had happened. Waving a hand, Felicia showed indifference. “The king told me to make myself at home when I arrived at the castle.” She shrugged with deliberate nonchalance. “I find it much more comfortable walking around in just my stockings when I’m at home.”
“So which am I to believe? This story you feed me now or your pretended modesty yesterday when you tried on the glass slipper?”
Legs tense, Felicia made sure it didn’t show. “I’m being perfectly modest right now. My dress is just the floor length.” When the queen continued to stare at her, Felicia ignored the tremors along her spine and forced a delicate sniff. “Now, did you send for me or not?”
Chin lifting, the queen glared. “Of course I did. It’s time to instruct you on your potential duties.”
Felicia tried to ignore the judgmental looks from the ladies in waiting as she listened aptly to what the queen had to say. While the older woman made side remarks in every other sentence, Felicia found the information quite useful. She hadn’t realized just how many duties a queen had to attend to. No wonder she’s grumpy all the time.
Once the queen finished her instructions, but certainly not her insults for the day, Felicia wasn’t sure she’d be able to remember everything.
“You shall sit with me tomorrow when the English ambassador and his wife come.” The queen held up a finger. “But you may not speak a word. Only observe.”
A servant entered and announced that dinner was served. Everyone stood and followed the man. Unsure of what to do or how to find her way back to her chambers, Felicia trailed behind, fully aware that the whispers from the group of ladies a few feet ahead were about her.
Chapter 5
Supper turned out to be a small affair. The king welcomed Felicia warmly, telling her that she should consider herself part of the family soon, but Felicia felt too much an outsider. And there was still the hope that she’d get out of this whole mess. She wasn’t sure if this mystery princess could be found, but the woman had to be close enough to attend the ball in the first place.
In the meantime, she had to do her best to learn about a queen’s duties and remember how to navigate her way through the castle. If she’d had any money, she’d have tried to bribe the servants to report to her on the prince’s progress, but she’d have to rely on Tess instead. Her maid was friendly enough that Felicia hoped the royal servants would include her in their gossip.
Instead of a large table, they were seated at a small cherry wood one with only six chairs around it. The king was sitting at the head, the queen across from him. The prince was nowhere to be seen, and Felicia chose a seat that was right in the middle to not show any favoritism. Though she was definitely more comfortable around the king than his wife.
“Where’s Bastion?” the king questioned when their first course was served.
A sweet-smelling dressing covered a plate of freshly picked greens, sprinkled with cherry tomatoes.
“Where do you think?” The queen lifted her head as if to challenge her husband.
Felicia looked over to see the king’s lips pressed together tightly beneath his beard. “The damned fool,” he muttered, then pointed his fork at the queen. “It’s your fault, you know. You’ve been filling his head with fantasies instead of teaching him
about duty.”
Dropping her utensil on her untouched greens, the queen stared hard at her husband. “I’ve been giving him hope. He has the power to be happy; something I never had.”
The king shook his head and went back to eating. Felicia suspected this was a dialogue they engaged in frequently.
The next course was served. Felicia savored the spices rubbed into her duck. At least there’s one benefit of living in the castle. Though it didn’t justify Felicia living in misery the rest of her life.
She tried not to think of her own parents as the king and queen glared at each other. Her mother had pretended to be happy for her father. And her father had believed it. Felicia resented her mother for catering to the viscount’s fancies. Perhaps if he’d known how miserable her mother had been, something could have been done. Maybe her mother wouldn’t have felt the need to leave without a backward glance.
As soon as it was polite to leave, Felicia excused herself and wandered the castle, still only in her stockings. She was trying to figure out how to find her chamber, but every corridor she turned down seemed unfamiliar. Where are all the servants? She didn’t run into a single one as she wound through the labyrinth of hallways, and the guards intimidated her too much to ask them where to go.
She finally saw a balcony and walked out into the night air. The view overlooked the kingdom, showing an entire village. Oh great. Felicia’s room faced the forest; on the opposite side of where she was now.
Frustration and fatigue nipped at her and she leaned onto the balcony. She decided to stay out there and enjoy the view for a moment. She’d never seen her large village from this vantage point. Wind caressed the errant strands of hair around her neck and Felicia closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling.
“What, pray tell, are you doing all the way over here?”
Gasping, Felicia jumped back and stared at the figure in the dark. “Me?” she asked, recognizing the prince’s voice. “I could say the same of you. Anyone with manners would have announced themselves instead of quietly watched me like a mouse in the shadows.”
Rising from his seat, Prince Bastion came into the dim light. Felicia couldn’t see the blue of his eyes, but noted the suspicion that shined from them. “It’s well known that I like to sit on this particular balcony in the evenings. I wasn’t sure if you were looking for me.”
Mouth dropping, Felicia guffawed. “So you decided to spy on me to determine my motivations. Why not simply ask?”
“Beg pardon, my lady.” His tone dripped with contempt. “But I don’t trust you.”
“Then you’re in good company. I don’t trust you, either.”
He held his hands out to the side. “I’ve nothing to hide.”
Turning to the balcony, Felicia rubbed her forehead. “Neither do I, sir. Can I please enjoy the view in peace? Your stubborn inclination to paint me as a lying fortune hunter is exhausting.”
The prince gave a long sigh and leaned onto the balcony next to her. “I’m sorry.”
Straightening, she stared up at him. Those were the last words she expected to come out of his mouth.
He met her gaze. “I confirmed your story about turning down other suitors. They were rich and you still said no. I was wrong to think so lowly of you.”
It took a moment for Felicia to collect herself. “Thank you.” She returned her gaze to the scenery and they stood in silence, though the animosity was difficult to cling to now.
“Why?” Prince Bastion asked after a few minutes.
Her lips twisted. “Why turn down those suitors when they could save me from financial ruin?”
He nodded.
Shaking her head, she laced her fingers together. “I doubt you would understand.”
“Then help me to.” He folded his arms. “I’ve been trying to puzzle it out all day. First you give me hope by suggesting I take the next fortnight to find my love, and then I discover you’re not seeking any fortune. I’m quite flummoxed over you.”
Shrugging, Felicia searched for words to explain. Finally, she decided to be forthright. “I don’t want to become my mother.”
Prince Bastion tilted his head. “You’re afraid you’ll run off with a blacksmith?”
Biting down a scathing retort, Felicia did her best to not spark another argument between them. “She was so unhappy in her marriage that she was willing to leave her family for another man.” She faced the prince, revealing things she’d only confessed to her godmother. “I grew up feeling loved by both my parents, sir. I wanted for nothing. I knew my mother wasn’t in love with my father, but she made a good show of it. When she left, she never even said goodbye to me. I wonder if she’d ever really loved me or had just put on a good face.” Emotion clogged her throat and she coughed. “I couldn’t bare it if I did something so cruel to my own children.”
A tear spilled down her right cheek and she dashed it away.
Large hands rested on her shoulders, then turned her around. Felicia watched as the prince took in her state. “I’m sorry, Felicia.” His lips thinned as if to ward off his own emotions.
His sincerity touched her. Felicia let out a sigh, her shoulders dropping. “Me too. It was not my intention to come between you and your love.”
His face softened, his blue eyes warm. “I’m beginning to realize that.”
The emotions churning between them had somehow changed. No longer was there accusation and animosity, but more of a comradery, like they were fighting a battle together instead of against each other.
Prince Bastion leaned forward as if he would embrace her, but he pulled back, like he’d just remembered himself.
They stood for an awkward moment, Felicia feeling embarrassed with her deep fears exposed.
His hand came up and she placed her own in his palm, feeling the heat of his fingers, the smell of sandalwood wafting from him. Very slowly, Prince Bastion leaned forward while keeping a direct gaze on Felicia. Her chest hitched with an unknown anticipation as his lips made contact with her knuckles. Something about the action drained all the tension she’d felt. She wished he had embraced her the way it looked like he’d wanted to.
He pulled away, his demeanor lighter. “Now that we’ve cleared things up between us, I have another question. If you weren’t looking for me, then what are you doing on this side of the castle? It’s inappropriate for an unmarried maiden to walk the men’s ward, especially unchaperoned.”
Gasping, Felicia glanced fearfully at the door. “I didn’t know. That is to say…” She stared at the floor. “I got lost.” She laced her fingers together. “I can’t find my way to my chamber.”
Prince Bastion released a belly-filled laugh, transforming his face into one of softer planes. He wiped the corner of his eye, then held out his arm as he continued to chuckle. “Then let me be of service, my lady.”
Hesitating, Felicia placed her arm in his as he led the way back into the castle.
“I may only know entitlement.”
Hearing the prince’s tone of self-depreciating tone, Felicia cringed at the words she’d yelled at him yesterday.
“But along with that comes a complete knowledge of this castle.” He smiled. “I can help you learn your way around here, if you’d like.”
Blinking at his kind offer, Felicia found herself wondering how things would have been between them if he’d not judged her so harshly. “I’d appreciate that. Thank you, sir.”
They went down a set of stairs and Felicia recognized some of their surroundings like the gold pedestals showcasing red flowers and the painting of sailors forging through a lightning storm.
“It would be my pleasure. I feel the need to make it up to you, considering I ruined both of our chances at happiness.”
He was joking, but the truth behind his words stung. Felicia paused. “Prince Bastion, are you still looking for her?”
His smiled dropped. Slowly, the prince nodded.
“I won’t protest, should you marry her over me. I’ll convince my father to drop
the matter.” She bit her bottom lip. “If you have a chance to marry for love, you should take it.”
The prince’s blue eyes lightened to near grey, and he bowed his head. “I cannot tell you how much that means to me, my lady.”
They stopped in front of her chamber door. He squeezed her hand before dropping her arm and stepping back.
She gave a small curtsy and straightened to see Prince Bastion staring at her toes. “Where in the world are your shoes?” He didn’t look upset, but there was an intensity in his expression that she couldn’t read.
“Well…” Heat crept up her neck as she explained being late to meet his mother and forgetting to put shoes on during her mad rush.
Once again, the prince released a deep laugh. He continued to chuckle and clutched his stomach. “I’m glad I ran into you tonight.” He straightened and gazed down at her. “You’ve cheered me up more than anyone else could have. Sleep well.”
She forced herself not to linger in the hall and watch his retreating figure. When his defenses came down, he was a better man than she’d originally thought.
Chapter 6
The rest of the week carried on in a similar fashion to Felicia’s first day, with the exception that she remembered to wear her shoes before leaving her bedroom. Handling the queen’s rude insinuations and the tittering whispers of her ladies in waiting was getting old.
It was difficult work, conveying only regality and elegance. Though Felicia had to admit that dealing with the rude nobility for most of her adulthood had primed her for these very situations. For instance, when she met the queen and her ladies in the royal receiving room, Felicia contained her ire as the queen presented Felicia with a gift.
“I thought it perfect for you,” she’d said as she motioned for a servant to bring in a medium-sized box. “I believe this will suit your royal status.” The servant placed the box at Felicia’s feet and she looked inside to discover and beautifully polished chamber pot. “This throne should fit your petite frame just right.”
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