“I laundered it myself,” she said. “I couldn’t get any of your other clothes but at least you can wear this.” I smiled at her gratefully. I had expected to wear the ill-fitting nurse’s uniform to my final showdown with the princess and I was glad to know I had something more elegant to wear.
But the day progressed with no sign of Marie. The possibility of a successful showdown shrank further and further from view. When it finally grew dark Mathilde crept back into the room with a different load in her arms.
She was carrying two saddlebags and she opened them to show me an assortment of practical servant’s outfits and a supply of food. “There’s money down the bottom,” she told me. “The prince sent it for you.”
She saw the anger and despair in my eyes and said quickly, “There’s still time. This is just in case.” I nodded reluctantly.
I didn’t sleep that night but only dozed, wakened constantly by the imagined sounds of an arrival. Each time I started up, straining to listen in the dark and then fell back disappointed.
I fell into a deeper sleep just before morning and was woken by Mathilde. “Jonas is here,” she said. “He’s insisting you get ready to leave. The ceremony starts in two hours.”
Chapter 32
I don’t know how he did it without raising suspicion but Jonas had Starfire waiting for me outside the small gate. He helped me to attach my saddlebags and then to mount. I leaned down and pressed my cheek against Starfire’s head, taking what little comfort I could from her familiar presence. When I sat back up I saw that Jonas was watching me, sympathy in his face.
I hardened my own features and nodded to him. We rode out into the park. The park was large and extended all the way to the city wall. It provided a convenient route out of the city and I wondered how many others had fled from the palace this way. The park was dotted with small copses of trees and I stopped before the first of these to look back. I picked out the princesses’ tower and gave it a silent farewell. I would miss Lily and Sophie and I hoped they would be safe from whatever came.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you,” I whispered. At least they had their mother now – a far more fitting and satisfying companion than I had ever been. Max will look after them, I thought.
Turning around I urged Starfire forward, I needed clear eyes and a clear head if I was going to effect my own escape.
We had made it most of the way through the park when we heard the sounds of an approaching group of horses. Jonas signaled for our small party to slip back amongst the closest group of trees. I wondered apprehensively who would be riding through the park on the day of the royal wedding.
The other riders came into sight through the leaves and I regarded them in confusion. They weren’t familiar and they looked like they had been riding hard. It was a group of men and several of them were heavily armed. I wondered if they were Joran’s bandits and I laid a calming hand on Starfire’s neck, praying she wouldn’t make any noise.
The riders had almost passed us when I noticed that one of the horses at the back of the group was being ridden by a woman. In another moment I was riding forward, a cry of glad welcome on my lips. Jonas called out to me sharply but I ignored him. I spurred Starfire up to the other horse and reached my hand across to Princess Marie.
“You made it!” I exclaimed.
“I said I would,” she replied with a smile that said more of exhaustion than anything else.
“I should never have doubted you! But we must hurry.” I surveyed her men and her own exhausted mount. “Jonas,” I ordered, “take the princess up in front of you. Have one of your men stay back to escort her guards to the palace.”
One of Marie’s men protested but she silenced him quickly. Retrieving a bag from one of the pack horses she allowed herself to be thrown up in front of Jonas. Still watchful but with much lighter hearts we rode back towards the palace.
It was fortunate that everyone, both inside and outside, was busy with the wedding. No one was in the park or on any of the balconies and we were able to enter through the side gate unmolested. Aldric’s contact had come with us and he knocked on the door to the hospital suite in a complicated, staccato pattern.
It was Aldric himself who opened the door to us. His surprise at seeing us disappeared when he caught sight of Princess Marie. “The ceremony is about to start,” he said. “Most of the staff have gone to watch.”
We nodded our understanding and almost ran to the washrooms. Mathilde and one of the other nurses helped us into clean dresses. Once again I found myself donning the beautiful ball gown on my way to interrupt a royal function. I only hoped I would be more successful this time.
Marie had brought the huge gown she had worn to her welcome reception. There was no time to steam out the wrinkles but she looked magnificent anyway. Jonas formed his small troupe of guards into two lines and escorted us from the hospital.
We hurried through the deserted corridors as fast as we could go. My heart was hammering and my palms sweating and I kept shooting glances at Marie. She caught me looking at her and smiled. I noticed she was clutching a small book in one of her hands.
“Thank you,” I said. “Regardless of what happens now I can never thank you enough.”
“Oh, piffle,” she said, making me smile. “I’m doing this for Northhelm as much as for Arcadie.”
“Thank you all the same,” I repeated.
So many guests had been invited to the wedding they had been forced to hold it in the throne room since it was the only room large enough to accommodate the crowd. We heard the boom of the closing doors while we were still several corridors away. I pictured Ava walking down the red carpet and urged my own feet to move more quickly.
We found the large double doors guarded by several Arcadian guards and several Rangmeren ones. Evidently Ava was nervous about interference.
At sight of us the Rangmeren guards moved into formation in front of the doors. Our own small troupe of guards rushed ahead to engage with them. The Arcadian guards at the door, however, fell back, their mouths open in surprise and confusion.
“Don’t just stand there, help us,” snapped Jonas, his sword clanging against his opponent’s. “We fight for Arcadia.”
The hesitant guards snapped to attention at his words and joined the fray. With the increased numbers, the Arcadians were easily able to subdue the Rangmerens. I wondered if any sounds from the conflict had leaked through the thick doors.
Panting, Jonas signaled for several of the guards to pull the doors open. They opened soundlessly but a harassed looking herald squeezed himself through the widening gap.
“What are you doing?” he hissed. “You cannot disturb the ceremony.”
He stopped with a gasp as he found himself with a sword at his throat. “Just the man we need,” said Jonas in a friendly tone. “If you could please announce Alyssa, the Royal Princess Companion and Her Royal Highness, the Princess Marie of Northhelm.”
The herald gasped again as his eyes darted between us. Licking his lips, he nodded his head. Jonas kept his sword pointed into the man’s back as he re-entered the room through the now fully opened doors.
The throne room was transformed with row upon row of elegant wooden chairs. The red carpet had been replaced with a white one and the rows of chairs were decorated with soft pink roses. Every seat was full and many faces were turned towards us in confusion. But I ignored the crowd, my eye drawn to the dais at the end of the carpet.
The king and queen were sitting in their thrones, facing the crowd. At the foot of the dais stood Princess Ava, resplendent in bridal white, pink roses in her hands and hair. Even from this distance I could see she looked beautiful.
But she was outshone by the man standing beside her. Max was dressed in white and gold, and he looked tall and strong in his wedding outfit. His dark hair was a shocking contrast to his clothing and his blue eyes blazed in his pale face as he turned towards the doors. My heart swelled with love and joy and all my anxiety and fatigue dra
ined away.
The herald banged his staff and silence swept across the room. “Alyssa, the Royal Princess Companion and Her Royal Highness, the Princess Marie Christina Adrienne Camille of Northhelm,” he announced, a nervous quaver in his voice.
The silence was so complete I could hear Ava’s indrawn breath despite the distance between us. Marie stepped forward and I followed her. Together we swept down the carpet.
“How dare you!” cried Ava, her sweet mask slipping and then sliding away entirely.
“How dare you,” returned Marie her voice calm but carrying across the crowd. “I came as soon as I received word. I claim the right of first betrothal.”
“What?” said Max in confusion and his question was repeated by a hundred lips, a discordant echo that swept across the crowd.
“According to international law,” I said loudly, “any engagement, royal or not, is considered invalid under law if a previous engagement is found to exist. To dissolve the second engagement, the pre-existing fiancée has only to present herself with the proof of her prior claim.”
“Is this true,” asked King Henry getting to his feet. The Master of Protocol stood up from his seat in the third row to acknowledge the existence of the law.
“I don’t understand,” said Max looking at me with an adorable mixture of bewilderment and hope.
“Where is this proof of prior claim?” sneered Ava. “I do not believe it exists and I will have you punished for interrupting my wedding.” Her words were spoken to Marie but her eyes were on me.
Marie said nothing but held out the book in her hand. King Henry, Queen Eleanor, Max and Ava stared at it. All around I heard rustling as the crowd stood, craning to get a glimpse of what Princess Marie was holding. After a moment the king gestured to the Master of Protocol who came forward and took the book from her.
He opened it and read the inscription aloud. “To Princess Marie with my earnest wishes for an ongoing unity between our two kingdoms, Prince Maximilian.” He held it open so that Max could see the writing. “That is your hand is it not, Prince Maximilian?”
“Certainly it is,” he agreed, “I gave it to Princess Marie when she visited us in the spring.”
“Exactly!” said Marie, triumphant. “And according to Northhelm custom, the giving and receiving of a gift between a man and a woman signifies an engagement. So I claim the right of first betrothal to Prince Maximilian. The betrothal between Princess Ava of Rangmere and Prince Maximilian is, therefore, dissolved.”
The king looked questioningly at the Master of Protocol who cleared his throat uncomfortably. “That is the custom of Northhelm, certainly,” he said. “It is within the rights of Princess Marie to claim first betrothal.”
There was a moment of shocked silence and then pandemonium broke out. As the guests called out their surprise and confusion, Ava turned on me.
“This is all your doing!” she screamed, looking truly demented. She lunged towards me and Max stepped swiftly between us. But before she reached either of us she was seized from behind by the captain of her guards. I searched my memory and recalled his name, Hans.
She kicked out at him in fury but he held her firmly around the waist. His face was grim. “Rangmere regrets the termination of its alliance with Arcadia but wishes the best of good fortune to Arcadia and Northhelm. Rangmere looks forward to future good relations between our various kingdoms.”
He somehow managed to give a slight bow while still holding on to the struggling princess.
King Henry nodded at him, relieved at his intervention. “Arcadia regrets any inconvenience this miscommunication may have caused the kingdom of Rangmere and its princess.” He gave his own small bow in the direction of the still struggling Ava. “We also look forward to future good relations between our two kingdoms.”
Hans nodded, his expression still grim, and dragged his princess out of the room through the small door behind the dais. The rest of the Rangmeren delegation followed. Jonas came trotting down the main aisle and exchanged a quiet word with King Henry.
“Jonas will escort the Rangmeren guards and their delegation out of Arcadie,” said the king. “I think it’s best if they leave the kingdom as quickly as possible. We will pack up their baggage and arrange for it to meet them outside the city.”
All around us the throne room was in chaos. Chairs had been thrust back and a number had fallen, unheeded by the excited crowd. Nate and Felix pushed forward to exchange grinning congratulations with us all. Helena waved at me across the crowd but her path to the dais was blocked by a surging mass of eager courtiers.
Lily and Sophie, who were dressed as bridesmaids and had been seated in the front row ran forward to embrace me. I could see their lips moving but couldn’t hear their questions above the tumult around us.
King Henry climbed back up to stand in front of his throne. He signaled across the room and the herald banged his staff against the floor. He was forced to continue banging for thirty seconds before the excited crowd quieted and all eyes fixed themselves on the king.
“The engagement between my son and the Princess of Rangmere has been dissolved,” he said clearly. “We will not be witnessing a wedding today after all. However, there is still a large feast that needs to be eaten.” A ragged cheer rose from the large crowd of commoners at the back of the room. “Please proceed immediately through to the ballroom where the feast has been laid out. Queen Eleanor and I will join you there as soon as possible. Although you can no longer drink to a happy marriage, please drink to peace and unity between our kingdom and her allies.” He smiled broadly at Princess Marie as he said this final line.
The conversations across the room were quickly resumed but the volume slowly began to drop as the crowd streamed out through the double doors.
Chapter 33
The king gestured for those of us standing around the dais to exit into the antechamber behind the thrones. Nate and Felix came with us and we were met there by Aldric and Mathilde. Mathilde squealed with delight and embraced me but she didn’t move quickly enough to hide the sight of the two of them clasping hands. I looked at her significantly and she blushed delightedly.
“Alyssa!” cried Lily pulling on my hand. “Where have you been? And what’s going on? I didn’t know Max was engaged to Princess Marie!”
“Neither did I,” said Max with a rueful smile. “It seems I should have read that book before giving it as a gift.”
“It’s a good thing you didn’t,” I said with my own smile.
King Henry meanwhile was clasping Marie’s hand in both of his. “We owe you and your country a debt of gratitude,” he was saying. “I have no idea how you knew of our predicament but you have truly come in the nick of time.”
“Your gratitude would be better directed towards Alyssa,” said Marie graciously. “It was she who realised the existence and significance of a prior engagement and who got word to me in time.”
At these words, everyone present besieged me with questions. I held up my hands and laughingly begged them to stop. Since they wouldn’t be satisfied with anything less I was forced to recount the whole story. When I came to Aldric’s role I faltered, unsure of what to say.
Princess Marie cut in quickly. “Aldric was in Arcadie at my request,” she said, “any gratitude you owe to me must be extended to him also.” She looked straight at the king as she spoke and he nodded solemnly.
“I don’t actually know how you did it,” I said to Aldric.
“Carrier pigeons,” he said shortly.
I laughed, amazed at the simplicity of his solution. “Of course!”
The rest of the story was quickly told but the exclamations and exaltations that followed took much longer. Everyone felt the need to relive the last few days and the ceremony, emotion by emotion. The conversation broke down into many parts and at some point the Baron and Baroness joined us and the whole story had to be explained again.
At last everyone talked themselves out. Jonas appeared to report
that a whole battalion of guards was escorting the Rangmerens from the kingdom and the talk turned to the future.
The king commanded us to keep the whole story to ourselves. “There’s no need to sow fear now that the threat is behind us,” he said.
“Is it behind us?” I asked, voicing my concern for the first time.
It was Marie who answered. “If Rangmere were to attack Arcadia now, without legal provocation, the other kingdoms would stand with Arcadia. My coming here has clearly demonstrated that. The Rangmeren king is no fool. He won’t try it.”
I smiled, the last of my worries lifted.
“I can see that you were always the better choice, my dear Marie,” said Queen Eleanor with a smile. “You will make Arcadia a good queen.”
A sudden sharp stabbing sensation constricted my chest and I struggled to breathe. I hadn’t considered anything beyond breaking Max’s engagement to Ava. The desperate search for a way of escape had absorbed my entire mental energy.
The stark reality of the new situation, blindingly obvious at last, struck me like a blow. Arcadia was free but Max wasn’t.
I wondered how many times a heart could break.
“Oh no,” laughed Marie, cutting through my pain, “this engagement is strictly for the purposes of thwarting Rangmere. The law doesn’t require that an actual wedding take place. Now that I have stated my prior claim, Arcadia is free. In the presence of all these witnesses, I now formally relinquish that claim. And I sincerely hope Arcadia won’t decide to invade Northhelm for breaking the engagement.”
The laughter that rang around me seemed like an echo of my own feelings. I could have hugged Marie.
“Very well, we won’t hold you to it,” said Queen Eleanor when the merriment subsided. “I still don’t understand what happened, though. Ava was the one who felt the pea and my godmother assured me that the girl who felt the pea was the right bride for Max. The true princess.”
The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea (The Four Kingdoms Book 1) Page 28
