Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales Book 3)

by Aya Ling

  “Three months.” I sigh. “I can’t wait. Even though we’re living together, there’s something missing. You’re right, Edward, it’s not enough. I want to tell all those girls salivating over you…”

  “Salivating?” He interrupts, and chokes down a laugh. “What do you take me for, a pot of beef stew?”

  “You smell better,” I say with a flirtatious wink. Teenager Kat wouldn’t have dared to flirt like this, but Adult Kat could.

  “Always you have the most amusing manners of speaking.” He tucks a wisp of my hair behind my ear. “I cannot wait until we are officially together, either. For now, let us be patient.”

  * * *

  I visit Poppy the very day after the decree nisi is granted, as I know she’ll want the details. We laugh and cry together; she’s excited for me, though we’re also busy minding the children. Sébastien has developed a liking for chewing bits of paper and cloth, and Poppy already had the doctor twice when he had a stomachache. She also misses Mr. Davenport, who rarely comes home until late night, and sometimes spends the night poring over material. Looks like lawyers in Athelia aren’t much different to those in our world.

  “Doesn’t Mr. Davenport have any time off?”

  “Not since I hired a maid to help me with the twins." Poppy snatches a dirty rag out of Sébastien's chubby hands. "He has a big case next week; I’ll try my best to convince him take a break after it.”

  “You deserve a break as well,” I say firmly, as I watch Little Katherine tottering across the floor, making sure she doesn’t bang into a table leg. “Here is what we do in our world. Sometimes, when a couple grows apart when both of them are super busy, they will try to schedule a date night.”

  Poppy stares at me, as though I am speaking in a foreign language. “Date… night? But Jonathan prefers to stay home at night.”

  “It doesn’t have to be at night. Basically, it means you spend more time with your husband. Just the two of you. It means you should rediscover your attachment to each other. You can go out and have dinner, see a movie… I mean, a concert or play. Take a stroll in the park, or even challenge him to a croquet game. When was the last time you beat him in croquet?”

  Poppy is bouncing Sébastien on her lap; now she pauses. “I...don’t know. We barely have enough time, and after I was pregnant with the twins, we’ve never had a single game.”

  “Then you must take time off. Both of you.” Little Katherine has tripped on a ball and is sitting on the ground, but she doesn’t seem the least hurt. She’s gurgling with laughter and beating on the floor with her tiny fists. Really, she’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen.

  “I’ll try.” Poppy places Sébastien in the crib. “But what about the babies? I have to convince him to leave the babies with the maids first.”

  “Bring them to Henry’s house. We’ll look after them, while you have fun with Mr. Davenport. Surely he can trust Sébastien and Little Katherine with us. Even if Edward isn’t home, there’ll be Bertram, Amelie, Cook, and Thomas around. The five of us will be able to handle the babies. I guarantee they will be completely spoiled.”

  Poppy brightens. “That would be lovely, Kat. But aren’t you busy? You always have a full schedule.”

  “That was when I was princess. No one is inviting me to dinners or balls because I’m a commoner, and Edward can’t let me help him with state affairs yet. Trust me, I’d love to have Sébastien and Little Katherine, and I know the others will also take excellent care of them.”

  “I’ll talk to Jonathan, but I’m sure he won’t object.” Poppy seizes my hands, looking excited. Her hands are sticky from handling baby food, but I don’t pull away. “Kat, I’ve always wanted to say this: you are the best princess our country can ask for, and those who say His Highness is blind should be ashamed of themselves.”

  “Thanks.” I smile at her, touched by her loyalty.

  “When His Highness marries you again, let me know. I missed your first wedding; I want to be present for the second one.”

  “Of course.” Last time at St. James Cathedral, half of the time I was trying to act happy when I knew I’d have to return to America, while the other half was spent in total confusion, due to my memory loss. This time, I’ll be sure to enjoy every minute of the ceremony.

  38

  Kat

  The Hungry Boar is only about half-filled when I enter the main room. I used to squeeze past tables, but today I easily navigate across the room towards a corner where Miss Cavendish and Elle are sitting. Since the Education Act is passed, the Children’s Education League has been dissolved, but we, as the founders of Princess College, need to congregate and discuss how and when it’s best to re-open the school. The ownership is still under Katriona Bradshaw’s name, but it will be officially transferred to me when I marry Edward again.

  On the wall hangs a blackboard on which prices of the drinks offered are written. I wince; a mug of their signature beer costs three times than its normal price. In the end, I decide on a glass of barley water. I can afford the beer (the pouch of gold that Edward gave me remains more than half-full), but I can’t justify the cost when it isn’t for basic necessities.

  “Hello, Kat.” Miss Cavendish smiles at me. She has been a great friend of the queen’s and a keen supporter for female education. Her father was a professor at the Royal Institute and is one of the few men in Athelia who allowed his daughter read classical languages and learn advanced mathematics. Without her support, we could not have established Princess College in several months. “It is a pleasure to have you back with us. A few months ago, I had wondered why you stopped coming to our meetings, but now I understand. Let me say that while a commoner becoming princess is unheard of, I welcome the day when you are bestowed the title again.”

  “Thank you.” I pull out a stool and sit down.

  “I was at High Court yesterday, and I think I speak for all of us that His Highness’s confession was profoundly moving. When will you be married?”

  I explain that the marriage can't take place until we receive the decree absolute.

  “There won’t be any problem this time,” Elle says. “Katriona has agreed to give up the throne.”

  I smile. I haven’t told anyone she was practically forced to step down because of her Moryn husband, but I’m glad she volunteered anyway.

  Miss Cavendish takes a sip from her glass. I notice she’s also drinking barley water. “When the Education Act was passed, I had drafted a plan for the date when the school can be re-opened, but with the state of price inflation at the moment, I am afraid that it must be delayed.”

  Elle lets out a soft sigh. “It is also happening in the boys’ schools. Several of Billy's classmates are staying at home because they could not have enough to eat, and the teachers are unable to teach when the pupils are falling asleep in class. The health of the children must be taken care of before we can open the school again.”

  “Maybe you could use funding from Jimmy’s foundation?” I ask. “We could distribute free lunches so the children will have incentive to come to school.”

  “It won’t last long as the demand has grown,” Elle says sadly. “I don’t want the school to suddenly shut down again.”

  “What about government funds?” Miss Cavendish looks at me. “Did not the Education Act include a budget for establishing schools?”

  “It is put on hold because the government needs to purchase more grain, due to the food shortage.” I look around at the bar. There were people standing on chairs when Liam made his speech about landownership. “I suppose the Commoners’ Union for the Abolition of the Privilege of Peers is no longer holding meetings here.”

  “I heard they have relocated,” Elle says. “Because there has been too many people coming to their meetings, and so they need more space.”

  I remember the size of the crowds when Liam spoke in the city square, and an uneasy feeling settles over me. Where is Liam, and what is he doing now? The objective of the Union is to abolish the peerag
e, something that Parliament will never allow, since all MPs are nobles. But if more and more people support the Union’s cause…

  Miss Cavendish finishes her glass. “Sorry, but I have to leave now, dears. I need to crochet several shawls and scarves for the queen’s charity bazaar, and this year I have to provide more items.”

  “The queen’s charity bazaar?” I had remembered Queen Isolde mention it when I was engaged to Edward, but at that time we were busy preparing for the wedding, and I didn’t have a chance to attend it.

  “It’s held every year in the Fairfax Arcade,” Miss Cavendish says. Fairfax Arcade is near the area where the annual flower show is held. “The queen invites the ladies in the peerage to come and sell goods. The proceeds are all donated to various places like orphanages, schools, or hospitals. This year the queen wants a bigger contribution for the food crisis. Usually I share a stall with Margaret Gregory, but she has passed away, may peace rest on the dear soul.”

  “Oh.” I wish I can tell her that Lady Gregory is alive and living in the fairy realm, but if Lady Gregory did not divulge the truth, then I shouldn’t be blabbing the truth. “A pity. Her crocheted goods are lovely.”

  “I’m also invited to set up a stall,” Elle says. “Mr. Galen has kindly agreed to help me prepare a supply of flowers from the greenhouse.”

  Wow, I’m impressed. Galen is known for his intolerance of women.

  Elle leans forward. “Kat, would you like to come to the bazaar with me?”

  I blink. “Are you sure that’s all right? I didn’t get an invitation, and I’m not a lady. Well, not yet.”

  “I’m inviting you, and there’s no restriction that the attendees must be of noble blood. His Highness had declared he wants to marry you, in front of hundreds of witnesses.”

  True, I have a lot more free time than when I did when I was princess. Edward is at the palace and Parliament most of the day, and I can’t read novels all day long. I help out Cook now and then, but my assistance isn’t crucial, as there’s Amelie and other maids.

  But I can’t help but feel apprehensive when I think of the queen. Compared to the king, she has been more sympathetic toward me, and it’s thanks to her that Edward was inspired to look into Katriona’s past in Moryn. But she can’t be pleased that her only son left his parents in the palace and moved out with a commoner, while he still has a wife in the suite. I’m the cause of a royal scandal—something that the monarchy has been anxious to avoid.

  “Kat?” Elle says, an earnest look in her limpid blue eyes. “I’ll be all alone in my stall, and if you haven’t anything planned, I’d love to have your company.”

  It’s not like I can hide from the queen forever.

  “Um. In that case, sure.”

  * * *

  I clench my handkerchief and squeeze it between my fingers. I’m in the beautifully decorated arcade, filled with various handmade goods and snacks. A kaleidoscope of colors from flowers and trinkets, savory smells of meat pies and fried oysters, and there is the constant rustle of silk and velvet from brocaded dresses, for the bazaar is one rare public event organized and populated by a majority of women.

  It would have been fun if it weren’t for my awkward identity. Everyone knows I’m a commoner, the granddaughter of a bookstore owner, but on the other hand, Edward has proclaimed in High Court that he wants to marry me. Many ladies are whispering behind my back, as if I were a chimpanzee escaped from the zoo.

  Oh well. This isn’t the first time I’ve been the focal point of interest. As long as I’m connected to the prince of Athelia, I can give up any idea of staying anonymous.

  At Elle’s stall, we have several dozen bouquets from Edward’s garden. They’re lovely, each of them wrapped in silver tissue, with a tag printed in gold letters, HRH Edward. I recognize one bouquet of gorgeous roses the size of my fist. When Edward was courting me, he had gifted me the same species from his garden, and I had worn them in my hair. At that time, I was racking my brains trying to get Elle and Edward together. Never did I expect that I’d end up marrying Edward myself.

  A hush falls over the arcade. A middle-aged woman has arrived, dressed in a simple but elegant gown of navy blue velvet, and a gold pendant glistening in the hollow of her throat. Two young women follow her, dressed in dark gowns that resemble Amelie and Mabel’s uniforms.

  Queen Isolde. I bite my lip, trying to remain calm. For over a year I had dined with her, accompanied her to various social events that would eventually be my duties when I become queen.

  Everyone goes silent when the queen heads to the center front of the arcade, where a wide red carpet is rolled out, flanked by the stalls.

  “Good morning.” The queen’s gaze roves over the stalls; it rests on my face for a long second. I don’t know what I should do—nod, wave, or curtsy? But then she looks away and continues to speak. “Thank you for participating in the bazaar. Many of you are well aware of the blizzard this winter, which led to serious food shortage that has plagued our country for weeks. Dozens have died from the cold, many more have starved due to the frost that harmed our crops. Therefore, I would like to use this chance to call your attention to the objective of the bazaar this year. All proceeds shall go to importing grain from Moryn. We plan to distribute loaves of bread at various points in the city. Therefore, ladies, I encourage you to open your purses and support us in this cause.”

  A polite applause follows the end of her speech. The queen starts down the carpet, looking over the wares and offering courteous words to the fairgivers. I observe there’s an unspoken custom—it is only after the queen has talked to a fairgiver that the latter dares to leave her stall and interact with others. So Elle and I do the same; we stand, almost rod-straight, waiting for our turn so that one of us can buy stuff from other stalls.

  Elle squeezes my hand. “It’s all right,” she whispers. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Katherine Wilson.”

  I whirl around. The queen stands behind me, a gracious smile on her face. The kind of ceremonial smile that Edward wears when he meets with important guests and foreign ambassadors. I can’t discern what’s going on in her mind.

  Get a grip, Kat.

  “Your Majesty.” I start to sink into a curtsy, but she stops me.

  “How have you been?”

  “Fi…fine, Your Majesty. Just great.” Just great? Real smooth, Kat.

  “I see that Lady Elle has extended you an invitation,” the queen says, glancing at Elle. “Those flowers must be from Edward’s garden.”

  Elle curtsies. “His Highness has always been kind.”

  “Only when he chooses to.” The queen directs her attention back to me. “Kat has been the main recipient of his kindness. Especially considering the events that have transpired recently.”

  I swallow. Does she think that Edward has gone overboard with his behavior with me? Wait…did she call me Kat, not Katherine?

  The queen holds up her hand, in a magnanimous angle I’ve learned from my princess lessons. “Walk with me, Kat. Next year this is going to be your job.”

  My jaw drops low. It can’t be…

  “Come along, dear.” The queen is smiling—this time it’s a friendly, affectionate smile. Edward’s words come back to my mind: “She genuinely loves you. As do I.” Relief washes over me. Queen Isolde isn’t holding a grudge against me; she’s willing to welcome me back to the royal family.

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” I hurry to keep in pace with her. Heads turn, all eyes are on us, and a murmur runs through the crowd. For that moment I could cry. In one simple gesture, the queen has demonstrated that she has accepted me. The ladies who had greeted me with awkward, tense smiles, are now genuinely respectful as they nod at me and curtsy to the queen.

  Bianca is glowering from a nearby stall, but I hold my head high. I will not let myself be intimidated. Every effort she had tried to harm me has been thwarted. Edward will never let her cause trouble for me again.

  Miss Cavendish greets me
with a heartfelt smile, which grows wider when I purchase a rose-pink scarf for Amelie. It’s a pretty, dainty item, just the perfect thing for a girl of her age, and will look lovely over her dark gowns. It’s ironic that Amelie has plenty of fashion sense, but she doesn’t bother to apply it on herself. Bertram will appreciate the new look, I’m sure.

  “Excellent choice, Kat.” Miss Cavendish wraps up the scarf in tissue paper and purple ribbons. “Would you care for a scarf, Your Majesty?”

  When the charity bazaar is almost over, the queen takes my hand. “I look forward to the next time we meet, Kat.”

  For that moment I am too overwhelmed to speak.

  “Me too, Your Majesty.”

  39

  Kat

  Edward’s defending me in court has swiftly become a nationwide sensation. It is a rare instance that every single paper I’ve read are positive about his case. Even the paper that takes a cynical, sometimes contemptuous view of royals and aristocrats, grudgingly commends Edward’s determination to marry a woman based on merits, despite the ‘somewhat questionable means of achieving his goal.’

  “But won’t you get into trouble for telling the whole nation you lied to them?” I ask Edward, folding up the papers and going to the sofa where he’s sitting.

  He smiles and pulls me to sit next to him. I lean against his shoulder, feeling safe and secure. Athelia is a tough place to survive as a single woman, but with Edward’s protection, I don’t have to worry. “Strictly speaking, I should be prosecuted for willful planning of a fraud, but I have yet to receive a summons from High Court. Think of what the headlines will say.”

  “The Prince Is Sentenced For Courting The Woman He Loves?” I say, and we both laugh. It sounds ridiculous. Yeah, it’s unlikely any prosecutor will have the nerve to accuse Edward.