by Simone Pond
“Can you elaborate?”
“The parties and dancing, miss. Among other things,” said Sinead, glancing up.
A sick feeling settled in Evelyn’s stomach, and she was about to inquire about the other things when the door to her chambers opened and Kateline entered with Aine. At least they had bathed the girl and given her some proper clothes. She ran over and leapt into Evelyn’s arms.
“I didn’t think I’d get to see you before they took me away.” Aine’s voice was muffled by Evelyn’s dress.
“I wouldn’t hear of it. Remember what I told you. You’re valuable to me.” She hugged the girl tightly against her warm body. “Sit down, we need to talk.”
Kateline and Sinead stood close by, undoubtedly trying to eavesdrop.
“That is all, ladies,” Evelyn said. “You may tell Prince Kieran I’m in my chambers and anxiously awaiting his company.”
Sinead nodded and proceeded to the door.
Kateline gave an incredulous and startled look. “But, miss, don’t you need—”
“That is all,” Evelyn repeated.
Once the door was closed, Evelyn leaned forward. “I must ask you a favor.”
“Anything, Miss Evelyn. You saved my life. I’ll do anything for you.”
Evelyn placed the crystal stone in Aine’s palm, cupping her small hand around it. “You must protect this with your life. I cannot keep it in my room. I don’t trust Ciara—or anyone. If I need it, I will call for it. It knows how to find me.” She grinned at the girl. “Though I still don’t understand how that works.”
Aine’s blue eyes brightened up and she tucked the stone into the pocket of her frock. “It will be my honor to guard the spear of Gorias.”
Evelyn sat back in her chair. “Let’s refrain from uttering those words. Just in case.”
Aine nodded. “Do you think I’ll get to stay in the castle?”
“The prince is a decent man and he seems quite fond of me, so I say our chances are fair. But no matter what happens, you and I will stay in contact with one another. I must warn you, Aine, there is great danger in the mountains … and you must be careful to avoid them at all costs.”
“You mean the dragon?” she asked.
Evelyn laughed, surprised. “You know about it, too?”
“I saw it the night of the celebrations. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to scare the women and girls. Besides, I knew as long as you had the spear of … well, I just knew we’d be okay. I want to help you … um … get rid of it, Miss Evelyn.”
The buoyancy of Aine’s courage was impressive and inspiring. Evelyn chuckled softly. “I knew I could count on you. But I must ask one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“You need not call me Miss. We are friends. Just call me Evelyn.”
The door to the chambers opened again and Sinead stepped off to the side to announce Prince Kieran. Evelyn and Aine rose and stood with their backs to the fire. The prince beamed a glorious smile upon seeing Evelyn. It seemed as though the room lit up with his magnanimous reception, and perhaps the entire castle. As he strode across the room to greet her, the flecks of gold danced in his eyes.
“My dear Lady Evelyn,” he said, bowing to one knee and taking her hand into his.
He placed a kiss on her fingers—one that lingered and burned with desire and a tingle of something Evelyn couldn’t place. Her cheeks grew flushed from the gesture and she wanted to pull away her hand, embarrassed for Aine to see such a display of affection. But she found herself enjoying the effects of his touch. A warmth swam through her legs and wrapped around her middle. She had forgotten how handsome he was.
She curtsied. “Prince Kieran.”
“Please sit and share with me the story of your travels. I’ve heard inklings that the journey here was a bit, shall we say, challenging.”
Evelyn glanced at Aine and grinned. “To put it lightly, my lord.”
The prince took notice of the young girl sitting in the opposite chair and smiled as he approached. “Hello, little one. What is your name?”
“Aine.” She separated the syllables—awn-yah—as she seemed to do at introductions.
Prince Kieran placed his hand on her small shoulder. “Beautiful name. According to legend, Aine was queen of the fairies and lucky in love and in money. Would you say you’re lucky, my child?”
Aine’s usual bright and radiant disposition seemed to be overshadowed by a look of concern, but she forced a tight smile and nodded to the prince. She glanced over to Evelyn as if requesting assistance.
Evelyn stepped forward. “My lord, Aine is one of the bravest girls I’ve ever encountered. If it weren’t for her help I don’t think I would’ve made it to the castle.”
Prince Kieran turned to Evelyn. The firelight flickered in his eyes, giving him a magical glow. His flawless beauty seemed otherworldly, for its exquisiteness transcended the room. Evelyn felt a rush of heat to her head and swayed a bit.
“Are you well, my lady?” Prince Kieran reached for her arm and gripped it ever so slightly. He helped her sit down.
“I’m fine. Just exhausted from my travels. Nothing a good night of sleep won’t fix, my lord.” She paused, looking over to Aine, then back to the prince. “I’d like to request that Aine stay with me in the castle, my lord.”
He knelt beside her, resting his hand on her knee. “I do apologize, Lady Evelyn, but that will not be possible. I fear the castle is no place for a small child.”
Aine cleared her throat. “Pardon me, my lord, but I’m not a child. I’ve seen things most adults couldn’t bear. I’ve proven myself worthy and believe Miss Evelyn would agree.”
“I indubitably agree,” Evelyn said.
The prince rose and paced around the seating area, then stood before the fireplace. “I’m afraid it’s not something I have the power to override. It’s the king’s decision. And with the summer solstice only a few weeks away, it’s simply not possible …”
What did the summer solstice have to do with anything, Evelyn wondered as she watched the flames dance and spark. That was an odd thing to say in regard to her request. And hadn’t he boasted that he could do whatever he pleased, being the prince of Verubri Castle? Why was he suddenly deflecting this to the king? Evelyn wanted to lob all of these questions, but she knew it wasn’t her place. Not on her very first night in the castle. So, she tried a different approach.
Reaching for his arm, she pressed up against the prince, and murmured into his ear, “Dear prince, I implore you to let the child stay on. She’s been a bit of a good luck charm to me. I loathe to think of my fate if we turned her away.”
He faced Evelyn. “Your fate is already sealed, my lady.” He kissed her cheek tenderly. “I do apologize. I wish I could do something more. I promise your Aine will be well taken care of in the village. And you may visit her on special occasions.”
Evelyn nodded respectfully, knowing she had played her best hand and lost. She went over to Aine and hugged her tightly, whispering in her ear, “Remember what I told you.”
Aine returned the hug, burying her head into Evelyn’s bosom, and nodded. “We will stay in contact.”
“And?” Evelyn whispered.
“Stay away from the mountains,” Aine replied.
The prince called over two of his watchmen and gestured to Aine. They pulled her out of Evelyn’s arms.
“There’s no need to use force!” Evelyn cried out.
“Lady Evelyn is correct. Be gentle, she’s only a child,” Prince Kieran said.
Aine glared back at the prince.
“She will be fine,” he said, moving up against Evelyn’s back. Where she had felt warmth from his presence only moments ago, she now felt a cold chill.
Sinead stopped the watchmen at the door and motioned for them to back off, then she took Aine’s hand into hers. Aine looked back over her shoulder at Evelyn, wincing as Sinead pulled her out of the room and closed the door behind them.
“Now that that’s handled …
” Prince Kieran wrapped his arms around Evelyn’s waist, dotting her neck with kisses.
Attempting not to shudder, she tilted her head off to the side and faked a giggle. She thought this would make whatever he planned to do next pass more quickly. Resistance would only draw things out, and she needed to get rid of him. He slowly turned Evelyn around to face him and gazed deeply into her eyes.
“I’m so pleased you’re finally here,” he murmured, kissing her lips.
“As am I,” she said, though it felt wrong coming from her mouth.
The prince cupped her face and stared at her longingly. “I want you so badly, my Evelyn, but I mustn’t spoil you before the summer solstice. And you’ve had a strenuous journey. Let me assist you to your bed.”
Again, he had mentioned the summer solstice. She planned to find out more about its meaning with regards to Verubri Castle.
Together they strolled across the room to the large bed, where an elegant nightgown of white silk lay atop the mattress. Prince Kieran began to untie the laces of Evelyn’s dress, but she stopped him.
“My lord, you must have more important things on your agenda. I will call for my chambermaid to assist.”
He smiled and pecked her cheek. “Nothing is more important than you, Lady Evelyn. But I agree, your maid’s fingers will be far more skilled than mine.”
One more kiss on her cheek before the prince strode across the room and opened the door. “I bid you goodnight. And I will see you at breakfast tomorrow.” He bowed and exited the room.
Evelyn released a gust of air she’d been holding in, then sank onto the bed, letting the mattress envelop her in its comfort. Something was terribly and ghastly wrong. At first, she’d been so pleased to see the prince and found his lingering touch appealing. But the change was abrupt and sudden. She couldn’t understand why the prince was not permitting Aine to stay. And that look in Aine’s eye when he touched the girl’s shoulder … She didn’t like the ravenous manner in which he stared at Evelyn, as though he were preparing for the proper moment to devour her. Perhaps she wouldn’t have minded so much if she had found him a bit more charming. But Evelyn’s feelings for the prince had taken a drastic turn—and this was definitely going to pose a problem.
3
Ciara tried to stay asleep, but struggled. No thanks to the lumpy excuse for a mattress and the clamor of the other chambermaids rustling about at the insufferable hour of five o’clock in the morning.
Kateline came over and shook her arm. “Rise and shine,” she sang out way too cheerfully.
Ciara groaned and flipped to her other side. This was not what she had envisioned all those years when she imagined living in Verubri Castle. She had pictured herself as a glorified lady-in-waiting, living in a beautiful suite with wall tapestries, a fireplace, and silk bedsheets, not sharing a compact room with two other girls—one of whom didn’t speak and the other who would not shut up. Never in a thousand suns could she have guessed she’d be assigned as a chambermaid. And for the most unworthy girl in all of Galicia. She shuddered just thinking about tending to Evelyn—the undeserving goat girl. It had been a colossal mistake on the prince’s behalf and one she’d fix before long.
“We must get started with our day,” Kateline chimed.
“It’s far too early and way too cold to get up!” Ciara pulled the wool blanket over her head.
Kateline snickered at Ciara’s complaining. “Silly girl. We must get to the kitchen and fetch our breakfast before it’s all gone. Trust me, you don’t want to go about your morning on an empty stomach.”
“I’ll gladly give up my food if it means extra sleep. What time am I actually needed?” asked Ciara.
“You must prepare your lady-in-waiting’s dress for the morning, and then prepare her for breakfast. After that, you’ll set out to do your morning chores.” Kateline finished tying her boot laces and stood by the door.
Ciara’s stomach lurched at the thought of grooming Evelyn and sending her off to have breakfast with the prince whilst she went about her morning chores. “And so what is the exact time I need to start preparing the wench-in-waiting for breakfast?”
Sinead, the silent one, stalked over to Ciara’s bed and yanked the blanket away from her face. “You must never refer to your lady-in-waiting in such a manner.”
Ciara sat up, laughing. “Those are the most words I’ve heard you utter since I arrived. This must be serious.”
“It’s quite serious,” said Kateline. “If you’re caught speaking poorly of your lady-in-waiting, you will suffer horrible consequences.”
“Like what?” Ciara challenged.
Sinead stepped away from the small bed and went toward the doorway. Before she stepped into the hallway, she turned back and uttered solemnly, “Death.”
Ciara’s eyes widened in disbelief and she looked hard at Kateline for confirmation, which came in the form of a grim nod. This news only further solidified her need to get promoted from the lowly position immediately. But for now, she’d play along. It would be brutal but not impossible to fake her devotion to Evelyn. As long as she kept her eye on the prize: winning over Prince Kieran and becoming his betrothed.
Kateline waited by the door. Ciara was grateful that Sinead had continued onward. Her demeanor was off-putting and sent an icy chill through Ciara. But not nearly as bad as the stone floor when her bare feet touched down. The shock was enough to jolt her upright and she quickly got dressed, putting on the hideous blue frock and black boots. Like the other chambermaids, she pulled her raven hair up into a bun, but kept some loose strands around her face. She didn’t want to completely blend into the background. After all, she had a prince to seduce.
“So …” Ciara said to Kateline, “tell me the gossip.”
Kateline chuckled and nudged Ciara’s elbow. “I can already see that you and I are going to get along swimmingly.”
Ciara smiled, but didn’t have plans to build friendships with the chambermaids. She was strictly digging for information. And the dark-haired Kateline with her strange accent and delicate features had a penchant for nonstop gabbing. Ciara would drain dry this well of all details about Verubri Castle, Prince Kieran, and the other ladies-in-waiting. She’d need to study her competition and learn the ropes so when it was time she could hang the others. Evelyn would be the most difficult since the prince was clearly under some sort of spell, but she’d work her way around the matter. She knew Evelyn’s secrets—that magical spear in itself would be enough to send her to the gallows. She just needed to get her hands on it to prove to the prince that she was … what had she claimed herself to be? A dragon slayer?
“What’s so funny at this hour?” Kateline asked.
Ciara hadn’t realized she was laughing and quickly re-focused on the present matter at hand: bonding with the blabbermouth next to her.
“Oh, I just remembered something most humorous.”
“You sounded almost wicked,” Kateline chided. “And that makes me adore you even more!”
Kateline looped her arm through Ciara’s and the two strolled down the shadowy corridor toward the kitchen.
When they finally reached the buffet table, only morsels and crumbs remained. Kateline picked up a small ceramic pot that contained a trace amount of strawberry preserves and grabbed two spoons.
“Come along,” she instructed Ciara and stalked off to the far end of the dining table toward two empty stools. “Sit.”
Ciara sat on the hard wooden stool, watching the other chambermaids gobble up their scones and muffins. Her mouth watered and her stomach grumbled, though she didn’t understand how anyone could be hungry at that wretched hour. Kateline handed her a spoon and motioned for her to dig into the pot of jam. How indecent, Ciara thought, shaking her head. Kateline shrugged and plunged her spoon into the strawberry preserves, scooping a heap into her mouth. Ciara turned away and watched the girl on her left ripping off chunks of her doughy pastry and nibbling at them like a bird. She wanted to snatch away the muffin, but ta
mped down the fiery rage.
Kateline pushed a cup of steaming tea in front of Ciara. “At least there’s still some tea remaining.”
“Glory be,” said Ciara with a bite.
Then when none of the young women were looking, Kateline flung a saucer toward the head of the table, making a thundering clatter. All of the chambermaids jerked their heads toward the racket, and while they were trying to discern what had happened, Kateline snatched up half pieces of scones and muffins from the plates closest in proximity. She slipped a few chunks to Ciara, grinning with her dark brows raised.
“Yes, I do believe you and I will get along quite swimmingly,” said Ciara, laughing.
After the meager breakfast, Kateline escorted Ciara to the room containing all of the gowns for the ladies-in-waiting. Rows and rows of exquisite fabrics filled the space like a kaleidoscope of colors. Ciara strolled quietly among the hanging garments, her fingers tracing over the varying textures and designs. She had never seen so many gowns! She removed one made of scarlet satin and held it up against her chest, spinning in slow circles as she imagined herself dancing with the prince.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Kateline’s cooing accent disturbed Ciara’s musing.
“I was supposed to be the one wearing this gown. Not her …” Ciara spat.
“What do you mean?”
Ciara wasn’t ready to trust Kateline with her most important thoughts just yet. First, a grain of trust must be established. And of course, she’d need something on the girl for blackmail purposes. What was the use in sharing anything with anyone if you couldn’t use their own secrets against them to protect yours?
“Oh, it’s nothing.” Ciara returned the dress to the rack. “So, do the ladies share all of the gowns?”
Kateline shook her head. “Your lady-in-waiting has her own selection, which you’ll be responsible for washing, mending, and preparing.”
Ciara cringed noticeably, causing Kateline to laugh.
“It’s not that bad. Well, unless you have my particular lady-in-waiting who happens to be a spectacular slob when it comes to eating. Sometimes it takes hours to remove the stains. Other times, I’ve had to scrap the gown entirely and make a new one in the exact style.” Kateline glanced over her shoulder, then leaned in closer and whispered, “I often take in the gowns around the waist to give her the impression she’s put on weight. One time, she split the seam clear up the side whilst dancing with the prince. She was mortified, blamed me of course, but it was worth the punishment.”
