Layla

by Lacie Perry Parker

  Chapter 8

  She led me to a table with half wilted flowers and a steaming bowl of shrimp soup. The smell flooded my nostrils and soothed me a bit. It was calming to smell fresh, hot food again. I sat down and immediately started eating. I stirred my soup, over and over and over.

  "Is there anything wrong, Excellency?" The girl asked, loudly, excitedly.

  "Oh, oh no. It's delicious!" I conceived a breath of weariness.

  "You just?" She made me think of Sweenlah.

  The girls face was lined with worry. "Yes, Princess?"

  "Oh, nothing. You just remind me of someone. What is your name, please?"

  "Adda, ma'am."

  "Adda- such a pretty name- please call me Layla, just Layla. Although I have royal blood, I am not any better than you!"

  At first Adda just stared at me in awe, then her round mouth turned moon shape. A smile. "Yes, Layla!" She said eagerly.

  I liked being called by my given name because I didn't want to become arrogant and didn't want to act presumptuous. Also, since I hadn't been called major titles in such a long time, I was afraid that I would forget they were talking to me. That would be embarrassing.

  I finished the soup and pushed away the bowl. "I was hungry as a bear!" I exclaimed.

  "Oh? would you like some more?" Adda questioned.

  I nodded keenly and explained how I hadn't eaten much the past three days. She blinked her eyes mildly, showing sympathy for me. Then she hurried off into the kitchen just as two other people came out.

  "So pleased to have you with us!" The lady dropped an extravagant curtsy.

  "We thought we might be seeing you," the man's eyes glittered. The lady jabbed him in the side with her elbow. "I'm Davy Heartha, and this is my wife, Lindy."

  "So glad to make your acquaintance," I rose and took his hand, then hers.

  "We do hope you will enjoy your stay here. If there is anything we can do, please let us know!" Lindy Heartha declared.

  "Oh, I am sure I will enjoy my stay. It is rather pleasant already!" I gave a wink to Adda, who was secretly watching from behind the kitchen door. When she saw me she giggled, then hurried out with my second course. Porridge, loaded with sugar.

  "Shh!" Adda pressed her finger to her lips. "Momma doesn't usually let us put sugar in anything but cookies."

  I nodded, giving her confidence that I could keep her secret safe. I dug my spoon in the thick, steamy liquid and stirred it just as I had done the soup.

  "Adda, darling, why don't we give the Princess time to eat? Besides, there are dirty dishes waiting for you." Lindy attempted to drag away her mesmerized child.

  Thank you! I thought. I had been hovered over enough at the castle. Not that she would be watching my manners with eagle eyes, but I couldn't eat well with people watching me. At least not people I didn't know very well. What they gave was such a simple meal, yet so satisfying! Never before had I savored something so unadorned.

  After gobbling down all of their food, I promised to send them twenty of our finest chickens from the castle. "No! No!" They said, frantically waving their arms. They said they were honored for me to eat their food. But that didn't change my plans a twit.

  Adda was quite the curious one. She hovered around as much as her mother would let her. In the morning when I came down in purple and silver gown, she gasped. I asked her if anything was wrong before I realized she was gaping at my dress.

  "No, nothing is wrong, Miss Layla? It is just your gown. It is so? pretty," Adda confessed, trying not to sound foolish.

  "Ah," I understood. I ran back up the stairs and dug out my smallest gown. A winter gown, pale gold with flowers that only grew during the frosty months. I brought it downstairs to her.

  "Do you think this one is pretty?" I asked.

  She nodded her head passionately, gazing at the gown and running her fingers along the trim. "You are so lucky," she sighed. That made me smile.

  Then her mother came and started pulling her away. "Adda let the princess?"

  "No! Leave her." I issued a command. Immediately Lindy's arm dropped.

  "Here, go see if it fits. Try it on." I handed the gown to the still-delirious-with-amazement Adda.

  The girl's eyes lit up as she examined the garment in her own hands. Bright-eyed, she thanked me and ran off. It wasn't too long before she came back out, presenting herself to me. "It fits perfectly!" She declared.

  "Good." I beamed. "Then it's yours."

  Mrs. Heartha nearly dropped the dishes she was collecting.

  "Surely, no, Adda?"

  "You must know that I have enough! Please accept it," I begged.

  Adda looked as if she hadn't yet realized what was going on. Then her lavender eyes went ablaze with joy. Her lip began to tremble, searching for words of gratitude. But none would come. Instead she threw her arms around me, squeezing hard. I squeezed back. I hadn't had a hug in what seemed like forever!

  After that, Adda and I were good friends, along with her older brother Wade, who had eyes like the sky and hair like the sun. We had a good time watching the people that came into the inn. Most of them were very pleasant. And that made my visit very pleasant, which I prolonged for the sake of Adda, Wade and me.

  A fat lady walked in; very nice, despite her four chins and bloated ankles. Then a man with a stack of papers. "Gaday, Princess!"

  Then a lady with a frilly dress and a parasol walked in. She obviously had a corset on underneath all of her frills. Her tight white boots made scratches on the floor. Every time she took a step, Mr. Heartha winced. The lady's eyes seemed to be searching for something, for someone. Then her eyes landed on me. She took the tiniest steps I had ever known was possible. When she finally landed at my feet, she embraced me. Then she held me back, and took a look. I was surprised; no one else had attempted to hug me.

  "Your father said you need training. You look wonderful to me!"

  My arms fell limp. My eyelids drooped and my heart stopped. Another governess! I couldn't let her come with me; she would ruin everything. I was to come home unannounced, and alone! I couldn't be very alone with a primped-up beside me. And what if she forced me into some of those boots? I grimaced at the thought.

  "Won't our ride be absolutely splendid?" she fluttered her eyelashes.

  I began to cough, on purpose. I needed time away from her to figure out how to ditch her.

  "Splendid? ?Right. I must?" I daintily, and mockingly, held my hand over my mouth.

  The governess made an abrupt sharp sound with her tongue then said. "Oh! You must get some rest now. I do not want to ride home with someone who is too sick to talk!"

  She wouldn't have to worry about that, unless her horse got sick. I nodded my head and pretended to run to the stairs. When she looked away, I darted into the kitchen.

  "Adda! Wade! I need your help. Desperately."

  They gathered around me. "My father has sent a governess to escort me home! I don't want her! I mean, why would I? For heavens sakes, she would scare even Clupint!"

  Wade rushed to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of clear liquid. "Fairies' sleeping potion. Lasts forty-eight hours."

  I nodded my head eagerly, understanding what he was getting at.

  "So I can bake them into something, and-"

  "My, Layla, you recovered quickly!"

  I spun around to see the governess snooping the kitchen. When had I given her permission to call me without my title? She was too straightforward. She needed a governess herself.

  "When I realized you had complimented so sweetly on my? appearance, I decided to make you a little something. Sick or not, I must not forsake my manners!" The words I had just uttered were making me queasy.

  "Oh, I am dreadfully sorry dear. You just continue whatever you were doing."

  After she made her leave, I blurted out my plan. "She seemed to be really interested in food so I am going to bake the potion into some...uh, corn cakes. The problems is?" I creased my brow. "I am not sure how to cook
them."

  Adda's mouth flew wide with anticipation. She obviously did. Quickly the little girl scurried to a cabinet and pulled out a worn book. "As long as you promise not to use the recipe elsewhere," she smiled gleefully. "I will help you."

  There was no question that I wouldn't use their secret recipe. Besides, it may very well be the last recipe I would use! Adda gathered all the ingredients and set them on the counter in front of me.

  "Ready for a cooking lesson?" she asked.

  I had had some cooking lessons while I was at home. But never anything so simple. Simpler foods were not easier to make, though that is what one would think. But more love was put into it. I could tell by the look of passion in young Adda's eyes; the batter was combined with her care and devotion. It made me want to keep the corn cakes from the evil governess. They should go to someone who would appreciate and savor them more thoughtfully than her. But, unfortunately, it was necessary for them to go to the governess. Wicked governess. Wicked because she wasn't supposed to be here.

  After the corn cakes were done baking, and had turned a scrumptious golden brown, I coated them with a clear and sugary frosting. It also was laden with sleeping potion.

  When they were cool, Adda and I crossed our fingers. "I hope this works," I pushed open the kitchen door with a fake smile pasted on my face. I held the cakes out to the side of me and gently and gracefully swooped down beside the governess. "Here you are, Miss?" I didn't know her name.

  "Oh! How silly." she giggled stupidly. "My name is Missy." Missy didn't waste time trying the cakes. Watching her, I was amazed at how well she fit into her snug dress having such an appetite.

  After three of the glossy cakes were demolished, I drew the tray nearer to me. "I think I shall take these and-"

  Missy attempted to snatch them from me. But I was much too quick.

  "Let me finish my sentence!" I said irritably. There was certainly no way I could stand riding home with this woman. "I will put them in a bag for you so I don't have to stand here with the tray in my hands all day!"

  Missy shifted in her chair. "Oh."

  I rolled my eyes and strolled back into the kitchen. I stuffed the cakes in a sack and slung them carelessly over my shoulder. When I exited the kitchen, I found Missy yawning helplessly already.

  "Sweet victory," I whispered.

  Missy rose from her seat and took the bag from me. "Thank you." Another yawn. "I think I shall go rest. Do not want to be too tired to converse tomorrow!" She patted my shoulder. I shook her off. She turned up her nose and headed upstairs.

  I ran back into the kitchen, nearly knocking Adda and Wade over. They were waiting from behind the door, watching everything.

  "Feeling good?" Wade asked with a smile.

  I tucked the loose strands of hair behind my ear. "Let's just hope she wakes up someday." I stuck the dirtied dishes into the sink and dried my hands. "Well! I think I am going to get some rest. I don't want to be too tired to converse!" We all sniggered at the mock. It was irresistible. "Oh? Wade, if you could have anything in the world, what would it be?" I had given Adda something. I had promised Mr. and Mrs. Heartha something. It was his turn.

  "Definitely my own horse. But I don't take charity, if that's what you're getting at," the blonde boy told me.

  It wouldn't be charity. He had helped enough to have earned fifty horses.