by Vicky Savage
“No offense Damien, but I don’t even like you. You sit there with your smug expression, your fake tan, and all your royal bling—well, I’ve got a news flash for you, you ain’t no Brad Pitt. I really don’t know what my mother was thinking.” I cast a withering glance her way. Then I turn my wrath on the lawyer.
“And you, Canard, you can take your little notebook and cram it up your… well, you get the picture. I’m out of here. Enjoy your stay in Domerica!”
I hike up my hem and sprint from the room.
“Jaden, wait!” Mother calls, hurrying after me. “I want to speak with you.”
I wheel around to face her. “Yeah, well, I want to speak with you too.”
She takes my hand, pulling me down the hallway. “This way,” she says, leading me into a small room off the corridor. She closes and locks the door behind us. “We won’t be disturbed in here.”
I’ve never seen this room either. It’s cozy and smells like potpourri. Cheery glass logs gleam red and yellow in the hearth, and fake candles glow softly in every corner of the room. She pulls me down next to her on a nearby loveseat.
“Darling, I realize all this comes as a bit of a shock to you—”
I jump up, unable to sit still. “A bit of a shock? I’m astounded you would arrange all this without even discussing it with me.”
“Jaden, please sit down.”
I don’t. I’m fuming.
“I had little choice in the matter, really,” she continues. “King Philippe surprised me with this on the day before we left Dome Noir. Remember, I did send a messenger. He had a letter for you explaining everything. But apparently he met with some misfortune before he reached Warrington.” She pats the seat next to her.
I sit down, resentfully.
“The king said he had given a lot of thought to this and felt you and Damien would make a good union. He believed Damien would enjoy a quiet respite in Domerica and might wish to adopt it as a way of life.”
“With me thrown in as a little incentive?”
“Darling, Philippe requested that I bring Damien to meet you with the possibility of a marriage contract being reached by the end of the visit. Of course you have a say in the entire matter. I didn’t commit to anything for you, but I couldn’t turn him down. It would have been the ultimate insult.”
“You could’ve told me all of this before I walked into that room, instead of leaving me in the dark. I felt like a total idiot.”
“I know, dear, and I’m truly sorry. But, I had no time. You saw the mess I walked into upon my return.” She takes my hand in hers. “I apologize for the way this was presented to you, but perhaps you should not be so hasty.”
“What?”
“I don’t think you should turn down Prince Damien on the basis of one meeting.”
“Oh, give me a break!” I’m on my feet again. “The prince is a pompous, conceited ass. You don’t seriously want me to consider him as a potential husband, do you?”
“I know he has his shortcomings, but you would make a very handsome couple—one of the most powerful in the world. Don’t forget he is a Prince of Dome Noir. One day you will be Queen of Domerica. Imagine the clout you would have as a pair.”
“Mother, please, you need a reality check. He is much more interested in my money than he is in me. Not to mention that he obviously finds you the more sexually appealing of the two of us. Do you really want him for a son-in-law? Do you really think he could ever make me happy?”
She covers her face with her hands for a moment and shakes her head. “No. No, you’re right, Jaden.” Then she shocks me by laughing out loud. “He really is dreadful, isn’t he?”
“The worst!” I crow.
“Can you ever forgive me?”
I sit down beside her and we hug each other, laughing. It feels so good to be in her arms, to smell her hair and feel her warmth. I hate it when we argue.
After we’ve composed ourselves again, Mother takes me by the shoulders and looks into my eyes. “Now Jaden, who is this other boy—this Brad Pitt? Is this someone you are seeing?”
I laugh at my faux pas. “No Mother, it was just… I’ve never even met him.”
“Then what’s this about your not wishing to marry for ten years time? You don’t mean that do you?”
“Yes, Mother. I’m not ready to get married. There’s still so much I want to do.”
She looks confused. “What for instance?”
That catches me off guard. I can’t very well say college, world travel, dating. Those things don’t really apply in this world.
“I… well, I…”
Thankfully, the door knob rattles sharply at that moment. “Your Highness, is everything all right?” LeGare’s voice carries through the door.
Oh great, another one of my favorite people.
Mother goes to the door and unlocks it. “We’re fine, Charles. Just give us a few minutes more. Please make certain Prince Damien and his gentlemen are comfortable until I can accompany him to the dining hall.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He scans the room trying to figure out what we were doing in here. Glancing at me, he bows and leaves.
“I’m sorry, you were saying darling?”
“Mother, I just want to marry when I’m ready. And I want to marry because I’m in love, not because some out-dated law requires me to declare my betrothed on my eighteenth birthday.”
She sighs wistfully, “I married for love, Jaden. I can tell you from experience it’s not always the wisest thing to do.”
“Well, at least you were allowed to make your own mistakes. I’m only asking for the same privilege.”
Worry creases her forehead. “Yes, well, regardless, the law is the law. I believe we are entitled to a little latitude where you are concerned, but we cannot drag it out too long. Drew still has not declared a bride and he is nearly nineteen.” She rubs at the crease nervously. “Both of the royal children balking at the marriage laws. It does not present a good example for our subjects. We must be sensitive to that.”
“Maybe it’s a law that needs to be reconsidered, Mother.”
“That is something you may do when you are queen,” she says. “Now, we really must see to our guests, dear. We have a number of dignitaries coming to pay their respects to Prince Damien, and I suppose I need to try to smooth things over with him before all the festivities begin.”
“Do I really have to sit through all that?” I whine. “I don’t want to be within ten feet of Prince Damien.”
“Darling, I know the duties of your position can be taxing at times. It will be a public humiliation for Damien if you completely rebuff him. Please come to dinner. I will seat you next to Professor Ralston at the opposite end of the table from Damien. We will find a diverting dinner companion for the Prince—Lady Joanna, perhaps. I’ll see what she is wearing this evening. Luckily, he is easily distracted by a pretty face and an ample bosom.” She grins at me.
“I’ll come to dinner. But I’m not going anywhere near that man or his lawyer again.”
“Thank you, darling.” She kisses my forehead and we hug once more. “I love you so much.”
My heart squeezes at her words. Oh, how I love her too.
TWENTY-FIVE
I discover that dinner for Prince Damien is going to be an all night marathon, including ten courses of culinary delights followed, by dancing and local entertainment.
Damien causes a stir by showing up in the grand hall sporting a large gold-plated handgun in an elaborate leather holster, instead of the traditional ceremonial sword. The guy’s such a gangsta.
Mother patiently reminds him that guns are strictly prohibited in Domerica. He politely removes the holster and turns it over to Samuel, who takes it in his gloved hand as though it were toxic waste. Samuel sets the gun on a silver tray, and carries it from the room. Mother assures Damien it will be returned to him upon his departure from Domerica.
As promised, Mother seats me at the opposite end of the table from Damien. R
alston’s on my right and the attractive Sir Jason Fallon on my left. I’ve run into Jason only a few times since coming to the palace. It’s good to see him again. He hovers around me all evening, looking after my every desire and making pleasant dinner conversation.
“May I get you one of those delicious looking cream desserts?” he asks after the main course is cleared away.
“Yes, I did kind of have my eye on one of those,” I say. He hurries off to snag one before they’re gone.
It’s my first opportunity to confront Ralston about the whole Damien debacle.
“Thanks a lot for the heads up on the Prince of Darkness,” I say.
He chuckles softly. “I am sorry about that, Jade. I didn’t know about it ahead of time, I swear. As you know, we are operating in uncharted territory here. We didn’t see this coming.”
“Well, it was your basic train wreck. I could’ve used your help—the man is a total jerk.”
“You appear to have handled it very nicely on your own,” he says, nodding toward the head of the table where Prince Damien sits between Mother and the lovely Lady Joanna.
“Thanks to Mother,” I say, watching her with admiration. She is at her diplomatic best trying to soothe Prince Damien’s bruised ego. I’m sure that Lady Joanna’s flattering attentions, as well as her plunging neckline also help the prince forget he traveled more than three thousand miles to be rejected by Queen Eleanor’s strong-willed daughter.
Joanna is most guys’ idea of a “Perfect 10”—long blonde hair, huge blue eyes, double-D cups, and a double-digit IQ. She giggles at Damien’s every comment. She’s the ultimate combination of glitz meets ditz.
The evening actually turns out to be nice for me. Jason and I dance nearly every dance together. I feel obliged to dance with a few of the old-Geezer-types my mother has invited to the banquet, but by the end of the night it feels like Jason and I got to have our prom date after all.
When the evening draws to a close, Jason walks me to the staircase. He wishes me goodnight and leans in to kiss me. I turn, offering my cheek to him. Jason’s cute, but he doesn’t move me the way Ryder does. It scares me to think maybe no one else ever will.
“I had a real nice time, Jason. Thank you,” I say, leaving him at the foot of the stairs.
As I near the top of the staircase, I hear voices coming from the guest wing hallway. The tones are low and secretive, like a private matter is being discussed. One of the voices sounds a lot like Prince Damien. I slow my pace as I reach the top step, and I see Damien’s back. He is speaking with someone. The other person is hidden in the shadows, but it can’t be Joanna, because they are speaking French.
I move quietly to the landing for a better look at the pair, in time to see Prince Damien take a package from the other person and slip it into his jacket. He says a curt “bon soir,” and then heads toward his room at the other end of the hall.
I’m curious to know who his companion is, so I duck into a darkened alcove and wait. Soon I hear the rustle of long skirts scurrying my way. I’m shocked when I catch sight of Sylvia hurrying toward the staircase, glancing cautiously over her shoulder.
That old witch. She is so busted! Looks like my mother’s not the only one she’s been spying for. I wonder what’s in the package she gave Damien. What could he want that Sylvia would have access to? I can’t come up with anything right away, but the whole scene is very hinkey. I need to talk to Mother or Drew about it.
* * *
It’s heaven to be back in my room and to just be myself. It gets so exhausting pretending to be a princess all the time, especially at these formal events. I’m always stressed that I’m going to slip-up by saying or doing something that’ll give me away as a phony. I change into a soft white dressing gown and brush out my ridiculous hair. The simple act of washing my face helps to ease my tension and relax my frazzled nerves. I remove mother’s amethyst necklace, replacing it with Ryder’s silver wolf. Much better.
Someone knocks softly at my door, prompting an internal groan. I just want to close my eyes and go to sleep.
“Jade, open up, it’s me,” Drew whispers from the other side of the door. Drew is probably the only person I would allow in my room at this moment.
“What’s under your coat?” I ask, closing the door behind him.
“Chocolate!” he croons with an evil grin. “I purloined it from Mother’s office. Prince Damien gave it to her.”
I’m still full from dinner, but I haven’t had chocolate since coming to Domerica, and I’ve missed it. We both flop down on my bed, and Drew opens the crimson box.
“Ooooh,” I moan. It smells divine. I’ve never seen such elaborate chocolates. They look like little carved animals and flowers. It’s almost a shame to eat them.
Drew plucks a dark chocolate dragon from the box, and I select a milk chocolate fargen. The taste is sheer bliss.
“Mmm, the Noirs really know how to make chocolate,” Drew says, collapsing back on the bed, sinking deeply into the down coverlet. “So, I understand we won’t be having a wedding at Warrington Palace anytime soon.” he says, mouth full of dragon.
“Not unless you’re finally getting married.”
“You weren’t swept away by Prince Damien’s many charms, I take it”
“Ugh. Can you believe he actually brought a gun to dinner? The man is such a tool.”
“A what?”
Oops. “A fool. The man is a total fool.”
“He’s a fool if he’s willing to marry you,” he says, selecting another candy.
“Hey!” I grab a pillow and swat him, producing a large brown streak on the satin cover.
“You’ll never guess what I saw when I came upstairs,” I say.
“Tell.” He rolls over and props up on his elbows, ready to dish.
“Damien and that nasty old maid of Mother’s, Sylvia, whispering in the hallway. She gave him a package of some sort.”
“Sylvia and Damien? That’s an odd couple. I wonder what they were doing.”
“I don’t know, but I think she’s a spy. What could she have given him? Does she have access to anything important?”
He snorts. “No. She’s a maid. And she doesn’t really do much anymore, now that you’ve banned her from your chambers. Perhaps she was sending something back home to her family. Or maybe after you turned him down, Damien went to his second choice.”
“Well they make the perfect pair,” I laugh. “They both give me the creeps.” Maybe I’m being overly suspicious, but there’s something sinister about both of them.
Drew turns momentarily serious. “Joking aside, Jade, Damien is a swine. I’m glad you refused him. You should’ve seen him at court in Dome Noir. He was out of control—drinking and gambling and… let’s just say he didn’t lack for female companionship.”
“I’m not surprised. But I can’t figure out why Mother even brought him here.” I pop a chocolate orchid into my mouth.
“She felt obligated to. It was as if King Philippe were looking for a way to get rid of him by foisting him off on Mother. No doubt he was hoping Mother would order you to marry Damien.”
“Like that would have worked.”
“The king is well aware his own son is an ass. He just didn’t know that the queen’s daughter can be stubborn as a mule,” Drew says. We both laugh and greedily dig for more chocolate.
At least Drew is the same here as he is back home. It feels good to hang out with him. Mother is another story, though. I suppose the stress and strain of running a country can shape a person differently, but I want my old mom back. Ralston says everyone in this world is the same deep inside as their counterpart back home. So, I know my sweet, caring mother is in there somewhere. The problem is going to be finding her before I have to leave this land.
After Drew and I devour the entire box of candy, we’re both yawning and ready for bed. I force Drew to take the empty box with him, so I won’t be caught with the evidence.
“You’re not going hunting with us
in the morning?” he asks.
“No, I guess not. Mother thinks it would be kind of awkward.”
“She’s probably worried that Prince Damien might loose a stray arrow into your back when no one is looking.”
“I hadn’t considered that,” I frown. “I’d better stay clear of the prince when he’s carrying lethal weapons.”
“Sleep well Jade, and be sure to lock your door,” he says, raising his eyebrows.
After Drew leaves, I climb between the cool sheets of my bed and turn off the light on my table. I’m so happy Mom’s back from Dome Noir. Avoiding Damien for the next week isn’t going to be easy, but I’ll find a way to steal some time alone with her. Excavating all the complex layers of the queen is going to be trickier than I thought.
