Kingdom of Ruses

by Kate Stradling

  Viola promptly kicked him in the shin. “Let go of him,” she said. She needn’t have wasted her breath, for the moment her boot connected with his leg, he released his brother in a howl of pain.

  “Vi-o-la!” he cried. “What was that for?”

  “What are you getting so worked up over?” she demanded in return. “Don’t be such a baby!”

  “I’m telling the Prince on you!” he retorted.

  She arched her brows at the threat. “What’s he going to do about it?” she asked. It wasn’t as though he could implement some sort of punishment system. His authority was only symbolic anyway, and she wasn’t bound to obey.

  He opened his mouth to retort, but his brother clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I meant no offense, Aureus,” said Cassian, who then turned to Viola with a penitent expression. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable before.”

  “Think nothing of it,” said Viola. “I didn’t mind, and I’ve suffered worse. And he knows it,” she added with a pointed glare at the Prince. He scowled back.

  The fourth member of their small party, Laelia, stood slightly apart, her expression unreadable, but she had apparently heard enough of this interchange and could no longer hold her peace. “Cassian too?” she said in a low voice. “Ooh, you are a demon!”

  Viola thought this was a very unjust pronouncement, but she also thought that Laelia probably wasn’t someone to be reasoned with. “Can I go home yet?” she asked the Prince. “My mother is going to wonder what became of me, you know, and if Father hears I’ve gone into the city and not come back, he’s likely to deploy half the palace guards to come find me.”

  “Come on,” said the Prince, and he pulled her up by her elbow just a little too viciously. Laelia moved forward to latch onto his other arm, but he shook her off. “No. You walk with Cassian. I need to have a word with Viola, alone.”

  “Oh, that reminds me,” said Viola, and she turned toward the pair of newcomers. “Where are you staying?”

  “They can’t stay at the palace!” the Prince hissed savagely in her ear.

  “Of course they can’t,” she hissed back. “I wasn’t going to suggest that at all!”

  “We’ve only arrived in Lenore this morning,” said Cassian, since Laelia wasn’t going to answer.

  “Did you bring any money with you?” Viola asked.

  “Where they stay isn’t your concern,” said the Prince coldly. “No one asked them to come, and they can take care of themselves well enough.”

  “Stop being so hard-hearted,” Viola replied, and she thrust her elbow into his side to drive her point home. “Do you have money to rent rooms at an inn?” she asked Cassian. He shook his head.

  “We can stay in the park, if it comes to that,” Laelia spoke up. “We don’t need your help! We’re perfectly comfortable sleeping outdoors! Or we can stay with Aureus!” she added.

  “That’s not possible,” said Viola as she turned up a side street. “I don’t know if Dr. Grayson has room, but it seems like we should at least ask him before we leave you to sleeping in the park. It’s been raining at night off and on for the last few weeks, you know.”

  “I don’t know if it’s such a good idea,” said Cassian hesitantly.

  “Why can’t we stay with Aureus?” demanded Laelia. “Wherever he’s staying is where I want to stay!” And she stamped her foot to emphasize her resolution.

  Aureus was used to her temper tantrums and did not flinch. “You can’t stay with me,” he said. “I’ve received special permission to stay at the palace, but I had to get it from the Prince himself, and that’s next to impossible to do. I was very lucky—if Viola had her say, I’d be the one sleeping in the park.”

  Viola favored him with a dry glance that clearly confirmed this statement.

  “We’ll speak with the Prince as well!” Laelia declared. “Surely he’ll let us stay if he’s letting Aureus stay!”

  “Not possible,” said Viola. “He has Aureus stashed in a small closet under the stairs, because he thinks it amusing to see what a desperate person will undergo just for access to the royal library. There’s no room in the closet for anyone else, and all our other closets are taken up with linens and other supplies. You can’t stay at the palace.” She tried to ignore the amused expression on the Prince’s face—he was doing his best to suppress a laugh, and he was very close to failing. Viola had been telling lies about the Eternal Prince long enough to be able to make up something sufficiently credible on the spot, though.

  Laelia’s face turned impish. “If there’s room in the closet for Aureus, there’s room enough for me too.”

  The Prince spluttered.

  “We’ll try Dr. Grayson first,” said Viola crisply, not at all liking the mental imagery that came with Laelia’s suggestion. “His house is not very far from here, and he and Mother Grayson have a couple of extra rooms, as I recall.”

  As she led them up one avenue and across another, she wracked her brains to remember exactly where the good doctor lived. She would know the street when she saw it, she was certain, but it had been ages since she had gone there, and she had never come from this direction. With some measure of relief, when they turned the next corner, she was able to pick out his gray house halfway up the street. His small clinic was attached, and she hoped that he was home this morning instead of up at the palace. She didn’t think she could explain the situation as well to Mother Grayson.

  Up the small walkway and through the colorful flower garden they went, and Viola rapped on the door three times. After a moment, it was opened by an elderly, sweet-faced woman whose watery brown eyes twinkled.

  “Viola, dear! It’s been ages,” said Mother Grayson as she opened the door.

  “Hello,” said Viola pleasantly. “Is the doctor home, by any chance?”

  “You’re right on time. Come in, come in. He’s just come home for a bite of lunch before he heads up to the palace for the afternoon.” The old woman opened the door wider and motioned the group in. “And you’ve brought friends with you! How delightful!”

  She was beginning to stoop with old age, Viola thought as she followed Mother Grayson back through the house to the kitchen. It really had been a long while since she had visited the good doctor’s wife.

  “Father,” said the woman, “Viola Moreland has come with some friends to see you.”

  Dr. Grayson looked up from his meal of cold cuts and bread. “Viola, dear! My, my, what an occasion this is!” He took one of Viola’s hands warmly in his, smiled at her, and then looked expectantly to the other three.

  “These are my friends,” said Viola slowly, and she wondered whether Dr. Grayson would ask too many questions, or if he would understand. “They’ve just traveled in from out of town, and I was wondering if you had any spare rooms for them to sleep in tonight. I’m sorry it’s so very sudden.”

  The doctor surveyed his guests with knowing eyes, then turned his attention back to Viola. “The three of them need somewhere to stay?” he asked.

  “No, only two. This one,” she motioned to Aureus, “is already staying at the palace, under the Prince’s approval.” Dr. Grayson nodded perceptively; Viola had suspected that her father would keep the good doctor informed of any developments from the Prince’s quarters, and besides that, Aureus had his cat’s eye brooch pinned rather prominently on his lapel. “His two friends just arrived today, though, and we can’t put them up at the palace.”

  Dr. Grayson nodded. “I see, I see. Mother, do we have room for two wandering souls?”

  “Yes, of course,” said his wife cheerfully. To the pair she added, “Just give me a chance to air the linens and I’ll have you each in a room in no time—the rooms are small, I must warn you, but they’re warm enough.” She scuttled away, intent upon her new task.

  Laelia scowled, and Cassian looked hesitant. “It’s all right,” Viola told him quietly. “The Graysons are very trustworthy people—you have nothing to fear from them.”

  He nodded and reluctant
ly turned to the doctor. “We would be very grateful for the rooms—I wouldn’t even mind sleeping on the floor, if that’s easier.”

  Dr. Grayson tutted. “No need, no need. We built extra rooms in the house for when the clinic and the infirmary get overcrowded. It doesn’t happen often, but we won’t be stingy with the space we have. Did you bring no baggage, then?”

  Cassian and Laelia exchanged glances. “We don’t need very much,” he said evasively, “just what we can carry on our persons.”

  “Good, good,” said Dr. Grayson. “Sit down, sit down.”

  “Does he always repeat everything he says?” the Prince whispered to Viola.

  She elbowed him in the ribs. “Quite often he does,” she replied pleasantly. “I think it’s quaint.”

  He recovered from the injury quickly enough. “Dr. Grayson,” he said, “I realize that this is terribly rude of us, but Viola was expected back at the palace an hour ago. Would you mind terribly if we left Laelia and Cassian in your care and went on our way?”

  The doctor was already waving them toward the exit. “Go on, go on,” he said pleasantly. “Mother and I will take good care of your friends.”

  The Prince didn’t need to be told a second time. Even as Viola and Laelia both opened their mouths to protest, he guided Viola from the room. “See you two later,” he said to Laelia and Cassian.

  “Tell Mother Grayson we said goodbye,” Viola called as she was propelled through the door. Outside, she turned on the Prince. “How could you be so abominably rude?” she demanded.

  “I acknowledged that it was rude of me,” he replied. “Your Dr. Grayson didn’t mind in the least, either.”

  “That doesn’t make it any better! Just because he didn’t mind—!”

  “You’ve just proven my next point,” he said as he pulled her toward the street. “Just because you don’t mind is no reason to go letting Cassian kiss you!”

  “It was only on the cheek,” Viola retorted. “I’ve suffered much worse, and from worse miscreants than your brother!”

  He stopped dead in his tracks and turned an icy glare on her. “Who else are you letting kiss you?” he demanded angrily.

  Viola longed to bowl him over with her basket, and only forbore from doing so out of concern for the groceries. With a noise of disgust, she turned and stalked back toward the palace.

  “Viola!” the Prince called after her. “You didn’t answer me! Who else?”

  Chapter 10: Rejection is a Dish Best Served Cold

  I don’t know how that idiot justifies himself. Somehow, in his mind it’s perfectly fine that he kissed me full on the mouth on our first meeting, but for his brother to peck me on the cheek is the highest offense imaginable. Perhaps he’s forgotten his behavior entirely—that seems the only reason that I can think of for him to throw such a tantrum and not recognize his own faults. He is driving me to insanity!

  Dearest Viola,

  I’m terribly sorry (and I must say, quite shocked) to learn that I am such a source of ire to you. My conduct toward you has only been with the utmost sincerity. I should think you would know this already, as I feel I have been very clear on that point.

  On the other hand, I happen to know for a fact that my dear brother Cassian is deeply in love with another woman, so I take umbrage at him making overtures toward you. I would not think you should find this impertinent. He is a charming fellow (or so I have been told), and I really am only looking out for your well-being. It would be terribly inconvenient for both of us if you were to fall in love with him. Not that you would when you have me to admire.

  Well done on placing that pair with the Graysons, by the way, for I had no intention of giving them space here at the palace. It warms my heart that you would concern yourself on their behalf, but they really don’t deserve it. As I told you before, no one asked them to come.

  With all love and adoration,

  Your Prince

  Viola stared in dismay at the entry in her journal as complete betrayal wrenched through her. From Charles or Edmund she expected this sort of behavior, but for the Prince not only to snoop out her journal, but then to read its contents and actually write her a response? It defied every level of propriety that existed!

  “You!” she cried up to the balcony where he sat.

  The Prince raised his brows in a regal expression. “I beg your pardon?”

  She shook the journal at him. “You had no right to read this!”

  His aloofness turned into a wicked grin. “I thought I had the right to read anything in here. Isn’t this my library, or have I set foot into some unknown room by mistake?”

  “You!” In fury, Viola hurled the journal at his head. He ducked out of the way, and it hit the bookshelf behind him and fell to the ground, roughly unharmed.

  “Really, Darling, you must be more careful,” he said with a disapproving frown. “That book holds all your closest thoughts and feelings.”

  “I’m not your darling,” said Viola hotly, “and if you knew what it contained, why would you dare to read it?”

  “You left it here. I thought you meant for me to read it.”

  She stomped across the room and up the stairs to retrieve the journal and possibly to make an attempt on the Prince’s life. “I left it on the top shelf of a musty old set of annals, hidden behind them so that no one could find it!” she snarled as she picked the book up again. “How could you possibly think I intended for you to read it?”

  He grinned, but did not answer. His sheer lack of penitence made Viola that much angrier. Her expression turned to one of sweet innocence.

  “I haven’t washed my cheek since Cassian kissed it,” she said dreamily. “I think perhaps I never shall.” She caressed her face with one hand as she spoke, then sighed wistfully.

  The grin slipped from his face. “Here now, that’s not even funny,” he said, sitting up straight. “It’s not sanitary, either. Go wash your face this instant! Your Prince commands you!”

  Viola dropped into the chair across from him and glared.

  He had the grace to blush. Shifting uneasily, he admitted, “I probably shouldn’t have read it—”

  “Probably?”

  “—but you’re always writing in it, and my curiosity got the better of me. At least I was honest about it, though,” he added with a haughty sniff. “I didn’t have to leave you a message. You never would have known the difference if I hadn’t—would you have preferred that?”

  She considered this point grudgingly. Would she rather he had read her journal and then put it back, never telling her the truth, or was it better that he left her a note so that she knew immediately what had occurred? “I think you just like the attention,” she said at last. “You do things you know are wrong and then revel in the uproar that comes as a result of your actions.”

  The Prince smiled faintly. “You’re probably right,” he said. “Anyway, it’s your own fault. You’re much too easy to fluster.”

  “Don’t read it again,” said Viola sternly. She wasn’t going to address his accusation, because she already knew she was high-strung. Charles had been telling her as much for years.

  “I didn’t read all of it this time,” said the Prince without the slightest hint of remorse. “It wasn’t nearly as interesting as I’d hoped—no lovelorn confessions of adoration, no juicy gossip—except about the Prince, of course, but that was hardly news to me. Your account of Laelia and Cassian was informative, though. Do you really think Cassian has beautiful eyes?”

  Viola blushed. “He does,” she asserted firmly. “Don’t try to deny it, either. They’re the clearest shade of green I’ve ever seen.”

  The Prince’s jaw set in a hard line. “Don’t go falling in love with him.”

  “I already know he’s in love with Laelia,” Viola retorted. “He admitted as much himself to me. If you are aware of that, though, I wonder that you should allow her to behave so shamelessly toward you.”

  “Jealous?” he mused, but when she only n
arrowed her eyes, he sighed heavily. “What am I supposed to do?”

  The candor in his voice surprised Viola. “Are you in love with her as well?” she asked, and the question sounded more tentative than she had expected.

  His answer came in one curt syllable. “No.”

  “Then tell her that you can’t return her feelings,” said Viola as she tried to quell the inexplicable feeling of relief that had just welled up within her.

  The Prince leaned heavily against the arm of the sofa and peered up at her with frank eyes. “I have told her that—on several occasions, actually. I have been gentlemanly and severe. I have been everything short of obsessively cruel. In fact, I once told her that even if the sun burned out and all the stars fell out of the sky, I could never be in love with her. Do you know what she did? She laughed and said, ‘All of that’s impossible.’ Then, she redoubled her efforts. For goodness’ sake, Viola, I left the village without so much as a farewell in her direction, and she followed me all the way here to Lenore! And yesterday, when I told her flatly that you were my lover, she told me I’d been bewitched and that she would reclaim me from your evil claws if it was the last thing she did!”

  Viola turned several shades of red. “I’m not your lover!” she cried.

  “Laelia doesn’t know that,” he replied. “I did take some liberties with that statement—”

  “Some liberties?”

  “—but it didn’t even faze her! I was certain that if I had someone else—someone she hadn’t grown up with like the rest of the girls in the village, whom she bosses around like her personal minions—that she might actually give up. I’m nearly at my wits’ end with the whole business, Viola!”

  She wondered if she had ever seen him so impassioned about anything before. Indeed, she wasn’t sure she had ever even suspected him of possessing such strong, straightforward emotions as this. From the time she had met him, he had always seemed so carefree and yet so unreadable, as though there were some invisible wall that kept him somehow separate from the rest of the world.