Lady Alma

by A. G. Marshall

  Ethan’s face turned bright red.

  “I hope you don’t think- I mean, I didn’t know when I gave you the rose. I thought it was your birthday. I mean, I like you, but-”

  I laughed.

  “I know you weren’t proposing, Ethan.”

  He let out his breath in a low whistle.

  “Thank goodness. I guess I need to be more careful. I tried to learn about Castana before I came here, but no one in Salaria knows much about you.”

  “And I don’t know much about Salaria. We haven’t really had contact since-”

  I paused. The war was over, but it still felt awkward to talk about it. Especially with a Salarian.

  Ethan seemed to understand.

  “This treaty will fix that, right?” he said. “We can be friends. I have lots of questions about Castana, and I can tell you all about Salaria later.”

  “Why not now?”

  “Well, our dance is over.”

  “Oh.”

  I looked up. The music had stopped. Other couples bowed to each other.

  Ethan released my hand and grinned at me.

  “It was nice to meet you, Alma.”

  I grinned back. His enthusiasm was contagious.

  “Welcome to Castana, Ethan.”

  As soon as Ethan walked away, a middle-aged don with an enormous beard bowed and took my hand. He didn’t give me a Rosas Rojas, but I was too distracted by his beard to wonder why. It was curled into ringlets that bounced as he danced.

  “Don Francisco at your service, miss,” he said.

  “Alma. I’m Alma.”

  I was running out of clever responses, but he didn’t seem to care.

  “Your estate is in the Merchant District?” he asked.

  I nodded. They were getting less subtle. Tía Teresa and I needed to rethink our strategy. Catching a noble husband with my money had seemed like a good idea, but it was turning out to be annoying.

  Besides, Don Francisco was too old for me and hadn’t given me a Rosas Rojas.

  “And you have a carriage, Alma? And three gardens?”

  He asked about our property the whole time we danced. Did we have genuine porcelain dishes? Was our chandelier really made of gold? Did we hire the Garden Guild to keep our gardens blooming in the winter?

  Of course. Yes to all questions.

  How dull.

  I normally enjoyed dancing, but I would have given anything to sit now. I watched Mirella and Carlo sip punch in a corner. Neither looked happy. Mirella caught my eye and grimaced. Rosa sat across the room, still reading the book hidden in her lap.

  I never got a break. It seemed the line of honor had no end. Some of the dons didn’t give me a Rosas Rojas, but most did. Thank goodness Tía Teresa had showed me how to attach them to my skirt. There was no way I could have carried them all.

  I curtsied deeply when the next don asked me to dance. I kept my eyes down longer than necessary, stalling for time. My feet hurt so much! I needed to ask Tía Teresa to look for fairy enchanted shoes in the Dark Market. The corset was so comfortable that I was willing to break guild rules to find other available fairy magic.

  The don didn’t offer me a Rosas Rojas. That was for the best. My skirt was running out of room. Finally, I could delay no longer and looked up.

  “Oh! Prince Lorenzo!”

  Chapter 7

  The prince gave me a dazzling smile. He was even more handsome than I remembered.

  Which was ridiculous because I remembered him being very handsome.

  “I seem to have started a trend.”

  He gestured to my skirt, which was so covered with Rosas Rojas that it looked more like a garden than Rosa’s ruffled dress.

  “Indeed you have.”

  “Would you like to dance or would you rather have refreshments?”

  “Refreshments, please!”

  He laughed at my enthusiasm and waved to a servant. The man brought us glasses of punch, and Lorenzo led me through a set of doors to a balcony. A few other couples stood talking, but they hurried back to the ballroom when they saw us.

  I raised an eyebrow at Lorenzo.

  “Prince’s privilege,” he said, winking at me.

  I sipped the punch and inhaled the cool night air. Below us, a rose garden stretched around the palace. Most were red, but there was a patch of yellow roses near the balcony. I adjusted the flower in my hair and smiled. Had Ethan climbed down there to fetch a rose for me?

  “I’m sorry we haven’t spent more time together tonight, Alma,” Prince Lorenzo said. “The Salarians have taken most of my attention.”

  “I understand. You can’t neglect your duties to the delegation.”

  Did he really want to spend time with me? It seemed too good to be true. I tried not to stare at his handsome face, but he looked angelic in the moonlight. Absolutely perfect.

  He focused on the rose garden, deep in thought. I swallowed and gathered my courage. What I was about to do wasn’t proper. Not even a little bit. But I couldn’t wait any longer.

  “Your Highness, you began to say something earlier. Something about a delicate matter?”

  A hint of a smile curled his lips.

  “I did, didn’t I?”

  And then he was silent again. Was he trying to torment me? Maybe Carlo was right. Maybe the prince was playing a game.

  Finally, Lorenzo turned his head and met my gaze.

  “Alma, can I trust you?”

  I blinked.

  “Your Highness?”

  “I need help, Alma, and I think you could help me.”

  I swallowed. He looked completely serious.

  “I am happy to help however I can.”

  “I expected you would be, but then, most Castanians would. Are you willing to take an oath, Alma?”

  He held his hand towards me, and I stepped back. Oaths were for soldiers and guild leaders. Not for underage girls. Not even for dons and donnas.

  “What kind of oath?”

  My voice shook as I said it. He frowned.

  “I’m sorry if I scared you. I need help in a delicate matter, Alma. You won’t be in any danger. I just need your promise of secrecy and discretion.”

  “Why me? You don’t even know me.”

  “You seem uniquely qualified.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  He smiled.

  “For one thing, you aren’t afraid to speak your mind. It takes a certain level of confidence to make faces at a prince.”

  I laughed and wrinkled my nose. He wrinkled his in return and offered his hand again.

  Well, what did I have to lose? I met his gaze and put my hand in his.

  “I swear my loyalty to Prince Lorenzo and Castana. I will keep your secrets and be discrete.”

  My heart pounded. An oath to the crown was not to be taken lightly. I hoped I hadn’t just made a huge mistake.

  Lorenzo tightened his grip on my hand.

  “Thank you, Alma. In return, I swear to keep you safe and provide the crown’s protection if you need it.”

  I blinked. I hadn’t expected him to make an oath in return.

  Lorenzo released me and glanced around the balcony to make sure we were still alone. Of course we were. Who would dare to interrupt the prince?

  “Alma, I want you to be my spy.”

  “What?”

  My voice echoed through the garden. Of all the things I expected him to ask, this had not crossed my mind.

  Lorenzo leaned close and lowered his voice.

  “The treaty with Salaria is my King’s Trial.”

  “Truly?”

  “Father tried to switch it. There’s a minor disagreement with the northern wine makers that needs to be settled. The Wine Guild requested royal oversight just an hour after we received the Salarian’s message. But the Legal Guild found out. They said switching the treaties would undermine centuries of tradition. So here I am.”

  “Lorenzo, that’s- I don’t know what to say.”

  His e
xpression was difficult to read.

  “It is unprecedented. They’ll announce it later tonight.”

  I smoothed my skirt, trying to form my racing thoughts into something worth saying.

  “The young Salarian is nice,” I said finally. “Ethan. Maybe they won’t be hard to negotiate with.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Then again, they did scare the fairies out of their country.”

  “So much depends on this,” Lorenzo said. “That’s why I need your help. If we were to go to war again- If it were my fault, I could never forgive myself.”

  “Forgive me for questioning your judgement, Your Highness, but what do you possibly think I can do to help you?”

  Instead of answering, Lorenzo stared down at the garden.

  “Did you see that?” he whispered. “I think there’s someone down there.”

  I stood on tiptoe and leaned against the railing to get a better look. It was difficult to tell in the moonlight, but I thought I saw a man’s figure outlined amongst the rosebushes.

  I leaned further over the balcony, straining to see. My tired legs finally gave out, and I tumbled over the railing.

  “Alma!”

  Prince Lorenzo grabbed my skirt to keep me from falling into the garden. I dangled over the edge, and my knuckles smashed against the stone. I winced. That would probably bruise.

  From my new vantage point, I had a perfect view of a shadowy figure running through the gardens. Lorenzo pulled me back onto the balcony and held me up since my legs were still wobbly.

  “There was someone there,” I said.

  My voice shook, and Lorenzo turned me so I faced him. He kept his hands on my waist to hold me steady.

  “Alma, are you alright?”

  “Shouldn’t you send guards to catch him?”

  “He’s gone already. Are you hurt?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Alma.”

  The seriousness in his tone caught me off guard, as did the concern in his eyes.

  “Truly, Your Highness, I’m fine. Just a bruised knuckle.”

  I held up my hand. My knuckles were already swelling, but the skin wasn’t broken. Lorenzo frowned.

  “Perhaps this was a mistake,” he said. “You’ve been helping me for five minutes and already injured yourself.”

  “To be fair, that could have happened when I was with anyone.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “It was an accident,” I said. “I’m tired from dancing so much and my legs collapsed. That wasn’t your fault.”

  “The excessive dancing is partly my fault. Are you sure you want to help me, Alma? It isn’t fair of me to put you in danger.”

  “It isn’t fair of the Legal Guild to put you in this position.”

  “Don’t say that too loudly,” Lorenzo said. “My father agreed with them in the end, and he hasn’t left yet.”

  “He’s actually leaving then? It will be a full King’s Trial?”

  “He, my mother, and my siblings are going to the Wine District until the treaty is finalized. He’ll settle the wine dispute, and I’ll be acting king until we reach an agreement with the Salarians.”

  “So what do you want me to do?”

  “You’re sure about this?”

  I nodded. He released his grip on my waist and stepped back.

  “I want you to listen and tell me what you hear. You have connections to both the guilds and nobility. Your father is the Castanian with the closest ties to Salaria. You’re in the perfect position to gather information.”

  “I don’t-”

  “You’ve already befriended Ethan.”

  He gestured to the yellow rose in my hair. I shrugged.

  “No one tells me anything important.”

  “Have you ever asked?”

  I shook my head. Mirella and I threw pillows at Carlo if he tried to talk about guild business. Could I get important information from him if I simply listened?

  “You convinced servants to promote you to every eligible don without stepping foot in the castle yourself. It’s two weeks before your quince, and you’ve collected more Rosas Rojas than any donna tonight. You have more influence than you realize.”

  “That was nothing.”

  To be more precise, it was Tía Teresa. Lorenzo shook his head.

  “Don’t underestimate yourself, Alma. Your friend Mirella is of age, and she hasn’t received a single Rosas Rojas. Your planning and connections have paid off.”

  I blinked. He was right. Mirella’s family was as wealthy as mine, but she hadn’t been successful tonight. Tía Teresa had done well.

  “Lorenzo, it wasn’t me.”

  “I’m not asking you to do anything risky, Alma. I just want you to pay attention. Ask questions when you’re dancing with dons and chatting with Salarians. Let me know if you discover something interesting. Can you do that?”

  “Of course, but what exactly are you hoping I’ll hear?”

  Trumpet fanfare interrupted me. A footman ran out to the balcony and gestured for us to come inside.

  “By the roses!” Lorenzo said. “I’m sorry, I have to go. We’ll talk more in a moment.”

  He ran after the footman.

  I grabbed our punch glasses and followed him inside. I handed them to a servant in the ballroom and pushed into the crowd.

  Everyone stood in a circle around the throne. I elbowed my way past as many nobles as I could, less worried about being polite than missing something important. If I was going to help the prince, I needed to be informed. King Benicio had already begun his speech. Lorenzo stood next to his father on the royal dais, giving the king his full attention.

  “As is our longstanding tradition, the heir to the throne must complete a King’s Trial by negotiating the first legal dispute filed after he comes of age. This will allow him to prove himself worthy as the next king. I leave for the Wine District in the morning. Prince Lorenzo will finish negotiations with the Salarian ambassadors.”

  The crowd murmured in surprise.

  “Much consideration has gone into this decision,” King Benicio said. “Peace with Salaria is not something we take lightly, but tradition must be upheld. The Legal Guild and I agree that my heir must prove himself. Queen Evetta and the rest of our children will accompany me on my journey to the Wine District. Prince Lorenzo must complete or fail his King’s Trial on his own.”

  Whispered protests behind me drew my attention. Martina and Rafael were having a frenzied conversation near the back of the crowd. Carlo put his hand on his mother’s shoulder, trying to calm her. She pushed him away.

  Fortunately, Mirella had found a place across the room. Her parent’s behavior could ruin her chance at securing a dance partner for the final dance, so it was best if she kept her distance. Several donnas stood nearby, watching the family drama with interest.

  King Benicio gestured to the musicians, and they played a fanfare to announce the final dance. Prince Lorenzo walked towards me.

  Carlo reached me first.

  “Dance with me, Alma,” he said. “Take my hand and dance with me. Please.”

  I shook my head. Carlo grabbed my shoulder and whirled me around, forcing me to look into his eyes.

  “He’s toying with you, Alma. You think he’ll keep his word? You think he’s actually interested in you?”

  “He hasn’t made me any promises.”

  Even if I wanted to explain the situation to Carlo, my oath forbid it. I shook out of his grasp and walked to Prince Lorenzo. I grabbed his hand and winced when his fingers closed over my bruised knuckles. He held my hand to his lips and frowned at the injury.

  “I knew there would be some risk involved for you, but I didn’t expect you’d be hurt five minutes after I asked for your help. Promise me you’ll be careful, Alma.”

  “You mean I shouldn’t jump off balconies to pursue spies hiding in rose gardens?”

  I winked at him, and he laughed. Carlo, who was dancing the final dance with Mirella, br
ushed past us and scowled.

  Poor Mirella! Her parents’ argument had scared the dons so badly that none of them had asked her to dance!

  “Alma, who is that?” Lorenzo asked. “If you have an understanding with him, I can put him under oath and explain the situation so he won’t be jealous of our spending time together.”

  “I don’t have an understanding with anyone. That’s just my neighbor.”

  The last dance of the evening, and I was dancing it with the prince. I smiled up at him. He still looked worried.

  “So what sorts of things should I ask about?” I asked. “What information would be useful?”

  “The Salarians-”

  The magical lights in the ballroom flickered and turned red, casting an eerie glow over the party. The musicians stopped playing, and frantic whispers drifted from the crowd. Lorenzo pulled me close to him. Light Guild masters waved their arms to restore the lights, but the color didn’t change back.

  “Finish the dance,” Lorenzo whispered in my ear. “The guilds will consider it bad luck for the treaty if we don’t finish the dance.”

  He twirled me back into his arms and nodded to the orchestra. The musicians resumed their song, slightly out of rhythm with each other. Lorenzo’s mouth was a grim line across his face. He was worried, and that worried me. He trusted me to help him. That was more responsibility than I’d ever had.

  I took a deep breath.

  It was easy.

  Too easy.

  I looked down and gasped. The seams of my bodice were strained. My corset was loose! Had the laces come untied? Was the fairy magic failing?

  I looked up at Lorenzo’s face. Had he noticed? It would be so embarrassing to have the prince notice my corset.

  He hadn’t. He was distracted by the lights, which the Light Guild had finally restored to a normal color.

  That was alright then. I would finish the dance and have Mirella help me tighten the corset afterwards. I sighed in relief and inhaled.

  At least, I tried to inhale. The corset stopped me. It was too tight now.

  I kept dancing. I had dealt with tight corsets before.

  The corset loosened, and I gasped for air before it tightened again. I leaned on Lorenzo and focused on dancing. We must finish the dance. I was already exhausted, and the struggle to breathe wasn’t helping.