A Royal Embarrassment

by Emma Lea

  I waited for Caroline to reply, but there was only silence.

  "Caroline?"

  "Oh…um, no. Not Caroline. It's Savannah."

  Savannah? My head pounded and I couldn't understand who Savannah was and why she was in my room.

  "It's Savannah Rousseau. One of the queen’s ladies in waiting."

  It hadn't been a dream. I really had caught Caroline and Chase together. I really had run away from home.

  I tried to get up but the sharp pain in my head made me fall back to the pillow with a moan.

  "Don't try to move," Savannah said. "You hit your head pretty badly.”

  I lifted my hands to my face and gingerly probed my forehead.

  "What happened?"

  "Mistborn threw you."

  "He got spooked. There was a… boy."

  Savannah didn't answer straight away. I opened my eyes but the room was still dark and I couldn't see her face.

  "There was a boy, wasn't there?"

  "Yes," she replied softly. “He’s my son. Archer.”

  That didn't make sense. I’d been at the palace for nearly two years and I’d never seen Savannah with a child…any child.

  “He’s your son?"

  "Yes," she replied her voice almost a whisper.

  The memory of riding Mistborn through the forest and seeing the boy with the kite came back to me. How did I get from the forest to here? And where was here exactly?

  "Where am I?"

  "You're in one of the hunting cabins."

  "How did I get here?"

  "My… I dragged you here."

  "What were you doing out here?" I asked.

  "Is he awake yet?" Another voice said.

  "Shh.”

  "Who is that?" This time I opened my eyes and focused on her face. I could see her bite her lip as she slightly turned her head to look over her shoulder. There was someone standing just outside the door.

  "Is that your son?"

  "No," she said.

  "Savannah," I said gently, "you're going to have to tell me."

  She sighed. It was a heavy sigh as if the weight of the world was on the shoulders.

  "Do you promise not to tell?"

  "Savannah," I said with a sigh, "I can't promise that."

  "Then I can't tell you."

  "I'm going to find out anyway."

  "Not necessarily."

  I grinned. It felt weird on my face. I couldn't remember the last time I smiled. I didn't have very much to smile about these days.

  “You have to promise not to tell," she pleaded with me.

  I don't know why, but something in the way she spoke made me want to keep her secret. I’d had my fill of secrets and promised myself never to keep another one but this wasn't exactly my secret to tell.

  "I promise," I said.

  She took a deep breath. "That was my papa. He looks after Archer.”

  "And the palace doesn't know." It was a statement, not a question. I didn't need to ask because her need for secrecy made it obvious that no one knew about her father or her son.

  "No."

  "So…are they living here?"

  Savannah sucked in a breath and nodded her head. "There's nowhere else for them to go."

  "Doesn't your father have his own place?"

  "No," she said.

  Getting information out of her was like pulling hen’s teeth.

  "Come on Savannah," I said, "you need to give me something."

  She huffed out a sigh. "Fine," she said, her frustration clear. "My papa and my baby came with me when the queen summoned me. They had nowhere else to go. I've been trying to get them a place in town, but it would mean not being able to see Archer regularly."

  "Why not just tell the queen? From what I've heard, she’s very reasonable about things like this."

  Savannah scoffed. "I don't think she would be very impressed if she found out that one of her ladies in waiting had a child out of wedlock. I would be a royal embarrassment. And I would be fired."

  I didn't really know the queen very well. I could imagine that something like that might jeopardise Savannah’s job in palace within the queen's retinue. I reached out a hand and laid it on hers, unprepared for the spark that arced between us. She pulled her hand away and rubbed it with her other hand.

  "I won't tell," I said. "But you have to promise me that you'll find a better place for them to stay. I can't keep this secret forever and in fact, I'm pretty amazed that Benjamin hasn't already found out about it.” Why hadn’t the queen’s security discovered her father and her son? They had done a thorough background check on me before I was even allowed on the palace grounds.

  "Thank you," she said. She stood and wrung her hands in front of her before taking another deep breath. "Can I get you anything? A cold drink, a cup of tea?"

  "What time is?" I asked as I tried to lever myself up to a sitting position. The pain stabbed behind my eyeballs again but I battled through it until I was upright, and sucked in a deep breath. "Cliff will be wondering where I am."

  "It's just gone eight," Savannah said and then bit her lip. "I need to head back to the castle before they miss me at breakfast."

  "I'll come with you."

  "No," she said. "You shouldn't move."

  "I'll be fine," I said. "I need to get Mistborn back to the stable." I twisted my head around looking for a window or some indication of where Mistborn might be and groaned in pain. I hissed out a breath until the pain subsided. "Where is Mistborn?"

  "He’s outside," Savannah said. "He followed us here."

  "He didn't bolt?"

  "It was strange," she said. "He followed Archer meekly, like a puppy."

  That had me pushing up to my feet even though the pain tried to keep me down. Mistborn was not a horse that should be left alone around a young boy.

  "Whoa, hold up there cowboy," said Savannah, her French accent giving the words an exotic twist. "Take it easy. You're injured."

  "I've had worse," I said. "I really need to get back."

  Savannah looked at me critically and then nodded slowly. "Okay," she replied.

  Savannah

  I watched Jed lurch across the room. He really shouldn't be moving but what choice did I have? If I called for the doctor to come to him my secret would be out. There was no other way.

  He leant on the doorjamb for a moment and I found myself going to him in laying a hand on his shoulder. He stiffened under my palm and I withdrew my hand.

  "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked.

  "Yeah," he breathed.

  He gathered himself and stood, pushing off the doorjamb and heading into the combined living area of the cabin. Papa stood as Jed entered the room.

  "You've got some colour back I see," Papa said. "I was worried about you, son."

  "Ah, thanks?"

  "Jed I'd like to introduce you to my father," I said. "This is Mathieu Rousseau. Papa this is Jed… I'm sorry," I said turning my gaze to Jed. "I don't know your last name."

  "Fairchild. Jed Fairchild," Jed said as he held out his hand for Father to shake.

  “Where’s Archer?" I asked, looking around the room.

  "He's outside," Papa said.

  "WHAT!"

  Papa made a settling motion with his hands. "Calm down ma chéri," he said. "He's fine."

  I rushed to the front door and swung it open. Archer was sitting on the steps watching the big brute of a horse as it stood quietly by.

  "Well I'll be," Jed said quietly from behind me.

  "Archer honey," I called softly. "Come inside. Maman needs to go."

  He stood to his feet and turned to me with a pout on his lips. "But Maman," he whined. "I'm watching the horse."

  "The horse has to go now too,” I said.

  Mistborn eyed me suspiciously. I didn't trust him. He was a giant next to my baby and could crush him under one foot…hoof…whatever. He was a mean horse and I didn't like him. I didn't think he liked me either.

  Archer looked up at Jed. "C
an I come and visit him sometime?"

  "Only if it's okay with your mother," Jed said looking at me.

  "I'll think about it," I said. "Now come and give Maman a kiss so I can go to work."

  Archer bounced on his toes as he wrapped his arms around my legs. "Bye Maman," he said.

  I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. He was growing up so fast. I felt like I was missing out on half of his life, but I had to work. Papa may have been a titled lord, but he was flat broke. I had been supporting us since before Archer was born. The likelihood of Papa getting a job any time soon was a pipe dream. He had never worked a day in his life, and he had no intention of starting now.

  “Can I give you a ride back to the palace?" Jed asked.

  "On that?"

  Jed chuckled. "I'm sure he can carry us both."

  "I'll be alright," I said.

  "Please," Jed said, "it's the least I can do.”

  "I can walk," I said. I didn't have anything against horses per se, I just preferred my own two legs.

  "You'll be late for work," Papa said.

  I checked the watch on my wrist. He was right. It would take me at least half an hour to walk back to the palace and only if I rushed.

  "I promise he won't hurt you," Jed said. "I'll keep you safe."

  I bit my lip and looked between the horse and Jed. The horse glared back at me but the half smile on Jed's face made me give in.

  "Okay," I said hesitantly.

  Jed grinned. My breath caught in my throat. His smile changed his face. He’d always seemed stern and quiet, but his smile made me think there was more to him.

  Jed walked carefully down the stairs and reached for Mistborn’s bridal. The horse tossed his head and pawed at the ground. I took a step back involuntarily.

  "I think I’ve changed my mind," I said.

  "Don't let him win," Jed said, shooting me a grin over his shoulder. “You've got to show him who’s boss."

  "Why do I have to do that today?"

  Jed chuckled. "No time like the present," he said. "Come on. It'll be dinnertime before we get there at this rate."

  I huffed and took a cautious step forward toward the horse. Mistborn snorted and tossed his head again. Jed made a shushing noise and patted the big brute on his neck which seemed to calm the horse.

  "Do you know how to mount?" Jed asked.

  "Of course I do," I said. "He's just…a bit bigger than I'm used to."

  Jed hid his smile behind his hand. "Let me help you," he said, holding out his hand to me.

  I looked at his hand and then looked into his eyes. For some reason I trusted him. I had no reason to, but there was just something about him that made me feel safe when he was near. He was the only one who could ride Mistborn. If I couldn't trust him to get me to the palace safely than who could I trust?

  I placed my hand in his and the warmth of it tingled up my arm. He pulled me close so that I stood between him and the horse. The horse shifted and I stepped back, my back coming into contact with Jed’s chest. I could feel the heat of his body through his clothes and I felt my cheeks burn.

  "Easy," he whispered in my ear. His warm breath on my neck gave me goosebumps.

  He helped me up into the saddle and then climbed up behind me. He was pressed against my back and I suppressed a shiver at the contact. I hadn't been this close to a man since David, and look how that had turned out.

  “Okay?" Jed asked.

  "Okay," I breathed.

  Jed clucked his tongue and Mistborn began to move. I squeezed my eyes shut and held onto the saddle, praying I would get to the palace in one piece.

  Chapter 2

  Jed

  Savannah slid from the saddle even before Mistborn came to a stop in the stable yard. Riding home with her sitting in front of me had been sweet torture. I’d never paid much attention to the blonde-haired, blue-eyed French girl before, but one short horse ride together and my nose was full with her scent and the memory of her back pressed against my chest was imprinted on my skin.

  She came to a stop just outside the gate and turned to me.

  “Thanks,” she said, her brows furrowed. I thought she wanted to say more, but instead she just turned on her heel and ran for the palace.

  I sat on the horse, staring after her until Mistborn became impatient and shifted under me, tossing his head.

  “Yeah, okay,” I said, sliding from the saddle. “You want your breakfast.”

  I led him toward the stable and was met by a young stable boy, Connor.

  “You want me to give him a rub down?” Connor asked, his eyes as big as saucers.

  The kid was fourteen and he was the son of one of the other stablehands. He helped out before and after school and during the holiday break. He was good with the horses, but even he knew to stay away from Mistborn. The mad Arabian had bitten his fair share of stablehands to make them all wary of him.

  “Nah,” I said, sliding my hand over Mistborn’s neck. “I’ll take care of it.”

  He nodded eagerly and scurried away and I had to hold back my grin. Cliff had probably sent him out, no way did that kid want anything to do with this particular horse.

  Mistborn tossed his head and snorted in a way that I swore was a chuckle. I was convinced the horse got a perverted sort of joy out of scaring people off. We had that in common, which was probably why his scare tactics didn’t work on me.

  “Come on,” I said, leading him into the stables toward his box. “Let’s get you out of this saddle and put something in your belly.”

  Mistborn had long ago stopped fighting with me. We’d had our moments, both of us as stubborn as the other, and somehow we’d found an easy companionship. I wouldn’t exactly say we were friends—and yes, horses can be friends—but he tolerated me and I returned the favour.

  His stall was at the far end of the long stable, away from the other horses. Even as we walked past, the other horses turned away from him. He’d not only had a run in with each of the stablehands at one time or another, he’d also let his stablemates know that he wasn’t to be trifled with. Whoever had owned him before had hurt him. I knew the feeling. It was easier to push everyone away than to risk getting hurt again.

  “What say, Jed?” Cliff asked, meeting me at Mistborn’s stall. “Looks like a nasty cut on your head.”

  I raised my hand to where my head still throbbed, momentarily forgetting about my earlier fall. Having Savannah sit in front of me as we crossed the fields toward the palace had made me forget the earlier accident.

  “Had a fall,” I said while I attached the cross-ties to Mistborn’s halter.

  “Probably should get the doc to look at that.”

  I nodded, not looking at Cliff but feeling his eyes bore into me.

  “Saw you come in with Lady Savannah.”

  “Yep,” I replied, pulling the saddle from Mistborn’s back and carrying it to the hook in the tack room. I grabbed a curry comb on my way back and started brushing down Mistborn.

  “She was out early,” he said.

  I shot a look over to where he leaned casually against the stall door. I wasn’t going to get rid of him without giving him some information. I sighed and Mistborn blew out a huff as if in agreement with me.

  “Luckily for me,” I said. “She was the one who found me. If not for her, I might still be out there freezing my toes off.”

  “He threw you?” Cliff asked, tossing his head toward Mistborn.

  “He got spooked,” I replied, giving the horse a reassuring pat. “It wasn’t intentional.”

  “This time,” Cliff growled.

  Cliff was not a fan and barely even addressed the horse by his name. I understood his issue with the stallion, but for whatever reason, I liked Mistborn, even if he was stubborn and cantankerous.

  “Make sure you get the doc to take a look at that,” Cliff said before ambling away.

  I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. I would go into town and see the doctor but only because I knew that if I
didn’t, Cliff would make the doc come out here and that wasn’t worth the hassle. The doctor attending to the palace for any reason was always an opportunity for the press to speculate about the queen and he knew right now the entire capital was on baby watch. There were almost daily reports saying ‘a source close to the queen’ had confirmed that ‘a new arrival’ was imminent. I would never understand why people took so much interest in the breeding of other humans. Now, if it were a brood mare then that would be a different story.

  Mistborn pawed the ground and the side of my mouth ticked up in a grin. I shook my head at myself. I couldn’t remember smiling so much since before—

  I tossed the curry comb into the bucket, stopping that train of thought before it even left the station. My life didn’t exist before coming to Merveille. Or more accurately, there was nothing in my former life that I wanted to remember. That wasn’t exactly true either. I sighed and unhooked Mistborn from the cross ties. Everything in my life previous to moving to Merveille was all tied up to one particularly painful incident and it was just easier to pretend that there was nothing before stepping off the plane into a European country I had never even heard of previously.

  Mistborn nudged my hand and I got the hint. He was hungry and with an answering rumble in my own stomach, I realised I was too.

  “Hang tight,” I said to the horse. “Breakfast will be right out.”

  Savannah

  I stopped outside the entrance to the dining room and smoothed my hair. I took a moment to catch my breath and checked myself over for any stray animal hairs or pieces of forest. Convinced I was suitably put together, I entered the room with my nose in the air. It was one of my tricks. Fake it until you make it. People thought I was aloof. Good. They thought I was arrogant and persnickety? Excellent. They thought me prickly? Even better. As much as I loved the queen and the other ladies in waiting, I couldn’t afford to let them get too close. I had too many secrets.

  “You’re late,” the queen said, lifting her eyes to me as I entered.

  “I apologise,” I said, making my way to the buffet to fill a plate.