A Tale of Two Princesses (24 page)

     "Would offend her, sir," Wellington jumped in. "A floor skirt would be most appropriate."

     "Yes, all right," Court said. "But do give it a beautiful neckline."

     "Colors, sir?" the tailor asked.

     "Hmm, indeed. Red—"

     "Red is the color of a wanton woman, your highness," Wellington said.

     Court rolled his eyes. "Lavender?"

     "Better, your highness," Wellington said.

     "Size?" the tailor said.

     "Oh, I don't know. Petite."

     "Petite with a few pounds, your highness," Wellington added.

     "Very good," the tailor said.

     "You'll have it done by the evening?" Court asked.

     "I shall put all projects aside to make it so."

     "Excellent. Deliver it to the castle with my compliments."

     "Yes, sir."

     "Now, I believe I'll also need something for myself."

     The tailor looked nervous. "Your highness, I could not possibly finish both a dress and a suit in the same day."

     "Something premade is quite acceptable."

     "Excellent, your highness."

     Court perused the other side of the store, looking at the mannequins. He decided on a white shirt with a blue vest and blue pants. The tailor took his measurements afterward, promising him it would be altered properly by this evening.

     "If you need anything else, your highness, do stop by," the tailor said.

     "Wellington, pay the man," Court said as he headed toward the door, but then he paused. He saw a silk dress hanging on a mannequin, white with a black bust line. He touched it, feeling the fabric. "Tailor?"

     "Sir?"

     "Wrap this up for me as well. Wellington, take care of it?"

     "Yes, sir," Wellington said. "But whatever for?"

     "The stable girl."

     "You're buying the prostitute a dress?"

     "She's not a prostitute, Wellington. She's a poor girl who has lived a rather difficult life. She's been kind to me and I would like to thank her."

     "Very well, sir."

* * *

     Vrine was chanting over her caldron. It bubbled as she waved her hands above it. She cast in a strand of Sienna's hair and the liquid flashed, turning green. She scooped some up with a ladle and splashed it across a tall mirror, the concoction running down the glass.

     "Mirror, mirror, reveal to me the one I seek,

     "The face of the king's child, her spirit, oh, so meek."

     The green liquid turned clear, and in it, she saw Sienna on the floor, the prince helping her clean up broken eggs. He reached out to her, touching her chin, lifting her jaw, his lips whispering to her.

     Vrine ground her teeth. "Oh, you miserable bastard of a child. You have annoyed me long enough. You will not take the prince's heart from the princess. I shall see to that."

     She went to her bookshelf, pushing aside the jars to pull out one in the back. She ripped off the cork and dumped the contents into the cauldron. Then she picked up a teacup, Court's teacup, and tossed it in. It simmered for a moment, and then she scooped up the liquid with the ladle, throwing it on the mirror.

     "Mirror, mirror, reveal to me the one I seek,

     "The dragon's lair, havoc will he wreak!"

     The dragon appeared in the liquid, his yellow eyes weary, his silver blood dripping from his back, his tail bleeding.

     "Dragon! Wake again and do take flight!

     "For you have work to do this very night!

     "A new order for you, do I command.

     "Let the prince bare witness to her death by your hand!"

* * *

     "A dress?" Celeste said, pulling out the long, lavender dress from the box, an embroidered lilac along its length. "It's ghastly!"

     "Come now, princess," Betilly said. "Tis a sweet thing he has done. He wishes you to wear it tonight, I'm sure."

     "He wishes me to dress as a commoner! I do not wear such things!"

     "Princess, you only need to wear it for him, and only for the night," Betilly said.

     "He has sent it to mock me."

     A knock sounded and Betilly hurried to open the door. Vrine entered, bowing her head to the princess before turning back to the door, bowing again as the queen came in.

     "Princess," the queen said. "I understand a gift was sent to you."

     Celeste held it up. "A dress! He sent me a dress, a tacky, silky, mess of a dress, made by that common tailor in town."

     The queen came forward, touching the material. "What a thoughtful gift."

     "Mother, he wishes to dress me as a commoner!"

     "He wishes to dress you as a woman, not a child," the queen said, turning her eyes on her daughter. "It is a dress a man wishes to see on a woman, to see her form. You will wear it for him tonight."

     "I will not," Celeste said. "I will not have him gawking at me as I wear this ridiculous thing."

     "You will wear it and you will have dinner with him, alone."

     "You said it would be a public dinner."

     "Your plans have changed. I will welcome him and then dismiss myself."

     "I don't approve of this, Mother."

     The queen touched her daughter's cheek. "I did not ask you if you approved."

     And then the queen began coughing, for so hard and so long she was forced to sit down. Vrine was at her side, offering her a potion, which she took and began sipping. Celeste waited, just watching.

     "Better, Mother?"

     "I will be better once my only child is wed to the prince."

* * *

     Court was escorted to the roof of the south wing. The ocean was the only sound here, the sky dark as the sun dipped down in the horizon. A warm summer breeze was on his skin, inviting him to take it into his lungs. A table had been prepared with just two chairs, a candle between the plates, flickering as the wind teased it. Betilly was standing nearby. She bowed to him as he approached.

     "Welcome, your highness," she said.

     "Good evening, Betilly. What's all this? The queen said Celeste wanted to see me alone."

     "Indeed, sir. The princess has asked to dine with you in private this evening, out here in the gallery."

     Court smiled. "Excellent."

     "She will be here momentarily. Would you care for some wine, sir?"

     "Please," he said.

     Betilly poured it and Court took the glass, sipping as he waited. He turned back to the archway. Wellington was waiting off to the side, his usual stiff self. He looked to Court, as if asking if he required something. Court shook his head. He set his glass down, growing anxious.

     And then Celeste appeared from the archway, taller than her normal stature. The silky, lavender dress hung from her body over two shoulder straps, hugging her breasts and curving around her hips, melting down to her feet, where he saw the tips of matching shoes peeking out. Her golden hair was up tonight, wrapped in bulk above her head. Brilliant purple gemstones decorated her ears, with a matching necklace around her throat.

     "Good evening, Prince Cross."

     "Good evening, Princess Celeste." He met her halfway across the gallery, reaching out for her. She surrendered her hand and he kissed it. "May I say how beautiful you look tonight?"

     "I should hope so," she said. "You did dress me."

     "And you wear the dress with unequalled beauty."

     She smirked. "Thank you. In truth, your gift was not well received."

     "It wasn't?" he said, squinting. "Why ever not?"

     "I do not ordinarily wear such...revealing clothing. I rather feel like a commoner."

     "There is nothing common about you, Celeste."

     "Indeed not," she said.

     He led her to the table, pulling out her chair, pushing it in when she sat. He hurried to sit across from her. Betilly poured the wine. Court was staring into Celeste's eyes.

     "I am so pleased you invited me here alone."

     "Oh, are you?"

     "Yes," he said. "I do want to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I acted as a savage. I can only beg your leave. I was overcome." He looked up at Betilly. "May we have a few moments alone?"

     "Yes, your highness. I will fetch your appetizers," Betilly said, bowing before leaving.

     Court glanced at Wellington, shooing him away with his hand. Wellington bowed his head and left through the archway. Court took his chair and pulled it to Celeste's side. Celeste looked shocked, as if she had no idea a chair could be moved. Court took her hand.

     "Celeste..."

     "Prince Cross, please..."

     "Celeste, I am so struck with you. I keep imagining I will overcome these feelings, that they are an infatuation, but the more I reflect on our night together, the deeper my feelings grow."

     She narrowed her eyes. "Our night together? You mean the ball?"

     "Yes."

     "Do tell me, Prince Cross," she said, taking her hand from his, "whatever did I do that so won you that night? For even I am surprised my behavior so enchanted you."

     "It was the wonder in your voice," he said earnestly. "The simple way you spoke. Your mannerisms. Your playfulness. Your free spirit. Your laugh, the laugh I am hoping to hear again. I do not know why you withhold it now, but I swear to you, if you are demure only for my sake, dismiss it and allow yourself to be at ease with me. I desire nothing from you but to let yourself be yourself, and I will accept it."

     "Prince Cross...Court."

     "Yes, Celeste?" he said, his voice picking up in excitement.

     Celeste's hand slipped up to his jaw, over his ear, stroking his hair. With her other hand, she waved someone away. Court glanced over to see Betilly and Wellington disappear back down the stairs.

     "Court," she said, "I do believe you have fallen in love with me."

     He took her hand, holding it. "I have, Celeste. I love you like a man on fire, running into the mere, wishing to drown himself so this desire might be quenched. And if I could but hear those words echoed in your voice, I would be a man who had fulfilled more in one lifetime than an army had in a thousand."

     "My love is all you require?" she asked.

     "It is all there is."

     "Court, do you know why I refused your proposal?"

     "No, and my heart aches without reason for the answer."

     "Then I will tell you. I desire to rule my kingdom alone. I do not wish to live in the shadow of a man. I acted that night to repulse you, yet somehow, I drew you in deeper, but I cannot deny the deepening in my own heart for you."

     "Ruling to me, Celeste, is a child's entertainment compared to the attention you hold in my eyes. If this is your concern, let me assure you, in all things, we would lead together."

     "Is that so? You would honor me with equal power?"

     "I would. I did not know such a thing even mattered to you."

     "It does. I have worked hard to build myself up as a queen in waiting."

     "Then be at ease to know I am all but unfit to rule without you by my side."

     "But how shall I know this is true, Court, until you are tested upon the throne?"

     "Do you wish it in writing? If so, tell me and I will write a book with naught but your name in it."

     "Truly? Would you do anything for me, Court?"

     "Anything, Celeste. There is no danger I would not risk for you, nor errand I would not complete to protect you, nor word I would not speak to please you. You have made me whole. Tell me you love me, Celeste."

     She stroked his cheek. "Fall to your knee and propose to me, Court. Let my answer show my love."

     He climbed off his chair, falling to his knee, digging into his pocket like a man possessed, as if the wine had been tainted with love potion. He pulled out the golden ring, the diamond even making Celeste squint. As he spoke, he slipped it onto her finger, though it did not fit quite as well as it had the other night.

     "Celeste, will you do the honor of making me a man of unequalled happiness by granting me your hand in marriage?"

     She grinned. "Yes, I will."

     Court shot up from his kneeling position, kissing her. She squealed as his lips connected, completely unprepared. But she kissed him back, opening her mouth. And then he picked her up, right off the chair, holding her by the sides as he lifted her in the air. He laughed in delight, spinning her, the wind catching her silk dress. He lowered her back down, his hands clapping around her face, kissing her again. Celeste broke it.

     "Very well, Court," she said. "That will do."

     He laughed. "Don't you enjoy kissing your fiancé?"

     "I will kiss you on our wedding day. And on our wedding night..." She ran her hand across his chest. "...that is the day when you will be a man of unequalled happiness."

Chapter Sixteen

The Return of the Dragon

     Sienna scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed, dish after dish. The tavern was busy tonight. A hunting party had passed through. Banyan had raised his prices, as he always did.

     "Order up!" Mrs. Crockery said, setting three more plates of food on the counter. There were already ten others. "Sienna! Didn't you hear me?" She hit Sienna in the back of the head. "Don't just stand there! Pick up a few of those plates and lend a hand, lazy thing!"

     "Yes, ma'am," Sienna said, putting her dish brush aside, wiping her hands on her skirt, picking up as many plates as she could manage.

     "And heaven help you if you drop one!" Mrs. Crockery said.

     They carried them out together, setting them on the tables, all of the hunters shouting for service. Her uncle was running back and forth across the bar, pouring drinks, grinning as he pocketed the coins on each sale. Then someone new came in.