Shaking her head at herself, Felicia knew that she had to speak with Prince Bastion. She had to know if he’d run away or do something drastic to avoid the marriage. But the king had threatened to marry him by proxy if he attempted anything of that nature.
Maybe I should ask Godmother to turn me into a pumpkin or something. Then the prince wouldn’t be stuck with me anymore. If she were truly willing to sacrifice herself, she’d jump from the highest turret. Unfortunately, she valued her own life too much to do that. And… the idea of marriage to Prince Bastion didn’t repel her like it did before. But she still wasn’t sure if she actually wanted to marry him. If he loved her, it would be an easy decision.
“What are you doing in the royal family wing?” The queen demanded, pulling Felicia from her thoughts.
The queen was standing in a doorway gilded with gold, her ladies noticeably absent. An empty glass was held loosely in the older woman’s grasp, but Felicia could smell the hard liquor wafting from it. That was no mild sherry or port.
The queen narrowed her eyes. “Come to inspect your future chamber?” She sniffed, pulling her chin up. “If I had my way, I’d never have to look upon your wretched face again.”
Felicia blinked. The queen had never said something so frank. She was always passive with her hatred. “Unfortunately, we don’t get much say in our own lives, do we?”
Tilting her head, the queen folded her arms. “As a matter of fact, I control quite a bit around here. If you’re truly sticking around, you’d best get used to it.”
Straightening to her full height, Felicia stepped closer. “You mean that ridiculous guilt trip you hold over your husband’s head?”
The lady’s lips parted and her cheeks paled.
“Yes, it’s clear as glass how you manipulate him.” Felicia pointed in the matriarch’s direction. “So you were forced into a marriage you didn’t want many years ago. Time to move past it. Besides,” She waved a hand. “You married not just a king, but a man who treats you with respect. Who listens to you and allows you to manipulate him just because he loves you.”
The queen stepped back, a hand coming to her throat. “What did you say?”
Putting her hands on her hips, Felicia took another step forward. “I’m saying you should be grateful instead of clinging onto this trite bitterness. It could have been worse and you could actually be happy if you chose to.”
Shoulders stiffening, the queen narrowed her eyes. “You think you know me so well after only a couple of weeks living here? You know nothing.” She stabbed a finger into Felicia’s chest. “You are a fortune hunter, taking advantage of my son’s weakness. Well, let me tell you something. Even if you do marry, the prince will resent you for it the rest of your days. Every time he looks upon you or touches you, he’ll think of his true love and hate you a little more each day.” The queen breathed heavy. “And when he does find her, because he’s tenacious enough, I will give my blessing for him to house her in this castle as his mistress right next to your chamber!”
Stomach trembling from the verbal attack, Felicia found no words for rebuttal. The queen was right, and the truth stung more thoroughly than a thousand honey bees. She blinked back tears, wondering how she could leave with her dignity intact.
“Mother.” The deep growl of Prince Bastion came from down the hall. “That’s enough.”
The queen exhaled a shaking breath and turned to her son. “Bastion, I was merely—”
“I know what you were doing,” he interrupted as he walked closer to them. The tips of his ears were bright red and his blue eyes stormed fiercely. “I said, that’s enough.” He placed a large hand on Felicia’s shoulder. The touched soothed her more than she could have imagined. “I will not have you treating my betrothed in such a manner. Do you understand?”
In that moment, Felicia saw the kind of king Bastion would be. One who was passionate, but also honorable and loyal.
The queen stared at her son, the wrinkles around her mouth prominent as she frowned. Without saying another word, she moved around the couple and stormed down the hall.
The shaking moved from Felicia’s stomach to her knees and she teetered.
Prince Bastion pulled her into his chest and patted her back. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I’m afraid my selfish behavior of late influenced her in a most deplorable manner.”
Breathing in the scent of sandalwood coming from him, Felicia’s shoulders relaxed. “It’s alright.” She leaned away and his hand fell from her. “It was spoken harshly, but she only told the truth.” The tears were back, but she met his gaze anyway, refusing to let one drop spill. “You would resent me if we married.” Sniffing, she wiped her eyes. “We’re supposed to wed in four days time. You haven’t told me if you’ve found your mystery princess.” She paused and looked up at him. “Have you?”
His mouth pressed into a thin line and he glanced away.
“I didn’t think so.” She took a deep breath. “Bastion, what your mother said… I cannot abide infidelity.” She looked at his shoes, too uncomfortable to meet his gaze for this conversation. “If I marry – anyone—I plan to keep my vows, and I’d ask that my husband reciprocate that.” The hall was so quiet that she could hear the material of her gown whisper as she shifted. Heat spread through her chest as she waited for a response. She wished she could take back the words, pretend like it wasn’t an issue for her.
“Felicia,” the prince said softly. “I would never want to cause you pain.” He cleared his throat. “My mother raised me with the idea that I would marry for love. It’s something she made my father promise her when I was very young. Whenever I thought of marriage, it never occurred to me to be unfaithful.”
Grimacing, Felicia wondered if she’d always wonder about this other woman who had captured his heart so neatly.
His gloved fingers grazed her cheek. “If we do marry, I promise to be faithful.”
She met his solemn gaze. “Even if you find her after we wed?”
Prince Bastion blinked slowly, the corners of his lips turned down. He opened his mouth to speak, but a servant came running down the hallway. “Sire, your horse is ready and the guards are mounted, waiting to leave at your convenience.”
Still looking down at her, the prince closed his mouth and nodded. “I must attend to some business. But I promise that I’ll seek you out tonight to discuss this further.” He cupped her cheek and leaned in. “There is something I want to tell you.”
Swallowing, Felicia nodded, wondering what he needed to talk to her about. As soon as he left, she brushed her cheek, already missing the heat of his touch.
Chapter 12
Though the castle was as large as a village, Felicia could feel the walls closing in on her, making it impossible to think. She was supposed to sit with the queen and watch her entertain the Spanish ambassador but she sent Tess to the stables to order a horse readied for her instead.
She needed to be with someone she trusted, who had wise counsel and a sturdy shoulder to cry on. Felicia hoped Lady Ella would forgive her rudeness for not sending word ahead, but she had to see her godmother as soon as possible. Besides, knowing her witchy powers, she’s probably already expecting me.
Smiling at the thought, she went to the stables and mounted a fine white stallion. Tess and two guards were already on their horses, ready to follow their mistress. Felicia shook her head. Something else I’d need to get used to if I marry Bastion – having guards escort me everywhere I go outside of the castle.
It was only a thirty-minute ride and Felicia’s chest swelled at the sight of her godmother’s villa. It was atop a hill, giving a perfect view of the castle and the three villages between them. Felicia had always admired the grounds, filled with flowers of every color and smell. There were also many trees surrounding it. She’d grown up climbing their branches as her mother and Lady Ella visited, wishing for a brother or sister to play with. Nostalgia washed over her as she entered through the gates and went up the drive.
> A servant was waiting to take her stallion and Felicia was certain that Lady Ella had accurately predicted this visit.
She followed the butler into the villa, to the front parlor, where Lady Ella sat with a tray of steaming tea and various cakes and scones.
Felicia half-smiled and sat next to her godmother, hugging her tightly as soon as the butler left.
“What’s the trouble, Dearie?” Lady Ella poured a cup of tea and handed it to Felicia.
Straightening, she accepted the cup. “It feels like everything is so wrong, Godmother.” She proceeded to tell her everything that had happened that day, including her suspicions of the queen being behind the poisoning and all her fears of marrying a man who could never love her, and possibly break his vows.
“Are you certain he could never love you? Your first impression of the prince was less than flattering, after all. And now you look like you’re falling in love with him.”
Lips twisting, Felicia glanced away. “I’m not in love with him.” She looked up at her godmother with large eyes. “And while we’ve become friends, I doubt very much that he’ll ever come to love me. And even if he said he did, how could I believe it when I was the one to take him away from his true love?” Her head dropped into her hands. “I wish he could just find her and that I didn’t have to go through this farce of a union.”
Lady Ella paused, studying her intently. “Are you certain? Because I got the impression that you’re well suited for each other. And I believe you’d make a remarkable queen.”
Felicia stared. “You too? Tess somehow got it into her head that the prince has feelings for me.” She shook her head, hysterical laughter bubbling up. “Nothing could be further from the truth, Godmother. We’ve formed a friendship, but that’s it.”
Frowning, the Lady stared into her teacup as she stirred. “I’m most disappointed on your behalf to hear that. I’d hoped things would work out.” She met Felicia’s gaze. “Do you truly mean it? You have no feelings for the prince whatsoever?”
It was Felicia’s turn to pause. Closing her eyes, she thought hard before replying. Her godmother was good at reading faces and if there was a trace of untruth, she’d pounce on it. Sighing, she opened her eyes and said, “I can’t say that there are no feelings toward him. I’ve come to care for and admire Bastion. Is it love?” She opened her mouth to say no, but couldn’t bring herself to say it. I can’t love him, can I? “It doesn’t matter. Because Bastion doesn’t regard me in that manner. He only loves the mystery princess.” She swallowed past the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. “And whether I love him or not is irrelevant. He should be happy. And being with her would make him happier than anyone else on earth.”
Her godmother exhaled slowly as she leaned back, her face troubled. “I had hoped everything would work out for the best. I thought I’d read the tea leaves correctly, but it turns out I was only half right.”
“What do you speak of?”
She opened her mouth, paused, then closed it. After a moment, her lips formed a determined line. “Come with me.” Lady Ella stood and walked out of the room.
Confused, Felicia hesitated before following.
Her godmother went down the corridor that led deeper into the villa. They walked up a flight of stairs and into an unused bedroom with white linens covering the furniture. Lady Ella lifted a white linen off the wardrobe and opened it to reveal a stunning gown made of silver silk and adorned with white and gold diamonds. Reaching in, she lifted a glass slipper Felicia was all too familiar with.
“But, I don’t understand.” She took the shoe and traced a finger over the gemstones. The bottom of it was coated with dry dirt. “It couldn’t have been you he danced with.” Her godmother had magic abilities, but certainly she couldn’t transform herself. Could she?
“No, Dearie, it wasn’t me.” She opened the curtains to let in the descending light. “You’re not my only goddaughter.”
Felicia’s head snapped up and she tightened her grip on the slipper so that it wouldn’t drop and shatter. “What’s this?”
Lady Ella shrugged. “I happen to be godmother to several children. Twelve, in fact.” She walked over and pulled a linen off of a settee to sit. “Most of them have their parents still, so there’s not much required of me. But one girl, Cynthia, is in a poor situation. Her father died and her stepmother and stepsisters treat her cruelly.”
Gesturing to the empty bedroom, Felicia asked, “Why not bring her to stay here? You’ve got plenty of room.”
“Believe me, I’ve offered several times. But she has a strange sense of obligation. My guess is that her stepmother is the last connection to her father, so she’s reluctant to leave.”
Stomach tensed, Felicia wondered where this was going. She had an idea that it had everything to do with the glass slipper in her hand.
“One day, she came to me in tears. Her stepsister had driven away a suiter that she’d hoped to marry.” Her godmother waved a hand. “I came up with this foolish idea to make this gown and send her to the ball. If she wanted to marry, there were many eligible men she could meet there. I told you I went abroad, just before the ball, so I didn’t know what had happened until my return.”
“She’s the one that Prince Bastion fell in love with that night.” Felicia’s jaw was numb, making it difficult to annunciate her words properly. “And he hasn’t been able to find her because…” She stopped. “Why hasn’t he been able to find her? The proclamation stated that all unwed maidens try on the slipper.”
Lady Ella sniffed. “My guess would be that her insufferable stepmother kept her from trying it on. Probably hid her when the entourage came to their home.” She shook her head. “I’ve tried calling on Cynthia three times and the stepmother gave me silly excuses and practically ran me off. I’m quite worried about her. The tea leaves give off the impression of darkness whenever I try to read them on her behalf.”
“Poor girl.” Felicia blinked, a swirl of emotions boiling in her stomach. “Godmother, why didn’t you tell me? We could have resolved this whole situation as soon as you’d returned.”
Lady Ella shrugged, looking down. “I was going to tell you. But that was the day you’d been poisoned. And then I spent all that time making a cure.” She met Felicia’s gaze. “When I returned, I watched the prince nurse you. He stayed by your side to let Tess rest.”
Eyes widening, Felicia’s head felt light. “He did?”
“Indeed.” Her godmother watched her closely as she continued. “When I saw how intent he was on taking care of you… well, I thought he was falling in love with you. So I decided not to say anything and see if you two would want this union after all.”
Felicia’s legs were suddenly too weak to hold her. She stumbled and sat next to Lady Ella. There was a seed of hope wanting to sprout within her, but reasoning saved her and she squashed it, turning on Lady Ella. “Godmother, how could you be so fanciful to mistake concern for love? That’s something my father would do. I thought you more practical than that.”
Sitting back, her godmother put a hand to her chest. “Felicia, you’ve never spoken to me in such a manner.”
“I’ve never had to.” The anger gave her strength and she stood, glaring down at the older woman. “I always thought you to be practical, like me. But you not telling me about this because you wanted to see if the prince fell in love with me?” Stopping, Felicia drew in a long breath. “I’ll never compare. I saw her at the ball, Godmother. I’ll never compare with her.” Tears blurred her vision. “He doesn’t want me.”
“He never said that.” Lady Ella’s voice filtered softly through the room.
“He didn’t have to.” Wiping her eyes, Felicia stiffened her spine with resolve. She would end this nightmare once and for all.
“Give me the name of this cruel stepmother. She may be able to run you off, but she certainly can’t do that to Prince Bastion.” Her stomach clenched in grief, but she kept an impassive face.
Lady Ella studied
her for a moment with her lips pursed to the side. Then her shoulders sagged and she answered, “She’s Barroness Duveroux and lives in Prevairy village.”
“The village closest to the castle?” Felicia guffawed, some tension releasing with it. “She was right under his nose this whole time.”
“Indeed.” Lady Ella stood. “I’ll see you out.” She walked down the stairs and paused on the landing. “Dearie, I understand that you’re not happy with me right now, but I’ll always be here should you need me. Your situation isn’t as dire as Cynthia’s but you’re always welcome to move in here. Perhaps be my travel companion.”
Warmth sifted through the pain in her chest and tears threatened again, but this time they stemmed from love. “I certainly can’t stay mad at you for very long.” She reached out and squeezed her godmother’s hand. “Thank you.”
Chapter 13
Felicia had intended to go straight back to the castle and let Bastion know about his mystery princess, Cynthia. But curiosity compelled her to head straight to the woman’s home. She wanted to see exactly what kind of woman could so thoroughly capture the prince’s heart.
With Tess and her two royal guards, she rode to Prevairy village. Tess asked around for directions to the Baroness’ home and they found it quickly.
The sun was well in its descent when they finally arrived. One of the guards helped her down, then volunteered to knock. Felicia gratefully accepted. Hopefully a man in royal uniform would get her past this horrific stepmother Lady Ella spoke of.
The servant that answered was a young woman who looked to be her own age with a petite frame similar to Felicia’s. Before the servant could utter a word to welcome them, Felicia stepped forward. “You’re Cynthia, aren’t you?”
The girl’s blue eyes widened and she looked between the guards and Felicia nervously. “What can I do for you, Milady?”
“I know it was you who danced with the prince at the ball a few weeks past.”
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