I stuck close to the Rangmerens throughout the evening but heard nothing suspicious. Princess Ava was courteous and gentle and seemed to be a perfect princess. It was clear that she was making a favourable impression on the court.
I caught a glimpse of Lady Marissa seething in one corner and felt a surprising rush of affection for her. There was something reassuring about knowing she would always react exactly as I expected her to. And it was nice to know that someone other than myself was displeased with the new princess.
Of course, I could find no actual fault with Princess Ava. Or at least not until we all met at breakfast the next morning.
“How did you sleep, Princess Ava?” asked the queen.
“Please, just Ava,” said the princess graciously. “And since you asked, I have to admit that my sleep was a little disturbed. There seemed to be a small lump in my bed.”
“A small lump!” said the queen, glancing at the king. “I’m so sorry. I’ll have that looked into immediately.”
I froze in the act of buttering my toast and barely restrained myself from glaring at the princess. Complaining about the bed on her first night! How rude!
Of course, I knew that my annoyance partially stemmed from my suddenly remembered negligence. I had completely forgotten to tell Mrs Pine about the spring poking through the mattress and if it was still there that meant poor Marie must have suffered through it for two weeks.
At least she was polite enough not to complain about it, I thought. Although I had to admit to myself that a quiet word to Mrs Pine through a maid would not have been amiss. I might be polite but I didn’t approve of needless suffering!
When we rose from the breakfast table King Henry gave me a significant look. I let the others move ahead and then took the corridor leading to the king’s office. King Henry was waiting for me around the first corner.
“Secretary Leopold will be meeting with me in twenty minutes,” he explained as we walked. “I’m sorry you missed the meeting with the head of the Lanoverian delegation. I would have enjoyed hearing your perspective on the Duchess of Sessily. She was an incredibly astute woman.” He chuckled reminiscently. “Now that I’ve met her I’m sure you’re right, by the way.”
“Right, your majesty?”
“About the Northhelm/Lanover trade treaty. Apparently she was responsible for negotiating the treaty and, given that, I’m convinced Lanover got exactly what they wanted out of it.”
I glanced up and down the corridor but we were alone. “Did she seem suspicious, your majesty?”
“No, no, I’m convinced Lanover has nothing to do with our… Claud problem.”
“Oh.” For a moment I debated telling him about my reaction to Princess Ava but reached the same conclusion as before. A bad feeling wasn’t enough.
A brief hope that the meeting with the delegation head would give some sort of credence to my instincts quickly died. Secretary Leopold gave no hint of duplicity whatsoever. The man didn’t even seem particularly intelligent and I was surprised that a powerful kingdom like Rangmere would send such an unimpressive delegation head.
Perhaps they don’t really want an alliance, I thought hopefully.
“I hear you like to hunt, your highness,” said Princess Ava with a look of innocent interest. “Perhaps you could tell me about the hunting here in Arcadia. I have always enjoyed hearing my brother’s stories of the chase.”
“Please, call me Max,” said Max before launching into one of his favourite hunting tales.
I turned my back on them and made a retching motion at Nate, Felix and Beth. They all smiled sympathetically and Felix shook with silent laughter. Neither Princess Ava nor Max seemed to notice.
“You know he had to tell her to call him Max,” said Nate in a quiet undertone. “She’s told the whole family to call her Ava.”
“She’s just so… so…” I couldn’t think of the right word and gave up.
“She seems nice enough,” whispered Beth, with a look of hopeful concern on her face. “Maybe she really is interested in hunting stories.”
I stared at her with raised eyebrows.
“Well, it’s possible!” she said defensively.
“No girl is ever actually interested in hunting stories,” I said with certainty. “Or any other story about a male’s prowess. And let that be a lesson to you, boys,” I added for Nate and Felix’s benefit.
“Well maybe she’s just trying to be nice,” tried Beth.
“I’ll excuse all the comments you’ve made so far because you’re the sweetest person in the kingdom,” I replied. “I think you actually believe that rubbish. As for me – I don’t believe a word of it. There’s something about Princess Ava that I just don’t like.”
Both Nate and Felix looked thoughtful at my words. They seemed to be uncertain about the new princess. Neither got the same sense of mistrust that I did but neither of them really liked her either.
Maybe we were the most wary because we were the closest to Max. And so far Princess Ava’s pursuit of him had been determined indeed. Whether or not Rangmere wanted an alliance, Princess Ava certainly did. And she seemed to know an awful lot about how to make herself pleasant to a prince like Max.
In fact she seemed to know an awful lot about how to make herself pleasant to everyone. Queen Eleanor was entirely delighted by her and the twins were almost equally impressed. It was a little hard for me to refute this impression since Ava acted like the ideal princess at all times. And as much as I hated the idea, Ava might one day be the girls’ sister. It would be cruel of me to try to turn them against her.
After two days, only Lady Marissa and I seemed to hold the princess in aversion and after a week even Lady Marissa started to soften. I began to seek refuge in the library more and more often.
I had finally found a nook that felt cosy in the midst of the giant room. It was located on one of the mezzanine balconies and was tucked between the end of one of the bookshelves and a wall. Someone had squeezed a little armchair in there and if you sat in it, you could just see out the bottom of one of the tall windows.
During Princess Ava’s visit, I discovered that the spot had an added charm. Once I was in the chair it was almost impossible to spot me unless you came up to the balcony and walked all the way to the window. I didn’t always admit to myself that I was hiding from the Princess Ava mania of the court but the effect was achieved anyway.
“Haven’t you had enough of sitting around and reading?” asked Max, the one person who knew about my preferred chair. My heart leapt at the sight of him and the grey day took on some colour.
“I just needed a break.”
“Don’t think your increasing absences aren’t noticed,” said Max lightly, sitting down on the floor at my feet. I felt a warm glow at the knowledge that he had noticed my absence and come to find me. Perhaps he was less enamoured with Princess Ava than I had thought. I decided to try the truth.
“I just don’t like her.”
“Who? Princess Ava?” He sounded more thoughtful than surprised which I took to be a good sign.
“Yes, I can’t put my finger on why exactly but…”
“I think I know what you mean,” Max said after a moment’s reflection. “She never puts a foot wrong. And somehow it comes across as a little… calculated. Mother likes her, though.” He looked up at me and I couldn’t read the expression in his eyes. “She’s been hinting pretty broadly that Princess Ava is the one.”
This wasn’t exactly surprising news but it still made my head spin. “And what about you?” I asked tentatively. “Do you think she’s the one?”
“I don’t know. Something about the whole thing just feels a little off. My whole world has been stable for years and years and now ever since these princess visits were suggested everything has been falling apart. First there was Claud and then those men at the Blue Arrow. I confronted Father about what they said, by the way, and it’s all true, except for the part about him not doing anything – he’s been trying to f
ix it, of course.
“And Mother’s been a bit odd about the whole thing from the beginning but she’s been acting even more strangely for the past week or so. Everyone seems to agree that my kingdom needs me but I find myself wondering what exactly it needs me to do.”
I nodded slowly. The queen had certainly not been herself for the last few days and I felt guilty that I knew why and was unable to tell Max. Although she hadn’t said so, I was completely certain that the queen expected her minor break down to be treated in confidence.
“Maybe you should talk to your father,” I suggested. “He must have a reason to think that an alliance is the answer.”
“I guess that’s the only thing I can do,” sighed Max. “He gave me my grandfather’s diary, you know. He thought it might help me understand what it means to rule. But Grandfather seems to have used the diary as an outlet for his frustrations rather than as a record of his actions. So I’m learning a lot about the problems that plagued him but not much about how he solved them.”
“Your father might have some answers to that as well.”
“You know, I think you’re right,” said Max with decision. “And I’m going to ask him about Mother. I came into the room the other day and I could have sworn they were arguing. And they never argue! Thanks Alyssa, you’ve been really helpful.”
Once again I was overwhelmed by the intensity of Max’s full attention. I felt enveloped by his blue eyes and the feeling was as unsettling in the Summer Palace as it had been in the Winter Castle. I longed to reach out and run my fingers through his hair.
Instead I knotted my fingers tightly in my lap and refused to leave the library with him. Clearly I needed more time away from him before I slipped up and embarrassed us both.
After Max left I considered his words. If Max was going to speak to the king then I wanted to be sure the king had every possible bit of information. What was it the king had said to me back at the Winter Castle? You feel anything strange in any part of your anatomy and I want to know about it.
I decided I would tell him about the shivery feeling in my spine when I looked at Princess Ava and leave it up to him to decide what to make of it. Having made the decision, I leapt to my feet resolved on instant action.
Luckily the king was in his office when I knocked. He was surprised to see me but not unwelcoming and I quickly explained the reason for my visit.
“Interesting,” he said, sitting back in his chair and regarding me thoughtfully. “So you’re saying Princess Ava gives you the same feeling Claud did? The one that said he couldn’t be trusted.”
I nodded.
“But you didn’t have any concerns after my meeting with Secretary Leopold.”
“No, your majesty, it’s only the princess.”
“Well,” he said again and then was silent for several minutes. I began to shift in my seat uncomfortably.
“I’ve always been considered something of an astute man,” said the king, breaking the silence at last, “and I can’t help but wonder if your personal feelings might have something to do with this.” He didn’t elaborate but continued to regard me.
I felt myself flush and then pale. I had been afraid my jealousy was affecting my intuition but I hadn’t expected the king to think the same thing. I felt completely foolish and was unable to think of anything to say.
“Rangmere is a strong kingdom – they would make a powerful ally,” he said gently. “I’m afraid I need actual evidence of double dealing before I could discount them.”
I nodded, mortified, and stood up, anxious to get out of the room.
“I’m glad you came to me though, Alyssa. It’s what I asked you to do after all. And I’ll talk to my Intelligence Chief.”
“Thank you,” I said relieved he was willing to consider my concerns but still anxious to be gone.
When I pushed open the door I rushed straight into Max who had to grab my arms to stop me from falling. I flushed again. Apparently I couldn’t escape looking like a fool this evening.
“Alyssa!” said Max in surprise. “I just came to talk to my father.” He gave me a significant look. “Will you wait for me?” He gestured at the corridor outside the office.
“Of course,” I managed.
Outside in the corridor I paced up and down trying to calm the roiling in my stomach brought on by my humiliation. There was no shame in loving someone like Max, I told myself. And therefore no shame in having my feelings known by the king. After all, I had never sought to use or entrap Max in any way.
Somehow my stomach wasn’t convinced by this logic and I barely had time to get myself under control before Max came back out. “He was just heading off to a meeting,” Max explained, “but he said to come back in an hour. So I think I’ll head down to that musical soiree in the yellow drawing room. Mother made me promise I’d at least look in on it. Will you come with me?”
I shook my head because his mention of the queen had given me an idea. It was terrifying and enticing and I needed to think it through. Shrugging, Max left me alone.
Did I dare? I wondered. Did I dare?
Chapter 25
Ten minutes later I was walking into the queen’s sitting room and over to her desk. She was clearly dressed for the soiree and I was glad I had caught her in time.
“Your majesty – Ella,” I said intentionally and she looked up, attention caught. “Do you still have a key to the king’s desk?”
She nodded slowly and looked at me warily. I plunged on recklessly.
“Right now the king is off at a meeting. His office is empty. But in forty-five minutes Max will be meeting with him in his office. And Max told me that he means to ask his father about you. If you really want to know what the king thinks of you this is your chance. I think you’re wrong, I think he loves you. And I think this might be the only way you believe that.” I took a deep breath and hoped the queen wouldn’t call in her guards to arrest me for treason.
You wanted to fix the queen, I told myself to bolster my courage, well this might be your only chance.
“Are you suggesting that I take the key to the hidden room out of my husband’s desk and spy on his conversation with my son?”
I nodded, some of my certainty evaporating. When she put it like that it sounded bad.
“I’ll do it,” she said suddenly, “I have a right to know what my own family thinks of me after all.”
The frenzied light in her eyes dissolved my remaining certainty. “You know, now that I think about it,” I said uneasily, “it doesn’t seem like such a good idea.”
The queen turned on me and grabbed my arm. “Good idea or not, we’re doing it.” She began to drag me from the room.
“We?” I squeaked.
“We,” she confirmed grimly.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, I thought as we reached the king’s office. The queen didn’t bother to knock but pulled a large key from her pocket. Pulling open the door, she rushed us both inside and locked it again behind us. With a smaller key she unlocked the king’s desk and removed the key to the hidden room.
The bookcase rumbled as it slid open but the queen didn’t hesitate. Opening the door, she gestured for me to enter first.
“How are we going to close the bookcase?” I asked, torn between curiosity and hope that the queen would agree to abandon the whole plan.
“There’s another lever inside,” said the queen, showing me the hidden lever that mirrored the one in the bookcase. When she pulled it, the bookcase rumbled shut.
“Now we wait,” she said calmly and sat elegantly on the floor. I stared at her in wonder, unsure just what I had unleashed.
“Are you sure,” I began but was cut off.
“I think it’s best if we remain silent. Henry may return at any time.” I nodded dumbly and sat beside her.
Sitting in silence on the hard floor with nothing to look at and nothing to do made the minutes drag. Despite my uncomfortable position I had nearly dozed off by the time we heard the outer office
door open. Two people were entering the room.
Pressing our eyes to the wall we were able to observe the king and Max. King Henry didn’t cross around to his usual seat but took a seat next to his son. The angle of their seats allowed us to see both of their faces in profile.
“You wanted to speak to me?” opened the king.
“Yes. I just want to understand why it’s so important that I marry a foreign princess.”
The king sighed. “This is partially my fault. I keep forgetting how old you are. I should have started to include you in the governance of the kingdom before now. After all, it will be your burden to bear soon enough.”
“I want to help you, Father, but is it really necessary for me to get married? I’m not that old!”
The king sighed again. “It’s the alliance we need. The harvest failures have been increasing steadily for the last few years and bandits are more active than they’ve ever been before. The people aren’t happy.”
“I’ve been reading Grandfather’s diary.” The king said nothing so Max went on. “From what he’s written, the kingdom was having the same troubles back when you were a young man. From a restless populace, I mean. Nothing’s been done about it in all these years and nothing terrible has happened. Why do we have to do something now?”
“But something was done about it.”
“Really? There was nothing in the diary.”
“Are you sure? I imagine my father would have written something about my marriage to your mother. He had rather strong views on the subject, as I recall.”
“Your marriage? Well, yes, he wrote about that, of course. But what does that have to do with it?”
“Your mother was a commoner before I married her. A merchant’s daughter. It was the first time an heir to the throne had married a commoner in three hundred years. It was a good compromise – it calmed things down. The people felt she would be their voice, I suppose.”
“And the nobles? What did they think about a commoner queen? They can’t have liked it.”
“I don’t know if they liked it exactly but it was a love match. With a godmother involved and everything. Nobody dared speak out against true love. After all, the whole kingdom is supposed to benefit from our happily ever after.” The king sighed.
The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea (The Four Kingdoms Book 1) Page 22