“But I still don’t understand,” said Max. “What went wrong? It doesn’t seem to have worked, everything is worse than before.”
“It’s your mother that’s the problem.” I could just see the king’s face from where I was standing and he looked somehow older than he had at the start of the conversation. And even more tired than usual.
I glanced at the queen beside me. There was just enough light for me to see a silent tear run down her cheek.
“As I said, you’re not a child anymore. You have a right to know how things really stand between your mother and me. She’s the one insisting on these foreign princesses, it was her idea that we seek an alliance through marriage. She’s obsessed with finding a ‘true princess’ for you. I’ve tried reasoning with her but she won’t listen. She even yelled at me last time I brought it up.”
“Yelled? Mother?”
“The first time in twenty years of marriage. I used to wish she would yell and scream and throw things in the first few years. Anything other than her constant cold withdrawal. But when it actually happened it was horrible.”
“So you just gave in to her? This is my future, father! Your kingdom!”
“You don’t understand, I used to promise her I would support any request she made. I tried to implement policies I thought she would like – like making sure every villager had the opportunity to learn to read and write – but she never got involved. I pleaded with her to express an opinion in council meetings, to take an active role in governing. But she refused. And the more I asked, the more she withdrew. And now, for the first time, she’s made a request. I can’t say no.”
“So you still love her then?”
I held my breath. This was it. The reason we were standing here, spying in this unconscionable way.
“Love her?” the king’s voice had dropped so low I had to strain to hear it. “Can you love someone who’s not really there?”
An icy feeling swept over me and I didn’t dare look at the queen beside me.
“Not really there? What are you talking about? Mother almost never leaves the palace.”
Max’s confusion seemed to remind the king that he was speaking to his son and he made a visible effort to appear more cheerful.
“I meant emotionally. But, of course, I still love your mother. It’s why I can’t refuse her now. Not when it means so much to her.”
Max was silent, digesting all these revelations. I found myself wondering if the king was telling the truth or just appeasing his son. Did Harry still love Ella? Or more importantly, did Henry love Eleanor?
“Besides,” said the king, “at least I learn from my mistakes. Letting some local girl marry into a crown is only a short-term fix. But a strong alliance with Northhelm or Rangmere will give the people something to think about. With their armies they can help me keep any rebels in line.”
“Rebels?” Max sounded alarmed. “Are things that bad?”
“Not yet but they could get there.”
“I see,” said Max quietly, “so it has to be Marie or Ava then?”
“No, Celeste would also be acceptable. We wouldn’t have invited her otherwise. Lanover doesn’t have much of an army but Celeste will come with a steady flow of gold. Gold that could help us build up our own force.”
“I need some time to think about this.”
“Of course, of course. Take a few days.”
“A few days?” Max looked alarmed.
“Or a few weeks, we can afford a few weeks. But the sooner the situation is stabilised the better.” He paused and seemed to be debating whether to continue.
“Your mother’s awfully keen on Ava. But I’ve told her it’s your decision, I can give you that much.” At least he wasn’t endorsing Ava himself. Some part of him must have believed my warning.
“So this is how it has to be,” said Max quietly.
“I’m sorry Max but I won’t bend on this.”
Max looked at his father sadly and then nodded once. He stood up to go and the king stood up as well. He held out his hand and Max took it hesitantly.
“I’m proud of you, son,” said the king. “I know I can trust you to do your duty.”
A look of understanding passed between the two men and then Max left the room.
Silently I twisted and slid down the wall so I was sitting with my back against it. I hid my face in my knees. I still hadn’t looked at the queen.
The king had said he loved her just as I had hoped but even I hadn’t been convinced. And he had blamed her for everything – the state of the kingdom, forcing Max into a political marriage. It was much worse than I had expected.
Finally I couldn’t put it off any longer. I looked up.
The queen was standing against the far wall, a stricken look on her face. She wasn’t crying but her dead expression was more terrible than tears.
I stood up and went over to her. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “I never should have suggested this. But he said he still loves you. You have to tell him what you told me. He just doesn’t understand – he doesn’t know you were trying to help him the only way you knew how.”
“No!” whispered the queen on an exhaled breath. “It’s just what I always thought. He blames everything on me. Why should I have to explain myself to him?”
She strode proudly over to the door. My eyes widened with horror.
“Ella, no,” I cried in the loudest whisper I dared use but she pulled the hidden lever anyway.
I heard the king’s startled exclamation as the bookshelf swung forward behind him. Eleanor flung open the hidden door and stood, framed in the doorway, facing her husband.
For a long moment there was silence. I held my breath.
“So, Henry, you blame me for the woes that befall our kingdom.” The queen’s voice was icy. “Then I will take responsibility for fixing them. Max will marry Ava. She has proven herself – it must be her.”
She finally moved out of the doorway, sweeping around the desk and pulling open the office door. As she moved I was able to see the king. He had obviously risen hurriedly from his desk and he was standing now, gripping the wood behind him for support. His face was pale.
I scurried after the queen, keeping my eyes on the ground and trying to make myself as small as possible but the king’s eyes fixed on me anyway.
“Alyssa!” he said and his voice was terrible. I had never heard it sound so harsh. I froze. “Shut the door.” Though these words were quieter, the tone was no less frightening. I moved slowly forward and gripped the door.
I looked out, hoping the queen would turn around and rescue me but she had already rushed from sight. I could only assume she was so shrouded in her own drama she had forgotten all about me. I shut the door and turned around.
I took several steps towards one of the chairs but then stopped. The blaze of anger from the king’s eyes held me in place.
“I trusted you!” he said, his words cold and strong. “I invited you into my home and my family. I put my daughters into your care. I even entrusted you with one of my most closely guarded secrets.” He gestured towards the open door behind him.
“And now I find that you have betrayed me!”
“No!” I protested. “I didn’t… I mean I…” I stopped unable to think of anything to say.
“Oh?” said the king. “Am I supposed to assume that it was my wife’s idea to hide away and listen to my private conversations? It would be the first time in twenty years!”
I didn’t even try to defend myself this time because he was right. I was trembling all over and struggling to breathe. One stupid decision and I had destroyed everything I had worked for – all the trust I had built.
“For the past few months I have been looking all around me with suspicion,” continued the king, “waiting for the next act of treachery. I didn’t expect it to come from you.”
“Guards!” he suddenly called in a loud voice, not taking his eyes off me. “Guards!”
“I can assure you,”
he said, “I won’t give you the opportunity to do it again.”
My pain and shame were joined by horror. How could everything have collapsed so quickly? I wondered what my friends would think when they heard I had been – what? Thrown into the dungeon? Exiled from the kingdom?
What would Lily and Sophie think? What would Max think?
When the door banged open and the guards entered the room I was trembling so hard I was visibly shaking.
Chapter 26
The two guards looked between me and the king. “Arrest her,” said the king authoritatively.
The guards didn’t hesitate despite the confusion on their faces. The more senior one grabbed me by the arms and pulled me towards him. He twisted my wrists so they were both behind my back and he could hold them in one of his hands. I winced in pain at the rough treatment.
“Take her to the dungeons.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Your majesty,” I cried, realising this might be my last chance to plead my case.
“Don’t speak to me,” snapped the king before I could go any further, “guards, take her away.”
The guard who was holding my wrists pushed me ahead of him so that I stumbled out of the door and down the corridor. The other guard walked behind us. I was pushed down another corridor and then another. We passed several servants who watched us go by with wide eyes.
Finally we turned down a corridor I didn’t recognise. I assumed this must be the way to the dungeon – I had never been there before so couldn’t be sure.
Before we arrived at any cells, another guard approached us and called for us to stop. He surveyed the three of us with even more interest than the servants.
“You seem to have made a mistake, Jonas,” he said with a harsh laugh. “I could have sworn this is one of the courtiers you’ve managed to pick up.”
“Just following orders,” said my captor curtly.
“Orders, is it?” said the new man, circling me with a predatory gleam. He rested one hand lightly on my elbow. “I can take her from here.”
For the first time I tasted real fear in the back of my mouth. Swallowing hard I drew myself up to my full height and put on the most commanding expression I could manage. “Don’t touch me,” I snapped.
My retort made the new guard laugh but the original two looked at each other apprehensively and Jonas tightened his grip on my wrists. It hurt a little but I could tell that wasn’t his intention so I forgave him for the pain. If anything, his grip was reassuring to me.
“Don’t give us any trouble, Matthias,” he said. “You’ve already been reported for fighting twice and if you start any more trouble you won’t like the consequences. The sergeant runs a tight ship, you know that.”
“Aye, I know that. I was warned Arcadia was a boring kingdom,” replied Matthias and for the first time I noticed his slight accent. “But I’m not doing any harm, am I, dear?” He grinned at me and ran his hand up my arm to my shoulder.
I jerked away from him but his hand followed me. I shuddered. Dimly I heard racing footsteps and wondered who was receiving reinforcements.
“Get your hands off her,” snapped a familiar voice and I nearly collapsed with relief.
The guards, however, seemed too startled to respond.
When Max came into my view his face was blazing with anger. “I said, get your hands off her,” he snarled.
Jonas released me and stepped back beside his companion. But Matthias stayed where he was, his eyes narrowed. And then suddenly he was gone too, sent sprawling by a sharp blow from Max’s fist.
Max stood over him, both his hands clenched while the original guards watched them both with wide eyes. I stood frozen, shocked. The whole interaction had taken barely more than a second.
“Jonas,” said Max, his voice harder than I had ever heard it. “Arrest this man immediately.”
The second guard moved towards Matthias but Jonas stood his ground. “We have orders from the king, your highness. About her,” he pointed at me.
“I will deal with my father,” said Max, “do as I say at once.”
This time both guards moved forward and together they raised Matthias to his feet.
“You might be in control for now,” said Matthias, cursing and spitting at Max’s feet, “but you won’t be for long. Just you wait and see who has the last laugh.” He began to chuckle as the guards dragged him away and I thought he sounded a little mad.
The situation had changed so quickly that my head was still reeling. I stared at Max, thinking dumbly that he had never looked so handsome to me. I had certainly never been so glad to see him.
“Are you alright?” he asked me with concern, sweeping me into his arms. “One of the servants told me they saw you being dragged down here. I didn’t think it could be true.”
“I’m glad you came,” I said, my voice muffled against his chest. I could feel his heart racing at a pace almost as feverish as my own.
“But why?” he asked. “What happened? I don’t understand. I was with my father only a few minutes ago.”
I shook my head, unsure how to explain and ashamed to admit that I had eavesdropped on his conversation.
“We’re going to see him right now,” said Max. “I have to tell him about that guard anyway. The man sounded quite mad. It may have been empty threats but there’s always the possibility he’s working for Claud’s employer.”
I shuddered and Max tightened his hold on me.
“Are you alright?” he repeated and this time I nodded.
He released me and took one of my hands. We walked in silence and Max kept throwing me concerned looks.
When we reached the office he pushed the door open without knocking. The king looked up from his desk, startled by our sudden appearance. His eyes bounced between us.
“Father,” said Max, his voice hard again. “Why did Jonas arrest Alyssa? He said it was at your orders but I find that hard to believe.”
“It was. She betrayed us.”
“Betrayed us?” To my relief Max only tightened his grip on my hand. “I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true. She was in the hidden room watching our conversation earlier.”
“In the hidden room?” Max looked down at me in bewilderment. “But why?”
“I didn’t mean any harm,” I said. “It was the queen, she told me some things and I thought, if she could only hear the truth from you two –”
“My mother was in there too?” exclaimed Max.
I nodded miserably. He looked at me silently for a moment.
“You knew I was going to meet with my father and even what I planned to talk about – I told you myself. And you thought my mother needed to hear it? Why?”
“I can’t tell you,” I said quietly. “She told me some things in confidence. But you should ask her to tell you herself – both of you should,” I added glancing at the king.
“But I can say that I meant it for the best and I’m very, very sorry. Please believe me.” I was looking rather desperately at Max, expecting to see him turn away from me at any moment.
But his firm grip on my hand remained. He faced his father. “If she says she didn’t mean any harm and she’s sorry then I believe her. I certainly won’t allow you to throw her in the dungeon!”
“Won’t you?” asked the king, regarding us both thoughtfully. “Perhaps I was a little hasty.” I almost melted at the reprieve – until he continued.
“But if you want to keep her out of the dungeon then you’ll have to help mend the damage she’s done between your mother and I. I will pardon Alyssa if you will promise to marry Princess Ava. I’ll announce it at the ball tomorrow night.”
I gasped but the king ignored me. He held Max’s gaze.
“Your mother is determined that you marry Princess Ava and she will serve our purpose as well as any other. She’s beautiful and charming, I’m sure she’ll make a suitable wife.”
“But, your majesty,” I cried and the king finally looked at me.
“Unless you have some actual evidence against the princess I don’t want to hear a single word against her,” he said and I subsided.
Max looked between me and the king several times and then sighed. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll do it, you can make the announcement tomorrow night.”
As he spoke Max seemed to shrink and I wondered if this night could get any worse.
The king seemed to have noticed the change in Max’s bearing as well. “You’ll see, son,” he said softly, “this will all work out for the best.”
Max just shook his head and pulled me towards the door. Just before we reached it he stopped and turned back to his father. “I nearly forgot. I’ve had a guard thrown into the dungeons. I think you should have the Intelligence Chief interview him. Jonas can explain the situation.” Without waiting for a response he swept me out of the room.
Once more we walked down the corridors in silence, hands tightly clenched. Twice Max opened his mouth as if he was going to speak and then shut it again. I followed him blindly, my shock merely compounded.
He led me up several staircases and then out onto a balcony. Night had fallen but there was enough light coming from the moon and spilling out through the double doors to illuminate us. Sometime during the last few weeks summer had arrived and the air was balmy despite the late hour.
“This is my favourite balcony,” said Max. “I’m surprised I haven’t brought you here before. I guess we’ve had parties every night. And then you were sick…”
I walked up to the elegant stone balustrade and looked out into the night. The balcony was on the back of the building and overlooked the large park where the court went to ride. I could imagine the beautiful view during the day.
“I’m sorry,” I started to say but Max cut me off with a gesture.
“No,” he said. “I think this was inevitable. You just hurried it along a little.”
“Thank you,” I said softly, “for rescuing me.”
“When I saw him touching you like that –” he broke off and then continued softly, “I wanted to kill him.”
The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea (The Four Kingdoms Book 1) Page 23