It wasn’t just missing my best friend fiercely that had me in a sour mood; it was being stuck at the bakery with nothing but dull, endless waiting to occupy my time. Bakeries were considerably more boring than royal palaces, especially when it had been raining for days.
My only consolation had been to bake treats to give out to our neighbors, for what better way to cheer someone up during a gloomy rainstorm than with my delicious peach cobbler? While I’d been giving out my treat, I’d kept an eye out for the storyteller in hopes I could extract more information about my prince to see if it was truly Prince Liam, but I hadn’t seen her.
“She’s on her honeymoon. Can you blame her for not hurrying back?” Mother cupped my chin with a flour-coated hand and gave me a reassuring smile. “But don’t worry, she promised to send for you the moment she returns. Now be a dear and help me slice up these apples.”
I sighed and obediently did so, first cutting them up before soaking them in lemon juice. As I did, my mind drifted back to Eileen’s lavish wedding, exactly as I’d always envisioned a royal wedding to be: noble guests dressed in elegant finery, delectable cuisine, dancing, and best of all the fierce happiness of the bride and groom. If only my own wedding could be half as grand. My mind immediately imagined that enchanting future day hopefully not too far into my future.
“Rosie dear, you’re daydreaming again.”
I reluctantly emerged from my fantasies long enough to add the cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar to the pie’s filling before my mind drifted once more towards Prince Liam and our serendipitous meeting near the refreshment table. He seemed perfect for me in every way. If only we could spend more time together so I’d know for sure…
A knock sounded at the bakery door. Mother and I exchanged a perplexed look. When had a customer ever knocked?
“What on earth…” Mother murmured. “Rosie, would you—”
I was already halfway to the door, my curiosity compelling me to see who could possibly be on the other side. I yanked the door open and gasped at who stood there.
It was Guard Alastar.
I gawked at him—taking in his tall, broad form and his dripping brown hair, soaked with rain and plastered against his forehead—before I slammed the door in his face.
Mother emerged from the kitchen. “Rosie, what are you—” But her inquiry was cut off when Alastar knocked again. I tidied my hair and brushed the flour off my apron before reopening the door. “Who knocks at a bakery door?” I asked him.
“Who slams said door in a paying customer’s face?” He responded in that deadpan way of his.
“Are you paying with coin or do you only deal in aggravating comments?”
His lips twitched. “Ah, Miss Rosalina, it’s been a long month since I’ve been exposed to that delightful mind of yours, and yet…” He shook his head, leaving me literally dying to hear the rest of his unfinished thought.
“Aren’t you going to finish your statement?”
“And deprive you of the opportunity of doing it yourself?”
I glowered. “You’re as exasperating as ever.”
“I do my best.” He peered into the bakery. “Might I come in? It’s a bit wet out here.”
“No.” I slammed the door again.
Mother frowned warily. “Was that a royal soldier? Whoever he is, don’t leave him out in the rain. Open the door for him.”
I was still rather upset for how he’d treated me at Eileen’s wedding to obey her. “He’s Eileen’s head guard, a man who’s nothing but trouble. I can’t fathom how she can stand having him constantly around, for he’s—for goodness’ sake, what now?” Alastar was knocking again. I flung the door open with a sharp glare. “What do you want?”
“I’m here by royal command, and I’m not leaving until I’ve accomplished my orders.” He shoved his foot in the doorway to prevent my closing it on him again.
“And what royal command could you possibly be referring to? Eileen and Aiden aren’t yet back from their honeymoon.”
He leaned against the doorframe and peered around me into the bakery. “Might I come in to deliver my news? I’m not only cold, but whatever I’m smelling is intoxicating and I’m quite famished.”
I snorted. “You’re quite famished?”
He cocked that eyebrow of his. “Doesn’t that make for better dialogue?”
A giggle escaped before I could stop it. I tried to smother it with my hand, but the mischievous thing slipped through my fingers. To my delight, Alastar smiled—not a half one, but a real smile. It was utterly adorable.
“I got you to smile,” I said. “I didn’t know you could smile.”
“And I got you to laugh.” He pressed his cold finger in my cheek. “You have a dimple.”
“All heroines do.” His smile softened me, especially considering he was rather soaked and I was beginning to feel sorry for him. I finally stepped aside to let him enter. “Go stand by the fire.”
He did so, pausing to bow to Mother before facing the hearth and rubbing his hands in front of the crackling fire.
I snagged a pastry from the sample tray and shoved it into Alastar’s hands. “Are pastries your favorite?”
He shook his head. I sighed. Would I ever figure out his favorite dessert?
I shoved my own pastry into my mouth. “Now, what’s your message that compelled you to come all the way to Arador in the rain?”
“Knowing your affinity for the dramatic, I’d planned to descend on the back of a dragon and, after announcing my presence by trumpet, declare your message in the public square.”
I rolled my eyes—never mind his story tickled my heart with delight. “What is it with you and dragons? Can’t you be more creative?”
His lips twitched again. “I’m quite keen on the fiery beasts, considering they never fail to get a reaction from you; it’s rather amusing watching you squirm.”
I balled my hands into fists. “Please share your message before I kick you back out into the rain.”
“Watching you try could prove rather entertaining.” He took another bite of his pastry. “This is rather good. Did you make it?”
“Alastar, so help me—”
He chuckled—the oh-so-annoyingly-serious Guard Alastar actually chuckled—and admittedly it was rather fascinating.
He removed a gilded envelope from within his cloak and handed it to me with an exaggerated flourish and a deeper bow than was probably necessary. “You’ve broken my defenses, and shall now be rewarded. Your message, Miss Rosalina.”
I snatched it from him before he’d even finished his speech and tore it open. I’d barely gotten a few words in before I squealed.
“For goodness’ sake, Rosie.” Mother—who’d been monitoring us rather closely, albeit a bit confusedly—wandered over. “What ever does it say?”
“A ball, I’ve been invited to a ball. Ah bliss, my life truly is turning into a fairy tale.” I twirled and rammed into Alastar’s firm chest. He oofed. “Oops, sorry Alastar. But did you hear? A ball!” I waved the invitation in his face.
“A ball? No, I hadn’t heard. Why don’t you shriek a bit louder?”
I rolled my eyes and returned my drooling attention to my gilded invitation, which I read over once again to make sure this wasn’t a dream. Mother peered over my shoulder and gasped.
“A ball hosted by the Dracerian Royal Family? What an honor.”
“The first of many honors now that my best friend is the new Crown Princess of Sortileya.”
But it wasn’t just the ball that had me aflutter with excitement—this was the perfect opportunity to see Prince Liam again and renew the connection we’d made at Eileen’s wedding. The entire scene played across my mind’s stage—a magical dance, long conversations, discovering each connection of our hearts the more time we spent with one another…I could hardly wait.
Despite such joyous thoughts, I nibbled my fingernail and glanced at Alastar. “What ever will I wear?”
“Is there a particular r
eason why you believe I’m capable of supplying an answer to such a tragic dilemma?”
Annoying as ever. “I only have a few days to prepare for what will certainly be the most magical day of my life. If you’re not going to be helpful, then be so good as to leave and extend my acceptance so that I can begin getting ready.” I shoved against his firm build in an attempt to get him to move towards the door, but of course he didn’t budge.
“Does preparing for a ball really take days?”
“It does when we’re busy at the bakery,” I said.
He glanced around the empty bakery. “I see you’re swarming with customers. Is it ghosts or just invisible people you cater to?”
“Goodbye, Alastar.” I shoved against him again. Still he didn’t move. “Move already. Must you always be uncooperative?”
He merely glanced down at me pushing breathlessly against him. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I cannot leave until I’ve delivered my full message.”
I immediately stopped pushing, grateful for the excuse to give up. “You mean there’s more?”
He cocked his eyebrow. “Is there?”
“Alastar!”
He chuckled again and I allowed the sound to wash over me. “The royal carriage will pick you up tomorrow afternoon with Sir Gavin as your escort so that you may attend the ball with Their Highnesses three days hence.”
I wriggled in excitement. If only it were tomorrow already. “I’m not sure I can wait that long to see my prince again.”
Alastar had been half turned towards the door but paused to swivel around, his expression dark. “Your prince? And who might that be?”
“Why, Prince Liam of course,” I said. “His family is hosting, after all.” I leaned closer, too excited to keep my sweet little secret any longer. “I met him at Eileen’s wedding after you refused to help me. He introduced himself to me and said the sweetest things. I’m sure this invitation came from him personally.”
Alastar’s countenance hardened in a way I’d never seen before. “I’ve fulfilled my duty and will now take my leave. I shall see you on the day of the ball.”
My stomach jolted. “Don’t tell me you’ll be attending, too.” I didn’t want Alastar’s presence to spoil my reunion with Prince Liam.
“Only because you want me to so badly.”
Heat flushed my cheeks. “I do not.”
His lips twitched, a welcome reprieve from whatever unpleasant emotion had previously eclipsed him. “I’ll be sure to be there, not merely to guard Her Highness but as an eager audience for whatever adventure you’ll find yourself in at your first ball. Besides, I wouldn’t want to miss seeing your encounter with your prince.”
He bowed and left. The moment the door closed behind him, I scampered to the window and pulled aside the drapes so I could watch him leave.
“Who was that man?” Mother asked. “You two obviously know each other. What exactly is your relationship?”
Alastar disappeared into the rain and I let the curtains fall back. “We’re…comrades, of sorts, in battle.”
“A battle of what, exactly? A battle of wits?”
“No, more of a battle of…” I thought about it for a moment before grinning. “…stories.” And so far, Alastar was surprising me by proving to be a most formidable of allies…or foes; I hadn’t decided which.
Chapter 7
“Don’t be alarmed, Your Highnesses, but Miss Rosalina is about to burst.”
I glared at Alastar, as stoic as ever, before peering back out the carriage window. The royal carriage was spacious and deliciously elegant, leaving me plenty of room to crawl all over the seats as I watched the passing scenery, which was much more exciting than Sortileya’s woodlands.
Eileen smiled at my wriggling. “I’m pleased you’re so excited, but then you’ve always loved dances.”
“Are you fond of dancing, Rosalina?” Aiden asked.
“I find it delightful, but dancing isn’t what I’m looking forward to the most tonight.” I exchanged a sly grin with my dearest friend. “Should I confess, Eileen?”
“If you want. You’re amongst friends.”
That was debatable. I was determined to make Aiden my friend, considering he was so dear to Eileen’s heart; Gavin was sort-of family, so he unfortunately fell in the friend category by default; and General Duncan—Aiden’s personal guard and Alastar’s brother—seemed nice enough. It was that Guard Alastar that was the problem.
But I refused to be deterred from a good story. I settled in my seat, rearranged the skirts of the gorgeous rose-pink ball gown Eileen had lent me, and leaned forward to begin. “In every ‘once upon a time,’ the heroine’s happily ever after always includes true love, and where does she most often meet her heart’s match?”
Eileen slipped her hand into her husband’s and beamed up at him. “In the Forest.”
“Yes, the enchanted Forest, but it was your dance with Aiden that deepened your love for him.”
Eileen thought about it for a moment. “You’re right, our dance helped me realize I couldn’t live without him.”
“Really?” Aiden’s black eyes were lit with wonder. “I don’t think you’ve ever told me that before.”
I pressed my hands to my heart with a wistful sigh. “So romantic. Never underestimate the power of a dance. Stop that, Gavin.” For he’d been pretending to hurl out of the carriage window. “You don’t have a romantic bone in your body. I can’t believe we’re even related.”
“Me neither,” he muttered as he settled back in his seat. “Listen, I know you well enough to see exactly where this conversation is going. As such, forgive me for not showing the proper enthusiasm.”
I folded my arms and lifted my chin with a challenging air. “If you know me so well, where exactly is it going?”
“You’re going to inform us that you believe you’re going to meet your true love at a dance. I’ve heard all of this from you before.”
“I know I will,” I said. “Hence I’ve never missed a dance, for one never knows which one her future husband will attend.”
Gavin rolled his eyes. “You always have some far-fetched romantic notion as to how things will play out, and then they never go the way you expect. If you ever fall in love, I bet you end up meeting him in the most boring of all places…like a corridor.”
Alastar cocked his eyebrow at that and I determinedly looked away from him. “I certainly won’t meet the love of my life in a corridor but at a dance. And not just any dance, but a royal ball.”
Gavin eyed my expression warily before groaning. “Oh no, I know what you’re plotting: you plan on trying to ensnare an actual prince.”
My cheeks burned. “What ever do you mean?” I squeaked.
“You’ve clearly set your sights on Prince Liam, which is why you’re so excited to be attending the Dracerian Royal Ball, where he’s sure to be in attendance.
My face enflamed further. How had he known?
Aiden frowned. “But he’s betrothed.”
“You were betrothed before you met Eileen,” I reminded him, having heard the entire story from her personally. “But you broke it off to marry your true love. Why can’t the same thing happen to me?”
“Because my situation was much different than Prince Liam’s.”
I didn’t want to spend the remainder of the journey hearing Aiden dully outline the differences between two marriage contracts. Anyway, it didn’t matter; whatever differences existed weren’t enough to deter me. Already the possibilities began blossoming in my mind.
Eileen warily eyed my brightening expression. “Oh Rosie, you can’t be serious. I recognize that gleam in your eyes. Please don’t tell me you’re really considering—”
“Of course I am,” I said, unable to keep the secret any longer. “He’s perfect, Eileen. We had the most romantic connection at your wedding and the loveliest conversation.” I sighed at the memory. “I’ve always wanted to marry a prince and now I shall, just like you did.”
&n
bsp; “Don’t get too excited, Rosie,” Eileen said. “Liam is always charming. It’s just his way.”
I frowned at her. “But he winked at me.”
“Liam winks at everyone, including me, but that doesn’t mean he—”
“Liam winks at you?” Aiden demanded.
“He winked at me the first time I met him.”
Oh no, Aiden threatened to veer the conversation off course with his overprotectiveness. “But Prince Liam’s wink towards me was different, not to mention he also kissed my hand and stared deeply into my eyes. He’s the one, I just know it.”
“Life doesn’t play out like your stories, Rosie,” Eileen said gently.
“That’s what Ferris told me after your disappearance, and you turned out to be alive and well, and not just that, but engaged to royalty—the greatest plot twist ever, I might add.”
“That’s different. This is love, and love can’t be manipulated.”
“I’m not manipulating love, I’m just helping it along,” I said. “Now, won’t you tell me all about him?”
I leaned forward and gazed at Aiden imploringly. He and Eileen cast a wary glance towards that guard before Aiden leaned back with a sigh.
“Very well, what do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
“He’s a fun-loving sort who enjoys uncovering secrets and coming up with whacky theories.”
“A lover of stories,” I clasped my hands. “I just knew he was the one. Ah bliss, this is going to be splendid.”
Over the course of our carriage ride—during which there was an oh-so-welcome silence from that guard’s corner—Aiden told me enough about Prince Liam for me to become even more convinced he was my prince.
“Ooh, I’m so anxious to see my future husband again and together dance the night away. When are we to arrive?”
Eileen glanced out the window. “Quite soon. There’s the Dracerian palace now.”
“Really?” I clambered to the window, where that guard sat. I crawled onto the seat between him and the window, and in my excitement accidentally elbowed him. “Oops, sorry, Alastar.” I eagerly leaned out the window and squealed. “I see it, I see it! Oh, it’s beautiful. I can definitely visualize myself living there. Look, Alastar.” And without realizing the why behind my actions, I tugged him closer so he could peer out, too.
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