by Sarah Olson
“You really think Richard would be wasting his time with me if he wasn’t serious?” I asked in frustration. “Your friend’s story only proves he does love me—that he doesn’t care about his image. Surely you must see that!”
“I’ll know what I see when he comes over for dinner.” He turned to make his way back out into the storm.
“If he didn’t love me, he wouldn’t have invited me to the palace to meet his parents,” I said after him.
Robert stopped and turned slowly to face me. “Meet his parents?” he asked in a tone I could not distinguish between dread and anger.
“Yes. I think you can stop worrying about whether or not he cares about me now,” I said, letting a smirk form on my lips.
Robert took a calming breath before he responded. “If it were up to me, I would not let you go. But I also know if we did not allow you to attend, we would have the king and queen’s wrath against us.”
I nodded, grateful he was not going to keep me from going but uneasy at his words.
I thought he would continue, but instead he headed toward the door.
“You have to accept I’m becoming an adult now,” I called after him. “I can make my own decisions.”
“Then I am going to promise you something,” he said, with his back still turned away. His response was drained of aggression, almost as if he was really agreeing with me. “If the two of you can convince me that you truly love each other, you will have my blessing. But know this—if I am not convinced, though I may be unable to stop you, I will do everything in my power to make it difficult for you.”
That underlying threat resonated through the barn, almost as if time had come to a standstill.
Without another word, he left the barn, and I watched as he disappeared into the curtain of water. I exhaled sharply when I realized I had been holding my breath. Though Robert’s words unsettled me, I was determined to prove to him and Betsy that they were wrong about Richard.
When I returned to the house, the darkness of night was setting in. We ate by candlelight in silence. I felt sorry for Mitchell. He was just a guest that had decided to visit at the wrong time. After helping Betsy clear the table, I slipped up to my room to try to get to sleep earlier, but sleep did not come.
As I lay there listening to the rain hit the roof, a soft knock sounded at my door.
“Come in,” I said.
Robert opened the door. “I just wanted to make sure you had a note written out so I could send it to the palace.”
“I’ll have it out on the kitchen table for you in the morning,” I replied.
“Very well then. Good night.”
“Good night.”
He closed the door softly, and I heard his footsteps recede down the hall.
I lit the candle by my bed and went over to my desk. In a drawer, I found parchment, an inkwell and a quill. I dipped the tip of the quill in the ink and carefully wrote:
Prince Richard,
My aunt and uncle have agreed to have you over for dinner this Saturday. It is probably best if you do not come and visit me until then. You must understand why. I cannot wait to see you again.
Yours Truly,
Layla Fallon
I read the letter over to myself then slid it into an envelope and sealed it with wax. On the outside I wrote:
Prince Richard of the Royal Palace
From the Fallon Residence in Maplewood Forest
I set the quill to dry, covered the inkwell, and then crept down the stairs. The rain had quieted and the dying fire embers crackled softly in the fire. I placed the letter on the table and turned to find Mitchell watching me from the sofa.
I gasped in surprise, and he raised a finger to his lips.
“I forgot you were sleeping down here,” I whispered, when I regained my composure.
“It’s not a problem,” he whispered back. “I couldn’t sleep, though. I have a long day ahead of me.”
“If you are able to go to town tomorrow. How do you know if the rain will even stop by then?”
“I don’t, but either way it really doesn’t matter. I have to meet some people and it cannot wait. But don’t you worry about that letter getting wet. If your aunt and uncle don’t come with me, I will make sure it stays nice and dry for the prince,” he said with a wink.
“How do you know about the prince?” I asked suspiciously.
“It wasn’t too hard to figure out, especially because Mrs. Fallon is furious with you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Very well then, what are you doing in Eagle’s Nest? I think I should know, especially when you know my business.”
Mitchell chuckled quietly. “It’s a secret.”
“Fine, don’t tell me. After all, you are only a guest in my home.” I spun on my heel and began to make my way back to the stairs.
“Do not act like you don’t have anything you’d rather keep to yourself,” he said. “I know you kept your seeing the prince from your aunt and uncle.”
“That’s different,” I retorted. “But it doesn’t matter now because they know. They even know I’m probably going to marry him.”
“Are you serious?” he asked surprised.
“Yes, very serious. Do not act like you wouldn’t marry a princess if she wanted you to.”
“With the girl I’ve met, not a chance.”
I laughed. “Then she must really be something.”
“If you knew who it was, you wouldn’t be saying that.”
I watched him carefully. How could I know who he was talking about?
“Don’t tell me you forgot Charlotte,” Mitchell said.
“Charlotte?” I exclaimed.
“Shh.”
“Sorry,” I walked back over to the sofa. “You know her? Are you courting her?”
“She lives in the same town I do in Malan. I’ve been courting her for about a month now.”
I sighed. “Charlotte . . . she never wrote to me so I couldn’t write back. I didn’t know where she lived and realized it would be dangerous with her family’s involvement in some rebellion.”
“You know about that and yet you still want to marry the prince?”
“I don’t know anything about it. Charlotte wouldn’t tell me—no one will. Do you know much about it? Will you tell me?”
It was my weak attempt to try getting information out of him. After all, how was I supposed to act the way Betsy, Robert and Charlotte wanted me to if all they did was keep their secrets?
“Tell me what you do know and we’ll see,” he said, sitting up.
I sighed. “Fine. There are rebels in Malan, but the king is not worried. Tristan is in the army working as a spy and that’s all I know.”
“You would make an awful spy,” Mitchell laughed quietly. “What if I lied about Charlotte to get information from you? You didn’t even hesitate!”
He was right. I did not.
“Were you lying?” I asked.
“No, I wasn’t. Your aunt and uncle wouldn’t let me near their home if they were unsure about me.”
“True. So will you tell me something new?”
Mitchell gave me a sly, crooked smile. “No. You know enough for now.”
“Fine,” I whispered angrily. I gave him a dirty look, for good measure, and stomped up the stairs without another word.
“Good night, Layla,” he called after me.
Chapter 9
BY MORNING, THE sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. Robert was able to go to town and two days later Richard’s response arrived, letting us know to expect him for dinner. The days seemed to drag as I anxiously waited for the upcoming dinner. I restlessly completed my chores, shivering in the cool air that whirled through the forest
On the day Richard was to come, I over-cleaned everything in the house. I knew he had been here many times before but I wanted everything to be perfect. When Betsy and Robert came home, they began to prepare as well. She roasted a chicken over the fire and baked fresh bread while I peeled
apples from the market for our dessert.
“That smells delicious!” Mitchell exclaimed, entering through the front door.
“Thank you,” Betsy said as she watched me set the last plate on the table.
“Is there anything I can help with?” Mitchell asked.
“No, just go ahead and wash up. Our guest should be here shortly,” she said, grimacing at the word guest.
All I had to do was check my hair in the mirror and I was done. I had been ready for hours. Once everything was set, Betsy disappeared up the stairs with Robert to change as I sat by the window waiting for the carriage to pull up. After some time, I heard the distant rumble of horse hooves and carriage wheels approaching my home. I jumped up at the sight of it and ran my hands down my dress to rid it of any wrinkles.
“He’s here!” I yelled up the stairs. I ran to the carriage as Richard got out, looking as handsome as ever.
He hugged me and gave me a quick, light kiss on my lips.
“I’m so glad you made it,” I said.
“Me too,” he said, giving me his arm.
We entered the house as Betsy followed Robert down the stairs. Mitchell was seated on the sofa smiling. No one said a word. They all just stared at one another.
“Prince Richard,” Robert said, breaking the silence.
“Mr. and Mrs. Fallon,” Richard said, dipping his head. “Thank you for having me.”
“It is our pleasure,” Betsy said, feigning kindness.
“This is Mitchell,” Robert said. “He’s been staying with us for a few days.”
Mitchell stood and shook Richard’s hand.
“Shall we eat?” I asked nervously.
“Yes,” Betsy said.
Everyone followed her to the table and sat down for the meal.
Throughout the first few minutes, the only words spoken were ‘can you pass the bread?’ or ‘would you like some milk?’ My cheeks burned as the awkwardness continued.
“So the two of you met at the Autumn Ball?” Mitchell asked, trying to start conversation.
“Yes, we did,” replied Richard. “So far it has been the best night of my life.”
“I’ve heard those balls are really something.”
“I’m sure it’s being able to go into the palace that gets people the most,” said Betsy.
“Of course it is,” Richard said. “I’m not trying to boast, but if you’ve seen the palace my father built, you would want to see it whenever you can. You should come this Friday with Layla and see it—I know my parents would love to meet you.”
I cringed at the invitation, but tried to keep my discomfort from showing.
“A generous offer, my Prince,” replied Robert. “But you see, my wife has not been feeling too well lately and I would rather the two of us stay home so I can make sure she gets some rest for a few days.”
“What’s wrong, Mrs. Fallon?” Richard asked, genuinely concerned. “If you would like, I could have the palace’s physician sent over to check on you.”
“I appreciate it,” Betsy said, looking like she had just been smacked, “but it’s just a cough. I’ll be fine.” She slipped out her handkerchief and coughed into it.
“If you change your mind, I will have him sent immediately.”
Betsy smiled at his kindness.
“I must say Prince Richard, you really do look a lot like your father,” Robert said.
“Please, call me Richard—and I get that a lot. Family resemblance, of course.”
“Do you keep up with all the laws and rulings your father makes?”
This was definitely not where I wanted the conversation to head.
“I do,” Richard replied. “How would I ever expect to become king if I didn’t pay attention to how things are run in the kingdom? The older I get, the more involved I become. My father asks me my position all the time.”
”So,” Robert said, putting down his glass, “what’s your position on the situation in the Harvest Plains?”
“My position on what specifically?”
“The peasants living there that work day and night to provide food for the rich in the kingdom. It’s not very fair.”
I did not like where this was going.
“Well,” Richard said, sitting back in his chair, “I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. I know they are known for being much poorer in that region, but they are being paid for their work.”
“Why not just let them own the land and sell whatever crops they grow?”
“It’s not their land,” Richard said.
“Then why not give them a chance to buy some?” Robert challenged him.
I had no idea what they were talking about, but I could tell Richard was getting very tense so I slid my hand under the tablecloth and placed it on his knee. He grabbed it and squeezed. I watched Robert and Betsy to make sure they did not notice.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Richard finally said. “I will talk to my father about it. It could really help the citizens of this kingdom.
I did not know if he actually meant it, but he said it so sincerely I was sure Robert bought it.
“I think it would be very beneficial to everyone,” Robert said.
We all went back to our food quietly when Robert did not pursue the matter further.
“Richard,” Betsy said, breaking the silence. “I hope you realize even though we are not Layla’s parents, we see her as our own child.”
“I realize that,” he replied. “But there is no need to worry, I respect her.”
“But perhaps you should also respect us in that same way. We would have appreciated it if you had come to us before courting her.”
“I should have, and I apologize, but believe me when I say I truly care for her and have only her best interest in mind. If she does not want me around anymore, I will stop seeing her.”
“But I want you around,” I said quickly. “Aunt Betsy, I know you are unable to get to know Richard during a short dinner, but when I say he is the best thing that has ever happened to me, you need to trust me.”
The table fell silent again.
Richard turned to me and smiled.
“Richard, would you like to join Mitchell and me on a walk after dessert?” Robert asked.
I looked up at Robert to see what he was up to, but could find no trace of malice in his face.
“What a splendid idea!” exclaimed Betsy, as she began to clear the table.
“Of course,” Richard said. “That sounds like a great idea.”
The thought of them taking a walk together made me nervous, even though I knew conversation with Richard would be easier without me. I just hoped they would not get into any serious arguments over politics.
“Layla,” Betsy said, “would you serve the dessert, please?”
I stood up and grabbed the bowl of caramelized apples on the counter. I served a few slices to each person.
As we ate, the conversation turned to the weather and how this winter was going to be harsher than any other. Richard told Robert how King Luther had been filling storehouses with food from the harvest for those who would need it. I hoped this would make them realize Richard really did care for people.
When everyone had finished, Richard gave my hand a squeeze and followed Robert and Mitchell out the door. I did not know why Mitchell had to go, but hoped with his presence the tension would not be as great.
Helping Betsy clean up did not put my mind at ease and I could not keep my eyes off the old clock on the wall. A half hour ticked on by, then another half. I became fidgety as I watched Betsy sew by the fire. Finally, I heard their voices and footsteps on the porch, and they walked in together laughing. I saw Betsy try not to glare at Robert and his smiling face.
“Well I had a great time,” he told Richard. “It’s pretty late so you better head back. You have a long ride ahead of you.”
“Yes,” Richard said. “Thank you for having me.”
They shook hands and then Richard shook hands with M
itchell.
He turned to Betsy and said, “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Fallon. The food was delicious. I wish my chefs cooked like that.”
There was no way for Betsy to hide the redness on her cheeks so she thanked him quickly and then coughed into her handkerchief.
“Layla, will you accompany me to the carriage?” Richard asked with a smile.
I nodded and followed him out. “Well?” I asked eyes wide. “Would you say the night was a complete failure?”
“I have to admit the uneasiness at dinner had me worried, but once I went on that walk with your uncle and Mitchell, things were much better.”
“You think they like you?”
“I hope so.”
“What did you talk about?”
Richard laughed. “Can nothing around you be private?”
“I just wanted to know—”
“Don’t worry about it. I really think your uncle might actually accept us together.”
“I’m glad,” I said. “When will you come back and visit?”
“I don’t think I can this week. I think it would be better if I did not anyway, though, so your aunt and uncle have a time to think about us. But I will see you Friday. I will be here with the carriage that morning.”
“I will be right here,” I said with a smile. “I cannot wait.”
“Me neither. I will see you then.”
With that, he gave me a kiss and hopped into the carriage. The driver closed the door and the carriage rolled away.
Back inside Mitchell and Robert were laughing.
“I must say, Layla,” Robert said. “I’m impressed! He does not seem to be anything like his father. He really is a great prince, or just very good at faking.”
Betsy rolled her eyes. “I’m glad to hear you like him so much.”
The sarcasm in her voice was evident.
“It’s a start, dear, but as time goes by, I am sure he will grow on all of us the way he has on Layla.”
It was the first time in weeks I actually felt hope that Richard and I could be together with Robert and Betsy’s blessing. The excitement of that knowledge kept me from falling asleep that night.
Around midnight I heard creaking at my door. I closed my eyes and feigned sleep as the door opened and closed. When the creaking receded down the stairs, I slid out of bed and crept to the door placing my ear against it.