“There are so many guests, Your Highness.” Bette shook her head. “It’s hard to make much sense of anything.”
“But what about the guests who were already here?”
Bette bit her lip as Roanna turned to look her in the face. Bette was holding back.
Roanna’s heart fluttered. He was here. “Bette? I promise not to get into any trouble, but I need to be prepared. I have to ready myself so I can steel my emotions.” Admitting these things was safe. Bette knew Roanna inside and out, and Roanna could trust her.
Bette’s eyes softened, and she nodded. “Prince Benjamin is here. I saw his servant, Hansen, in the kitchens. He’s been out touring the kingdom with King Dawson’s first brother, Prince Southerland.”
The king’s brother? Roanna hadn’t even considered that she hadn’t met the rest of Roland’s family. She would likely meet them tonight.
“Will Ben be at the party?” If there was any mercy in the heavens, the answer would be no.
“I don’t know, Miss. It wasn’t appropriate for me to ask.”
“Of course. Thank you, Bette. Did Mother tell you not to tell me?”
Bette went back to biting her lip, and Roanna chuckled. “It’s fine. I won’t mention it to her.”
“How would you like your hair, Miss?” Bette moved to the small vanity, and Roanna turned toward the mirror. Her hair hung in limp waves around her shoulders. She had managed to stay away from Roland and King Dawson for the last day—or rather, they had stayed away from her. She hadn’t felt a single shiver since Roland’s unauthorized kiss.
“Mother would be unhappy to discover its length if we left it down, wouldn’t she?”
“Yes, Miss. Besides, it would appear more appropriate if you put it up.”
Ah, yes. She needed to look devoted and unavailable. “You’re right. Let’s put it up.”
She sat, and Bette went to work. In little time, her strands were put into a nice twist, and Bette pulled out a small leather satchel. “What is that?”
Bette’s eyes danced. “A gift from your mother for tonight. You may need to look unavailable, but there is no reason to look boring.” She emptied the bag into her hand, and Roanna gasped.
“Are those diamonds?”
“Yes, my lady.” Bette grinned. “Your mother had them specially made to clasp into your hair. Shall I show you?”
Roanna stared in wonder. “Yes, of course!”
Bette made fast work of placing the diamonds in Roanna’s hair. One here, one there, until she truly looked like a princess. Next, Bette pulled out a small case. Roanna recognized this one immediately.
“My tiara.”
“Yes, Miss. The one with the sapphires.”
Bette placed it on Roanna’s head, and Roanna moved to the full mirror. The tiara matched her navy dress beautifully. “Bette, you are fantastic.”
Bette smiled. “Thank you, Miss.”
Roanna hugged her maid—her friend—tightly. “I wish you could come to the party. I’m so nervous.”
“You’ll do well. These are your people, and they only expect you to behave the way you’ve always been trained. It will not be difficult in that respect. Just try to play your part.”
Play her part. Like actors on the stage? She could try that. It might work.
“Thank you, Bette. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Bette smiled again then gently pushed Roanna toward the door. “You’d best go before Ambassador Dawson comes knocking on your bedroom door.”
That took the excitement out of her mood. “You’re right. We don’t want him feeling comfortable enough to stop by.”
Bette frowned slightly. “That wasn’t quite what I meant, Miss.”
“I know, I just—never mind. I’ll head out.”
Mother and Father were likely waiting for her in their shared sitting room, but Roanna wasn’t ready to see them. She would explore for a moment to calm her nerves.
The hallway was empty as she exited her room. The guest wing was large, with bedroom after bedroom lining the hall. Hers was the second door to the right, with the door to her family’s sitting room next, and Mother and Father’s bedroom door following. Then, it was guest room after guest room for another dozen doors.
A door opened a few spaces down, and an older man and woman came out. They spotted her and moved quickly to greet her. Roanna had met them the day before—he was the duke of one of the southern provinces. The Maynes, if she remembered right.
“How lovely you look!” the duchess said. “Prince Roland is a lucky man!”
“Thank you.” Roanna smiled. “You look quite beautiful yourself.”
The woman beamed, and they moved on.
Roanna looked down the length of the hallway one last time before moving to the door to the sitting room. As expected, Mother and Father sat waiting. Gregory exited his bedroom at the back of the suite.
“Oh, Roanna!” Mother said as she came in. “The diamonds are exactly as lovely as I had hoped! You are breathtaking!”
Gregory moved in front of her and took her hand. “She’s right, Roanna. You will be the belle of the ball.”
She couldn’t help but beam in their praise.
“Roland won’t be able to take his eyes off you,” Mother gushed.
Roanna’s smile faltered. That was what she was afraid of.
23
Roland was waiting for them at the top of the stairs to the guest wing. His eyes widened slightly when he saw her, and he bowed. “Princess Roanna, you are stunning.”
No matter how much she disliked him, his words rang with sincerity, and she blushed. “Thank you, Ambassador Dawson.” She wasn’t sure why the atmosphere felt so formal, but he obviously felt it, too.
He held out his arm, and she linked hers in his. They led the rest of her family down the staircase. Other guests joined them as they made their way to the ballroom. She smiled and greeted them as she was smiled at and greeted, but mostly she kept silent. All these people were here for her? No, not for her. For Roland Dawson, fourth son of the former King Dawson, and third brother to the present King Dawson.
They reached the ballroom door, and the noise coming from inside seemed to hush. King Dawson and Queen Katherine met them, and a trumpet sounded from inside the room.
“King Bartholomew Dawson and Queen Katherine Dawson!” someone announced.
The king and queen entered the ballroom, and the guests clapped. Father and Mother were announced, and then she and Roland. Gregory had slipped inside at some point without any fanfare.
When she and Roland stepped into the ballroom, the people clapped and cheered. Roland waved. His smile was large and genuine, and guilt hit her. She was being unfair toward him. He was truly excited, and she was truly not.
He leaned close to her ear. “Will you dance with me, Roanna?”
They would need to lead the first dance, but his breath on her ear started her chills once again. She pushed the strange feelings aside and gave him a tight smile. “I would be delighted.”
He took her hand and the music resumed. They waltzed around the ballroom, and people clapped. After a few moments, others joined them on the dance floor. The atmosphere slowly changed from formality to excitement. The people were happy for Prince Roland, and they were happy for a peace treaty between their country and hers. Roanna found herself smiling and happy.
The dance ended, and Roland pulled her from the dance floor. “Would you like a drink?”
“That would be nice. Thank you.” She wasn’t thirsty, but she would humor him. Tonight, she would work on getting to know him. Giving him a chance. The people in their kingdoms deserved peace. Not only those in Chester’s Wake—including Bette’s brother—but the people in Dawson’s Edge as well. They were brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers. She owed it to them as her royal duty to help protect them.
Roland left her standing near a raised platform with fancy chairs—thrones—but he didn’t insist she sit, thank goodness. She watche
d him for a moment, but the crowd swallowed him up. She scanned the ballroom, searching for Mother and Father or Gregory. Gregory danced with Merry Stern, and Roanna smiled. She would have to speak with Merry if she got the chance. Father and Mother danced together in the crowd.
Roanna looked around for Roland, but she didn’t spot him. Unease crept through her. She didn’t know anyone else. These people were strangers to her, and she was alone. She glanced around for Roland again but still didn’t see him.
Was Ben here? She hadn’t allowed herself to look just yet, but now that she was alone she glanced around for him. She didn’t find him.
So, Ben was in Dawson’s Edge but not at her engagement party. That seemed wise.
“May I have this dance, Princess Roanna?” A man stood in front of her. His olive skin and dark but graying hair bore a striking resemblance to the other Dawson brothers.
“And you are?”
“Prince Southerland Dawson, Your Highness.” He bent low.
She smiled at him and took his outstretched hand. “It is nice to meet you, Prince Southerland.”
He returned the smile. “I feared my youngest brother would never find himself a wife. It appears he waited for the best.”
Southerland swept her onto the dance floor, and she allowed herself to relax in his arms. He was older than Father, but not quite as old as King Dawson. He seemed kind, but something about him made her keep up her guard.
“Are you enjoying Dawson’s Edge?”
“Yes, very much. Your family and your kingdom are lovely.”
He smiled at her as he danced. “I’m glad to hear it.”
They made small talk until the dance ended, and then he left her with Mother and Father at the edge of the dance floor. Again, Roanna looked for Roland but did not find him.
“He said he was getting us something to drink,” Roanna said to Mother. “But I don’t see him.”
Mother smiled and patted her hand. “Don’t worry about it, darling. Men get interrupted by other men and they lose track of how much time they spend talking.”
Roanna had seen this happen to Father enough times that she knew it to be true. But this was their engagement party. Where had he gone?
She danced one more turn before she decided she would look around a bit. He couldn’t be far if he had only been drawn into a conversation.
As she slipped from the ballroom, something in her stomach told her he wasn’t simply having a conversation. Something was wrong. She could…sense…it.
A chill raced down her back, the same feeling she’d had at Edge River. An almost tangible aura. A sixth sense, and she knew how to find him.
Without another thought, she moved toward the aura, away from the ballroom.
A few doors down a room was closed off, but from inside it she heard voices—Roland’s and King Dawson’s but also a third voice she did not recognize.
“We should be patient, brother,” Roland said.
“If we move now, their defenses will be low!” King Dawson said.
“No.” Someone she didn’t recognize joined the conversation. “Roland is right. Give it time. Let them marry. Then Roland will be in a better position to seek help.”
“I—,” Roland started, but someone quieted him.
Silence.
Roanna’s heart fluttered, and she hurried away from the door. Had they heard her? She didn’t wait to find out. Hurrying back to the ballroom, she took care to slip in unnoticed. She danced with Father and then with Gregory before she spotted Roland reentering the ballroom. A moment later, he met her at the edge of the dance floor with a small glass in hand.
“Forgive me, my darling. I got caught up.”
Her hand shook slightly as she took the drink, but she managed a smile. “I understand. I am glad you are back.”
24
Roland acted normally for the rest of the night. He danced with her, introduced her to Dawsonian nobility, and smiled as if he hadn’t participated in a secret meeting in the heart of the palace that very night.
At least she didn’t have to worry that he knew she’d heard his whispered conversation with King Dawson. They hadn’t heard her footsteps outside their door, in spite of their hushed whispers, or he would have confronted her.
She danced and laughed and ate, never letting on what she had heard. But she couldn’t forget. They were waiting to make some type of move, but they thought it best to allow Roland to marry her first. What kind of move did they have in mind?
The idea filled her with unease, but more than that was the way she had found them. Without any knowledge of their palace, she’d been able to sense their exact whereabouts, as if she had seen their presence—their aura—like a physical shadow.
Sometime well after midnight, the party ended and Roanna was able to tell Roland good night. She left him at the top of the stairs and went directly to her room. Bette was there, waiting to help her undress, but she wasn’t ready for bed yet. She was wound up. Tense. Confused.
She sat in front of the mirror at her vanity, staring at the diamonds in her hair. This strange power—this anomaly—was why the Dawsonian doctor had warned Mother to keep her hair short. He had known.
But how? How could he predict that she—a brand new baby—would have some kind of strange power that came from her hair? Perhaps Mother had undergone the genetic testing after all. But if so, how had Dr. Presnell known the results? He wasn’t even from Chester’s Wake.
She rubbed her forehead and pressed her eyes closed.
“Are you all right, Miss?” Bette’s voice pulled her around.
“Thank you, Bette. I’m fine. You can go to bed. I’ll ask Mother to help me when I’m ready to undress.”
Bette bit her lip, worry lining her eyes. “I don’t mind waiting, Miss.”
Bless her, Bette was the best friend she’d ever had. Besides Ben, of course. She smiled at Bette. “Very well. Let’s go ahead and get me out of this dress, then.” She wouldn’t keep Bette up half the night because she was restless.
Bette took off the tiara, helped her out of the dress, and into her silky pajamas and dressing robe. But she shook her head when Bette moved to undo her hair.
She hadn’t told Bette about the strange things happening to her. “I’m not ready to lose the look completely. I promise I’ll return the diamonds to their pouch as soon as I’m ready.”
Bette relented. “Good night, Miss.”
“Good night, Bette.”
Bette left her, and Roanna sighed. What strange plan was Roland and King Dawson involved in? It didn’t sit well with her. What if they were planning an attack on Chester’s Wake?
She moved to the window in her room and looked out. The moon was bright, illuminating the garden below. No one moved through the flowers. Most of the people had gone to bed.
She peeked into the sitting area of her family suite, but it was empty.
Maybe she shouldn’t have sent Bette away. She wasn’t ready to be alone. Sleep was as distant as Chester’s Wake.
Moving to the door that led into the hallway, she considered her options. She couldn’t very well go roaming the palace in her pajamas, dressing robe on or not. Still, she looked into the hallway.
A man rounded the corner into her hallways as she stuck her head out.
The color of his hair and the cut of his shoulders gave his identity away before she even saw his face. Their eyes met, and her breath caught.
Ben.
His eyes widened, and a smile spread across his face. “Roanna!”
She laughed softly as tears flooded her eyes and clogged her throat. “I can’t believe you’re here,” she choked out.
He glanced around. They were alone. Emotions played across his face, and she knew him so well she could almost see what he was thinking; they shouldn’t be talking. Not here, like this.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her into her room then closed the door. “I’ve missed you.” His voice cracked.
She managed a small smile as sh
e wiped tears. “It’s only been a week and a half.”
“Way too long.” He shook his head, and her smile relaxed into a more natural one.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
They stood in front of each other, staring. Roanna wanted to tell him a thousand things. About her hair, about the things she’d heard, about her wedding date.
But Ben spoke first. “I’m staying away from you on purpose. In retrospect, my coming into your room was a mistake.” He said it in that deadpan way of his that always meant he was teasing.
She laughed quietly, cautious to keep her voice down, and she stepped to the door leading to her family suite and locked it from her side.
There were no couches in her room, but she sat on her bed and nodded for him to sit at her vanity. She needed to tell him all that had been going on. “It’s not safe for you to be here with me,” she said quietly.
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She hesitated. She couldn’t exactly say Roland had called Ben her lover. “I heard something Roland said. And it’s not safe for us to be seen together.”
He accepted her words with a slow nod. “It’s why I didn’t come tonight, though they offered an invitation.” Silence hung between them. “I heard you’ve set a wedding date?”
Her throat tightened. Cursed tears. “Roland set it, yes. One month from today.”
He nodded again. “They’re throwing me a ball in two days to introduce me to the available women in the kingdom.”
“Queen Katherine mentioned it.” She looked down, suddenly unable to meet his eyes.
“Dr. Presnell is alive.”
She jerked her gaze to his. “What?”
“I’ve been here nearly a week now. King Dawson and his brother, Prince Southerland, have been taking me all over the countryside. I mentioned him once, saying my father sometimes spoke of his visits between the kingdoms. They said he lives.”
The Rejected Princess Page 9