Undercover Princess

by Connie Glynn

  Although Lottie had been in Ellie’s room before, last time she’d been too overwhelmed to take it in. The lavish four-poster bed that seemed far too large for one teenage girl was on the left-hand side of the room as they entered. Ellie paid no mind to the Persian rug on the floor, happily traipsing over it in her shoes. There was an obvious disconnect between Ellie and the room – though it was decorated in dark colours to match her moody appearance, the room didn’t have any of her personality.

  ‘Why did you choose such different decoration for your dorm room?’ Lottie asked, skirting around the fact the room was so bare.

  Ellie snickered, understanding the unspoken message. ‘This is just where I sleep; I’ll show you my real room some other time.’

  Ellie made her way over to two mahogany doors opposite the bed and flung them open to reveal the most extensive walk-in closet Lottie had ever seen. ‘You’ll probably appreciate this more than I ever did. Help yourself to anything in there.’

  Lottie almost choked. The closet was filled with gorgeous dresses and accessories, all neatly stored and displayed, glittering jewels and expensive fabrics lining every shelf. In the centre, on two crystal mannequins, lit from underneath, were their dresses and shoes from Madame Marie’s. Lottie was about to reach out to them when her phone vibrated in her cardigan pocket. She frantically grabbed it, hoping it might be Ollie.

  It was not. A number she didn’t recognize appeared and she turned round to see if Ellie was watching her before she opened it.

  I look forward to getting to know you properly tomorrow evening.

  Xx

  Lottie instantly blushed.

  How did Edmund get my number?

  She involuntarily held her phone against her chest and covered her mouth. She felt silly for feeling so smitten over a message, but she couldn’t contain herself.

  ‘What are you looking so swoony about?’

  Lottie almost jumped out of her skin at Ellie’s voice behind her.

  ‘N-nothing!’ She rushed to put her phone away, only realizing too late that it made her look even more conspicuous.

  Ellie cocked an eyebrow playfully. ‘Who are you messaging that’s got you so flustered?’

  ‘No one. It’s nothing. I love these rings by the way!’ She could have punched herself for how painfully bad her attempt at swaying the conversation was.

  Ellie squinted at her suspiciously and Lottie tried to pretend she hadn’t noticed as she turned round to the closet. ‘I need to pick some accessories for the – HEY!’

  Ellie grabbed her arm, twisting her back round and pinning her to the closet doors, making them clatter.

  ‘Ellie, what are you doing?’ she spluttered.

  Ellie loomed over her menacingly, her mouth in its little side smile and looking far more dangerous than usual.

  ‘You are going to tell me your secret or I’ll bite you,’ Ellie growled teasingly.

  Lottie felt her face going hot. ‘Ellie!’ she exclaimed, laughing nervously.

  Ellie responded by pulling her arm and giving it a little toothless nibble that tickled so much Lottie nearly kicked her.

  ‘I can’t!’ Lottie blurted out through fits of laughter. ‘You’ll be mad at me.’

  Ellie instantly stopped and Lottie was able to compose herself again. Ellie’s face turned sweet and she slowly let go of her arm. ‘Lottie, I thought we weren’t doing secrets any more.’

  Lottie looked away, hoping it might remedy some of the guilt. ‘You promise not to be mad at me?’

  Ellie let out a long sigh. ‘If I promise, will you tell me?’

  Lottie began biting her cheek in worry; she was so sick of keeping secrets and lying. It had to stop. It wasn’t right. It was simply too un-princessy.

  She looked into Ellie’s eyes, her Ivy House room-mate. For some reason, their house motto sprung to mind: Righteous! An idea occurred to her suddenly. It was so simple.

  ‘I’ll only tell you if you’ll let me tell Ollie about Portmans.’

  Ellie hesitated, her face losing some of its excitement and she began chewing her lip as she weighed the pros and cons.

  ‘OK,’ she said at last. ‘But … we have to tell Jamie about the poem.’

  Lottie felt her heart skip a beat, but nodded slowly. Even though she was terrified of Ellie leaving Rosewood, she knew it was the right thing to do. Satisfied, Lottie squeezed her eyes shut, unable to look Ellie in the face as she confessed.

  ‘Edmund Ashwick left a letter for me at Rosewood saying he’d see me at the ball and I really want to dance with him again tomorrow.’ Lottie blurted the words out as fast as possible, afraid she might chicken out if she spoke at a normal pace. She opened her eyes, expecting to see an enraged Ellie but instead she just seemed shocked.

  ‘And this has been going on how long?’ she asked, her face still blank with shock.

  ‘Since New Year’s,’ Lottie replied guiltily.

  ‘And you managed to keep it from me and Jamie this whole time?’

  ‘Umm … yes?’

  Ellie’s face unexpectedly lit up again. ‘Well, I’m impressed!’

  Lottie couldn’t stop her jaw dropping; she’d expected Ellie to be as furious as when she’d spoken about the prince before. Impressed was definitely not the reaction she’d imagined.

  ‘I mean, even I struggle to hide things from Jamie and I’ve been doing it since I was born. He has this way of just –’

  ‘Knowing things,’ Lottie offered in agreement.

  Ellie nodded.

  ‘Ahem.’ Lottie and Ellie both jumped at the sound of the not-so-subtle cough coming from the other side of the room. They peeked out of the closet to see Jamie leaning against the door frame looking less than pleased.

  ‘What sort of things do I just know exactly?’

  They were well and truly busted.

  45

  ‘Jamie!’ Ellie exclaimed furiously. ‘Didn’t anyone ever teach you to knock?’

  He strolled casually into the room, ignoring her, and sat on the bed.

  He looked up at them sternly in a way that told Lottie a serious conversation was about to be had.

  ‘If you two are keeping something from me, you have to tell me. Now.’

  The two girls exchanged a glance, trying to wordlessly decide what to do. Lottie gulped. She was sick of the secrets eating away at her and if she didn’t come forward soon it might be too late. She turned back to Jamie, preparing to spill it all, but as she opened her mouth Ellie interrupted her.

  ‘Jamie, you have to promise not to be mad.’

  Lottie was overcome by a strong sense of déjà vu. It was an echo of the moment between her and Ellie just minutes ago. To her amazement Jamie’s face softened in the exact same way Ellie’s had; it was almost creepily similar.

  ‘I can’t promise not to be mad, but I’ll hear you out.’

  That’s more like Jamie, Lottie thought to herself.

  Ellie reached over and squeezed Lottie’s hand before continuing. ‘We found another … um … message.’

  There was a brief silence in which Lottie could see Jamie’s top lip twitching in a desperate attempt to stay composed. Ellie quickly filled him in on the details before he could ask any questions. She spun the story as if they’d found the message together. The entire time Jamie remained deadly calm.

  ‘So we don’t even know if it was really from the same person,’ Ellie concluded. ‘It could have been a terrible secret admirer for all we know.’

  Lottie felt a shiver go up her spine at how good Ellie was at manipulating the truth. When she’d finally finished explaining, the room went cold – the only sound was their breathing. Lottie was sure Jamie was about to start shouting at them, telling them how irresponsible they were and how Lottie was putting Ellie at risk. But there was no shouting. There was an expression on his face that didn’t seem quite right. He looked pained.

  ‘You know what the queen just asked me?’

  Both girls shook their heads at his quest
ion, racked with anxiety.

  Jamie took a long breath before continuing. ‘She asked me if I had anything worrying to report, and you know what I told her? I told her that everything was fine – better than fine. I told her you were both doing exceptionally well in school and there was absolutely nothing for them to be concerned about.’

  Lottie could feel Ellie relaxing, but the information only made Lottie feel even worse.

  Jamie looked directly at Lottie, forcing her to hold his gaze. ‘I lied to my queen.’ His face twisted in anguish. It was wrong to see him like this.

  ‘No, you didn’t. Everything is fine. You didn’t lie,’ Lottie said firmly.

  Jamie’s features regained some of their usual derision and she found she was actually relieved by it. ‘I find it hard to see how death marks and ominous rhymes are fine.’

  Lottie realized the answer he needed. The reason for his uncertainty was because he was stuck in a kind of purgatory. Torn between feeling that he was Ellie’s sole protector and the knowledge that Lottie was there to take any, hopefully metaphorical, bullets for her.

  ‘OK, listen. Both of you,’ said Lottie decisively. She could feel a strong sense of resolve building up inside her. If she wanted Jamie to see her as helpful, she needed to stop doubting herself. ‘I am Ellie’s Portman, and I know you think I’m not cut out for it, but so far everyone believes I’m the real princess.’ Something flashed across Jamie’s face but she continued. ‘You’re clearly used to being her sole protector but you need to start trusting my judgement. I can handle whatever danger there is.’

  Again the room filled with silence. Slowly a wry smile crept on to Jamie’s face, Ellie watched it unfold and responded with a furious expression. Jamie had been acting, and they’d both fallen for it.

  ‘You little –’

  Jamie quickly cut Ellie off by standing up. ‘Good job, Lottie,’ he said calmly, all hints of his earlier anguish entirely untraceable. ‘I knew things were fine so long as you were able to give me a response that eloquent.’ Lottie stared at him dumbfounded as he sauntered over to them and patted her on the head condescendingly.

  The poem was a test.

  ‘I doubt we have anything to worry about from the sounds of your story.’

  A test from Jamie to see if I was serious.

  ‘But, just in case, I had to be sure you understood your role.’

  A test to see if I’d be willing to put myself in danger for Ellie.

  Lottie knew it was stupid after everything she’d just said, but she’d never considered that for Jamie to be happy with her as a Portman he’d have to also be OK with the idea that she might get hurt. That she might die. She suddenly felt like an absolute idiot. Ellie looked as if she were about to bark at him, but Lottie held up her hand to stop her.

  ‘Of course,’ Lottie said, feigning as much composure as she could. ‘I’m glad you understand me.’

  Jamie nodded at her. ‘I’ll see you both tomorrow then.’

  And with that he walked out of the door, leaving them alone again.

  Jamie walked calmly to his quarters. He walked past Hanna and smiled warmly at her. He walked past one of the cooks on a break and nodded in recognition, all the while being absolutely sure to give nothing away. After all, it’s what he’d been trained to do from birth. He finally reached his room and pushed the door open, entering just as he would normally. He waited until the door was firmly shut behind him before he allowed himself to be consumed by his dread, and he broke down.

  46

  Lottie’s hands fidgeted nervously in her lap as her mother’s tiara was carefully lowered and clipped on to her head. She had requested permission to wear it with her gown and no one had protested. She was convinced it was the only way she’d get through her nerves.

  Any moment now she would be joining the ball; she could hear the guests on the other side of the white doors. Ellie had failed to inform her that as this was the first time the princess was attending a royal function, she would be getting a grand entrance and official announcement. Lottie thought back to when she’d been in the Ivy dorm all that time ago with Ellie and Jamie, before any death marks had appeared in her room, before the pool, before all the secrets. She’d been so excited to attend a real ball with real royalty, and she was determined to find that part of herself again. She couldn’t let the dreadful feeling in her stomach win.

  Lottie looked over to her left and saw Ellie, wringing her hands, equally nervous, wearing a dress she resented, to please people she didn’t like. She reached over and grabbed her hand like Ellie had done for her all that time ago during their trial.

  ‘It’s going to be fun,’ Lottie said, offering her best reassuring smile.

  Ellie turned to her with a fleeting look of surprise that melted into a genuine smile. ‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ she replied, furrowing her brows comically.

  The two girls paused as the hall beyond the doors went quiet.

  It was time.

  ‘Good luck.’

  Lottie was genuinely startled at Jamie’s voice behind her, not just because he was so committed to rules and logic that she didn’t imagine ‘luck’ was in his vocabulary but because there was no hint of irony at all. She turned to him and gave him a little wink, like she’d seen Ellie do a million times.

  ‘I don’t need luck,’ she teased, before turning in preparation for her grand entrance.

  A short fanfare played out, and then the words she’d been waiting for. The words that weren’t really meant for her.

  ‘We are delighted to introduce Her Royal Highness, the princess of Maradova.’

  Then the doors to the ballroom opened and light flooded over her, illuminating her dress and shoes like glowing liquid over her body. She stepped out gracefully and stood at the top of the marble stairs, looking out over the assembly below her. Lavish golden streamers hung from the ceiling, dangling elegantly between cherubic paintings. It was as if the heavenly scenes were extending out into reality.

  The congregation below her was like something out of a fairy tale, a display of opulent and over-the-top gowns and suits. Dresses flared out in colourful puffs across the shimmering white floor. Many heads were topped with different types of ornamentation. It was a room filled with royalty. The wonderful array of magnificent flowers bowed and curtsied as Lottie began her descent. The crowd parted for her as she made her way over to her ‘parents’ and once she was safely at their side the announcer gave the order for the festivities to continue, and Lottie became fair game for conversation.

  Ellie’s mother happily embraced the role of pretending Lottie was her daughter, whereas the king continued to keep himself apart from her, which to most people probably just looked like a stern father–daughter relationship.

  ‘A wonderful entrance,’ the queen praised, tenderly brushing Lottie’s cheek with her hand. ‘Don’t you agree, Alexander?’

  The king nodded briskly. ‘Yes,’ he said, giving Lottie a sideways glance, ‘quite the natural it would seem.’ It didn’t feel like the words were intended as a compliment.

  The queen leaned over to Lottie and whispered in her ear softly. ‘Go and find Ellie and Jamie and they will take you on the rounds.’ She finished by giving Lottie a gentle push into the crowd.

  Lottie had taken no more than three steps before the person she’d been hoping for appeared before her.

  ‘Edmund,’ she breathed.

  The prince was wearing white again, but this time he wore an elegant but subtle crown as well as his pristine regal outfit. He bowed low in response, but before he straightened up a hand grabbed Lottie from the side and yanked her away, leaving Edmund looking around in confusion.

  ‘Let go of –’

  Lottie looked up to see Jamie’s face looming over her. They stood close together as if they were about to dance. He looked incredible. In the short time she’d been in the hall he’d changed into his black suit, the shoulder pads and ruffles making him look like a valiant knight.

&
nbsp; ‘Wow!’ The word came out a whisper.

  Music began to swell and she looked around to see various couples pairing up to dance.

  ‘You are not dancing with Edmund,’ Jamie said sternly.

  Lottie pouted indignantly. ‘Well, who can I dance with then?’ she asked, fully aware that she sounded like a petulant child. She wanted to have a perfect night and that included at least one royal dance.

  ‘I don’t know. Ellie will be here soon; you can dance with her.’

  Lottie had every intention of doing that, but it seemed that was not a choice right now. The dance floor filled up and Lottie found herself and Jamie in the middle of them. She looked at his grumbling face and it became blindingly obvious what needed to be done.

  ‘As your princess, I order you to dance with me.’

  Jamie gazed down at her, completely bewildered. He had no choice. Couples around them began to get into position. He couldn’t leave now without causing a scene. Lottie smirked at him and to her amazement his expression turned to begrudging acceptance and he effortlessly moved her into position just as the music started.

  ‘As you wish,’ he muttered, as he placed his hand on the small of her back.

  He was far too rigid to be a good dancer, yet there was something comforting in the way they moved and stepped together. It probably looked very awkward to anyone watching, and it definitely was, but somehow Lottie didn’t mind. She was happy he was allowing her to be close to him again and figured this might be the first opportunity to talk with him candidly since the pool.

  No more secrets.

  ‘Ellie told me how you came to be her Partizan,’ she said gently into his chest. If it was possible, he went more rigid. ‘I know you have a complicated relationship with Ellie and her family, and I know you think I’m just some naive girl, but –’ the music swelled again and she had to tiptoe to reach his ear – ‘I want to help you, if you’ll let me.’

  Jamie abruptly spun her out and pulled her back in under his arm so she was facing forward with his arm wrapped round her waist. He leaned his head down over her shoulder and murmured in her ear. ‘I don’t think there’s anything that can help me since you showed up.’