Her response was cool. “Mrs. Diamond is a very clever dress designer.”
“The dress is stunning, but you look dazzling in it.” Blade swallowed hard. “I will see you later.”
As he strolled away, Alice wondered if she was being too hard on him for merely doing his job. On the other hand, why give him the benefit of the doubt? With a sigh, she went to join Seer for her interview. When he let her see a bit of the footage afterward, she was surprised at how much wonderful lighting, splendid clothes, and the best hair and makeup people had made a world of difference in her appearance.
“Thank you, Minister.” Alice gave him a warm smile. “You’re very good at what you do.”
“Coming from you, Princess, that’s an extraordinary compliment. Now if you will be so kind as to go to Studio Two, a photographer is waiting to take some shots of you in your gown.”
Alice’s footsteps were buoyant as she left the set.
∞∞∞
The autocab rolled to a stop curbside with a burst of steam and the door popped open. Kellan retrieved a bouquet resting on the seat next to him and said, “Wait for me.” A light on the dashboard blinked green in response.
Kellan stepped out and made his way across the manicured lawn, past tombstones and grave markers until he found the one that he’d come to visit. He knelt to lay the flowers just below a polished granite rectangle etched with CASSANDRA ELEANOR STRATFORD and the dates of her birth and untimely death.
He cleared his throat. “Hello, mother.”
His mother had lived long enough to see him made a Ranger but not long enough for him to help her much financially. He’d been unable to buy her a house or new clothes or even give her spending money the way he’d planned.
“I met a girl.”
Why had he blurted that out? As soon as Kellan said, it however, he realized that was exactly why he had come.
“I don’t even know her name and I think she’s probably out of my league.” He chuckled. “Still, she’s the first girl I’ve ever been interested in. She’s pretty, but it’s more than that. She’s kind and…almost vulnerable. I want to protect her from the world.”
Kellan shook his head and glanced off at nothing in particular.
“Blade’s in the way, of course.” His laugh was mirthless. “Not that I’d let him stop me.”
He knelt long enough to touch his mother’s name with his fingertips. “Maybe, if things go right, I’ll bring her here to meet you.” A muscle worked in his jaw as he stood. “Rest easy now. I’ll visit again soon.”
As Kellan returned to the autocab, he struggled to control his emotions. The one small comfort he’d held on to since his mother’s murder was the fact that he’d managed to bring the killer to justice. Unfortunately, vengeance could only go so far and lately he’d begun to wonder if a wife and family of his own might fill the void inside him.
In the road next to the cemetery, he watched as an omnibus rolled past with the WHO IS SHE? poster on the side. When King Justin finally released a statement about the mystery girl, Kellan planned to arrange a meeting somehow. If Blade dared to interfere, he would make sure the wizard regretted it.
∞∞∞
Alice was flying high as she changed out of her princess gown and donned her own clothes. She was almost out the door of the wardrobe dressing room when she turned around.
“Oops…I almost left with the tiara on my head.”
Mrs. Diamond hastened over to unpin the ornament. “That’s because it looks so natural on you.”
“Not when I’m wearing trousers.” Alice giggled. “What are we doing tomorrow?”
The woman settled the tiara into a velvet-lined box. “I believe Minister Seer would like to take more photos of you but I’m not entirely certain.”
“I’ll ask him.”
She stuck her head into the interview studio on her way out, but Seer was nowhere to be seen. He’d left a clipboard on his chair, however, so she crossed over to see if he’d made notes on tomorrow’s schedule. As she peered at the sheet on top, a bit of scripted dialogue caught her eye:
Making of a Princess
Director: Lionel Seer
SCENE: Post Interview. Blade/Princess
Blade walks toward Alessandra after his interview. She is stunning in her princess gown and tiara.
“Wow.” (Blade shakes his head) “That’s all I can say.”
Note: Alessandra’s reaction will not be scripted. Blade should use discretion how to respond, but he must appear to be drawn to her as never before. Advise him to be as unstudied and natural as possible.
Alice stepped back as if burned. If cameras had captured her conversation with Blade for broadcast to the public, these people were playing some kind of hideous game with her emotions. She glanced around for the storyboards that Seer had taken pains to hide. Although they were not immediately apparent, she walked around the perimeter of the studio until she discovered the easels stored behind a black curtain backdrop. She removed the rectangular cards obscuring their content and stood back to take them in.
“Merciful heavens.”
The easels held storyboards for a reality series revolving around her and Blade. First, they have a flirtation which deepens as they take part in the Promenade. Although they have a quarrel or two involving other girls and suitors, in the end, Blade wins her hand. The last storyboard detailed the events leading up to their wedding.
Alice’s gorge rose and she fought to keep her stomach from emptying its contents on the floor. Was her life to be a never-ending reality program, to be played out for the entertainment of Colossus? Surely her father could not have agreed to this travesty. Even if he had, he would not insist she carry on with it, especially once she told him she hated duplicitous Blade with every fiber of her being.
As she strode out of the studio and down the hall, she passed a plate glass window with a view into a film editing bay. She gasped when she recognized footage taken on the porch of Villify’s home—evidently with hidden cameras. As she watched, the screen was filled with a shot of her face when she first caught sight of Blade. Although she could not hear the sound, she remembered full well what had been said:
“Are you the ambassador?” Alice’s eyes were wide, and she had the appearance of being instantly besotted.
The screen cut to Blade, who looked as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. “No, I’m Blade Blackmon. Ambassador Quincy is taking a stroll in your garden.” He picked up her travel case and stepped back to let her pass. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess.”
Aghast, Alice backed away from the window. How could the Minfo film her without permission? Blade had said cameras were everywhere in the castle, so were they filming her right now? She sped down the corridor in horror.
∞∞∞
As her guards waited for her in the hallway, Alice strode into the outer room of her father’s office and approached the secretary.
“I’m Alice…Princess Alessandra, I should say.”
The man smiled. “Oh, hello, Princess. I’m Mr. Wattle, Private Secretary to the Sovereign, Night Division. How may I help you?”
“I must speak to my father right away. It’s urgent.”
“Urgent?” Mr. Wattle opened an appointment book and made a tsking noise with his tongue. “The soonest I can get you in to see His Majesty is three days away. Would a breakfast meeting suit you?”
“No, that won’t do. I must speak with him this very moment.”
The secretary gave her a sympathetic glance. “His Majesty’s time is not his own. As the ruler of Colossus, almost every second of every day is committed to conducting the business of the kingdom.” He pushed a pad of paper toward her. “If you would like to write him a note detailing the issue, I’ll make sure he receives it.”
Alice focused on the double doors behind the secretary’s desk, flanked on either side by castle guards. She could have neutralized them using magic, but she did not want to reveal her wizardry just yet. Although she was furious, her
mother had always cautioned her to make decisions with a cool head. If she could have a little time to think, perhaps she could formulate a plan.
“No, that’s all right, Mr. Wattle.” Her smile was tight. “Perhaps I can deal with the problem on my own.”
As Alice trudged away from her father’s office, a pang of loneliness brought tears to her eyes. With her guards in tow, she made her way to The Gallery Hall, which was open to the public for another half hour. She gazed at Helene’s hologram, wondering if she would ever see her mother again in the flesh.
An attendant crossed over. “You can ask the hologram questions and it will answer.”
Alice stared at the young woman. “Really?”
“Oh, yes. The questions have to be simple, of course, but all of the holograms are enchanted to respond.”
“I had no idea.”
“Let me show you.” The attendant glanced at the hologram. “What is your name?”
The hologram smiled. “My name is Helene Holland Masters. Until recently, I was the Head Wizard of Colossus.”
“You see?” The attendant beamed at Alice. “Ask anything and you might be surprised at the answer. Hologram cards are available in the gift shop, which is open until eight o’clock. Head Wizard Helene is available as a single or as part of a pack of twelve historical figures.”
The attendant moved off and Alice was left alone with the hologram. Although she felt rather foolish, she leaned closer to whisper, “Hello, Mother. It’s Alice.”
Helene smiled. “Dearest Alessandra. Don’t worry.”
Alice’s eyes widened. Was her mother trying to communicate with her in some way?
“I can’t help but worry, Mother. Where are you?”
The hologram merely responded, “Don’t worry.”
No matter what Alice said after that, the hologram would only say, “Don’t worry.”
Disappointed, she finally lifted her hand in a little wave. “Goodbye, Mother. I…I love you.”
“I love you, Alessandra. Never forget that.”
Alice left The Gallery Hall, deep in thought. Ordinarily she would have concluded that the hologram had malfunctioned—except it had used her full name twice. Even so, if her mother meant for the hologram to relay a message, the meaning of that message was obscure. Don’t worry. How could she not, when her mother had been kidnapped and might be dead?
The guards fell in behind her as she retraced her footsteps and crossed the entrance hall toward the staircase. As she passed the light fountain, she sank down onto the low wall, scooped up a handful of sparkles, and let them fall from her fingers.
“I’m not surprised you like that fountain.” Blade approached. “Your mother designed it.” He chuckled. “It’s a tourist attraction all its own.”
Alice yearned to push Blade, face first, into the sparkles. “What a lovely story.” Her voice was as calm as she could manage.
“I came to ask if you would have dinner with me this evening.” His smile was oddly vulnerable. “We can eat on the patio of my suite or in the private dining room reserved for castle residents.”
Was this part of a script?
“No, thank you, Blade. Where can we talk that’s private?”
He stuck his hands in his pockets like a small boy denied a favorite toy. “The gardens.”
Blade escorted her out of the castle and into the flower garden, where the white gravel paths glowed in the gathering gloom. When she heard the crunch of footsteps behind her, she made a sound of frustration and turned to face her guards. “Could we have just a few moments alone, please?”
Blade gave the guards a decisive nod. “She’s safe with me, I assure you.”
He took Alice’s arm and they walked on without the guards. When they reached the labyrinth, her fury was unleashed.
“I learned today that the Minfo has been filming me since Squirrel Flats!” She used her forefinger to stab at Blade’s chest. “How dare you intrude on my privacy without my permission!”
“Forgive me for saying so, but the Minfo doesn’t need your permission. His Majesty gave his permission and that’s all that matters.”
“You don’t expect me to believe my father approves of the Minfo spying on me?”
Blade shrugged. “You don’t have to believe me. Minister Seer has all the pertinent paperwork, stamped with the royal seal.”
“That’s absolutely despicable.”
“Yes, I do.” He took a deep breath and let it out. “I suppose the Minfo wanted the secret footage of you because they wanted your true personality to show. I don’t necessarily think it was the right thing to do, but King Justin approved of it.”
“I would complain to him if I could get an appointment.” She folded her arms. “Be that as it may, how can you pretend to flirt with me, all because of a storyboard? Don’t you realize how insulting and humiliating that is?”
“Yes, and I’m sorry you found out this way.” He loosened his collar. “Storyboard or not, I couldn’t come across as sincere unless I was genuinely attracted to you. I’m not that good of an actor.”
Alice walked off a few paces. “You’ve seen the wedding storyboards, I suppose.”
“I have. A royal wedding should spike ratings sky high.”
She turned. “You don’t mind being used for ratings?”
“His Majesty has approved the marriage.” Blade moved closer. “Look, an arranged marriage wasn’t what I had in mind, either. But as soon as we met, I thanked my lucky stars.”
“Was that line scripted, too?”
He made a sound of frustration. “We have plenty of time to get well acquainted before the marriage is announced. If you give me a chance, you might find I’m not half bad.”
“I don’t trust you, Blade.”
“You don’t have a choice and neither do I. His Majesty’s advisors want to have more close-knit ties between the royal family and the wizarding world. And Colossusians just want to have a good show.”
She shook her head. “This is too much to take in. A few days ago, I was the captain of my own ship and now I’m merely a flag on someone else’s mast. It’s too much, too fast.”
Alice strode toward the labyrinth, fuming. If her mother were here, would she have agreed to an arranged marriage? Alice would like to think Helene would have protected her daughter in every way she could.
“Alessandra, stop,” Blade called out. “Come back!”
“No!”
Before he could use another sticking spell to keep her in place, Alice ducked inside the maze and made her way to the center. As she glanced up at the stars, none appeared to be lucky.
She sighed. “Not for me, anyway.”
She lingered, glad to have a few stolen minutes of privacy and solitude. Very shortly thereafter, however, she discovered a phalanx of castle guards surrounded her. Once they escorted her from the labyrinth, Blade gave her a level glance.
“I warned you not to wander off.” His eyes narrowed. “I’m going to have to inform His Majesty you can’t be trusted.”
She laughed. “Coming from you, that’s rich.”
∞∞∞
Kellan, Dewar, Gus, and Paddy stood at attention as Captain Woods gave them their orders.
“The castle requires guards for one of their residents and they’ve requested a Ranger detail. Therefore, I’m assigning my best men to the task.”
“Isn’t this unusual?” Paddy frowned. “The resident must be dangerous.”
“Or in terrible peril,” Gus added.
“Or both,” Dewar muttered.
Kellan shrugged. “Or neither.”
“None of the above.” The captain rose from his chair and came around to the front of his desk. “She’s the VIP who arrived the other day.”
Kellan’s eyes flickered toward his friends, whose expressions mirrored his own puzzlement.
“You four will share guard detail in twelve-hour shifts. Stratford, report to the castle at seven o’clock tomorrow morning and relieve the cast
le guards outside the resident’s door. After that, the rotation is Carter, Flynn, and Delacourt.”
“Yes, sir,” Kellan replied. “What are our orders, Captain? Are we to keep this person in her rooms or keep everyone else out?”
“Her safety is of paramount concern, but she has the unfortunate propensity to evade the castle guards. The Ranger on duty will accompany her wherever she goes. When she is in her suite, the Ranger is to stand guard outside her door. Needless to say, the utmost discretion is involved.”
Gus cocked his head. “May we know this woman’s name, Captain?”
“You’re not to divulge it to anyone out of this room or you’ll be stripped of your rank and thrown in the brig.” The captain scowled. “Her name is Princess Alessandra, and I won’t answer any more questions about her because I don’t know the answers. Dismissed.”
After the Rangers saluted, they filed out of Captain Woods’ office and into the break room. Kellan could not repress a keen sense of disappointment at learning the mystery girl was of royal birth. His chances of wooing her had just dropped to nil and he felt as if he’d been punched in the gut.
Dewar murmured, “A princess? She must be a foreigner.”
“I wonder why she’s in Colossus?” Gus spoke low as well.
Kellan recalled the conversation he’d had with the princess in the mausoleum. “Maybe she’s related to Helene Masters somehow.”
“You could be right.” Gus poured himself a cup of coffee. “There is a resemblance.”
“Guarding a real princess!” Paddy smacked Kellan on the arm. “I can’t believe you get first shift.”
“Yeah, I know, right?” Gus stirred sugar into his coffee. “Kellan’s always the lucky one.”
“I’m not certain this detail makes any of us lucky.” Kellan shook his head. “Castle guards will hate us for showing them up and the Privy Council is looking for any excuse to disband the Rangers. We can’t let the princess go missing on our watch.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.” Dewar grinned from ear to ear. “I’m looking forward to keeping a very close eye on that lady.”
Royal Promenade Page 8