by Kit Morgan
Chapter Eight
Asger headed into the forest, retracing the path he took when he brought Mitzi to the castle. Meanwhile, she was occupying his mind – was she all right? Frightened? Hungry? Did she feel as alone as he did? He put his hand on his belly as he walked. He had an empty feeling he couldn’t explain. It was unsettling, like a piece of him was missing, ripped away against his will and hidden so he could never find it again. But when he was with her …
He walked faster. It was all in his head, it must be. These things didn’t happen in real life. In fairy tales, perhaps, but not to living, breathing humans.
He waved at several guards as he continued down the cobblestone path, until it turned to gravel and finally the familiar dirt path that led deeper into the trees and underbrush. The forest was old and he used to love to play in these woods when he was a boy. Raina would chase him and he her. As soon as Vale was old enough, he joined their games.
What would his brother and sister think of Mitzi? Had they heard he’d found a woman wandering in the Queen’s Wood? Probably not. Raina would have retired early as was her habit, to read her books or write letters. Vale would have sought amusement by playing chess with Grandfather Ranulf, also one of his mother’s advisors. Hmm, what would he have to say about the strange woman that landed in his lap?
He slowed when he reached a huge English oak, one of his favorites in the forest. Moonbeams shone through the branches, casting an eerie glow. He looked around, saw no one and sighed. What was he doing? Why was this mysterious woman affecting him so? He was a prince of Dalrovia, betrothed to Princess Velta of Lacona. He had no business letting someone else make his heart beat so fast he could scarcely breathe. Yet the stranger had done just that. The moment he touched her hand, something happened.
Asger closed his eyes as longing crept into his heart and soul. Could he spend the rest of his life with Velta? Could he … love her?
He sighed, left the tree and continued his search for Hal and his men. They couldn’t be far, and he didn’t fancy one of them sending an arrow his way. Another minute and he caught up with the captain. “Well?”
Hal turned. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see if you found anything.”
“Nothing so far. If there was someone else, they’re long gone.”
Asger stared into the darkness, watching torches bob up and down as guards continued to search. “Hard to track in the dark.”
“Definitely,” Hal agreed. “But with the trees we couldn’t see far even in daylight, my Prince.” He raised the torch in his hand to demonstrate. It illuminated part of the tree, but not much. “Easy enough for someone to hide in the high branches.”
“Hmm, true.”
“We’ll search again tomorrow …”
“Captain!”
They turned to see a guard hurrying toward them. “What did you find?” Hal asked.
“This!” The guard bowed to Asger. “Your Highness.” He held up a … bracelet?
Asger and Hal examined the find. “What is it?” Hal asked.
“It looks like some sort of … time piece?” the guard said.
Hal held it before the torch to get a better look. “Worn on the arm or wrist perhaps?”
“It’s called a wristwatch,” Asger said. “I’ve seen members of the British Army wearing them, but I hear they’re not very reliable. And theirs are much larger.”
Hal kept examining it. “Look at the materials used to make it, the precision.”
“It’s beautiful,” Asger had to agree. “But where did it come from, and more importantly, who was wearing it?”
Hal sighed. “Like I said, they’re probably long gone. Unless of course it belongs to the fetching morsel you carried into the castle.”
Asger rolled his eyes. “I had to take care of her!”
“Was she injured?”
“No, but certainly frightened.”
Hal waggled his eyebrows, then turned to the guard. “Tell the others we’re done here. We’ll continue in the morning.”
“Yes, Captain.” The guard turned to Asger. “Your Highness.” He bowed and hurried off.
Asger took the trinket from Hal and examined it further. “This doesn’t look like something a woman would wear.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Hal gazed into the moonlit woods. “Which means there’s someone else out there. He came with her, perhaps.”
“Or he’s her abductor.”
“Did she say she was abducted?”
“She can’t remember what happened to her.” He arched an eyebrow. “But she said she was chasing a thief.”
“What? Why?”
Asger shrugged. “I have no idea … no, wait. She said she was a guard?”
“A guard?” Hal said in disbelief. “A woman, and her size? What kind of guard? Does she tend sheep?”
Asger shook his head. “I have no idea. I only know that ever since she fell on top of me …”
“What?!”
He smiled. “Hal, I don’t know what it is about her. But I find her … entrancing.”
Hal studied him. “You do look like you’ve been entranced, my friend. Be wary of such things. You can’t possibly have fallen for this woman, yet the look in your eye …”
Asger shut his eyes tight, opened them and faced him. “How about now?”
“I’m not jesting. You cannot risk the kingdom. You must marry Princess Velta.”
Asger sighed as his eyes drifted to the large tree behind Hal. The flickering torchlight made shadows dance on it. “But what if I … find another?”
“You are Prince Asger Berg, Her Majesty’s eldest son and the heir to the throne. You are not allowed to find another.”
Asger took a deep breath. “You’re right, of course.”
“Do you know when the wedding will take place?”
“No. The betrothal hasn’t even been announced yet – Father is still working out the details. And then of course I must be presented to the princess and her father.”
“He’s bargaining,” Hal said to himself.
“Me or my father?”
Hal shook his head. “I meant His Majesty. But uniting Dalrovia and Lacona would strengthen borders and bring prosperity to both. You cannot let some slip of a girl distract you.” He put a hand on his shoulder. “Asger, the sooner you’re rid of her the better. Get her out of the castle and back where she belongs as fast as you can.”
“Or what?” Asger’s eyebrows raised. “Afraid I’ll fall in love?”
“Go ahead, fall in love – just be sure it’s with Princess Velta.”
Asger chuckled. “The more I hear about her, the taller that order becomes, friend.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear,” Hal told him. “Now, you’d best get back to the castle. I’ll accompany you.”
“There’s no need, I can take care of myself.”
“Not when there’s a stranger in these woods. Who knows if they wish your family harm?”
He had a point. Mitzi was too small to pose a threat. But if her abductor was searching for her and wished to do her harm … “All right. Come with me. And double the guard tonight.”
“I already have.”
“Good man. And give me that watch. I’ll question my mother’s guest tomorrow. Perhaps she’ll recognize it and remember what happened to her.”
“Or who it belongs to,” Hal added, handing him the wristwatch.
Asger examined it one last time, then placed it in his trouser pocket. The thought of it belonging to Mitzi’s abductor, if there was such a person, galled him. The question was, of course, why? He’d met the woman only a few hours ago.
They parted ways when they returned to the palace – Hal to check on the night’s watch, Asger to his rooms and possibly the north tower. He didn’t want to get caught, but his curiosity was getting the better of him. Would Mitzi recognize the time piece and thus remember what happened to her? Being abducted and losing her memory was the only plausible e
xplanation he could come up with. Why else would the poor woman be spouting such nonsense? What had her captors done to her?
He stopped where two corridors met. If he continued straight he’d reach his rooms. If he turned right and went up the staircase … “What are you doing?” he chastised himself. “Don’t be a fool.” He looked at the hall that led to his rooms, then the staircase. “What is wrong with you?”
He headed for his rooms, stopped and went rigid. It was as if some invisible force was trying to bend his will. What on Earth was happening to him? He turned and stared at the juncture again. “I can’t.” But of course he could, and he wanted to. He had to know if she was all right, and to understand what was happening to him. Was he going mad? Why this pull to see her? It was ludicrous. Besides, Lady Mildred was there …
Asger took a deep breath, did an about-face and hurried to his rooms, wishing with every step that he wasn’t.
Mitzi stared out the window of the tower room. Like the rest of the castle, it was a combination of Victorian era and Disney fairy tale, not huge but still impressive. She wondered what sort of view she’d have when the sun came up.
What she saw now, however, was frightening. The moon illuminated a forest that seemed to stretch forever. There was indeed a moat surrounding the castle. To the right she thought she spied a little light – a house or some other structure? She had no idea.
“Here we are!” Lady Mildred said as she entered with another woman in tow. The latter, dressed like a French maid, carried a tray of food to the bedside table, curtsied to Lady Mildred and scurried out the door.
“Do eat something, child,” Lady Mildred urged. “Why, you look like you could waste away.”
Mitzi smiled at the older woman, half-expecting her to cackle like Lucille Ball, but so far she hadn’t. Too bad. She could use something familiar right now. She looked at the food. “What is it?”
“Roasted vegetables and venison.”
Mitzi was confused. “Venison?” Did she mean … deer?
“Yes, child. The cook made it with great care after hearing about your plight.”
Mitzi sighed. “Plight?”
Lady Mildred took a sudden interest in her long blue scarf. “Yes … you are lost, aren’t you?”
Mitzi stared at the food, avoiding the question. It looked and smelled wonderful. Had it really been prepared from scratch? That would explain why it took so long. She picked up a fork and poked at the meat, trying not to think about Bambi.
Lady Mildred joined her on the bed. “I don’t know what I would do if I were lost.”
Mitzi looked up from her food. “Who says I’m lost?”
“Well, I suppose you’re the only one who can say.”
Mitzi took a bite of food. She didn’t want to talk about it. Maybe if she ate and slept, she’d wake up in her own room, or a hospital bed. Where could she be? But if this was really the 19th century and not the 21st …
No, no – she couldn’t believe the year Andel Berg claimed. That was impossible. Being kidnapped, taken to Europe and deposited in the woods might take three days, but not minus a 130 years. Still, why did anyone want to do such a thing in the first place? Did her dad enter her in some weird survivalist contest? It almost sounded like something he’d do just to prove a point. Almost … still, she glanced around the room looking for possible hidden cameras.
“What are you doing, dear?” Lady Mildred asked. “Please eat. You need your strength.”
“For what?” Mitzi hoped she didn’t regret asking.
“For whatever is to come.” Mildred reached for a glass of something – wine? Maybe sherry – it was a small glass and she sipped it delicately. She noticed Mitzi watching and smiled. “For my rheumatism.”
Yeah, right, Mitzi thought behind a smile. She stabbed at what looked like a roasted beet. Eating, however, reminded her that this was real. If the food was real, then the forest outside the windows was real, Lady Mildred was real, if eccentric. The tall man claiming to be a prince consort was real. The queen was real. Her “captor” was real. But why were they dressed up in funky period clothing in a castle, claiming to be living in 1889?
There were only two possibilities. Either they were very rich and very crazy, both enough to live their life in Victorian cosplay. Or … or it was true.
A chill went up her spine as she choked down the beet slice and tried a piece of carrot. Lady Mildred watched her like a hawk, but she didn’t care about that right now. She was busy trying to wrap her head around where – and when – she’d been told she was. But it kept hitting a wall labeled “how could it be?” Time travel wasn’t possible, not in 1889 or in her own time!
She glanced at Lady Mildred as she ate. The woman looked like she was waiting – for what?
Mitzi finished her meal in silence, Mildred (she’d drop the “Lady” from now on) still watching her. The woman probably wondered why she’d become so quiet. But eating was as good an excuse as any right now. She was growing sleepy, but did she dare sleep in this place? Would she wake up someplace else, someplace worse?
She swallowed hard and reached for a nearby glass of water, but stopped halfway. She sensed something, not unpleasant – on the contrary, it was comforting, peaceful and reminded her of her time with Asger. How strange. She looked at the windows, then the door. Hmm, where could he be?
No, never mind. Her situation was weird enough without thinking about the hot guy whose lap she fell into. But if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t be here with a hot meal and a huge comfy bed. “Mil … um, Lady Mildred, how long have you been here?”
“Oh, my Heaven, let me see … seventeen years, I believe.”
“And … what is it you do?”
“Why, I’m a companion, child. To the queen, mostly, and Princess Raina. She’s a dear, you’ll like her. Though I wouldn’t advise going into the forest with her.”
“Why not?”
“The princess is very very fond of playing hide and seek.” Mildred’s brow creased. “Only when she hides, you often have to find your way back to the castle on your own.” She laughed nervously. “Oh, it’s a game she’s played since she was a child. When she and her brothers were younger, I helped look after them. I was a nanny of sorts back then.”
“So you’re a servant here?”
“Oh, no, dear – I’m a lady of the court. I adopted the role of nanny as a favor to Her Majesty. She needed one, and one must do something with one’s days …”
Mitzi stared at her. She had a strong feeling the woman wasn’t lying. And if she wasn’t … oh, dear. She felt suddenly sick.
“Oh, dear!” Mildred said. “Are you all right? You’ve gone white as sheet.”
Mitzi stood. “No.” She glanced around for something to hurl into. “Not all right!” She covered her mouth.
“Never fear!” Mildred cried and jumped to her feet. She reached under the bed and brought something out.
Just in time. Mitzi tossed her cookies right into an old-fashioned chamber pot.
Chapter Nine
Mitzi’s eyes fluttered open the next morning to birdsong. She stared at the canopied bed with its lace and blue velvet. It was beautiful. She’d hardly noticed last night …
Last night! She bolted upright, rubbed her eyes and … everything was still there. The round tower room, the castle’s stone walls covered in tapestries, the diamond-paned windows, now open with the sweet smells of a summer morning drifting in.
And of course Mildred. “Oh, you’re awake – how wonderful!” She grinned. “I was just enjoying a cup of tea and some knitting. Would you like some?”
Mitzi stared at the woman standing by her bed, wearing a bright … something. It consisted of an orange vest with buttons over a white puffy-sleeved blouse, orange pantaloons, and a white turban with a red feather in it. The overall look was of a Hare Krishna guru on acid. She smiled weakly. “Tea? Sure.”
Mildred trotted to a table and picked up the teapot. “One lump or two?”
“On
e, thank you.” Mitzi crawled out of bed, noticed the night gown she wore and tried to remember putting it on. She’d gotten sick, changed with Mildred’s help, then collapsed onto the bed in shock. She swallowed hard and joined Mildred at what looked like a dining table, complete with four chairs. “Good morning.”
“Good morning!” Mildred happily plopped a lump of sugar into her cup and gave it a stir. “Here you are, my dear. Drink up and I’ll send for breakfast.”
Mitzi held the cup and saucer in her hands as Mildred disappeared out the door. She spoke to someone but Mitzi couldn’t see whom, just heard a male voice followed by retreating footsteps. Had they placed a guard outside the door, or had he just been passing by? Was she a prisoner? She sipped her tea and wondered what to do.
“Oh, dear,” Mildred said on her way back to the table. “You don’t look any better than you did last night. Are you unwell?”
Mitzi couldn’t even force a smile. “I’m not myself, that’s for sure.” She turned toward the window, saw the bright blue sky and smiled. It was one of the most beautiful things she’d ever seen. She’d seen plenty of skies in her lifetime, but never one so clear. It was as if someone had taken a filter off her eyes and she was seeing colors as they should be.
“My child, shall we pay a visit to the royal physician?”
Mitzi slowly turned to her. “That’s right, there’s a doctor here.” The man from the forest who brought her here had mentioned that. She stared at her teacup as the previous evening flooded her mind. “Asger …”
Mildred sat. “The prince?”
She stared at her. “Prince Asger, yeah.”
“Yes. I told you a little about him and his siblings last night. Don’t you remember?”
Mitzi nodded. “Raina is his sister.”
“Yes, and Vale their younger brother.” Mildred leaned back in her chair and shook her head. “You poor thing. I can only imagine the horrors you’ve suffered.”
Mitzi glanced around the room again, feeling like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, a stranger in a strange land who just wanted to go home. But how could she get there? And where was here? She had a feeling clicking her heels together wouldn’t do it.