Chapter Thirteen - A Matter of Tastes
The following evening, per Leonhard's request, TaraLeila and Heine joined the princes at dinner.
As the two entered, however, TaraLeila saw an elegantly dressed older woman, with a child of about four years of age hovering near her skirts.
"Ah, yes. Introductions are in order," Heine said, quietly escorting TaraLeila across the room. "TaraLeila, allow me to introduce Her Majesty, the Queen Mother, Maria von Granzreich, and the princes' sister, Princess Adele von Granzreich. Your Majesty, Your Highness, may I present Dame TaraLeila MacIntyre, Knight of the Rose and Cross."
TaraLeila's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly recovered her poise and bowed from the waist. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, 'tis a pleasure and a privilege."
"Ahh, so this is the lady Knight my son mentioned," the Queen Mother said, a warm smile on her face. "Welcome to Weissburg Palace, my lady."
Adele stared up at TaraLeila in fascination, then turned to her grandmother with a bright grin. "She reminds me of Bea!"
At TaraLeila's look of confusion, Heine discreetly murmured, "The princes' cousin, Lady Beatrix von Lothringen. She prefers men's clothing to women's."
"Ahh," TaraLeila replied softly, hiding her smile.
As dinner was brought in, TaraLeila, Heine, and the Granzreich family were seated. TaraLeila crossed herself and bowed her head briefly before beginning her meal, which drew the princes' notice.
"I did not realize you were devout, Dame TaraLeila," Bruno remarked, and she nodded. "Should you wish to avail yourself, there is a chapel here in Weissburg Palace."
"Thank ye most kindly, Your Highness. I may, at that."
While the princes, Heine, and Adele drank water, TaraLeila and the Queen Mother enjoyed one of Granzreich's many excellent wines.
"Knights don't abstain from drinking?" Licht asked curiously, and TaraLeila smiled.
"Weel, some do, but I enjoy a good ale as much as the next Highlander. Though I've come to appreciate wines more, thanks to a friend of mine, a fellow Knight."
Conversation around the table was lively over the meal, and TaraLeila made certain to compliment the kitchen staff regarding the food, as well as Leonhard for the venison and pheasant they had brought back the previous day.
While dessert and coffee was served, Heine turned to TaraLeila, but he stopped as a look of deep sadness crossed her face while she watched the princes chatting with their sister and grandmother.
"Tara?" he asked softly, leaning slightly closer to her. "Are you all right?"
She did not look at him, but continued to watch the royal family, her eyes filled with a longing that was painful for the tutor to see.
"Do ye remember your family, Heine?" she asked at last, and he shook his head.
"No. I never knew my parents, I was left at an orphanage when I was a baby."
She gave him a slightly surprised look. "I knew ye were an orphan, but I did no' know that. But I guess that means ye've no memories of family, of loved ones." TaraLeila turned her gaze back toward the Granzreich family, their laughter and teasing and banter.
"I've only fadin' memories of mine, of my mother and father, before-"
She stopped abruptly, and Heine wondered what she had been about to say.
TaraLeila stared down at her plate as she composed herself, and Heine gently rested his hand on her shoulder.
"It's strange," he mused, "but in their own way, the Granzreich family has made me a part of their family. Despite all that I am, they have welcomed me. Perhaps in time, you will find someone who will do the same for you."
She looked over and gave him a slight smile, and rested her hand on top of his. "Ye are a kind man, Heine. If naught else, I'm grateful I have ye as my friend."
As she was preparing to go to bed, TaraLeila heard a tentative knock at her door. She opened it to find Heine waiting outside, candle in hand.
"Heine!"
"Forgive me for disturbing you at this late hour, Tara. May I come in?"
"Of course."
Once he'd come inside, TaraLeila waved him to a chair, completely unselfconscious about being in her sleeping attire. Heine stared at her, having never seen her in anything but her traditional Knight's outfit. In a long, white shift, her hair loose around her waist, she looked almost vulnerable in the candlelight... and lovely.
Now is not the time, he thought, frustrated for reasons he would not admit even to himself.
"I apologize for asking for you so late in the evening, but I'd forgotten while we were at dinner. I was wondering if you'd please accompany Prince Licht and me into town tomorrow during his shift at the café."
"His shift?"
"Yes. You see, apparently some time ago, Prince Licht began working in secret as a waiter at a local café in Wienner."
"I'm guessin' His Majesty was no' happy when he found out."
"Yes, well... they were eventually able to come to an arrangement – the prince is allowed to work there once a week, provided I accompany him. This time, however, I am curious as to your observations of him while he is at work. Of course, the owner, the staff, and the patrons do not know his true identity, so discretion is advised."
Her dark eyebrows arched, but she nodded. "Aye, I can see how that might be a problem. How then does he justify ye bein' there?"
The tutor grimaced. "They are under the impression that I am actually His Highness' younger brother."
TaraLeila clapped one hand over her mouth in a vain attempt to hide her smile, which was only made more difficult by Heine's glare. "I'm sorry, but 'tis funny, when ye think about it. But aye, I'd be happy to go with ye." She looked down at herself. "Though I'm guessin' you'd no' want me wearin' my tabard, or that'd raise more than a few questions."
"Naturally. I presume you do have other attire?"
"Weel, I'm no' sure I'd meet the latest fashions here in Granzreich, but aye. I'm also guessin' that ye go into town via carriage. 'Twould probably be best if I ride with ye rather than on horseback. And me leavin' the swords at home, though I'll no' be goin' anywhere without my daggers." She rested her chin in her hand and looked thoughtful. "Hmm. If the staff there think ye are his brother, how do ye plan to explain me?"
"Simply that you're a visiting friend of the family, should anyone ask. We'll leave tomorrow morning at seven a.m."
The following morning, TaraLeila met Heine and Licht in the courtyard where a carriage awaited to take them into town.
"Good mornin', Heine... Your Highness. Will this do?"
The two men studied her in surprise. She wore a pale green blouse with a black fitted bodice and full skirt. A plaid with a tartan of dark green, with thick blue stripes, and thin red and white stripes, was loosely draped around her shoulders, fastened with a large silver brooch of the Rose and Cross seal, and she wore her hair up in a simple chignon.
"Is that what they're wearing in the Marches these days?" Licht asked, looking her up and down, and she nodded.
"Aye. Weel, the tartans would be different, of course." She smoothed her skirts with one hand. "'Tis the MacIntyre tartan for me."
"A bit rustic, but charming nonetheless."
She gave him a slightly mocking curtsey. As she walked toward them, however, Heine noticed that the flow of her skirts seemed slightly unusual.
"Tara, am I mistaken or are you actually wearing a split riding skirt?"
TaraLeila grinned. "'Tis no easy task to ride or fence or run in a dress, ye ken. I should know, I've done all three. I'd no' recommend it."
Heine shook his head with a faintly exasperated smile.
As the footman opened the door, Licht turned, bowed, and offered his hand to TaraLeila to help her into the carriage. She hesitated, however, then stepped into the carriage without his assistance. Licht gave Heine a puzzled look, but the tutor had no response for him. They both entered the carriage, and soon were on their way into town.
Once they arrived at the café, Licht headed toward the back rooms to change into his uniform, while Heine was shown to his usual nook.
"And who is this with you today?" the café owner asked, looking at TaraLeila with interest. "Another relative of Rich's?"
"She is a friend of the family," Heine explained, "visiting Granzreich for a short while."
"Welcome to Café Mitter Meyer, miss," the owner said with a polite bow.
"Thank ye," she replied, looking around the café with interest.
Licht came by a few moments later, brandishing his notepad with a flourish.
"Well, I know what the Professor here will be having, but what about you, madame?"
Then he and Heine both realized that TaraLeila was blushing in embarrassment as she studied the menu, and suddenly remembered that she couldn't read Eise.
"Weel..." she began, but Licht held up a hand.
"Allow me to make a recommendation, then."
She gave him an uncertain look, then glanced at Heine, who murmured, "I suggest trusting his judgment."
She nodded, then looked up at Licht. "I leave it to your suggestion, then."
Licht collected their menus and bustled off to fulfill their order. A few minutes later, he returned with a tray.
"For the Professor, one kapuziner and one Dobos torte," he announced, placing Heine's food in front of him. "For the lady, our delicious Maria Theresia, with imported orange liqueur, and topped with grated orange zest and freshly whipped cream, which pairs perfectly with the dark chocolate and apricot of our sachertorte."
TaraLeila picked up the cup and took a cautious sip, then her pale blue eyes went wide. "'Tis delicious," she finally managed to stammer. "Thank ye so much."
Licht grinned at her and bowed slightly. "My pleasure."
Heine watched as she sipped her drink slowly, eyes closed as she savoured the hot coffee.
"Good?"
"Wonderful," she said with a smile. "Thank ye for invitin' me."
"You are quite welcome. Do try the torte, the desserts are excellent here."
As TaraLeila ate, Heine began grading the princes' homework while sipping at his kapuziner. Once she'd finished eating, however, she sat back and watched Licht at work.
Some time later, without looking up from his papers, Heine murmured, "So what do you think?"
"He clearly takes his responsibilities seriously," she said quietly. "He has an excellent memory for faces and names, 'twould seem, and is quite apt at judgin' the mood of a room. He'd make an outstandin' diplomat."
"What would you see as his shortcomings?"
She rested her chin in her hand and watched the prince making his way around the room, interacting with the patrons.
"Weel, it could be a shortcomin' that he's too quick with a joke or a smile. Charm is all weel and good, but one must also have a sense of gravitas, especially if one has aspirations to the throne."
As Licht smiled at the café owner, TaraLeila was struck by a sudden thought. "'Tis mayhap an odd question, Heine, but does he seem... happier here?"
"Yes, in fact, he does," Heine said after a moment's consideration. "I sometimes wonder myself if he is unhappy at home. After all, he is the youngest of five brothers, and is not nearly as close with them as the rest are with each other."
"I'd wondered about that, after seein' them together in the courtyard that first day durin' fencin' practice." She watched him for a while longer, then she looked away and returned her attention to her coffee.
"Is something wrong, Tara?" Heine asked at length. "I noticed earlier that you seem... uncomfortable around Prince Licht. Did he say or do something to offend you?"
She started and nearly spilled her drink. "N-no, 'twas nothin' like that."
"Are you sure? It was the same last night at dinner."
"Aye, but I thank ye for your concern."
Heine could instinctively tell that she was lying, but whether it was because she preferred to handle the matter herself, because they were in public, or because she didn't want to cause undue problems between the tutor and his student, he couldn't say.
"Is everything to your satisfaction?"
Startled, TaraLeila glanced up to see Licht at her shoulder, and Heine once again saw that same withdrawal from the prince that he'd observed earlier.
"Aye, thank ye."
Licht gave her the same charming smile he gave most women and moved to another table, but not before Heine noticed that TaraLeila's hands were trembling.
To be continued...