"Ebony, is that you?" Some called as I was trudging up the steps. "I believe that is her, don't you think, Beatrice? Ebony, child, come here this instant!"
Heads were turning as Duchess Frow waved to me from where she stood by a large carriage. Her friend was standing next to her. Beatrice's brother, Walt, was not with them. Having nothing else to do, I came when she called. She was wearing a large red dress with light pink lace. I was shocked to see that the small black dog in her arms was wearing a matching collar. Beatrice's tilted her head in greeting before Duchess Frow launched into her questioning.
"Where have you been?" She pried. "Neither I or my friends have seen you since the first ball over a week ago. You did not come to see me before the previous ball and I hope you looked decent enough to be seen on the arm of our prince. Oh, don't look at me like that. It was all the gossips could talk about for two whole days. Where are you off to, dear?"
"I was just going to return to my room," I said meekly. She didn't need to know that my stepsisters had left me behind.
"Nonsense," Duchess From put her hand on my shoulder and pushed me towards her carriage. "We were just on our way to make an appearance at the tournament. You will come with us."
In her usual pushy way, she left no room for argument as she loaded me into the carriage. Just when I thought my luck had run out, good fortune came from the most unexpected of places. Beatrice had not even said a vaguely insulting thing to me yet, and in my good mood I was starting to warm to her. Since I knew it would please her, I informed the Duchess of how much time I had been spending with the prince since the first ball. She was pleased and spent the rest of the carriage ride telling me about how to act before the prince. I just smiled and listened as she talked. Soon I would arrive at the tournament where I would get to see the shocked look on Giselle's face.
The tournament had been moved to a wide open field that looked to be a pasture. The animals had been cleared and it was now ringed with the people who had come to watch the tournament. The center was where the competitors hurled their weapons to see who could throw the farthest. After a quick scan of the crowd, I spotted where the royal family sat under a striped awning. There were many other people sitting underneath the tent in rows of chairs. In the front of it all was Giselle, Christian, and Dewey. Giselle was almost sitting on Christian's lap she was so close and she held his hand in her lap while they watched the games together.
"Will you need a ride back to the inn, Ebony?" Duchess Frow interrupted my spying.
I shook my head. "I don't think so, Duchess Frow. I see my stepsisters over there and I think there is room in our carriage for me to return with them. Thank you for your kindness in bringing me here today. I greatly appreciate it."
"Nonsense, a young person such as you should be here today. Now go and join your sisters."
Not needing any further encouragement, I went to where Christian was seated. There was only one empty seat near them and it was on Giselle's other side. I frowned but anything was better than staying at the inn all day. "Hello, Christian, Giselle," I greeted. I did not get the look of shock I was expecting when Giselle looked up at me. Instead she was smiling brightly as she held Christian's hand.
"Ebony, it is so good of you to finally join us. I was afraid you were going to sleep the day away." Giselle spoke a bit too brightly for my liking.
Christian looked up at me and a look of concern flashed across his face. I had forgotten about the cut on my cheek and he must have seen it. "What happened?" He asked.
"My sister is so silly sometimes," Giselle beamed. She spoke so quickly it left me no room to explain what happened. "You see, Ebony has a bad habit of making every man she meets fall in love with her before breaking their hearts. Last night when we all went shopping, two of her numerous suitors spotted her and got into a brawl right in the middle of the street. Which two were they, Ebony? Oh, I remember, it was the man you met in the tavern and the one who was in the streets. The first time she saw that one, she made us stop the carriage so she could flirt with him too. Anyway, the two of them were fighting and poor Ebony didn't know what to do so she tried to stop them when a swing missed the mark and hit her instead. It wouldn't be the first time though, would it Ebony? She likes her men a little rough."
Giselle whispered the last line in Christian's ear as if she was imparting some great secret. She was smiling wickedly when she looked back at me, daring me to call her a liar. Christian shifted uncomfortably in his seat at her story. "Ebony, you know that some men can be violent and you have to be careful," He urged gently as if he were speaking to a dimwit.
I opened my mouth to explain but once again Giselle cut me off. "Oh, we have told her that time and time again. When she comes home stinking of ale we try to teach her the error of her ways, but she is set in her ways. It isn't all bad though. Sometimes she chooses a good man. Dewitt knows all about good men, don't you?"
Dewey was sitting on the other side of Christian and he leaned forward eagerly when Giselle said his name. "My sister here would love to hear what you have to say about promiscuity and how to choose a good man." Giselle purred. "Sit down, Ebony. I'm sure this won't take long."
Foolishly, I sat down. I had played right into her hands and she had turned Dewey's attention to me. I did not know what to do now. Dewey was already going on and on about something or other pertaining to good values while Giselle cuddled up to Christian. I had thought my luck for the day was changing, but I was wrong. I did not even hear any of Dewey's exhaustive speech because I was so focused on how efficiently Giselle had won over Christian. I would have to explain things to him and soon. I could not have him thinking a bounced from man to man heedlessly. Giselle had ruined everything with only a few sentences and I had to think of a way to fix them.
Dewey finished his tirade and when I didn't respond he went back to talking with the man who sat on his other side. Christian did not even glance in my direction; he was too focused on the tournament. If he did take his eyes off of the burly men chucking things about, it was to talk to Giselle. So there I sat, becoming more and more miserable as the day dragged on.
I was bored and didn't want to sit there quietly any more. I decided to try and pry Christian away from Giselle. "Christian," I said in a tone much brighter than I felt. "Would you like to take a walk with me to stretch our legs? Maybe see the competition from a different angle?"
"Sorry, Ebony, but I much prefer sitting here in the shade; besides the view from here is better than anywhere else. Feel free to take a walk if you want. It is a beautiful day and if you feel the need to stretch your legs you can. I'm sure Giselle with save your seat for when you return." Christian responded quickly before turning back to see a man hurl a javelin.
"Of course I will," Giselle smiled. "I'm happy to keep your seat for you if you cannot sit still for such an extended period of time. Just remember, try not to pick up any stray men on your way back."
I smiled back at her just as vibrantly, "That is so kind of you, but I can sit here just fine. I just thought maybe Christian might want to take a walk after having you clinging so close to him for most of the day."
Giselle's face soured for a moment before she put back on her happy facade again. She didn't respond and instead turned to whisper something in Christian's ear. Whatever that something was it made him laugh and they both went back to ignoring me, but not before Giselle gave me a triumphant look.
I was starting to wonder why I had ever thought that I could beat her when it came to wooing a man. Christian seemed completely indifferent to me now and I knew it was all because of Giselle and her scheming. I sighed in defeat and stared intently as man after man threw their javelins and axes.
Oh boy, that Giselle is a conniving little minx isn't she?
