Chapter Two
A moment of silence made the walls seem to quiver with my knees and I swallowed, slowly walking over to a figure, robed in royal purple and facing a portrait of one of my relatives.
"What kept you?" my stepmother asked clearly, with a tang of anger and evil in her voice, not bothering to turn around.
"I'm sorry-I lost track of the time-" I stuttered.
"Did I ask you for apologies and excuses?" she turned around sharply. Her face was all curves and sharpness. Her black eyes were like needles, poking at my appearance. She had high cheekbones and her eyebrows were pointed in a permanent arch, as if she were accustomed to looking down on people all the time. Her hands were covered in sparkling jewels, gifts from my father, and they were crossed in front of her in between the long folds of her gown. She stared hard at me.
"Well, actually, yes, in a way you did," I said quietly.
"Don't contradict me. I'm expecting very important guests for supper and I needed to get you out of the way. I didn't want you waltzing in during our meal. You will eat your supper with Martha in the kitchen."
"It's Margaret-" I started.
She waved her hand for silence, "Look at you, all full of dirt, without even any shoes on. What would the King think of you?"
"That's who coming to dinner?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes, and his wife and son. They have not called since your father passed and the King was very great friends with your father."
"Go wash up and put on something decent for once. And get Erin to help you dust off the dining hall. I will not have royalty sitting on dusty chairs."
"Yes ma'am," I murmured and turned, carrying my basket of starflowers and book as if they were too heavy to carry and climbed the stairs to my room. I heard my stepmother's skirts swish as she turned swiftly and left the room.
My room was the room at the end of the hall of guestrooms, the smallest, but in my view, the prettiest. It looked out on the main garden to the walls covered in vines. I had always loved window seats and I had two in my room. The first was the biggest and was the full view of the garden. The second, the smaller, was my favorite because it faced the east. I spent long hours before and after dawn, watching the sun rise over the village and the stars disappear. The wall opposite the feather bed was my library. They were mostly my father's books when he was at school and from his travels and I treasured them beyond anything of my possessions. I crossed the room and tossed my basket on my bed. The door opened and Erin came in.
"My goodness, the mistress has got the whole place in a fuss. It isn't the first time the King himself paid a visit, but it may be the last when he spends a meal with her."
I giggled.
"Now, come, dear, let's get you dressed up and we can finish off the dining room quickly."
She patted the bed and I sat beside her. Erin took a brush from my bureau and began to comb out of the tangles of my day. I told her wistfully about the ramble I had in the woods and the story of my book.
She shook her head at me, wrapping her fingers around my thick black curls, braiding and wrapping the braid around my head, leaving wee little curls about my face.
"Head always in the clouds, Megan."
"Meg," I corrected, as I stood up and let her undress me.
"My, this dress is filthy!" Erin looked over the dirty frock and laid it carefully over a chair, "What, did you fall in a mud puddle today?"
I told her briefly of my interlude with the boy and falling all over myself. She laughed at my story, her vivid green eyes shining.
"You've had quite a day today." She went to the closet and pulled out a pale blue gown my father used to be so fond of. Her frizzy red hair was tied messily in a bun that had fallen out as she had scrubbed the floors this morning. She turned and smiled her sweet smile at me, freckles splattered about her cheeks.
"Here, you tell me you always feel particularly pretty in this one."
I raised my arms as she pulled the dress over my head and over my white petticoats. I gazed out the window as she buttoned the back.
"Erin?"
"Yes dear."
"What does my stepmother do all by herself all the time?"
"I don't rightly know," she finished buttoning and turned me around, "It ain't right to meddle in other people's business."
I sat back down on the bed to pull on my white slippers and looked back up at Erin.
"I know you know something about her. You must know if you spend all day being invisible and going about the rooms cleaning."
Erin sighed and sat next to me, "She's a mysterious creature that's for sure. I have reason to think she's a witch in disguise, always sneaking around and disappearing to God knows where for hours on end."
I chuckled, "Erin, you know there are no such things as witches."
"I don't know about that," she arched her eyebrows, "Don't you remember your father's stories?" She laughed, "Remember the one about the dwarves that lived all alone in the woods?"
"I think dwarves are just as unreal as witches are," I shrugged and looked back at the window. Erin was silent for a moment.
"I know you miss your father." She reached and squeezed my shoulder, "Things would've been much different, if he were."
I stood up and brushed off my gown.
"Well, do I look quite ready?"
She sighed and smiled at me, "You look more beautiful than any other sixteen-year-old girl I've ever met."
I returned the smile and took her arm.
"Let's go make sure royalty isn't sitting on dusty chairs," I said. Erin laughed.
We walked back downstairs the dining hall and I was sent out to fetch water from the well to fill flower vases. My stepmother was very elaborate in her decorating. There were bouquets of flowers all along the walls of the dining hall.
The sun was slowly setting, creating a red glow on the grounds. The well was a beautiful object. Old and worn, the stone well was covered in vines and sweet-smelling rose plants. I took my leisurely time in strolling to the well, to soak in the glory of the day and to take as much time away from my stepmother's unending orders. I set the wooden pail on the ground beside the well and leaned on the edge of the well, gazing down into the black depths.
"Hello-hello.hello.hello," I cried out into the well, listening to the glorious echo rising up to greet me. My father told me once of the beautiful Greek nymph named Echo, who was born with a speech impediment and could only repeat whatever anyone said to her. She fell in love the god, Narcissus, but never was given love in return and so she withered away until only her voice remained, forever repeating in longing tones. That story was one of my favorites and the best I could hear of the nymph was in this well.
"Hello-hello.hello.hello," I cried again, just to hear the reply. I smiled and picked up the pail, thinking longingly of a place away from orders and rules, a place full of freedom. Reaching into my pocket, I tossed two coins into the well and said aloud a wish to the sweet nymph.
"I wish.wish.wish." I called into the well, "to be free."
"Free.free.free," was the answer I received. A rustle came from the bushes around the path behind me. I jumped and spun around to face the same boy I had crashed into this morning.
"Hello," he said. I was so startled, I couldn't think of anything to say.
"You're the girl from the village, aren't you?" he asked. I merely nodded feeling stupid and small. The boy seemed about sixteen or seventeen and was very richly dressed. How did he find out where I lived? Then something dawned on me.
"You're-you're." I tried to say. The boy sighed.
"Yes, I'm Prince Theodore. But no one except my father calls me that. Mostly I'm called Teddy."
His father! That was the king! There was a short pause.
"And you are.?" the prince asked.
"Megan White. But I'd rather be called Meg."
"So you are Frederick White's daughter he used to speak so much of!" Teddy grinned, "I've been told about you. How ironic it is that we just happened to meet."
I thought about this for a moment. It seemed kind of strange that he "happened" to walk down the path of our gardens to the well, well hidden from view.
My cheeks were flushed and I felt embarrassed having been found crying out wishes into a well.
"I'm sorry, my stepmother must be waiting for the water for the vases. Again, my daydreams have stopped me from doing my chores."
The prince laughed gaily, "Here let me help you."
He took the pail and threw into the well and then pulled on the rope. I watched him, forgetting to thank him. He was definitely handsome, tall and strong. He had short dark brown curls that fell over his eyes as he pulled on the rope to bring the water up. He had strong hands, I noticed as he handed me the pail full of water.
"Thank you very much," I said, smiling, "I hope I haven't kept you from your supper."
"Not at all," Teddy answered, "The baroness has taken my father to the treasury."
Figures she'd be showing off. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and curtsied as best I could without spilling the water.
"I'm sorry, sire, I shouldn't have kept Erin waiting so long."
"Teddy, please," the prince corrected, "Will you be at home tomorrow?"
I nodded, my thoughts scattered.
"May I call on you?"
"Of-of course," I stammered and curtsied again before turning to go through the kitchen door. I closed the door and leaned against the back of it, taking a deep breath and smiling to myself.
Little did I know there had been someone spying on us through the treasury window.
A moment of silence made the walls seem to quiver with my knees and I swallowed, slowly walking over to a figure, robed in royal purple and facing a portrait of one of my relatives.
"What kept you?" my stepmother asked clearly, with a tang of anger and evil in her voice, not bothering to turn around.
"I'm sorry-I lost track of the time-" I stuttered.
"Did I ask you for apologies and excuses?" she turned around sharply. Her face was all curves and sharpness. Her black eyes were like needles, poking at my appearance. She had high cheekbones and her eyebrows were pointed in a permanent arch, as if she were accustomed to looking down on people all the time. Her hands were covered in sparkling jewels, gifts from my father, and they were crossed in front of her in between the long folds of her gown. She stared hard at me.
"Well, actually, yes, in a way you did," I said quietly.
"Don't contradict me. I'm expecting very important guests for supper and I needed to get you out of the way. I didn't want you waltzing in during our meal. You will eat your supper with Martha in the kitchen."
"It's Margaret-" I started.
She waved her hand for silence, "Look at you, all full of dirt, without even any shoes on. What would the King think of you?"
"That's who coming to dinner?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes, and his wife and son. They have not called since your father passed and the King was very great friends with your father."
"Go wash up and put on something decent for once. And get Erin to help you dust off the dining hall. I will not have royalty sitting on dusty chairs."
"Yes ma'am," I murmured and turned, carrying my basket of starflowers and book as if they were too heavy to carry and climbed the stairs to my room. I heard my stepmother's skirts swish as she turned swiftly and left the room.
My room was the room at the end of the hall of guestrooms, the smallest, but in my view, the prettiest. It looked out on the main garden to the walls covered in vines. I had always loved window seats and I had two in my room. The first was the biggest and was the full view of the garden. The second, the smaller, was my favorite because it faced the east. I spent long hours before and after dawn, watching the sun rise over the village and the stars disappear. The wall opposite the feather bed was my library. They were mostly my father's books when he was at school and from his travels and I treasured them beyond anything of my possessions. I crossed the room and tossed my basket on my bed. The door opened and Erin came in.
"My goodness, the mistress has got the whole place in a fuss. It isn't the first time the King himself paid a visit, but it may be the last when he spends a meal with her."
I giggled.
"Now, come, dear, let's get you dressed up and we can finish off the dining room quickly."
She patted the bed and I sat beside her. Erin took a brush from my bureau and began to comb out of the tangles of my day. I told her wistfully about the ramble I had in the woods and the story of my book.
She shook her head at me, wrapping her fingers around my thick black curls, braiding and wrapping the braid around my head, leaving wee little curls about my face.
"Head always in the clouds, Megan."
"Meg," I corrected, as I stood up and let her undress me.
"My, this dress is filthy!" Erin looked over the dirty frock and laid it carefully over a chair, "What, did you fall in a mud puddle today?"
I told her briefly of my interlude with the boy and falling all over myself. She laughed at my story, her vivid green eyes shining.
"You've had quite a day today." She went to the closet and pulled out a pale blue gown my father used to be so fond of. Her frizzy red hair was tied messily in a bun that had fallen out as she had scrubbed the floors this morning. She turned and smiled her sweet smile at me, freckles splattered about her cheeks.
"Here, you tell me you always feel particularly pretty in this one."
I raised my arms as she pulled the dress over my head and over my white petticoats. I gazed out the window as she buttoned the back.
"Erin?"
"Yes dear."
"What does my stepmother do all by herself all the time?"
"I don't rightly know," she finished buttoning and turned me around, "It ain't right to meddle in other people's business."
I sat back down on the bed to pull on my white slippers and looked back up at Erin.
"I know you know something about her. You must know if you spend all day being invisible and going about the rooms cleaning."
Erin sighed and sat next to me, "She's a mysterious creature that's for sure. I have reason to think she's a witch in disguise, always sneaking around and disappearing to God knows where for hours on end."
I chuckled, "Erin, you know there are no such things as witches."
"I don't know about that," she arched her eyebrows, "Don't you remember your father's stories?" She laughed, "Remember the one about the dwarves that lived all alone in the woods?"
"I think dwarves are just as unreal as witches are," I shrugged and looked back at the window. Erin was silent for a moment.
"I know you miss your father." She reached and squeezed my shoulder, "Things would've been much different, if he were."
I stood up and brushed off my gown.
"Well, do I look quite ready?"
She sighed and smiled at me, "You look more beautiful than any other sixteen-year-old girl I've ever met."
I returned the smile and took her arm.
"Let's go make sure royalty isn't sitting on dusty chairs," I said. Erin laughed.
We walked back downstairs the dining hall and I was sent out to fetch water from the well to fill flower vases. My stepmother was very elaborate in her decorating. There were bouquets of flowers all along the walls of the dining hall.
The sun was slowly setting, creating a red glow on the grounds. The well was a beautiful object. Old and worn, the stone well was covered in vines and sweet-smelling rose plants. I took my leisurely time in strolling to the well, to soak in the glory of the day and to take as much time away from my stepmother's unending orders. I set the wooden pail on the ground beside the well and leaned on the edge of the well, gazing down into the black depths.
"Hello-hello.hello.hello," I cried out into the well, listening to the glorious echo rising up to greet me. My father told me once of the beautiful Greek nymph named Echo, who was born with a speech impediment and could only repeat whatever anyone said to her. She fell in love the god, Narcissus, but never was given love in return and so she withered away until only her voice remained, forever repeating in longing tones. That story was one of my favorites and the best I could hear of the nymph was in this well.
"Hello-hello.hello.hello," I cried again, just to hear the reply. I smiled and picked up the pail, thinking longingly of a place away from orders and rules, a place full of freedom. Reaching into my pocket, I tossed two coins into the well and said aloud a wish to the sweet nymph.
"I wish.wish.wish." I called into the well, "to be free."
"Free.free.free," was the answer I received. A rustle came from the bushes around the path behind me. I jumped and spun around to face the same boy I had crashed into this morning.
"Hello," he said. I was so startled, I couldn't think of anything to say.
"You're the girl from the village, aren't you?" he asked. I merely nodded feeling stupid and small. The boy seemed about sixteen or seventeen and was very richly dressed. How did he find out where I lived? Then something dawned on me.
"You're-you're." I tried to say. The boy sighed.
"Yes, I'm Prince Theodore. But no one except my father calls me that. Mostly I'm called Teddy."
His father! That was the king! There was a short pause.
"And you are.?" the prince asked.
"Megan White. But I'd rather be called Meg."
"So you are Frederick White's daughter he used to speak so much of!" Teddy grinned, "I've been told about you. How ironic it is that we just happened to meet."
I thought about this for a moment. It seemed kind of strange that he "happened" to walk down the path of our gardens to the well, well hidden from view.
My cheeks were flushed and I felt embarrassed having been found crying out wishes into a well.
"I'm sorry, my stepmother must be waiting for the water for the vases. Again, my daydreams have stopped me from doing my chores."
The prince laughed gaily, "Here let me help you."
He took the pail and threw into the well and then pulled on the rope. I watched him, forgetting to thank him. He was definitely handsome, tall and strong. He had short dark brown curls that fell over his eyes as he pulled on the rope to bring the water up. He had strong hands, I noticed as he handed me the pail full of water.
"Thank you very much," I said, smiling, "I hope I haven't kept you from your supper."
"Not at all," Teddy answered, "The baroness has taken my father to the treasury."
Figures she'd be showing off. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and curtsied as best I could without spilling the water.
"I'm sorry, sire, I shouldn't have kept Erin waiting so long."
"Teddy, please," the prince corrected, "Will you be at home tomorrow?"
I nodded, my thoughts scattered.
"May I call on you?"
"Of-of course," I stammered and curtsied again before turning to go through the kitchen door. I closed the door and leaned against the back of it, taking a deep breath and smiling to myself.
Little did I know there had been someone spying on us through the treasury window.