Lady Evelyn fussed over Ivy's hair for nearly an hour, until Ivy finally cracked and firmly insisted it looked perfect. It was swept into a soft bun at the base of her neck, and Evelyn kept switching between cooing about how beautiful Ivy looked and how much fun this was going to be. Ivy was beginning to have major butterflies in her stomach; why was she doing this? Something was going to go wrong. What if she got caught? Then what would happen?

Her worrying was cut short by Evelyn telling her it was time to go.

"Go where, exactly?" Ivy asked.

"Just to walk around outside," Evelyn told her as they left the room. "It is such a gorgeous day outside, is it not?"

"Well, yes, I suppose," Ivy said, slightly tripping on the long dress. She was not used to walking in this attire.

"Then I thought we could lunch outside. Then I could show you the garden…it is in desperate need of work."

"Um, alright."

They reached the stairs and descended down into the front hall, where a few courtiers were mingling.

"Lady Evelyn! You look lovely this morning," a dashing young man said, coming up to the girls.

"Lord Benedick, thank you. May I introduce my cousin…Scarlett? She is visiting from the north," Lady Evelyn said.

Ivy cast a surprised glance at Evelyn at the change of her name, but curtsied.

"Lady Scarlett, a pleasure to meet you," Lord Benedick said.

"Charmed," Ivy said simply. The girls curtsied again and went outside. 

"Scarlett?" Ivy asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.

"It's more fun this way," Evelyn said simply.

Ivy just rolled her eyes, but gasped when she saw what was outside. A large area that Evelyn quickly whispered was normally used for balls was filled with courtiers. The cobblestone made Ivy walk slowly so she didn't fall on her face.  Evelyn walked her around and introduced her to countless ladies and lords, dukes and countesses.  Ivy breathed a sigh of relief that everyone seemed to be buying that she actually was a noble.

"This is fun!" Evelyn said as she led Ivy to a grassy area. "Oh no," she said suddenly, "quick, Ivy, walk faster…"

"Lady Evelyn!" a high-pitched voice called.

"Damn," Evelyn said under her breath. Then she put on a smile and looked up. "Lady Bernadine!" she called. "How good to see you!"

A short, squat woman was waddling over to Evelyn and Ivy. She was dressed in rich clothing that looked much too heavy for the summer day that it was.

"Lady Evelyn," she reached the girls, and kissed Evelyn on both cheeks. "Who is this enchanting young lady with you that everyone is talking about?"

Ivy blushed, but Evelyn just smiled.

"This is my dear cousin Scarlett, Lady Bernadine," Evelyn said.

"How do you do?" Ivy said with a curtsy.

"Scarlett! My my my, aren't you the pretty thing? There has been such a flurry of gossip this morning, I just had to come and introduce myself. Evelyn," she turned to her, "do say hello to your mother and the count for me, will you? I do so dearly miss them."

"I will, Lady Bernadine."

"Oh! There is Roderigo! I must speak with him. Excuse me ladies. A pleasure to meet you, Scarlett," Lady Bernadine said, and then she hurried off.

"I cannot stand that woman! She is the most odious, gossipy, horrible woman in court!" Evelyn said with a huff.

Ivy just laughed.

"She is not funny!" Evelyn said.

"On the contrary, I think she is quite amusing," Ivy said, laughing.

Evelyn laughed as well, but stopped abruptly.

"Can I leave you alone for a second?" she said, staring at something in the distance.

"What? No! You can't –" Ivy tried to say, but Evelyn had already run off. Ivy tried to see what it was that she was running to, but couldn't tell.

So now she was all alone, surrounded by courtiers talking idly. She sat down on a bench and observed the crowd.  Soon she sighed and decided that it was time to go back inside.  She decided to walk back to the south side of the palace, where Evelyn's quarters were. The crowd was thinning out; everyone was heading off to lunch. She rose from her seat on the bench, and was about to walk away when something caught her eye.

"Lilies!" she cried, and ran toward them. A garden of roses, iris, and lilies was before her.  She smiled happily as she walked through the huge, fragrant garden.

She was strolling fairly slowly when she noticed she was not alone. A man was walking the opposite way, across from a bed of violets.  Ivy tried to calm herself down but then she saw who it was.

The prince! Oh no, what if he recognizes me! He is not likely to have forgotten the pastries, is he? she thought hurriedly.  He was coming closer, and Ivy had slowed down to a snail's pace. She suddenly was so nervous that she turned around and began walking the other way.

"I haven't frightened you away, have I?" she heard him say. His voice sounded just as condescending as it had been that day at the chateau.

"No, of course not, your highness," Ivy nervously answered.

"Will you not stop?"

She halted, and turned to him, keeping her face down as low as possible.

"Have we met?" he asked.

"I do not believe so, your highness," she said with a curtsy.

He began to walk again, and she followed suit, keeping a large distance between them.

"What is your name then?" he asked.

"Scarlett, your highness," she answered with the name Evelyn had given her.

"Scarlett," he repeated. "Scarlett of what, pray tell?"

"Of…of Serafina, your highness," she said, naming a part of the country to the north.

"Why are you here?"

"I am visiting my cousin."

"Who?"

"Lady Evelyn."

"Ah, of course, Lady Evelyn," he said, and then chuckled. She furrowed her brow.

"Why do you laugh?" she asked boldly.

"Lady Evelyn is quite the character."

"Yes, I suppose she is."

"Let me see your face."

Ivy sighed, but decided it was not in her best interest to deny the prince, so she looked sideways at him. To her great relief, he did not recognize her.

They walked awhile in silence. He was awfully handsome this close up.  His wavy black hair kept falling into his brown eyes, and his clean-shaven face was slightly tan.  Ivy shook her head to get rid of such stupid thoughts.

"Gardens always give me a headache," he said suddenly.

"They are so joyful!" she said with feeling.

 "They are beautiful, but they seem so…common. The peasants take such great delight in them, it seems sinful for anyone of higher rank to enjoy them."

"Well, commoners don't have much else to take delight in, do they?" she countered, growing angry at his arrogance.

"Well, no, but that is their life.  They were born to work, while others were born to privilege."

"Not all were born to work, maybe some were born to privilege," she said, too late realizing what she said.

"Pray tell," he said with amusement in his eyes, "what do you mean?"

"Nothing. It was just a stray thought," she said quickly. "All I am saying is that just because the peasants think that gardens are beautiful, why can't the higher class? They are humans as well, are they not?"

"You find me conceited, don't you Lady Scarlett?" he asked.

She froze, still angry, but didn't respond.

"No doubt you do," he said. "Most people do."

She stared at him in surprise. If she hadn't still been so angry, she would have detected the sadness in his voice.

Ivy soon noticed they were at the end of the garden.

"It was a…pleasure to talk to you, your highness," she said.

He chuckled. "A pleasure to meet you." He then turned and left.  She turned the other way, and left for Evelyn's quarters.