Story of a Princess Unknown – Chapter 7
Hey everyone – hope you enjoyed the latest chapter. Thanks for reviewing.
Pippa – When are you reviewing this? At school? Naughty girl! I miss you guys heaps! That chapter was long – ten pages in Word! I'm on a bit of a high right now – drank too much Diet L&P I think! But there's no sugar?
Ladygwen – I'm so glad you found my story! You're the first person who always reviews. What do you think of making one of these chapters set to a song – kind of a songfic? I value your opinion – as you think I will rock forever! You're so cool! Are you from Spain? I live in New Zealand. What do you think of Jared? I'm thinking you'll get to know him better in this chapter. Anyway, tell me what you think about those ideas in your next review, k?
Emma-J – I just had to email you to ask you to review! Thanks, hope you like this chappie as much as the last one!
Odette – YAY a new reviewer! Not hurrying up – gotta have a good think in between chappies to make them good! Sorry! hehe.
Bananawren – great to see you back – I think you reviewed some of my earlier chapters? Yeah I didn't want to make the relationship perfect. Definitely not a good relationship – you'll see more of luke and eve together soon tho.
Taintedpromises – grr where are you? You haven't reviewed! I shall throw some sharp objects at you soon! With hard, sharp corners! Like hard-back harry potters!
Sorry if I confused anyone – I took out the AN that was chapter 5 and just kinda moved all the chapters back one, then added chapter 6. So yes it was a new chapter. And so is this!
Please everyone let me know if it is getting boring or anything and let me know what you think of my writing and characters, especially Eve and Jared.
Chapter 7
Eve was so shocked that she could barely move. Jared, on the other hand, was fine. He smirked and then bowed, picking up her hand. "Welcome to Frell, Lady Enna. I hope it is to your liking so far?"
Eve had to work hard to stop herself from pulling her hand away with revulsion as he bowed and brushed it with his lips. So the jerk who was spying on me is the PRINCE! Just figures that my replacement would be horrible.
Then she remembered that the prince had asked her a question. "It's ... it's very nice. I have been ... er ... enjoying my stay so far." If Eve hadn't remembered that she was on a spy mission she would have probably slapped him rather than replying nice and politely. But she had to report to Callum in the city in two days – what could she tell him? "Oh, I slapped him so now he won't go near me."
She would be in deep trouble with the rebel group if she didn't treat the prince nicely. Even if he was an arrogant prick, she had to get close to him. Remember why you're doing this, Eve told herself. You have a responsibility to your parents.
Cythera, too, was aware of what Eve had to do for the rebel group. "Now, I'll leave you two together to get aquainted, shall I? Now, Enna, behave yourself, don't scare the Prince away."
Eve felt herself blush. Great, she thought. Humiliated in front of Prince Jared again. Cythera had made her sound like a typical noble girl who swooned over the prince. She saw the amused look in the Prince's eyes and her anger returned. What right did he have to laugh at her?
Cythera walked off in a rustle of skirts, after shooting another death glare at Eve, and a charming smile at Jared. Sucker, Eve thought scathingly. She'll probably hide around the corner and eavesdrop.
"It's very nice to meet you, Lady Enna. I believe I might have something of yours?"
With a smile that was irritatingly charming, he handed her a fold of material that was familiar. One of my petticoats! Eve thought in horror. No! I will not blush again!
Jared was good at hiding his shock. This thin, beaten girl was a NOBLE? And related to Cythera and Eric, of all people? But he could sense the hostility radiating from her and decided that she wouldn't be impressed if her confronted her. Instead he would have a bit of fun ... annoying her. The prince could see her trying to keep control herself as he handed her the petticoat.
"Why, thankyou, your highness."
"Oh, please, call me Jared."
"All right then, Jared."
"That's better." He smiled at her.
Jerk. I'll get him back for this.
"Why don't we go for a ride, Lady Enna? We could get to know eachother, I'll show you around here."
At least I won't have to talk to him all the time while we're riding.
"Oh, please, call me Enna," Eve replied, mocking him. "And yes, that sounds ... er ... lovely." She wasn't used to having to speak in this formal way.
As soon as they were outside where Cythera couldn't hear them, Eve hissed at him, "Don't think I've forgotten – I'll get you back for that."
"I wasn't trying to do anything," Jared protested.
"I don't care!" Eve repled. "Jerk," she whispered under her breath.
Jared heard her. He turned around, flashing her his charming smile again.
Eve gritted her teeth. She couldn't wait to just get on Frankie where she wouldn't have to be right next to him.
They walked around to the stable to get Vinny and Frankie. "Sorry about before, boy," Eve whispered to Frankie. "I was .. preoccupied. Can you do me a favour? Bite him – if you get a chance." Althought she doubted he would – Frankie seemed to have gotten rather attached to Vinny, Jared's mare.
"Nice little fellow you've got there. Have you had him long?" Jared had felt hurt when she'd called him a jerk. Maybe I'm being a bit hard on her. But she's not treating me great either! I'll be a bit more friendly.
Eve ignored his question. She led Frankie over to the mounting block. At least I can get on properly this time! She didn't want to embarrass herself yet again in front of Jared.
They set off walking down the driveway. "I'll take you down to the nearest village. There's a good market there."
Eve didn't reply. Jared sighed. He was actually trying be friendly now. She couldn't just ignore him!
"Are you just going to ignore me all the way to the village?"
"Give me a good reason not to."
"Because ... because I'm the prince!"
Eve snickered. Jared felt like an idiot. "Do you know how conceited that sounded?" Eve asked him.
"Well, at least I got a response out of you!"
They had neared the village by now. Both Eve and Jared dismounted the horses. "I know a place where we can tie them up."
Jared led Eve over to a fence with some twine on it, then he led the way and they strolled through the village. Eve had to admit, the market was pretty cool – there were so many stalls with different goods to sell.
Suddenly, Jared gave a muffled yelp. He grabbed Eve's hand.
"WHAT do you think ..." she exclaimed angrily, before being interrupted.
"Hide me!" He gasped. But it was too late.
Squeals and shrieks rang through the air. "OH MY GOSH! It's HIM! Oh JARED! Look, girls! The prince!"
Eve could have laughed at the look of horror on the prince's face.
"They follow me around EVERYWHERE! Just, I don't know, pretend that you're with me, Eve! Then maybe they'll go away!"
"WHAT? NO WAY! I am NOT walking down the street holding YOUR hand like some sort of ... lovestruck noble girl!"
Then she saw the look of pleading on Jared's face. He really is scared that they'll mob him! Eve almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
"Fine – but you hve to do something for me in return."
"ANYTHING! Okay, just hold my hand, and kind of, giggle and laugh, you know, like girls do."
"I DO NOT giggle!"
"Just play along! Please!"
Eve forced a smile onto her face as Jared put his arm around her waist. She felt like an idiot. Meanwhile, the girls were coming closer ...
One girl stood out in particular. She had platinum blonde hair hair and large blue eyes.
"Why HELLO there Jared! Haven't seen you for AGES!" Then she noticed Eve and her eyes narrowed. A sneer replaced the sugary smile on her face. "And who's your little FRIEND, Jared? Surely you'll introduce us!"
"Er ... Enna, this is Lady Alexandra. Her mother and father and very good friends of ours. Alexandra, this is Lady Enna, niece of Lord Eric and Lady Cythera."
"I believe your aunt and uncle do not have as much land as us? You should come see OUR manor sometime, Lady Enna. Here, why don't we leave Jared and I'll show you one of the best places to get LOVELY fabrics here at the markets?"
Eve couldn't believe this girl. I wish I could tell her who I REALLY am! And now she's trying to be all friendly!
"Oh, um, that would be LOVELY, Lady Alexandra," Eve replied, mocking the girl's way of emphasising words. She got a death glare in return – very like Cythera's, in fact.
Alexandra's friends all stood eyeing Jared, twittering and giggling in the background. Jared shot Eve another pleading glance. PLEASE don't leave me, he thought.
Ha, Eve thought. I can get him back for spying on me – I can't refuse Alexandra now, so I'll have to leave him!
"I'll meet you back here in 5 minutes, okay Jared?"
"Er ... okay," he managed to croak out, a look of pure terror on his face, looking at Alexandra's friends smiling coyly at him and giggling. Then, as Alexandra and Eve walked off, they descended on him. Almost like a pack of vultures, Eve observed.
"So, Lady Enna, are you enjoying your stay in Frell?"
"It's .. okay so far, Lady Alexandra. Can I call you Alex?"
"NO! Just remember who's family is most definitely richer here. Don't address me as anything other than LADY ALEXANDRA."
Eve was taken aback. What the hell is with this girl? She definitely needs to get a grip!
"Now, enough with the idle chit-chat here. I have something important to say to you." She grabbed Eve's arm, holding her tightly after making sure they were out of sight of Jared.
Her voice had turned from nasty to malicious and threatening. "I saw you before ... cosying up to Jared. Keep away from him. He's MINE! I'm richer, prettier, and alltogether much better than you. I don't know what he sees in you, but you'd better watch your step."
"I wasn't making any moves on him, for your information, Lady Alexandra. And now I suggest we get back to your friends, they'll be wondering where we are."
They walked back to the girls and Jared, Alexandra still shooting Eve evil looks, thinking she couldn't see them. Why does she even think that I LIKE Jared? Eve thought.
"Oh, Enna, you're back!" Jared exclaimed when he saw them. Thank God! He thought.
Alexandra cleared her throat. "Ah, yes, Lady Alexandra, how are you?" Jared said hurriedly.
"Very well, Jared, and looking forward to the ball where we, announce our, well, you know."
Jared turned bright pink and shot a quick glance at Eve. I wonder what she means? Eve wondered.
"Well, it was very nice to see you, Lady Alexandra, but Lady Enna and I had better be heading back now."
"Goodbye, Jared, Lady Enna. And, Enna, just in case you were wondering – he's much too good for you, so don't even try." And with that, Lady Alexandra walked away with a malicious smile on her face, he gang of faithful maidens shooting snide glances at Eve and whispering as they followed.
Eve blushed again and felt tears come to her eyes. She hurriedly tried to blink them away without Jared noticing. It's one thing for her to tell me I'm not good enough for Jared in private, but in front of everyone else is another thing.
Suddenly she felt Jared grasp her chin and force her to look up into his eyes. They were a mix of brown and green – and at that moment Eve felt like he was staring into her very soul. She stared at him, transfixed, for a moment, then pulled herself away.
"Enna? What's wrong?"
"You mean you didn't hear her?" Eve asked bitterly.
"Oh, don't worry about Alexandra. She's just ... a typical noble girl from around here. She didn't mean anything by it."
"I'm sure she didn't," Eve replied. But why do I care so much anyway? "Let's just go."
They walked back over to Frankie and Vinny. Jared offered to help Eve mount but she ignored him.
"You're ... different. From what I expected." Jared said to Eve as they walked back to the manor on the horses.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She angrily replied. "So different that I'm not good enough to be seen with you?"
"Enna – I didn't mean it that way! I meant that you're different from the other noble girls in a good way. You don't laugh and giggle around me all the time, you don't talk about fashion and you don't scream every time you see something remotely frightening."
"Well, Jared, where I come from, I wouldn't have lasted long if I screamed and giggled all the time."
"Really? Tell me about your home, then. Tell me about your friends."
A spasm of fear passed across Eve's face, Jared noted in surprise.
"My friends? There's no-one." She fleetingly thought of Lucas. No. I have to work things out with him. "No-one."
There's something about her that's not quite right, Jared thought. Like those scars on her back. How she's so thin, like she's been starved. Like the way she looked so scared when she saw me watching her. And how she was scared now when I asked about her home.
"Enna – about when I saw you ... before. I didn't -"
"Race you to the manor!" Eve suddenly shouted. She kicked Frankie to a canter, nearly falling off in the process. Jared couldn't help laughing, but he did notice that she was trying to avoid his questions.
They reached the manor, Eve winning by a few lengths. She knew, however, that Jared had slowed Vinny down to let her win. "You didn't have to do that, you know," she laughed. Eve's eyes sparkled, and at that moment Jared noticed how beautiful she really was, her black hair flying from the wind. Stop it! He told himself. You're betrothed to Alexandra!
Eve noticed his silence. "What?" She asked.
"You actually laughed and it wasn't because I made a fool of myself!"
She scowled at him. "What makes you think you're the only one who can make me laugh?"
"Enna, thanks for helping me today. It was great seeing Lady Alexandra so annoyed."
Eve smiled. "It was, wasn't it? Sorry if it didn't work that well. But what do I get it return?"
"I know. I'll show you around the palace tomorrow. Does that sound alright?"
I'll get to see the place where I was born! Where my mother and father lived! And, she thought with a feeling of dread, I can report to Callum at the same time.
Jared saw a look of sadness flit across Eve's face, then she smiled again. "Thankyou, Jared. That would be wonderful."
"I'll come and find you, earlyish tomorrow morning." Then he picked up her hand. "Farewell, Lady Enna." Then he kissed her hand.
"Until tomorrow, Your Highness," Eve whispered.
"Jared," he reminded her.
"Jared."
Then he got back onto Vinny, and rode down the driveway.
Eve could still feel the spot where he had kissed her hand. Stop it! She told herself. What about Luke?
Another part of her mind replied, At least Jared acknowledges that you're alive. Maybe he's not as bad as I first thought.
Eve walked up the steps and into the manor. Lady Cythera was waiting for her.
"Well, girl? What did you do?"
"Just went down to the market and met some of Jared's ... er, friends."
"I hope you made a good impression – you could blight my family's name if you didn't!"
Is that all this woman cares about? Her family name?
"I think I made a good impression. He's invited me ot come to the palace with him tomorrow."
"Well – you'd better be on your best behaviour. And you should wear that LOVELY gold dress that you had on this morning."
"Oh ... Um, Lady Cythera, there's something I forgot to tell you about that dress ..."
Uh oh! Eve's in trouble! Okay, now review! Next chapter – Eve goes to the palace where she was born, gets an invitation to a ball and reports to Callum! Will she get to see Luke? Will he make up with her? What's with Jared and Alexandra? Tune in for more in a couple of days – provided that you hit the little purple button down there on my left!
Free Diet L&P for all those who review! In case you don't know that's a New Zealand soft drink called Lemon and Paeroa. Yummy! Luv Amy and Vinny, Roxy, and Frankie.