Author's Note: Okay, I know it's been ages and ages since I last updated this one, but I've just had a major brainstorm, so on with the updating!
Greatest and most fabulous kudos to my reviewers!
Sam: Reviews like yours make my day, my friend!
KaliAnn: Glad you're enjoying this. I know I am.
Leener: Sorry you had to wait so long, buddy.
Ally: It hasn't ended yet!
Frog85: I know. He's my favorite, too. I'm updating.
Slushpuppygal: I like Ned stories, too. I'm going!
Chapter 6
Veronica, Challenger, Roxton, and Margeurite sat in a nearby park, still reeling from what they had seen out in the street. Malone, sitting in a carriage with the queen, waving to the populace? They had heard people all around them talking about how the prince had disappeared when he was barely more than a baby, and about how he had only just returned after saving the queen from a wild animal. The story was quickly becoming the fabric of legend.
"Do you think that Malone really is the prince?" Margeurite asked, staring at the toes of her boots.
"He can't be," Roxton said, shaking his head. "He showed me a photograph of his father, and Ned's the spitting image of him. I don't think it likely that Malone could be adopted by a man who just happened to look just like him."
"No, Malone certainly can't be their prince," Challenger pointed out. "It has to be a mistake. What do you think, Veronica?"
Veronica looked very worried. "No, Malone is Malone, and there's no doubt of it. The woman is their queen, but how she can think Malone is her son just because he saved her is beyond me…There must be something we're not seeing."
With that, each person sunk into his or her own reverie. A nearby fountain gushed water into a large pond, ducks quacked, and well-dressed ladies strolled along the paths. The group was still in its brown study when a woman started screaming. Roxton was the first to spot what had happened: A thief had attacked a woman and stolen her purse. Roxton shot off after him, bringing him down next to the pond. The thief fought, and he and Roxton rolled about on the ground, each trying to wrestle the purse out of the other's hands.
Margeurite saw it before anyone else did: The thief let go of the purse, delivered a vicious kick to Roxton's stomach, and sent him flying into the pond while he made his getaway. Guards who had heard the screaming arrived, and they caught the thief easily while Challenger helped Roxton out of the water.
"Oh, you poor man," the woman said, going to Roxton's side. "Thank you ever so much."
"My pleasure," Roxton croaked, still curled around the knot of pain in his middle. The man had managed to give him a hellish kick.
The other explorers had reached Roxton by this time, and Margeurite examined the woman who was now blotting Roxton's face with a handkerchief. She wore silk, and she was old enough to be a grandmother. So, she was an older woman with station. This was interesting, and it could work to their advantage.
Slowly, Roxton sat up. "Ooh, I didn't know someone could actually kick that hard," he complained, holding a hand over the rapidly forming bruise.
The woman fussed, apologized, and thanked Roxton while Challenger put his jacket around his shoulders. "He'll be all right, Madam," Challenger said encouragingly. "Roxton always helps others."
"So I can see," the lady said, smiling. "Well, such heroism must be rewarded. You are strangers here, aren't you?"
"Is it that obvious?" Veronica asked, chagrined.
The woman smiled and nodded. "Yes, my dear, it is. You look as if you just came from the wilderness."
"Well, we did," Margeurite said, smiling. "I must say, it's delightful to be back in civilized country."
The woman chuckled and surveyed Margeurite as an old aunt would a favored niece. "Yes, I can understand that. That settles it: All of you must stay with me at my home, and I won't accept no for an answer."
There were the usual protests of not wishing to be any trouble, but the older woman was determined to have her way. "It's no trouble at all," she assured them as her carriage arrived. "I shall enjoy some company, I must say, and you girls will enjoy the chance to clean up and dress properly, I should think."
Veronica didn't say anything, but Margeurite looked excited.
"And don't think I've forgotten about you two gentlemen," she said, smiling at them both. "You'll both be given a chance to deck yourselves out as well, and tonight, I'll introduce you to the rest of my family. They'll be thrilled to meet you."
Roxton tried to look as if he were looking forward to it, but he wondered if that family included young ladies that were looking for husbands. If that were the case, he would go back to that pond and drown himself.
Space
Roxton and Challenger waited at the foot of the stairs for Margeurite and Veronica to come down. Both men had been given a chance to clean up, and new suits had been tailored for them in record time. Now all they were waiting on was the girls' entrance.
"I must say, Challenger, you look incredible," Roxton said, looking his friend up and down. "The wonders a haircut and trim can do, not to mention the new clothes."
Challenger tugged at his collar. "I despise uncomfortable fashions. You don't look bad, either, Roxton, but this collar is diminishing any enjoyment I've derived from this experience."
Roxton smiled. He knew he looked fabulous, and he wished Margeurite would hurry up so he could see her reaction.
Challenger looked up the staircase, and his eyebrows rose. "Roxton," was all he could say.
Roxton looked, and for a moment he thought an artist's visions had come to life and were descending the stairs. On second look, he realized that the visions were Margeurite and Veronica, all decked out for the evening.
"Well?" Margeurite asked, coming to the foot of the stairs and doing a full turn in order to display her dress. "How do I look?"
"Absolutely stunning," Roxton breathed, taking her hand. "Gorgeous in so many ways."
Margeurite smiled at the flattery, feeling fully in her element. "You look quite nice yourself, Roxton."
Both men studied the ladies. Margeurite was resplendent in red velvet while Veronica wore pale blue silk, and both gowns were off the shoulder with sweeping trains. Both women had gloves that complimented their gowns, their hair had been swept up into crowns of glory, and both sported jewels loaned to them by their hostess. They were spectacles of beauty, and both men had to remind themselves not to stare.
Veronica reached the bottom of the steps and held onto the banister. "I'm going to break my neck before the night's out," she said to Challenger. "I just know it. These ridiculous shoes and this skirt are going to kill me!" She tried in vain to kick the train of her gown out of her way and only succeeded in kicking off her shoe. She groaned as Challenger retrieved it for her and helped her put it back on.
"You'll do just fine, Veronica," Margeurite assured her. "Just remember to take small steps."
"I keep on trying to remember what it said in my mother's charm book," Veronica said nervously as they waited on their hostess. "I'm supposed to stand straight, take small steps, walk with grace, leave my napkin on my chair, and keep my fan in my right hand…" She began to pace and promptly tripped on her skirt.
"Veronica, you're worrying too much," Margeurite said. "Just watch me and follow my lead."
Veroncia nodded as their hostess walked up and led them into the dining room. They made it through introductions and the formal dinner without mishap, and it was only after dessert that they learned that their hostess was a duchess and a cousin to the queen.
"Oh, you know the queen?" Margeurite asked, suddenly becoming an ingénue, much to the bafflement of her friends. "Oh, Your Grace, could you possibly introduce us? I have always wanted to meet a queen!"
That was when the others caught on. Veronica picked up the mood instantly.
"Does a palace really have a thousand rooms?" she asked, opening her eyes wide and putting on a wondering expression. "Is it really made out of silver and gold?"
The duchess laughed and invited them all to sit down. "Well, it is not so large as all that, nor as opulent, but it is fabulous, I can tell you," she said, patting the side of Veronica's face. "If you really wish to meet the queen, then yes, I can introduce you. I'll send word to her, and then, if she says yes, we'll go tomorrow."
She received effusive thanks from both girls, and she smiled, pleased that she could give them such a treat.
Space
They held a powwow in Margeurite's room that night.
"Okay, we have a way into the palace," she said, lighting a tiny candle. "Once we get in, how do we talk to Malone?"
"I don't know, but at least we have a chance to see him," Challenger said, sounding relieved.
"I know. It's a lot better than my original plan of breaking into the palace, I must say. Good work, you two," Roxton said.
Veronica was ignoring Roxton and pacing again, holding the hem of her long nightgown out of her way. "We can't leave the palace without seeing Malone. Are we all agreed?"
Everyone nodded, certain that they had to get to the bottom of this.