Chapter Seven- Advice
Melanie woke the next morning with a bad taste in her mouth. She didn't like how Peter was so easily led around by Aleutia as if he were a puppy.
"And Lucy claims he doesn't have feelings for her, not even friendly ones," she mumbled to herself as she dressed. "Of course, she could be wrong I suppose…"
'But he was going to kiss you,' another part of her brain reminded her.
He had been going to kiss her, Melanie was sure of it. She had been hoping for something like that to happen, but had told herself firmly that it would not.
'He's your best friend,' she told herself furiously. 'Just keep things simple, it's easier.'
Groaning about her now-complicated relationship with Peter, Melanie began dragging a brush through her hair.
"Are you all right?"
Melanie turned to see Lucy in the doorway.
"I'm fine, Lu," Melanie replied.
"You don't look fine," Lucy said, coming in and closing the door behind her. "Did something happen with Peter?"
"Aleutia happened," Melanie muttered crossly.
"Someone's in love with my brother," Lucy teased.
"You're not funny," Melanie grumbled.
"I'm sorry. I know this must be upsetting for you. You know, Susan might be able to help you," she continued slowly.
"How?"
"She knows a bit about boys," Lucy said simply. "And she'll talk about them to anyone who'll listen."
"I couldn't talk to her about Peter," Melanie said miserably. "It'd be awkward for her."
"It's your funeral," Lucy said sagely. "If you want to win Peter's heart, you should talk to her."
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"Susan?" Melanie asked tentatively at breakfast that morning.
Susan looked at her with polite curiosity. "Yes?"
"Can we talk? About-"
"Peter," Susan finished for her. "Is someone jealous of Aleutia?"
"Susan," Melanie groaned. "I need your help here. Lucy says you know about boys and I really can't stand seeing Aleutia all over him."
"Of course I'll help." The Queen considered something for a moment. "How about we meet in my room and dress for the ball together? It's the perfect place; Aleutia would never think of intruding there."
"That sounds like the perfect plan," Melanie agreed. "I'll see you at…five o'clock?"
"Better make it four-thirty," Susan replied. "We'll have tea."
"Of course," Melanie said.
"You have nothing to worry about," Susan added, returning her attention to the piece of toast in front of her. "Aleutia is highly unfavorable."
'If she was unfavorable I wouldn't be asking for your help,' Melanie thought.
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"Peter, you gigantic moron," Peter mumbled to himself. His Royal Highness was in the stables, saddling his great white stallion of a horse.
"Why are you a moron?"
Edmund. Great. Just what Peter needed right now.
"Because I just am," Peter answered shortly.
Then-
"Ed, have you ever kissed a girl?"
Edmund looked revolted. "By the Lion's Mane, why would I want to do that?"
Peter stifled a chuckle at his brother's words. Of course Edmund wouldn't have kissed a girl; he was twelve years old and probably thought of girls as icky.
"Why, have you?" Edmund asked, suddenly showing more interest.
"No, but I tried." Now embarrassed, Peter added, "Forget it, OK, Ed? It was stupid of me, really."
"It wasn't Aleutia, was it?" Edmund asked, frowning.
"Of course not," Peter snapped. "I...fancy a ride. Bye, Ed."
"I'll go too. Let me get Phillip-"
"I want to go alone," Peter said, putting a delicate stress on 'alone'.
He swung his leg over the stallion and rode off.
Edmund, however, was not about to let Peter get away so easily. He had Phillip saddled and was mounted on him by the time Peter was barely out of the stable.
"Come on, Peter, who'd you try to kiss?" Edmund demanded.
"If you must know, it was Melanie," Peter mumbled, barely audible.
"Melanie?" Edmund gasped.
"Yes, and I wouldn't be surprised if she hates me now.
"Hmm…why'd you try to kiss her, anyway?"
"I don't know," Peter growled. "I was being a gigantic moron. She was telling me about her mother and…I was holding her, I guess you'd say, and I just kinda-almost kissed her," Peter slurred.
"So why didn't you?" Edmund continued with his onslaught of queries.
"Aleutia. Edmund, no more questions, all right? I need to think." He urged the stallion into a gallop.
"Talk to Susan!" Edmund yelled after him. "She knows things!"
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"Now, what happened again?" Susan asked Melanie as her dryad attendants served them tea.
"I told you, Susan: we were in the tower, he was trying to comfort me, we were hugging and then we weren't and the next thing I know is that he's coming towards me, getting closer-"
"I see. And you're unhappy…why?"
"Because Aleutia ruined it. And for someone who supposedly hates her, he sure follows her around like a puppy."
"Melanie, dear, sometimes one just has to be kind to people one dislikes. Especially when foreign relations are visiting one's home," Susan said, as usual acting as if she were the mother. "We could hardly afford a war with Archenland for being rude to their princess."
"You ought to give the same advice to Aleutia," Melanie muttered, scowling.
"Oh, Melanie, just stop. If you want to know how he feels about you, try paying all the other young men attention. If he acts jealous, you'll know how he feels."
Melanie considered this. "That'd work," she agreed after a moment of thought.
"Yes, it will work splendidly," Susan said. "Now, The Governor of the Lone Isles and his son shall be attending, as I'm sure you know. The son is seventeen, and he's gorgeous. Curly black hair, a complexion of the deepest tan, and his eyes-"
"Susan I understand. The boy's fit for royalty."
"Well, if Peter does indeed have feelings for you, it shall drive him absolutely insane if you're seen with Rynal," Susan said, a little put out. "Now, let us dress for the ball."
So…Melanie is planning on making Peter jealous. What on earth will Peter's reaction be? #Looks around at readers as if they know the answer, but is reminded she is the authoress# Guess it's my decision…
And I was trying to make Edmund the annoying little brother, questioning Peter…I would appreciate feedback on the level of success I had with that…
Love
Queenie