"Did you see him? He came in late last night, William said."
"I filled his water and he thanked me!"
"Is he as handsome as they say?"
Mimi was not the only one to see the strange young man, though most likely the only one to see him via such a humiliating circumstance. And the man had a name, whispered in and out of the kitchen in a continual drift of chatter from people who, according to Michael, had no place there. That name was Prince Matthias.
Mimi loved it the moment she heard it.
The night's escapade had given Mimi a taste to see the rest of the manor despite the risk of that Abe boy chopping off her head. So when Jacob had arisen early in the morning, blurry-eyed and forgetting he had rescued an enchanted goose, she had insisted he bring her along to the kitchen.
"My pet," he had muttered as he led her back down the hall. "That's what I'm going to hear."
Fortunately, the news of Prince Matthias' early arrival trumped any cook and his goose.
The kitchen was fairly spacious, though not much larger than that of Mimi's home and would never be one to induce much impression. The result was a rather crowded bustle of Michael, Jacob, Abe, and two others who seemed to have no other purpose than to be bossed about at a higher level than Abe. Everyone seemed to arrive at exactly the same time and immediately launch into the preparing of breakfast.
"Sit against the wall," Jacob said under his breath to Mimi as he tugged out a bin of flour. Michael was already preparing yeast, and Abe, covered in chicken feathers, was cracking eggs. "Do not get in my way."
"Are you talking to that goose?" Abe asked without taking his eyes off of his egg mess.
"Yes. It's to soothe the bird so the meat is unstressed and tender."
"Really?"
"No." Jacob grabbed a pot. "Can someone grab me some water? Do we have any water yet?"
One of the nameless cooks took the pot from him and dipped into a large water barrel. Meanwhile Jacob gathered other ingredients in his arms and approached the stove. He would barely see over the top of it, Mimi noticed, but he pulled a stool out and climbed on top of it. The water ready, he set the flame and began to pour this and that.
"What are you making?" Mimi asked.
He ignored her.
Within minutes the kitchen was a muddle of steam, flour, and egg. Cooking for Lavender had never been like it. Exciting. And it all smelled so much better than Mimi's own cooking. Girls ran in with news of Prince Matthias, and the morning was the most fascinating Mimi had experienced in a while.
Then Abe, returning from an errand, gave some news. "Hey, Jacob! You have a special job for His Madness!"
Jacob, in the process of setting what turned out to be a spicy-smelling porridge out to cool, rolled his eyes. "And it is?"
"It's for the Prince… whatever-his-name-is."
"Matthias," three people said at once.
"Matthias. Yes. The Duke's trying to impress him. He wants you to make him that berry pastry thing with the thyme or whatever it is."
"What? You're joking."
Abe shook his head seriously. "No. He grabbed me by the arm while I was out. I guess he's trying to show you off."
Jacob swore under his breath and hopped from his stool. "I'd thank him for the early notification. And I suppose the rest of the household will just have to wait to eat. Michael, I need the flour board now."
Michael nodded. "At least he timed it right with the rolls. Why don't you just finally poison His Madness?" He laughed.
"I'd be poisoning his illustrious guest. Not my target. Wilhelm, a small bowl, now." One of the other cooks handed him a bowl and Jacob quickly scooped the hot porridge into it and set it on the floor before Mimi.
"You're giving that to the goose?" Michael asked. "After complaining about not feeding the rest of the household?"
"It was to be the Duke's breakfast. He rushed an order upon me, so I'm giving his other food to the goose."
"She deserves it after I cracked eggs in front of her," said Abe.
Mimi did not feel any particular attachment to chicken eggs, but supposed it was sweet of Abe to think of her. The porridge smelled wonderful. Lavender had never taught her to put in anything interesting. Of course, it had taken her a long time to not burn it. It was just below boiling, but she tried some anyway. It was very good.
Jacob worked madly at the flour board, rolling and shaping and rolling and shaping again. It was fun to watch him work. His long fingers moved quickly through the dough, and were yet so careful in wrapping it around a bunch of brightly-colored berries.
"The oil is ready, sir," the still-unnamed cook said.
"Perfect." For someone upset about preparing the pastries, he certainly was careful with it. No sooner had he pulled the pastries from the pot of oil than the most incredible scent of warm berries filled the kitchen.
"Ooh! Those things you hate making! Can I have one?" Lucy sailed through the kitchen door, hand outstretched for a treat.
She was rather annoying, Mimi thought.
"Fortunate hates you today," Jacob replied. "They are for the Duke and his guest."
"Oh, the Prince," Lucy said. "The one who all but sneaks in late at night. Prince Matthias." She feigned a swoon. "I hear him to be young and incredibly handsome and rich."
"I take it you are not planning on marrying him," said Michael.
"I'll marry you!" declared Abe.
She patted him on the head. "Ask me again when you can grow a man's beard. No, Michael, I'm afraid that I am a maid and therefore much more practical than to think of marrying a prince. Though I haven't seen him yet so perhaps Cupid's arrow has not yet had an opportunity to strike me down. But I think I already hate him because no one can say anything that does not involve him."
Jacob laughed. "Michael wanted me to poison him."
"You should have. Is it too late?" She stepped around Michael and stared hard at Mimi. "The prodigal goose is back."
Mimi stared back at her. Were geese supposed to stare?
"She's kind of cute, you know."
"Please don't tell me you are thinking of making her your pet," Jacob said.
"Maybe. If you don't kill her soon, you'll get attached. So I feel safe making friends now. Hey girl!" She stroked Mimi's head. It was humiliating. "I have an idea. Why don't you leave this chamber of death with me and we'll go see just how wonderful are visiting prince is. How does that sound?"
It sounded, despite the company, wonderful. Mimi wanted to see the Prince again very much.
"He's preparing to eat breakfast," said Jacob. "If you bring the goose into the dining room, His Madness will have your head."
"He's not kidding," said Michael with darkness that surprised Mimi.
"Don't worry, we'll wander first." Lucy picked up Mimi and headed to the door.
Mimi did not see many servants during her unguided tour of the manor. Beyond the dim hallway of the kitchen and servants' quarters, the manor was surprisingly bright. Windows let in plenty of light, the walls were painted with cheery colors, and vases of fresh flowers were everywhere. It was different from her home, Mimi realized. There was nothing dark or enchanted about it. It was disappointing.
Lucy eventually set Mimi down and started her tasks, which seemed to consist of everything from dusting and cleaning to laundry. The tasks were familiar enough, but Lucy and the other girls did them with a pleasantry Mimi had never felt. Chores were no doubt different free from curses. At least she wasn't expected to do anything but follow Lucy about.
Finally, as Lucy was folding towels in the middle of a hallway, another maid ran up with the exclamation "He's in the library!"
Lucy smiled slowly and climbed to her feet. "Shall we, Miss Goose?"
Where had this Miss Goose name come from?
The library's doors were open, revealing a pristine room shelved ceiling to floor with books. It was clean and bright and the very opposite of Weatherbold's haphazard libraries. And there, sitting at the single table, sat the very man Mimi had seen the night before. Prince Matthias.
Her heart pounded. He was more handsome than he had been at night. Spectacles sat on his nose as he poured over a book. Mimi loved this almost more than anything. He did not skim. He read, his brown eyes focused intently on the pages, oblivious to the maid and the goose standing not so far from him. A pile of at least five books sat next to him.
Lucy did not say a word. She studied him for a moment, then set herself to casually dusting the shelves.
A prince. A real prince. It could not be happening. It could not be this easy.
Mimi had to be scooped up by Lucy in order to leave.
The kitchen was decidedly less exciting when Lucy returned Mimi. A giant pot of something was simmering in the fireplace, Wilhelm was chopping vegetables, and Michael and Jacob were leaning against the wall, chatting. They looked over when Lucy entered.
"Ah, how the future meal's trip about the manor?" Jacob asked as he took Mimi from Lucy.
"Jacob, I need to talk to you," Mimi whispered.
He once again ignored her and set her on the floor.
"Jacob!"
"She watched me work," said Lucy. "Of course she had a good time. We dusted things and spied on Prince Matthias. Apparently he fancies himself a scholar."
"How important," smirked Jacob.
"Can either of you even read?"
"Enough to read recipes," said Michael and "Hardly," said Jacob.
"So what are you mocking, then?"
"What is your point?"
"I don't think I have one. Good-day, gentlemen." She grabbed a roll and a carrot Wilhelm had yet to slice and left the room.
Mimi tried again. "Jacob, I need another favor."
Jacob sighed. "Michael, I need to return Lucy's new best friend to her pen. Would you watch the dumplings?"
He did not speak again until they were outside the kitchen. "Mimi, do you honestly expect me to answer you when other people are around? I thought we had this discussion yesterday that not a whole lot of the population can understand you. I'm not about to have everyone thinking I'm crazy because I'm talking to a goose."
Mimi wanted to say something along the lines of "they all talk to some hideous goblin creature" but decided she needed the favor more. "I need you to do something for me."
"Besides save your life?" He opened the door to his quarters. "No. I've done my good deed for the year."
"Please?"
He sat down in one of the chairs. "What is it? I really can't be gone long."
"You weren't doing anything in there."
"So my business is more important than your favor?"
Mimi sighed. "I need a dress."
He looked at her as if she had spoken to him for the first time. "First you want me to help you find your friend and now you want a dress? What for? You're a goose!"
"Not all the time."
He blinked. "What?"
"I'm not a goose all the time. It's… it's a time spell. I have one hour a day as human. At two o'clock in the morning."
He leaned back in the chair. "So this morning at two o'clock you were… a human." An odd expression crossed over his face, one Mimi could not read. And then it was gone. "Exactly how did you come under this spell?"
"My step-mother. She's a fairy." The story came spilling out. Apparently it had needed to be told. Every word summoned a little bit of relief.
When she finished, Jacob was silent for a long time. "Wow," he finally said. "That is quite the story."
"Thank-you for listening," Mimi said.
"I still don't understand why you need a dress. You'll in this room all night, and I sleep like the dead and wouldn't dream of walking in on you, if that thought bothered you."
"The Prince is awake at that time," she said. "I… I want to see him."
He stared at her, then laughed. "Is no one free from the charms of this prince?"
"He's smart," she said defensively. "He reads."
"At least you're not in love with him for his looks. Well, he did appreciate that pastry I slaved away over this morning. I just don't know where you expect me to get a dress."
"You're friends with Lucy and other maids. Borrow from one of them."
"And what do I say to borrow from them?"
"Think of something!" She thought of something else. "Did you locate Elva's farm yet?"
Jacob shook his head. "It's been a busy day with the arrival of the Prince. Do you want that done or do you want the dress?"
"I don't know!" She paced the floor, thought whirling through her head. How could she have forgotten so quickly about Blake? "I don't mean to sound ungrateful. You've done so much already. But if you can't find Elva's home, I do need a dress."
He sighed. "His Madness will love this if he finds out."
"Who is His Madness? The Duke?"
"One and the same," said Jacob, hopping out of the chair. "He's usually harmless. But he's killed before. I've only been here five years, but apparently he's had many people killed. I don't think anyone in the city know much about it, at least that the Duke is responsible for disappearances. But when he becomes angry, well, he can't control his temper."
"When was the last time this happened?" Mimi was horrified.
"Um, two years ago, I think. A messenger from someone. He didn't like the message, so… off with his head."
"And yet you work for him?"
He shrugged. "It's a living. And I stay on his good side. I'm extremely talented when it comes to cooking, so it's easy to stay out of his way. Most people don't really think about it too often."
Mimi was not sure if she wanted to be here any longer.
"Well, glad to leave you on a good note," Jacob said as he turned to leave. "I'll see what I can do about a dress."