a/n: The first half of this chapter (in italics) is set before the ball, the second half picks up when the first chapter left off
...
"Can you reach my bag, per favore? It has fallen under your carriage."
Eva couldn't see the person who was speaking. Her stepmother had piled the hat boxes high, instructing Eva to load them in the carriage before joining them at the jeweler's. She had managed to stumble her way to the carriage, but was stalled trying to figure out how to open the door without hurting the hats.
"Of course. Just a moment. Would you be able to—"
But the stranger had already opened the door.
"Thank you." Eva stacked the boxes neatly on the seat. "Now, your bag?" She turned to find a very small woman, with knots of silver hair piled on her head.
"Si, I dropped it and it tumbled away. I did not want to scare your horse in reaching for it."
Eva could now see the dusty blue bag lying just behind Amator's hind legs. She pat the horse, cooing to him softly as she knelt down to retrieve the bag.
"Grazi, Miss." The woman began rummaging through her things the instant Eva handed it over. "You are very kind for one so busy."
"It was nothing, Signora. Amator may seem intimidating, but he is a sweetheart." She reached out to pat the great horse again. The woman continued on.
"That woman works you very hard. I do not suppose she will let you go to the ball?"
Eva lowered her chin. Just that morning, Eva had pleaded with her stepmother to allow her to go, after spending all night rehearsing her reasoning. And still the Contessa had refused.
"No. I would have nothing to wear. I would be an embarrassment." Then she blinked the quickly gathering tears away and straightened her head. "I'm sorry to bother you with my troubles, Signora. Thank you for helping me with the door."
"And I thank you for my bag. Here-" the woman pulled a small card from her bag. "If you decide you need a dress for the ball, come find me." Then she disappeared into the crowd of the market.
Eva slipped the card into her pocket and gave Amator one last pat. Though she knew the Contessa would be impatiently waiting for her, Eva was in no rush. It was nice to speak with people who were not her stepfamily, to have a pleasant conversation. She savoured these moments when she could get them -speaking with the grocer's wife when she was sent out on errands alone, having a conversation with the groom when she finished her chores early, even these few moments chatting with a stranger was like a drink of cold water on a hot day.
But this day was not done. She took a deep breath, and headed to the jeweler's.
Eva did not remember the old woman until the long shopping day was over and all of the parcels had been unpacked and put away. She was readying herself for bed when she felt the card in her skirt pocket. Suddenly remembering the strange woman, she read the neatly lettered script:
See Sibyl at The Conquistador's Chalice. To change things.
...
"Get in."
"What?"
Early threads of light were shot through the sky, the chill of night still lingering. As promised, a gilded carriage had arrived to convey the Prince's intended to the palace. Allegra and Gianna had already settled themselves, neatly coiffed and dressed by Eva.
And now -
"You heard me, you foolish child. Get in the carriage."
Eva stared at her stepmother. Clearly the woman had lost her mind. This couldn't be a sick reward for providing her with the way into the royal family. Eva stayed, immobile, in the foyer.
"I - I thought…"
Contessa Viviana's harsh laugh caused Eva to recoil.
"You thought I would leave you here? Alone?"
That was exactly what Eva had thought. Eva had hoped that, at last, she could reclaim the villa. Uncover her family's portraits. Pull her mother's things out of the attic. She had been counting on being alone in her house, to grieve her Prince and her chance at true love.
But her stepmother was before her, still laughing, incredulous. As if she had read Eva's thoughts and found them to be a book of stories for children. Foolish.
Meek little Eva, who had never encountered so much as a cruel word before her stepmother, could not refuse. Viviana had always held the power; had found power a willing lover, an addictive elixir, a cudgel with which she bludgeoned Eva, now, no different than any day:
"When your father married me, I became the heir of his estate. And your father is dead now. You have no more right to this villa than do the mice. No. You need to be where I can keep an eye on you. Now get in."
This was more than Contessa Viviana keeping her away from the villa. It was torture. It was to remind Eva that she still had nothing, was nothing. The Contessa wanted her under the same roof with her true love, unable to do a thing about it. Away from Villa di Angelo, the only home she had ever known.
Eva got in the carriage.
The ride was agony. Allegra kept raving over her betrothed, while Contessa Viviana fussed with everyone's gowns. Gianna propped her delicate chin in her hand, releasing a sharp huff of disgust every few seconds. Eva kept her jaw clenched, and every so often blinked back a tear. The last time she had been on this road...
Proper daylight had bloomed as the carriage arrived at their destination, casting the castle in a warm glow. The palazzo was the most impressive building in all of Azurre. It was twenty stories tall, and fourty windows wide. Flags bearing the crest of the royal family danced from every battlement. The building was constructed of white stone mined from the coastal cliffs, and the roof bore the striking red of Azurran tile. Coloured glass glittered in the windows. And waiting at the base of the grand set of stairs, also of red tile, stood the royal family.
King Eduardo had his arm around Queen Adrienne, both of them beaming down at their future daughter-in-law. Princess Maria, who had married an Archduke of Corianders Reef, was present with her husband and young daughter. Prince Benedetto, a year younger than Niccolo, nudged his brother's shoulder, but the elder Prince refused to remove his eyes from Allegra.
Eva felt her stomach do a flop. It hurt her to see Prince Niccolo gazing at Allegra so adoringly. Although, she reflected, many men couldn't keep their eyes off of Allegra. She really was pretty, with her hourglass figure, and shining golden hair. Her eyes were a sparkling blue, and her chiffon dress floated in the light morning breeze. Eva looked mournfully at her own faded brown dress, and tucked her limp blonde hair behind an ear.
"Announcing Lady Allegra di Angelo, betrothed of Prince Niccolo de' Azurre, and her family, the Contessa Viviana di Angelo and Lady Gianna di Angelo!"
Eva's blood started boiling. She was her father's only child, the true heiress di Angelo.
"My love." Prince Niccolo had rushed as regally as he could down the steps, and bent to meet Allegra's hand with his lips. "The wait was agony, my lady."
"I confess I suffered the same impatience, Your Highness."
"The waiting does not matter now. We have forever ahead of us."
Eva was now quivering, and leant against the carriage to steady herself. To have his hands on hers again, to have him whisper my lady, my love, forever...
"Wake up girl!" The Contessa hissed.
Eva had missed the introductions between the royal family and her step-family. Said families were now sweeping up the staircase into the palazzo. Contessa Viviana had fallen back to accost Eva.
"Assist with carrying our things," she waved a bejewelled hand at the back of the carriage, where a flock of palace servants were unloading the many boxes.
Eva glared at her Stepmother with the pain of her loss fuelling her. "Make me."
Contessa Viviana leaned over so her face was an inch away from Eva's. "Do you really want me to?"
Eva wilted, her temporary spark of fire sufficiently doused.
Her stepmother grinned with her victory. "Carry our things to our rooms. Do not even think about doing anything else."
The woman spun and mounted the stone staircase two at a time to catch up with the Queen, her new contemporary.
Eva had recognized the look in her stepmother's eyes, the same as it had been that horrible morning. "Your father is dead." She suddenly found herself very weak. When was the last time she had eaten? She swayed on the spot. In struggling to get her balance, she put too much weight on her broken ankle. The gasp of pain ricocheted into her bruised ribs. Her sole thought, as the world spun and faded, was at least I don't have to carry the bags...