14
I t was not. Rarely should a cat consume anything derived from milk. Still, a dollop of cream and a mildly upset stomach did not deter Pippin from joining us on the grand tour. Misty, after hearing that he would be present, declined to go.
Pippin pranced around the courtyard as Lady Huntington droned on about the bear fountain. Crown Prince Bennett stood in rapt attention, though my focus was not so unwavering.
“This fountain was carved fifty years ago by a distant relative who was a well-known artist in his time. Completely by hand, not with magic like some...newer artists are doing these recent months.”
Pippin hissed playfully at the marble bear. Lady Huntington coughed.
“I don’t know if you have heard of him, Your Highness, but his name was Hugo Valiant Huntington the Third, and he was known for his life-like sculptures of bears, especially black bears...”
I frowned at Crown Prince Bennett’s broad back. He never mentioned having a cat before yesterday and I had never seen Pippin during all my time at the palace.
Pippin.
The cat paid no attention, pawing at the weeds underneath the lip of the fountain.
Pippin! I thought harder.
He rolled onto his back. Yes, yes. I hear you. What is it?
Are you really the crown prince’s cat?
Of course I am! He looked affronted. Why do you ask?
He tried to feed you bread.
So? Pippin said. He spoils me with variety.
I narrowed my eyes. How long has he had you?
Pippin made a little noise that sounded like a huff. Long enough. I don’t believe that’s any of your business.
What do you know about him?
He’s the crown prince. He’s big and warm and gives the best kisses. Don’t you already know that?
The crown prince kissing anything, much less a cat, was a difficult image to conjure. I held back a sigh. Pippin was clearly a loyal pet. I’d have to find another way to weasel out what His Highness was hiding.
“Lady Narcissa?”
I jerked my attention back to Lady Huntington and Isabelle, who were both staring at me haughtily. “Pardon?”
“Mama was asking if you were familiar with Pierre Mullgren,” Isabelle said. She seemed convinced I didn’t. Little did she know, Mother drilled me endlessly on volumes of “ladylike” knowledge, art included.
“I believe Mr. Mullgren was the first to experiment with bold pigments in his paintings after they were made available in Olderea,” I recited. I felt the crown prince’s eyes turn to me. “Instead of the rustic color palette typical of Olderean portraits, he used vibrant teals and oranges, inspiring an artistic movement that lasted for decades.”
“Very impressive, Lady Narcissa,” Lady Huntington said, raising her thinly penciled brows. “I hope you’re just as knowledgeable in matters of the kingdom.”
I dipped my head. “When I am committed, milady, I do my best in all disciplines.”
She gave me a calculating look, but gave a sudden gasp. “Heavens! The grass has just been watered and trimmed!”
Pippin was squatting beneath the fountain, in the middle of something unspeakable.
Crown Prince Bennett blinked rapidly. “Much apologies, Lady Huntington. I’m sure he didn’t mean to...deface your lawn.”
Lady Huntington took a step back, holding a handkerchief to her nose. “Lady Narcissa, if you could please magic this away, it would be much appreciated.”
Insolent woman! Banishing Misty was bad enough, but this? “Lady Huntington, I cannot make excrement disappear from lawns,” I said before I could stop myself.
“Lady Narcissa! A respectable lady of your age ought to mind her manners when speaking to her hostess,” she said sharply.
“My manners only reflect my hostess’s.”
Lady Huntington gaped. I almost thought I shocked her until she gave a little laugh. “Do accept my apologies, Lady Narcissa. With your mother and father’s influence, you certainly haven’t learned propriety. Forgive me for not being more compassionate toward your...situation. ”
I clenched my jaw, my face burning with anger and humiliation. How dare she bring up Mother? And how dare she mention Father as if he were anything but good and kind?
Crown Prince Bennett stepped in front of me before I could retort. “I believe there were some interesting vases in the foyer, Lady Huntington,” he interjected. “I would like to see them up close.” His tone was stony despite his words.
He must be angry with me. Crown princesses didn’t have tempers. And they certainly wouldn’t be scolded by their hostesses. I closed my eyes briefly, glad that I could only see the back of his coat and not the disappointment in his eyes. Why couldn’t I pass one day without blundering something?
Lady Huntington gave a nervous giggle. “Of course, I’m happy to oblige,” she said. “Isabelle, show Lady Narcissa around the gardens, will you? And if you happen to see the gardener tell him to take care of...that.”
“But Mama, I’d much rather join you and His High—”
“Isabelle, please.”
“Yes, Mama,” Isabelle grumbled.
Crown Prince Bennett turned and motioned to one of the guards at the gate. “In that case, a guard should join you.”
“Our grounds are perfectly safe, Your Highness, and Isabelle will be good company—”
“A mere precaution. Lady Narcissa must be protected at all times,” the crown prince said. “Now, the vases?”
Lady Huntington pulled on a toothy smile and led His Highness to the foyer. The guard from the gate approached. His blond hair made him instantly recognizable .
I sighed. Just my luck.
Isabelle scowled at Maddox as if he were a crushed bug beneath her boot. “Keep at a distance, will you? Men should not eavesdrop on ladies’ talk.”
“Yes, miss,” Maddox said monotonously.
Isabelle harrumphed, latched onto my arm, and led me to the back gardens. Her grip was unnecessarily tight.
I was no fool. Miss Isabelle Huntington, like half the girls in the kingdom, was infatuated with the crown prince. That infatuation certainly did not extend to me.
First the mother and now the daughter. The only good thing about this battle was that it wouldn’t be witnessed by anyone important.
“Father says His Highness plans to be on horseback for the entire tour,” Isabelle said as we passed a hemlock tree surrounded by blooms. The pansies were abundant, taking over the scene with bursts of inky purple and gold. She gave me a cool glance. “Why won’t he join you in the carriage?”
This was a petty challenge indeed.
Forcing a smile, I picked a yellow pansy and offered it to Isabelle. “This will look lovely in your hair.”
Isabelle accepted the flower, squirming as she tucked it behind her ear. I had disarmed her for a moment.
“The crown prince and I are not familiar with each other. Our union is purely out of obligation,” I said. Perhaps blatant honesty would conclude the battle.
No such luck. Isabelle crossed her arms. “Marriage should be out of love, not obligation. His Highness should be with someone who makes him happy.”
Heavens. She sounded like someone who read a few too many romance novels. I would know.
“What makes you think he’s not happy? ”
“He never smiles around you,” Isabelle said triumphantly.
I wanted to scoff. The crown prince never smiled.
“Olderea is and always will be at the forefront of his mind. His Highness needs someone who can solve the unrest and put the kingdom first,” I said, pulling on a regal expression. “Are you able to do that, Isabelle?”
She sniffed. “At least he doesn’t find me so repulsive that he would rather endure a five hour horseback ride in the blistering cold.”
I stiffened. The daughter was just as poisonous as the mother.
“Well it’s true, isn’t it?” Isabelle said, jutting out her chin when I didn’t reply. “And I am sure he hasn’t even kissed you.”
At this phrase, I threw all caution to the wind. “Oh! Are you very familiar with his kissing habits? I’ll be much obliged if you would share. I am quite mystified by them myself.”
Isabelle flushed red. “H-His Highness hasn’t spent a willing minute with you is all I meant! There are plenty of respectable candidates out there. If I were a witch, I’d—”
“Make him fall in love with you and cut me out of the picture?”
Isabelle stamped her foot. “You have no right to be so self-righteous after all you’ve done.” She ripped the pansy from her hair, pale cheeks flushed. “I’m going to find Mama. You can go back to your...wicked potions and magic!”
She stormed off, knocking into Maddox’s shoulder as she passed. I exhaled. The battle was hardly won, but it was over.
Maddox looked at her incredulously and hiked up to me, knee deep in pansies. “What are you doing standing there?” he demanded. “Did you not hear anything she said?”
I gave my half-brother a dry smile. “Can’t handle ladies’ talk?”
“Her words were treasonous!”
“I recall you said some of the same things to me,” I said flatly.
Maddox sputtered. “Well, it’s treasonous now that you’re the crown princess.”
“Not yet. Besides, she’s not wrong,” I said as we waded through the flowers. My mood was irrevocably soured now that I had roused the ire of both Huntington women. I took pleasure in smashing as many pansies in my path as possible. So much for behaving like a proper princess. “His Highness does find me despicable, as does half the kingdom. So despicable, in fact, that it seems to have addled his brain and caused him to kiss his cat.”
“What? Truly?” Maddox said.
I shook off my skirts as the ground leveled, raining petals on the courtyard. I whirled around to face him. “What are you still doing here? Don’t you have a gate to protect?”
His face, which had previously worn an expression of befuddled curiosity, twisted back into a scowl. “W-well. In fact, I do!” he said, and stormed off.
I raised my eyebrows. He didn’t call me any names. Perhaps joining the Royal Guard was changing him for the better after all.