Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
“Good morning, Alina.”
Alina smiled at Mrs. Pincer as she emerged into the shop. “Good morning.”
Stifling a yawn, she scanned the small space. Shifts at the tavern kept her up much later than she would otherwise choose, and it was always hard to rise the next morning. She brightened as she spotted the golden head she’d been seeking.
“Lilah.” She moved to her friend’s side. “Is everything all right? You and Benji must have been very quiet this morning not to wake me!”
“Of course,” said Lilah, stacking rolls of fabric. “You were out so late, and I thought you didn’t have to be anywhere this morning. I was hoping you’d sleep much later than this.”
“Never mind me,” Alina said. “Is Benji working at the farm again?”
“He is,” Lilah confirmed, and Alina relaxed marginally. It made her anxious not to know where either of the twins were, but especially Benji, given the target on those skilled in magic.
“Have you heard the news, Alina?” The question came from Mrs. Pincer, and Lilah hastened to return her focus to her task.
“News?” Alina repeated.
“The crown has sent a group to investigate the disappearances,” Mrs. Pincer said. “And it’s led by the crown prince himself!”
“Oh, that news,” said Alina. “Yes, I did hear. Or rather, saw. The group was at the tavern last night.”
“You saw them?” Lilah’s eyes lit with interest. “What’s the prince like? Is he as handsome as rumors say?”
“He, uh…”
Alina floundered for only a moment before realizing how foolish she was being to let her history with the prince affect her so much.
Lilah knew nothing of it, and for all she knew, the prince didn’t even remember it himself.
There was no reason she couldn’t approach the question—approach this whole situation—like someone seeing the royal for the first time.
“Yes,” she said decidedly. “He’s very handsome. And he has a likable air. He didn’t stand on ceremony, and he was dressed attractively but not at all formally. The people in his group all responded warmly to him, and he was very charming with the servers.”
“That’s all well and good, but charm goes hand in hand with deception, my dear,” Mrs. Pincer said wisely. “We’ve all heard his reputation. Don’t let any sweet words he said to you cloud your judgment.”
“Trust me, Mrs. Pincer, I’m in no danger of that,” Alina laughed. “When I said he was charming, I didn’t mean to me. I served his table only once, and he didn’t say a word to me.”
“Why not?” Lilah demanded loyally. “You’re prettier than any of the other girls who work at the tavern.”
Alina laughed again. “Are we offended now to not be the subject of inappropriate attention?”
“I suppose not,” Lilah said, relenting with a smile. “Anyway, we’ll hopefully see his famed charm for ourselves soon.”
“What do you man?” Alina asked warily.
“Apparently they’re going to be doing interviews around town, to see if anyone knows anything,” Lilah explained. “Or that’s the rumor, anyway.”
“And you think they might come here?”
“If they’re trying to interview everyone, I’m sure they will,” Mrs. Pincer said. “I don’t know if it will be today, though.”
Alina didn’t respond. Dismay was washing over her. She’d planned to lie low and avoid the prince until the group moved on, but that was optimistic if they were going to interview everyone in town. She’d be wiser to prepare herself for a face-to-face meeting, rather than let one catch her off guard.
“We should all present ourselves accordingly, just in case it is today,” Mrs. Pincer added, with a surreptitious glance over Alina’s worn dress that had her fighting a wince.
The memory of the prince’s words about her the night before flashed through Alina’s mind.
“Cheerful, friendly service here, isn’t it?”
“Yes, there does seem to be a wealth of timid girls in this town.”
Determination flared through Alina, irresponsible but irresistible.
“Mrs. Pincer,” she said. “I’m going to take your advice.”
“What advice is that, dear?” the older lady asked vaguely, her attention back on the ledger she’d been filling out.
“I’m going to buy that green gown.”
“You are?” Lilah clapped her hands delightedly. “I’m so glad!”
Guilt prodded Alina as she went back upstairs for coins, but she tried not to let it in. If she was forced to face Prince Xavier in her current circumstances, she at least wanted to do it with her head held high.
“It fits you perfectly,” Lilah said half an hour later, having followed Alina back to their rooms to see the effect. “You never do anything for yourself, Alina, this is wonderful.”
“No, it’s not,” Alina said, grimacing at her reflection in the spotted glass on their wall. “It’s ridiculous. I shouldn’t have done it. I can’t afford extravagances like this.”
Especially now she would have no more work at the tavern.
“It seems you can,” Lilah said. “You had the coins, why not spend them to clothe yourself? We have food enough.”
“I was saving them to help you and Benji get to the capital,” Lilah said. “So he can apply for the scholarship.”
“Well, you shouldn’t be.” A flash of annoyance crossed Lilah’s lovely face.
“Alina, you already do so much for us. We don’t pay to live with you, and we only ever agreed to that because you convinced us to save our coins for Benji’s application instead.
There’s no reason you should be doing the same!
If you have coins to spare, spend them on your own needs. ”
“I do,” Alina said quickly. “I’m provided for, Lilah. Don’t worry.”
“Girls!”
The call from downstairs cut off their conversation and sent them both into motion.
“Sorry, Mrs. Pincer,” Lilah said breathlessly, once they re-entered the shop. “I didn’t mean to be gone so long from—”
“No, it’s not that,” Mrs. Pincer cut her off. She patted her hair briskly. “I was just out front and saw the investigators coming out of the baker’s next door. They’re speaking in the road now, but I think they’re coming here next.”
Alina swallowed, wondering if she should try to hide upstairs and make up an excuse for Lilah and Mrs. Pincer later. She was still debating when the bell over the shop door jangled merrily, the sound accompanied by the firm tread of boots on the porch outside.
Alina’s eyes flew to the doorway, one of her hands resting on the bottom of the wooden rail that ran along the staircase up to her sanctuary.
But she didn’t dart upstairs. She watched with outward calm as several men trooped into the store.
The one in front had an air of command about him—she recognized him as the guard who’d sat at the end of the group at the tavern.
But he didn’t address them, stepping to the side as his companions followed him in, and looking respectfully toward the last to enter.
Prince Xavier. Alina resisted the urge to smooth her new skirts.
She held herself steady, telling her erratic heart to settle down as the prince’s eyes lazily scanned the group.
One dark eyebrow rose slightly as his gaze lingered on Lilah, and he sent the ghost of a wink to the pretty golden-haired girl.
Alina didn’t look at Lilah to see how her friend took this hint of flirtation.
She didn’t want to miss the moment Prince Xavier properly saw her.
She was suddenly desperate to know whether he remembered her, whether he would recognize her after all these years.
His eyes slid across again, flitting over her whole form before their gazes locked.
He froze in place, his expression of lazy amusement instantly replaced by blank shock as they stared at each other.
He made a small, jerky movement, as if he’d started forward but stopped himself.
One hand rose slightly then fell, and he swallowed hard enough to make his throat bob.
For a moment there was total silence, stretching out and enveloping the small shop with a presence almost as tangible as Dust.
Then a muffled mewing sounded from the prince’s cloak, breaking him from his stupor. He tore his eyes from hers, stepping back and looking toward the guard in a silent appeal. Whatever the prince had been about to do or say, he’d lost the thread of it.
Well, that answered her question quite decisively.
Alina lowered her eyes, knowing it was vanity to be pleased she had an effect on him, but feeling a sense of relief all the same.
The guard stepped forward, taking the prince’s loss of capacity in stride.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said in a pleasant but firm voice. “My name is Captain Mitchell, and I’m assisting with the crown’s investigation into the recent disappearances in this area.”
“We’ve heard all about it. It’s past time someone did something about the situation.”
Mrs. Pincer’s words carried a regal air that seemed intended to remind these visitors that they’d entered her own small kingdom, over which she and she alone presided. Alina’s lips twitched in appreciation, but her expression sobered as she felt the prince’s eyes again boring into her face.
“It is indeed,” Captain Mitchell agreed curtly. “Rest assured, we’ll be conducting a thorough investigation, ma’am. Today’s inquiries are only preliminary.” He looked toward Prince Xavier, as if offering him another opportunity to take over.
Alina followed his gaze, warmth prickling at her neck as she found the prince’s eyes still fixed on her. He pulled them away with an effort, giving a small nod to the captain.
Captain Mitchell’s eyes passed discreetly between the prince and Alina, the look shrewd but brief as he continued speaking.
“To whom am I speaking?”
Mrs. Pincer and Lilah introduced themselves, another member of the prince’s party jotting down their names carefully in a ledger.
“And you, miss?” the captain prompted her, when she didn’t speak.
“My name is Alina,” she said, keeping her eyes resolutely on the guard’s face.
“And do you live in town here?”
“I do,” she confirmed.
His eyes passed between her and Lilah. “Are you employees in this shop?”
“I am,” Lilah said, casting a concerned glance at Alina. She must wonder what had her friend so tense.