Chapter 17
Even before I've stepped foot in the mountain solar again, I'm exhausted. It's at least partially my fault for spending the evening baking with Nate and not going to bed until after midnight, but it's also the idea of spending time with another prospective suitor whom I know I'm not interested in.
But there's no avoiding it, Mama has made that clear.
I make my way inside and stop when I come to our guests, already having been briefed on who they are. I dip into a shallow curtsy as neither of them outranks me, but it's still polite. "Your Highnesses."
Prince Francesco bows in response, a little deeper than is strictly necessary, given that we're both the children of ruling royals. "Your Highness," he responds. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"It is," I respond. "I mean, it's a pleasure to meet you too." I wince even without a reproachful look from Mama to remind me what I've done wrong.
I'm well aware of that.
"This is my younger sister, Princess Giulia," he says, gesturing to the woman about my age to his left. I'm already aware of who she is, but I know better than to mention that.
"Your Highness," I say with another curtsy.
She responds the same way.
"Should we take a seat?" I ask the Prince.
He nods and allows me to lead him over to the same mountain solar table that was set up when I met Lady Elizabeth. Even though I'm not looking to marry this Prince Francesco either, I hope this interaction goes better.
Mama, Princess Giulia, and Veronica take their seats at the other table, giving us absolutely no privacy while pretending that they are. If I were actually trying to court Prince Francesco, then it would be frustrating.
I take a seat, making sure to drape my skirts in a way that won't annoy me, though that's going to be hard because Mama has insisted on my wearing the latest fashion from Sovranetti for this meeting.
I'm not sure why she thinks that's a good idea when I'm not from the kingdom.
Besides, there are more ruffles than I know what to do with.
"Would you like some tea?" I ask the Prince. "It's from Shengda, we have a trade deal with them."
He nods. "I would like some tea. Sovranetti is visited by a lot of Shengdanese merchants, but we don't have a deal with them. Perhaps if a friendship were established between our kingdoms, Falhaven might be able to facilitate one."
"I don't know much about it," I admit. "Other than the tea, and some of the other ingredients that we get from Shengda."
His eyes light up. "I believe that is the most important part."
I laugh despite my dislike of the situation I'm in. "Not if I'm to listen to my mother."
"Nor if I am to listen to mine."
I pick up the teapot and pour some of the amber liquid into his teacup before doing the same into my own. "There's milk and sugar, if you wish for either of those."
"Thank you, Your Highness." He smiles at me. "Am I to believe we also have something to eat?" he asks, looking over to where the Bakewell pudding is sitting in the centre of the table.
I nod. "Would you like some?"
"I would."
"It's a Bakewell pudding," I say. "Flaky pastry with raspberry jam that's made from fruit that grows in the royal gardens, and then an almond paste topping. The almonds aren't grown in the royal gardens though."
"I do not imagine they grow well in Falhaven," he agrees.
"Most of our almonds come from Someil," I respond. "Even from before my brother's marriage to Princess Solana." I cut a slice of the pudding and put it on his plate before getting one for myself.
Prince Francesco cuts into his and takes a bite, nodding in satisfaction. "It is good. I have not heard of it before."
"It's a Falhavien dish," I respond. "Legend says that..." I trail off.
"Legend says?" he prompts.
I clear my throat. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I'm not supposed to talk about the history of food."
"That seems like a strange rule," he responds.
I look over to the other table, but Mama doesn't seem to be paying me as much attention as she was when I was speaking with Lady Elizabeth. "Mama believes that I can talk too much about the subject."
"I happen to enjoy it," Prince Francesco responds. "So, what does the legend say?"
"That an innkeeper asked her cook to make jam tart, but the cook got confused and put almond paste over the jam, creating Bakewell pudding," I say. "It's not a particularly interesting legend now that I say it out loud."
He laughs. "I think it is probably the origin of many foods."
"True." I give him a small smile.
"Where did you learn about the legend?" he asks.
"My..." I clear my throat. "Someone told me."
"Ah, I see."
"You do?"
"Someone you do not wish to name?" he asks. "Perhaps because the Queen does not wish you to."
"I shouldn't, please don't ask me to."
He nods. "I understand. Perhaps we might speak of other things," he suggests. "Are you looking forward to your ball tomorrow?"
I don't know how to answer that. Mama hasn't explicitly said that I'm supposed to say that I am, but I don't imagine that she'd be particularly happy if I told the truth.
"It will be a wonderful event," I say. It's not even really a lie.
I'm sure it's going to be a good event for everyone else.
And Veronica keeps promising that I'm going to find something to enjoy about it, and I have no reason not to trust her, even if it feels rather contrary to my previous experience of masquerade balls.
"Will your sister be attending?" the Prince asks.
"Princess Veronica is attending, yes," I respond.
"I meant Princess Kathryn,"
I frown, not having expected that question. "I believe so." While she's still suffering from her sickness, I know she wants to.
"I made Her Highness' acquaintance on my last visit to Falhaven," he says. "I was hoping that we might get a chance to speak to one another again."
"Oh, well, I'm sure that you can make a request. She might be able to meet you for tea tomorrow." I don't know if that's true, but if he wants to speak with Kathryn, then it seems like the best choice.
He nods. "Perhaps."
The conversation lapses, and it isn't long before he takes his leave with a deep bow and promises me a dance tomorrow. It's the thing that's least endeared him to me throughout the entire conversation.
"So, how was this one?" Veronica asks quietly enough that Mama can't hear.
"He was nice enough," I respond. "But he wasn't Nate."
"I suspect that's going to be the problem no matter who Mama suggests to you as a potential match."
I look over to where Mama is speaking with one of the servants. "That's true."
"What are you going to do about it?" Veronica asks.
"The only thing I can do," I respond. "I'm going to have to tell her.
" I hate the idea of doing that, and making myself vulnerable to Mama's anger, but I know it's what has to be done.
The idea of going through even a week more of Mama making me have tea with people I have no interest in, while being kept from the kitchens and the person I want to be with just doesn't sound doable.
"I thought it was going to take you more than two suitors to realise that," Veronica says.
"Nate's said some things too," I respond. "I just need to figure out how to have the conversation."
"Good luck, because I don't envy you at all."
I nod, but mostly because I don't know what else to do, just that I can't stand much more of this. Maybe once the ball is over, I'm going to figure out how to tell her.