"What do you mean?" Rose turned the color of her namesake for the hundredth time that day.
"Don't play dumb with me," Caitlyn placed her hands on her hips.
"I…" The princess could see it was no use. "He kissed me," she whispered, "more than once."
Cait stifled a scream. For a moment Rose thought the lady might be angry until Caitlyn wrapped her arms around the princess in a suffocating hug.
"I am so happy for you! Even with that terrible first impression—and second impression for that matter—I do think Sir Samberg is a good man." Caitlyn would never have suggested to either of them to be honest with the other if she had thought they were a bad match. "Now, give me all the details, please!"
The matchmaker wanted to know the fruits of her labor. She was rewarded handsomely. The princess described the romantic scene in such detail that Caitlyn almost felt if she was there.
The tale made the brunette both ecstatic for her friend and long for her own Sir Ashton.
Soon enough, the princess finished her story. The red of her face had settled into a beautiful pink only on her cheeks. The new outfit, a gold dress meant for daily life, comforted Rose's skin after being damp for so long.
When Rose returned to the sitting room, the cushions where she and Ethyn had been sitting were replaced and the blanket gone.
Rose looked around in surprise. 'When did Caitlyn have the time to ask a servant to replace them?' The lady-in-waiting was truly magical in how seamless she made the Princess's life.
While the ladies were freshening up, the food had arrived and was laid out on a low table in a dazzling display. Both the retelling of her morning's adventure and the delicious spread lifted Rose's spirits considerably from her encounter with Borit.
Only one thing could make this intimate meal more perfect…
Someone knocked at the door.
'And there he is!' Rose tried to remain calm as Caitlyn answered the door.
For her part, the brunette woman was wearing a very stern expression. Upon seeing the lady-in-waiting's face, Ethyn took a step back before reluctantly entering.
Skirting around Caitlyn, Ethyn tentatively glanced at Rose, who shrugged pleasantly.
"Well?" The brunette prodded, her gaze pierced to Ethyn's very soul.
"What did I do?" He asked.
"It took you long enough," Caitlyn once again had her hands on her hips after shutting the door.
"I promise I tried to change as quickly as I could! A servant was not immediately available. I hope you did not wait to eat on my account..." Ethyn stammered. He was not used to being in trouble with the amiable brunette.
Shaking her head, Caitlyn let out an exasperated sigh. "Not that. The other thing."
Ethyn furrowed his brow. Then his eyes opened wide. "You told her?!" The man's gaze fell to the embarrassed princess once again.
"I didn't have to, she already knew." Rose smiled innocently. Too innocently.
The knight hummed softly. "But you told her more I gather."
The women exchanged knowing glances, confirming the man's suspicion. Ethyn fought the urge to ask just how much had been shared. The two ladies were close. Come to think of it, if Rose hadn't at least given some clue of what had gone on, then Ethyn would have been suspicious that perhaps she was ashamed of what had happened.
"I hope you at least made me look good." The knight flashed a dashing smile.
Both ladies giggled before Caitlyn eyed him carefully. "A little too good, if I may say so. I am not going to leave you two alone again until there is a ring on my mistress's finger."
Both the princess and knight opened their mouths to say something and stopped. Each motioned for the other to speak first.
"Let's at least talk to father before anyone talks about rings. Though with that dress in his closet, I'm sure he will be more than willing to discuss such propositions when the time comes." Rose turned up one corner of her mouth.
"Sounds good to me…wait, why does His Majesty have a dress in his closet?" Ethyn paled slightly, many thoughts running through his head at once.
"It isn't his dress," the princess amended her words. "It's a wedding dress."
"Oh...oh!" The knight suddenly looked very interested. "I look forward to discussing this more in the future."
Caitlyn shot him a look that suggested he go no further. He nodded slightly, receiving the message.
Ethyn wondered if it was to protect him from spooking the princess or to keep him from manipulating Rose's expectations. Perhaps both.
Rose felt her stomach grumble. The food smelled delicious. Knowing the princess's preferences, the cook had sent just the right amount of savory and sweet delicacies. Maybe he had heard that the princess had sent away hundreds of extra mouths to feed and had sent the extra special meal in response.
Motioning for the others to join her, Rose sat on the couch and began serving herself. Caityn sat on the chair beside her, but Ethyn hesitated.
At last he reluctantly took a chair that was on the opposite side from the princess's couch. She looked disappointed, but Caitlyn visibly approved.
"We will keep everything proper until you tell your father. I won't lie to him and say I've seen nothing if I have." The brunette picked up her cup and took a sip.
"What about when you are not looking?" Ethyn asked with an innocent smile.
"In my experience, someone is always watching," Caitlyn gave the young man a meaningful gaze. Then she added in a playful tone. "I will just have to trust you to be good when my back is turned."
"So we shouldn't go seeking out hidden alcoves, then?" Rose's sweet tone fooled no one.
"Especially don't seek out hidden alcoves!" Caitlyn squealed, her cheeks pink.
Many a girl had been caught in the palace halls and had her reputation ruined. Thankfully the person that had caught Cait was Ethyn and not someone with an agenda.
People were quick to act on passions without thinking of the consequences. To protect both the princess and the knight, Caitlyn thought it wise to limit temptation.
The group dug into the food and sat in silence for a time. Each had their own problems that they were working through.
Caitlyn was counting just how many pieces of large pottery were needed to block all hideaways from the happy couple. Rose was trying to decide how to act next time she saw Borit, and Ethyn was rehearsing the speech he would eventually have to make for the king about his intentions for the man's daughter.
'Your Majesty, with abject humility I come…no, no that somehow sounds boastful. Your Royal Majesty of the Kingdom of Birle. No, too formal. What if…'
A bird alighted on the far window sill, interrupting his thoughts. The grey creature cooed at him, as if beckoning him to come near.
Ethyn had had very limited experience with birds unless he was hunting or eating them. The most he usually did was watch them fly through the sky or flee when disturbed in a tree.
But this one was too lean to eat and it did not seem like it was going to fly away even if he approached.
His eyes opened wide. There was something around the bird's leg.
A message!