For the first time since nanny josie woke me up in the wee hours of the night to tell me that my parents had gone missing and my distant cousin was to be the new Baron, i slept through the night.
When I opened my eyes the rays of sunlight from the open window went directly to my eyes causing me to squirt them just a little bit.
My eyelids fluttered several times before I yawned and sat upright. I heard a sound and I realized quickly it was from my stomach.
I was hungry.
I stood up and I went to the window to gaze out, catch a glimpse of the place that was going to be home for the foreseeable future.
That thought caused my heart to squeeze just a litlle.
I miss home. I miss my life. I miss Nanny Josie, Mary and the rest of my house servants.
I miss Kane's annoying whistling sound that he made in the morning, i miss the awful bonnet Mary wears to get Kane's attention, i miss Nanny Josie's hug but most importantly, i miss my mother's strength and the sense of security she offered me, the unspoken promise that as long as she breathed air that i could be whomever i wanted to be.
I miss my father's love and the game of chess we played and the outrageous, maybe slightly non-lady- like story he tells me all the time.
I miss the smell of the lavender scent he always seems to have on him, I miss the challenge and I miss the man not the myth as a mad scientist.
I felt myself beginning to tear up just a little bit. I blinked back tears and I left the window and opened the door that led to the balcony.
I saw a toad there. I named him Charlie.
Maybe Charlie needed fresh air as much as I did.
I let him out on the balcony, the croaking sound he made was comforting actually. It was one thing that didn't change.
I looked out the balcony and I caught a glimpse of a lot of things but one held my attention for a long time.
It was the sight of Prince Abbott sparring with a few knights in the little arena behind my bedchamber.
Unlike yesterday, he wasn't officially dressed. He was wearing a red shirt and black pants held together by a belt which was wholly unnecessary since I have a feeling his body was quite capable of holding his pants up.
He looked…human, almost approachable.
Almost mundane.
His black hair was damp and slicked to the back which outlined his impeccable facial qualities well.
I watched as he gave instructions to the knights and taught one how to hold a sword properly.
He was patient and gentle in his dealings. He didn't look like a monster, not the type that stabbed a guard for doing his job or expressed interest in seeing his nephew in unbearable pain and he didn't look like the psycho who strangled me to death yesterday.
He was a teacher and a very good one until he turned around and slammed his fist into one of the knights behind him, the knight staggered and fell down.
I gasped out loud. Watching him do that took me by surprise and the yelp was so loud I had to cover my mouth with my palm but it was too late, he looked in my direction and our eyes locked.
My eyes widened in surprise and I hid near the flower vase.
I counted to ten before I looked outside again but he was gone, only his knights and Sir Bastian remained.
I walked back to my room to find a young girl placing a dress on my bed. She was about my age in a plain dress and a brown bonnet on her head.
"Hello" I waved. It was good to see someone my age.
"My lady, my name is…." she stopped talking as her eyes gazed all over me like I was on display. "You went outside in your nightdress, my lady"
"Yes, I did. It is a beautiful day to go horse riding or swimming. It is just a beautiful day!" I grinned widely as I tried to cover up my sadness.
"I can see your ankle! And your lady parts too, my lady!" she whispered forcefully like she wouldn't dare say it out loud.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror that was somehow in the middle of the room. She must have wheeled it in because it was certainly not there when I woke up and I didn't see what the ruckus was all about. My night dress almost touched my calf and my lady part was well concealed. Only things visible were my neck, my chest and…my arm.
Why is she having a fit?
I wear my night dress to breakfast at home.
Then it clicked. This wasn't home. Here, there were rules and propriety to consider.
"Oh" I murmured before seeing the plate of food on the table.
"Is that for me?" I asked and ogled the bread.
"Yes milady. His royal highness asked for a light breakfast to be sent up to you as you didn't eat dinner yesterday, milady"
Hearing about Markle almost made me turn crimson red as the event of yesterday flashed through my eyes. The kiss we shared was something magical and now…breakfast.
He remembered breakfast!
"Prince Markle is kind and thoughtful, isn't he? He remembered I didn't eat yesterday" I asked my servant.
Evie blinked, she looked confused. "You are mistaken, my lady. It was the Lord commander that requested the banquet"
I stopped eating instantly.
It was probably poisoned.
"I drew you a bath, milady. Would you like to proceed?"
"A bath?" I asked her.
"Yes, milady"
"You don't have to call me that, I am Abby. What is your name?"
"Evie, milady….my name is Evie and i couldn't call you by your name, i am your servant"
"So is Mary and Nanny Josie yet I am Abigail to them. I need food, Evie…i am this close to fainting" I stared at the food in front of me "Was Prince Abbott there when you dished out this food?"
"No, my lady"
Then it's safe to eat, I murmured to myself.
I sat on the chair the young girl pulled out for me, the first thing I touched was the chicken. I took a bite. It was heavenly.
"Do you want some, Evie?"
"No, milady…princesses don't share their food with their lady's maid"
"You should tell that to Mary. we used to wrestle for the biggest chicken legs and she is my maid" i chuckled ... .good memory. "And i am not a princess"
I am hardly a baron's daughter at this point, I said in my head.
When I looked at Evie, she looked like she would hurl over if I continued talking about the sacrilegious act of my former maid, it was when my eyes caught the bouquet of flowers by the corner.
"Did you bring me flowers, Evie?"
"Prince Markle sent it, milady. It came with a request for her ladyship to join him for picnic"
"Really?" my eyes popped.
He was really taking this whole business of forcing him to wed me really well.