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I stood before the dusty mirror trying, for the twentieth time, to adjust the gown so I might not humiliate myself in front of the kingdom. There was no hope for it, I sighed. I would just have to be careful not to trip or bend at the waist. I pulled my hair over my shoulders to give myself a measure of cover but the long tresses had been pinned back from my face so as not to distract from Lottie’s careful work. There was a knock on the hidden panel and I sucked in a breath. Moment of truth, I mused as I carefully stepped to the door and slid it open. Brianne’s blue eyes took in my appearance. She pushed the hair behind my shoulders, nodded in approval and stepped aside.
“It’s time,” she said. “We are as ornaments, the court will serve Their Majesties and we will attend them. When we are dismissed, we wait in the side chamber until they are done.” She guided me into the hall, moving quickly but with grace. I tried to mimic her posture but I constantly tripped over the hem of the gown. I followed her down the winding servants’ stair to the Dining Hall. We came at last to a circular hall with at least half a dozen doors. Brianne chose the one directly across from us and slid it to the side. It was a secret passage into the expansive Hall beyond. I stopped to gaze at the golden plates and goblets glittering like jewels beneath the dancing light of a thousand candles. Servants were quickly laying out golden utensils, lining up crystal glasses beside the goblets. I was transfixed by the crystalline chandelier above the table. Dozens of bouquets of fragrant roses and golden trays teeming with piping hot dishes rested on long tables aligned on one side of the chamber. Brianne snatched my wrist and pulled me through a swinging door into a tiny kitchen packed with serving girls and tables stacked with empty trays. I peered around Brianne to see an overly large backside protruding from a lower cabinet across the room.
“Natalie,” Brianne called. I heard a thump and then a stout woman, no taller than my breast stood in a rush. She gave Brianne a look of the deepest loathing before dropping in a respectful curtsy and then her eyes fell on me. I gulped and darted back behind Brianne. So this was the terrifying kitchen mistress—the reputation was well deserved. If she’d been looking for me, the news that I’d be chosen as Princess Destiny’s attendant wouldn’t please her.
“Mistress Brianne, how may I serve you?”
“Is everything in order? Her Majesty’s guests will arrive shortly.”
“I’ve tried my best to cook a feast but with no meat whatsoever—”
“You’ve spent weeks—weeks!—preparing a feast of–of vegetables and desserts for the Queen and Her Court?” Brianne was aghast. “Why did you not order the meat from the butcher?”
“I sent my scullery maid with the payment. She returned, said everything was in order, and went about her business and yet we have no meat. I can only assume she is a thief.” I cringed behind Brianne’s back.
“We shall see what the Queen has to say about this,” she swept past me, tugging me along, into a long narrow hall with a small door open to the courtyard. Splotches of flour and yellow kernels littered the floor.
“She’ll be furious, this is absolutely absurd,” Brianne muttered.
“She’s talking about me,” I told her forlornly, “but I’m not a thief.” At least, I didn’t believe so.
“Calm yourself, Amia,” she said. Her lips were twitching and her eyes were shining.
“You believe me?” I asked.
“If she wasn’t lying, you would not be standing in front of me.” She sighed and waved a hand as my frown deepened. “After you were chosen, I searched for as much information about you as I could. Don’t worry, it’s not all bad.” She looked smug and I turned away from her, playing with my fingers. She patted my shoulder. “Royal attendants have to be more than pretty but you’ll learn that. I cannot wait to see the look on that old witch’s face when I tell the Queen.”
Old witch’s face... The words repeated over and over in my head until the vivid picture of an ugly old woman’s melted face appeared in their place. A door banged loudly on the other side of the wall. My heart leapt into my throat, panic gripped my heart.
“That’ll be the dinner party.” Brianne explained, “members of the Court, advisors, and the Queen’s favored dignitaries.” She blinked at me. “Are you well?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” I told her. I didn’t know if she could hear me over the roar. Chairs scraped against the floor on the other side of the wall, and laughter, glasses clanging, heels tapping. After a few breaths, the roar turned to a quiet humming.
“We’re due in now.” I nodded and followed her into the tiny kitchen.
Mistress Rosen’s cheeks twitched as she checked and double-checked the trays before handing them carefully to a waiting servant. When all was set, she wrung her hands impatiently. Brianne looked first at Mistress Rosen and then at me before leaving the cramped room.
“After all I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?” the woman snarled, “with betrayal? Well, I’ll be damned if I lose my livelihood over a common idiot halfling!”
The passageway was so quiet and so still I could have been alone with my thoughts. The squat woman huffed and puffed with anger but underneath it I could sense her fear, her panic. I almost hoped I hadn’t delivered her list if she was this afraid of what the Queen would do, but for the life in me I could not remember. “Mistress Rosen—”
“Don’t you ever talk back to me!” Mistress Rosen’s beefy face was mottled with angry splotches as she lunged towards me.
“You dare raise your hand to my attendant!” I gasped and whirled. The door had swung open just as Mistress Rosen moved to strike me, but in the doorway was the Princess. Standing behind her was Brianne and the Queen, both of whom looked shocked. Holding back the door was Minda. She gave me a small wink.
“What is this?” the Queen looked into all of our faces but the other maids inched away and looked pointedly around the room as though they hadn’t seen anything. The Queen’s gaze fell on me. “Amia, what is the meaning of this?”
“A small disagreement, Your Majesty,” I dropped my head and curtsied.
“Yes?” Destiny spoke in a low tenor, her eyes burning into Rosen’s forehead.
“The castle is without meat,” Brianne answered. “I left Amia alone with Rosen while I brought Your Majesties to hear her excuses.”
“Why am I just hearing of this, Natalie?” the Queen asked dangerously.
“Your Majesty, please, I didn’t know–I didn’t realize,” Mistress Rosen sputtered. Her lips were white and her face was an odd mixture of scarlet and plum.
“Did you pay him?” Destiny asked her. Mistress Rosen pointed her stout finger at me.
“I gave the money to her, Your Majesties,” she snarled. “I gave it to her weeks ago.”
Their eyes slid to me. “I...”
“Mr. Pinkette will confirm it,” Minda pushed away from the door. “If your Highness asks, he will say Amia delivered the money and Mistress Rosen’s order.”
“I intend to,” Destiny nodded and then demanded of Mistress Rosen, “did you speak to him, the butcher, after?”
“I couldn’t!” she sputtered, wringing her hands as her pale eyes narrowed. “I’ve been busy overseeing this kitchen.”
“I think it may be time for you to retire, Natalie,” Destiny spoke.
“Retire?” squealed Mistress Rosen.
“If managing the kitchens is too much for you, we’ll have to find someone fit for the job,” Destiny’s voice was low. “We can do nothing for it tonight but Amia will come with me to the butcher’s farm and I will have the truth.”
Mistress Rosen’s lips were white as she dropped her head and dipped in curtsy. “As you will, Your Grace.”
“It’s settled. I will speak to Penter about this later,” the Queen added. “Come, let us continue with the feast unless there is something else. What are we eating anyhow?”
“Vegetables mostly and a few game hens, there weren’t enough to go around, mind, so only the Queen and Court will be eating those.” Queen Suzette, in a manner very much like Destiny’s, rolled her eyes to the ceiling.
“I can just hear Saphne laughing at us all the way from Keit. ‘Hen at the Harvest Festival!’” She muttered irritably as she left the kitchenette.
“Have you eaten anything?” I was staring at the floor and looked up to see Destiny peering at me.
“Me?” I flushed. “N-no, Your Grace... Brianne and I will take our supper after the feast.”
“Not this day,” she said, “come. I’ll ask Elizabeth to serve Mother and I. She’ll be so honored.” Blue eyes twinkling, she winked at me and left the room. I saw the same confusion I felt mirrored on Brianne’s lined face. She shrugged and walked into the dining hall. I glanced at Minda who stared back with surprised eyes.
* * *
IN THE DINING HALL, Destiny watched as Mia stood on tiptoe to look over Brianne’s shoulder and smiled when the girl winced. Every eye at the table was trained on them, everyone wanted to see the savage maid with their own eyes. Together they came to the table, curtsying low at the Queen’s left side. Her mother lifted her hand and two of her dignitaries took their scrolls and pens and left. Brianne circled behind the Queen to sit at her left hand and Mia took the seat next to Destiny. It seemed she hesitated, her eyes glimpsing the table before she took her place with resigned accord. She sat timidly with her eyes on the ornate place setting in front her, her cheeks rosy with a delicate blush. The Queen cleared her throat and the conversation began in earnest.
Destiny could tell Mia greatly wanted to disappear, she remembered feeling the very same for her first feast with the Court. If Destiny hadn’t wanted her, she might have let the girl be but she would never relax and open herself to Destiny if she was to remain with her eyes on her plate, avoiding the stares Destiny knew were on her skin.
“What do you like?” she asked to draw Mia out of her silence.
“Like, Your Grace?” she whispered out of the corner of her mouth. Destiny bit down on her tongue to keep from laughing. She cleared her throat.
“To eat.”
Mia threw her a frown and a minute shake of her head. “I don’t know, Your Grace.”
Destiny gestured to a waiting valet who stood at her elbow with twin platters of fowl, one drenched in a white sauce, the other red. “Does nothing stir you?” She watched as Mia’s face colored and her eyes dropped. “Will you not try?”
Her face was pained as she relented, “all right.”
Destiny neglected her own meal to watch Mia taste the dishes offered. She made a face at a tart vegetable broth before savoring the rich gravy drizzled over a tender leg of hen. As they ate, Destiny asked questions, marveling at the expressions that crossed Mia’s face as she thought of an answer before speaking. She found herself delighted by Mia’s quiet sincerity and open honesty. When Mia let go and forgot about the place and the hour, Destiny was captivated by her. She laughed until her sides hurt at Mia’s expression when she tasted a red sauce Destiny was not brave enough to try.
“I imagine that’s what old laundry water might taste like,” she’d muttered as she dabbed her lips with a folded square of pressed linen.
As the feast wound down and a hundred conversations carried on around their private world, Destiny pointed out various highborn to Mia so she might learn their faces and names. “Do you see the woman down there beside Lord Tylert?” She paused as Mia nodded. “That is Lady Elizabeth Carrington, and if you truly really wish to please me, you will keep her as far from me as you can.”
“Why?” Mia asked with wide eyes.
“It’s hopeless,” Destiny waved her hand. “Now that she’s here... well... you’ll see.” Mia glanced down the table at the woman. Elizabeth was pretty enough with flaxen curls framing her heart-shaped face and creamy skin flushed with rose. Her lips were the same pale pink as her velvet gown. Destiny swallowed back bile as Elizabeth batted her lashes. Mia flinched when Elizabeth noticed her through the flutter of her lashes.
“Ah...” she smiled weakly.
“Don’t worry,” Destiny murmured, “she’s only angry because I’m sitting with the prettiest girl at the table.”
“Who?” Mia’s eyes swiveled over to Destiny’s patient smile. She scoffed and focused on her plate as her cheeks flamed with color.
Sometime later when the candles began to wink out and the room was hazed by golden light, Destiny squeezed Mia’s hand beneath the table.
“The feast was marvelous, my Queen, but we should be getting on the road.” Lord Halston stood with his wife. “I have to be back in Yellowview by tomorrow night as you have given the Duke plenty to think about.”
“Yes, you best get going,” Destiny agreed as her mother stifled a yawn behind her hand. “Good night, Violet.” His wife bowed her head and smiled at Destiny and the Queen. Her smile brightened as it fell on Mia.
“Good night, Your Majesties. Mistress Amia, it was lovely to meet you.”
“And you, Lady Violet. Good night,” Mia stammered in surprise.
“I, too, must be getting to bed,” Destiny murmured to her mother, “I’m exhausted.” She stood and pulled Mia to her feet. “Good night everyone, thank you for coming.” Murmurs rose from the table but they didn’t stay to hear farewells.
Destiny steered Mia through the empty corridors, amused by her sluggish gait as she followed in a drowsy daze. Grinning broadly to herself, she reached into the pocket of her doublet for the chamber key. Mia leaned against the wall with her eyes closed. By the time Destiny fished out the key, she was snoring lightly, propped up on the wall with her head back, mouth agape. Her long hair fell over her shoulders in raven curls. With a small smile, Destiny admired the spread of lashes against Mia’s cheeks, the slight pucker of her lips as she frowned at her dreams. She almost reached out and touched the plump dark rose bud, but as Mia made a small sound and tried to settle more comfortably against the cold paneling, Destiny couldn’t. Instead of reaching for Mia’s lips, she gently took the smaller woman into her arms and lifted her off her feet.
With a sigh, she snuggled against the hollow at Destiny’s throat, one arm loosely wrapped around her waist. She took a deep breath and moaned into Destiny’s neck. The Princess stood stunned as Mia threw her lose arm around Destiny’s shoulder to pull herself closer. Chuckling nervously, Destiny kicked opened the door to her apartments and carried the sleeping beauty over the threshold.
Her rooms were quiet and dim from the light of a few scattered candles and the low burning fire in the hearth. As she crossed the length of the outer apartment, there came an insistent scratching at her chamber door. She glanced towards her bedchamber, wanting nothing more than to lie on the soft mattress and sleep. Mia’s arms tightened around her neck. Strangely, her heart began to pound and again someone scratched at the door. She turned and laid Mia gently on the sofa across from the fire, pausing to admire the play of orange light on her sleeping face. The need to reach out and trace her skin overwhelmed Destiny. She hurried to the door and pulled it open.
* * *
A FIRE SMOLDERED IN the stone hearth across from me. Confused, I sat up on the velvet sofa and glanced down at myself. Seeing the shimmering fabric brought back to mind the feast and sitting beside Destiny at the table. I must have fallen asleep out in the hall and Destiny had probably carried me into her apartments and laid me on the sofa. Though I should have been, I couldn’t feel mortified at the thought of her carrying me. It was chivalrous, so very like her. The only problem was the dress and I didn’t want to sleep in it. Lottie would have to get me out.
I looked across the room at Destiny’s bedchamber door and swung my legs over the edge of the sofa. I stood up and froze as Destiny’s figure came into view, lit as she was by the light from the corridor. I could just make out her profile in the gloom and I could see she was speaking with someone on the other side of the door. The other voice was a breathless pant. I leaned closer the better to hear.
“I’ve missed you,” the voice whispered. Destiny backed away and shook her head. “What’s the matter?” I couldn’t tell who it was.
“Really,” Destiny answered, “I’ve been traveling for weeks and with the feast tonight–forgive me but I would much rather rest.” Destiny leaned back and made an exasperated sound. “Vivian, I would be no good to you tonight.” I frowned and leaned closer, I didn’t remember a Lady Vivian at dinner. I wanted to get a look at the woman but it would be impossible from where I stood.
“I will give you the energy,” the Lady replied. There was a scuffle as Destiny pulled the lady’s hands from her shirt. “I have missed our nights together, I’ve wanted you for so long. I need you.”
“You need your husband.”
“Destiny, please!” But she stepped back and closed the door in the Lady’s face. I sucked in a breath, squashed the relief and pleasure that coursed through me and stepped away from the bookcase.
“Mia!” Destiny gasped. “You scared me.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” I tried very hard not to look at the door.
“I thought you were asleep,” we said at the same time. She grinned, I blushed.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she said after a time. I fidgeted with the folds of the gown, my fingers twitched against the fabric.
“Not at all. I realized I should get this back to Miss Irma.” Nervously, I chuckled, “before I slept the night in it.”
“I’ll help you out of the dress,” she offered. “Come, it’s far too late to wander the castle.” My stomach fluttered. I couldn’t imagine her undressing me as though she were the servant and I, the Princess. The way she gazed at me, though, it made my heart pound in my throat. The room was stifling and maybe she really was tired after her journey and the festivities, or perhaps that was only a small lie to deceive Lady Vivian. A knot of tension coiled in my belly.
“M-miss Irma’s apartments aren’t that far,” I whimpered five paces away from her. “I’ll be back before you miss me.” Destiny shook her head, came to me and took my hand. I thought my skin might burn her I was so flushed.
“I insist. Besides, Irma will be sleeping now.” She smiled bitterly, “I’ll be a gentleman and not look. You have my word.”
“Very well,” I said finally, unwillingly. I’d have much rather told her that I would just sleep in it and she didn’t have to undress me. We went through the panel and I saw her look about my tiny room. There was a strange expression on her face, a blend between disbelief and disgust. I crossed quickly to the wardrobe and rummaged through it, looking for my night dress. I found the white cotton shift under a pile of clean small clothes. Destiny waited patiently and silently. I turned to her, smiled briefly and held up the shift. The heels of her boots clunked heavily on the wood floor. As she approached, I turned around so my back faced her and pulled my hair over my shoulder.
With careful fingers, Destiny undid the satin clasps, starting at the bottom, near the swell of fabric over my buttocks. I reached up and pulled the pins from my hair, shivering when a whisper of cold air touched my bare back and tingled in my scalp. Near the top, her finger slipped and slid down my skin. I gasped at the sudden flood of warmth inside me.
“One more.” Her breath was warm on my neck. My knees trembled and I held my breath. With another light tug the bodice loosened and broke away from my chest. “Did you enjoy the feast?”
“Ah...” I turned my head to her, “I had a wonderful time. Thank you for inviting us to your table.”
“It was nothing... Oh,” she backed away, “I’m sorry, forgive my manners. Good night, Mia.”
“Good night, Destiny.” I slipped the shift over my head as the door closed behind her. It couldn’t possibly be the first day of my life and yet it was. A very strange, very long day that I was glad had finally come to a close. Disappointed and relieved, I blew out the candle and climbed into bed.