Chapter 18

 

Castle Hohburg’s marketplace burst with activity. The tents and small buildings bustled with merchants calling to passersby, declaring the wonders of their wares. Ripe vegetables shone on their tables like bright flowers. The scent of warm, fresh bread floated in the air as the bakers carried their full baskets to entice buyers. Even children wandered around, trying to sneak a piece of fruit off a cart.

Nick smiled. He had always enjoyed the marketplace. As a boy, he ran among the buildings himself, playing with Bryan and Penn, weaving in and out of the patrons. The gates to the castle remained opened, so anyone from the town just outside could come and go as they pleased, buying, selling and trading with the merchants. Keeping the marketplace safe was the only use for the soldiers stationed here these days. And the marketplace was still a wonderful place to hide.

Nick had plenty to hide from. His mother had not eased her pressure for him to marry, and none of the marriage-minded ladies had left the castle yet.

Nick headed through the stalls, watching the people he passed. It was easy to see who was there to be seen and who was there to buy. The number of people he recognized made him smile, as well as how generally happy everyone was. Or maybe it only seemed that way because he was happy. Even Kiki’s friends did not bother him as much as they usually did.

Rapunzel was warming to him. He had suspected it when she had smilingly teased his pathetic arrow-shooting skills. Then yesterday, she had said he could come back. He was not sure why that lifted his heart as much as it did, except that his desire to return was powerful inside him. While he wanted to go back right now, this instant, he forced himself to wait. Logic told him that going slowly would help her trust him.

Or so he hoped.

Whether it would help or hurt him, he could not be certain. She needed time to let his words sink in, to believe he spoke the truth. It frustrated him that her mother used terror to keep Rapunzel trapped in the tower. For that kept her there–he could see it as they had talked. She feared what could happen to her outside the tower. She feared attempting to navigate the world burdened as she was by her hair. The long locks he had coiled were sleek and lovely to be sure but they were, in truth, a chain. A beautiful one, but a chain nonetheless.

“Ahh, if only I had a bucket.”

“What?” Nick had been so distracted he had not noticed Penn approaching.

“I thought perhaps a thorough dousing would get your attention,” Penn said.

“My apologies.” Nick smiled. “Woolgathering.”

“With that smile on your face? Did you have a warm bed last night?” Penn waggled his eyebrows.

Nick shook his head. “Do you ever stop?”

He put his hands on his chest. “I am a young man of leisure, with no responsibilities and no need to think those dark, morose thoughts that occupy you and Bryan all the time.”

“You have no responsibilities because your mother does everything for you,” Nick said, jabbing him in the arm.

Penn laughed. “And I let her.” His gaze darted to a maid walking through the marketplace, carrying a heavy basket. “It allows me to be more of a gentleman.” He winked, trotting off to assist the maid.

Nick rolled his eyes and headed toward the smith’s building. Out the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of a fancy dress and heard the accompanying crinkle of the layers of underskirts women of rank wore. He let out a sigh as he walked into the shop.

The smell of freshly cut wood and the heat of metal being shaped met his nose, a harsh difference from the outside air.

The blacksmith came over, wiping his hands on a rag before greeting him. “Welcome, my lord.”

The man was at least his father’s age and had been crafting for the castle for over a generation. Years of sweat and hard work in the heat had weathered his face, though his eyes still held the twinkle of youth under thick gray brows.

“Good to see you,” Nick said. “Business been good?”

“Always, my lord.” The smith patted his brow. “What can I do for you, my lord?”

“I need to commission a present.”

“Aye, for a lady?” the smith asked.

Nick smiled. “Yes.”

The smith nodded, that twinkle in his eye sparkling even more. “What shall it be? A necklace? A bracelet?”

Nick grinned, but shook his head. From inside his cloak he pulled a sketch of the idea he had for Rapunzel’s birthday present. The smith took the paper, examined it, and the two quickly went over a few details, the smith scratching ideas onto the parchment with a coal stick, adding to the design Nick had created.

After a few minutes of discussion, the smith nodded his head. “Pretty straight forward, I believe,” he said. “However, it will take time. At least ten days. Maybe longer.”

Nick nodded. “That is fine.”

“We will have it ready, my lord.”

Nick nodded, handed him a down payment on the present and headed on his way. Outside, the smell of the blacksmith’s shop disappeared, replaced by sweet pastries from a passing baker, carrying a tray of goodies to another store.

Pleased with himself, he could not wait to give Rapunzel her birthday present. He could only imagine her excitement upon receiving it, and he grinned. Lady Eva stepped in front of him, making him almost stumble over her.

“Blast, woman!” he snapped.

Lady Eva was a girl no older than his sister, Kiki, but far more dangerous. At least Kiki focused her energy on knowing everything, instead of the empty pursuit of noblemen. Lady Eva had one of the loveliest faces in the kingdom–dark blond hair always in perfect curls, lips stained with the perfect amount of rouge to make them appear to have just been kissed, and doe-brown eyes–but it hid one of the most relentless hearts he had ever known.

According to Kiki, rumor had it Lady Eva’s family had some difficulties and they had been pushing her toward a good match for the last few years.

“You should be more careful, my lord.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “It would have been most unfortunate to damage the lovely dress I just purchased.” She twirled, then dropped into a too-deep curtsey in order to show off the low neckline.

Nick was not about to fall for her games. “You should speak to your seamstress. They seem to have forgotten some of the trim.”

This only made Lady Eva puff her chest out more as she stood, accentuating the low line. “Oh, but my lord, this is the latest fashion.” She licked her lips as she scooted closer to him.

Nick stepped backward. “I suppose my senses have not caught up to fashion, then, for I prefer a bit more mystery.”

“Mysteries are so overvalued,” she said, not letting him by. “I much prefer knowing exactly what I am getting.” She ran her gaze over him in a way that made Nick cringe.

“Ahh, Lady Eva,” Penn said, “what a charming frock.” He held out his arm.

Of course, Eva took it, smiling at him, and immediately began prattling on to Penn about the new dress and the seamstress and all the woes of getting it.

Penn glanced at Nick, without saying a word. He did not have to. Nick nodded. He knew he owed his friend.