Chapter Ten

“Your Highness, I beg you to keep still!” said Katy as she tugged at the laces of Annabel’s corset.

“How can I keep still,” Annabel said, “when I don’t know what is happening to those poor people?”

“Which poor people, Your Highness? There are no poor people on the Island of Birds – you know that! Peace and plenty is what we enjoy. Will you stop fidgeting!”

“The people in the alien flying machine,” Annabel said. “I told you what I saw. Armed guards led them away to the dungeons, Katy!”

“It’s no concern of mine, Your Highness. I can only imagine aliens mean nothing but trouble. No doubt they are dirty and dangerous and… well, they probably carry all sorts of diseases. Deep breath! There! Now, I’ll fetch the dress. You will look pretty, Your Highness!”

Katy turned to the gilded wardrobe and flung open the doors, flicking with practiced ease through the hundreds of dresses hanging inside it. Two other maids busied themselves fussing with Annabel’s hair, braiding silk ribbons into it and winding the braids up on top of her head.

How I hate all this prettiness! Annabel thought. I’m a person, not a plaything; a doll dressed up by these petty maids. I’m only going to dinner! I shall spill gravy on this wretched silk, I swear it.

Katy returned with a dress. The other maids held it up as Annabel stepped into it.

“It’s my birthday soon,” she said. “I shall govern the island as my father should have governed.”

Katy tutted and fussed, shaking her head. Annabel set her face in a determined frown. “When I am Queen, everything will change!”

“Your Highness, you mustn’t frown! It’ll give you wrinkles.”

“What will happen to them, do you think?”

Katy sighed, stepped back and resting her chubby hands on ample hips, she frowned. “Happen to whom, Your Highness?”

Annabel rolled her eyes and stamped her foot. “The aliens! Goodness, Katy, haven’t you listened to a single word I’ve said?”

A bell tolled the hour.

“There now,” said Katy. “Time for dinner. Good food inside you and the company of respectable men should soon set your mind to rights. I worry for you, Your Highness, if I may be so forward. Whatever would your poor father think were he alive to hear you speak that way?”

Annabel narrowed her eyes. “You may not be so forward. You should watch your tongue. How dare you suggest you know what my father may have thought?”

Katy flushed and her fingers worried at her apron. “My apologies, Your Highness,” she mumbled, contrite. “I spoke out of turn. Let us go for dinner.”

The princess hesitated. “No,” she said.

“Your Highness?”

“I shall not go to dinner tonight, Katy,” Annabel said, as the maids finished arranging her dress, clipping a string of diamonds around her neck and pinning a glittering tiara on her head. I feel like a tree decorated for the Winter Feast!

“Not go to dinner? Whatever do you mean?”

But Annabel had unpinned the tiara and flung it onto a nearby divan. She unclipped the diamonds and spoke to the maids. “Get me out of this dress.”

The young women looked at Katy and then back at the princess. “You will do as I command,” Annabel whispered. The maids set about undoing the work of the last hour. Katy’s hands shot to her face. Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Oh whatever are you doing, Your Highness? You are expected at dinner. You must…”

“It is not for you to tell me what I must and must not do, Katy.”

“But what do you intend, Your Highness?”

The maids removed the dress and unlaced the corset. Annabel said to them, “Bring me my hunting clothes, and a hooded cape.”

“Your hunting… surely you are not visiting with commoners again, at this late hour? I beg you…”

Annabel laughed as she pulled on the leather breeches and buttoned up the tunic. “No,” she said, “I will not do that.”

“Well, that’s a relief. But what shall I tell the Regent and his guests?”

Annabel was at the door. She pulled the hood up over her head. “Tell him whatever you will, Katy. Tell him I am indisposed. Tell him I am ill. I shall return within the hour. You have nothing to fear if you obey my command.”

“Your Highness,” begged Katy, throwing up her arms in exasperated defeat, “at least tell me where you are going!”

“I am going,” Annabel said, “to see the aliens.”