Up with the sun, despite staying up with her friends well into the night, Kaylee dressed in a pair of brown trousers, a matching brown tunic, and a pair of boots she’d taken from Marcus when he outgrew them several years ago. She braided her hair and wound it around the top of her head, pinning it down so that it was completely hidden under the brown bycocket hat she stuck on her head, minus the feather that annoyed her to all ends.
She studied herself in the mirror for a moment and then determined she looked nothing like the princess. Satisfied that she appeared to be a young boy, even though there was more up top now than there had been when she’d first started this charade a few years back, Kaylee shouted for Annetta, who had gone back into her adjoining quarters to get ready herself.
A few moments later, her lady walked out, her expression saying everything. She, too, was dressed like a man, but with her curves and large breasts, she looked a little ridiculous. She was also wearing slippers on her tiny feet because none of the men they were friends with had feet that small, and Annetta refused to stuff borrowed boots.
Kaylee knew she couldn’t laugh or else her lady would turn right back around and go into her room, refusing to go out. Normally, she kept her gown on when they went on these expeditions, even though Kaylee never did. But she’d insisted they all dress like men today, and Annetta hadn’t been able to talk her out of it.
“We’d better hurry if we’re to catch the shift change,” the princess insisted, hiding her smirk behind a yawn.
“I saw that,” Annetta insisted, not fooled. “I look like a portly butcher’s son. Or the baker’s boy who can’t stop stuffing sweet buns into his mouth.”
Unable to hide her laughter, Kaylee doubled over for a second before attempting to assure the duchess she looked just fine. “Come along,” she said, pulling on her arm. “Marcus and Gregory should already have the horses saddled by now.”
“Won’t the stableboys wonder why they need five horses for two people?” Annetta was still trying to talk her way out of going on Kaylee’s expedition, but she was at least headed toward the door now.
Kaylee pulled the barrier open slowly, looking out into the hallway in each direction before she stepped out. “No, you know the stableboys don’t pay any attention at all to what we do.” She was whispering, trying not to catch the attention of any guards or servants. She knew her parents would be asleep for at least another hour, or if her father was up, he would be working in the study that adjoined her parents’ bedchamber, which was in a hall of the castle far away from where she was headed. She had no idea if James and his wife were early risers, but she knew Matthew and Margaret were not. David’s work would have him on the other side of the grounds this time of day, and his wife would be asleep. They should be fine if they could get past Carolyn, the cook.
Shuffling her feet slightly so as to keep the thick soles of the boots from ringing off the stone, Kaylee led Annetta down the hallway to the stairs. She made short work of them but then paused at the bottom, listening. The kitchen was just down the hall. She could smell bread baking and hear pots and pans clanking. It sounded like Carolyn had a few of the kitchen servants in there helping, which meant more potential eyes on the doorway. “We’ll have to be careful,” Kaylee whispered.
“You’re telling me.” Annetta glared, and for a moment, Kaylee worried that she would intentionally announce their presence. But she thought she knew her friend well enough to trust she wouldn’t actually do something so hurtful.
Fighting the urge to run past the obstacle, Kaylee took her time, inching her way along slowly, carefully, quietly. The pair of them were almost past the kitchen when she heard Carolyn shout her name, “Kaylee!” She froze, her heart sinking as she realized she’d been found out. She pivoted slowly on her heel, expecting to see Carolyn standing there with a disappointed look on her face. But when she turned, the hall was empty, save Annetta who looked terrified as well. Then, they heard Carolyn’s voice again. “... is going to love these rolls. The princess sure does love my bread.”
Kaylee caught Annetta’s eyes and they both nearly broke out in laughter, a noise that would certainly get them caught. No longer worried about being cautious, they both broke into a run, still concentrating on keeping their feet light, and shot past the kitchen, down the hall, and around the corner, thankful it happened to be empty.
The door they were aiming for was at the end of the hall, so Kaylee paused for a moment to catch her breath. Annetta’s eyes were still wide, and she imagined hers were as well. She didn’t dare risk trying to speak now, but she did suck in some air before deciding it was a good idea to hurry on.
At the door, Kaylee paused again before opening it a crack. She looked out but didn’t see anyone, so she slipped outside and moved along the wall behind a large shrub, waiting for Annetta to do the same. The sound of horses hooves and metal rattling in the distance let her know there were guards nearby, but it sounded as if they were riding away from their position, not toward it.
“Where is Jenna?” Annetta asked, still panting. “Why didn’t she come with us?”
“I told her the plan last night. She wanted to come. I was hoping she’d be here.”
“Obviously, she isn’t,” Annetta noted.
Kaylee could see that. She hoped her cousin showed up before the boys arrived with the horses, but the changing of the guard at the gate was crucial. Not that they’d utilize the main gate to get out because that would never work. But there was a place further down where they could sneak out if the guards were distracted by the morning shift change which had a bit of pomp and circumstance to it. Gregory had discovered the archway a few years ago, back when Kaylee was allowed to come and go as she pleased, and while it was hidden well, it was there just the same. Normally, several soldiers were on duty nearby. But not at this time of the morning, and especially not if the shift change drew those nearby further away.
Kaylee heard horses approaching, without the clatter of metal, and knew it was her cousin and Gregory coming. They’d have to go without Jenna. They couldn’t wait any longer.
Marcus came into view around the side of the castle, the reins of two other horses in his fist while Gregory rode behind him bringing up Kaylee’s black stallion, Storm, who looked as excited to be getting out of the stable as Kaylee felt to be getting out of the castle.
Leaping off his stead before it was fully stopped, Marcus asked, “Where’s Jenna?”
“Not here,” Kaylee stated, being obvious. “We can’t wait any longer or we’ll miss the switch.”
“We’re just going to leave her behind?” Marcus asked the question but then caught sight of Annetta and had to turn around to keep from laughing. The lady in waiting didn’t notice, but Kaylee narrowed her eyes at him.
She didn’t call him out, though, only went to her horse and threw a foot into the stirrup. Gregory held the horse still for her, but he’d learned a long time ago she didn’t need help mounting, especially not while wearing trousers. “No time to debate, Marcus. You’ll have to stare at her breasts some other time.”
Her cousin’s mouth fell open, and Gregory chuckled, but Marcus couldn’t argue with the truth. Annetta needed a hand getting up, which distracted him, and once again, Kaylee found herself hiding a laugh from her lady, whose unhappy state intensified with the struggle.
Once Annetta was seated, Marcus took one more look back at the door, swore under his breath, and climbed back onto the horse. “Damn it,” he said, looking over his shoulder at Kaylee.
The princess wasn’t missing her chance, not for anyone or anything. “Let’s go,” she insisted, ready to snap Storm’s reins as soon as Marcus got his ride out of her way.
He turned back, resigning himself to the fact that Jenna was missing out, and was just about to take off when the door flew open. The four of them jumped at the sound, turning their heads quickly, and Annetta’s horse reared from the loud noise. Marcus grabbed hold of the bridle and brought the mare back to the ground before Annetta flew off, and then they all gave their attention to the figure at the door in order to sort out what was happening. The situation did not look good, and Kaylee was ready to shoot off before anyone could catch her, leaving her friends to fend for themselves.