Page 54 of Legacy of Glass
“I thought you didn’t even want to marry Marigold,” Cade said quietly.
Julius shot him a look, and Olivia was instantly consumed by curiosity. They had clearly discussed the situation of Julius’s betrothal, and she wanted to know what else Julius had said.
But neither of them gave anything else away, an uncomfortable silence falling between them all. Marigold’s betrayal of Julius might not have been personal, but she had done more damage to the royal family than she had done to Olivia, so Julius’s point was still valid.
“Perhaps we can convince Kasper to assist in the search instead?” Cade murmured.
Julius groaned. “Let’s not make this any messier than it already is. I said yesterday that I would help you, Olivia, so if you’re fully committed to this then of course I will. I just wish you would reconsider. You’re already tackling one monumental task here at the palace.”
Was he worried about her or worried that the search would distract her and her role at the palace would suffer as a result?
Determination filled her. If Julius didn’t want to be involved, she would find a way to search for Marigold without him. Despite their early interactions, Olivia knew Julius took his role as the gallant prince very seriously. The last thing she wanted was to use that to manipulate him into doing something he didn’t want to do. Knowing Marigold had betrayed the royal family only made it worse. Olivia couldn’t use their resources when the whole search was based on nothing more than her hunch.
Olivia might not be able to give the resources of a princess to the search, but she could still give her own time. She just hoped that would be enough to find some sign of Marigold.
Julius seemed relieved that Olivia didn’t push further, although Cade looked concerned. She would have to find a private opportunity to let him know that she hadn’t given up on Marigold. It would be even better if she had some progress to report to him when she did.
But despite her best intentions, it was two days before her packed schedule presented her with an empty afternoon to make a start on her plan. Remembering her promise to Julius, and not wanting to be reckless, she approached the stables first and was directed to the stable master.
The older man was delighted at her request for a horse, producing a lively mare who won Olivia over instantly with her perfect lines and cheeky attitude. The stable master was equally as proficient at providing a groom to accompany her, so Olivia rode into the city with the satisfaction of knowing she had followed royal protocol for once. Julius would have nothing to upbraid her for this time.
For a while she had to give her full attention to navigating the flow of traffic—a very different experience on horseback than on foot. But as she became more comfortable with the city from the back of a horse, she put more attention into the direction of her path. She hadn’t been sure of her destination when she'd left the palace, but the salt in the air pulled her toward the sea, and she followed her instincts. When the vast expanse of shimmering blue came into view, she smiled, pleased with her choice.
She had reached the shore to the south of the docks, where a long stretch of grass met the sand and provided the perfect spot for picnics. As usual on a bright, sunny day, the grass was littered with small pockets of people enjoying a few leisure hours.
Olivia dismounted, handing her reins to the groom, and walked among the picnicking groups. The ordinariness of the scene refreshed her, but she hadn’t come to the shore to enjoy an afternoon off. She was searching for information, and she needed to consider where she had the best chance of obtaining it.
Her eyes drifted over a number of couples, all of them too wrapped up in each other to welcome interruption. Some youths were laughing and splashing in the shallow water, and several clumps of either mothers or nannies watched gaggles of small children. None of them seemed like ideal candidates.
But finally she noticed a group of girls playing a complicated game of handball—one she remembered from her own youth in Henton. Sidling up to them, she waited until the small sack filled with dried beans flew off course, in danger of falling to the ground. Intercepting its fall with the back of her hand, she propelled it straight upward. As it fell back toward her, she whipped her hand around and hit it for a second time, this time with the heel of her palm. It flew across the small circle to the girl directly opposite.
The girls acknowledged her inclusion in their circle with grins but didn’t break their movements, continuing to pass the ball between them. Olivia received it twice more before it finally flew wide, plopping to the grass before anyone could reach it.
The girls relaxed.
“One hundred and twenty,” one of them said with a smile. “That’s our best effort in a long time.” She turned to Olivia. “I didn’t know noble girls played handball too.”
Noble girls? Olivia blinked before suddenly remembering what she was wearing. When had she gotten so used to wearing finery that she forgot all about it? She should have changed into one of her old gowns before venturing into the city.
“Wait,” one of the girls whispered to her neighbor, “isn’t that the new princess?”
Overlapping murmurs spread through the group until one of the more confident girls spoke. “You are Princess Olivia, aren’t you?”
The others fell silent to hear her answer.
“Yes, I’m Olivia,” Olivia admitted. “But I’m not a princess yet.”
Fresh murmurs broke out among the girls, this time even more excited.
“That doesn’t matter,” said the speaker. “You will be one soon. We all think it’s terribly romantic. But what are you doing here?”
Olivia glanced at her accompanying groom. He was some distance away, occupied with walking both their horses back and forth along the street that bordered the grass. The street ran parallel to the shoreline, and the far side of it was lined with a mix of shops and houses, all facing toward the sea. The traffic was heavy enough that she lost sight of him for a moment before he circled back. But she was hardly at risk from a group of fifteen-year-old girls.
“I came to see the ocean.” Olivia hesitated. “And because I want to ask you a question.”
“Ask us?” one of the other girls asked, shock making her bolder.
Olivia nodded. Her theory was that if Marigold had been abducted but no ransom demand had been made, then she couldn’t have been the only young woman to go missing. And girls the age of the ones in front of her tended to pay attention to the girls a few years older as they anticipated their own arrival into adulthood.
