Page 10 of Pippa of Lauramore
“My mind is made up. If you would like to add more days, keep arguing.”
I mount Willowisp, shaking with horrified fury. Only one word churns in my head—the vehemence I have toward it leaves no room for other thoughts.
Archer.
CHAPTER 3
“It’s only half the tournament, Pippa. You should be grateful.”
I bite my tongue so I won’t say something nasty to Percival’s wife. Leonora looks up from her breakfast and gives me a knowing smile. She’s aware I want to strangle her, and she thinks it’s amusing.
“People are wrong about you, Leonora.” I stab a sausage with my knife. “You are wicked.”
She smiles. “If I were wicked, would I be sharing breakfast with you instead of enjoying the banquet this morning?”
No, she wouldn’t be, because there’s really nothing wicked at all about Leonora. She’s demure and self-controlled, sweet and graceful. She’s everything a princess should be—everything I am not.
I quite dislike her sometimes.
“Tell me about your prince, this Galinor,” she says, her eyes sparkling.
I take a deep breath and let myself smile. “He’s very handsome.”
“And easy to manipulate?” She grins.
My mouth drops open. “I didn’t manipulate him. How awful you make me sound! Did you think, perhaps, he has a sense of adventure as well? Not like the rest of you.”
“Sense of adventure,” she scoffs.
“It was so romantic.” I ignore her and lean forward. “We rode through the woods, and I showed him the maid-of-the-shadows, and then I took him to that cavern—the one you refuse to visit—with the huge open ceiling to look at the stars.”
She sighs. “It sounds wonderful. It’s too bad your father figured it out.”
“Figured it out!” I exclaim. “Archer told him.”
Leonora looks stunned. “Why would he do that? How would he even know?”
I set aside my anger—I want to save it all for Archer—and explain how he found Galinor and me in the stable.
She shakes her head. The light from my window falls on her soft brown hair and makes her look angelic. “Archer wouldn’t do that, not if he gave you his word.”
“There was no one else,” I argue. “Who do you think it was?The dog?”
“You’re surly this morning.” She gives a piece of melon a gentle poke with her knife.
It’s time to change the subject.
“Are you going to the village archery event today?” I ask, referring to one of the pre-tournament festivities open to the peasants and villagers of the kingdom.
She gives me a small frown. “I’m sorry, Pippa. I must go. I helped your mother arrange the whole thing.”
“It’s all right. It’s my fault I’m stuck in here.” I stab a large piece of melon.
“The prizes are really wonderful,” Leonora says, her eyes bright.
My mouth is full, so I nod for her to continue.
“Money purses, lots of livestock, barrels of sugar and wheat, and even one barrel of that wonderful cider from last night.”
