Page 11 of Pippa of Lauramore
“What’s the grand prize for winning the event?” I cover my mouth as I chew.
She leans forward. “Five hundred gold coins and a year’s worth of food delivered each week from the palace kitchen—whatever we eat, they’ll eat.”
I’m stunned. “Your turnout is going to be amazing.”
“I know!” She laughs, and then her expression falls. “I wish you could be there.”
I wave my hand like it doesn’t matter, but I’m actually heartbroken.
We finish with breakfast,and Leonora excuses herself. Once she’s gone, I open my balcony doors and let the summer air in. The banquet must be over because the music has already started. Yesterday’s rain is long forgotten, and the sun shines brightly.
I’ll let myself wallow for just a moment, and then I’ll go back inside. I step onto my balcony and rest my arms on the stone wall. Our gold and sapphire flags wave in thebreeze, and the arena is already crowded. Targets are set up for the competition, and the seats are packed. There are people everywhere.
I squint to see if I recognize anyone, but they are too far away. A hand touches my shoulder, and I jump. I whirl around to find Anna staring up at me, her eyes narrow and her mouth turned down in a frown. Her white hair is streaked with a few stubborn red strands, and I wonder if it’s by sheer will alone she’s not all white.
“Hello, Anna.”
“You couldn’t behave yourself at your own party?” she says instead of a greeting.
I roll my eyes and slouch against the stone wall. “We were on our way back.”
“It’s shameful the way you run about. After eighteen years, I would think you would have learned how to be a lady.”
I have learned how to be a lady. It’s just so dull I can’t stick with it.
I wave my hand without any conviction. “I was being hospitable to our guest, showing him the highlights of our kingdom…and so on and so forth.”
Her eyes narrow even further. “How hospitable?”
I sigh and hold my hand up, showing her the ring.
She nods, temporarily appeased. “No prince or lord wants a tarnished princess.”
I groan and let my attention drift back to the festival.
“Your father has decided you will attend lessons as usual,” Anna says, ignoring me. “I will walk you down to Master Draeger.”
My head snaps back. “What? My lessons were postponed until after the tournament!”
“Apparently the moonlit ride changed his mind.”
Anna is tiny, but what she lacks in height she makes up for in tenacity. She sets both hands on her hips and stares up at me, daring me to argue with her.
At the young age of fifteen, Anna was nursemaid to her third cousin, my mother. When Mother was married, Anna traveled with her from their kingdom of Ptarma to Lauramore. She looked after both my brothers and me, but when they reached a certain age, it was decided they no longer needed a nursemaid. For some reason, no such decision was made when I reached the same age. Anna went from nursemaid to my personal keeper, and she takes her job very seriously.
She’s never married, and I think my life would have been much easier if she had. I mentioned it once. It didn’t go over well.
“I dislike music very much,” I whine as we descend the wide spiral staircase.
When I was little, I used to run up and down these stairs, pretending I was an important messenger charged with saving the kingdom. The servants and maids would smile, acting like they didn’t notice me running like a wild thing through the palace. Then one day I tripped on the plush red runner, fell down the stairs, and landed at the bottom with a bloodied lip and a massive knot on my head. Father demanded that I was no longer allowed to run amok. Though I was very young, only four or five, my lessons started the next day.
Father said a spirit like mine needed to be kept busy. He said that once about a difficult horse, as well.
I’ve never forgotten that.
“Your mother always liked her lessons,” Anna answers.
I glance at her. “I’m nothing like Mother.”
