Page 29 of Slippers and Thorns
Setting it carefully on the edge of her bed, she stood and removed her princess finery. Then she donned her old work dress and apron, laced up her sturdy boots, and fastened the wooden beads around her neck. Quickly braiding her hair, she tied it off with a ribbon and covered it with a dark grey handkerchief.
Now the trick was to make sure no one looked at her face on the way out. She was dressed as a servant, but if anyone actuallylookedat her, she was fairly certain they would recognize their crown princess.
Grabbing the basket of laundry that had not yet been emptied, she dropped her eyes to the floor and slipped through her door into the hallway. Most of the servants in Hartford Castle did not feel the need to keep their heads down to avoid notice, so it was a risk to do so; it might draw more attention. However, she didn’t want to accidentally make eye contact with anyone, so she hoped the eyes of any passersby would simply glide over her if she wasn’t looking.
She successfully dropped off her laundry. From there, it was a short trip through the servant halls to a small exit into the castle courtyard.
Unfortunately, the exit was uncomfortably near the barracks. She had just closed the door behind her and taken two steps towards the gate when she heard the door to the barracks open. Glancing over, she quickly whipped her head the other way and tried to walk casually.
“Well, you’re still here,” Henry said lightly. “The prince hasn’t thrown you out or into the dungeons yet.”
“Yet,” Charlie sighed. “The way he glares at me every time we cross paths, I keep waiting for it. Maybe I’ll just quit and save him the trouble. Then I can stop worrying about what he’s going to do to me.”
Ella’s heart sank. Charlie was her favorite among her personal guards. She would hate to lose him, just as she would hate to have ruined his career.
“Are you mad at her?” asked Henry.
“Who, the princess?” Charlie replied, surprised. “No.”
“Why not?”
“All she did was ask me for help.” Ella bet he would be rubbing his forehead if she could see him. “I could have said no.”
“Yeah, but you can’t say no to her, can you?” Henry teased. “One look at those big blue eyes, and you melt.”
She heard a scuffling noise and a grunt from Henry. “Cut that out. Are you trying to get me in more trouble?” Charlie growled angrily.
Eager to be out of sight of her guards as well as out of hearing – this was hardly a conversation she wanted to overhear – Ella picked up her pace. The gate was so close!
“You just need to find someone else,” Henry suggested. “How about that maid over there? She looks similar to Princess Arabella.”
Startled, Ella looked over her shoulder before she could stop herself.
Charlie’s scowl smoothed into shock as he followed Henry’s gesture and locked eyes with her. Knowing she was found out before he even opened his mouth, she gathered her skirt in one hand and dashed out the gate, thankful for her sturdy boots instead of the impractical ladies’ shoes she usually wore.
“Princess! Wait!” Charlie yelled frantically, but she ignored him and dove into the mass of people on the road, losing herself in the crowd. She could hear Henry shouting as well, soon followed by the guards at the gate calling after her to stop, but she didn’t look back.
She would go back eventually. She wasn’t giving up on her new life. She regretted the stress to which the royal guards would be subjected until she returned – now that they were aware of her escape – but she needed a few moments of freedom. She knew it was selfish, but she wasn’t going to give that up.
CHAPTER 13
Michael
I
’m sorry; could you repeat that?” Michael requested, trying to keep the anger and incredulity from his voice. The chirping of the birds in the trees lining the path was dim in the background of his senses. Even the pressure of Lady Charlotte’s hands on his arm was distant.
“Princess Arabella left the castle grounds dressed as a servant, Your Highness,” the auburn-haired guard in front of him stated, keeping his hazel eyes focused on a point behind Michael’s head. “She ran when we tried to stop her.”
Michael felt the left side of his mouth twisting into a sneer. “Didn’t she take that other guard with her?”
“No, sir,” the guard replied evenly. “She did not notify us that she wished to go into the city. She left the castle through a servant exit. Most of her guards were not on duty. Commander Charles and I were outside the barracks and only happened to spot her as she was passing through the gate.”
So, she decided to leave, after all, Michael thought bitterly, remembering the comment he’d overheard on the journey to visit Axel and Katy.But I figured she’d run awaywiththat numbskull head of her guard.
“I guess it’s only to be expected of a princess who feels the need to spend her time in the kitchens,” Michael quipped with a lightness he didn’t feel. The guard maintained his stony expression, but Lady Charlotte tittered appreciatively. “You are searching for her?”
“Yes, sir,” the guard answered with a sharp nod. “We have three squads in plain clothes searching the city for her. They have been instructed to be subtle so that we do not alert the populace to her absence.”
