Page 42 of Arrows and Gems
“That’s too bad; I hear Princess Daphne is really nice.” Alanna smiled shyly. “And she loves her daggers. You’d get along.”
Helena blinked at her. “I don’t know a thing about daggers.”
“But you claim to be really good with your bow. She would appreciate your dedication.” Alanna ducked her head. “Or so I would imagine.”
Helena focused on her work, fumbling her way through stitching a tear in someone’s shirt. Rouge had expected Helena to know how to sew, considering how fond of needlework most noblewomen were. Yet another way that Helena didn’t fit into the world she came from.
“Come to think of it, I remember Marielle mentioning something about Princess Daphne and Raoul,” she said after a minute. She’d been too busy plotting her escape to mind royal gossip. But someone else had mentioned those names together.
“I should think so!” Alanna replied, her face brightening. “Papa and I heard the news a couple weeks ago; I’m sure Marielle has been full of it.”
“News?”
The younger girl’s eyes glowed. “About the betrothal! Lord Raoul finally convinced her!”
Mouth dropping open, Helena stared wide-eyed at Alanna. How had she missed that? “My c—Marielle is betrothed?”
“Not Marielle, silly; Princess Daphne.” Alanna laughed, but she gave Helena a strange look. “That seems like a funny misunderstanding if you’ve been staying with her.”
Aware of her mistake, Helena blew a hair out of her face and pretended to concentrate on her chore. Thankfully, Tucker saved her from a reply. “I heard her brothers made a bet about whether she’d marry him.” He winked at Helena. “Prince Raphael lost, so he’ll have to pay up now.”
“Tucker, isn’t there something you should be doing?” Alanna said. Her voice was more biting than Helena had heard before.
“A bet?” Helena echoed, wrinkling her nose. “And the whole kingdom knows about it? I would punch my brother if he did that.” Not that she could imagine who he would make one with. Tobias was one of the men vying for her hand. The only other person who came to mind was Michael, and he...
She shoved the thought aside. She didn’t want to think about Michael now. Or ever.
“It’s not kingdom-wide knowledge. I have my sources.” Tucker looked smug as he made his pronouncement.
“And who would that be?” Helena looked him over skeptically. “You don’t seem like the type of person with which royalty would keep company.”
“Tucker,” Alanna hissed.
“Oh, I’m not.” He grinned unrepentantly, ignoring Alanna’s glare. “I was a street urchin until Cap rescued me. But Rouge worked in the castle kitchens, and Jean-haut is one of the king’s foresters. They—”
“Tucker!”
Finally recognizing her frustration, he turned to her. “What? Margit would have found out someday. And it’s not like General Valentin will catch us if he finds out they’re here.”
Sighing, Alanna shook her head as she tied off her thread. “They have family in Laurier, Tucker. Use your head.” She glanced over at Helena. “Not that I distrust you, Margit. But I care for everyone here. I don’t want them getting hurt becausesomeonehas a loose tongue.”
“I don’t want them hurt either,” Helena hurried to assure her. And she didn’t; she had no quarrel with any of them, even the ones like Laurent who still thought she shouldn’t be there.
Her bow weighed heavily against her back. Even Le Capuchon. She might have come here with plans to betray his location to the authorities, but she was no longer sure that she could.
She put on a teasing smile. “Now I’m curious. What will losing the bet cost Prince Raphael?”
Tucker glanced at Alanna. When she gave him a little smile, he shrugged. “It was the idea that I found funny. I don’t know the details, but I think it has something to do with books. Prince Cedric is a pretty big fan.”
“You sound about as enthusiastic as I would be,” Helena laughed. “I don’t mind a book, but I’d rather be riding or spending time with my bow.” She patted the weapon on her back.
“You can keep them,” he said with a shrug.
“You don’t even like adventure stories?” Helena asked, looking at him curiously. “Even I read those.”
Twisting his lip in disinterest, he looked away. “I wouldn’t know. Street urchin, remember? I can’t read.”
“You can’t read?” Helena echoed. It wasn’t her favorite activity, but she couldn’t fathom not knowing how. “Don’t you want to learn?”
