Heartless

He would speak to her father, wouldn’t he? Of course he would. Why waste any time? He loved her, so he would talk to Father, and things would all be settled by suppertime.

Granted, he hadn’t actually asked for her hand, not in so many words. But how else could a girl interpret such a song as Prince Gervais had sung to her in the garden?

Una tried to stop the frown that pulled at the corner of her mouth, but it slipped into place anyway. Her thread tangled again, and she pulled it so tight that the poor embroidered man’s face twisted grotesquely.

Tonight there was to be another dinner. Gervais was a man of such nobility and prestige that one state dinner could not possibly suffice. There would be another dinner, and all the court would be gathered, and her father would announce her engagement. The applause would be thunderous; she could feel blotches sprouting at the thought. Prince Gervais, of course, would take it all in stride. Everyone would cheer, and he would smile, and . . .

I wonder what Prince Aethelbald will think.

Her thread broke when Una tugged too hard, and she was obliged to find her little scissors. She began snipping with more energy than was altogether necessary.

I don’t care what Prince Aethelbald will think.

He would leave, of course. Tomorrow morning, presumably, after the announcement was made. He would march into the Wood, just as peculiarly as he had come, and she would never see him again.

“And that will be for the best,” she muttered as she put a new knot at the end of her thread.

“What’s that, Miss Princess?” Nurse asked, looking up from her needlepoint dragon.

“Nothing.”

Una started adding silver to the helmet of her newest soldier, a fierce-looking fellow who brandished a slightly crooked sword at the scarlet thread flames billowing toward him. But she did not see the exciting scene before her. Instead she stood once more in the Rose Garden, listening to the song as clearly as if Gervais still sang it. She felt the tightness of breath when the dashing prince stood so near. And she still felt the pound of her heart when she recognized Aethelbald coming up the path.

I wonder what he thought when he saw us together.

But of course she didn’t care about that.

That evening Nurse allowed Una to wear her second-best dress, which was thankfully a little less cumbersome than the best dress. Una made hardly a sound as Nurse put her together and styled her hair. She needed to look exceptional for the dinner, and while she did not feel very pretty in her finery, she would have to trust the Parumvir fashion experts, for tonight her engagement would be announced.

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When Una came to the dining hall, she found it locked up, no sign of a feast or festival anywhere. Frowning, she made her way to the smaller private dining room used by her family most evenings. The footman standing at the door opened it to let her enter, and to her surprise Una found only her father and brother in the room, already eating.

“What are you all made up for?” Felix asked around a mouthful.

“Well, I . . .” Una did not finish but quietly slid into place. A servant set a plate before her, and she started cutting her meat in silence. Only after she’d cut each piece in half several times over did she dare raise her eyes and ask, “Will Prince Ger . . . Will the princes not dine with us this evening, Father?” She hoped her voice didn’t tremble as much as she suspected it did.

Felix, who was sipping coffee, snorted and burnt his tongue, cupped a hand around his mouth, and bawled for water. During his uproar King Fidel could not speak and Una was left to wonder. But when her brother finally quieted, her father turned to her and said, “Prince Gervais left for his own country early this afternoon.”

Una’s heart stopped a moment. She put a napkin to her face. Left? Already? After only just expressing his feelings to her that morning? She pressed the napkin a little harder to her mouth. Perhaps she had not encouraged him enough? Perhaps he had thought she did not return his affections?

“Will he come back?” she asked.

“I should hope not,” Felix said, gently touching his tongue with thumb and index finger.

Una frowned at her brother. “What do you mean? You liked him well enough last night when you were talking of hunting and sport and such things!”

“My opinion has changed since,” Felix said, squinting at her. “Where have you been all day that you haven’t heard?”

“Haven’t heard what?”

“About his – ”

“Children!” Fidel interrupted. “Felix, this is not common knowledge, and while I know that it soon will be, court gossip being what it is, I would rather you were not the principle source.” He turned to Una. “Certain news reached my ears late this morning concerning the behavior of that young man.”

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