“We are truly grateful for your efforts.”
“In that case,” I said, matching his grave tone, “I do think you might have tried a little harder. Some silken cushions would have been nice. Those benches are hard, you know! And perhaps someone to fan us while we work? It may only be spring, but it is already far too hot.”
He blinked and regarded me with astonishment, seemingly lost for words.
“That would be a joke, Frederic,” said Celine, appearing from nowhere just as we joined the line for food. “You’re almost as hopeless as Cassian.”
“Oh, surely not,” said Frederic, with a slow grin. “No one could be as bad as that.”
“And there he goes making a joke now,” said Celine to me. “You can hardly tell with this one, he’s as bad as Mother. Most of the time he’s so placid you think every joke or witticism has gone over his head, and then he comes out with one of his own, just as straight-faced as he says everything else. At least he’s not as bad as Cassian. He’s so reserved and detached I despair of ever finding a girl who could attract him, let alone one who would actually be interested in him back.”
She sighed and then flashed me a cryptic look that filled me with dread. What mad notion had lodged in her head?
Someone handed us each a plate of food, and a voice called for Frederic’s attention. As soon as he turned away from us, Celine whisked me away to a secluded corner where we perched to eat somewhat awkwardly on an old log.
“I am not one to admit defeat lightly,” she announced between bites, “but I think the task before me might be too great for even my talents. At least alone.” She grinned at me. “Which is where you come in. Evie, I need your help.”
I knew her well enough at this point to regard her warily. “With what? Or would I be better off not asking?”
She laughed. “Nothing terrible, I assure you. In fact, if we can manage this right, we’ll probably earn the undying gratitude of my parents.”
My consternation grew. I had no desire to come to the notice of the king and queen again, except perhaps as an excellent choice of seamstress for the queen’s future dresses. “Is there an option to decline?”
“Evie!” Celine grasped my arm. “You wouldn’t leave me alone in my hour of distress? I thought you were my friend, now!”
I regarded her through narrowed eyes. “You don’t look distressed.”
She laughed again and resumed eating. “Terrible, terrible distress, I assure you. The thing is, all my sisters have gotten married and moved away.”
My heart immediately softened toward her, even as I dreaded whatever came next.
“And, so, you see. I need some new sisters.”
“New sisters? What…oh.”
“Exactly.” She used her slice of bread to clean the remnants from her plate. “Frederic and Cassian are the oldest, and it’s beyond ridiculous that neither of them is married yet. I suppose with so many younger siblings, no one felt the need to pressure them into producing heirs, but things have gotten entirely out of hand at this point. Think how much fun I might have with an adorable little niece or nephew, or two. They won’t do me any good off in Northhelm. Or Rangmere, for that matter, since the latest rumors tell us Clarisse is being courted by a nobleman there. Not that poor Clarisse doesn’t deserve a bit of happiness after her awful first husband.”
She shuddered. “If they had tried to marry me off to Prince Konrad, I would have run away. And I’m sure I should have been quite justified to do so—I can’t see that anyone much has mourned him. But for all I’m glad for her, it does seem ridiculous that Clarisse is widowed and about to marry a second husband, when her own twin hasn’t even managed a single romance his entire life.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Not that I can imagine who would want to be romanced by Cassian. But he is a perfectly respectable prince, so there must be someone. Somewhere. And that’s where you come in.” She turned to me. “I’m fairly certain that my parents had a secondary purpose in this Tour. I think they’re hoping that Frederic will find himself a wife.”
She discarded her plate on the ground and pulled up her knees, wrapping her arms around them. “Not that they precisely asked me to assist, but clearly Frederic can’t be left to his own devices in such a matter. And it seems far too good an opportunity to go to waste for Cassian, either. And he needs all the help he can get. So it seems to me the task has fallen to us.”
I choked on my mouthful. “Us?” I managed to wheeze out once the coughing fit had subsided.
“Yes,” said Celine, ceasing her enthusiastic whacking on my back. “That’s what I said at the beginning. I’m conceding the need for assistance. Together I’m sure we will be up for the challenge.”
I regarded her with astonishment. Had she lost her mind? She wanted me—a common dressmaker with no family or connections—to assist her in directing the love lives of the two oldest Lanoverian princes. My mind flashed back to my earlier jest at Frederic’s expense, just as if he were not the crown prince. Perhaps I had already lost my mind, and she merely recognized a fellow lunatic. Yes, that must be it.
“Celine, I really don’t think—”
“Excellent, then,” said Celine loudly. “That’s settled.”
Chapter 5
My team, which had grown after new needles arrived from one of the neighboring towns, had used all the material by the time the Tour broke camp. We left many of our tents in place for the displaced townsfolk, new ones from the capital having arrived to replace those we had given away. I had grown more than sick of the simple sewing patterns by then and was relieved to be on the move again. I also longed, a little guiltily, to be rid of the smell that still hung over the destroyed town.
Only two concerns marred my pleasure at leaving. The largest was our new destination. Celine had told me that we would not be trying to make our way through the northern jungles. Instead we were making for the coast and the royal yacht. The official royal vessel, as big as any of the navy frigates, had been assigned to the use of the Tour.
That almost certainly meant we were headed for the islands. Which most likely meant Catalie. A shudder went through me at the thought. The Isle of Catalie wouldn’t be like Medellan. I had been there for three years, a charity case taken in as a sort of ward by the viscount who ruled over the island. The same nobleman who had driven me away in shame. I had established myself now in the capital, but the sting of that mistreatment still burned strong.
But the memory of Viscount de Villa wasn’t my only concern. Celine’s outrageous suggestion that I help her find brides for her brothers terrified me. How could I ever help in such a task? And what if Prince Frederic ever discovered me inappropriately meddling in his life in such a way? I would simply have to convince Celine it was impossible.
The firmness of my resolution comforted me for about thirty seconds. The royal fifteen-year-old didn’t seem to be the type to be easily convinced of anything. And what if she decided one of the noble girls on Catalie would make her brother a good bride? A physical shudder ran through me, causing my mount to flick an ear back in my direction. I could never bow to one of them as my future princess and one day queen.
Maybe, after all, there was nothing wrong with supporting Celine from the background. Just to make sure she recognized those whose smiles were only skin deep.