Chapter 24
I expected to find it strange to attend a ball after so many weeks as a goose girl, but putting the gown on was like standing in the guest suite upstairs. Nineteen years of my life hadn’t disappeared—it was waiting to resurface at the smallest reminder of my old self. I was Princess Giselle, not Elle the goose girl, and balls were familiar territory.
I avoided the crowded yard outside where nobles poured into the palace for the party. Especially since servants also overflowed into the space from their own festivities in the park. Instead, I hurried through the mostly deserted corridors, only occasionally passing a small group of nobles making their way to the enormous throne room from their suites inside the palace.
They gave me strange looks, either because of my odd haste or because they didn’t recognize me. I ignored them all after a brief glance confirmed they were neither Sierra nor Princess Alyssa.
The event bordered on informality—at least for a royal ball—and I burst into the room without being announced, my dress gaining me the entree I needed. Looking around frantically, I could see nothing but a sea of people.
Most ballrooms opened onto a small platform with shallow steps descending down to the ballroom floor—providing a stage for the announced arrivals. But this event was being hosted in the throne room—the largest of the palace’s rooms. Here, the raised platform was at the far end of the room, holding the thrones. They stood empty, the monarchs presumably mingling with their guests, but I could hardly climb up there to get a higher vantage point over the crowd.
Should I have waited for Damon as we had originally planned? I shook my head. No. His extra height would give him a small advantage, but I couldn’t afford to lose time waiting for him.
I pushed through the people, as the first strains of music began. All around me, people either pushed toward the edges of the room or formed into partners, moving inward ready to dance. Caught, I was carried with those surging away from the center. I let them carry me backward until the movement slowed and then wormed my way forward. Surely the royals would open the dancing? This might be my chance to find Alyssa.
The occasional protest sounded as I pushed my way through the crowd, but I ignored them, finding myself a place in the front row of watchers. But while my eager eyes picked out King Henry leading Queen Eleanor onto the floor, I could see no sign of either Alyssa or Max. Where were they?
My eyes fell on Sierra, just joining the dance with Percy. Should I abandon my search for Alyssa and go for the handkerchief instead? But the dance floor didn’t seem the ideal location to confront my maid. In this crowd, if I could brush up against her before she saw me coming, I would have a better chance of success. I’d have to wait until she went for refreshments, or something.
Standing on tiptoes, I scanned the edges of the room, returning to my original search. But I had no hope of distinguishing every individual in the enormous room.
The first scraping note of a violin sounded, and in the second’s pause before the rest of the instruments joined, I heard a high-pitched, childish giggle. Whipping around, I stared at the throne. There! It was Rose, peeking from behind the ornate chair. I stepped out into the edge of the space cleared for dancing and rushed down the room, bumping against dancers as I went. A disapproving murmur followed my progress, but I didn’t slow.
When I reached the bottom of the dais, I fixed gazes with Rose and beckoned the girl forward. She cast a wary glance at the dancers before skipping forward to join me.
“Elle,” she said, not seeming in the least surprised to see me. “Did you bring your horse?”
I nearly laughed at the memory of Arvin assuring me he would attend with me. It was impossible to imagine the horse squeezed into the ballroom.
I shook my head. “Not today. But I’m looking for your mama. Do you know where Princess Alyssa is?”
“Mama’s not here,” Rose said, matter-of-factly. “She and Papa had to go out today.” She wrinkled her nose. “I thought she would be back for the start of the party, but Grandmama says she won’t be back until the evening.”
“Out?”
“They took the carriage somewhere early this morning.” Rose pouted. “I had to get ready for the party with only nanny to help me.” She gave a twirl, causing her rose-colored brocade dress to spin around her. “Aren’t I beautiful?”
“Very,” I assured her, my mind already elsewhere.
Were Max and Alyssa investigating some clue on behalf of the king and queen? The monarchs might want their people to believe the troubles were behind them, but surely they didn’t believe it themselves?
What had Sierra’s men said? Something about needing to be on the road and running out of time. I had been wasting my time washing and dressing and coming to a ball, when the real danger was on the road.
Sierra’s minions had a head start on me, but they didn’t have Arvin.
I groaned. He had told me I would want him here with me, and he was right. I didn’t have any time to waste.
“Where were they going, Rose?” I asked urgently. “Which direction?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
I sighed, picked up my skirts, and ran. I crashed through the middle of the dancers in my haste to reach the door. Hopefully one of the grooms would be able to tell me which road the prince and princess had taken.
On the far side of the dance floor, I nearly bounced off Percy as he swung Sierra around. My maid saw me and hissed, her eyes widening with anger as she looked me up and down. She and Percy faltered, dropping out of the movements of the dance. I hesitated, once more torn by her nearness.
Before I could decide either way, however, a group of newcomers appeared in the door of the ballroom. Unlike the glittering gowns and dashing outfits of the revelers, these men wore guard uniforms, and their faces suggested they were on duty.
Those nearest the door fell back, making room for them to enter. They looked toward the dancers, and I froze. Had Damon somehow got word to the king? Were they here to arrest Sierra? If so, this might be my only chance to get the handkerchief.
I turned and stepped toward her, her wide eyes flashing between the guards and me.
“Halt!” one of them cried, and rough hands grabbed at me.
“Elle of the geese, you are under arrest,” the voice continued.
What? Me? I couldn’t see the faces of the guards, but I could see the surprise on Sierra’s face change into smug satisfaction. The music continued to play, but whispers spread outward from our position. The king and queen appeared, having skillfully maneuvered their way across the dance floor.
“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty,” Sierra simpered. “I have no idea how she acquired that dress or what can have possessed her to appear here. I knew nothing of her intentions.”
“Her presence here is immaterial,” King Henry said, his stern gaze on me. “But Mrs. Pine has just brought to my attention some disturbing irregularities in the behavior and company kept by your former maid. Irregularities that call into question her presence at the center of three separate attacks. Indeed, I do not wish to cause you or your kingdom offense, Princess, but with this new information, I cannot overlook the possibility that she is working with whatever forces seek to attack my kingdom.”