Hung Royals

02/01/1821

I awoke at 5 the following morning and planted a kiss on Wilhelm's head before dressing and making my way down to the kitchens to help with the preparations for breakfast. At 8, Wilhelm's footman entered the kitchens carrying a scroll wrapped in a red ribbon. He handed it to Ms Thornton who read it, shot me a look and then nodded curtly at him.

"Miss Grace?" the footman called across the kitchen. I slipped a note into the hand of a very confused Ava and followed him out of the room.

~~~

At 11:50 I stood outside the servants' entrance, waiting for the stableboys to prepare a horse for me.

A door burst open behind me.

"Eve!" The sound of Ava's voice hit me moments before her body slammed into my back, almost knocking us both over. Her arms locked around my waist like the grip of a python. "I can't believe you're going!"

I managed to disentangle myself from her firm grip and turned to face her. Finding tears in her eyes, I placed my hand on her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I wish I'd had the chance to tell you in person, but it all happened so fast."

"I forgive you" she took my free hand in hers and smiled. "Promise you'll write?"

"Whenever I can... And I'll be back before you know it."

"I doubt that very much" she sniffed. I folded her into my arms and squeezed.

"I love you Ava"

"I love you too Eve"

We stayed in our embrace until the sound of horses' hooves broke us apart.

"Leo for you, miss." Said one of the stableboys, handing me the reigns of a white pony "'E's not fast but 'e's well-be'aved and 'e'll get you there safe, no question."

I thanked him and he tipped his cap.

"Actually that won't be necessary, Rupert." Wilhelm appeared beside us, scanning the skies with his gaze. "Evelyn will ride with me. It looks as though a storm is gathering and we wouldn't want her to be drenched upon her arrival at Hillerska."

The stable boy blinked but did not dare argue with royalty, and obligingly led Leo back towards the stables, leaving the three of us alone together.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Um, this is Ava." Ava, who had been darting knowing glances between the two of us rushed forward to shake the prince's hand.

"A pleasure, your majesty" she gushed.

"Based on what Evelyn has told me of you, Ava, I'm certain the pleasure is all mine". Ava smiled and seemed to grow a few inches taller.

"We should get going if we are to reach Hillerska by nightfall" Wilhelm said. I embraced Ava once more and kissed her cheek before following the Prince around the palace to his private carriage.

The two bodyguards swapped a glance as he held out his hand to help me into the carriage's comfortable interior.

~~~

The journey to Prince Casper's would have felt like days, had I been seated astride poor Leo in the pouring rain. Encapsulated inside the carriage with Wilhelm, it appeared to pass in mere minutes. We spoke in hushed voices in an effort not to arouse suspicion from the driver.

Wilhelm told me of his creative, eccentric uncle and his huge house beside the sea. My excitement grew as the day waned into evening and we arrived at Hillerska in a blanket of deep grey light. As the carriage rumbled to a stop, Wilhelm took my hands in his.