Reasons for Silence

Asking Questions

Chapter Thirteen ~ Serefina

"You're going to have to start asking questions," Daisy said, resting a hand on the desk that I was working at.

"Why?" I asked without looking up from the page that I was trying to read. I still couldn't read, but I was trying. It was quite a process not to mention extremely frustrating.

"Because people will think you're dull,"

"What people?" I furrowed my eyebrows trying to remember how the 'e' at the end of a word changed the other vowels.

"Never mind about them," she said.

I shook my head.

"I ask questions and you won't give me answers - what's the point?"

"Maybe not right now, but later. You really do need to start asking more questions."

"Why are you trying to educate me?"

"Prince's orders," she said simply, then pointed to the page, "the 'e' is silent."

I gritted my teeth. I was going to figure it out, I didn't need her to tell me how.

"Why would he do that?"

Daisy stood up straight and swallowed. She cocked her head to the side as she thought.

"Do you think that it's right to question the motives of Royalty?" she raised an eyebrow in an indignant manner.

"Of course," I said.

Her eyes widened.

"Are you disloyal to the Crown?"

I shook my head no.

"Then why question him?"

"You just told me that people will think that I'm dull if I don't question." I said, turning my full attention to her. She put a hand on her hip.

"You have to ask the right questions," she said as though it were obvious.

"What would the 'right' question be?"

She sighed and looked out the door.

"What is he doing here?" she said under her breath.

As I turned to see who caught her attention she walked out of the study. I hesitated for a moment not knowing what I was supposed to do, whether or not I should stay put or follow. I decided to just walk to the doorway to see what was happening. As I stood I held the fan up to my face, as if they wouldn't be able to see me if I did.

Daisy's back faced me, the man was obscured by the corner of a wall. I could hear them talking though, they weren't that far away.

"Give me a break, where's the harm?" he said.

"Where's the harm?" she enunciated every word, "Are you kidding me?"

"Daisy, come on, please, what's the worst that could happen?"

"You do realize who your parents are, right?" she said crossing her arms across her chest.

"What are they going to do? Banish me?" the man said with a chuckle.

"No, but they could take her away, they could banish her."

"No they couldn't,"

She shrugged.

"If you want to take that risk, go ahead." Daisy took a step backwards and motioned to the study. I ducked around the doorway so I wouldn't be caught.

I paused for a couple of moments. I heard his footsteps coming toward the study so I dashed back to the desk.

"Don't you dare!" Daisy called after him.

The man let out a sigh.

"What difference would it make?"

"Do you really want to find out?"

The man let out another sigh.

"Find out how she got that ring," he said in a lowered voice.

"Will do,"

I pretended to be completely absorbed in the words on the page when Daisy reentered the study.

"Come on, let's teach you how to dance," she said.

After hours of teaching me the latest ballroom dances Daisy finally gave me time to rest.

"Why do I need to learn all of these dances?" I said, as Daisy escorted me to get another bath.

"Because there is a ball coming up - and you're going," she said.

I raised an eyebrow. That was a strange thing to say, what kind of ball could there be that I would be invited to?

"Will Kobe be there?" I asked, thinking that this might have been the connection that warranted my invite.

Daisy stop abruptly and looked at me with wide eyes.

"Your 'fiancé'?" she said.

"Yes," I said, giving her a questioning look.

"No," she said defiantly.

"When will I see him again?" I said as the thought suddenly occurred to me.

"I really don't know, you'll have to take that one up with the Prince," she said, opening a door to the bathroom.