An Unlikely Pair

Chapter XI

Prince Andrew

Sharah was clenching her jaw and hugging her stomach. I looked down at her hand and she was scratching at the fabric of her red and white nightgown. She's nervous. I thought, then I gently grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She looked up at me, still clenching her jaw. "Come here," I said, softly. I let go of her hand and patted my lap. I smiled, sweetly, at her. She got up out of her chair and sat on my lap. I started to stroke her hair, then I looked over at Margaret. She was looking at me as if sparkles were in her eyes. I wonder what she's thinking about? I thought. We stayed in the dining hall for about an hour, then Sharah's stomach started to growl. "Are you hungry Sharah?" Father asked.

"Hmm-mmm," Sharah answered.

"How about we eat while we wait," Father suggested and everyone nodded, "Okay," Father gestured for a servant to come to him. The servant walked over to him with their hands cupped behind their back. Father whispered something to the servant and they went into the kitchen. The head chef and another cook came out a few minutes later. "Harold," Father said.

"My king," The head chef said, then he crossed one arm over his chest and touched his shoulder. He bowed his head and straightened up.

"Harold, make breakfast for myself and everyone else here," Father told the head chef.

"King Hans, only myself and my son have arrived," The head chef said, "What would you like to have?"

"Toast and tea," Sharah said with half of her face in my chest. Sharah must be really upset. She hates toast and calls it commoner's food. I thought.

"What would anyone else like?" The head chef asked.

"Those delicious pancakes," Margaret said and Duke Kaelde followed by saying, "I'll have those too," Both Margaret and Duchess Sonia turned and looked at him as if they were confused. Why do they look so confused? I thought.

"I'll have ham and eggs," Father and I said together.

"It may take some time to cook all of these meals," The head chef said.

"Take as long as you need, Harold," Father said. The head chef bowed and began to walk back into the kitchen.

"Khi-tynob," The head chef said as he passed the other cook.

"Wait, Miss. Duchess didn't say what she wanted," The other cook said.

"'Miss. Duchess'?" Duchess Sonia said, annoyed.

"Yes. What would you like to eat?" The other cook asked.

"It's Duchess Sonia to you," Duchess Sonia said.

"I'm sorry, Duchess Sonia," The other cook said, "What would you like to eat?"

"Black tea with just the tiniest bit of milk and sugar and a baked potato," Duchess Sonia said. Margaret seemed to stick out her tongue a little bit. I guess she doesn't like something Duchess Sonia said. I thought.

"Certainly. I'll make sure everything is properly prepared for you, Duchess Sonia," The other cook said. It took a few minutes before the first couple plates of food came out. Sharah's food was the first to come out. Then, Margaret's came out with a small jug of syrup. Sharah went back to her seat to eat her food. Two more cooks came out with the head chef and the other cook. At the same time, they set all of our plates in front of us. "Hope you enjoy your breakfast," The head chef said before going back inside the kitchen with the three other cooks following closely behind him. I started to eat, then I saw Margaret making a pool of syrup around and on her pancakes. She had a silly grin on her face. I smiled, slightly. "Why are you looking at Princess Margaret?" Duke Kaelde asked. I saw the disgusted face he was making. Margaret flipped the jug upright and looked at me with the jug still in her hands. "Want some?" She asked, "It'll go well with your ham,"