A Dove's Tale

Chapter 73

I wasn't ready. The carriage jostled to a stop in front of my house, and I wasn't ready. To turn my head and look out the window, to step out onto the familiar dirt road, to open that door and walk into that empty room, to accept that Mother was gone, and I didn't know how to put one foot in front of the other anymore. I stared down at my hands clenched into my skirt, trying to work up the nerve to get out of the carriage and say goodbye, and Prince Chevalier's arm came around my shoulders. He didn't speak, but the simple reminder of his presence helped.

I still wasn't ready.

"Ivy!"

Rachel's muffled voice came from outside the carriage, along with an insistent knocking at the bottom of the carriage door near the floorboards, and it startled me into turning to look at the door.

"Ivy!" she called again, still knocking.

"Rachel!" Jason scolded, appearing briefly in the window as he grabbed Rachel and pulled her away. "Don't do that!"

"But Mommy said-"

I smiled involuntarily and shook my head. "My neighbors' children," I explained to Prince Chevalier as the two argued back and forth outside.

"They sound excited to see you," he said, reaching over to open the door. Rachel must have just escaped from Jason, because she was suddenly climbing into the carriage.

"Ivy!" she exclaimed happily, ignoring Prince Chevalier completely as she scrambled out of Jason's reach and onto the seat.

"Rachel!" Jason cried, his hand slamming down on the carriage floor just behind her. He sighed irritably and looked up at me, and then he blushed, his eyes widening as he lurched back, following the arm around my shoulders back to Prince Chevalier. I opened my mouth to make introductions, but Rachel climbed onto my lap and hugged me around the neck before I got a word out.

"Mommy said you're really sad, and we need to cheer you up," Rachel said very seriously. She sat back on my lap and fingered the ruffled collar of my dress. "This is pretty."

"Thank you," I said, smoothing her mussed brown curls. "Prince Chevalier gave it to me," I added, shyly glancing over at his amused blue eyes. Rachel looked at him for the first time, screwing her face up as she studied him thoughtfully.

"I like the other one better," she pronounced with finality.

Jason groaned and clapped his hands over his face. "Rachel..."

"I didn't say I don't like him," she defended herself, frowning at her mortified brother. "I just like my Prince Charming better." She turned to me with a bright smile, satisfied that she'd settled the matter and now bouncing with excitement. "I got you flowers. Wanna come see?"

She was so adorable. There was really only one response.

"I'd love to."

She hopped down to the floor and took my hand, tugging me after her out of the carriage and onto the road. My smile faltered when I saw the door. I stopped, despite Rachel's persistent pull.

"Come on, they're inside," she urged.

"Rachel, not now," Jason said, taking her arm and pulling her back. "I'm really sorry, Ivetta."

I nodded, rolling my lips inwards and biting them as I swallowed the all too familiar lump in my throat. Prince Chevalier's arm was around my shoulders again. I took a shaky breath and looked down at Rachel's wide eyes, doing my best to smile at her.

"Could you give us a few minutes?"

"Yeah, sure," Jason said, speaking for both of them. "Rachel, we should tell Mom that Ivetta's back."