A Dove's Tale

Chapter 82

Lying in bed all the time was really boring.

Everybody tried to make it tolerable. The doctor, chatting away as he tended to me, coaxing me into doing exercises that my body told me it didn't want to do. Theresa, regaling me with tales of her love life as she ran through the male servants on the estate like water. The princes, alternating who came to visit me and who stayed at the palace. Belle, coming for another visit to catch up and talk about the princes as the time drew nearer for the day when she had to decide who would be the next king.

And Prince Chevalier, of course. Who still gave me butterflies with a single look. His kisses were still gentle and infrequent, which was well enough, because he somehow surprised me every time. A single touch of his hand could still wipe every thought from my mind. I wasn't even close to getting over what Theresa dubbed the shy, innocent stage, and it didn't help that he spent nearly all his spare time with me when he was at the estate. Other than the morning following his night ride, he slept in his own room, but if he was awake and done with his work, he was in my room, keeping me company. Talking, reading the books he brought from the palace for me, surprising me with little gifts that just made me smile - he spoiled me when he was there, and he ensured his brothers spoiled me when he was gone, too.

It was all wonderful.

Except I was still stuck in bed, still very limited in my movements, and when everybody left, still unable to do more than lie there and think.

My thoughts weren't always good company.

I tried to keep them positive, but the littlest thing could trigger the darkest memories. The Stotts' latest letter, for example. Rachel penned a few lines herself in an adorable, childish hand marked by backward letters and misspelled words, saying she missed me and if I saw her Prince Charming, would I tell him to visit her? It was cute when Prince Chevalier read it to me, but later, when I was alone, it bothered me. Prince Licht was the only one of Prince Chevalier's brothers who hadn't come to visit me yet, and I suspected that was due to him blaming himself for what happened to me, the same way he blamed himself for any misfortune that happened around him. I remembered the bloody dagger in his room, the bandages around his arms, and suddenly, I was back in the dungeon, screaming until my throat was raw as another bloody dagger cut my arms open.

Alone was an awful place to be.

"Ready to go?" Prince Nokto asked, strolling into my room one morning after I finished breakfast.

"Go?"

I was just starting the fourth week of my recovery, and as much as I wanted a change of scenery, the doctor had given no indication I was ready for travel. Neither had Prince Chevalier, who left a few days ago.

"Prince Nokto, I think it would be best to wait until after she's rested a while," the doctor interjected, gathering my breakfast tray.

But apparently, they'd all been talking about it without my input. Not that I was upset.

"We're leaving?" I asked excitedly.

Prince Nokto shrugged and flopped down on the sofa. "When your keeper gives his permission," he said dryly.

"But I can rest in the carriage, can't I?"

The doctor's mustache twitched. "You're not ready for one long trip," he said sternly. "Especially on bumpy roads."

"Which is why Chevalier has had Leon fixing the roads for the past two weeks, and why he left a few days ago to ensure all the residences he selected along the route are prepared for our arrival whenever you decide she needs to stop," Prince Nokto said lazily, picking up a letter from the stack on the end table and sliding it out of its envelope. "Fifteen minutes, an hour, two hours - wherever we end up, there's a bed, supplies, and enough guards to hold off a sizable army until reinforcements arrive."