Adiline

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 ;)

The bookshop was musky, dust and persperation filled the air. Adiline looked around and wondered how many books were in the small store. Her library probably had more books in the fiction section than this whole store. Before they came here, Kristine stopped to get the fabrics she needed. The two young princesses giggled at each other when they saw a book with an odd title.

Adiline's eyes skimmed the shelves and spotted an unfamiliar name. She pulled it out and read the title 'Of Mice and Men'. They took it to the counter at the front.

"How many books are you buying today, miss?" Mr. Julian asked. He was a pudgy old man with white hair who lived in the floor above his bookshop. Adiline often felt bad for the poor man and would invite him to stay at the castle in a spare room. But, everytime he always refuses to leave his store.

"Just one but I'll make sure to stop by soon when I have the time," Adiline answered in a gentle voice.

"And how are you little Kristi, or should I say big Kristi?" Mr. Julian asked her while hugging her.

"Good thank you. If you would like to stay at the castle, you know your always welcome to," Kristine suggested.

"Naw, I'll be fine. But thanks for coming darlings," he said as he rang up the purchase and the girls left.

The street outside the bookshop was made of dirt, with people walking to their destinations. Horse-drawn carriages went by as the girls walked to where Adiline had first met Nathaniel. She had seen him standing next to an english rug stand. He didn't look like he worked there or like he was buying anything. All Adiline could do was hope.

When they arrived at the stand, Adiline walked up to the clerk and asked him if he knew Nathaniel.

"Oh you mean Mrs.Tanson's son? He lives right down this road to the left in the wooden cabin," explained the clerk who looked like he didn't spend the little money he earned on necessary items. He smelt of pig slop and alcohol.

Normally, he shouldn't have just given away someone's address like that, but they were the Royal Family so it didn't really matter.

Ali and Kris quickly thanked the man and left before he could start a new conversation. The girls went down to the end of the Main Rd about a 1/4 mile and made the turn.

"Who is this boy we are going to see?" asked Kristine curiously.

"He's just a man I met while walking back home from skipping out on Mom and Dad's plans," Adiline answered, trying to be as undescriptive as possible. Adiline so deeply wanted to tell Kris, or anyone really, about Nathaniel but she felt she should at least see him first.

They got to the end of the road and saw the Tanson house. It had raggedy, old shutters that were crudely painted burgundy and a short fence that wrapped around the whole house. Ali and Kris walked through the gate and up the three small steps that led to the door.

Adiline was happy to see those familiar emerald eyes staring down at her as he answered.

"Hello, Princess," Nathaniel said in a concerned voice.

Adiline smiled but heard something else in his voice. An undercurrent of something....annoyance, anger?

A woman yelled at him from the back of the house. "Nathan, did you just say Princess?!? Why are you tryin' to trick me?"

"No ma, I wasn't kidding. Princess Adiline is here," he replied to the woman who could only be his mother.

  "Well, let her in and serve her something to drink," the woman said, still in the back of the house. Nathaniel did as he was told and served the girls a glass of apple cider.

Shortly after, Nathaniel's mother came wearing probably the 'fanciest' dress she owned. "Hello your Majesties, Princess Adiline and Kristine Ryan." She bowed in front of them with a nod. The woman looked to be about 40 years old with smile lines around her mouth. Her hair was a reddish-brown with emerald eyes, just like Nathan's.

"Hello, Nathaniel's...sister?" Adiline said trying to be nice, knowing she was most definitely his mother.

"Ha! Oh please dear, your mighty kind. How do you know my little Nathan?" she said taking a seat across the table, "By the way, my name is Rorie Grace Tanson and this is my home."

"Oh well hello Rorie. Thank you for welcoming us into your lovely house," Adiline said.

Kristine still hadn't said anything since she entered the house. She was busy examining everything and everyone, especially Nathaniel, who was standing in the corner while his mother talked. It was her way of seeing how people acted. By Kristine's observation, Mrs.Tanson was a competitive woman with a knack for cleaning. The many pictures lining the walls were perfectly dusted and polished along with everything else.

"Now back to that question. How do you know Nathan?" Rorie asked, wanting to know so badly how her son knew the King and Queen's daughter.

"Well, I just kind of saw him on the street and something inside of me told me to talk to him. I invited him over to the castle, and I must say you did a wonderful job raising such a gentleman."

While Adiline explained this, Kristine sat with an astonished face. She lived in the same house as Ali and she didn't even know Nathaniel had even been there!

When Adiline finished explaining everything, Nathaniel blushed and hid his dark hair over his eyes while Rorie looked flattered. "And I was just wondering if you and your son would like to come to the castle tonight for dinner," Adiline added, as a silence filled the room.

Rorie and Nathaniel were staring at each other, obviously having a silent conversation with their eyes. The two princesses just sat there nervously, as tension built up.

Questions rose to Adiline's mind. What was going on with the Tansons and why was it a big deal to have dinner at the castle?

-----------------------------------------

Dun dun dun.  0_0 Nah, I'm just kidding. Another chapter complete.