Violet Eyes (14 page)

“Then be my wife, Violet. Come with me now, tonight. We’ll go to Father Paul and have him marry us. No more games, no more challenges, just you and me and what we want.”

Violet couldn’t think. The room seemed to be
spinning crazily as he continued to kiss her lips and then began to move his way down to her throat. “Will you take me as your husband, Violet?”

Longing for him nearly overpowered her, but Violet managed to keep her wits.

“I will, but not like this. Not like thieves in the night. If I run away with you, I’ll never have your parents’ respect, and you will never regain your honor.”

“I don’t care.”

“Maybe that’s true, but I care, and someday you will too.”

Richard kissed her again. From deep inside of her Violet called upon strength she didn’t even know she had and stepped out of his embrace. “I love you, Richard, with all my heart, but for both of our sakes you need to leave right now.”

He stood, fists clenched at his sides and fire smoldering in his eyes, and she was sure he was going to refuse. After what seemed an eternity his shoulders slumped. Without saying another word he turned and left.

C
HAPTER
N
INE

Richard paced outside the castle and into the darkness, frustration flooding through him. He wished Violet had agreed to run away with him, but in his heart he knew that she was right. He didn’t know what games his parents were playing, but it looked like he was going to have to play along for the time being.

Richard walked to the stables and spent some time grooming Baron. The stallion leaned into the brush and made contented sounds. For much of the last year they had been each other’s only steady companions, and Richard had grown accustomed to talking to his horse.

“What am I going to do about her?” he asked the stallion. The horse nickered and nuzzled him, searching for a treat. “Sorry, boy, I’ll bring you something tomorrow, I promise.”

When Richard had finished grooming Baron, he gave him a pat on his neck before heading inside. It was time to find out what the next challenge was so that he could warn Violet.

Violet was still standing staring at the door, when Genevieve returned to the room. “Violet, is everything all right?”

Violet shook her head.

“Is it because of Mary?”

“It’s a lot of things,” Violet said. “Mary, my mother, this contest.”

“If you don’t mind my saying so,” Genevieve began, “you’ve been wildly uncomfortable since you got here.”

“That’s true,” Violet admitted.

“If you want to win the prince, be true to who you are. If he cares for you, that’s what will impress him.”

Violet closed her eyes and remembered the feeling of Richard’s lips on hers. “Unfortunately, it’s his parents I’m worried about impressing.”

Genevieve waved a hand. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I’m pretty sure they’re not as crazy as they appear to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“These tests all seem so frivolous. I think there’s something more going on than we know.”

“Like a test within the test?”

“Exactly.”

Violet walked over and fell back on her bed again with a groan.

“Great, as if I didn’t have enough to worry about.”

“I was trying to make you feel better,” Genevieve pointed out.

A new idea occurred to Violet, and she sat up. “Did anyone ever announce who passed the test today?”

Genevieve shook her head and sat down beside Violet on the bed. “No, the steward said we would know in the morning. Several of us were sure there hadn’t even been a test.”

“And?” Violet asked.

“It turns out we each had an audience with the queen. She showed us a special hairbrush, her maid began to brush our hair, she yanked one of the hairs from our head, and then the queen sent us on our way.”

“Me too. So, what does that mean, exactly?” Violet asked, anxious to keep her and Richard’s secret.

“I think they were testing to see who was injured by it.”

“Like Celeste,” Violet said.

“Yes. When she started making such a big deal about it, I was pretty sure that the hair pulling was the test.”

“Does anyone have any idea what to expect next?” Violet asked hopefully.

“None, so it seems.”

“So what now?” Violet asked, more to herself than to Genevieve.

“There is nothing we can do except get some rest.”

“I can’t sleep yet.” Violet sighed. “I think I’ll go for a walk in the garden.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning,” Genevieve said.

Violet crossed to the armoire and took out the black cloak she had seen in it earlier. She draped the rich fabric around her and left the room. She wasn’t completely sure where she was going, but Violet felt the need to be free of the castle walls.

Out in the gardens Violet began to walk contemplatively, breathing in the cool night air. She wandered farther than she and Genevieve had explored before. As silence stretched around her, Violet began to feel better.

What has happened to me?
she wondered. Her life on the farm seemed so far away.

A sudden splash interrupted the quiet. Curious, Violet wandered deeper into the gardens, looking for the source of the sound. A wall of hedges rose on her left, looming in the dark. She touched it. It was the outer wall of the great maze that would be one of the contests during the Feasting. Violet had thought to enter the maze contest this year. Little had she guessed that she would be involved in a much more strenuous series of contests, to win not a ribbon but a husband.

Violet heard the splashing again, a little ways to her right. She turned and headed toward the sound. A few steps further on Violet found a large fountain. Standing in the middle of it was Arianna.

“Hello,” Violet said quietly.

Arianna jumped and spun around, eyes wild.
But when she saw it was Violet, she relaxed slightly. “Hello,” she answered tentatively.

Violet moved closer. Arianna’s shoes were on the ground near the fountain. And Arianna stood in the middle of the pool, skirts gathered above her knees.

“I live near the ocean; I miss the water,” Arianna said, lifting her chin as if defying Violet.

“I’ve never seen the ocean. What’s it like?”

“Like … freedom,” Arianna said, closing her eyes and spinning around. “Imagine standing in the surf and looking out and seeing only water. No land in sight. Just the blue of the ocean stretching to the horizon until it meets the blue of the sky.”

“You make it sound wonderful,” Violet said.

“It is.”

“Is your mother really a mermaid?” Violet asked.

Arianna just smiled and stretched out her hand. “Join me.”

Violet knew the proper thing to do would be to decline, but what had Genevieve just said, about being true to who she really was? Who she really was really wanted to jump in the fountain.

Violet kicked off her shoes, took off her cloak, hiked up her skirts, and climbed into the fountain, gasping as the cold water hit her calves. Arianna clapped her hands and danced, spinning and twirling.

“Don’t be afraid to let your dress get wet,” she said.

“It’s not technically my dress,” Violet said.

“Even better!” Arianna laughed.

Violet couldn’t help but laugh too. “I don’t think I’m even a real princess,” she said.

“Wonderful,” Arianna said, throwing her arms toward the sky as she spun.

“Up until a couple of days ago I lived on a farm,” Violet said, spinning around herself.

“That’s amazing. What is that like?”

“I love it. Hard work, sunshine, simple food, no servants or fancy clothes that I can’t get wet,” Violet said, laughing harder as she danced in the fountain.

“Then why are you even here?” Arianna asked.

“Because I was crazy enough to fall in love with a prince. How silly is that?”

Arianna stopped spinning, and her face turned serious. “It’s not silly at all. Love is never silly. It is beautiful, terrible, unexpected, uplifting, heartbreaking. It is everything but silly.”

Violet blinked in surprise at the sudden transition. “You really are in love with a werewolf, aren’t you?”

“Descendant. It’s complicated,” Arianna said. She smiled. “But that’s love!”

An hour later Violet crept back into her room, her wet skirts heavy as she tried to hold them up off of the floor. There was a candle burning on the desk, and Genevieve was sitting up in a dressing gown, staring at her.

“Genevieve, you’re awake,” Violet said in surprise, aware that something was wrong.

Genevieve held out a parchment to her. “A dog came for you.”

“I can explain,” Violet said quickly, taking the letter from her.

“You don’t have to explain anything,” Genevieve said. “You love him; he loves you. I think that’s great.”

Violet threw her arms around her. “Thank you.”

Genevieve laughed and pushed Violet away. “You didn’t tell me you were going swimming.”

“Sorry! Next time I’ll take you with me.”

Violet pulled off her soggy dress and changed into her nightgown. “So, what did the dog’s letter have to say?”

“Once I figured out it was for you, I didn’t read any further,” Genevieve said.

When she had finished changing, Violet opened the parchment and read:

My love. Tomorrow they are testing the sensitivity of your skin, particularly your feet. You will be asked to walk across grass. The intended result is that the blades of grass will cut your feet. There are some berries in the kitchen that you could use to stain the bottom of your feet so it would look like blood. Forever yours, Richard.

“How sensitive are the bottoms of your feet?” Violet asked, handing Genevieve the letter.

“Terribly sensitive. My father used to tickle them when I was a child, and I would just go crazy laughing. Why?”

“For the challenge tomorrow we will be asked to walk barefoot over the grass in expectation that it will cut our feet.”

Genevieve wrinkled her nose up. “Who would think up such a challenge?”

“Richard’s parents, apparently.”

“That doesn’t seem right to me.”

“Me either, but what can we do?”

“We can refuse,” Genevieve said.

Violet sighed. “You can, but I’m not willing to give up on marrying Richard.”

“Then it’s off to the kitchens with you,” Genevieve said, scanning the letter.

The next morning at breakfast the royal family was once again present. The king, queen, and prince all ate quickly, Violet noted, and soon Richard and his mother excused themselves. The king then stood and called for attention.

“I apologize for our absence last night. We do, however, have the results of the second test. Four of you are now out of the running and may go or stay as you wish.”

None of the princesses were girls Violet knew. The first one bounced up from the table when her name was called, unable to hide a grin. The other three rose more slowly, faces solemn. Violet heaved a sigh of relief. She was still in the competition.

“After breakfast the rest of you may assemble in the gardens,” the king announced before he, too, left the room.

“We’re going to be able to see each other compete this time,” Goldie guessed.

“What’s wrong, Arianna?” Genevieve asked.

Violet looked at the girl with the silvery hair, who sat by Genevieve. Arianna’s brow was furrowed and she looked troubled.

“Can someone explain to me what the last test was?” she asked.

“You had to feel great pain if a single hair was pulled,” another girl said.

Arianna shook her head. “I don’t think that was it.”

“Why not?” Violet asked.

Arianna looked at her. “I talked with the queen like the rest of you, and her maid brushed my hair, but I never noticed her pulling a hair.”

“Are you sure?” Violet asked sharply.