“Balcovian amaranth is both rare and beautiful!”
“—or possess a long and storied history of philosophers, like Greece—”
“We are extremely intelligent!”
“—so they will be expecting untold quantities of peculiar customs and many breaches of good English manners.”
Elizabeth rubbed her hands together. “This is going to besomuch fun.”
“It does not sound like Balcovia at all,” Kuni snapped.
“That’s what’s perfect,” Chloe assured her. “I will go along as myself, to lend credence to the story. Afterward, if need be, I can say that I was duped by a charlatan. As you’ve pointed out, records will show that Princess Mechtilda isnotin the country. Balcovia’s reputation will not be harmed.”
“Even better,” Graham told his sister, “you can claim you weren’t there, either. We’ll make the journey anonymously. Your presence in Tipford-upon-Bealbrook will be your word against the Throckmortens, who—if we do our jobs correctly—will be in no position to bring suit, because they will be facing charges of their own.”
Kuni frowned. “What sort of charges? Their horrid treatment of children and their other laborers is perfectly legal.”
“I don’t know yet,” he answered. “That’s what we’re going to find out. The rest of us will masquerade as maids and footmen. Staff is usually the most effective disguise. Servants are completely invisible to the affluent English eye.”
And to the affluent Balcovian eye, if Kuni was being honest. Yet the idea of pretending to be servile did not fill her with ebullience. She tried not to wrinkle her nose.
“Or…”Tommy leaned forward. “Since youdohave the right accent…How do you feel about being fake Princess Mechtilda’s personal, full-fledged, acting Royal Guard?”
A visceral wave of longing rose in Kuni’s chest.
“After the long journey, I may need to rely on my cane,” Elizabeth said. “To the Throckmortens, I’ll look especially vulnerable and helpless.”
“And having a Royal Guard will make the visit seem all the more official,” Philippa added.
“If my brothers hear of a Black Balcovian Royal Guardswoman up north,” Kuni said, “they will know exactly where to find me.”
“Pah,” said Tommy, “that’s nothing a false cleft chin and a pair of sideburns cannot cure. With the right cosmetics, you could strut in front of your brothers without them recognizing you. Besides, we’ll be there and gone before the scandal columns get word of our visit.”
“What do you say?” Elizabeth waggled her brows. “Want to see what guarding a royal princess feels like?”
Yes.More than anything.
But should she go this far?
“Good news.” Tommy held up a map. “I’ve worked out the best places to stop for the night. Five days each way will work out perfectly.”
“I’ll create a false coat of arms,” Marjorie said. “We’ll journey in unmarked coaches and affix royal shields just before we enter Tipford-upon-Bealbrook.”
“And,” Graham said, his eyes shining, “the slower journey means we needn’t switch horses at posting-houses. We can take our trained geldings!”
Kuni sent a suspicious glance toward Jacob. “Are they…messenger homing horses?”
“No.” He smiled. “They’re rescued circus horses, trained for acrobatic tricks.”
“Why do we need…acrobatic horses?”
“You never know when you’ll need circus horses,” Graham said. “They could be our secret weapon.”
“I’ll take Hippogriff,” Jacob suggested.
“No more hawks!” his siblings chimed in unison.
“Or mongooses,” Elizabeth added.
