To Meredith’s relief, and perhaps the children’s too, the queen was away from the palace for the next few days visiting various regions of their small kingdom, which Meredith thought couldn’t take too long considering the size of the tiny country. During the queen’s absence the royal family was not required to eat in the royal dining room. Consequently, the atmosphere in their wing of the castle felt light and comfortable. Well, except there was an awkwardness between Meredith and Spencer.
She wasn’t sure which of them was working harder to avoid being alone together but suspected it was mutual. She knew, in the light of day and common sense, that kiss never should’ve happened. Spencer probably knew it too. Still, it was hard not to feel butterflies when their eyes met across the dinner table or when he came in to tell the children goodnight. It seemed a bit easier with each passing day—or so she told herself.
She and the children were getting out and seeing things during the daytime. They even managed to get in some tennis matches as well as a pleasant horse ride in the nearby countryside. The children were good riders, and she managednot to embarrass herself too badly. Really, it was like being on a paid vacation as long as she could distance herself from their father.
On the third day, Kat and Mishka, along with the assistance of a polite chauffeur and burly security guard, had assumed the responsibility of showing her their charming village. While visiting the various shops, Meredith popped into a pharmacy to get some personal items and discovered Kat conversing with an attractive but heavily made-up young clerk at the makeup counter.
“Looking for something?” Meredith asked Kat.
“Do you mind?” Kat scowled at her little brother. “Can you take him to look at some toys or something?”
“Are you buying makeup?” Meredith asked quietly, taking in the clerk’s jet-black hair with lime green tips that matched her dramatic eye shadow.
“Maybe. This clerk is helping me.”
“But your father?” Meredith said. “Will he approve?”
“I asked you to speak to him. Remember?” Kat picked up a bright purple lipstick. “I guess I’ll find out.”
“Right.” Meredith didn’t know what to do. Was it up to her, as the governess, to put her foot down? Or perhaps it was better to help Kat navigate this bumpy path toward adolescence? She already knew how self-conscious Kat was about her appearance, and like many girls her age, she was starting to get blemishes. Would a bit of concealer help the girl feel better about herself? But what would Spencer say? Or was he too preoccupied to notice?
The past three days, he’d remained busy with whatever it was a prince did while the queen was away, and they only saw him in the evenings when Meredith, with the help of some kitchen staff, prepared simple dinners for the four of them. But she couldn’t complain. The queen’s absence had made her brief visit muchmore relaxing. As Meredith knew, however, all good things must come to an end. And if allowing Kat to get a few simple cosmetics put the kibosh on her visit to the kingdom…well, so be it.
“I suppose I could explain it to your father.” Meredith glanced at Mishka, looking on with wide eyes. She pointed him to a nearby children’s book rack. “Why don’t you go find us a good book,” she suggested. “Something you and I can read together at bedtime. We’re nearly done withRobinson Crusoe.”
“Good idea.”
With Mishka distracted, she turned her attention back to Kat, who was examining some metallic turquoise eye shadow. “The way to get your father on board will be to begin withnaturallooking makeup. Products that enhance your beauty without drawing attention to the makeup itself. Does that make sense?”
She shrugged. “I guess so. But this is pretty.” She twirled a magenta tube of lipstick.
“Right. Well, I think it’s good to experiment a bit.” Meredith picked up a gentler shade of a peachy pink. “This would probably look nice on you.” She smiled at the eager clerk. “Do you speak English?”
“A bit.” She nodded. “I help Princess Katerina. If you like.”
Just then Meredith noticed a fair strawberry blonde woman across the aisle. Attractively dressed and not overly made-up, she was arranging some skin care products on another counter. “That clerk has coloring similar to yours,” she quietly told Kat. “I think we should get her to help.”
Kat looked unconvinced.
“Unless you want to do this another time.” Meredith put some firmness into her tone. “AfterI speak to your father.”
Kat did another eye roll but called out to the other clerk, who looked eager to help and, as it turned out, spoke enough English that Meredith was able to explain what they wanted. “I think we should start with some basic skincare products, Mila,” Meredithsaid after reading the nametag. “Something suitable to her skin type.”
“Yes. That is good plan.” She selected several items, sitting them on the glass countertop. “These are good for Princess Katerina. Healthy skin is happy skin.” She smiled.
“Right. We’ll take those. But I want makeup too.”
Meredith suggested Mila show her colors similar to what she was wearing, but appropriate for a young lady and, before long they picked out a number of items that Meredith felt Spencer wouldn’t object to. Especially if Kat only used them in the privacy of their own wing, but she could make that clear later. Mishka found a book, and with shopping bags in hand, they were on their way back to the palace.
Barely back in the rooms of their own wing, an invitation was waiting outside their door. The queen was requesting Spencer and the children join her in the royal dining room for a formal dinner this evening. Since Meredith’s name was noticeably absent from the handwritten note, she assumed she was uninvited to this particular event. Not eager to sit under the queen’s scrutiny again, Meredith was fine with that.
Later in the afternoon, a text message from the queen’s assistant pinged on her phone with the explanation that the children needed to be formally dressed and down to the dining room by seven o’clock sharp, although dinner wouldn’t be served until seven thirty. Perhaps the children had to pass her inspection. With this in mind, Meredith did her best to help the children get ready. Mishka was receptive to her assistance and hopped right into the tub to clean up, but Kat was obstinate, wanting to remain in her room and play with the new makeup products.
“We’ll do that tomorrow,” Meredith promised.
“Why does it have to be aformaldinner?” Kat grumbled after Meredith told her the denim skirt and T-shirt wouldn’t do “And if you don’t have to go, why do I?”
“Because you’re a princess?” Meredith held up a pale blue dress with a bodice of lace. “This is pretty.”
