“Your Majesty.” Meredith tipped her head in a quick bow. “What can I do for you?”
“Explain what you’ve done to the princess.”
“Done?” Meredith said. “I’m not sure what you mean.” She noticed a shadow move in the corner of the room, and Kat stepped out.
“She means the makeup,” Kat said sullenly. “She doesn’t likeit.”
“You are a child,” the queen told her.
“Kat is an adolescent,” Meredith challenged. “Almost thirteen.”
“Yes, next month,” Kat chimed in, standing next to Meredith.
The queen glared at Meredith. “You will address the child asPrincess Katerina.”
“I am not a child.” Kat folded her arms in front of her, brow creased.
“I only helped Princess Katerina to experiment with some new facial products,” Meredith explained. “And she did ask her father for permission to come to dinner like this.” She slid an arm around Kat’s shoulders. “I think she looks respectable as well as pretty.” She turned to the queen. “Is there anything wrong with that? You are a queen, so you must understand the need for royalty to feel confident. If a bit of makeup increases the princess’s self-confidence, I do not see what harm can come from it. Most girls her age are experimenting with similar products. Some to a much more extravagant degree.”
The queen looked somewhat speechless, but her eyes narrowed. “The princess shall gain her confidence from being a member the royal family.”
“Perhaps.” Meredith tipped her head to one side. “But does it hurt to install a bit of confidence through additional measures?For instance, proper education is important to validate self-worth, and adept social skills are a necessity for diplomacy. But did you know that social skills are directly linked directly to one’s self-awareness and personal confidence? Where does an adolescent find such things? Doesn’t appearance count for anything?”
Meredith motioned toward the queen. “For example, you are quite well-groomed and beautifully dressed too for your formal dinner tonight, but what if you were unkempt and wearing some old wrinkled and worn clothes? Would you feel self-assured to greet your elegant guests?”
The queen glowered, drumming her fingers on the desktop.
“Speaking of your guests, I should think you would not want to keep them waiting.” Meredith smiled, dipping her head again. “I don’t want to keep you from them.”
The queen’s dark eyes bore into Meredith, and then she smiled. Or almost smiled. Or maybe it was a catty smile. “You are such an expert on confidence and self-assurance, Miss Cardwell, perhaps you would care to join us for dinner.”
Meredith was speechless.
“Oh, please do, Meri.” Kat grabbed her hand. “Please.”
“Well, I’m honored to be asked, Your Majesty, but as you can see, I’m hardly dressed for a formal meal. I wouldn’t want to—”
“What about your speech? Self-assurance and confidence?” the queen challenged.
Meredith didn’t appreciate being intimidated. “As I mentioned, those qualities can be linked to a person’s appearance. In my case, I’m afraid I would offend your guests by my casual apparel. But if you don’t mind, I don’t mind.” She smiled.
“Yes, I wouldn’t want to offend my guests.” The queen’s smile looked forced. “Go, Miss Cardwell. Make yourself appropriate and return at once.”
“But I—”
“Do not argue with the queen.” Her dark eyes grew darker.
“Come on, Meri.” Kat tugged her hand. “I’ll help you.”
“But I—”
“You are excused,” the queen declared with a wave of her hand.
As Kat dragged her down the hallway and toward the stairs, Meredith knew she was a fish out of water. What had her façade of confidence gotten her into? “I don’t have proper clothes,” she quietly told Kat. “Why don’t you let me just go back up, and you can send my apologies to the queen.”
“No.” Kat shook her head. “She’ll think she’s won. You need to go down and stand up to her.”
“Stand up to her?”
