Now that the cat was out of the proverbial bag, it seemed that no one in the kitchen felt the need to keep their speculation to themselves.
“Do you know who it is? Have you seen her?”
“Nobody has. It’s all quite sudden, too. I bet it was love at first sight; a whirlwind romance.
“I heard that he’s brought some foreign princess in, but she’s terribly shy.”
“Ha! That’s a far cry better than the last one.” The soup chef didn’t realize that Lizzie was standing behind her. “At least this one will have a heart and won’t make our poor prince pine after her like a lovesick puppy. Finally forgetting that ice queen was the best thing our Freddy could do.”
Some of the other girls were staring at her with wide eyes, likely waiting for her to say something. Lizzie just shook her head and collected the dirty dishes.
She’s right. It’s the best thing for Freddy.
Lizzie kept her head down and her hands busy until sunset, when Mrs. Pearce sought her out. “You’re free to go, dear. The ball is starting soon, which means that things will slow down in the kitchen. Thank you for your hard work today.”
She summoned one of her court smiles. “Of course, Mrs. Pearce. It was my pleasure.”
After the housekeeper left, Lizzie dallied around the kitchen a little longer, washing a few final dishes and scrubbing a spot or two from the floor. She found herself dreading the thought of going back to the dark, empty cottage.
The air was cool as she stepped out, and music from the ball filtered on the breeze. It reminded her of a similar night, not even a year ago, when she had walked in on Freddy’s arm. Hadrian had been there, too, with his pet project on his arm.
She heard the sound of a lute joining the other string instruments.
I wonder if that is Kai? Is he playing for the ball? Will he stay and dance?
The thought of Kai dancing with someone else was too much. Her emotions were a wild storm, pounding and banging against the barrier of her curse. Regret and pain and grief and loss and loneliness were fighting for center stage, and with every emotion she punched back down, another slipped through. The ice was cracking, and she could do nothing to stop it.
She squeezed her hands into fists and walked quickly, her breathing fast and shallow as she fought against her feelings. Lizzie had wandered into the garden, pulled in by the music and memories, and now in her heightened emotional state, she struggled to remember her way back.
Lizzie kept her eyes down as she walked. She turned a corner, abruptly running into a hard chest. Two arms reached out to catch her as she stumbled, and Lizzie looked up just long enough to see a head of short blonde hair and a close-cropped beard.
Freddy.
“I—I’m so sorry, Your Highness.” She managed to pull off a passable curtsy, thanks to her muscle memory. “I wasn’t watching where I was going. Please forgive me.” She turned, quickly, and started back in the direction she had been coming from. “Oh, and congratulations on your wedding.”
A warm hand caught her wrist, stopping her with a jolt. A quiet voice spoke her name.
“Lizzie.”
She had been attempting to tug her arm free, but at the sound she froze.
That’s Kai’s voice.
His blue eyes were glued to her as she turned around.
Kai’s blue eyes.
Freddy’s hair.
No, those were Freddy’s eyes.
“Freddy?” she whispered, her voice cracking with confusion.
“Lizzie,” he repeated. His eyes crinkled with those familiar lines as he smiled.
“But you’re…I don’t…how…?” She started and stopped several times. “You’re getting married tomorrow.”
The confusion was starting to give way to panic as her mind started putting the pieces together. Kai and Freddy were one and the same, but if Freddy was getting married, what did that mean for her?
