“Oh?Who was it?”
Henriette looked around, though they were quite alone.“A servant said it wasan enchantress!Believe you that?”
“Truly?”All the puzzle pieces suddenly dropped into place.Bella knewexactlywhere the wayward prince was, which made her question every conversation they had had.Why would the prince be so kind to a peasant?Why had he not acted, well, princely?What had he to gain?Instead of voicing her concerns, Bella asked, “What would an enchantress want with the prince?”
“Well, he is the most handsome of men.”
Thinking of the handsome-yet-boorish men in her own hometown, Bella suppressed a groan.“Looks do not fine character make.”
“Nor does his substantial income, I wager,” Henriette giggled.“He has shown no substantial favor to any of the ladies in court, from baroness to duchess, yet he has kissed plenty of maidens.”
“And filled their homes with his children?”she asked, assuming as much.After all, was she not an eventual product of such an affair?
“None have so claimed.He seems to hold his heart for only one.”
“Who?A duchess?A princess?”
“No one knows.But the castle servants have uttered he yearns for a love match.”
“A romantic male?”Bella felt her heart race.How thrilling!
Her eyes darted around them again, and then Henriette leaned forward.“‘Tis said he made a bargain with the enchantress.Think you it is to locate his one true love?”
Bella caught her breath.“A bargain?Bargaining with enchantresses is nigh as risky as bargaining with fairies.One never knows what latitude will be taken with the wording.”
Now doubt filled Henriette’s visage.“Think you something ill happened to him?”
She did not want to lie to her new friend, so she took an angle based on fact in the hopes of dissuading a search.“An enchantress shows up, and then the prince goes missing?I would have no interest in searching him out based on those facts alone.”
“Hm.I see your point.”But her eyes twinkled again.“What wouldyouwish for, had an enchantress come to you?”
“That depends.Are you an enchantress or fairy?I need to know if I am about to be trapped into an agreement I do not want.”
Henriette laughed loudly.“Nay, I am not.”
“Then you shall have no problem donning your lead thimbles,” she said, and they giggled as Henriette placed all within reach on her fingers and wiggled them for her.“See?Not a fairy.”
Bella laughed at her tease.Since the conversation had turned whimsical, Bella considered the request.“To answer your question: I would wish to make a change in the world.Not rule it, and certainly not marry for the sole purpose of bearing children.I feel there is more to life than existence and procreation.”
“What would you do?”
Bella held her eyes, nigh bursting to share.“I would open a school, where all children regardless of station could learn.No, not just children.”She glanced at the ceiling and gestured expansively.“Adults would be welcome, too, everyone, anyone, from any station.Reading, writing, learning their sums.Maybe even learn to start their own trade.”Her eyes drifted down to meet Henriette’s wide ones.“You do not agree?”
The woman looked pale.“Peasants reading?You would be hanged within a week.”
Bella giggled.“See?That is why I would never make wagers with magical beings.”
They both laughed.
“Your turn,” Bella said.“What would you wish for?”
“Well, obviously to be the most sought-after seamstress around, but even that has its limitations.”
“How?”
“I would need to hire a protégé who matched my skill and designs.If a product comes from my store, it needs to be flawless.”
“And that is quite commendable.”
