“Well, at least they didn’t stretch your neck,” the guard outside the door said in greeting.
She brushed off her arms where the guards had crushed the fabric of her sleeves.“Hark you this: when the prince does not return, and the filth keeps piling up in the pond, know you that every person in this castle will be responsible for perpetuating his punishment.”She gave him a sharp nod of dismissal and headed back to Nocturne.
The horse nickered at her in greeting, and Bella hopped into the saddle and headed back.The streets twisted and turned, and at one point, a mounted nobleman raced up to her and addressed her.
“Señorita, have you seen a woman come this way, dressed in a purple gown?”
“Purple?As in, royal purple?No, Your Highness, I have not.”A runaway bride?An abductee?Whoever she was, this man was clearly anxious for her safe return.
Despair crossed his face, and he nodded once in dismissal and kicked his steed into action.
Bella watched him race willy-nilly up and down streets, asking the same question to all he encountered.
She felt bad for him as she urged Nocturne into a walk.
Once back on the main street, she retraced her steps to Henriette’s shop.She tied Nocturne to the post and headed in, noting again she was the only customer.
“Bella!I am beyond happy to see you!”
“Me, too, my friend.”They embraced warmly.
“Can I get you some tea?”
“No, thank you.I’m heading home, to Luxembourg.But I wanted to thank you for telling me the gossip about the prince.I...”she took a breath, “I know where he is, so I told the king and queen.”
“You know where he is?”
She nodded.“He...has been cursed.”At the incredulous look, she added, “I know I sound mad; but ‘tis true.He is a frog.I actually had him in a bucket on the saddle horn the day I came here, at his behest.He provided the coin and waited with his horse, which I now have.”
“Bella, my friend, are...you...alright?”
Bella’s shoulders dropped.“If you do but one thing for me, please take yourself to the pond and tell Prince Riven that I sent you to speak with him.I also put in a good word for you with his parents.”
“What?How?”
“I said that your dyes do not fade, which means your water does not need dumping.I said perhaps other clothiers could learn from your example to keep the pond clean.”
“You...did that?For me?”
She smiled.“I did.I also think you should barrel up some pond water and sell it to your competition for profit.You can call it a dye maker’s perfect mix.‘Tis your discovery, after all.”
Henriette flung herself at Bella and gave her a mighty hug.“Truly, you are the best of friends!”
Bella returned the hug, then held the woman’s elbows and stepped back.“Please, please trust me.Go to the pond and tell the prince I sent you.You will see I am not lying.”
“Since you know where he is, why do you not stay here, where you have friends, and collect the prize?Mayhap even marry the prince?”Her brows danced with mischief.
“My father was quite ill the last time I saw him.I promised to help Riv—um, the prince, undo his curse.He bade me stay for two days, which I did.But I cannot risk my father’s health any longer.He needs me,” she said, her eyes willing her friend to understand.
They locked eyes, then Henriette nodded.“I will be as good a friend as you and head to the pond tonight.But if you jest with me, I shall be very cross with you.”And she wagged a finger at her.
Bella smiled and lowered the pointing hand.“I speak the truth.Oh, here.He collected these for me, but I wish to share them with you.”She tumbled a portion of the coins to the counter, making Henriette’s eyes widen.“And now, I must go.I have a long ride ahead of me.And hopefully, I shall find my papa in fine health.Au revoir, my friend.”
Tears filled Henriette’s eyes as she looked from the coins to Bella.“À la prochaine,” she replied, her bottom lip quivering.
Before the tears came, Bella headed outside for Nocturne, who had somehow come untied and wandered.He was a dozen paces away, with his muzzle dunked into the water trough.Bella reached into her purse and pried open the tiny gold chest, keeping the sparkling item out of view.“How far do you think you can run, my noble steed?”she asked as she approached him.She gathered one sugar cube into her palm and reached for the reins to collect him but was stopped by a rough voice.
“Come with us or pay the price.”
