“Was it Pa’s pheasant?” Tori asked.
“It didn’t really agree with her,” Genevieve said delicately.
Tori shook her head and sighed. “Alas, not everyone can stomach a Strongfoot pheasant,” she said. “Anyway, they say the hunting is going to start soon, though I don’t see the point in telling us—we’ll just be sitting here all day.”
“We’ll be picnicking and mingling,” Olivia piped up.
“Like I said, sitting here all day.”
I smiled at their banter, almost glad to have some semblance of normalcy, though attending the Season wouldn’t have been my idea of normal three weeks ago. Never in a million years had I thought that I’d be seeing strange colors, that there were witches living underground, that they were forced to do so because of a king Olderea knew and loved.
I glanced at the makeshift dais some men had lifted in. Ornate chairs replaced thrones. Queen Cordelia was already seated, leaning on the arm of her chair. Prince Ash was nowhere to be seen.
“Miss Amarante! What happened to you?”
I turned my head and was met with the sight of the missing prince. Murmurs of “Your Highness” sounded from my companions.
“I fell off my horse, Your Highness,” I said.
Prince Ash towered over me, dressed in a royal blue hunting coat and leather boots. His brows raised as he glanced at the hole in my skirts. I tucked my legs under the chair.
“I’m fine,” I said, suddenly embarrassed of my decently covered shin.
He shook his head in bewilderment. “You kicked Michael in the face. You might have broken his nose, you know?” he said.
“I didn’t mean to,” I said, horrified.
I noticed that we were drawing some looks. Samantha was both glaring at me and shooting simpering smiles at the prince’s back. Julianna merely sneered.
Prince Ash didn’t seem bothered. “Come with me. They just put up the medical tent,” he said, offering me his hand. His golden ribbon gleamed in the dappled sunlight.
“I don’t know how to fix broken noses!”
He laughed. It was a pleasant sound, but it rang too loud for my comfort. “You’re something. You can’t fall off a horse without injuries. Trust me. I’ve tried.” he said.
“He’s right, Amarante. You should probably check if you’re hurt,” Genevieve said softly.
Prince Ash smiled at Genevieve. “Come. Bandages await.”
With a huff, I stood from my seat without taking his hand. Pain shot up from my right knee and for a terrifying moment, I stumbled. Prince Ash caught me around the waist before I hit the ground.
He tutted. “What did I say?”
“You can’t fall off a horse without injuries.”
He released me. “Nothing like a teachable pupil,” he said, offering his arm. I took it begrudgingly and looked back to check if anybody saw my fall.
Nearly everyone’s heads were turned. If Samantha was glaring before, she was glowering now. Julianna was fuming. Tessa sneered. Poor Olivia looked flustered and Tori, to my utter embarrassment, had formed a heart with her hands and pulsed it before her chest.
The medical tent couldn’t be close enough. I limped as fast as I could, leaning heavily on Prince Ash’s arm. When at last we entered the protective canvas walls, I threw myself on a nearby bench, nearly breathless with relief.
“Reselda? You have another patient,” Prince Ash said to a woman in the far corner.
“Already? For heaven’s sake, the hunt hasn’t even started and we already have a broken nose and a...what happened to you?”
A middle-aged woman dressed in a healer’s white frock stopped before me.
“Fell off a horse,” I mumbled, chastened by her no-nonsense stare.
