Her lip curled ever so slightly. “Forgive me. I’m rather ignorant to witch matters,” she said. “Nevertheless, your cat cannot dine with us. Serena, take it to Lady Narcissa’s chambers.”
Serena curtsied, and without looking at me, took Misty from my chair.
I reached for her. “But she’s hungry!”
Serena evaded me under Lady Huntington’s glare.
“Not to worry. It will be fed oats along with the other animals,” the lady said.
I clenched my jaw in frustration, surprised to find moisture in my eyes. She wouldn’t have dared speak to me in such a manner half a year ago. But now, without Mother...
I dug my nails into my palm. No. I didn’t need Mother’s prestige to protect me anymore.
“Surely some exception can be made—” Lord Frederick began.
I shook my head. “Apologies,” I said with as much grace as I could muster. I was all too aware of Crown Prince Bennett’s silent presence, a reminder that I was expected to behave a certain way. I had disappointed him, no doubt. Misty’s meows disappeared into the other room. “I didn’t mean to disrupt.”
Isabelle returned to her seat with a huff. In the next minute, she was back to jabbering and I had composed myself enough to join the small talk. I ate the cantaloupe I had prepared for Misty. It was sweet and juicy, as if the fruit were really in season.
But even surrounded by chatter and a pleasant breakfast, I felt Misty’s absence more than anything. I would have to apologize to her later.
13
We set off to townright after breakfast, much to Isabelle’s chagrin. Crown Prince Bennett wanted to observe Coriva disguised as civilians, so we borrowed the servants’ carriage. This, I realized, was why he suggested the tour in the first place. It certainly wasn’t to spend more time with me, judging from his studious silence during the carriage ride.
The roads were busy, though not overly crowded. Several stray cats darted into an alleyway, avoiding a group of rambunctious children playing ball on the street. Misty would’ve hated the noise, but I still felt awful leaving her in Serena and Lady Huntington’s clutches.
Something must have shown on my face.
“You seem preoccupied, Lady Narcissa,” Ulysses said, glancing up at me over his spectacles. “Is everything alright?”
“I’m fine. It’s just my cat—” I cut myself off when the crown prince looked up. I knew I would sound ridiculous and spoiled if I continued. Misty was just a pet to him—and squabbling over a pet was not becoming of a future princess. I shook my head. “It’s nothing.”
Crown Prince Bennett opened his mouth. I braced myself for whatever was coming, but the carriage rolled to a stop before he could speak.
“There’s the shop in question, Your Highness,” Ulysses said, pushing his spectacles up his hooked nose. He flipped through the pile of reports in his lap. “William’s Plants and Produce. It opened two months ago.”
