She looked up at him, eyes wide and confused.
“I was testing this needle... for other reasons. It is not meant to be a gift for my sister. I was testing it, though I am not good enough at sewing to know how to accurately assess it, so I wanted to see what you could do with it, but then I realized...” He wanted to tell her the truth; he instantly trusted her. But he knew better than to share his secret search for the source of the magic. “I’m sorry...” he trailed off.
“I’m confused,” she whispered. She stepped away, setting the fabric and needle back down on the crate. “If I may take my leave, I must get back to the steward before he comes looking for me.”
“Of course!” The thought that she was judging him turned his stomach to knots, but he couldn’t demand that she stay. “And again, I am so sorry. I should never have deceived you.”
She dropped a quick curtsy, her face once again disappearing beneath her bowed head as she quietly disappeared behind the wooden door.
He absently picked up the needle, threading it through the fabric a few times. Nothing happened, except for the fact that he had made a handful of large, awkward stitches. He sighed in disappointment.
Chapter 7
“This is perfect!” Steward Daniel admired the glass rose, his round face flushed with excitement. “I knew you would have the right eye for finding items that honor our past.”
Ashlin forced her mind to focus on what the steward was saying even though her thoughts kept racing in other directions.
“Oh, sorry my dear. I do not mean to make light of your circumstances, but coming from a good family, you obviously have a taste for the arts.”
She smiled away his apology. She had started the day helping other servants clear out the ballroom, but the steward had pulled her away from her tasks in the early evening. Remembering that her father had collected rare art pieces, he had asked if she would like to sort through the eastern tower in search of decorations for the ball.
She had gladly accepted his invitation, eager to take on more interesting tasks. Her stepmother now expected her to rise before dawn and had kept her busy with the most menial tasks. While Ashlin had tackled them all without complaining, she had arrived at the palace exhausted. And there were still many hours until she could return home at midnight. She swallowed down a yawn.
“What else did you see up there?”
An overly friendly member of the royal family who seemed to be hiding something!So many thoughts whirled in her mind, but the steward’s excitement was infectious and helped her to stay in the present. “Some old paintings and statues,” she replied, “though they are more likely to scare the future guests than reconnect them to the past.”
“Hah. Some things can remain in the past.” His hand swirled around the rose. “Do you think there are more beauties like this up there?”
“Oh, yes. I only searched through two crates.”
“Excellent. Excellent. Well, get back to it. I’m sure that will keep you plenty busy.”
“Mhh... Right now?” Ashlin squeezed her hands behind her back. They were slightly clammy. What if he was still there?
“Of course!” The steward had not seemed to notice her hesitation. “The ball is in three weeks! I cannot believe they did not give us enough time to prepare for this properly.”
Not wanting to disappoint the steward, Ashlin dipped her head and smiled. “Of course.” She had already disappeared down the hall when she heard the steward call after her.
“And child?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Leave early tonight. You look exhausted, and I need everyone at full capacity to pull this off. Including you.”
She blushed, a new wave of energy filling her at his kind words. “Thank you, sir.”
Back at the wooden door of the old tower, she paused, giving herself a moment before she pushed it open. She silently hoped that the prince would be gone, but part of her also hoped he would still be there. In every encounter she’d had with him, he had been kind. But he was still a prince, and for all he knew, she was a mere servant girl.
Besides, his attitude over the needle had been odd, and while she had instantly trusted him that night in the storm, she realized she needed to keep her guard up.
But he had smiled so genuinely when he had seen her behind the crates. She liked that feeling, of someone being pleased to see her.
She eased the door open. He was not there. Despite what her head was advising, her heart still dropped in disappointment. She shook the feeling away. She had a job to do.
She moved around the room, unsure of where to search next. Wanting to find something unique, she chose the dustiest section. It was furthest from the window, and the light was fading fast. Fortunately, she now knew how to find and light the portable lanterns the servants used in the early dawn or late at night. Lighting two, she placed them beside the dusty stack of crates and got to work. She started with the highest one, standing on top of another crate to reach into it while she gently sifted through its contents. For the most part, the objects were old and already broken. With a little polish, some of the serving utensils could be used in the ballroom, but nothing was as stunning as the rose.
She moved down to the next crate, setting aside a few silver platters and goblets. Perhaps they could be filled with fresh flowers? Finally, only the bottom crate remained. It was a large chest, sturdy and solid as though it had been waiting there for hundreds of years. For all Ashlin knew, it really could have been. Getting the empty crate off the top of it, she examined the lid to find out how to open it. There was a clasp in the front, but if it had a lock, it had long since rusted away. She undid the clasp and pushed up against the lid.
