Ian nodded, pretending to agree with his brother’s assessment. He was not sure he had ever met a girl who squealed, but he guessed he wouldn’t like it too much. Secretly, he hoped she was pretty.
“Come on,” he repeated. “Let’s go meet her.”
“Ooh!” The girl’s squeal was so loud when the two brothers opened the door to the family salon that Ian visibly flinched.
At least he hadn’t covered his ears as Onric had done.
“You must be Prince Ian and Prince Onric,” she said, dropping into a dramatic curtsy. “It’s so good to see you again after all these years!”
“Lady Lockwood,” Ian responded, bowing his head lightly. “Welcome to your new home. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your parents.”
“You are too kind, my prince,” she said, smiling up at him.
She was not un-beautiful, Ian decided, though he felt that her smile was too... elated. Perhaps her parents had not been as kind as his own. “Please, call me Ian.”
“Ooh! Thank you.” She turned toward Onric expectantly.
Ian’s younger brother was openly scowling when he dropped his hands from his ears after her second squeal. “Do we have to call you Lady Lockwood?” Onric asked. “That seems a bit... generous.”
Ian jabbed Onric’s side, a little harder than necessary. Since they were still wearing their padded sparring armor, Onric probably couldn’t even feel it.
The new girl glanced between them, her broad smile still plastered to her face.
Ian felt his hopes begin to fade. “Let’s go clean up before supper,” he said to Onric.
“Could you escort me to dinner, my prince?” the girl asked, dropping her large eyes and blinking rapidly. “I’m afraid I’ll get lost in this large castle.”
“Ian, please,” he repeated. Something about the way she said “myprince” irked him. Perhaps Meena was right. He did not want to make a snap judgment of this girl, but in less than a hand’s length on the sundial she had come across as thoroughly annoying. “Of course, Lady Lockwood. Though I’m sure you’ll find your way around soon enough.”
No matter that they had several staff members who could have easily shown her the way to the dining hall. He knew when graciousness was expected of him. “I’ll wait for you outside your room.”
“Ooh! Thank you!” She nearly danced out the door.
“Meena was right,” Onric said, hardly waiting until the girl was out of earshot. “I plan on never speaking to her again.”
Ian nodded, envious of the fact that his younger brother did not have to act like a mature fourteen-year-old crown prince.
“Have fun escorting her—” Onric started to taunt, but Ian quickly cut him off.
“Who’s that?” he said, distracting his brother as he gestured toward the window.
In the private courtyard just below the family room, a young girl stood next to a drowsy donkey. She was holding its reins in one hand, but her attention was fixed on the stone walls around her.
Ian squinted to get a better look at her upturned face. He did not recognize her, though he prided himself on knowing all the members of the palace staff. He wanted to be a kind and just ruler like his father.
The girl’s expression was difficult to read. She seemed both uncomfortable with her surroundings and also unimpressed.
“How should I know?” Onric replied, peering out the window. “Probably a new servant or farmer’s daughter dropping off vegetables for the kitchen.”
“If she was from a farm, she wouldn’t be in the private courtyard,” Ian pointed out.
“It’s just some girl.” Onric shrugged.
If she was a new servant, she was not acting like it. All the servants Ian had ever seen were either rushing around with focused intensity or chatting in a corner with their friends. This girl was standing in the center of the courtyard, not seeming to mind that there were people busily traversing it and that she was blocking their way.
“Maybe I should go talk to her and see if she’s lost,” Ian said.
Onric snickered. “Look at Ian on the chase, can’t resist a pretty face,” he chanted.
