Page 10 of A Cake of Cherries and Charm

“I’ve come to escort you and your mother to supper to make sure you know the way,” he said, seeming suddenly to realize that she was still standing in her doorway.

“Oh.” She nodded, and as she did, she saw Frederick standing beside Snow at her door, beaming down at her as she took his arm. “Again, that’s… that’s kind of you.” She paused. “My mother–”

“Is our next stop.” He held out his arm, and as there was nothing else to do, she took it, trying not to panic as it dawned on her that she was taking the arm of Dulcinia’s crown prince.

As soon as her arm was resting on his, he led her to her mother’s door down the hall. And as he had done with Rosie, he knocked on her mother’s door. But when her mother answered, she was shaking and pale.

“Good evening, madame,” he said kindly. “May I escort you to supper?”

But Rosie didn’t wait to hear her answer. “Mother!” she exclaimed. “What’s wrong?”

“I… I’m so sorry, Your Highness!” her mother said in a faltering voice. “I’m afraid I’m not… I’m not feeling well. Not, at least, well enough to attend tonight.”

“Are you ill?” Rosie demanded, letting go of the prince’s arm and touching her mother’s face.

“Just… just tired from… from the journey.” Her mother gave her a weak smile. “You go, my love. Take care of your sister. I’ll feel much better when I have rested.”

Rosie wanted very much to argue with her mother, and she was sorely tempted to demand to stay with her. But then again, her mother hadn’t traveled farther than their village since their father had died. Everything they had done since arriving at the palace–attending meals with strangers and being the center of attention–was everything her mother feared.

Since they’d left their cottage, Rosie had feared this very thing.

“Should I send for the physician?” Prince Jonathan asked. When Rosie turned, she was surprised to see that he was addressing her rather than her mother.

“I think she might feel better if she could have some restorative tea… and some lavender,” Rosie said slowly. When her mother nodded profusely, she turned back to the prince. “If that’s possible?”

He nodded. “Of course. As soon as I see a servant, I’ll send some down.”

A moment later, her mother’s door was shut tightly once again, and Rosie found herself walking the halls of the castle alone with the crown prince. Snow and Frederick had already gone.

After a moment of walking, Prince Jonathan broke the quiet. “Are the rooms of your suite to your liking?”

“Oh, they’re wonderful.” Rosie smiled. “I didn’t know such luxury existed.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He glanced down at her. “From what my brother tells me, I can only assume all of this change came as quite a shock to your family.”

Rosie chuckled. “That’s an understatement. One day, we were in the same cottage we were born in, doing chores and walking the forest, and the next day, my sister was betrothed to a prince, and he was sweeping us all away.”

They turned a corner.

“I’m sure you will miss it. Your old life, I mean,” he said.

Rosie sighed. “I already do.”

“What do you miss about it?”

“The work,” she answered without thinking.

He paused and looked at her, his eyes widening. “Truly?”

Rosie met his confused gaze before laughing a little. “I suppose that seems a silly thing to say, but I can promise you, Your Highness, that I am terrible at being indolent. I spent half the day pacing my rooms trying to decide what to do.”

“You needn’t hide in your suite, you know,” he said seriously. “The castle is your home. You’re not a prisoner.”

Rosie shook her head wistfully. “I hope to feel that way soon.” Then she threw her hand over her mouth and gasped. “Oh, Your Highness! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to imply–”

“Please don’t apologize,” he said in a grave voice. “You can feel however you wish to feel.”

Rosie nodded, but she could feel her face heat with embarrassment. She mentally kicked herself as they turned down yet another hall. Hopefully, they would reach the dining hall soon, she thought as they began to descend a set of stairs.