Kiss of Snow

15

When I glanced out of the window, I withheld a small gasp. It had been a few years since my last trip to the summer palace, but it seemed to have fallen into a level of disrepair. The stone no longer gleamed, and seemed to have a slightly green coating, as if it was growing a moss or mold. Our carriage rolled to a stop, and Keane dismounted and moved toward us.

“We can get out now.” I turned to Iris, but my comment was unnecessary—she already had her hand on her door to open it.

I stepped out, my hand in Keane’s, and his gloved fingers curled a little around mine to support me before he released his hold. The castle rose in front of me, the bleak windows nothing like the windows of home. Ivy had grown over some of the better features I remembered, and the whole place had an air of having been left alone for too long.

Iris wrinkled her nose. “Are you sure we’re in the right place?”

“Yes, we are, although it has…” I paused as a moment of sadness caught me. “Changed a little over the years.”

“Shall we go and see inside?” Iris gripped my hand.

I squeezed her hand back, but before I could reply, the front door of the castle creaked open, and an older woman stepped out.

“Oh, Your Majesty,” she cried. “Please accept all of my apologies. I didn’t hear the carriage. I would never leave you and Princess…” She hesitated. “My goodness, is this Princess Iris? My, how you’ve grown!” She stepped forward, and for a moment I thought she might reach out and touch my sister, but her arm dropped back to her side and she tossed her fly-away gray hair out of her eyes instead. “Had I known you would arrive so early, I would have arranged the staff to welcome you.”

“We made better time than anticipated. I don’t believe you’ve changed a bit, Grimelda.” I smiled warmly at the housekeeper. She’d been here on my last visit too, and Father had kept her to ensure the palace was taken care of, even after he dismissed most of the other staff.

She bobbed a belated curtsey. “I was very sad to hear about the King. Death. It’s a terrible business. And all of you girls still so young.” She shook her head, sorry gleaming in unshed tears in her eyes. “I remember when you girls were here the last time, and the palace fair sang with laughter and play. But listen to me carrying on, Your Majesty. Let me take you inside and show you to your rooms so you can get yourselves settled. You must both be tired after such a long journey.”

She turned and climbed two of the green-coated stone steps. I hesitated as I studied the exterior. White shone through in the patches scuffed by feet. I’d ask Keane the best course of action on restoring the castle to its former beauty. I didn’t want to think of it quietly decaying while no one used it.

Iris pulled impatiently at my hand. “Come on.”

Grimelda glanced over her shoulder. “Right this way, Princess Iris. There’s so much for you to explore here. Your sister might even wish to rest for a while. There’s to be a ball tonight.”

My stomach contracted. “A ball? Already? But why?”

Grimelda laughed, and the sound grated like she hadn’t done that for a while. She had my sympathies for the lonely life she must live out here by herself, with only a few other staff and guards. “To introduce you to your suitors, of course.”

As if on cue, Iris poked her head around the cracked and faded wood door. “Your suitors are already here,” she called in a stage whisper so loud that half the kingdom must have heard it.

“Are they all here?” I asked Grimelda, hoping she’d say no so we could delay the introductions to the others.

But she nodded and swept her hair back again, adjusting a pin to keep it in place as she led me into the castle. “Yes, Your Majesty. Everything is proceeding to plan.”

I groaned and silently cursed Dahlia for her latest scheme. Suddenly having seven suitors didn’t suit me at all. I had other important matters to worry about, like if Queen Riala was really trying to steal the throne from me.

“I’ve lit all of the fires to take the chill away, Your Majesty,” Grimelda said.

“Thank you.” I nodded in acknowledgement as I took in the entrance hall. In my memory it was grand, but in current reality, the grandeur had faded almost to the point of loss. The rugs on the floor had more threads than pattern and a thin layer of dust seemed to cover a lot of the ornaments and decorative touches. There was also a large mirror I didn’t remember, with an ancient-looking silver filigree frame, and it was the only thing that seemed to have been cleaned recently. Poor Grimelda really needed more staff to help her.

She paused, her hand on the balustrade as it swept down the grand staircase. “Oh, look at me, Your Majesty, marching ahead like I own the place. You must forgive me. I’m so used to being on my own here. Would you prefer to lead the way?”

A pang of sympathy echoed through me for this woman’s lifestyle. Once I returned to Winton Castle, I’d ask what funds were available to look after this palace and make her accommodations more comfortable. I had a duty to maintain the estate for future generations, after all—although that wasn’t a subject I wanted to think too hard on, when I was pretty much being put out to tender for seven men I’d never met.

“Not at all.” I gestured Grimelda forward. “Please. You know the way, and I can’t remember where everything is after so long.”