Chapter 13
1430 Words
"It's been wonderful," Warren said, then he frowned pensively. "Though I have to admit, I'm starving."
“Oh, I can fix that. Just take some of the food I arranged…and it’s all gone.” She smiled up at Warren. “I might still be able to fix this if you’re feeling adventurous?”
Warren considered her for a second, then said, “Okay.”
Eiley stood up with a bounce, then kicked Ronan’s foot. “You’ll escort Annabelle back to her room?”
“That’s not necessary!” Annabelle blurted.
“Nonsense. It’s fine. Whenever you’re ready, Annabelle.”
“Thank you, Ro.” Eiley said, turning towards the door. “Let’s go.”
At the door, Eiley peaked over her shoulder to make sure Warren was following her, and she was not disappointed. Warren walked into the hallway, but Eiley stopped him with a hand on his elbow, keeping him close to the wall. She held a finger to her lips and whispered, “We can’t get caught.”
He turned to her with a confused look. “By whom?”
Eiley tilted her head towards Thomas, stationed down the hall with a few other guards, then snuck in the opposite direction before Warren could ask more questions. She turned a corner, then quickly wedged her fingers behind a portrait. The wall swung out behind the frame, revealing a passageway. Eiley pulled Warren in behind her and closed the door, leaving them in the dark.
“Princess Eiley, why–”
“Shh!” She leaned in close to him and whispered. “You have to be quiet! Sound echoes in the secret passage ways.”
“But–”
“Quiet!” Eiley hissed, suppressing a giggle.
Warren leaned in closer until his stubble brushed against Eiley’s cheek. “But why do you have to sneak around at all?”
Her breath tickled his ear as she whispered, “Isn’t this half the fun?”
She didn’t wait for him to respond. She grabbed his hand and started off down the passageway. Stumbling in the dark, Warren gripped her fingers tightly and followed. She stopped abruptly, and Warren crashed into her back, then wrapped his arm around her for balance.
“What’s wrong?” he whispered, not pulling away.
She leaned her head back on his shoulder to look up at him. “Listen,” she whispered. “You can hear the guard’s patrol.”
Footsteps were retreating in the distance.
“Isn’t this a security concern?”
Eiley laughed softly. “No one knows about these passages. Except me, Ronan, maybe a few others. And now you.” She could sense him grimacing in the dark. “Anyone would have to get inside the castle in the first place to make use of these halls.”
At that news he relaxed. “So they’re just for you to get up to mischief?”
“Precisely.” She lingered a moment longer, even though the guards had long since retreated. Then, with a startled cough, she pressed a hidden handle, and the wall in front of them inched open. Warren recognized this as part of the great hall where he’d been greeted earlier that day. In the dim candlelight, Eiley motioned for him to follow her towards the dining hall, and he trailed after her.
She motioned again for him to stay quiet, then led him through a door to her family’s private dining room. “My father likes to have breakfast as a family every morning. I understand this is fairly uncommon for a royal family?”
Her voice was a fairly normal volume now, and Warren copied her tone. “I don’t know that I’ve ever shared a meal with my father without some noble or another present for it.” He looked sad as he looked around the room. Eiley was about to say something, but she decided against it, and the moment passed.
“This way,” she whispered, taking his hand again. “What time is it?”
Warren pulled a watch out of his pocket. “Half past two.”
“Perfect, the pastries are fresh out of the oven.”
She opened a door, and a swell of fresh baked bread wafted over them. She rushed down the staircase towards the smell, and Warren followed her eagerly.
“This is incredible!” he said, taking a deep breath that made his mouth water.
“I know,” she said, grinning. Eiley picked up two tea cups and dropped a pinch of looseleaf into each and added hot water from a kettle hanging over the fire.
Warren held up a hand and said, “Oh, I couldn’t possibly have tea at this hour.”
“Do you trust me?” Warren eyed her suspiciously in response, so she continued. “Okay, it’s herbal tea.” When his face didn’t register this, she added, “It won’t keep you up. Herbal tea is relaxing.”
“Promise?” When she nodded, he said, “Okay,” and took the cup from her hand.
“And one last thing…” Eiley opened a warm cabinet, revealing trays of steaming rolls. She grinned wider, picked up two, then sat down at the table by the fire.
Warren sat down on the bench across from her, and she pushed one of the rolls in front of him.
“Have you ever had a chocolate croissant?” She took a sip of her tea, looking up at him through her eyelashes.
His eyes widened. “That’s what this is?” He eagerly picked up the bread and said, “I’ve had them brought to us at our castle, but never fresh from the ovens.”
“Try it!” Eiley ordered him. She watched his expression with excitement.
Warren carefully ripped off a corner of the croissant, and placed it in his mouth. His eyes closed at the taste and he sighed happily.
Eiley giggled. “Better fresh?”
“God, much better!” Warren took another bite. “How do you ever eat anything else?”
Eiley took a bit of her own roll. “The only thing keeping me in line is a strong desire not to run out of chocolate.”
Warren met her eye, “I see that’s only barely keeping you in line. What with the secret passageways and sneaking off to the kitchens to steal tomorrow’s bread? I can only imagine what else you get up to when no one is looking.”
Eiley was taken aback, but his expression was warm and inviting. “I don’t mind rules, exactly. I just like knowing they can be broken if I want to.”
“Just for fun?” he asked.
“Exactly!” she sighed. “I have a wonderful life here, and breaking rules just lets me prove to myself that it is mine.” It was the first time she had said the words aloud, and she surprised herself by saying it to him.
Warren traced the fine bones in the back of Eiley’s hand where it was resting on the table. “Your choices don’t have to be in opposition to the people looking out for you, you know. Most of these rules likely have your best interest at heart.”
Eiley considered his words, but they only served as a reminder of what he was doing here in the first place. That he was only here for an arranged engagement that neither of them had chosen. She snatched her hand back and clutched her teacup, suddenly cold. “You never want to rebel against everything being decided for you?” she asked, unable to look up at him.
She heard him shift in his seat, and delay his response with a long drink of tea. “I have a duty to my people,” he said in a measured tone. “It should be an honor to do what is right for the greatest number of my citizens.”
When she looked up at him again, his expression was closed off. Any warmth between them moments ago had fled. “But what do you want for yourself?” she asked him.
“I want to be an honorable prince worthy of becoming their king.” With that, he stood up. “I think it’s time we should go.”
Eiley stood up too quickly and nearly tripped on the bench. “Yes, I agree.” She fled from the room, not waiting to see that he followed.
- Writer
