Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(34)

When I moved into the palace, there was even less need for me to shop—Amelie and Mabel took care of everything I need. Perhaps the only time I needed to buy something was Edward’s engagement gift, which was paid by the check I got from writing articles. How privileged I was when I arrived in Athelia. Now that I am a commoner, I realize how useless I am. If it weren’t for Edward, I might have starved, or at least led a pretty hard life.

If it weren’t for Edward…what can I do to earn money? Work as a governess? Would anyone hire me? But then, I wouldn’t know. Collecting eggs in the chicken coop isn’t a permanent solution.

As I stagger through the streets with my packages, my feet aching and my arms sore, something catches my eye. A young woman—two, in fact, are pasting handbills on the wall outside a shop. One of the women has honey blond hair. I’d recognize that shade anywhere.

“Elle.” The name falls from my lips.

My voice isn’t loud—I doubt she heard me—but she turns around. I panic for a second, wondering if this is the right time, but she has seen me, clutching my purchases and staring like an idiot.

Elle stares as well. She rubs her eyes, and then makes her way to me. “Pardon me, but…”

My arms are aching so much that I set my parcels on the ground. “It’s me, Elle. I’ve come back.”

She searches my face, which is devoid of makeup, and the plain gray gown I’ve borrowed from Mary. My hair is completely concealed in the kerchief. Compared to how I usually appear, beautifully dressed and styled thanks to Amelie, I must look like a drab sparrow.

“Kat?” Her voice is full of hesitation. “Is that really you?”

“I’m Kat.” I give her a tentative smile. “Not Katriona Bradshaw.”

“But I thought in your letter...”

“I survived.” I step closer and touch her arm. “Can we find some place to sit down? I’ve been walking since early morning and my legs feel like jelly.”

“Of course.” She seems dazed, and I can’t blame her. After believing that I was gone and some other woman took my place, to have me suddenly appearing in the streets, and looking nothing like the former princess, she must be shocked. Elle says something to her companion, and the young woman nods. “I’ll see you in half an hour.”

We enter the nearest pub. There aren’t many customers, possibly because it’s early afternoon and most people are still out at work. The tables look greasy, and the beer glasses look dusty, but at that moment I couldn’t care.

“How were you cured?” Elle says. Her large eyes rove over my face. “It’s been months since you disappeared, and I believed you were dead.”

Since I can’t bother to explain to her about the fairies, I tell her that a doctor in my world has cured me. Her eyes widen, but she accepts my explanation. “His Highness and Poppy mentioned that the world where you came from is marvelous. I’m so glad you found a cure there.”

“Edward and Poppy told you about my world?”

“After Poppy and I received your letters, we met up and asked His Highness about you. On our way to his office, we met Lady Katriona. Poppy called to her and she didn’t respond, as though she were a stranger. But she recognized me.” Elle looks down on her lap. “I think she resents me. She told me to get out of her sight.”

I understand. Katriona Bradshaw must hate Elle for inheriting most of the earl’s fortune, and also for indirectly causing Lady Bradshaw being ostracized from high society. Never mind that her mother had tried to commit murder in the first place.

“She’s the one who should be sorry,” I say firmly. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Lady Bradshaw did.”

“When did you come back?”

“A few days ago.” I decide to omit my adventure in Moryn—that would be too complicated. “I’m now living in the palace, but not with Edward, of course. I board with Amelie’s sister, who is in charge of the chicken coop. I help her collect the eggs and clean the coop.”

Her mouth falls open. “You’re working as a servant?”

“I had to help in some way,” I say. “And I had to have something to do.”

Our orders arrive. The beer is watery and the meat is burned, but as I’m starving, I don’t care. I attack the food with a fork, and also reflect that it’s a relief not having servants around me, watching how I eat. I don’t have to care about table manners, about the precedence, or which spoon goes with which fork.

Elle helps herself to the food with much more decorum. If anyone were to see us, they would identify Elle as a lady and I a rustic commoner. “His Highness must be overjoyed that you are back.”

“Both of us are. I never imagined that I could make it back.”

“But…” Elle puckers her forehead. “How are you going to get together again? Surely it must be difficult for His Highness to explain to others he wants to marry you. And what about Lady Katriona? Do you think she would agree to a divorce?”

“We’ll figure out a way, just like we did with all those problems in the capital.” I wipe my mouth with a napkin. “By the way, what are you doing outside? Those flyers you are putting up—what are they about?”

A shadow passes over Elle’s face. “Did you know that Princess College shut down?”