Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(39)
Bertram looks crestfallen. I’m touched by their concern for me, though at the same time, I feel sorry for Katriona Bradshaw. It was the king’s idea that she move into the palace, and now they want her gone.
“Shall we go now?” I say, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
“Right.” Bertram offers his arm to Amelie. “We’d better get going if we want to get tickets for the show.”
Amelie hesitates before taking his arm, as primly as if she were a debutante. Bertram is positively glowing as he struts down the path leading away from the cottage. I have to look away to keep myself from bursting into laughter; they are such an adorable pair. If only Edward were here. We could make it a double date.
“So what’s this show you’re planning to see?” I ask, considering using this chance to slip away and give them some privacy together. Even a chaperone shouldn’t be accompanying them all the time.
“A pantomime.” Bertram glances at Amelie. “It premiered a month ago but we didn’t have time to see it. Wouldn’t want to miss it in case the company stops the production.”
“Have you been particularly busy lately?” I ask.
Bertram and Amelie look at each other. Interestingly, Bertram looks Amelie in the eye without blushing.
“I’ve been accompanying His Highness more frequently, ‘cause he wants to get away from the palace. And from her, I reckon.”
“Mabel and I had to adjust some of your clothes and have the tailors make new gowns for the other lady,” Amelie says. “She looks like you, but her measurements are not the same, and her taste in clothes is more...complicated. She constantly criticized the fashion I used to dress you in.” Amelie pauses, as if she cannot find the right words to say. Finally, she lets out a puff of air. “I wish you were back.”
“She will be,” Bertram says stoutly. “His Highness is too much a gentleman. If you ask me, I’d have ordered her pack her things straight away.”
“Not everything can work out through force and strength,” Amelie chides him. “We’d be glad—relieved—to have Princess Kat back, but there’s a proper way to do things.”
To avoid further discussion of the future, I change the subject. “Actually, I’ve been thinking of visiting Poppy when you go to the play. Really, I don’t mind—theatre isn’t my thing. You’ll have more fun without me.”
Bertram tries not to look too pleased at my suggestion. “If you wish, Princess Kat.”
Amelie, however, wrinkles her forehead. As usual, she is the cautious one. “But since we’re not on the palace grounds, His Highness will need you to keep an eye on her.”
“I’ll be fine,” I insist, deciding not to mention I had gone shopping alone a few days ago. “Nothing will happen while I am at Poppy’s. And I miss my best friend.”
Amelie hesitates. “You’ll let us accompany you to the door. And we’ll come back to fetch you after the play.”
“Done.”
* * *
During the times I was in Athelia, I’ve only taken the omnibus a few times—on the rare occasions I couldn’t have Van drive for me. Last time I took the omnibus downtown, it was crowded, stuffy and dirty. Passengers often shove you aside, and once I got poked by an umbrella. Luckily, Bertram dispels most trouble. His huge frame carves a wide path for us following close behind. A toothless old man was leering at Amelie, but he abruptly shut his mouth and looked away when Bertram sat next to her. I’ve a sudden urge to do a fist bump with him.
As the omnibus rumbles on the street, I can’t help thinking again that Bertram and Amelie look so cute together. He’s blushing and staring at the ground, while she crosses her arms and tries to act uninterested. I’ve got to get to Poppy’s house soon and let them have the chance to be alone.
I am greeted by the sound of babies wailing when the maid opens the door. She stares at me, dumbfounded. “Your… Your Highness? Is that you?”
“Could you please tell Poppy that Kat has arrived?” I say, deciding not to clarify that I am not princess. “Kat, not Katriona Bradshaw.”
She looks puzzled, but seeing Bertram and Amelie behind me, she hurries off. A moment later, a blur of gray charges towards me and two sticky arms loop me in a tight embrace.
“Kat! Oh my God, Kat! It’s really you! You came back!” Poppy leans back and gazes at me, her smile wide and radiant, but I detect a sign of exhaustion in the redness of her eyes. “Elle told me you returned by a miracle. Oh, I just KNEW you had to come back. You and His Highness are destined to be together.”
Amelie touches my elbow. “We’ll be back in the afternoon, Princess Kat.”
“Of course,” I smile at her and Bertram. “Have a wonderful time, you two.”
As Poppy ushers me into the sitting room, I tell her about my ‘chaperoning.’ She catches on quickly, as she also knows about Amelie and Bertram.
“So they finally are having an outing together,” she says, beaming. “Bertram must be overjoyed that his wish is coming true. But didn’t you say Amelie is against marriage? Why is she recently warming up to him?”
“I don’t know.” Amelie is good at hiding her feelings; I can’t remember when she became more receptive of Bertram’s advances. “Maybe he did something touching that made her open her heart.”