Ellie and the Prince (Faraway Castle #1)(31)

“He didn’t look perfectly normal when you brought him to the dock, girl,” Kerry Jo observed with a smirk. “He looked lovesick.”

Ellie didn’t know how to react, but she knew her friends could read her face no matter what she did or said.

Kerry Jo rose and picked up her tray. “I’ll see you all later. Devon asked me to watch a meteor shower with him from the docks tonight. Are any of you going?”

Ellie and Rosa shook their heads.

“Maybe,” Jeralee said, waving a carrot stick. “See you later.” She pulled her short legs up on the bench, crossing them tailor-style, and grinned at Ellie. “So your prince looked lovesick, did he?” She snapped off a bite of carrot and munched noisily.

Ellie rolled her eyes. “Kerry Jo has love on the brain.”

Jeralee swallowed and waved the carrot again. “Point granted, but she’s not the only person who’s noticed how he keeps appearing wherever you are.”

“He does have a talent for getting himself into trouble when you’re near.” Rosa looked both amused and concerned. She leaned forward slightly to say, “You must be careful, Ellie. You’re good at hiding your feelings, but Madame Genevieve is no fool. And it sounds as if your prince is as transparent as a greenhouse.”

Ellie focused on the little vase between Rosa’s hands: The carnation’s petals were now vivid pink, and the fern looked fresh cut.

“Would you marry the prince if his family disinherited him?” Jeralee seemed genuinely curious. “He is handsome and seems like a great guy, but his country is so different from Adelboden. What could he do to support a family? Most of these princes are layabouts.”

“Omar isn’t,” Ellie said quickly. “He is a mathematician and has nearly finished his university studies. He works very hard, and he could get a job or teach anywhere, on any continent. Besides, I can work hard too.”

Rosa looked at Jeralee. “Omar, she calls him.”

Jeralee shrugged. “I told you, she’s been gone on him for years.”

Ellie sat back on the bench, her face flaming. “But this discussion is ridiculous. No prince would marry me.”

There was a pause, and she noticed her friends watching something behind her. Rosa murmured, “Oh no!”

“What?” Ellie started to turn just as someone stepped over the bench beside her and sat down. Someone who smelled very nice and wore a t-shirt and faded jeans. Someone with intense eyes and a dangerous smile.

“Hello, Ellie. You did not imagine your evil deeds would go unpunished, I hope?”

Ellie’s face went hot. “Prince Briar!” She had entirely forgotten him. “What are you doing here?”

“Guests do not visit the staff cafeteria. Ever.” The statement might have carried more weight had Jeralee not spoken in a breathless tone.

“Ah, but they do, as you witness, fair maiden, for I am a guest,” Briar responded, and Jeralee’s face turned red. Ellie could not recall ever seeing her cheeky friend blush before.

The prince then turned to Ellie, his gaze accusing. “I scooped up that stinking blob and dumped it into an empty cage like you told me to, and it came back to life. You did not warn me of this, and I believe I lost at least a year off my life, along with terrifying several brownies with my screams.”

Ellie maintained a straight face. “The poor brownies!”

“Yes, well, they might recover eventually. Then a withered gray creature popped in and cussed me out with no regard for my sensitive royal feelings. The brownies tried desperately to hush him and finally wrapped him in what appeared to be a tablecloth before hauling him away. Still swearing, mind you.”

Ellie gave up the fight and laughed. “That must have been Geraldo the hobgoblin. He has no regard for class or rank or species.”

Briar crossed his arms over his chest, lowered his chin, and gave her a straight look between thick lashes. “I took two showers before the sulphur smell faded to bearable levels. Did you ever intend to come and relieve me, or am I doomed to feed greens and carrots to those ravenous beasts for all eternity?”

Ellie sent him a penitent look. “I don’t know how I could have forgotten you and the sprites, but I truly did. Did you really keep feeding them all day?”

“They are insatiable. The brownies kept me supplied. They felt sorry for me, I believe.” His eyes twinkled.

Hearing a tiny sigh, Ellie glanced at Jeralee, who stared at the young prince with stars in her hazel eyes. “Oh, Your Highness, may I introduce my friends Jeralee and Rosa?” She indicated each in turn. “This is Crown Prince Briar of Auvers.”

Ellie thought he winced slightly at the title before he smiled graciously and addressed each girl by name. When he said, “The pleasure is mine,” Ellie believed he meant it. What a charmer! She noticed a certain coolness on Rosa’s part but set this down to shyness. Or perhaps she viewed him as a ladykiller in no need of encouragement.

“Your Highness,” Ellie said, “I do thank you for feeding the cinder sprites today and for enduring horrible smells and sights and sounds. I should run to the ballroom and clean up the mess, I suppose.”

When she stood up, he rose along with her, excused himself to her friends, and stepped over the bench. “I’ll be glad to help you carry cages or whatever you need.”