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Royally Entitled

By Melody Delgado

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Chapter One
Miss Anika Penning glanced down from the top of the mulberry tree she’d climbed and stole a glimpse of Prince Valdemar riding past her on his white stallion. She held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t look up and catch her spying on him.
“Anika, we’re leaving,” her father hollered from the back porch.
Botheration! She’d told her parents she wasn’t going to the fair with them.
As Prince Valdemar spurred his horse and dashed back and forth along the palace grounds bordering Anika’s property, she realized she wouldn’t be ablet to emerge from the tree without being seen by him. But maybe, if she hurried, she could climb halfway down and then scurry off while he rode away in the opposite direction.
She began making her descent from branch to branch while Finn, their ten-year-old stable boy, gazed up at her from the ground below.
“Oh there you are, Miss Penning,” he called out to her. His clothing was stained with jam, and his hair was a mass of blond curls that hadn’t seen a brush in days. “Your father’s been searching for you.”
“Tell him to leave without me,” she whispered, putting a finger to her lips. “I’m not going.”
“What’s that?” Finn shouted, just as Prince Valdemar rode by again. “You’ll have to speak up. I can’t hear what you’re saying if you whisper.”
Was the boy thickheaded, or was he purposely trying to thwart her?
“Tell my father not to wait for me,” she said.
“He is waiting for you,” Finn hollered. “But don’t worry. Your mother said she needed another minute or two.” He strode towards the house.
Drat! He’d misunderstood her. “Finn! Wait!”
“We are waiting,” he said, glancing back at her over his shoulder. “But since you’re going, I’ll stay behind to help with the chores.”
Anika opened her mouth to correct him, but he ran off before she could utter another word. Now she’d have to hurry. Her father would just keep sending people to search for her if she tarried.
Waiting until the prince’s horse galloped off towards the palace, she climbed down to the lower branches. When she jumped from the bottom branch to the ground she landed in a large pile of sticky, wet, mulberries. She slipped, tried to keep her footing, but fell face forward right into another huge mound of moist purple fruit.
“Botheration,” she muttered, leaning up on her elbows. Her hands were stained with purple juice, so was her dress. She raked a hand across her face and ripped a gooey purple mulberry from her cheek, as a pair of gleaming black leather boots strode towards her, and a horse whinnied from a few feet away.
No no no!
She maneuvered herself into a sitting position and dared to look up.
A tall, young man with long, straight, copper-colored hair stood over her. Prince Valdemar, trying to stifle a laugh, extended a hand to help her up. “I’ve always found it difficult to climb trees while wearing a gown and silk slippers,” he said with a smirk. “Why don’t you try to stand? Then we can determine whether or not to fetch a doctor.”
Anika remained where she was, sitting in the sludge, staring up at him, unable to speak. Good thing she hadn’t fallen far enough to be badly hurt. It was her pride that was wounded, that was all.
She pushed off the ground while he took hold of her hand and pulled her to a standing position. Staggering forward a few steps, she felt a bit off balance at his touch. Maybe she had injured herself somehow.
He furrowed his brows as he watched her stumbling about. “Perhaps we should get help.”
Once she stepped away from the mulberries, and was on firm, un-littered ground, her walking returned to normal. “No need,” she said. “It was just the berries. They’re slippery when squished.”
A small laugh escaped from him. “Ah, that might be a good thing to keep in mind for future endeavors.” He surveyed the tall branches towering above him. “Do you often climb trees?”
Anika glanced from the top of his blue velvet cap, to his creamy white linen tunic, and down to his polished leather boots. His grooming was impeccable. Several servants had probably helped him dress. He even smelled like limes.
If she were to admit that she did partake of such unfeminine activities as climbing trees, he might be correct in assuming that she liked fishing and hunting as well. These pursuits didn’t leave her smelling anything like fresh fruit. But better to be honest, she decided.
“Well, uh, yes, I’m afraid I’ve not yet outgrown my desire for such pursuits.”
“How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
“Interesting …” He raised his eyebrows then glanced around at the flowers and plants surrounding them. “Well, it’s certainly a nice day to be out of doors.”
Was he just being kind by staying and chatting with her, or was he always so amiable? Perhaps he wanted to alleviate her embarrassment by making it seem as if falling out of a tree and landing in a pile of mulberries was a normal everyday occurrence.
Squinting at her, he was quiet for a moment. “I don’t believe we’ve met. Allow me to introduce myself. Valdemar Dresden, at your service.” He bowed elegantly. “And to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?”
“Oh, uh,” Anika’s hands began smoothing the old brown linen dress she’d worn in order to blend into the tree. But when she realized there was nothing she could do to improve her appearance, she stood tall and curtsied. “Miss Anika Penning. Thank you for your kind assistance. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to help you when you fall.”
The prince smirked and choked back another laugh.
Anika folded her arms across her chest. “Do you mock me because, in your ignorance, you think you won’t ever need anyone’s help, or because you assume that someone like me would never be able to assist you with something you might need assistance with?” Her voice grew faster and louder as she spoke.
He stared at her, wide-eyed, as if she were a six-headed dragon.
“We’re leaving, Anika!” her father called.
Prince Valdemar backed away from her. “I do believe that’s my cue to depart.” He hopped back on his horse, and rode off before she could utter another word.
She chided herself. He’d been kind, for goodness’ sake. But she just had to put her foot in it and let her temper get the best of her.
“Anika!”
Botheration! Her father was waiting and there she stood, idle, mulling over her conversation with a stranger.
She rushed to the well in the back yard, buried her hands in a bucket of water, and cleaned up as best she could. Then she grabbed her hat from the ground and raced around the house to the front lawn.
Mr. Penning sat atop the box of their carriage, grasping the horses’ reins.
“I’m sorry, Father, but I won’t be able to join you.” Anika donned her felt hat, and adjusted the brim to block out the morning sun.
The beige color of his farmer’s hat and tunic blended into his skin, making him look old and tired. He was in sore need of a day off. “If that’s what you want,” he answered. “But remember, the agricultural fair comes but once a year.”
“Please go enjoy yourself, Father, you’ve earned it. I’ll stay behind and tend to the animals.”
Anika’s mother rushed out of the house wearing a crisp, green, linen dress. Her brown hair had been expertly braided and encircled atop her head, like a crown. “Pray for our cider to win first place at the fair,” she said, hurrying past Anika and climbing into the waiting carriage. When she leaned out the window to wave goodbye, she caught sight of Anika’s stained dress and frowned. “What happened this time? Never mind, I don’t want to know. How on earth can we trust you to stay home alone, if this is how you’ve decided to start the day?”
“Westlowe is just a short distance away. You’ll be back well before supper. What could go wrong before —”
“Lady Sarah! Wait!” Finn dashed down the front steps, clutching a sturdy leather pouch, and handed it to Anika’s mother.
“You found my purse!” Lady Sarah reached inside it, grabbed a copper penning, and handed it to Finn. “Here is your reward.”
Finn beamed, placed the coin in his pocket, and ran off, while Mr. Penning whipped the horses into motion.
A horse-drawn wagon carrying kegs of apple cider rolled slowly behind. The farmhands, Bertram and Victor, sat on the perch, while Una, the housekeeper, and Inga, the cook, sat in the rear amidst the straw, keeping watch over the precious barrels of juice.
“I didn’t have time to gather the eggs, Miss Penning.” Una said, picking hay off of her black linen dress with her long thin hands.
“Do not fret,” Anika said. “Finn offered to stay behind and help with the chores. If he doesn’t get to it, I promise, I will.”
“Where is that good-for-nothing, anyway?” Inga scolded. “I doubt you’ll get much help from him!” Her double chin shook and her gray hair tumbled out of her white cap. “We all know he’s eating us out of house and home as we speak. Stable boy my foot, lazy hanger-on more like. He likely snatched Lady Sarah’s purse, and then hid it, so he could look the hero and gain a reward when it was found.”
Anika stifled a laugh. Inga could well have been right.
The wagon picked up speed. “We’ll have everything sorted out by the time you get back,” Anika said, waving.
Once the carriages rolled past the iron gates, Anika rushed to the barn. “Finn!” she shouted. “Time to help with the chores.”
No answer. Botheration! For weeks she’d been waiting for some free time so she could ready her clothes for the ball, and instead, there she was, in a stench-filled barn, trying to maneuver her way through the dung-littered ground.
She hurried to feed the pigs and sheep then rushed to the chicken coop and filled a basket with eggs. She sighed wearily when she discovered heavy udders beneath their white cow, but gathered a pail and a three-legged stool.
As she sat pulling and squeezing Blossom’s heavy underbelly, she was tempted to brood over Finn’s laziness, but she remembered her mother asking her to pray for their cider to win first place at the fair, so she sent up a silent prayer asking God to work on their behalf.
When she finished milking Blossom, she noticed Finn’s shovel resting against a wall of the barn. She trudged over to the nearest horse and checked its stall. Not a bit of work had been done. “Finn!” she hollered.
He took his time strolling out from a stall further down, holding a butter cookie in his grimy hands.
Anika’s blood boiled. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling for you.”
“You’re here.” He bit into his cookie and munched. “What you be needing my help for?”
“Oh no you don’t.” Anika placed her hands on her hips. “I’ve been helping with the chores so Father and the servants can take the day off, but you’ve got to clean out the horses’ stalls like you always do.”
Finn swallowed the last bite of biscuit. “And what will you be doing?”
Insolent child! As if she were accountable to him. “I’ve got more than enough of my own work to do, thank you.”
“Oh of course you do. The ball is but a week away, and rumors be flying that Prince Valdemar himself might go.” Finn made kissing sounds with his lips. “And look at you. Ha! You’re right. It’ll take loads of work to get you ready to be around any man, let alone a prince.” Finn guffawed, pointing at the purple stains all over Anika’s clothing. “Is that why you was spying on him? So you can see what he looks like all grown up and then run up to him and beg him for a dance?” He folded his hands and held them beneath his chin. “Please, Prince Valdemar, dance with me, pick me,” he said in a high-pitched voice.
“Enough already, you’ve made your point.” She grabbed the shovel and handed it to him.
“At your service, Your Royal Highness,” Finn said, bowing and mocking her.
Anika rushed to her bedroom to change. Then she gingerly placed her ball gown atop a basket of dirty clothes, and lugged the gown and all her laundry down the long staircase.
Though the dress was one of her mother’s old castoffs it was made of pink satin, and its creamy white lace panels needed to be treated with the utmost care. It still needed a quick wash to freshen it up. But it had to dry, get altered to fit her, and then pressed to perfection. She didn’t like wearing frilly dresses, but she couldn’t show up for the ball wearing one of her usual faded frocks. Besides, it would be a welcome change to dress up for a special occasion.
Una, their housekeeper, had always done the wash, but Anika had taken to scrubbing her personal items herself, along with her sheets and coverlet. There was something disconcerting about Una touching her lace-trimmed knickers and scratchy petticoats, one moment, and then calling her “Miss Penning” a few minutes later.
When Anika reached the kitchen, she placed her laundry in a metal tub, washed everything with goose grease soap then hung it all out to dry on the branches of some shrubs growing behind the barn where they’d not be disturbed.
Her back ached from her efforts but since her chores were completed, she went for a leisurely stroll through the rows of sweet-smelling apple trees, which grew in the orchard. A warm breeze swept through the deep green leaves, while puffy white clouds floated along the powder blue sky. Bees buzzed near the fruit that had fallen onto the leaf-covered ground below, and birds whistled overhead. It was a perfect September day.
Listening to the sounds of nature made Anika’s fingers ache for a few rounds of target practice with her crossbow. She grabbed some rotten apples from the ground, ran around to the other side of the house, and lined them up along the top of a wooden fence. Then she rushed inside and up the stairs, snatched the weapon from beneath her bed, and wandered back outside.
Anika loaded a bolt, raised her bow, aimed, and pulled the trigger. The bolt pierced the center of the apple, sending it sailing several feet before it fell to the ground. All but three of the remaining apples met the same fate. Even with little time to practice, she hadn’t lost her touch.
The errant bolts rested near the edge of the fence. She wandered over to collect them, but froze when she bent to pick them up. Suddenly, the air began to smell like a cake that had been left in the oven too long and had become charred and blackened. Something was burning.
She threw down her weapon and ran around the perimeter of the house, searching frantically for the source of the smell. When she reached the orchard, she held her hand to her mouth, and gasped. The trees were engulfed in bright red flames!

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