Page 31 of The Princess's Pet

“It’s healthy to try new things, to change one's routine, Amelia. We live in dangerous times, I wish to live while I can. I found a girl with blood that sings like no other, and so I took her for my pet. Why let pleasure pass us by?”

“I agree with your sentiment,” Lady Amelia answered, lifting her cup and tilting it slightly towards the Princess. “I would like to discuss the dangerous times we live in, but perhaps not in current company,” she continued.

“Pet.” The Princess turned to me, “You are free to explore the gardens of the manor. I’ll find you when we’re heading home.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered, standing from my chair. The Princess stood too and walked me toward a door in the sunroom that led to the gardens.

“Be good,” she instructed.

“Always, Ma’am,” I replied, smiling, and her eyes flashed briefly as she met my gaze, before shutting the door behind me.

I breathed in the spring air deeply. I knew, or assumed, that the Princess and her cousin were discussing the murder of the Queen and didn’t want me to overhear. I decided to distract myself and not think about the look of pain that flashed acrossthe Princess’s face when reminded of her mother, and how distressing I found that look on the Princess.

The gardens were truly well cared for. Tulips in every colour could be found and rhododendron taller than me. Each flower bed was well-manicured. I came across tea roses not yet in bloom, but the hybrid was so pretty. I reached out, touching the soil around the plants and humming to encourage the plants to bloom. I smiled as the pink rosebuds formed and bloomed wonderfully.

“That’s quite the talent.” A voice said, and I looked up across the flower bed to see a man dressed for gardening in an apron, pouches full with small tools, pruners, forks, and trowels. He rubbed his hands on the apron and walked over to me, holding out his hand to shake.

I accepted his hand. “I’m Thomas,” he said, yellow eyes glowing; he was clearly a pureblood shifter. “I’m head gardener, and I’d love to have someone like you on my team,” he told me.

“I’m Percy, pet of the Princess,” I introduced myself. He looked openly surprised.

“Ah, well, that means I won’t be able to hire you then,” he said, recovering from his surprise. “Is the Princess visiting?” he asked, and I nodded.

“You’re a pureblood?” I asked.

“Wondering why a pureblood shifter like me is working for Lady Amelia Borealis?” he asked, laughing.

“Exactly,” I answered.

“Ah, not all purebloods are noble,” he said, almost embarrassed. “And I needed a job, horticulture is kind of my thing, though I’d have to guess that it’s your thing too,” he said, smiling openly.

“Yeah, half-witch of the Flores coven,” I said in explanation, waving to myself.

“Ah, that explains your talent. Should I expect my tea roses to die out when their season is just meant to be beginning?” he asked, eyebrows raised in amusement.

“No, don’t worry, they’ll be bloomed for a few months longer than usual. All the beauty for double the time,” I told him.

“Now that is impressive,” he complimented. “Well, I have work to get back to, it was nice meeting you, come find me if you need anything,” he said pleasantly, nodding and smiling. He had bright eyes and dimples in his cheeks. He was quite pretty.

“Maybe I could help you, Thomas?” I offered. He paused in his steps and turned back to me.

“Yeah, actually, I’m a man down today, at the weekend everyone wants off, it’s just me working. You wouldn’t mind?” he asked.

“I’d love the opportunity to get soil under my nails,” I laughed in response.

“Well, come this way. I have crocosmia and gladiolus bulbs which have been soaked and ready for planting in time for summer blooms,” he told me.

“Sounds fun,” I answered, and he led the way to the flower bed we would be working in.

“The gardens here are lovely, you must work hard,” I commented as we planted together.

“A labour of joy, plus I live on the grounds in the servants’ quarters, so I never stop working,” he told me.

“But does it feel like work?” I asked playfully, throwing a clump of mud at him, he responded in kind, dipping his hand in the watering can and spraying water from his fingers at me.

“No, it doesn’t feel like work at all,” he answered, laughing.

“How long have you been here?” I asked curiously. He didn’t seem much older than me.

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