Page 8 of Love Letters & Lemon Drops

"I would not," Evelyn mutters.

The other princess rolls her eyes at her older sister. "Well, you've got me too," she says. "And this afternoon, we can take you down to the Winter Fair."

"It's loud, and there are a lot of people, but Arthur thinks you'll like it," Evelyn says.

"I'm used to that," I promise. "I've been to plenty of banquets."

"There'll be plenty more here," Veronica says. "Including the Solstice banquet."

"Arthur mentioned that," I respond.

"Ah good, he was supposed to."

"Have you had breakfast?" Evelyn asks, looking around as if trying to find evidence of it.

"I have." I look over at my aunt. "I'm not sure about the Duquesa."

"We can leave her to sleep," Veronica says. "Some tours don't need chaperones, unless you want her to come."

I want to say yes, but I still hesitate, it's just so different from what I'm used to back in Someil. I'm sure there are guards waiting to follow both princesses outside the door, but there's no chaperone with them now. I suppose in a way, they probably act like that for one another.

"I think Arthur was hoping that we could get to know one another," Veronica says. "You are going to be our new sister soon."

"That's true." And it's not like my aunt will need to have much of a tour of Falhaven Castle, this isn't about to become her home. "I'm sure my aunt will appreciate the chance to rest after such a long journey." A wave of confidence follows my proclamation. I don't need a chaperone to tour a castle with Arthur's sisters, nor do I particularly want one.

"All right, shall we?" Veronica gestures to the door, which I assume is my cue to follow her. I touch the snowflake necklacearound my neck. I wish it were Arthur taking me on a tour of the castle, but I suppose there'll be plenty of time for that later, and there's nothing wrong with getting to know his sisters.

"Do you know much about Falhaven Castle?" Evelyn asks me as we exit the room.

"Only what your brother has told me."

"I can imagine the kind of things Arthur has deemed fit to talk about," Veronica says, more than a hint of affection in her voice.

"He told me a lot about the history," I say. "That your great-great-grandfather built the castle."

"Well, he built the west wing," she responds. "The rest of the castle was there long before that."

"Except for the stables. Our father built those," Evelyn says.

"Mmm, true. Do you have a horse?" Veronica asks me.

"No. I know how to ride, but I never had much chance to in Someil. I have a cat though, Arthur encouraged me to bring her with me." It's only as I say it that I realise I have no idea if everyone else knows about that.

"I'm not surprised, Artie loves animals," she says in response. "You should see him with his horse."

"Brownfoot?" I check.

"You've talked about a lot in your letters," Evelyn says.

"I suppose so." I let out a shaky breath, feeling a little bit more reassured that he's been genuine in his letters. It seems that his sister isn't surprised by the fact we've been writing to one another or that he's been telling me real things about himself.

"I'm sure he'll introduce you to Brownfoot soon," Veronica says. "He never misses an opportunity to introduce people to his horse."

"And you say I'm the one with only one interest," Evelyn mutters under her breath.

"I don't. Not that much, anyway," Veronica denies. "So, we can give you a tour of the most important rooms in the castle, and then head down to the fair for lunch now that we've lost your chaperone."

"We can't do that," I protest, thinking of my aunt who wasn't so much lost as actively left behind.

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