Page 59 of Beguiled
I pressed my hands together, wishing I had my knife to defend myself, for I doubted this time I’d be so fortunate as to have a servant rise up to free me as the huntsman had done the last time the queen tried to have me murdered.
The door opened to reveal Lord Anise, one of Mother’s favorite young noblemen. “Your Highness,” he said with a bow. “The queen requests your presence at the banquet.”
“How kind of her.” While I might not understand her scheming, I did know she was never without an ulterior motive.
Lord Anise motioned for me to move ahead of him out the door and down the short passageway. As I stepped into the full light of the sconces, his eyes widened at the sight of me in all my glittering jewels.
“You look beautiful, Your Highness,” he said almost reverently.
I nodded but pressed my lips together. Perhaps the queen intended to show the people I was regal and grown up enough to be a contender for the throne. Would seeing me in such glory prove that her claims of my treason were true?
As I stepped through the arched doorway into the great hall, I was suddenly overcome with trepidation. Mikkel would see me without my veil for the first time.
Attention shifted to me and the conversation within the great hall lessened until only a few people were talking. I stared around the room, everywhere but at Mikkel. When I reached the few steps that led to the head table, I finally allowed myself to seek him out.
He was the handsomest man there. He’d taken care with his appearance, leaving his fair hair long and loose with a narrow plait that gave him a slightly rugged look. Although he’d shaven, he couldn’t dispense altogether with his scruffiness.
In conversation with a nobleman seated next to him, he hadn’t noticed me yet. When the nobleman glanced at me and ceased speaking midsentence, Mikkel gave me a cursory look, then reached for his goblet. He froze midway there, and his attention returned to me.
His eyes rounded, revealing beautiful silvery-blue mingled with awe. He jumped to his feet so quickly his chair toppled backward.
“Lords and ladies,” Lord Anise spoke from beside me. “I present to you Her Royal Highness, Princess Pearl.”
Across the room, benches scraped as people rose. They bowed and curtsied, but none of their expressions welcomed me. No one dared to show even the slightest happiness at seeing me, not when I was so despised by the queen.
I caught Mikkel’s gaze again, hoping for at least one friendly face amongst the crowd. But his brow had furrowed. The awe was gone, and instead his eyes sparked with anger.
Of course he wasn’t glad to see the real me after all this time. Not after I’d lied to him about what was beneath my veil.
As I reached the top step, he seemed to force himself into action, stalking toward me. I halted and waited for him to finish approaching, his footsteps echoing an ominous rhythm.
“Your Highness.” He bowed and then held out his arm.
“Your Highness.” I took his proffer, tucking my fingers into the crook of his elbow, trying not to let them shake.
He led me behind the table. “I trust you are well.”
“Yes, as well as can be.”
“I’m glad you are able to join the feast.”
Was he? He was looking straight ahead, his jaw flexing, his expression still unyielding.
I wished for a private moment to speak with him, but the queen must have orchestrated our first meeting in this public place so we would have no opportunity to confer with one another. What should I say? Should I apologize?
“I am heartily sorry,” I whispered.
He didn’t reply and instead pulled out my chair, standing aloof, waiting for me to sit before he pushed me in and took his place beside me.
As conversation began to resume around the great hall, I reached for my goblet and leaned closer to him. “Forgive me, Mikkel. Please.”
He stabbed his knife into a wedge of mutton and dropped the meat onto his trencher. “You deceived me.”
“I had to in the camp for the same reason you had to hide your identity. Everyone would have shunned me and sent me away.”
“You could have told me,” he hissed. “I would have kept your secret.”
I nodded and fiddled with the spoon next to my trencher, aware that almost everyone was still staring at me. I’d been accustomed to such attention growing up, but after the past year of living behind my veil and in seclusion on the island, the stares felt invasive.
