Page 72 of Disenchanted
“That summer I met you, all I was seeking was a brief escape from this castle. I have no words to tell you how miserable my existence here had become.”
“Oh, poor little prince! Forced to live in a palace with all the luxuries you could desire while so many people in this kingdom are grateful for a crust of stale bread and to be spared being driven into exile merely for the crime of being poor.”
He flinched but continued, “I believe you are wise enough to understand, Ella, that there are many kinds of prisons and no matter how luxurious, a cage is still a cage. From the time I was a small child, music has been the great passion and consolation of my life, especially after my mother died. My only happiness came during those hours I practiced my lute and even dared to compose my own songs.
“But my love of music was scorned by my father and my brothers, especially Florian. Lute playing is not deemed manly enough for a prince of the royal house of Helavalerian. I was ordered to forget my music and spend more time practicing withmy sword and lance. I had to hide my lute to prevent it from being destroyed. Florian would have been too happy to do so. He mocked my musical abilities, said it was a good thing that I was not obliged to make my living as a minstrel. I would either starve or be stoned to death for inflicting such an assault upon people’s ears.”
Ryland sighed. “I knew I could not defy my father forever and Florian had shaken my confidence in my music. When I disguised myself as Harper and stole into town that day, all I was seeking was an audience. I needed to know if Florian was right or if I did possess the ability to share the magic of all those notes that played in my head, if somehow, I could touch other hearts, even just a little with what beat so strong in mine.”
“You could. You touched mine,” I admitted before I could stop myself. I amended, “That is— you were very good. I enjoyed your performance. So did everyone else in the village square that day.”
“I didn’t care about everyone else. From the moment I looked across that square and your eyes met mine, I played for you alone. I wanted to spend the rest of my days singing only for you.”
“Stop! Just stop!” I flung up one hand to fend off these protestations that I found both false and painful.
Ryland ignored me and rushed on, “I loved you so much, Ella, enough to cherish this romantic dream that we could just run away and share a life together. But word carried back to my father about me sneaking out of the palace to woo some Midtown girl. I was warned in no uncertain terms to stay away from you, that there would be dire consequences if the king ever discovered your identity. My father would never tolerate one of his sons marrying a commoner—”
“Wait,” I interrupted. “Do you mean the same father who is giving this lavish ball so that his son and heir to the kingdom might select a bride from among any of his subjects?”
Ryland bent closer to me, speaking in low and urgent tones. “You are surely far too clever to believe that nonsense, Ella. You must see this ball for the sham that it is. My father would never permit his beloved heir to marry anyone less than a wealthy princess or aristocrat and may the fairies help whatever poor woman ends up with my brother as her bridegroom. There is so much that you do not know about Florian, Ella. He—”
“Ah, brother, there you are.” The silky voice cut Ryland off in mid-sentence. We sprang apart as we were joined by the very man he warned me against.
Ryland paled although there was nothing alarming in Prince Florian’s aspect. I could not tell how much he might have overheard what Ryland had been saying, but Florian’s smile was affable, almost tender as he regarded his younger brother.
“Father wondered where you had gone and sent me to find you and check if you were all right.”
“You have done so, and you can see I am fine,” Ryland said. “You can go report back to Father and leave me alone.”
“My dear brother—”
“I am not your dear brother,” Ryland growled.
Florian heaved a pained sigh. “Father and I both hoped you would endeavor to enjoy yourself this evening and not hide away as you usually do. You need to mingle with our guests, and no matter how bewitching this young lady is”— Florian directed a smile toward me— “you should not be keeping her out here on this drafty balcony when I am sure she would rather be dancing.”
Prince Florian accorded me a graceful bow. “My lady, would you honor me with the next—”
“No!”
The vehemence of Ryland’s outburst startled both Florian and me.
“My dear brother, you must allow the young lady to speak for herself—” Florian began but he was cut off by Ryland’s snarl.
“I already told you no. You just stay away from her. Do you hear me?”
Florian shook his head, giving his brother a patronizing smile. “Tsk, tsk. This display of jealousy is most unbecoming, Ry. I only want one dance with the lady. I am not intending to steal her away forever. Unless the lady wishes it?”
Florian held out his hand to me, raising one eyebrow in a teasing fashion.
Before I could react, Ryland charged his brother. I had never known the man I had thought of as Harper to behave in a jealous or possessive fashion. He had never been anything but kind and gentle. I watched, stunned, as Ryland tried to hurl Florian away from me.
Florian was a full head taller and stronger. I suspected he could have easily knocked Ryland down. Instead, he sought to restrain Ryland by seizing his wrists. Somehow in the scuffle, one of Ryland’s embroidered gauntlets came off.
Not just his glove, but his entire right hand!
I gasped at the sight of the gauntlet that Florian still clutched. A carved wooden hand protruded from the end of the velvet cuff, the leather straps that had attached the device to Ryland’s arm now dangling free. I caught a glimpse of an ugly stump before Ryland shook down the sleeve of his frock coat to conceal it.
Ryland turned to me with stricken eyes. My face has always been too transparent. I could not conceal the horror I felt. Ryland emitted a choked cry. He snatched his false hand away from his brother, shoved his way past Florian and fled.
