Page 18 of If The Crown Fits
Ray looked pleased, walking over to the baker, bag of gold in hand. I kept my eye on the two of them as Ray struck up a conversation with the man. I neared the table and the delicious smell of the breads filled my nose. Ray moved a little so that the man’s back would be turned to me.
I didn’t think about it for too long and wrapped two dirty little hands around the nearest loaf. My heart raced. I hurried away, slipping between the two nearest buildings. It wasn’t long before Ray fell into step beside me.
“Now what?” I asked, a hint of excitement in my voice. There was something thrilling about the whole experience.
“Now,” Ray said, grabbing my hand with a grin, “we run.”
* * *
We were up early the next morning and I yawned loudly as Cordelia helped me tighten my stays.
“If you yawn in public, I would advise you to cover your mouth. Prince Cai doesn’t need a view of all your teeth.”
I ignored her comment because it was too early to start quarrelling. Once fully dressed, we got into the carriage and I eyed the guards with suspicion. All of them had swords but I couldn’t spot anything small enough that I would be able to hide on myself.
“Are you listening?” Cordelia asked when we had stopped again a few hours later.
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered. “How is needlework going to help me grow close to Prince Cai so that I can steal something off him?”
“Princess Eloisa is very skilled in needlework.” She took one look at the mess I was creating. “You clearly are not.”
I sighed. “Can’t I just challenge him to a bow-and-arrow competition or something? That would be much more fun.” Even if archery was not my best skill.
“You will not challenge the prince to anything. Besides, Princess Eloisa can’t shoot with a bow and arrow.”
“Princess Eloisa can’t shoot with a bow and arrow,” I mimicked and shifted uncomfortably in my seat. The frills and laces of my dress were itchy and I was tired of sitting up straight for so long.
“Take a break, then. We’ll continue when we’re back on the road.”
Quite thankful for the respite, I got out of the carriage, slid past the snake eyes of Damon and approached Rhen, who was standing near his horse, drinking water from a flask.
“Your Highness,” he said with fake politeness.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?”
“A princess would more likely say, ‘May I have a word with you?’” he responded.
“Well actually that was one of the things I wanted to discuss with you.” I gestured away from the group and Rhen nodded in understanding. We started walking beside the stream.
“I have no experience in the world of royals and I’m afraid I’ll say the wrong thing and be discovered.”
“A fair concern,” Rhen said. “But what does this have to do with me? Cordelia is already educating you on this matter.”
“Well, yes . . .” I said. “But—”
“But?” he repeated. We were out of hearing distance of everyone else.
“Well, you’re a man, right?”
“Last time I checked.” His face was full of confusion.
“So Lance needs me to get close to Cai, needs him to trust me. What would make you trust a woman above all else?”
He thought about it for a moment. “I suppose I would trust her only as much as she trusted me. Based on her words and her actions.”
“So you’re saying I should pretend to trust Prince Cai?”
“Something along those lines. Surely you have some experience in gaining the trust of men, you know, just before you rob them blind?”
