Free The Wronged Princess - Book I by Kae Elle Wheeler Page A

poets and artists .  The centuries had been very kind to him .  This thought made her giggle.
    Marcel responded in kind, obviously happy she’d decided to revel in her new found, albeit short-lived, independence .
    Somehow this particular statue at this particular moment seemed most apropos .  Cinderella resolved to sneak out early on the morrow .  Just for a quick and closer look .  She shrugged .  Who would miss her ?
    Mayhap something would inspire her imagination to snag Prince’s attention .  Fairy tales had happy endings after all .  In the meantime, she would vow to revel in this unexpected gift of solitude while she could .  A lone there was no one to lash out with anger, criticism or physical violence.
    A sense of silly g iddiness stole over her whole body as she stepped from the window and spun around .  She’d truly happened upon a rare freedom.

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
    For the first time in what seemed a lifetime, Thomasine thought the dinner of cold cucumber soup, herb crusted lamb served with roasted potatoes would never end .  By the end of the fifth course, she questioned her sanity . 
    The strained event marked small talk that included the royal gardens, architecture of the castle and previous royal occupants and visitors .  The conversation flowed with her undeniable skill . 
    It must be noted, however, when her dear husband blundered how successful he thought the ball had turned out, it wasn’t just Thomasine and Prince who leaped eagerly to guide the conversation toward a more neutral topic, but the mother of the two daughters as well . 
    “The weather is simply fabulous this time of year, You r Majesty,” Hilda addressed Osmond swiftly .  “Did you perchance order it yourself, sir? ”
    Thomasine was pleased to see covered giggles from Pricilla and Esmeralda. Unfortunately, their mother silenced them with a stern look haltin g the outburst abruptly .  A shame , really .  The two young women seemed almost—sweet.
    Thomasine shared a curious look with Prince .  She could see by his expression he thought the same, begging the need to remind her son royalty did not wear open miens .  She felt most sorry for the young girls as life could not be so agreeable with such an overbearing mother, she supposed, accounting for the permanent pinched expression in the over abundant flesh of her skin.
    Osmond seemed most perplexed by her question .  “It was a witticism, dear,” Thomasine informed him, mildly.
    “Ah! ” Thomasine held back a resigned sigh as her darling, husband’s laugh, loud and booming, roared so out of place to all but him. “ Oui, oui , Madam .  I ordered it. ”
    Then, that fleeting thought that supper would never end . 
    To her horror, Osmond then ventured, “So when have we the big event to look forward? ” He speared the two young women with a sharp gaze Thomasine had not seen in years .  “Which of you did the shoe fit, eh? ”
    Pricilla covered an angry flash. Thomasine was sure no one noticed except ing herself . 
    He bore his piercing look toward Esmeralda .  Thomasine would have been thrilled under any other circumstance .  “Is there something wrong with your eyes, Girl?” he thundered, then stabbed a fork through a piece of lamb, oblivious to sudden surrounding hostility.
    Dead silence stretched across a taut atmosphere making it absurdly awkward .  How Thomasine kept from groaning aloud and dropping her head in her hands was beyond her .  She had to remind herself that royalty showed no emotion . 
    Which was not the case for their guests . 
    Esmeralda’s already pale face drained of color .  She bound from her chair so quickly it toppled but for a quick footed servant saving its crash.
    Gasping for breath she bolted from the room .  Hilda’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red than normal, and looked—well…murderous .  Thomasine wished she felt justified in ordering her to the dungeon on facial expression alone .  Alas, she