Free The Third Son by Elise Marion

you come to him willingly.”
    “You have to understand,” Esmeralda pleaded, grasping her cousin’s hand across the table. “You are like my sister and we have always confided in each other.”
    Tatiana’s face grew serious and she nodded in understanding. Few people knew the whole story of what occurred the night her father was killed. If anyone understood how hard it was for Esmeralda open up and admit attraction to any man.
    “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. So was he charming?” she asked impishly, back to her old self. “Were you overcome and weak in the knees?”
    Esmeralda laughed, grateful for her cousin’s ability to brighten the room with her smile. “I am ashamed to admit that I was. He was very dashing. Though I’m sure I’ve ruined it. You don’t think he would forgive me for throwing him out of the house, do you?”
    “I doubt it, though you could just apologize next time he comes to call.”
    “I didn’t exactly invite him back, Tatiana. In fact, I told him in not so many words to stay away.”
    Tatiana shrugged. “Then forget about him. Start planning your wedding to Tristan,” when Esmeralda glared at her, she laughed. “You know you’re going to cave in and eventually marry him!”
    Esmeralda pinched Tatiana’s arm playfully. “I do wish I could see him once more , at least to apologize for my behavior.”
    Tatiana smiled wickedly, her eyes bright with some mischievous plan or other. She snapped her fingers suddenly. “I know a way you could make that happen.”
    ****
     
    “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this!”
    “You want to see your prince, don’t you? This is the only way.”
    Esmeralda turned her back to Tatiana so that her cousin could help her tie her apron strings. Dressed in the severe black and white uniform worn by the servants at Largess Hall, they stood near the servant’s entrance, prepared to infiltrate the palace in search of Prince Damien.
    Esmeralda groaned inwardly as she turned and observed the mischievous glint in Tatiana’s eye. When they were children, Tatiana often involved Esmeralda and Morgana in her escapades, placing them all in a great deal of trouble. 
    Time had changed nothing, Esmeralda thought as she stuffed as much of her wild hair under the frilly, white maid’s cap as possible. A few strands hung loose around her face and neck, but it would have to do. Tatiana’s silken locks fit beneath the bonnet perfectly, further emphasizing the childlike glee apparent in her face. 
    “I wonder what the penalty will be if we are caught,” Esmeralda whispered as they edged their way carefully toward the servant’s entrance.
    “We won’t be,” Tatiana replied vehemently and completely confident in her plan. “Do you honestly think any of them know the faces of each and every servant working in this place? There are hundreds of maids here and we’ll blend right in. Besides, the palace is so overrun with guests for the royal wedding no one will have the time to pay us any attention.”
    “Where on earth did you get these uniforms? Lord, I don’t think I want to know.”
    “I know a girl who used to be a maid here. She still had these gowns. You’re welcome, by the way.” 
    Esmeralda suppressed a giggle. Tatiana’s plan seemed foolproof, yet Esmeralda was uneasy. She’d seen several guards patrolling the perimeter, and though they’d managed to reach the servant’s entrance easily enough, she still feared one of the armed guards would come around the corner at any moment and spot them. Of course , they would hardly seem out of place in their disguises, so Esmeralda took a deep breath and willed herself to relax.
    The servant’s entrance led right into the large kitchen, which was bustling with activity. The smells of freshly baking bread and roasting meat assailed their senses, as did the noisy banging of pots being scrubbed, and the Cook shouting instructions to bustling maids. Herbs hung from the ceiling, a fire roared in