*
Norman’s day had started early. She was expected to greet all of her suitors. One by one, the four princes had arrived with their families. Norman had found all four charming and handsome. Prince Edwin of Cole had blonde hair and limpid blue eyes. He was tall and slender and Norman knew that he liked her right away. His parents, King Braden and Queen Angelia, already seemed to think that she would choose their son. ‘Quite forward’, Norman thought. However, they were nice and very complimentary.
Prince Thaddeus of Highland was handsome and very cavalier. He seemed to have quite a sense of humor, a quality that she admired. He definitely did not get his personality from his mother, Queen Clivia whom Norman found to be overbearing and rude. Norman tried very hard not to judge people upon her first encounter with them, however, she took an instant dislike to the queen. Thaddeus’ father, King Sterling, was very pensive. He reminded Norman of a scared rabbit.
Prince Xavier of Wellscot was tall with chiseled features. He was strong and very polite. Norman could tell immediately that Xavier was a good mixture of his father, King Winthrop, and mother, Queen Julianna. They were kind and sincere.
The last prince to arrive was Windermere of Encumbra. Though polite, he seemed to be a man of hidden, dark secrets. This intrigued Norman. He appeared kind, yet there was certain aloofness to his demeanor. King Gregore and Queen Heloise acted quite nice, yet they, too, struck Norman as distant and vague.
“My daughter, you look exhausted!” The Queen came up to her and brushed a wisp of hair from her daughter’s face. “Please come and join us for some tea. I have invited King Winthrop, Queen Julianna and their daughters, Illianna and Edwina, and their son Xavier to join us. They are waiting for us in the great hall.” Emmaline tugged gently on her daughter’s arm.
“Thank you, Mother, however I told Gertrude to meet me in the garden to talk. I need a break from being the princess for a short period. In fact, I am late getting there now and I am su…”
A knock at the door interrupted Norman and a page answered the door. Gertrude stepped inside the entry and took off his hat. He spied the two ladies and walked over to them. “Did you forget our meeting, Norman?”
“I am sorry, Gertrude. No, I did not forget our meeting. I was busy greeting the other royal families and it took longer than I had planned.” Norman gave Gertrude a ‘lost puppy’ look.
“I understand. It is still light. Do you wish to take a walk with me?” Gertrude smiled shyly.
Emmaline interrupted before Norman could answer. “Perhaps Gertrude would like to join us for a cup of tea and meet the other royal family.” Emmaline glanced at each of them with an encouraging look.
“I am really not dressed too well as I have been busy all day. I am sure I smell of chicken manure and of burning oak wood. Perhaps I can meet them at some other time.” Gertrude turned to head for the door before either lady could protest, and protest they did.
Norman said, “You look just fine and you do not carry an offensive odor.”
“I do not know if that was a compliment or if I usually smell all the time.” Gertrude stared at Norman quizzically.
“My daughter means that she would like you to stay. She values your friendship as do I.” A broad smile erupted across the queen’s face.
Gertrude’s heart melted. “Very well. I will stay, but if I notice anyone sniffing the air, I will leave…”
The three of them laughed and headed into the great room where everyone was waiting patiently. Gertrude walked in with Norman on one side and Emmaline on the other. All heads turned their way and an audible gasp was heard from one of the Wellscots. Norman reacted by putting a hand on Gertrude’s shoulder to let him know that he had nothing to worry about. She walked up to the group, feeling her anger rising within like a hot ember set free in a pile of dry leaves. She squeezed Gertrude’s shoulder and turned. Gertrude looked up at her and saw her wink.
“Gertrude, I would like you to meet King Winthrop of Wellscot, his wife Queen Julianna, his son Prince Xavier and his two daughters, Illianna and Edwina. Your Royal Highnesses, I would like you to meet my half-brother, Gertrude.” Norman smiled broadly. The flame of anger diminished as she saw reaction to her words take hold.
The look on the other royal family’s faces was priceless. Their mouths opened so wide that Norman was sure they would stay that way for the rest of their lives.
Gertrude did not falter for a second and responded immediately to the introduction. “Your Royal Highnesses, I am truly flattered to meet you. My little sister and I have been looking forward to meeting you.” Gertrude looked up at Norman and smiled the biggest, toothless grin that his face could contort. Without a sound, Princess Illianna fainted in her chair. Prince Xavier went over to her and rubbed her hand between his hands.
Norman looked at her mother and father to see their reaction. “I am sorry, Mother, but I thought that they should know the truth. Father, I just could not help myself under the circumstances.”
Gertrude winked at Octavius. “I am sorry, Father. Norman let me out of my room and bid me to join her.”
“I am sorry I locked you in your room, son. Can you ever forgive me?” Octavius replied with mock seriousness.
“Oh really, Octavius!” Emmaline interrupted. “Enough of this charade!” Emmaline turned towards the other royal family. “You will truly have to forgive my husband and daughter for they jest with you. Sir Gertrude is a dear family friend. We took offense when we heard one of you gasp when we entered the room with Sir Gertrude. I must apologize for my family’s charade…”
King Winthrop was the first to respond. “On the contrary, Queen Emmaline, it is I who should apologize for causing any discord. Please accept my humble apologies, Sir Gertrude, if we insulted you in any way. You must forgive my daughter for her reaction to Sir Gertrude’s presence. I am afraid my wife and I have sheltered our daughters from the world at their own expense. Neither of them has ever seen a frog troll before now.”
Norman turned a bright shade of red. “Your Highness, I am so sorry for my rashness. I am afraid my temper got the best of me. Please accept my apology.”
“Apology accepted, my dear.” Queen Julianna interjected.
It was Gertrude’s turn next to apologize. “I am sorry, too. I, too, was quick to judge and overreacted.”
Queen Emmaline looked at her husband and cleared her throat. “My husband, do you not have something to say?”
“Why yes, of course. Let’s sit down and enjoy a cup of tea and some cakes!” Octavius smiled broadly.
“Oh really, Octavius, you are incorrigible.” Emmaline shook her head.
Everyone started to laugh and the incident was left behind. They all sat down and enjoyed the next hour. Queen Emmaline made sure that Norman and Xavier were sitting together. They had a lot in common and they both shared a love of roses. Xavier raised roses and did a lot of the gardening, himself. His father had a special enclosure made for the roses that had a ceiling of glass. Xavier invited Norman to come visit and he would show it to her. King Winthrop had noticed Octavius’ sword hanging up on the wall nearby and had remarked about the quality of the craftsmanship. This brought Gertrude into the conversation and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the tea.
Norman was headed up to her bedchamber after the tea to rest when she met Prince Windermere. Not paying much attention to where she was going, she rounded a corner and literally bumped into him. “Oh, I am so sorry. Please, excuse me. My mind was wandering faster than my feet and the two strayed too far apart.”
Windermere smiled. “I am not sorry in the least, as now I have a chance to talk to you alone. Please sit with me and talk.” He pointed over to a bench in a small alcove. Norman walked over and sat down and watched Windermere as he sat down next to her.
“Was your trip here uneventful?” For some reason the question now sounded silly to her and she wished that she had said something more…more educated.
“No, it was not without incident.
The horses pulling my parent’s sleigh were spooked by a wolf just before we crossed the border into your kingdom. My parents had the ride of a lifetime until the driver regained control. I am afraid the wolf did not fare too well either, as one of the horse’s hooves caught him in the head.” Windermere spoke of the incident nonchalantly as if it were an everyday occurrence.
“Your parents seemed all right when I met them earlier.” Norman studied Windermere’s face, thinking how odd that he passed the incident off in such a uncaring manner.
“Yes, they are fine. When we go on our hunting parties, worse things happen. Just last summer my father and I were out together away from the rest of the group when he spotted a prize sheep up on a precipice. We were gaining higher ground when my father lost his footing and fell down the side of the cliff.”
“Oh! … How terrible! Was he hurt badly?” Norman had turned more directly towards the prince. He spoke without any emotion and his steel blue eyes looked cold and lonely. She shuddered from the iciness in his voice.
“My father fortunately fell through a dense bush which broke his fall and then he landed in a hassock of thick moss which saved him from further injury. When I found him, he was limping down the hillside, headed to camp.” Windermere smiled, and his face lost the pale pallor that had come upon him.
Norman was unnerved by this young man’s lack of concern. He was making her feel very ill at ease. “Well, I am glad that your father is all right. If you will please excuse me, I really do need to go and rest.”
“Certainly, Princess. Thank you for sitting here with me. I have enjoyed our conversation. May I have the honor of escorting you to your door?” Windermere’s voice had a hollow ring to it.
“Thank you. You are far too gallant. My room is just down this hall. I shall look forward to seeing you again.” ‘Far, far away from here, I hope.’ she said to herself. She smiled, but it was not genuine. He gave her a very cold, ill feeling. She turned and went into her bedchamber and latched the door behind her.