The Wronged Princess - Book I Read Free Page A

the tail of her golden coach drawn with six white horses darting away at breakneck speed .  He put his arm up in an effort to halt her flight, but could only watch in helpless despair her wave of farewell from the small rear window .  He swore he saw anguish in those exquisite eyes.
    He’d dropped his head in desolation, and gasped . 
    T here — in plain sight — on the stoop descending the ballroom, lay proof that this night of heaven had not been just a dream o f his bride-to-be vanishing into thin air…
    A single glass slipper.

 
     
    Chapter 2
     
    Queen Thomasine almost rue the day she’d had a son . 
    No n , that was not quite right, for she loved her son dearly .  But she’d be hard pressed to refrain from admitting that the comfort of a daughter would have serve d quite pleasant .  Someone with whom she could embroider , or titter on about the failings of men .  She sighed .  It would have made for excellent bonding experiences . 
    Regrettably, that had not been her destiny . 
    She shook away the fantasies and turned to the misfortune at hand .  For days now , seven to be precise, Prince had moped about the palace, hoping against hope , his lovely young woman would somehow reappear .  Drop into his life the same way she’d dropped out . 
    Thomasine had deliberately let a full sennight of his nonsense persist before finally summoning him to set forth she and her twin’s underhanded scheme .  ’T was not without some guilt, however.
    She quashed the feelings ruthlessly.
    “Have you decided what it is you are to do now, mon fils ? You have spent this week past doing naught but brooding and sulking about. ”
    His gaping shock was most telling . 
    “ Mamán , ” he said sharply —deeply offended .
    She bit back a searing retort, irritated that young men dared think a mother could not possibly understand such a dilemma. Bah, w hat was it with today’s children ? Did they believe their parents had sprung from the womb grown ? Not experienced love and infatuations in their youth ? That they had had a youth?
    Thomasine pinched the bridge of her nose praying for patience. Tried to remember this was the future king. “ My dear , ’t is time to move past this fixation ,” she said gently .  She frowned .  “ Frankly, I find myself amazed that this…this woman- child had the nerve to run from the ball in such a manner .  To run , at all, in fact .  Most unladylike. ” She sniffed with disdain .  “But, alas, not being in her shoes—well, so to speak, I suppose , I shall withhold my judgment for the present time. ”
    Prince lowered himself into an opposing chair so utter in his devastation her heart could not help but soften in sympathy .  Squaring her shoulders , stiffening her resolve , she vowed to see this through , no matter the difficult y .  Then, proceeded to shock him further .  “The question is, dear, what are your plans to remedy the situation?” She spoke briskly .  ’ Twould not do to let him surface any cracks .  She had great faith in his intellect, it just needed uncovering .
    His expression made her wonder if she’d grown horns . 
    Thomasine shook her head in self-deprecation .  “I vow I bear full responsibility for this predicament, of course .  Well,” she amended frowning , “except for the portion your father is responsible for. ” She almost choked over this sentiment, but shook it abruptly away and continued her most regal-tone-to-the-masses she could manage .  “As the guiding parent, however, I have come to the conclusion that I have failed miserably in teaching you (again, a small choke) to act responsibly and timely for yourself in a crisis situation. ” She paced the length of the chamber .  Thinking was always best when she had the versatility of movement.
    She stole a glimpse in Prince’s direction .  He looked as if he were trying to comprehend her efforts of explanation .  Mayhap there was hope .  But just as sure as she was he