Royal Promenade Read online

  Royal Promenade

  Suzanne G. Rogers

  Idunn Court Publishing

  Copyright © 2021 Suzanne G. Rogers

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-947463-47-9

  Cover design by: Suzanne G. Rogers

  Printed in the United States of America

  Chapter One

  The Horrible Homecoming

  As Villify Wombat drove the gig away from the railway station, Alice Holland gave her guardian an affectionate glance. “Thank you for coming to meet me, sir. Do I look like a graduate from the finest finishing school in Vanguard?”

  The elderly man smiled. “I’d say your mother’s tuition money was well spent.”

  Alice bit her lip. “Er…I thought she would be here, too. Did she send word that she would be delayed?”

  “No, but…there’s a letter waiting for you at the house.”

  Something in the man’s voice alarmed her. “It’s not bad news, is it?”

  “The letter is addressed to you, my dear, so I haven’t read it.”

  As the gig passed the homely clapboard storefronts and wooden sidewalks lining Main Street, Alice sighed. “After living in Vanguard City for two years, Squirrel Flats looks smaller than I remember.”

  “Going away for any length of time changes your perspective on things.” Villify’s gaze flickered in her direction. “You look as if you’ve lost weight. Did they starve you at that fancy school?”

  “Not at all. I was just studying too hard to go to all my meals.”

  “Did you get top marks in all your classes?”

  “Not entirely. Mother doesn’t allow me to work much magic in public, so I barely passed Bewitchment.” She brightened. “I did receive top marks in Combat Arts.”

  “Combat Arts?” His bushy eyebrows drew together. “At a finishing school for young ladies?”

  “Mother wanted me to graduate from a school that taught more than just how to pour tea and write letters. Those things are important, of course, but she also wanted me to learn how to fight.”

  Villify smiled. “I see.”

  “Perhaps Mother couldn’t get away from her work right now.” Alice brightened. “Maybe she’ll come for my birthday in a few weeks.”

  “I couldn’t say.” Her guardian cleared his throat. “I baked an apricot pastry to celebrate your homecoming.”

  “How kind. I love apricot pastry.”

  “I can’t bake as well as Joanne did, I’m afraid.” A muscle quivered in his weathered cheek. “I think this one turned out well, though.”

  “I’m sure the pastry will be delicious.” Alice glanced down at the bouquet resting in her lap—a combination of exotic plaid roses and polka dotted daisies. “These flowers are from mother’s garden. I’m surprised you brought them to the station, all things considered.”

  “Oh, I’m aware of Squirrel Flat’s anti-magic ordinance full well but I’m a rebel.” He grinned. “One lady gave the bouquet a hard stare, but most everyone in Squirrel Flats wouldn’t know anything fantastic if it bit them on the ankle.”

  “It’s a good thing nobody ever comes into our backyard, then.”

  “Speaking of which, we have a good crop of kittens coming into bloom in a fortnight. Once their eyes open, I’ll pinch them off the vine and bring them to the orphanage for the children to play with.”

  “What a lovely idea. Maybe we can combine that with my annual Snow Day, to give the children a real treat.”

  As they approached Villify’s little yellow cottage, she noticed a luxurious horseless carriage parked at the curb with twin flags of Colossus mounted on either side of the headlamps. “Oh, you sly thing! Mother has been waiting for me all along!”

  “No.” Villify frowned. “Ambassador Quincy has come to speak with you.”

  Her smile faded. “Why would an ambassador from Colossus want to speak with me?”

  He shrugged. “It must be important for him to travel such a long way.”

  Alice’s grip tightened on the flowers. “But the only connection I have to Colossus is Mother and she wouldn’t have told anyone about me.”

  “Apparently she must have. I expect Ambassador Quincy has brought you a message.”

  Alice peered at him, wide-eyed. “Are you sure this isn’t some kind of trick? Mother warned me about her enemies.”

  “I don’t think it’s a trick.” Villify pulled up behind the horseless carriage and reined in the mare. “Go inside and I’ll join you after I unhitch the horse.”

  Alice jumped down from the gig, retrieved her travel case from the boot, and made her way up the sidewalk. As soon as she reached for the door handle, the door popped open and a tall, fair-haired man appeared. He was clad in a sleek, exquisitely tailored suit and his handsome features would make any girl’s head turn.

  She blinked. “Are you the ambassador?”

  “No, I’m Blade Blackmon.” The man’s eyes crinkled with merriment. “Ambassador Quincy is taking a stroll in your garden.” He reached for her travel case and stepped back to let her pass. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess.”

  Princess? The man’s use of an endearment was annoying, but she supposed manners in Colossus were vastly different than those in Vanguard.

  “My name is Alice.”

  She crossed into the cramped parlor, where a strange glossy top hat rested on the coffee table next to a gray felt hat with a creased brim.

  Alice set her bouquet aside and gave the blond stranger a wary glance. “Why does the ambassador want to speak with me?”

  Blade set the travel case to one side. “I’ll let him explain, but he’s brought good news.”

  The sound of approaching footsteps was followed by the appearance of a rotund man wearing a flashy brocade vest and a jacket trimmed with military-style braid.

  “Ah, you must be Princess Alessandra.” He sketched a bow. “I’m honored to make your acquaintance.”

  “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m no princess. Why are you here, Ambassador?”

  He beamed. “Mr. Blackmon and I have come to escort you to Briarwood Castle.”

  She cocked her head. “To what end?”

  “For an audience with His Royal Majesty, King Justin of Colossus.” The man presented her with an envelope which was inscribed with engraved lettering and sealed with wax. “This is a letter of invitation, signed by the king himself.”

  Alice made no move to take the envelope. “That’s very nice, but I still don’t understand why King Justin has invited me to the castle.”

  “Why?” The ambassador recoiled. “Do you mean to say you really don’t know?”

  He exchanged a glance with Blade, who shrugged. “The Head Wizard never told her, evidently.”

  The ambassador cleared his throat. “Princess Alessandra, I am pleased to inform you that His Royal Majesty is your father.”

  Alice laughed. “Is this some sort of prank?”

  “Not at all.” The ambassador beamed. “You are the daughter of Head Wizard Helene Holland Masters and the King of Colossus. Allow me to be the first to congratulate you.”

  Alice marched over to the fireplace, grabbed a framed photograph of a man in uniform, and held it up. “This is my father. His name is Captain Theodore Masters of the Colossusian Navy. He died in a military training exercise, I was born five months later, and my mother never remar
ried.”

  “That photograph is from an old advertisement.” Blade reached for the frame, unlatched the back panel, and extracted a carefully folded page. When he smoothed it out, the brand name of an aftershave was revealed.

  Alice’s mind reeled but she shook her head. “That doesn’t prove King Justin is my father. I’ve seen pictures of him in newspapers and magazines. He and my mother both have dark hair whereas mine is lighter than yours, Mr. Blackmon.”

  “The Head Wizard disguised your appearance under a very clever enchantment.” Blade murmured a reveal spell and stuck his thumb toward a mirror on the wall. “Have a look.”

  “You’re a wizard, Mr. Blackmon?”

  “A very good one.”

  Alice unpinned her hat and rushed over to the mirror. To her astonishment, she discovered her formerly ash blond hair was now the color of coffee.

  “I don’t know what to say.” She turned toward the strangers once more. “Why didn’t my mother come with you?”

  “The Head Wizard couldn’t be spared from her duties, I’m afraid.” The ambassador’s hands fluttered through the air as if batting away pesky details. “What with the approach of the Royal Promenade, the castle is teeming with activity.”

  “The event is insane this year,” Blade added. “More entrants than ever.”

  “And so, I’m to accompany two perfect strangers to a foreign kingdom at a moment’s notice?” Alice gave them both a level glance. “No.”

  Ambassador Quincy seemed not to have heard her refusal. “I almost forgot!” He set the invitation aside, produced a slender velvet box from his pocket, and lifted the lid. “This is an early birthday gift from His Royal Majesty.”

  “Is that real?” Alice gasped at the bib necklace of diamond and sapphires nestled inside. “Those stones are worth more than the entire town of Squirrel Flats!”

  “I should hope so.” Blade chuckled. “The necklace is from the royal vault.”

  “That’s very generous but I can’t accept such an expensive gift.” She stepped back. “Please thank His Majesty for the lovely gesture.”

  The ambassador’s eyes grew round. “Pardon me, Princess, but you cannot refuse a gift from your king!”

  “He’s not my king, sir. You forget I was born in Vanguard.” She took a long moment to compose herself. “Please tell my mother if she wants me to travel to Colossus, she’ll have to bring me herself.” Alice gave the visitors a tight smile. “Thank you for coming.”

  She scooped up her travel case and strode to her room with her hat clutched in her other hand. Once inside, she shut the door, tossed her case and hat on the bed, and rushed to the vanity mirror. The one feature she’d been a trifle vain about—her blond mane—was no more. With trembling fingers, she pulled the hairpins from her coiffure and let the coils unfurl. The brunette strands framing her face and her dark eyebrows looked as if they belonged to some other girl. She found her new appearance disconcerting and wondered how long it would take to get used to her own reflection.

  If Helene could cast a spell on her own daughter, perhaps she had kept a great many secrets from her as well. Even so, King Justin may or may not be her sire, but he was not her father and never could be. If the man had known he had a daughter, why hadn’t he sent for her before now?

  What a horrible homecoming.

  Her throat closed up, tears stung her eyelids, and her vision began to swim. Before she could come undone entirely, however, a knock came at her door.

  “It’s Villify. I have your luggage.”

  Alice bit back her emotions and opened the door. Her guardian stood in the hallway with Blade, who was balancing her trunk on his shoulder.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, come in. That must be terribly heavy.”

  “Not so much.” Blade passed into her room. “Where do you want it?”

  She gestured. “Against the far wall.”

  He positioned the leather trunk underneath the window and straightened. “This is a cozy room.”

  “Yes.” She glanced at the doorway but Villify had disappeared. “Er…do you know my mother?”

  “Quite well, actually. I’ve been her assistant for two years.” Blade gave her a smile. “When I heard Colossus had a princess, I volunteered as escort.”

  “I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing, Mr. Blackmon.”

  “I’m not so sure it was for nothing…and the name is Blade.”

  “It’s probably a blessing that I’m not going with you, Blade. I’m far from being princess material.”

  “I disagree.” The young man reached out to touch a lock of her hair. “In fact, you’ve surpassed my expectations.”

  Alice met his gaze for several long moments before glancing away. “Thank you for bringing in my trunk.”

  Blade took her hand in his and pressed his lips against her bare skin. “You’re welcome.” He winked and sauntered out into the hallway.

  After she shut the door, she unlatched the window and threw it wide open. As the fresh air cooled her skin, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. For some reason, the man made her pulse race like a besotted schoolgirl. How could she be so easily impressed by his appearance when she didn’t know a thing about his character or manners? Once her heart rate returned to normal and her composure returned, however, she wondered if Blade had been using a spell to mesmerize her.

  Alice opened her travel case, fished out her book charm bracelet, and performed a restore spell. After a stack of magical textbooks appeared, she opened the one on magical persuasion and perception and looked up a simple ward spell. A ward spell wasn’t a long-term solution against powerful magic, unfortunately, but would suffice for glamour enchantments, mischievous curses, and the like. She memorized the spell and returned her magical library to its camouflaged state.

  The murmur of voices out in the parlor was followed by the sound of the front door closing. Now that Ambassador Quincy and Blade had gone, Alice’s initial surge of relief was mixed with an inexplicable tinge of regret. Well, since it was too late to change her mind now, she would write her mother a letter to explain her decision. If her presence in Colossus was important enough, Helene would come to get her personally.

  Alice changed from her floor-length travel suit into a pair of trousers and a pullover shirt she’d bought in Vanguard City. When she emerged from her room, she found Villify in the kitchen, setting out golden brown pastry and two tea cups. Her bouquet of flowers was tucked into a vase of clear water in the center of the table—alongside the velvet box and engraved invitation.

  “I can’t believe Ambassador Quincy left this necklace behind.” Alice slid into a chair. “Did he tell you why he came?”

  Villify nodded. “Yes.”

  “You don’t seem surprised.” She bit her lip. “How long have you known?”

  “Since the day your mother brought you to Joanna and me nearly nineteen years ago. We used to work for her parents when I was a little older than you are now.”

  “So, it’s all true, then.” Alice’s shoulders drooped. “Why did Mother tell me silly stories about a fictitious father named Captain Masters?”

  “Helene would only say that King Justin was unaware of your birth and that you would be in mortal danger if you stayed with her in Colossus.”

  “Perfect.” Alice lifted slices of pastry onto two plates and gave one to Villify. “I’m both unwanted and illegitimate.”

  “Actually, no.” Villify stirred a teaspoon of sugar into his tea. “It’s a closely-guarded secret, but Helene and the king were quietly married when he was just a prince and she was working for the Ministry of Magic as an assistant. When King Eiger found out, he insisted the marriage be annulled so Justin could marry a princess from the Shadow Realm.”

  “I’ll never understand politics.” She sighed. “Queen Tara passed away several months ago. Why didn’t Mother tell the king about me then?”

  “I do not know but I think you should at least meet the man.”

  Alice sat bac
k in her seat, astonished. “Do you really?” She shook her head. “Well, it’s too late now.”

  Villify smiled. “Ambassador Quincy and Mr. Blackmon will be back tomorrow morning.”

  Alice peered at him. “What?”

  The old man shrugged. “He and the young man will spend the night at the Squirrel Flats Inn and call back for you in the morning. I thought you needed time to mull things over.”

  She gave the invitation a curious glance. “With the Royal Promenade just around the corner, it might be a good time to visit Briarwood City.”

  “Exactly.” Villify gestured with his fork. “What girl wouldn’t want to see all the pretty gowns and pageantry? You certainly won’t see anything like that here in Squirrel Flats!”

  Alice chuckled. “Definitely not.”

  As she ate her apricot pastry, she pushed aside her misgivings about the journey ahead.

  Chapter Two

  Cocky Wizard

  Ambassador Quincy waited with Alice in the parlor while Blade and Villify carried her luggage to the horseless carriage parked outside.

  “You simply have no idea what excitement will greet your arrival at Briarwood Castle, Princess. His Majesty will probably give a party to introduce you to Society. You won’t regret your decision, I assure you.”

  “I don’t want to be introduced to Colossus society, sir. I was raised as a private citizen and I’d like to remain so.” Alice fiddled with the charms on her bracelet. “I’m merely coming for a short visit with my mother and perhaps a tour of the capitol.”

  Quincy peered at her. “Don’t you want to attend the Royal Promenade? It’s the event of the year.”

  “Well…I could be persuaded to remain for that, but only in the background. We could always say I’m the Head Wizard’s niece from Vanguard.”

  “Don’t worry about a thing. The Ministry of Information will work everything out. They always do”

  The ambassador prattled on about the Royal Promenade and how all the best families participated in a fortnight of parties, balls, concerts, and plays.