Royal Promenade Read online

  Alice cocked her head. “Are you saying your family was poor?”

  “Not poor, exactly. Just…broken.” He averted his gaze. “At any rate, I studied hard at school, graduated at the top of my class, and went to work for the Ministry of Magic.”

  “You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

  His cocky air returned. “I am.”

  Alice gazed out at the bay as she chose her next words carefully. “To be perfectly honest, I don’t want to be a princess because then I could never experience real romance.”

  Blade looked at her askance. “I don’t understand.”

  “Do you think a princess could ever find someone who wasn’t drawn to her merely because of her position?”

  He shrugged. “Why not, especially if she were as attractive as you are.”

  “Thank you but I want more from life than to be a stepping stone for an ambitious man.” She drank her wine. “I intend to go back to Vanguard and do something meaningful with myself. If I’m very fortunate, I’ll meet a gentleman who is intrigued by my personality and looks without any ulterior motive.”

  He smirked. “The stuff of romance novels.”

  “Without the ripped bodices.”

  “You’re no fun.” He gave Alice a heavy-lidded glance and leaned closer. “Actually, I do have an ulterior motive in coming to your room.”

  Her stomach fluttered. “Which is?”

  Blade grinned. “I want to take you shopping.” He drained his glass. “Shall we?”

  “No, thank you.” Alice shook her head. “I don’t need help to pick out clothes!”

  “Perhaps not, but His Majesty ordered me not to leave you alone in public.” He made a comical face. “We’re stuck together, I’m afraid.”

  “So…you’re to be my bodyguard?”

  “I suppose you could say that.” His gaze roamed from her toes to her lips. “Someone had to guard your beautiful body and it might as well be me.” Blade’s dimples deepened.

  Chapter Three

  Desirability Quotient

  Briarwood City

  The interior of the Briar Patch Tavern was dank, dark and largely deserted except for a table in the back occupied by four young Rangers in street clothes. The bartender was taking inventory of his stock, the barmaid was filling bowls of peanuts for the coming evening rush, and the Rangers’ table was littered with empty tankards.

  The peanut Kellan flicked toward Dewar bounced off the man’s head. “A peanut for your thoughts.”

  “Mmm.” Dewar nodded. “Women are the hource of all unsappiness.”

  Kellan peered at his friend for several long, fuzzy moments. “Who says that?”

  “My mother.”

  Gus leaned toward Kellan. “Is she pretty?”

  Kellan frowned. “Don’t know. I’ve never met Dewar’s mother.”

  Gus made a sound of disgust. “No, Juliet. I bet she looks outstanding.”

  “We all want to know why you’ve kept your new lady a big secret.” Dewar punched the air with his finger for emphasis. “Do tell us, Kellan.”

  “Maybe she’s fat with a hairy chin and Kellan doesn’t want to say so.” Paddy puffed out his cheeks like a chipmunk and gestured to indicate ample girth. “Secret girlfriends are always fat with hairy chins.”

  His three companions rolled their eyes in Paddy’s direction.

  “Izzat so?” Dewar asked. “How many secret girlfriends have you met, Paddy?”

  “None.” Paddy belched. “They’re secret.”

  “Juliet has big, stormy green eyes, hair the color of a raven’s wing, and a waist like so.” Kellan formed a small circle with his hands. “She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”

  Gus chuckled. “Really?”

  “No.” Kellan shrugged. “I made her up.”

  “What?” Dewar gave him an aggrieved frown. “Why’d you do that?”

  Kellan’s shoulders moved up and down in an exaggerated shrug. “So you’d stop trying to introduce me to your sisters.”

  “Ooh. Guess we’ve been put in our place.” Paddy scooped up a handful of the blond wood shavings that carpeted the floor of the bar and began to arrange the long curly pieces in Dewar’s dark mop. “Our sisters aren’t good enough for Ranger Kellan Stratford.”

  “To be fair, they aren’t.” A wide yawn practically split Gus’s head in two. “I can’t imagine you’ll be a bachelor forever, Kellan.” He rested his face in both hands, his eyelids at half-mast.

  “I’ll make more of an effort when we’re on vacation.” Kellan grinned. “Maybe the ladies on the Gulf Coast will be to my taste.”

  Paddy finished decorating Dewar’s hair with wood shavings and reached for the basket of peanuts in the center of the table. “We count on you to attract girls.”

  “Speak for yourself, Paddy.” Gus slapped Dewar on the shoulder “Izzat right?”

  “Exactly right.” As Dewar lifted his empty tankard and slammed it on the table, the wooden curls in his hair danced. “Trudy! Another round for my best mates.”

  The barmaid didn’t bother to look up from her task. “Go home.”

  “You see?” Dewar gestured toward Trudy. “Women flock to us like flies to horse dung.”

  Kellan snorted with laughter. “I’ve never known anyone to wax more poetic than Dewar Delacourt.”

  A familiar commanding voice rang out. “I thought I might find you lads here.”

  All four Rangers shot to their feet, albeit somewhat unsteadily, as a uniformed man strode up to their table.

  “Captain Woods.” Kellan saluted. “At your service, sir.”

  “At ease.” The captain pursed his lips. “Drinking in the middle of the day?”

  “We’re on leave, sir,” Paddy blurted out. “We’re heading to the coast for a few days.”

  “I came to tell you that all leave is cancelled.”

  Gus made a squeaking sound, but Dewar elbowed him into silence.

  Captain Woods gave Gus a level glance. “A VIP is arriving tomorrow afternoon and I need four Rangers to welcome him at the castle entrance.”

  Kellan nodded. “We volunteer, sir.”

  “I knew you would, Stratford. Report to the castle at three o’clock, looking sharp.” The captain saluted. “As you were.”

  Once Captain Woods left the bar, the four friends collapsed into their seats.

  Dewar scowled. “We should have gone to a different bar—somewhere the captain couldn’t find us.” As he brushed the wooden curls off his head, some of them landed on Gus.

  “We come here for the luxurious decor.” Gus blew the shavings off his sleeve. “And the sophisticated ambience.”

  Paddy stared into the bottom of his empty tankard. “I wonder what sort of VIP is coming?” His voice echoed off the bottom of the tankard with a hollow sound.

  “It probably has something to do with the idiotic Promenade. I think the entire kingdom has lost its mind this year.” Kellan pushed his seat back and stood. “Let’s get some food and rack time or we’ll embarrass the captain tomorrow.”

  His fellow rangers lurched to their feet.

  Dewar grinned. “Someday you’ll be made captain and we’ll make every effort to embarrass you.”

  Kellan chuckled. “In the unlikely event I’m ever made captain, I’ll count on it.”

  ∞∞∞

  Despite the curious and sometimes amused glances that accompanied Alice and Blade on the way through the lobby, she held her head high.

  Blade gave her a sidelong glance. “That’s the spirit.”

  “It’s not my fault these people are ignorant of Vanguard fashion.”

  The hotel manager intercepted them. “Excuse me, Miss Holland.” He winked. “How may I be of service?”

  “I’m going shopping, Mr. Phelps, and I need to exchange my Vanguard funds into Colossus gold.”

  The manager smiled. “If you’ll come with me, I’ll be happy to help.”

  He escorted her and Blade to a counte
r where a hotel employee made the exchange. Alice swept the Colossus coins into her handbag. “Thank you.”

  “You’re quite welcome.” Phelps gestured toward the Arcade. “The shops are that way but I’m afraid your money is no good here.”

  Alice blinked. “I don’t understand.”

  “What I mean to say is that all your purchases will be charged to your room. A line of credit has been arranged.”

  She gave him a tight smile. “I see.”

  As Alice and Blade continued on toward the Arcade, she murmured, “I thought I’d made my position clear.”

  “The ambassador and I have our instructions and so do the hotel management.” Blade shrugged. “The king’s word is the law.”

  Annoyance straightened her spine. “Fine. I just won’t buy anything.”

  “I don’t believe His Majesty has been briefed on Vanguard fashion.” Blade’s expression was all innocence. “Do you wish to arrive at Briarwood Castle dressed like that?”

  Alice squeezed her eyes shut a moment as she bit back a sharp retort. She’d had a great deal of independence her entire life and she didn’t appreciate being on the end of a leash. Did Blade think luxurious surroundings and gorgeous views could make up for the loss of her freedom? Undoubtedly, he imagined a little flirtation on his part would be compensation enough.

  As she strolled past the shops in the Arcade, she was impressed by the magical window displays. The headless mannequins had been enchanted to pose and turn as they showed delightful frocks to their best advantage. Inside the establishments, she could see incredibly chic customers looking over costly merchandise she could never have dreamed of buying…even with the allowance her mother had always furnished. As Alice pictured her mother’s face, she felt a pang of longing. Hopefully, the Head Wizard would be the first to greet her when she arrived at Briarwood Castle tomorrow.

  She glanced at Blade. “These shops don’t seem to have what I’m looking for.”

  “Don’t worry, these places are for the tourists.” Blade took Alice by the hand and tugged her forward. “Let me show you where the real shopping is done.”

  He steered her toward a tall silver-framed entrance set into the back of a deep alcove. As soon as they entered the shop, Blade introduced her to a sales clerk named Mrs. Sloane, whose little black dress, sleek hair, and refined makeup were perfect in every detail.

  The woman beamed at her. “What a lovely girl! Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

  Blade jerked his head toward a leather chair, strategically located next to a vidscreen showing a sports broadcast. “I’ll just be over here.”

  Alice glanced around, puzzled. Although she saw a few racks of garments, the place was quite bare.

  She wrinkled her nose. “Where are all the dresses and things?”

  Mrs. Sloane giggled. “We aren’t that kind of shop. Let me show you to a dressing room and I’ll bring out personalized merchandise for you to try on. Would you care for a foot massage and a cup of tea?”

  Alice couldn’t help but smile. An hour later, she’d chosen a short dinner frock to wear to dinner and matching shoes. She also selected a pair of trousers in an elegant fabric as well as a silk brocade laced-up bodice blouse with sheer sleeves and a pair of sandals.

  “Er…I’m going to Briarwood Castle tomorrow, Mrs. Sloane. Do you have anything suitable for an audience with the king?”

  The woman clasped her hands together. “I have just the thing! You’ll probably need a formal gown as well, in case you are invited to dine with His Majesty tomorrow night, and then something to wear the following day, in case you don’t have the opportunity to shop.”

  Despite Alice’s vow to purchase as little as possible, she blanched when she signed the final bill. The currency in her handbag would not have been enough to cover a tiny fraction of her new wardrobe. Helene would simply have to settle the debt on her behalf and Alice would make payments once she began working

  Mrs. Sloane dropped her business card into a tiny shopping bag filled with perfume and body cream samples. “I’ll have these things sent to your room, along with hosiery and the proper foundation garments.”

  “You’ve been ever so much help.” Alice eyed the woman’s sleek tresses. “Is there a hair salon in the arcade?”

  “Your young man will know where to go. I’ll call ahead so they’ll expect you.”

  Alice shook her head. “Oh…Blade is not my young man.”

  “No?” The clerk gave her a secretive smile. “I think he would like to be if you let him.”

  Alice made a noncommittal sound. “We’ll see.”

  ∞∞∞

  Once Alice returned to her suite, she dressed for dinner in her new crimson sheath, luxurious silk stockings, and high heels. Her hair had been freshly trimmed to fall midway down her back, her nails were manicured and buffed, and she’d been pampered and spoiled as never before. She sorted through her new perfume samples and applied one with a delectable note of vanilla on her wrists.

  Alice bent down to run her fingertips across the new dragon leather-bound trunk that held her new wardrobe. A fabric bag in the closet protected her new evening gown from dust and her clothes for the following day had already been laid out. All in all, she’d enjoyed herself far more than she had anticipated…yet she reminded herself not to get too used to being treated like a princess.

  While she waited for Blade and Ambassador Quincy, she turned on the vidscreen in the sitting room and happened upon a program about the Royal Promenade. The broadcast was airing a lengthy profile of a young woman from an outer Colossusian province, detailing such things as her personal statistics, hobbies, and views on current affairs.

  “This will be my first Promenade and I can’t wait!” The vivacious brunette gave the camera a beaming smile. “I’m looking forward to all the balls and parties, but especially to making my final match.”

  Afterward, a panel came on to discuss the girl’s strengths and weaknesses as a debutante.

  “You know, Shana, I think Miss Rachel Watkins is one to watch.” A craggy-faced man with bouffant hair leered at the lady next to him. “She has tremendous poise to go along with her long legs.”

  “Yes, Harry, but Rachel’s talent is gardening.” Shana shrugged. “I’m not sure that will play well in the capitol. What do you think, Philip?”

  The third panelist was a middle-aged man with a dapper beard. “Talent isn’t everything. Didn’t you see her swimsuit video?”

  Shana groaned but she slid Philip a smile. “You’ve never been one to mince words, have you? Shall we tally her Desirability Quotient?”

  A set of numbers came up on the screen.

  “7.9!” Shana smiled. “I’d say that was generous, but it’s early yet. When weighed against the other ladies, Rachel Watkins’ DQ may moderate higher or lower.”

  “Next, we have a young lady from…”

  A knock came at the door and Alice went to open it. Blade, clad in a black suit and a bow tie, entered the room.

  He gave her ensemble a once-over. “Wow.”

  “Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.” Her gaze focused on the open doorway. “Is Ambassador Quincy with you?”

  “We’re to meet him in the hotel bar.”

  She nodded and went to turn the vidscreen off. “I was just watching a little bit of Royal Promenade coverage and I don’t understand it at all. The panelists were scrutinizing some poor girl’s assets and weighing her as if she were some kind of commodity. I thought the Promenade was a social event, but they made it seem like a contest.”

  Blade made a face. “The Ministry of Information is broadcasting the Promenade in excruciating detail this year. His Majesty wishes to lift everyone’s spirits after the death of Queen Tara.”

  “Spirits must be very low if the Ministry of Information is going to so much trouble.” Alice frowned. “I’m glad I’m not part of the circus.”

  Blade shrugged. “The circus can be fun. I’m considering entering the Promenade
this year.”

  “So you approve of it?” She peered at him. “It seems to me that a young wizard like yourself would have no trouble finding a wife on your own.”

  “Like I said, the Promenade is great fun. I watched from the sidelines last year and the spectacle was impressive.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Does the panel assign a DQ to the gentlemen as well?”

  No.” Blade chuckled. “I’d suggest it to the Ministry, but the ratings are sky high as it is.”

  “You are shameless.” Alice picked up her glittering clutch. “Let’s go to dinner.”

  ∞∞∞

  The following morning, Alice was startled awake by the sound of voices in her sitting room. Wide-eyed, she shrugged into her wrapper and crept to the double doors. To her shock, several people she recognized from the beauty salon the day before had assembled and were helping themselves to a small buffet of breakfast foods set out on a long linen-covered table.

  She tightened her sash. “What’s going on?”

  Everyone called out a chorus of good mornings.

  Her hair stylist hastened toward her. “We’re going to get you ready for your audience with His Majesty.”

  Alice stared at him, bewildered. “How do you know about that?”

  “Our orders are from the Ministry of Information, Miss Holland.” He waved his hand toward the buffet. “After you have breakfast, we’ll work on your hair and makeup.”

  She edged backward. “I’ll be right back.”

  Alice disappeared into her bedroom and shut the door. Why would the Ministry of Information be giving orders to make her look her best unless they intended to take pictures of her arrival at Castle Briarwood? If her mother had called her back yesterday, Alice could have asked for help avoiding publicity.

  After a breakfast of fruit compote and a serving of savory egg custard with bacon, she allowed the salon team to perform their duties. Instead of the casual look they’d given her the day before, her tresses were curled and teased and supplemented with a small hairpiece that gave her added volume in the back and on top.

  Alice gaped at the glamorous wiglet as it was brought out of its box. “The color matches mine perfectly. How did you do that?”