I walk across the bridge over the river, thinking about what my mother told me last night, a Wednesday night. She said that I was betrothed to a rich count from another country. She also said I was allowed to choose the day. It was a mercy she extended since the arrangement was made without my consent.
My father was ill, and being the eldest of three sisters, I needed to marry well for our security. One might think a duchess would not need to marry for money. The truth was the country had been limping along for years; everyone was struggling, and the royal family was the cause of it all. At least, that was how the citizens saw it.
But, country matters were not my current concern. My mother had praised the count’s claim to money and boasted about how it would help us. It is a true shame a man below my station has more money than I do, a fact forcing me to give up all hope of marrying the one man I truly loved.
“I have always wanted a wedding on a Wednesday,” I told her.
“Which Wednesday would you prefer?” she asked. “The sooner the better.”
I bet she regretted saying the last part, for I said, “This Wednesday. A week from today.”
She gasped, her hand flying to her chest. She hurried away to start preparations, even though the sun was already down.
I’m sure I had succeeded in serving perfect revenge setting the date as I did. Perhaps I should have been a little more forgiving since she did let me choose. Two weeks might have been nicer. But I couldn’t change it now.
I leave my thoughts as I see my sisters running toward me. They must have just received the news.
“Why Wednesday?” they yell at me from across the river. “Why not a Saturday or a Sunday?”
“Wed-day,” I answer with a sly smile.
They scoff. “You made your wedding day into a pun?”
I smirk and continue walking.
~*~
It is Sunday, and I stand in the grand parlor, waiting to meet my finance before attending worship. However, no one knows I’m here. They all think I’m late or being rebellious. I want to meet my future husband without a grand ceremony. I disguised myself, changing my form to that of a simple maid. No one knew I had such a gift. I’d never revealed it to anyone.
“It seems the Count will not be coming down today,” says the count’s valet as he enters the room.
“Apparently the duchess will not either,” says my mother. My mother and sisters leave disappointed, but the valet stays.
I decide to dust. Dusting helps me relax when I need to think about things, and I needed to think about a lot of things right now. What was I going to take with me come Thursday morning? I hope the count is not a big, bald, old man. Surely my mother would not subject me to such a thing, but she was getting rather desperate.
After musing for a while, I notice the valet is still lurking in the halls.
“Shouldn’t you be tending to your master?” I say coldly.
“I did not expect such a fine accent from a maid,” he retorts.
I turn my face away, glaring at him from the corner of my eye.
He walks around the room, looking at our portraits and antiques. “I understand the prince is making new investments to help your little country,” he says as if mindlessly thinking out loud.
“I have it on good authority that he considers it. I hope with all my heart he follows through with the plans. We had discussed that it was not an uncertain thing like the investments his father made. He would be putting money into mines that are proven to be good and strong. That’s not even to mention the trade routes.”
“You and the prince had discussed this?” he asks.
I gasp. “Pardon me, what did you say?”
His eyes scan my body up and down. I feel almost naked as he does it. I quickly leave his presence.
He follows me though. I feel my throat swell in uneasiness. I’ve never been stalked before, and I as a maid have far less protection than a duchess.
I step into a dark corridor to get out of his sight. I quickly change into my natural form before he can follow. I move across the hall in silent haste to pretend I had come from a different direction. I run into him as he turns the corner.
“Oh my!” I shout.
“Pardon me,” says the valet.
“What on earth are you doing on this side of the house, sir? This is the ladies’ wing.”
“Milady,” he bows before me. “I do not mean to cause trouble. I am… quite turned around.”
“Aren’t you the valet to my finance?” As soon as I say that, I realize I made a mistake. I had never met the man as the duchess.
“What?” he says.
My eyes search the room in embarrassment. “Who are you?”
“I…” he looks down at his arms and body. “The valet, yes.”
“Do you not know yourself? Are you a prowler come to attack my maids? I should have you arrested.”
“No, ma’am, I am the valet. I am so sorry to have disturbed you.”
I know he is, but I want to make sure he leaves my maids alone. “Leave. Go back to your master and never leave his room again.”
He stares at me in wonder. There is a look in his eyes I do not understand. Strange eyes of the deepest blue. But… stranger than that, I feel as if I know these eyes.
I remove my own stare and continue my demands. “Are you dumb? I said return to the count.”
His eyes awaken. He takes one more bow before leaving without another word.
~*~
It is Wednesday morning, and my mother and maids prepare me for the wedding. All I have to do is stand there, allowing my thoughts to drift. The valet was not seen again, but the count was not seen either. I worried that I had ruined relations before they even began. But at least my maids were safe.
Father is confined to a chair, but it pleases me to see him at the wedding as I walk down the aisle.
I reach the alter to finally look upon my groom. He is tall, with dark hair and… deep blue eyes. These eyes are far too familiar. They have the same wonder to them as the… valet.
As the priest gives his speeches, my groom leans ever so slightly in my direction and whispers, “Why were you so rude the other day?”
“What?” I say as I look at him. The priest clears his throat in annoyance. I had spoken too loudly.
My mind races with thoughts, though. Those eyes… My groom is the valet! Shapeshifters cannot change their eye color, so he must be one… like me.
“Why were you following my maid?” I return.
“I didn’t mean to scare or offend. I only wanted to reveal myself to you, but then you were so… brusque.”
“I wanted to protect my maids.”
I saw the corner of his mouth lift. “I’m glad you care for your household. You do not look upon your servants as dirt. I was afraid you weren’t how I remembered you.”
This whole conversation raised more questions than answers. But before I could ask anything else, we were wed.
~*~
The celebrations were a blur. So was my going away. I soon found myself in a carriage on the way to my new home. My husband and I are riding quietly together. We had yet to kiss, but I am all right with that. It appears our relationship was all about lies and I am anxious to see what other surprises my husband might have.
He takes my hand. I start but relax and watch him intently.
“I never got to fully explain myself,” he says.
“Oh,” is the only thing to leave my mouth.
“I knew you were the maid from your posture and speech. Then you said you had spoken with the prince. It was only confirmation.” He chuckles as he adds, “But I was so confused by the way you treated me as a valet, until you explained your concern for your maids.”
“Your words do not cease to confuse me,” I say.
A knock from the driver brought an excited smile to my husband’s face. He pulls back the carriage curtains and says, “Welcome home.”
I look out the window. This was the castle of my king and queen. Then it all makes sense. My husband is not a count. And his eyes were not those of the valet. I know this man. He is the crown prince! We have danced together at the balls, held discussions of the state of the country, and made fun of other royals from distant corners. We have known each other for years.
“It wasn’t just your behavior that gave you away,” he confesses. “It was your voice. It haunts me night and day. I’m so sorry I had to lie to get to you. My family has been under such scrutiny, I wasn’t sure your mother would accept me.”
I blush, embarrassed that I did not recognize him. I also agree that my mother would not have been happy with the idea of me marrying the prince. After all, she was sending me off for money, something the royals were not known to have.
“Do you remember the plans we made several months ago? To open new trade routes through the country, and invest in working mines? They have paid off. I haven’t made the announcements yet because I didn’t know if they would succeed. And… I wanted you to be there to receive credit. Not only will the country be prosperous again, but I can help your family, too. I know we are married now, but… well… I want to know if you will truly have me, even though I lied.”
“My only regret is you didn’t tell me sooner who you were,” I say. “I have loved you for such a long time.”
He transforms into his natural form. My breath escapes me as I look upon my husband, the man I wished for years that I could marry. He moves to my side and wraps his arms around me. He strokes the hair lying on my cheek. He gently leans into me, and we share our first kiss.
Beth Freemont 