DeGanne chuckled. “That is your greatest challenge, I fear, Mrs. Boyde. My daughter is too like her father. Civility may be beyond her.”
The thought of father stilled her a moment. “Am I like Father? Does it make you sad to look at me?”
“Not in the least. You are his greatest legacy.” Lady DeGanne turned away as the carriage rumbled to a stop. They had arrived.
4
Marissa smirked as she slipped into the library, losing her tutor in the twisted hallways and galleys within the living quarters of the palace. Not even a week since their arrival and Mother already insisted she continue with her studies. She hadn’t met the king, nor his son. She hadn’t met anyone other than the pale, dull tutor. She refused to be melancholy, instead turning her attention to the cases of books standing floor to ceiling. The faces of ancient men frowned down on her from the painted ceiling. She ignored them, twisting her braid. The shelves formed a bit of a ladder, she could…
“I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s a nasty fall when you lose your grip.”
Marissa yelped and spun around, finding herself facing a young man at one of the desks forming a study area in the center of the room. The prince? She narrowed her eyes and studied him a full minute. “You look ordinary enough, so you must not be the prince.” She offered a bright smile.
“Oh?” His dark brows lifted. “What must the prince look like? Haven’t you met him?”
“Goodness, no.” She skipped closer, her braids bouncing off her back. “Why would I want to meet him? He’ll be nine feet tall with his nose in the air another six inches. “
The young man offered a perplexed look. “Why is he so tall?”
“Well, I’m sure he thinks he is, being royal and everything.” Marissa leaned on the edge of the desk, peering at the open book the young man had been studying.
“Aren’t you royal now as well?”
“I’m ordinary as can be, no matter what Mother says. She would love to have me fall in love with the prince, but I refuse.” She stomped her foot emphatically.
“You’re all of what, twelve? Too young to fall in love.”
Her lips thinned. “I’ll be thirteen in a month.”
He nodded, smiling. “Hm, that means you’ll be this short of grown up.” He held his thumb and forefinger apart, measuring an inch. “Maybe you could be the prince’s friend.”
“Why would he want me for a friend?”
“Because he’s lonely, living in this drafty old castle without a friend in the world.” The young man stood. “He was sincerely wishing you would accept him.”
Suspicion caused her to furrow her brow. “He told you this?” He remained silent, his gaze steady as a horrifying thought came to Marissa’s mind. She stomped her foot again. “It isn’t fair. I was determined you would be a horrible creature and I would have nothing to do with you.”
“I’m not horrible?”
She couldn’t ignore his hopeful look. She smiled and shook her head. “No, you aren’t. Although you should have let me know right away who you were.” She tried to stop a grin, but failed. “Well, maybe not. I wouldn’t have talked with you long enough to like you.”
“You like me now?”
“In a friend sort of way.” She emphasized friend.
He laughed. “You are almost thirteen and I’m halfway to being seventeen. Friends it will have to be.” He rubbed his chin. “But what about six years from now?”
Marissa shook her head. “I’ll be too flighty to get serious about anyone. You’ll have to wait at least ten. Hopefully you will be married before then.”
He stuck out his hand. “Prince Robert of Camden.” He bowed over her hand.
She shook her head with an exasperated sigh. “Marissa DeGanne, of nowhere and never will be.”
They both laughed. Robert waved at a seat across the desk from him. Marissa sat.
“What do you think of the parade for Saturday?” He asked.
Marissa was more interested in the oversized book on his side of the desk. She moved from the chair to crawl on her knees so she could lean across the desk, flipping to the next page in his book.
He asked again.
She raised her brows as she looked up at him. ‘Parade?”
He nodded. “The kingdom wants to see the new queen.”
Marissa shook her head. “Mother isn’t queen, she’s the king’s wife.”
Robert shrugged. “Whatever she chooses to call herself, our people wish to see her. And you, of course.”
“Me? Why would anyone be interested in me?”
“You’re right.” He grinned. “Since I’ll be