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Charlotte smiled at the story, a bit misty-eyed at the romance of it. She wasn’t certain what it had to do with her or her correspondence with Petrus, though.
Princess Dagmar seemed to understand her confusion.
“Love can be found in the most unusual of places and with people who would surprise you,” she said. “Never mind what others think, what the plans of kings or paupers are.” There was a certain something in the way she said that and looked at Brigitta as she did that felt odd to Charlotte, but she went on with, “Follow your heart and let it take you where it would.”
“So,” Charlotte began, then decided she needed another gulp of tea to fortify herself before going on. “So you approve of my affection for Petrus?” she asked quietly, almost afraid of the answer.
But Princess Dagmar—and Brigitta—smiled widely. “Of course I do,” she said. “Because I can clearly see the two of you care for each other. And that is all that matters, not titles or nationalities, or even international diplomacy.”
Charlotte was encouraged by those words. She was about to say something more, to ask about Lady Jenny as well, but a sudden, strange squeal from Pryia stopped her.
A moment later, Priya’s expression widened with surprise, and she reached behind her to pull a large, ugly Christmas ornament from behind the cushion at her back.
“What in the name of Vishnu’s arms isthis?” she asked, making a face at the hideous thing. It was about the size of a cricket ball, shaped like a boot, and covered with gaudy, black and white sequins.
Princess Dagmar and Brigitta burst into loud laughter so quickly that Charlotte jumped in surprise.
“You’ve found the boot!” Brigitta proclaimed, clapping her hands and beaming.
“The boot?” Priya arched one eyebrow at Brigitta and handed the ornament to Charlotte.
Charlotte surveyed it with distaste. “What is it?”
Princess Dagmar continued to laugh for a moment before saying, “It is a monstrosity that was given to Princess Luna about ten years ago, when she was a child, by Prince Lars, her twin. She thought it was so ugly that she would only hang it on the back of the family Christmas tree. But every time Lars found it there, he would move it around to the front and center. Then Luna would remove it to the back again, and so on and so forth.”
“Until one day when Luna decided enough was enough,” Brigitta picked up the story. “She took it off the tree entirely and hid it.”
“She didn’t have the heart to throw it away completely, you see,” Princess Dagmar said. “It was a gift from her twin, after all.”
“But Lars found it, of course, and hung it back on the tree,” Brigitta said. “And Luna took it off and hid it again.”
“It has become a family tradition,” Princess Dagmar said, beaming. “Luna hides the boot, and whoever finds it returns it to the Christmas tree. Once it’s there, Luna hides it again.”
“But if you’re caught returning the boot to the tree, whoever catches you can force you to perform a forfeit.”
“A forfeit?” Charlotte asked, loving the idea. “What does that entail?”
“Whatever the one who catches you at it wants,” Princess Dagmar said. “Two years ago, Prince Leif caught me at it, and I was forced to sing a tavern song at the supper table that night, in front of everyone.”
Charlotte laughed out loud at that. The image of the regal and powerful Princess Dagmar singing a drinking song for her family at supper was a delight.
“I had to walk around wearing a paper crown all day once last year,” Brigitta said with a laugh.
“Can anyone play this game or is it for family only?” Priya asked.
“Anyone can play,” Brigitta said, sitting straighter, her eyes flashing with mischief. “We’ve had guests perform some of the most amusing forfeits in the past.”
“Then I think Charlotte should attempt to return the boot to the family tree without being caught,” Priya said, as mischievous as Brigitta.
“Me?” Charlotte laughed and looked at the boot in her hands.
“Yes,” Priya said. “You never know who you might find on your way to return it.”
Charlotte caught her breath at the suggestion. Her friend was providing her with a way to find Petrus and have a bit of time alone, so that they might talk. And from the looks on Princess Dagmar’s and Brigitta’s faces, they liked the plan.
“The family Christmas tree is in the library,” Princess Dagmar said. “Go to the end of the hall, then turn right. There’s another hall halfway down. Take that to the left and follow it all the way to the end. The library cannot be missed, and the family tree is right in the center of the room.”
Charlotte set her teacup aside and glanced at the three women watching her. “Do you think I’ll be caught?” she asked, rather hoping she would and that Petrus would catch her. She could only imagine the sort of forfeit he would ask her to pay.
