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“Good morning, my lady. I am glad to see you up. I thought you might like to walk in the garden and get some fresh air.”
Wren sneered inwardly at the suggestion, but then thought it might be wise to learn the grounds and lay out if she was ever to escape this place. She nodded and began eating the warm bacon and egg on her plate. At least this was not so unfamiliar to her. In fact, if she closed her eyes she could almost imagine Georgie talking a mile a minute and her aunt smiling patiently, while uncle quickly grabbed some bacon and headed out to the fields. Her heart ached and she had to force herself to come back to reality.
Finishing breakfast and washing up, Sophie helped Wren into the green dress she had seen her carrying. Wren was grateful that she was not forced to endure the corset from the previous night. As Sophie worked silently on the buttons, Wren found herself admiring the beautiful details. It was trimmed with a gold lacework that flowed on the edges of the sleeves only to meet in a cascade of swirls down the center of the hunter green dress.
“Sophie. It is beautiful.” Even her dress from last night did not seem as fine as this.
Sophie smiled, “I am glad you approve.” Approval was an understatement as Wren did not think she would ever again wear a gown so fine in all her life.
Sophie walked to the door and knocked on it twice. The door opened and a guard peered in. “Lady Wren wishes to walk in the garden this morning.” The guard looked to the other guard before nodding. Sophie gave a reassuring gesture and Wren began walking out of her cozy prison.
The hallway that faced her was long filled with windows overlooking expansive gardens that she had not been able to visualize last night on her march to her cell. It seemed every window showed more greenery and in the distance a large looming castle towered over the greenery.
Soon, she came to an opening in the hallway and just as if it was part of the building a courtyard appeared. It did not appear to be only a courtyard though, it seemed that this was the entrance to the entire garden. Wren wondered briefly at the logic of this in regards to security before realizing she could smell the flowery scent and the breeze of fresh air. She relished the feeling of liberation the scents brought to her and breathed in deeply as if she could bottle them up.
She placed her palms face out and closed her eyes appreciating the feel of the sun and the wide open space. Hearing a sniff, she was reminded of the two guards and Sophie following behind her. The brief feeling of liberation dissipated quickly as she was reminded that she was still a prisoner.
They continued their walk through hedges and blossoming trees until they came upon a small area that consisted of a bench surrounded by blooming flowers. Sitting on the bench, Wren allowed herself a moment to forget her circumstances and closed her eyes only focusing on what her senses gave her. The sweet perfume of the air, the warmth wrapping around her like a favorite blanket.
“What a wonderful coincidence. I have been eager to speak to you, Lady Wren!” Wren was jolted from her revelry and before she could refute her status as a lady her eyes opened and the most handsome man she had ever seen was smiling down at her. He was in a gray and white tunic and had dark brown hair perfectly arranged. It struck Wren that his eyes were strange in the sense that while they were a light blue, they seemed almost murky.
The handsome stranger laughed, “But how rude of me, I am Prince Richard Blackwood, pleased to meet your acquaintance.”
Wren’s mouth went dry as she watched him give a slight bow. “Prince?” Truly, she would need to work on being more articulate in the future.
“Ah yes, you would already be familiar with my overly warm and caring older brother, Kai. I assure you we are nothing alike, no need to be so concerned. I only wanted a chance to meet you and speak to you.” Wren began to get the sense that this was a man who enjoyed the sound of his own voice. Still she found herself grateful for the warmth he was showing her.
With a slight smile, Richard made a gesture to the guards and they left them with a bow. The prince turned back to her and then a frown fell on his otherwise beautiful face. He turned to Sophie who was still standing nearby, watching them. “Surely, your mistress will be quite safe with me, Sophie. I should think you would enjoy the time to spend with my brother as it has been, gracious, an hour since you last parted ways. I know he does not like you to be far from him.” Wren did not miss the slight in his words or the brief anger that shone on Sophie’s face.
“I have been ordered to stay with Lady Wren should she need anything.” Sophie’s words were short and made no room for further argument. At least that likely would have been the case had she not been speaking to a prince.
“Leave us, Sophie. Go fetch my dear big brother if you must, but go.” Sophie stared daggers at the prince before her face hardened with determination and she clumsily curtsied before turning abruptly and hurrying past the hedges.
Richard smiled and Wren could not help the unsettling feeling that filled her stomach as he turned his victorious grin on her before settling back into the charming one she had previously admired.
“Bless, now isn’t that better?” He leaned against the wall, arms folded. “I’d say we have a few minutes before she scurries back with reinforcements. Now Wren, how are you enjoying Haradon?”
Wren bit her lip. There were a considerable number of thoughts to run through in a short amount of time. Despite Sophie’s obvious allegiance and strange relationship with the elder prince she trusted Sophie, but she clearly didn’t trust the prince before her. Still, any potential ally was a possibility she couldn’t refuse.
The words poured out. “I just want to go home.”
Richard nodded, his short chestnut hair sliding into his eyes. “I thought you might say so.”
He pushed himself off the wall and came to stand in front of her, leaning down conspiratorially. “I can help you, but you can’t tell Sophie or my brother else they will try to stop you. Do you understand? I am not going to risk my neck helping you if you can’t keep a secret.”
The air felt thick, and her heart beat wildly. Here was her chance and she wouldn’t throw it away, but there was something nagging at the back of her mind.
“Why?” Wren drew a long breath. “Why would you help me?”
Richard’s smile grew and Wren got the impression that he was often smiling. “My brother is insufferable on his best day. It suits me to see him lose for once.”
What Wren thought would give her answers only brought more questions. “How would me going home be a loss to him? He’s been nothing but horrible.”
Richard tsked. “Here’s the thing. We’ve got about two more minutes. Do you want to know how to get home or not?”
Anxiety fresh and consuming blossomed deep in her chest. If she had more time then perhaps she could figure out who to trust, but she didn’t have that luxury. If she ever wanted to see her home and family again she would need to be bold. Cara needed her to tell her mother what happened. She could do this for her friend.
Meeting murky eyes, she said, “Tell me.”
