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“And now I must go and see to our guest, lest the staff spread rumors of us acting uncharitably,” the princess said with an air of gracious authority.
The king tsked his tongue, but there was some admiration there. Pride. “You have your mother’s tongue and the bold pride of any prince. I should warn this upstart away from you, but I might be persuaded to pity him instead.”
Ainsley smiled, but her voice became softer. “Take him on your hunt, Father. Give him the chance to prove himself. What you already offered is all I truly ask of you.”
The king stood silent for another moment, then he nodded his head. “So be it. Go, and on the morrow, I shall see this boy dressed up as you desire.”
Game. Set. Match.
Chapter 15
Curiosity Killed the Cat
Archie was in one of the upstairs rooms of the castle where some “proper” clothes were found for him. And by proper, they meant “fancy” and “undersized.” Both the woolen tunic and linen undershirt were far nicer than anything Archie had ever worn but a bit tight on his shoulders. So Ainsley barged in to make him stand while one of her ladies fixed the seams. And even though he was entirely covered, it still felt rather intimate. Certainly improper. “Princess, are you supposed to be in here? Where is your guard?”
Ainsley laughed. “I don’t need my guard to follow me around inside the castle, silly. What bandits do you think would find me in here? Now let me see.”
Archie wasn’t sure what she wanted to see, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop her.
And now that he had made his token protest, as he thought he must, he really didn’t want to stop her. He might never tire of watching Ainsley get her own way. She moved around with all the confidence and grace he had always imagined a princess should have.
Like watching a faerie dance.
“There,” she said, still holding Leo against one shoulder and looking at Archie with triumph. “Now you’ll look like one of the noble huntsmen when you go out with the men tomorrow. Father should approve.”
Archie frowned, something about the words stopping him short. What exactly had Ainsley told the king about him? “We’re lying to your father?”
“Not lying. Just dressing up the truth a bit.” She ran one of her hands over his collar and chest as if checking to see if everything fit. Archie’s heart raced, and he tried to think of anything else. Something less . . . enticing. Harris’s flea-bitten donkey. The mill churning out flour. Anything. “You’re a huntsman; your grandfather was a huntsman, so it’s likely he had some ties to a noble family who could find him a sponsor and afford the charter. If we had more information and more time, we might even discover which one. And if my father sees you dressed as a noble, behaving as one, well . . . I don’t see why there should be any harm in that.”
He sputtered. “But I don’t know how to behave as a noble.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m here to teach you.” She winked at him impishly. “Nothing wrong with that. And when you go out with the men tomorrow to find the bandits, you’ll have your bow . . . You have been practicing, haven’t you?”
“Yes, but Leo still catches most of it.”
Ainsley took back her hand and stared down at the animal still resting on her shoulder. “Your cat?”
“He likes catching rabbits, but I did hit a few of them this morning.” No, Archie hadn’t meant to let that slip, but here he was. Playing a part on stage was one thing, when everyone was in on the gag, but long-term, he couldn’t maintain any sort of lie.
The princess had put her hands on him, and he completely lost his mind.
But it didn’t sound nearly as ridiculous as he feared now that he was finally saying it out loud. Normal cats could catch rabbits, even if few did it with the zeal and frequency Leo did. And many wouldn’t fault Archie for counting Leo’s prowess as his own. Noble huntsmen used trained hounds, hawks, and horses without a hint of shame. They saw it as another arrow in their quivers, the same as any other tool. That’s how most men viewed their pets, though Archie knew that wasn’t how Leo viewed himself.
They were a team, and if anything, the cat might still be on top. Leo had just tricked him into appearing half-naked before royalty, bearing all his truth while the princess dressed him up like a life-sized doll or another charity case. And that might be all Archie was. A stray animal Ainsley had decided she wanted to fuss over—like Tabitha and her cats.
Now that was an uncomfortable thought. At least his heart wasn’t racing anymore.
He shook his head. “I just haven’t shot a deer yet—haven’t even tried. I’m still a few coins away from paying off my charter, and I need a sponsor.” And Archie didn’t know any other huntsmen. He certainly didn’t know any knights, but something about the structure gave the profession a bit more legitimacy. Some talent he might have been proud to earn and eventually call his own.
After all, Archie had always been happy to work so long as it served some higher purpose.
The princess smiled and handed him back the cat—though the cat soon jumped to the carpet because Leo would never let Archie hold him for long. Stubborn beast.
“That gives me an even better idea. Just be here in the morning, Anderdolf.” Ainsley touched her thumb to his lips before leaving—an imitation of their almost-kiss.
And just like that, his heart leapt free of its flimsy tether. No other thoughts could hold it down. And if she was any other girl, he might have thought or even hoped she was asking him to cross another boundary and kiss her for real.
But Archie left the castle without another word. And as he walked home, the fancy, undersized boots he had been given started to pinch—worse than any of his old hand-me-downs. He already had one uncomfortable thought regarding the princess, and soon he had another. He liked Ainsley. Of course he did. The princess of his dreams was sweeter, brighter, and far livelier than he could have ever guessed.
