dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon by linda k hopkins Page B

Would you care to walk around the grounds with me? We can watch the matrons who are so intent on watching us. ‘Look, there goes Mistress Kathleen,’ they will say, ‘with … who is that girl again? Ah, yes, I remember now – she has a sister – I’ve forgotten her name – who’s married to Aaron Drake, the most handsome man to have ever graced this kingdom.’”
    “Aaron Drake?” Kathleen breathed. “Your sister is married to Aaron Drake?”
    Anna looked at Kathleen in surprise. It had been years since Aaron lived at court. “Yes,” she said, “do you know him?”
    “I don’t know him,” Kathleen said, “but everyone knows of him. He slayed that terrible monster a few years ago. And my grandmother says he is the most beautiful man she has ever seen.”
    Anna laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far,” she said.
    “Well, please don’t introduce me to him. I would be too nervous to even say good evening.”
    “Nonsense,” Anna said. “There is nothing scary about Aaron at all. At least,” she amended, “nothing that could scare you if you saw him tonight.” Kathleen looked startled, and Anna hurried on. “Do you live in the city?” she asked.
    “Oh no. Except … what I mean to say is … yes, I do. Father brought me to the city a week ago so I could be introduced at court. He intends for me to live here with him, but the city…” There was a slight catch in her voice, and she took a deep breath before continuing. “Civitas is not my home.”
    “You lived in the country?”
    Kathleen nodded. “Before my mother died, we lived on an estate in the west. After she passed, Father came to the city, but I went to live with my grandmother, the Duchess of Southbury. She retired from court life about five years ago, and I have lived with her ever since.” She lifted her eyes to meet Anna’s. “Father has said I must be happy here, and I am determined to be so.”
    Anna smiled. “I’ve only just arrived in the city, too, but will be leaving tomorrow.”
    “Where do you live?”
    “I live with my sister and Aaron at their home in the north, but I am not returning with them to Storbrook. I will be staying at Drake House, just a few hours from the city.”
    “Will you visit sometimes?”
    “Whenever I am able.”
    “Good! Then you can visit me whenever you are in town, and we can be friends.” A clarion sounded, and Anna turned around to see people crowding towards the palace entrance.
    “Come,” Anna said, “the king and queen are making their grand entrance.” Looping her arm through Kathleen’s, she tugged her along as she followed the mass of people towards the palace courtyard. Slipping through the crowds, she pulled Kathleen to the far side, where they had a good view of the doorway. A moment later movement could be seen from within, and the new king and his queen stepped through the entrance. A cheer went up from the crowd, and Anna added her voice to the throng as the king and queen waved at their guests. Standing side by side, the queen stood a few inches shorter than her husband, although her long, golden hair, braided and coiled around the top of her head, made her seem taller. The thick mass shone in the sunlight, encircled by the crown of gold that had been placed on her head earlier that day. Alfred, too, wore a gold circlet upon his light brown locks. The royal children stood behind their parents, but a quick word from Matilda had them stepping around to stand in front. Alfred dropped a hand onto the shoulder of the oldest, Prince John, while the two little ones looked at the crowd in bewilderment. The youngest, the princess Mary, turned her face into her mother’s legs, but little Prince Frederick stared stoically at the ground. Anna could see someone else standing just behind the king, and she shifted slightly before seeing that it was the king’s brother, Prince Rupert.
    Prince Rupert was a direct contrast to his brother. In appearance, Alfred was lean and fair, while