Chapter 4
"No! No! No! Clara pay attention or I might have to whack your hand with a ruler, despite your royal status." I roll my eyes at the old hag, also known as my private tutor. Maths is my worst subject, and guess what? She's teaching me math's right now. "That's not the Pythagoras theorem! Silly girl! A squared plus B squared = C squared!" I'm confused. "I don't see any squares." Suddenly, Miss Griselda marches towards the door and yanks it open. The same boy from earlier stumbles into the room, he was clearly eavesdropping. "Alex! How many times have I told you not to eavesdrop?" So his name is ALEX! Alex looks sheepish but gives me a secretive wink. "Be careful Princess, Miss Grizzle is a tough cookie." I chuckle. "Miss Grizzle, Ey? Looks like I've got a new nickname for you Griselda." Miss Griselda prods Alex in the shoulder. "Look at you! Influencing the girl for the worst already!" Alex wriggles his eyebrows, "Oh Grizzle, she does that for herself already! Right Princess? Fancy, throwing the Duke in a lake." I blush.Griselda sniffs. "And she's mighty ashamed of it!" I strum my fingers against the desk. Alex grins with an eyebrow raised and turns to look at me. "Is she really, Grizzle? Does that look to you like the sort of face to be ashamed?" I stick my tongue out at him childishly. "CLARA! What on earth? Alex, get out, it's clearly your bad influence." Alex shrugs. "Touché." He places a pot of ink into Griselda's hand and turns to look at me. His gaze makes me tremble. "See you around, Princess." Griselda, ushers Alex out the room. "Your highness to you, foolish boy. Don't go filling her head with fantasies, your just a servant."
On that note, the door slams shut, and somehow, my world turns grey again.
*Later*
Mrs Griselda allowed me a break from Math's, so right now, I'm out in the garden, basking under the buttery sun. Tess drops down next to me with a sigh, it's been a busy day for her. This is the perfect opportunity. "Tess, do you know a boy with caramel hair and eyes the colour of the midnight sky? He's a servant so I thought-" Tess huffs, "Nice to see you too. Honestly, no, how has your day been? Are you alright from all that scurrying around all day?" I wince, sheepishly. "Sorry, it's just, I think I'm falling in love." Tess turns to look at me, eyes widened, she loves all that romantic soppy stuff. "Really, with who?" Her maroon ringlets fall about her face. "Alex." Tess gasps, " But he's a servant." "So? As you said, who you are doesn't stop you from loving someone else." Tess sniffs. "Yes but, He's a servant. It won't work Clara!" Suddenly, I feel an ombre of anger, Deepening at the tips. "Your a servant, should I stop being your best friend?"
Her amber eyes with flecks of brown fill with gentle tears. "Sorry, maybe it might work." I bite my lip, I hate seeing her upset. "Do you know him? Please tell me about him!" Tess gives out a dreamy sigh. "He works in the kitchen, but mostly he runs errands for people and fetches stuff for them. Sometimes, when I'm working in the kitchen, we see each other. He's awfully nice and funny. When cook scolded me for slicing my finger whilst cutting the turkey, he had a go at her and stuck up for me. He even cracked a joke about Turkey with Cranbury juice. Although he did get beaten. He's mighty brave and daring too!" He's perfect. I love him even more now!
"Oh Tess, you must tell him to meet me in my room at midnight!" Tess's eyes widen. "In your room..." I slap her arm. "We won't be doing THAT kind of stuff, I just want to see him..." Tess sniffs, " I don't share any tasks with him today." "Please Tess!" "Well, well... You wouldn't want to appear too keen right. Maybe you should play hard to get?" "Oh yeah!" I chirp and give her a tight hug. "Thanks Tessie Bessie! Perfect advice."
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