Jessica loathed the idea of Rhiannon marrying the likes of Sir Brodrick. Even so, the castle bustled with activity, positively bursting at the seams with nervous excitement. Their Princess Rhiannon, finally getting married, and to her best friend from childhood! Maids swooned from the romance of it all. They lamented that they would miss the great Sir Brodrick’s bachelorhood but agreed that it was for the best. Sweet Rhiannon would marry the strongest among the knights and escape her fate as a dragon’s prisoner to live happily ever after.
Only Rhiannon’s lady-in-waiting saw things differently. Jessica smiled and nodded with the rest, but her expression remained pinched. She’d seen the way Brodrick treated her lady and had experienced firsthand the way he chased off friends and rival suitors alike. Even the servants hadn’t been exempt from the hurled abuse. Jessica alone had remained when others fled. She prided herself on being a stubborn “country bumpkin” noble and her mulish qualities that the other servants often teased her for. Rhiannon had appreciated Jessica for those same qualities and thanked her for them while weeping in gratitude.
To marry Brodrick was the opposite of a fairy-tale ending in Jessica’s opinion. She bit her tongue while the others gushed around her. She would just have to think of something to keep her lady safely out of his hands. Maybe she could offer to join him on the expedition to fight the dragon and slip him some poison once the deed was done? Then Rhiannon could be happily widowed until she attracted a suitor she cared for.
Jessica comforted herself with this plan while she worked. When she tidied her lady’s chambers, she always left the bedroom for last. Rhiannon had never been a morning person thanks to countless nightmares plaguing her even on the best of nights, so Jessica always saved waking and dressing her lady for the last possible moment. The princess was never much trouble to get ready for the day as Rhiannon always went along with whatever dress and jewelry Jessica chose for her. It had surprised the country noble’s daughter at first, but over their years together, she’d come to realize that was just Rhiannon’s way. She didn’t have much opinion on fashion or jewels, and so Jessica could have fun with them on her behalf.
When the outer rooms had been straightened out, Jessica knocked politely at her lady’s door. She received no reply, nor had she expected one. Once she finally managed to fall asleep, Rhiannon could sleep like the dead.
Jessica let herself in and threw back the curtains to allow watery winter sunlight to stream into the room. “Good morning, Your Highness,” she said as she tied the heavy brocade back with golden cords. “I hope you slept well. I have your breakfast ready in the other room. Please eat while I prepare your...”
She trailed off upon seeing the neatly made bed with no Rhiannon and no sign she had slept there at all last night. Immediately, Jessica’s mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion. What if Brodrick had dragged her poor mistress to his rooms for the night? Their Majesties had given him a suite on the first floor, and that sort of behavior wasn’t unheard of from him. He’d taken liberties with Rhiannon before. A forced kiss here, an improper touch there... Too often, and those were only the times Jessica knew of. She balled her fists at her sides and gritted her teeth.
What should she do? What could she do? Jessica dithered but a moment. It would be better if she were the one to find them. If Brodrick truly was crass enough to kidnap his soon-to-be bride, better that she, someone who could keep it quiet for Rhiannon’s sake, find them and help deny it. Yes. Much better Jessica than Brodrick’s shameless gossip of a squire.
Just in case, she slipped some clothes underneath the cleaning supplies in her bag before heading down the hall. No one was around to notice her descending the servants’ stairs. Even if they had, Jessica had a ready excuse: Her mistress wished to send Brodrick a message. Who would question it? Repulsive as the idea was, they were rumored love birds.
She knocked on the door to Sir Brodrick’s rooms and waited. When he didn’t answer right away, she knocked again, impatient. She heard rustling on the other side, a grouchy, hungover, “What d’you want so early?” and then the door opened. Brodrick, eyes bloodshot from a night of far too much merriment, scowled down at her. “What is it?”
Dropping into a deep curtsy, she asked, “I beg your pardon. Her Highness appears to have gone for a stroll this morning and I was looking for her. You wouldn’t happen to have seen her, have you, sir?” Imperceptibly, she peered through her lashes into the dim room behind him. Deep in the shadows, she saw the bedclothes rustle. Her heart seized in horror.
She couldn’t help but exclaim, “My lord!”
Brodrick hurried to block her view. He was not fast enough. She spotted a petite figure beneath the blankets. “I have not seen Rhiannon this morning,” he informed her with a frown. “If that’s all you needed, leave.”
She couldn’t. Not when there was someone else behind him that could be her mistress. “Are you quite certain?” Jessica leaned slightly to sneak a peek.
“Yes, I’m certain.”
Only when she caught a glimpse of golden curls did Jessica relax. Rhiannon was a brunette, and her hair, though fluffy, laid flat. While she wasn’t surprised that a man engaged would be enjoying another’s company, it still irked her. Just wait until this gets out, she thought viciously as she curtsied once more. “Then I will check elsewhere. Good day, my lord.”
Before she could leave, Brodrick’s broad hand shot out and gripped her upper arm with bruising force. “If I hear any rumors floating about,” he snarled in her ear, “I will personally punish you for stealing from me. Understand?”
Jessica blanched but nodded. “O-Of course,” she stammered. “I saw nothing worth mentioning.”
“Good.” His grip tightened until she thought for sure her bones would break. “I understand good help is hard to come by these days. It would be a shame for someone as well loved as Rhiannon’s personal servant to be without her hands.”
He released her and slammed the door behind him. Jessica’s legs gave out. With a soft whump, she collapsed to the carpet. No one could know. About Brodrick’s affair, and certainly not about Rhiannon’s disappearance. Not yet. Not until she knew for herself what had happened.
My lady, Jessica thought as she hurried back to Rhiannon’s rooms in search of clues, where did you go?
She could only hope that the witch had come to extract the price of her aid directly. No matter how Jessica considered the situation, Rhiannon really would be safer with a dragon than with Sir Brodrick.