Then Pricilla's spilled laughter cracked at the incongruity of the situation. The same thought must have occurred to Essie because her small giggle escaped. Cinderella looked from one to the other and felt an involuntary twitch of her own lips.
Was it possible they could become friends? And what would happen if they learned she was the mysterious princess? She peered into Essie's laughing, brilliant green eyes. Prince might even prefer this new Essie…
The dilemma subdued her joy to a weak smile.
*****
Prince guided his large gray toward the stables with Arnald fast on his heels. The morning had been a long but fruitful one of guiding repairs on a crumbling wall along the western perimeter of the castle grounds. Flocks of sheep grazed undisturbed by their presence, which never ceased to amaze him.
Prince loved this portion of his life, working alongside the men who labored the land to feed their families, keeping Chalmers Kingdom safe. He vowed there was no greater purpose in life than these men. He felt humbled and honored by their service to his family, to this land.
His unpretentious and proud people had educated and protected him as a small child through all the years he'd ridden the land next to his father. Now as an adult, his duty remained unequivocal. Keeping the land safe, productive, orderly. A position he took with great solemnity.
He and Arnald set toward home. All he envisioned was a long soak in a hot bath. Arnald pulled up beside him when an outburst of delighted laughter exploded through the air. Not the shrilly, artificial kind females were taught to use in the presence of their male counterparts and betters. But the genuine, humorous kind when one believed no one would hear. They slowed their horses in perfect unison.
Prince raised a hand to shield his eyes from the bright afternoon sun and spotted an open carriage on the path toward the pond with Demeter, the natural goddess of the harvest. Colorful parasols curtailed his view but the uninhibited amusement was just too curious to pass by.
Prince met Arnald's eyes with raised brows. Then, testament to the true friends they were-or mayhap the blood of the relation-without a word spoken between the two, they turned in simultaneous redirection. No questions followed hearing such irresistible sounds.
By the time Prince and Arnald had approached the rear of the carriage the laughter had dissolved into fits of girlish giggles, indicating their arrival had indeed gone unnoticed. To Prince's surprise, it was Espelina, Pricilla, and Cinderella. Unrestrained laughter made the trio look happy, carefree. He hesitated, knowing the relaxed atmosphere would shift once his presence was revealed.