Chapter 141
Prince Deacon, feeling defeated, took a seat under a sun umbrella, watching a group of ladies playing a game of Pall-Mall; a game wherein a ball is millet struck through a high arch of iron, which the person that the person with the fewest blows, or the number agreed on, wins.
Prince Deacon noticed Prince Adio talking to a few gentlemen that he seemed to be familiar with.
“Excuse me, sir,” a young footman interrupted Prince Deacon’s thoughts.
“Lord Deacon, accompanying Princess Freda,” Prince Deacon said.
“I am to compile a list of everyone that is spoken for and who will be able to participate in a courting game,” the Footman said.
“Princess Freda will defiantly participate, I won’t. Please don’t bother asking her,” Prince Deacon said, taking a glass of sparkling white wine from a tray that was held by another footman.
“Noted,” the Footman said, smiling, scribbling on a piece of paper on his tray.
The footman was about to walk off when Prince Deacon stopped him. “Tell me, Prince Adio, is he spoken for?”
“No, not according to my list,” the footman said before approaching the next person.
Prince Deacon noticed a few men’s eyes on Princess Freda but Prince Adio was too busy talking to the ladies surrounding him to notice Princess Freda.
After the lavish picnic, the guest was taken to the Castle that served as the main house on the estate.
"I didn't know we will be staying in a castle," Prince Deacon told Princess Freda, walking on his arm.
"The interior is as lovely as the exterior," Princess Freda said, familiar with the estate.
After being set up in his own room, Prince Deacon noticed a menu on the study table in the room. "Afternoon tea at four."
Prince Deacon took the time to try to link to Emily's mind and, with a bit of relaxation, he managed to get a feel for her mood that was light and happy. Prince Deacon marveled in the good feeling and after two hours got interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in," Prince Deacon said, standing up from his bed.
"Should I bring tea to your room or will you join the tea party in the tearoom?" the footman asked.
"I will appreciate coffee in my room," Prince Deacon said.
It does not take long for the footman to return with a tray with a coffee pot and some delicacies.
"Thank you," Prince Deacon said, showing with his hand for the footman to put it down on the study table.
"The dinner dong will be sound to notify the guest that it is time to make your way down the great hall for the ball," the footman said before closing the door behind him.
After enjoying his cup of coffee, Prince Deacon poured himself another, taking a bite or two from the delicacies that came with his coffee.
While enjoying his second cup of coffee, Prince Deacon stood at the window of his room and looked down at the gardens below, ladies sitting about, having afternoon tea.
To Prince Deacon, the world was dragging by when he was not with Emily. He only realized the time when he noticed the ladies in the garden walking into the castle, one after the other. 'Guess it is time to get ready for the ball.'
Prince Deacon was not really in the mood to attend the ball, but he was curious about the courting game the footman mentioned and wanted to witness when Princess Freda found her fated mate, feeling hopeful.
Princess Freda just got out of the bath and entered her room, looking at the dresses that her lady-in-waiting laid out on the bed for her.
"I was speaking to some of the other ladies and it sounds like everyone is wearing the latest fashions," Princess Freda said, lifting a blush pink Edwardian-style dress off the bed with a romantic cut.
"I hope you packed the full arm-length gloves that go with the dress," Princess Freda asked, deciding that she will wear the dress.
"I did, princess," the lady-in-waiting said, walking over to the wardrobe to retrieve them.
"Where is my jewelry box? There is a set that will go perfectly with the dress," Princess Freda asked.
"Right here on the vanity," the lady-in-waiting walked over to the vanity and opened the jewelry box so that Princess Freda could make her selection.
"Let's have a look at what shoes I will wear," Princess Freda said.
"Over here," the lady-in-waiting showed her where she arranged her shoes.
"Perfect, these will do," Princess Freda said, pointing to a pair of white satin-wrapped shoes with raised heels.
"Will you be wearing one of your tiaras?" the lady-in-waiting asked.
"Of course," Princess Freda said, shocked that her lady-in-waiting would even ask. The ball is in full swing when Princess Fey makes her entry, her eyes finding Prince Duncan without trouble.
***
Prince Deacon noticed that all eyes were on Princess Freda, including Prince Adio, so he held his breath, watching Princess Freda’s face, waiting for the moment to happen.
Prince Deacon saw that Prince Adio was walking over to Princess Freda that was smiling at him.
‘So, their eyes have met. Are they fated?’ Prince Deacon asked himself, as it looked like it. ‘Why else will Prince Adio walk over to her as if no other lady in the room matters?’
Just as Prince Deacon got excited by the prospect of Princess Freda and Prince Adio being fated mates, he saw that Princess Freda walked away from him after he landed a kiss on her hand.
'On to the next then,' Prince Deacon thought as he smiled polity at Princess Freda that was making her way over to him, ignoring all the glances from the other gentlemen.
"Good evening Lord Deacon. You look dashing tonight," Princess Freda said, wrapping her gloved hand around his arm.
"You are not going to meet your fated mate if you don't at least try," Prince Deacon whispered in her ear.
“Take me for a spin across the dance floor,” Princess Freda asked, smiling sweetly.
“Very well then,” Prince Deacon said, before leading her to the dance floor.
They did not dance long before they got interrupted by Prince Adio. “May have this dance?”
“You may,” Prince Deacon answered for Princess Freda that was about to decline.
Prince Adio held Princess Freda firmly against his body.
“Not so tight,” Princess Freda protested.
Prince Adio smiled before whispering in her ear. “May I be so bold to ask you to be one of my wives?”
“I beg your pardon?” Princess Freda tried to push away from him but he was too strong.
“I promise you will be a happy wife,” Prince Adio said, seductively sending shivers down Princess Freda’s spine, and not the good kind.
“Please release me,” Princess Freda requested in the calmest tone she could manage.
Prince Adio loosened his grip on her just a little to give her breathing room.
“Please Prince Adio, I am not interested in becoming one of your wives,” Princess Freda pleaded.
“I promise you; you will leave with my family by the end of this week,” Prince Adio whispered before releasing her.
‘No, I won’t,’ Princess Freda thought to herself as she walked away as fast as her feet could carry her, stepping aside every now and then to avoid bumping into a dancing couple.
Prince Adio left the dance floor and made his way over to where his many wives were sitting, knowing their place. They won't dare to dance with anyone unless he told them to.
“What kind of supernatural is Prince Adio?” Princess Freda asked in a low voice when she reached Prince Deacon.
“He shifts into a snake,” Prince Deacon said, wondering if she was interested as he won't mind, at least she will be safe from the council.
“He has asked me to marry him. How many wives does he have?” Princess Freda asked, disgust clear in her voice.
“Prince Adio has seven wives, none of them a fated mate,” Prince Deacon educated her on the Egyptian Prince's family matters.
“And you are friends with him?” Princess Freda asked.
“I won’t say friends, but we do know each other. Why? Do you fancy him?” Prince Deacon asked, hopeful.
“There is only one man I fancy, and I am looking at him. Please asks your friend to stay away from me,” Princess Freda said before taking a glass of champagne from a tray that was held by a butler walking past.
Prince Deacon noticed one of Prince Adio’s personal guards walking over to him.
“Prince Adio invites you to dance with one of his wives,” the guard dressed in tails said.
Prince Deacon knew better than to decline an invitation from Prince Adio and walked over to accept.
