2 Chapter 2

Prince Charles was tired of listening to boring lectures all day. His tutors were so dull. All he wanted to do was practice fencing, maybe go for a horseback ride. Or better yet, maybe he'd sneak into town again. That had been a lot of fun the other day.

"Alex," he whispered, trying to get his friend's attention.

"Be quiet, Charles," Alex replied, returning his attention to the board, where their politics tutor was droning on about something incredibly dull.

"Only if you promise to lend me your clothes again after the lesson."

"Again?"

"Yes."

"Fine." Both young men returned their attention to the lesson. Charles' mind kept drifting as he thought about what he would do in town today. Last time, he watched part of a competition, tried some new foods, and met that young lady who had run into him. Well, almost met her, he corrected himself. He wished he'd gotten her name. Maybe he'd run into her again. The thought put a smile on his face for the rest of the lesson.

Once the tutor finally stopped, Charles practically dragged Alex back to the suite of rooms they shared. He waited impatiently while Alex dug out another commoner outfit for him to wear.

"What are you going to do in town, anyway?" Alex asked, handing him the simple red tunic and tan breeches.

"Mostly explore. It's just so nice to be a nobody, to not have to worry about what other people think. And I get to try so many new things."

"I'm worried. What if someone recognizes you?"

"Who will recognize me? No one expects to see the prince in town in commoner's clothes, alone, with messy hair to boot." To emphasize his point, Charles ran a hand through his longish brown hair, undoing the careful combing Alex had given it that morning.

"Just be careful, will you?"

"Of course!" Charles smiled at his best friend. Alex was such a worrywart, but he couldn't ask for a better or more loyal friend.

Soon Charles had snuck out of the castle and was on his way into town on the back of a hay wagon. He pulled a juicy red apple from his pocket and began eating while he watched the countryside roll by. He felt much closer to his people as he got to know them in disguise than he ever did sitting in his stuffy lessons.

Once the wagon rolled into town, Charles hopped off and began walking towards the town square. He wanted to see what it looked like on a normal day. The festival had been so crowded.

He sat on the edge of the fountain for a bit, enjoying the sound of the running water. With the stage and the crowds here the other day, he hadn't even realized there was a fountain. After he'd had his fill of sitting in peace and quiet, he looked around. One of the roads off the square had quite a few booths and shops, so he decided to go look around there.

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Cinderella was struggling to keep all the packages in her arms as she made her way to the carriage. Her stepsisters had bought so much! And of course, she was just along to carry their packages. The duchess hadn't even considered the idea of getting Cinderella a new dress. She hugged the packages tighter, trying not to think about her ragged servant's dress.

"Hey, girl," she heard. Turning, she saw one of the vendors motioning her over. She walked to the stall of flowers.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Would you like some flowers?"

"I'm sorry. I haven't any money. Your flowers are lovely though." She noticed a few blossoms on the ground next to the stall. "What about those flowers?"

"They're damaged. I can't sell them. You're welcome to them, if you like."

"Thank you." Smiling, Cinderella bent down and shifted her packages so she could reach for the flowers. She felt a bump and her packages went flying as she flew to the ground.

"I am so sorry! I didn't see you there," a voice said. She looked up into the face of the boy she'd run into at the Flower Festival.

"You!" they cried in unison, then laughed.

"Are you okay?" the boy asked.

"Yes, I think so. Oh dear, I hope none of my packages are damaged." Cinderella began gathering the packages again after tucking the flowers into the waistband of her apron. Soon she had all but one.

"Could you please stack that one on top for me?" she asked the boy. He looked at her curiously.

"Why don't you let me carry some?"

"Oh, I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble. I can manage. Thank you though."

"No, I insist," he said, picking up the last package, as well as a few from her arms. "I'd like to accompany you to wherever you're going. I want to get to know you."

"Okay," she agreed, blushing.

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Charles thought he'd never seen a prettier girl than the one next to him, especially when she blushed. She was dressed differently today, more like a servant in a ragged gray dress and simple white apron, with a blue cloth over her blond curls. He walked with her back down the street to the square, and over to a large carriage.

"Pierre," she greeted the elderly man on the carriage's driver seat.

"M'lady," he said.

"Mother and the girls are still shopping. They sent me back with some packages." Pierre jumped down and helped them load the packages onto the back of the carriage.

"I don't know how much more will fit, Miss," he said.

The girl sighed. "I know, but they won't listen to me if I tell them that. We'll make room. I can carry some home if I have to."

Charles listened to the conversation with equal parts interest and confusion. Pierre addressed the girl as more than a fellow servant, and she appeared to be there with family, yet she was dressed and acting in the capacity of a servant, as far as he could tell. And would she truly have to carry packages home? He didn't know where she lived, but he knew it must be pretty far, based on the distance he'd chased her the other day.

Once Pierre had finished tying down the packages, he tipped his hat at them and the girl began walking back to the shop street. Charles followed her to a fancy shoe shop. Instead of going inside, she peeked through the windows.

"Looks like I'll just be waiting here. Thanks again for your help. . . oh! I don't even know your name."

"Uh," he hesitated. What name should he give her? He was borrowing Alex's clothes. He may as well borrow Alex's name. "My name is Alex. I'm Prince Charles' page."

"Truly? So you know the prince well?"

"Very. I'm one of his best friends."

"Is Prince Charles really as lazy as everyone says."

"Lazy? People think the prince is lazy?" Charles was both humored and upset to hear this opinion of himself.

"Well, they say he doesn't listen well in his lessons and often skips them. He is interested only in fencing and horseback riding."

"Is it so bad to dislike lessons?"

"So it's true! That's a shame. If I could trade him places, I gladly would. I miss my lessons."

"You took lessons?"

"For a while. Until Papa left."

"What was your favorite lesson?"

"I loved my music and dancing lessons, but I am also very fond of history."

"History! It's so boring!"

"You take lessons as well?" The girl gave him a puzzled glance.

"Uh, yes. I sit in the Prince's lessons with him."

"You don't enjoy them either?"

"No. I find them boring. I want to live and go on adventures. I don't want to sit in dull classrooms all day receiving lectures on politics and history." Charles couldn't believe this girl could enjoy something so dull.

"Adventures can only teach a person so much, you know. History teaches us so many great lessons that would be painful to discover on our own."

Before Charles could reply, a girl came out of the shoe shop. "Cinderella! Mother and Catherine are finishing up. We have lots more packages for you to carry back to the carriage. Oh, who's your friend?"

"My name is Alex," Charles said before Cinderella could speak.

"Well, nice to meet you and all that. Don't keep Cinderella. We're almost done shopping. Then we'll be heading home."

"I won't keep her. In fact, I can carry your packages to the carriage."

"Oh no, Alex. You've already helped so much. I can carry the packages."

Before they could settle their argument, a tall, stately woman strode out of the shoe shop, followed by another young lady and a worker carrying a large stack of boxes. Cinderella hurried to the worker and took the boxes in her arms. Charles followed and lifted most of the boxes from her.

"Shall we go?" he asked Cinderella. She blushed again and led him back to the carriage. Pierre was waiting for them. He and Cinderella managed to get all but one box tied to the carriage.

Before they could return to the shops, the other three women swept up to the carriage. "We are ready to leave. Cinderella, I ordered one last gown from Madame Solinger. It should be ready in an hour. We shall go home with Pierre. You wait for the gown and bring it home directly when it is finished," the older woman said. She then turned her attention to Charles. "Who are you?"

"I'm Alex."

"Alex. And where do you live?"

"In the castle."

"Huh, I see." She looked him over carefully before turning and stepping into the carriage. The two young ladies followed, leaving Cinderella without a word or a wave.

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Cinderella felt her face burn with embarrassment again. Well, at least now Alex knew she was basically just a servant. When she looked away from the back of the retreating carriage and back at him, she found him studying her.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Just trying to figure you out," he said.

"Do you have anything you need to do in town?" she asked.

"No. I'm just here looking around."

"Where is the prince today?"

"He, uh, gave me the day off. He wanted some alone time, I guess."

She and Alex continued to talk as they walked around the town. She showed him some of her favorite shops and the park she and Papa used to visit often. She wished Patch were with her today. He would have loved taking a run around the park. She told Alex about Patch, how he had become her best friend and confidant since Papa left.

"So where is Patch today?"

"Oh, we didn't have room for him in the carriage. He would have followed us anyway, but Mother didn't want him to come."

"He was with you last time you came to town."

"Yes, well. . ." she felt her face going red again. Alex was really good at making her blush. "I wasn't supposed to be here. I snuck out to go to the Flower Festival. That's why I was in such a hurry to get home. I had to beat Mother and the girls."

"Ah, I see." He didn't sound disappointed to find that she was not a terribly obedient daughter.

All too soon, the hour had passed and she returned to Madam Solinger's to pick up the gown. Once she had everything together, she began walking towards home. Alex followed.

"Oh, you don't have to go with me. We live a few miles out of town."

"I'd like to help you carry your things."

"It's nearly dinnertime. Don't you need to get back to the castle?" He looked up at the sun and frowned.

"You're right. I should probably go back. When can I see you again?"

"I don't know," Cinderella said. "But hopefully soon," she added with a smile. She shifted her packages to one hand so she could wave and Alex turned and walked away. He looked back and returned her wave, and then he disappeared around a corner.

The walk home was quiet. Usually, Cinderella would have enjoyed the chance to think and have time to herself, but after Alex's pleasant company, she found it rather lonely. She got home just as the sun was setting. Her stepmother and stepsisters were just finishing up the food she had prepared that morning for their supper.

"It's about time you got home," the duchess said as Cinderella entered the dining room. "Now tell me about your new friend."

"Alex?"

"Yes, of course. How many new friends have you made?" The duchess' voice was condescending.

"He is very nice. He's polite, and strong. He enjoys horseback riding, but does not like lessons. He finds history boring." Cinderella wasn't sure what all her stepmother wanted.

"Yes yes, but does he know the Prince? He did say he lived in the castle, correct?"

"Oh, yes ma'am. He said he's Prince Charles' page."

"Perfect! Tomorrow, we shall have him over for a lovely afternoon picnic. Cinderella, after you have cleaned and prepared food, you shall go invite him."

"Yes ma'am." Cinderella wasn't sure how she would find Alex, but she'd worry about that tomorrow.