“Oh, that is so nice of you.” Franny grabbed her hand. “I think you’ll do well serving the princess. She’s sad. But you’ll make her feel better. Just as you have me. You’ll be my friend, won’t you?” A smile crinkled her face. “I mean, you can hardly be my servant.” She giggled. “I don’t need a servant; nor do you, I suppose. Just a friend.” She stepped closer to Rose now. “So funny. I feel as if I have met you before. You remind me of someone.”

“I don’t know who that could be, but yes. I’ll be your friend.” She paused. “I only know your first name, Franny. What’s your last name?” The color drained from Franny’s face. She mumbled something.

“What?”

“Corey.” She paused. “Franny Corey,” she said in a stronger voice.

“Franny, this is such a nice summer day, isn’t it?” She looked around to drink in the joys of the weather and the clear sky.

“Yes, summer. July is always the best month here, I think.”

“What date is it exactly?”

“Not sure. But at least two more months until Michaelmas.”

Michaelmas? When was that? And dare she ask the year?

Chapter 5

“You Are Mine”

They had arrived at the palace. Rose followed Franny around to the kitchen yard, where they delivered the milk and the eggs.

“Follow me. We’ll go to the entrance for the inside palace servants. Normally I’m not allowed. But they’re all in a dither, being short staffed these days.”

Franny went to a door, lifted the clapper, and knocked loudly. They heard a bustling, then the sound of a bolt sliding. A plump, red-faced woman with her hair tucked under a flouncy cap opened the door.

“Don’t tell me no eggs this morning.”

“No, plenty of eggs, Mrs. Belson.”

“And who be this?” The woman ran her eyes up and down Rose.

“Rose Ashley,” Franny replied almost smugly.

“She be an Ashley?” The look in the woman’s eyes brightened.

“’Tis true,” Franny said. “And right in the nick of time, eh, Mrs. Belson?”

“I’ll say. We’ve never been shorter staffed. Especially in the princess’s apartments. Begging your pardon, Franny, but you know we can’t have scullery and girls who muck about with chickens serving up there.”

“Course not, Mrs. Belson.”

“Wouldn’t be fitting and proper-like.” Mrs. Belson nodded at Rose. Rose nodded back.

“Now it might be temporary, dear. But we’re in a pinch and beggars can’t be choosers. You know the king banishes the princess and keeps most of her staff for his new queen. Doesn’t seem quite right to me. Now wait here. I’ll fetch Mrs. Dobkins. Franny, you run along, as you know how fussy Mrs. Dobkins is about egg and dairy girls at this entrance.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The door closed and they were left alone.