The Barefoot Barmaid (Belles & Bullets Book 1) Read online

  “Ohhh.” The sound that erupted from the queen's mouth was a groan, not a revelation. She sat up with a grunt and let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Beside her, Loreina's much younger lover was still asleep, having miraculously ignored the vexing voice shouting through the door. “What is it?” she hissed at the speaker, which still didn't wake her slumbering beau.

  “Your Majesty, your daughter has returned!”

  “Fantastic...” She whispered the word under her breath. Loreina turned to her lover and slapped his arm. “Boy!” She howled the word at the sleeping young man. To her great shame, she couldn't even remember his name. “You... Boy... wake up!”

  “Mmffmmf.” The young man mumbled inaudibly as his eyes slowly opened. “What is it?”

  “I need you out of this room!” Loreina leapt from bed, tossed his breeches at his face, and wrapped her body in a fuzzy robe. When her nakedness was sufficiently hidden, she threw open her door and found the pubescent messenger who spoke of her daughter. “What did you say, child? You said my daughter has returned?”

  “Indeed, Your Majesty. Princess Lyneah has returned to us!”

  “When?” Loreina tightened the robe around her body when she saw the young boy gazing at her exposed cleavage. “How?”

  “She just arrived! Captain Francis Doon found her and brought her back to us!”

  If the young boy's elated eyes were any indication, the peasants would rejoice at this news. The queen, however, was not so thrilled. “Have Doon bring the girl to my audience chamber,” Loreina ordered him. “And make haste, please. I will not waste my time on this hullabaloo!”

  “Hullabaloo, Your Majesty?”

  Loreina wasn't sure if the boy didn't understand, or if he was questioning her word choice. “Yes. Now go. I grow tired of your gawking and I must get dressed!”

  Without another word, the boy sprinted down the hall, presumably to report to Doon. When he was gone, Loreina slammed her door and turned to face her young lover. “Out,” she ordered him. “Did you not hear me the first time? I want you out of this room, or I swear to God, I'll cut off your ears for being faulty.”

  At that, the young man leapt from bed and into his breeches. He was so rattled by the queen's threat that he barely had his shirt over his head before he fled.

  “Men. They're always disrupting my peace,” the queen said with a sigh. “This is why I prefer the company of women.”

  At that very moment, three handmaidens arrived at Loreina's door. They helped her don her clothes, assemble her hair, and primped her for the day ahead. It was a long process, to be sure, but as a queen, Loreina needed to look perfect. Doon and her daughter could wait until she was ready.

  When she stepped into the hall, Loreina shouted, “Very well, take me to them!” Three more servants rushed forward: two to escort her down the hall, and one to keep her long gown from dragging on the floor behind her.

  When she entered the reception hall, where her “daughter” awaited her arrival, Loreina did not greet her with a warm embrace. Instead, she coolly walked past her and headed to the throne. Her servants were asked to gather the queen's gown into a bundle before she finally turned and sat.

  Loreina raised a pair of gold spectacles to her eyes and observed the scene before her. Princess Lyneah was hunched over and looking oddly uncomfortable—perhaps because she was standing next to Francis Doon? The former pirate captain did not exactly have a sterling reputation. If he was the reason for her daughter's discomfort, it was certainly understandable. The princess' poor posture; however, was unforgivable. “Captain Doon of the First Royal Privateers... am I to understand you've returned my daughter to me?”

  “Indeed, Your Highness,” Doon answered with a bow.

  “Where was she?”

  “I found her wandering around Lundun, pretending to be a commoner.”

  “Is that so? Hmm.” Loreina lowered her spectacles. “Lyneah, might I ask why you decided to do such a careless thing?”

  When Kitt briefly glanced in Doon's direction, her eyes had narrowed into slits. She tried to look a bit less aggravated when she addressed the queen. “I wanted to go out and see the world, Your Majesty. I grew tired of being cooped up in the castle every day.”

  “Ah. Yes. You've told me as much before, but I never thought you'd actually try to escape.” In the corner of her eye, Loreina saw that a dark curl had escaped from her intricately arranged hair. She snapped her fingers at one of her handmaidens, who immediately ran forward to correct the error. When the curl was sufficiently tucked away, she asked her daughter, “And how was the world of commoners?”

  “Frightening. Loud. Chaotic.” Kitt tried to describe the mad world as she knew it. “And there was so much poverty, Your Majesty.”

  “Please, let us dispense with this Your Majesty business!” Loreina laughed rigidly. “Even in the presence of others, I wouldn't mind too much if you called me Mother or even Mama.”

  “I'm sorry, Mother.” Kitt briefly turned to Doon. She wanted him to see the nervous expression on her face, but he didn't bother to look her way.

  “You needn't apologize either. Goodness, girl, you're so formal today!” A fake smile appeared on Loreina's face as she shook her head and chuckled. “Have you forgotten how to act around your Mama? It's as if your time away has turned you into a different person!”

  The fear that settled in Kitt's stomach gripped her harder than ever. Could the queen see through the ruse? Kitt tried to hold it together, to keep her composure as long as she could.

  “Perhaps your hair is to blame?” Loreina gestured toward Kitt's closely cropped locks. “Good god, what have you done to your beautiful hair?”

  “You... don't approve?”

  “Goodness, no, it looks atrocious!” The queen's nose wore a very telling sneer. “I daresay your fiance might not approve.”

  “Fiance...” Kitt whispered the word under her breath. She didn't want to openly voice her confusion; however, and not know something that would have been common knowledge to Princess Lyneah.

  “In fact, it is good that you returned when you did. Prince Malik will be here in two days, maybe less. I did not relish the idea of explaining to him that his betrothed had gone missing.”

  Kitt turned to Doon again, who met her gaze this time. With panic in her eyes, she mouthed the words “Prince Malik?” and then turned back to her false mother. “I am sorry about my hair, Mother. If you think the prince won't like it, I can try to grow it back.”

  “You can grow it back in two days?” The queen suddenly laughed loudly. “Unless you can perform miracles, girl, I don't think that will be possible.”

  “Oh.” Kitt hanged her head, ashamed at having been teased by the queen. It wasn't as if she actually thought she could grow her hair in two days' time.

  “Don't fret, Lyneah. I'll have the servants fetch a decent wig. With any luck, it can cover up that mess you've made of yourself.” The queen's insult was followed by a yawn, as if she had already grown tired of her reunion with her daughter. “And with that... I believe I am finished with this conversation. If you feel up to joining me for supper, send word. Otherwise, I will have your dinner sent to your room.”

  “Your Majesty, if I might ask...” There was hesitation in Doon's voice when he spoke. Kitt thought he sounded a bit intimidated, which was certainly atypical of him. “When will I receive my reward for the princess' safe return?”

  The queen's false smile dropped from her face as soon as the reward was mentioned. “As you know, Captain Doon, the reward was rather large. It may take a day or two to assemble such money. I trust you will not complain if you are asked to wait?”

  “Of course not, Your Highness.” Doon took a step back as he bowed to her. “And with that, I should take my leave. I am sure Your Majesty has more important matters to attend to.”

  “Oh, aren't you cute!” Loreina chuckled lightly. “Of course there are more important matters that require my attention! If you would, take my daughter with
you when you leave the room. I currently have nothing more to say to her.”

  The queen's harsh dismissal brought a chill to Kitt's spine, and the gnawing chill stayed as Doon escorted her from the audience chamber.

  “So... the queen...” Kitt whispered to Doon when they were alone in the castle hallway. “She's really sweet, isn't she?”

  Her sarcastic remark make Doon snort. “Indeed. She's a real peach. As sweet as a bonbon, she is.”

  “What now?” Kitt asked with a shrug. “You're just going to make me stay here?”

  “I'm not making you stay, Princess. Now you have to stay. It's not as if you can march back into the audience chamber and say never mind, I'm actually not who I said I was.”

  “Great, So now I'm stuck.”

  As Doon nodded, his eyebrows were knit. Kitt thought he looked at least a bit concerned for her well-being. She wondered if, somewhere deep down, he felt guilty for what he had done to her. Or was he actually the heartless bastard she had always believed him to be?

  “So why did Princess Lyneah run away?” Kitt whispered the question, because it seemed like a dangerous one to ask within the castle walls.

  “Why on earth do you think I'd know the answer to that? It isn't as if I have a spiritual connection to the princess' heart, or psychic powers to discern her motives. I've barely even met the girl.”

  “Okay. Fine. I was just asking!” Her eyes rolled at his cheeky reply. “I'm just wondering if she had a good reason to want to leave.”

  “Perhaps.” Doon's shoulders popped into a tiny shrug.

  “I suppose her mum could drive anyone away! I don't know what's more surprising... the fact that Queen Loreina is just as rotten as my own stepmother, or the fact that I really do look enough like Princess Lyneah to fool her.”

  “Princess...” Doon suddenly seized her elbow and pulled her closer. Into her ear, he whispered, “Be mindful of what you say in the castle, and to whom you say it.”

  He suddenly sounded so serious, Kitt didn't know how to react at all. She simply nodded at his advice.

  “I don't doubt you're a clever girl, but you're in a very dangerous situation. Even I would feel a bit guilty if something happened to you, and I'm a bastard.”

  Kitt searched his eyes for anything resembling warmth, but she didn't see anything beyond cold derision. She wanted to believe he actually cared whether she lived or died, but she doubted it.

  “I'll have Barnabus sent to your room,” Doon went on. “At least you'll have some company while you're here.”

  “Are you... leaving?” Kitt didn't know why she was afraid to see him go. It wasn't as if Doon was her ally—quite the opposite! However, at the moment, his was the only familiar face in a sea of unfamiliar faces.

  “I'll be around.” He took a step backward, starting to retreat. “In the meantime, perhaps you could try to enjoy life in the castle? How many people get a chance to live it up as a princess?”

  Kitt's eyes were narrowed as she watched him back away from her. “You really are a bastard, you know.”

  “Being a bastard's worked out for me so far. And I don't see myself stopping anytime soon.”

  And with that, Doon was gone.

  A part of her was sad to see him go, but another part of her would rejoice when he was finally out of her life for good.

  11

  After Doon departed, Kitt had taken all of two steps down the hall before one of the castle's many servants swooped in on her.

  “Your Highness!” A middle-aged woman with chubby red cheeks was the first to approach. “Can I say how wonderful it is that you have returned? Is there anything I can get to make you more comfortable? Some tea, perhaps? Biscuits? A warm sandwich?”

  “That's... quite alright.” Kitt forced her lips into a wary smile when she spoke again. “But... it's been so long since I've been here, and there are so many doors and corridors that I'm afraid I've forgotten where my room is. Might you point me in the right direction?”

  “Of course, Your Highness. Your bedchamber is down the hall and right two times. It's the only room at the end of that wing. Would you like me to escort you there?”

  “No. I'm fine, thanks.”

  When Kitt took another few steps forward, a second maid—a young lady with dirty blonde hair and a beak-like nose—descended on her. “Your Highness, thank goodness you are safe!” The young maid clasped a hand over her heart and exaggerated a sigh of relief. “I changed your bedsheets for you every day, hoping you would return. Is there anything you require? Would you like me to prepare a bath for you? Fluff your pillows? Turn down your blankets? I am sure Your Highness has had a most arduous journey and would like to have a decent rest.”

  “I'm quite alright, thank you.” Kitt felt like she was getting ambushed. Princess Lyneah probably liked having attendants to cater to her every need, but being the center of attention made Kitt want to shrink against the wall and hide.

  A third servant suddenly appeared before her. He was a very tall, older man with thin gray hair and a tight-lipped smile. “Your Highness...” he spoke in a calm, clear voice. “You received many letters while you were away, and I took it upon myself to gather them up. You will find them stacked on your desk. Should you require a steady hand, I would be happy to write any replies on your behalf.”

  “Th-thank you for the offer. That's very kind of you, but I...” Her eyes darted back and forth, quickly scanning the faces of the three servants. Kitt suddenly felt a bit light-headed. Not only was she overwhelmed, but she was afraid one of them would see through her ruse. What if someone could tell she wasn't the princess? “If... if you don't mind, I'm feeling a bit exhausted, and I... well... at the moment, I think I would like to be alone.”

  “Of course, Your Highness, of course,” the older man responded with a bow, then he took the two maids by their wrists and led them away.

  “I mean no offense!” Kitt called after them. “You were really very kind and... I appreciate it.”

  She hoped Princess Lyneah, whoever she was, did not take their service for granted. A pampered princess would probably expect such treatment. Kitt, on the other hand, felt stifled. When she was finally alone, she breathed a sigh of relief that seemed to go on forever.

  Kitt reached the end of the first hallway and turned right, into an empty corridor—or so she thought. She had barely taken three steps before was accosted yet again, and in a much more aggressive way. Before she could even blink, she was pinned against the wall by a handsome young man in a knight's uniform.

  “Thank god,” the man whispered as his lips lovingly sampled her neck. As soon as she felt his warm mouth on her skin, Kitt gasped. “Thank god we're finally alone. And more importantly... thank god you've returned to me.”

  “I... umm...” Kitt stared blankly at the man who held her against the wall. He was a few inches taller than her, possibly in his late twenties, with curly black hair and an adorable smattering of freckles across his face. His eyes were wide, chocolate brown, and puppy-like, and he looked at her with such adoration, it was as though she was the personification of sunshine to him. And even though he greeted her by kissing her neck, she didn't feel threatened by him. He was, after all, quite cute.

  “Why, Lyneah?” He lightly brushed Kitt's cheek with his knuckles. “Why did you leave me? Why would you break my heart like that?”

  Apparently, Princess Lyneah had a lover. How was Kitt supposed to react to him? How would Lyneah react? She was tongue-tied and petrified. She didn't even know this man's name.

  “Why did you leave me? Why?” The poor man sounded distraught. “It's been twenty-one days, twelve hours and thirty minutes since I realized you were gone. I kept hoping you'd return, that you'd miss me as much as I missed you... but no. I just found out you were dragged back here by that rotten pirate Doon.”

  “I'm sorry.” Kitt kept eying the end of the hallway, searching for a way to escape. If he was truly the princess' lover, she doubted he would hurt her, but it was more
than awkward to be pinned against the wall by a stranger. “I... I just had to do my own thing. I'm really, really sorry.”

  “Never leave me again?” the stranger beseeched her. “You can promise me that, can't you? For my sanity?”

  “I won't leave. I promise.” And yet, in the back of her head, Kitt knew she had to flee the castle as soon as possible.

  “Good.” The man suddenly brought her wrist to his lips, kissing it several times. As his mouth trailed kisses all the way up her arm, Kitt shuddered. The knight's lips almost made it to her elbow before he nuzzled his cheek against her skin and sighed. “Good.”

  “Well, um, I really should--”

  Kitt was going to try to excuse herself, but the man interrupted. “There isn't anyone else, is there? You're not in love with someone else?”

  Kitt shook her head, but she didn't really know the truth. For his sake, she hoped the real princess hadn't left the castle to cavort with another man.

  “I like what you've done with your hair.” His fingers gently flicked the ends of her short, red locks.

  “You do?” Kitt's eyes were swollen with surprise at his compliment.

  “Why do you look so shocked?” He caressed her hair and cupped her cheek as he spoke. Bizarre as the situation was, it wasn't entirely unpleasant to have her hair stroked by such a handsome gentleman. “It's adorable.”

  “The queen hated it.”

  “The queen hates everyone and everything but herself.” The knight leaned toward Kitt's ear and whispered, “Of course, I must ask you to keep that opinion between you and me.”

  “Of course.” Kitt had heard a few wild stories about the queen, about people getting their heads chopped off for relatively minor offenses. Insulting Queen Loreina would probably be suicide, and Kitt didn't want this man to lose his head any more than she wanted to lose her own.

  “Well, I happen to love your hair. You look wild and untamed and unique.” He lightly kissed her on the nose. “I love it nearly as much as I love you.”