Wulfram stepped into Mrs. Haversaun’s shop, pausing when he saw people already there, even so early in the morning. “Your Highness, what a surprise.” Madame Alodia dipped into a curtsy, drawing his eye to her.
“Madame Alodia, it’s a surprise to see you here as well, but then I have heard great things about Mrs. Haversaun, and her examples are quite impressive.” This could make things difficult, if Madame Alodia told the rest of the council that he had come here, that he was getting close in any way to Dani, it could put her at risk. “Are you getting your dress for the ball?”
“Of course, Mrs. Haversaun and her lovely assistant were just showing us some fabric and finishing up with our measurements. Is it true Lady Daniella is the very woman that saved you?” Madame Alodia looked at Dani, who was standing awkwardly in front of her chair.
There was a nervousness in her posture that was echoed by the bracelet. She must be uncomfortable with the attention, he knew that she wouldn’t be used to it. Perhaps it was the push she needed to accept his invitation to stay at the palace. “It is. We are hosting a ball for her in roughly one months time. I’m sure my Mother will send you the pertinent details.”
“I look forward to receiving them.” Madame Alodia smiled, and looked to the other women, two humans and one Felinae. “Ladies, are we ready to go? I want to commission some jewelry to go with the no doubt amazing dresses Mrs. Haversaun is making us, and if we don’t go soon I fear the best jewelers won’t have time for us.”
The Felinae woman hopped down from her stool, letting out a sound rather like a purr. “We are ready Madame.”
“Excellent, we’ll be back in one week to check on the progress Mrs. Haversaun, I know you will work your usual miracles. Lady Daniella, it was a pleasure to meet you.” Madame Alodia curtsied once more, and then headed out the door, the other three women falling into step behind her. Wulfram watched with a slight frown. Word was traveling faster than he had anticipated, he really needed to get Dani somewhere safe. But convincing her, let alone her father, was going to be a difficult thing.
“Dani, are you alright?” He asked after the door shut behind Alodia. He looked at her, noting her pale face. What had Alodia been saying to her? Where was his gutsy little thief?
“I’m fine.” Dani said quickly, her voice just a little bit too high pitched, her posture just a little bit too stiff for him to believe her. But what could he say? Perhaps he should talk to Alodia and see what the woman had said to put Dani so out of sorts. “What are you doing here?”
“Ah, I am here for two reasons: the first is to ensure the fabric Mother sent got to you alright, and the second is because I need you to come to the palace with me.” He might as well get straight to the point, it would give him the best chances of convincing her to do what he wanted.
“Come to the palace with you? Wulf I’m at work!” Dani’s eyes snapped to him, and he caught a glimpse of that fire again. He very nearly smiled, but instead held his hands up soothingly.
“I know, but I am leaving tomorrow and would like to have the Archmage examine our... situation, before then. Also, I would like to extend an invitation for you to stay at the palace, especially while I’m gone. It would be safer for you and doubtless more comfortable than wherever you have been sleeping.”
He could swear he spotted a smile on Mrs. Haversaun’s face as she set out a fresh set of teacups for them, a kettle already ready with hot tea. “Your Highness, some tea if you would like it. Dani, go ahead and enjoy some tea and cookies as well. I’m just going to help the young men here put the fabric where I want it.”
The footmen had already started to carry in the fabric, bolts of rich stormy blue velvet, silks and cottons. The finest white cottons for undergarments, delicate lace and cording braided with real silver. Wulfram had no idea what his Mother or Mrs. Haversaun had in mind, but he was certain Dani was going to look stunning.
“But- but shouldn’t I be helping with that?” Dani protested, frustration seeping into her voice.
“You will be helping plenty enough very soon. For right now go ahead with his Highness, or stay here and drink some tea and chat.” Mrs. Haversaun smiled, taking one of the bolts of silk and inspecting it with an experts eye. “I’ll have a present for you when you come back.”
Dani’s mouth dropped open, and she just stared at Mrs. Haversaun for a long moment, before blurting out. “What if I don’t want to go with him?”
That earned her some stunned looks from the footmen, and Mrs. Haversaun looked up, raising an eyebrow. “That is why you have the choice. Stay here and drink some tea, have some cookies, or take your break early and go with his Highness. Although I do insist you eat something if you go. I noticed that pastie you left behind yesterday.”
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“We were busy, neither one of us ate lunch!”
“Yes, I know. And believe me, I felt it when it came time for dinner! When you come back I will take my lunch so that we can keep the shop open. I know you’ll do an excellent job of it. After all, you did very good yesterday.” Mrs. Haversaun said mildly.
Dani stared at Mrs. Haversaun, and Wulfram could practically feel her trying to think of an excuse, any excuse, to stay and busy herself with work. He rubbed his mouth to hide a smile. “Dani, I give you my word you will be safe.”
Dani turned to him, scowling in a surprisingly close imitation to her father. “I’m not winning this one, am I? You want me to go with you and I don’t really have a choice, do I?”
“I could insist you come with me, it’s certainly important that you come with me. But... I won’t.” The statement surprised him as much as it surprised her. He wasn’t going to insist, he wasn’t going to take away her freedom, it was such a precious thing to her. He wanted to let her be as free as possible.
“You won’t?” She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, her voice hesitant.
“No. I won’t. But I would very much like you to return to the palace with me. I can make sure you get back here safely before afternoon, and I will of course make sure you have a proper meal. Merely tell me what you like.”
“She likes cinnamon rolls, particularly those with raisins, meat and potatoes.” Mrs. Haversaun chimed in helpfully, earning her a glare from Dani.
But Dani nodded, looking back at Wulfram. “Alright. Fine, I’ll go with you, but I get to pick where we get lunch, and it won’t be in the palace.”
“The palace cooks are quite good.” He coaxed. Patience and sweetness seemed to be working so far, surely he could get her to change her mind on that little matter.
“I’m sure they are, but if we’re doing cinnamon rolls I know the best place. And there’s bound to be some fresh fish down by the docks. Or are you afraid to eat like a peasant?”
His back stiffened slightly at the challenge in her voice. Afraid? Certainly not! But he also had standards, and from what he heard peasant food wasn’t always safe to eat. It certainly couldn’t measure up to palace cooking. “I am not afraid to eat like a peasant. Fine, you can pick where we eat, but we go to the palace first.”
“Fine, it’s a deal.” Dani smiled, and strode out the door, the footmen staring after her in stunned silence. “Let’s get this done with so I can get back to work.”
Wulfram stared after her as well, a smile forming on his lips. He bowed slightly to Mrs. Haversaun. “Thank you for your assistance, I will bring her back shortly.”
“Take your time, your Highness. I’ve run this shop on my own for many years, one more day won’t hurt me.” Mrs. Haversaun pulled out some loose-leaf paper, starting to sketch as she considered the fabrics the queen had provided. “And give my thanks you her Highness the Queen, her generosity is boundless.”
“Of course, Mrs. Haversaun.” Wulfram smiled and headed out to the carriage. He opened the door and held out a hand to Dani. “Allow me to assist you.”
“I don’t need your help to climb in a carriage you know.” Dani eyed his hand, and he thought for a moment that she would refuse the gesture.
He smiled at her, letting out a chuckle. “I know, but you also don’t need to refuse.”
Dani rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She took his hand, letting him help her into the carriage. “This time at least.”
Wulfram chuckled and climbed into the carriage himself, sitting on one of the heavily cushioned seats. “This time?”
“You’ve definetly been wrong before.” She said, sitting down as well, then giving a little bounce. “Wow.. this is softer than any bed I’ve ever slept in.”
He had to hold in a laugh at her childish little bounce. It was something he would expect of his sisters, not a grown woman! But it was endearing. Curious, he gave a little bounce himself, and chuckled at the absurdity of it. “The beds in the palace are much softer, this is still a little bit hard, and you can still feel the bumps when you go over the less well-maintained roads.”
“Well then I better not stay in the palace, it’d just spoil me for normal beds.” Dani leaned back against the cushions along the carriage walls, sinking into the thick velvet.
That was alright, he still had time to convince her. Just not a lot of it. “Nonsense. It would just give you a month or so of safety and a good nights sleep. Don’t you think it’s better than sleeping outside? Or in the crypts?”
“I do think it would be better than either of those, hell, I think it would even be better than sleeping at Raycor’s. But that’s the point. If it’s too good, it would make it all the harder to go back to reality.” She sighed, her smile a bit sigh as the carriage started moving.
Raycor? Who the hell was this Raycor? He felt a surge of unaccustomed jealousy, and tugged at his collar. That was ridiculous! She didn’t belong to him, if she was sleeping with another man he had no right to tell her not to. But he had to know for sure if she was or not. “Who is Raycor?”
“He’s my uncle. Or at least, as near enough to an uncle that I have. Reshi took me in when I was real little, see? And Reshi, Raycor, and Raycor’s wife Najia helped raise me along side their own daughter, Therija.”
“Took you in?” Wulfram felt something click into place in his mind. Of course, she looked nothing like the man who had claimed to be her father, she had to be adopted! “What happened to your birth parents?”
Dani shrugged, not meeting his eyes. She picked at a button on the cushion instead, toying with a loose thread. “Don’t know. Reshi said it was some kind of animal attack that took ‘em out. I don’t really remember it.”
“How old were you?” Wulfram’s voice grew soft, gentle. He didn’t want to dig up bad memories, but he wanted to understand her, wanted to know more about this brave little mouse and her life.
“Four or five, I think. It was a long time ago.” Dani looked up and flashed him a grin, although he could see a hint of sadness lurking in the back of her eyes. “Can’t even remember it. So it ain’t worth worryin’ about.”