Garden Princess Read Online Free Page B

cook to send along some lunch,” said Cecile. “You can have a picnic along the way.”
    “I’m sure I won’t be able to eat a morsel! I’m too excited,” said Marguerite.
    Just then Adela’s ankle gave way, and she nearly tumbled. Garth jumped forward and caught her by the arm. Marguerite took her other arm. “Are you all right, Your Highness?” she asked.
    “Adela, you really must be careful,” Cecile chided. “That will be all, footman,” she told Garth.
    Oh, how awkward! Adela hadn’t mentioned that Garth was coming to the party with them. It would be rude not to say something now. “Your Majesty, may I present Garth, the son of the head gardener,” she said quickly. “He has also been invited to Lady Hortensia’s party.”
    Cecile looked puzzled. Garth looked miserable. “M-m-much obliged, I’m sure, Your Majesty,” he stammered. He bobbed his head in an approximation of a bow.
    Marguerite gave a delicate cough.
    “Garth, may I present Lady Marguerite?” said Adela.
    Marguerite held out her hand. Garth was supposed to take it in his own, lean over it, and kiss the air directly above it.
    Instead he turned red. He opened his mouth and made a small choking sound. He threw Adela an agonized look.
    “Garth has a strong interest in gardens,” she said helpfully.
    “How lovely!” Marguerite withdrew her hand, and her face dimpled into a smile. “I love gardens, too. In fact, I’ve been told my name is a kind of flower.”
    Somehow Garth found his voice, nodding. “Sure enough, Miss Marguerite — your name’s a kind of daisy.”
    Her eyes lit up with pleasure. “Why, you clever man! You must tell me everything you know about daisies.”
    “I — I will, Miss Daisy — I mean, Miss Marguerite — I mean, my lady,” Garth stammered.
    Marguerite held out her hand, and he helped her into the carriage. He helped Adela in as well. “Do you want to ride with us?” she asked.
    He shook his head, looking almost frightened by the suggestion. “I’ll ride up top,” he said as he closed the door. The carriage swayed as he climbed up beside the coachman. There was a grinding of wheels, and they lurched forward.
    “Good-bye, girls!” cried Cecile.
    Marguerite waved her handkerchief out the window and threw several kisses before falling back against the cushions. “My goodness! Did you ever see such a
handsome
man in your life? Your Highness simply must tell me everything about him!”
    “He’s the son of the head gardener,” Adela repeated, sure that Marguerite must have missed this detail. Servants like Garth, even handsome ones, had never merited Marguerite’s attention before. But she was surprised to see color blooming in Marguerite’s cheeks, and even more surprised to see that Marguerite looked both shy and exultant at the same time.
    “Oh, Your Highness! I’m sure he was flirting with me!”
    “Garth?”
    “Calling me Daisy like that,” Marguerite elaborated. “Oh, I know it was fresh of him, but, really, I don’t mind. Did you see how nervous he was around me?”
    “Well, yes.” Adela wasn’t sure how to let on that Garth was nervous around practically everyone.
    “Oh, Your Highness,
do
say you think he might care for me.”
    “Well, I —”
    “I’m sure he must!” Marguerite spoke with certainty. The fact was that men were always falling in love with her. At least that was how it sounded from Cecile’s afternoon teas, where Marguerite’s romantic life was one of the queen’s favorite conversation topics. Usually it was some dashing young captain who had danced every dance with Marguerite at a party, or a particular knight with a nice-looking mustache who had stared at her all afternoon at a tournament, or a foreign ambassador who kept writing her love letters long after his state visit was over. How funny it was to hear her going on now about Garth, of all people.
    “Really, Marguerite,” Adela began, trying not to laugh. “I —”
    “I shall walk with him at