The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 8

Anthony watched his father pace the length of the sitting area. The gilded mirrors on the walls reflected his father’s angry face back to him. Anthony shielded himself against any emotions of guilt that stirred to life. He closed his eyes thinking about what had happened at the dance,

For a man who didn’t believe in any emotions that rendered men useless he had instinctively followed his heart. And he wasn’t feeling very pleased with himself. But he didn’t need his father harping on his moment of weakness.

“I don’t understand you,” he said coming to a stop in front of him. Anthony opened his eyes to find his father staring down at him.

“What’s there not to understand?” Anthony asked through clenched teeth, his hackles rising. If he could count the times his father said he didn’t understand him he wouldn’t understand himself. But he didn’t live his life according to anyone’s rules.

“Do you even know what you’ve done? I don’t think you do.” His father paced to the other side of the room. His anger was palpable in the room. “You’ve insulted and entire clan in front of hundreds of people. There they were waiting for you to choose their daughter and you…you…”

“No one knew the princess of the Tšhipu Clan was there.” Anthony stated.

“You don’t understand what you’ve done, do you?”

“Yes, I do and I’m about set everything to rights. You want your marriage? You’ll get your marriage. But on my own terms.”

Father and son stared at each other in a clash of wills. Anthony stood his ground not giving an inch.

Before either one of them could say anything there was a slight knock at the door. Anthony stared at his father then got up to open it. Koko Seale entered first ushering a well-dressed woman. The old woman’s face looked haggard and sad. Anthony knew he had put that look on her face. He hurt her granddaughter, indirectly hurting her. Anthony wanted to apologize to her but it was not the time.

“Princess Gauta from the Tšhipu clan,” she announced and then left the room. Anthony’s eyes shifted from the old woman’s retreating back to the one standing in front of him. She bowed to them to show her respect. She wore a silver dress that molded to her body and accentuated her womanly curves. A tribal neck piece made of black translucent beads shimmered around her neck, making her look ethereal and regal. A colourful head-wrap was intricately tied around her head completing the look. She was graceful and very beautiful, the epitome of a real princess.

Anthony stared at her and he felt nothing. His heart didn’t pump rapidly and he didn’t feel like he couldn’t breathe. There was nothing, just an innate appreciation of a beautiful woman. His mind diverted to the image of Naledi dancing in the moonlight. Anthony shook his head dislodging the image from his mind.

It was best he got this over with, Anthony thought as he turned to his father. Before he could say anything. His father cleared his throat and excused himself from the room.

Anthony turned to the sitting area and indicated that they should sit down. He waited for her to sit first, and then he followed.

“Would you like a drink?” Anthony asked bridging the awkward silence that filled the room. “This is awkward,” Gauta said with a slight laugh. She folded her hands in her lap and looked around the room as if there was something of more importance there other than him.

Anthony couldn’t agree with her more. It was extremely awkward. But he was the one who created this situation. If he was going to get them out of it he had to offer a bit of himself, something he wasn’t used to doing.

“I…” Anthony begun.

“Please don’t apologize.” She looked at him for the first time. Her eyes were a dark brown that held intelligence and mischief. “You might find it hard to believe, but I understand.”

She gave him a small smile. She nervously pinched her fingers one by one as though she was counting something.

“You do?” Anthony asked slightly confused. He was ready for a tirade of curses and object throwing, not this almost calm presentation of modesty. “If you understand, why are you so nervous?”

Gauta abruptly stopped moving her fingers. She sat straighter, falling into the manners she had been taught throughout her life as a princess. She looked Anthony straight in the eyes.

“If you must know. I’m wondering what this all means for me,” she said with a flick of her head as if she didn’t care what Anthony thought of her, “I am an only girl in a family of five boys. My worth is calculated by the man I’m going to marry. And since you’re clearly averse to this arrangement and made your aversion so public, I’ll be sold off to a minor prince who is lesser and unknown. After tonight I might even qualify to be a second wife.” She said with a huff that conveyed her feelings on the subject. She would rather die than be some unknown prince’s second wife.

Her reality sounded so bleak, but Anthony knew it to be true. His rejection will reverberate throughout the kingdoms. She will be lucky to find anyone who would want to marry her.

“What if I told you that I can fix that?”

Gauta’s face turned into a mask of horror. Her eyes bulged out, raising her eyebrows to her hairline. Anthony couldn’t help but laugh at the look on her face.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t want this anymore than I did.”

“I…” Gauta begun but no words came out, her mouth hung open as she tried to think.

They were interrupted by another knock at the door before she could come up with anything. A maid came into the room and bowed at them both.

“The food is ready.” she announced and left the room as quickly as she had come.

“Food?” Gauta squeaked in surprise.

“Yes, come.” Anthony offered his hand like a gentleman. He could see the indecision in her eyes, until she made her decision and took his offered hand. Her hand was small in his, and shook with a nervous energy Anthony could understand. They were two individuals who found themselves in a situation that was unprecedented. And yet they had to make it work.

They walked through the house’s long hallways and marbled floors to the back of the house where there was a courtyard that opened up to a garden lit with paper lanterns and lamps. The scent of roses and other flowers Anthony couldn’t identify saturated the air as they walked through the garden. They came to a candle lit table and food cart set to the side.

Gauta abruptly came to a stop.

“Shouldn’t you be doing this with the woman you chose as your intended bride?”

Her question made something ping in Anthony’s chest. He ignored it and walked to the cart leaving Gauta where she stood. The drums from the dance still echoed filling the night as people continued with the festivities.

“This was my way of apologizing, since you don’t need my apology…” Anthony trailed off. He opened the serving dishes one by one, “I’m starving and we need to talk. Do you think we can talk while we eat?”

“Are you going to answer my question?” Gauta asked as she came closer and got herself a plate and peeked into the serving dishes. Anthony was silent for a while, that Gauta stopped what she was doing and stared at him.

“She said no,” he said simply.

“Oh,” Gauta turned to the food. “Are you alright?”

“Fine.” Anthony filled his plate with food and then sat down. Gauta stared at him like she didn’t believe him, but refrained from saying anything. She sat at the table with a few pieces of food on her plate.

“You and I need each other,” Anthony stated. He picked up his fork and started to eat.

“Are you always this direct?” Gauta asked a genuine smile spreading her lips.

“Always,” Anthony said unemotionally. His face was devoid of all emotions that Gauta didn’t know what he was thinking.

“Are you suggesting we get married?”

“Yes,” Anthony said looking her straight in the eyes. “You don’t have to decide now. But it will be to both our benefit if we go ahead with the alliance.”

“Very rational thinking,” Gauta said picking up her fork and nibbled on a piece of beef. “This is really good.”

The food was scrumptious. Naledi was really talented, Anthony thought as he enjoyed another bite. He couldn’t help but picture her in the kitchen. He remembered how he’d found her when he followed her there. Her back turned to him, and her eyes focused on an array of dishes on a table in front of her. Her hand sure as they wielded a knife. She had been so absorbed in her task she hadn’t even known he was there. And Anthony had enjoyed staring at her, basking in her radiance.

“I’ll think about it,” Gauta finally said.

Anthony nodded his mood bleak. The whole thing felt like a business meeting. But he knew it was better this way.