In this chapter, the true essence of the story is revealed: The Princess and the Pauper. What a twist. How unpredictable is this? Read and long for more! Will Arletta ever find her true love?
Breathless, they arrived in the familiar chamber. Brother Simon was hauled in behind Arletta and the door slammed.
“Now, we have just minutes, Arletta, so rather than waste time explaining it all, I will give you a choice. You will step, now, into your small dressing chamber and I will help you change your clothes. No, don’t look like that… you will do as I say, or shall I have these four guards undress you?”
Arletta did not speak, but followed Joan into her dressing room. As Joan unbuttoned the back of her gown, the maid said, “I have to speak quickly. Grahgor is coming here to take the throne. His fore-riders are waiting in the castle foyer for Princess Arletta who is to greet Grahgor upon his arrival…” Lifting the chain with its star key over Arletta’s head, Joan put it around her own neck before dressing Arletta in a very plain, worn, brown dress. She pressed a thick matted woolen shawl into her hands. “You, my dear Princess, are to leave this chamber by the secret passage and go out from the castle courtyard as quickly as you can… you can escape or not for all I care. Be taken by the conqueroring soldiers if you like!! Die, or not! You are to be the pauper, and I will be the princess. Grahgor will marry me as Princess Arletta and I will be queen!”
“Let me go with her…” Brother Simon begged, having fallen forward on the floor.
Arletta could not find her voice to speak. She found herself thrust through the opening and into the darkness of the steep spiral step-way. Brother Simon, grunting and gasping, was forced to follow her. The sound of Joan’s mockery echoed behind them, “The worst they will do is to fall all the way down… perhaps the fat man will fall on top of her and smother her to death!” She laughed a haunting laugh and closed the wall.
As she clutched the shawl with one hand and supported herself with the other, Joan’s words rang in her mind… “You are to be the pauper and I will be the princess…”
Will Arletta escape or will Grahgor find her? Where is Steele?
To read the other exciting chapters of THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER – click on the following links:
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