Anna

and Fritz

By

Sarah Shockey

Anna and Fritz

“Is my headband straight? It doesn’t feel straight,” Teresa said, flapping

her gloved hands around her curls.

“Yes. Will it make you feel better if I fix it again?” Anna said, her own

head feeling heavy under tightly pinned braids.

“Yes, fix it, Anna, will you?” Teresa sounded close to tears. “We’re

almost inside!”

“I know we’re almost inside,” Anna said calmly, poking a few ringlets

behind Teresa’s silver headband. She pulled a bobby pin from her one of her

braids and secured it. “There,” she said.

“Is it fixed?” Teresa said, pushing her headband so it was off center

again.

“Let’s get in there and get this over with,” she Anna with a half-smile.

They walked up the stone steps, a gentle summer breeze ruffling their long
dresses.

“Do you think the prince will dance with everyone?” Teresa said,
tugging one of her satin gloves at the elbow. The large wooden doors of the

palace stood open, with a stodgy gentleman posted at each side. The inside of
the ballroom glittered with chandeliers and gold etchings along every wall and
corner.

“I hear he means to,” Anna said with a small sigh. They gave their
names to a man in a powdered wig just beyond the door and were abruptly

directed into a long line filled with sweaty women in enormous dresses. Anna
smiled at the paintings along the wall, mostly of women in gardens wearing
enormous dresses.

“I can’t believe it,” said a woman with painted blue eye shadow in front

of them. “Only thirty or forty more and I’ll get to dance with the prince!” Her
companion, a woman with blonde ringlets nodded excitedly and so did her

hair.

“Let’s promise we’ll still be friends no matter which of us he picks,” she

replied in a high little voice.

“I swear it!” They linked pink-gloved fingers and kissed their thumbs,

each giggling and leaving a small lip print behind.

“Do you think we have to do the dance? Maybe I could come back when

there are less people,” Anna said, glancing beyond the mass of dresses and

seeing a few waiters carrying trays of food. People flocked immediately and

the appetizers were gone in a moment.

“Why else would you come but to dance with the prince! It’s the prince

for heaven’s sake,” Teresa whispered in horror.

“Prince David. No one calls him by his name, do they? It’d be like if

you always called me ‘the governess.’ Or if we all called you ‘the maid.’”

“Shh! Tonight I’m a society woman,” Teresa said, frantically looking

around and adjusting her headband.

“Right, me too,” Anna said dully. The line chugged forward a few steps.
Women who had been danced with trickled into the rest of the ball, looking
dizzy from their encounter with the prince.

“He’s such a fabulous dancer. We are very lucky, even just to experience
this night,” Teresa said, straining to keep her anxious eyes on the prince as he

whirled what looked like a pink puffball across the marble floor.
 “Yeah it seems like he’s big into showing it off, too,” Anna muttered.
She heard a single, hearty laugh from a man passing by and caught eyes with

him. She gave him a shrug and a smile as he held his lips together to stifle a
further outburst. He had a strawberry blonde beard and thick hair that looked

like it had been forcefully combed flat. He headed easily toward the food as

Anna trudged a few more paces forward in her line. She thought about

complaining that it was hot to Teresa, but changed her mind and scanned the
room for interesting situations.

A couple argued near the front entrance. The woman kept whispering

and fitfully pointing to the line while the man shook his head and looked

around a good deal, sheepishly half-nodding at anyone who glanced at them.

Anna saw a girl on the stairs surreptitiously reach into her dress pull her

breasts one by one a bit higher into her neckline. She wondered if anyone else

saw. She spotted the bearded laughing man on the edge of the dance floor,

leaning against a large ornate window and gazing outside.

“I hope he leads,” Teresa said nervously.

“He’s going to lead. Have you been watching him? He’s like Moses out

there,” said Anna. They looked and saw the prince forcefully leading an older
woman in a box-step. Teresa pulled on her glove and fluffed her sleeve. The

line dragged forward. Anna’s head ached from the heaviness of her brown
braids and the pins that Mrs. Strickland had jammed into her head. Her corset
squished the rest of her insides and she dreamed of the moment when she

could remove it and take a full breath. Her crushed stomach growled. Anna
kept checking to make sure she wasn’t taking up too much space behind her,

but with her bustle, it was impossible. Everyone in a dress took up too much
space.
Married women arrived with their husbands and went straight to the

wandering waiters or the drink line. Anna watched them and briefly wished
she had a husband, if just to avoid the mandatory dance with the prince. And

for the immediate food options. She was far enough away that she couldn’t tell

what food kept disappearing from the trays, but people seemed to be greatly

enjoying it.
Every eligible woman in the kingdom had been invited and then strongly

encouraged to attend this ball. The other attendees, married couples and

wealthy men, came for the spectacle and to be seen by the kingdom. Some

notorious bachelors scoped the line, roaming casually back and forth like cats

watching birds. As Anna and Teresa reached the steps to the dance floor, the

men passed, three of them smiling and winking. Teresa nodded back to them

with a coy grin and Anna pretended to look deeply at a painting of a woman

holding a dog on the wall beside her. A dowager jingled grandly across the
marble floor. She had grey streaked hair piled in a swirl on her head that was

covered in jewels and laced with gold string. The beads and jewels of her

dress clinked against one another, accentuating the wideness of the design. She
gripped the arm of a plain-looking man wearing nearly all black with slicked

back hair.
“That’s the Baron and the Baroness,” whispered Teresa.
“Of where?” Anna asked.

“I don’t know. Somewhere in the West Mountains. In a castle built

entirely of ebony stone,” she whispered. Anna pictured a frightening manor in

a thunderstorm.
 “I’m sure it’s charming,” she said.
After what seemed like hours, the blonde woman in front of them

finished her dance and tottered off giggling for her friend as the prince
approached Teresa.

“I am Prince David of Anhalt, I’d be honored to share this dance with

you.” He bowed and raised his blue eyes to Teresa’s and she eeked out a small

sound and took his hand. He whirled her powerfully into the dance floor,
gripping his gloved hand in hers and the placing the other firmly on her hip.

Told you he’d lead, Anna thought. She drew in a long breath and

stopped when her ribs strained against her corset. Her whole body ached,

especially her head. The carriage wouldn’t be summoned for several hours.

Anna plotted out places to sit unobtrusively until she could climb into the

carriage and then into her bed. She was making a mental note to find a waiter

with appetizers the moment her dance ended when the prince approached her.

The dances were going faster and faster and Anna had high hopes for a quick
one.

“I am Prince David of Anhalt, and I’d be honored to share this dance

with you.” He bowed and raised his blonde head, barely looking at Anna as he
grasped her hand in his. He thrust her forward and the dance began. She made

a few missteps and he saw the prince blink in disdain.

Across the room, the man with the beard watched Prince David drag her
around. One of the waiters in a tight fitting suit suddenly interrupted his

entertainment by setting down an empty silver tray with a purposeful clatter.

“What’s going on in the land of appetizers?” Fritz asked the waiter

good-naturedly.
 “Well, there’s no way we have enough potatoes. I told Camille to order
about twice what she did, but here we are potato-less and people are going to

start complaining,” said Peter, very close to complaining himself. “What’s it

like to not have to do anything but enjoy the party while I run around like a

chicken sans it’s head?” Peter said with a scowl. Fritz turned mildly toward his

friend.

“I’m on call for any potential disasters. Would you like to switch roles?”
“My very existence is a disaster,” Peter sighed. “Every single woman -

well, the single ones at least - have their eyes on the prince.”

“Not the one he’s dancing with now,” Fritz said with a grin. They both

looked over to see Anna and the prince looking dead-eyed in distinctly

different directions. Prince David, normally coiffed to perfection finally began

to look tired as he started his third lap around the floor with her.

“I don’t know what P. David’s deal is,” said Peter, flicking some dirt off

his sleeve.
“The prince?”

“Uh, yeah. He doesn’t even want to get married, he told me so,” said

Peter. “He talks to me sometimes lately about stuff like that, I think we’re
becoming friends.”

“He’s a good friend to let you serve food at his ball.”

“I said ‘becoming.’ I’m just saying, if he doesn’t want to get married,
then this whole thing is kind of pointless, don’t you think?”

“You know, I’m betting he wants to get married. But he’s what, twenty-
three? He probably wants a few more years of this.”

“Of what?” Peter asked, popping a lemon cake in his mouth from a
passing waiter’s tray.
“Ladies lining up out the door to hold his hand.”

“I just don’t know what his deal is,” Peter said wiping his mouth and
picking up the tray. “And if he wants potatoes, that’s gonna be my ass because

the world isn’t fair, Fritz old boy.”

“It sure isn’t,” Fritz said, watching as the prince let go of Anna’s hand

and approached the next girl in line, who looked to be about sixteen.

Anna looked for Teresa as she left the dance floor and didn’t see any

sign of her. Her feet hurt from the prince’s aggressive dance. She hadn’t done

a good job keeping in rhythm and wasn’t enchanted by Prince David’s

chiseled jaw and symmetrical dimples. They had completed several full laps.

She wondered how the prince was still moving. He’s in great shape, I’ll give

him that, she thought. Neither had attempted much talking. They passed close

to the throne where the king and queen sat, absorbed in conversation with

another couple. What was perhaps the pinnacle of the evening for most

attendees felt very uneventful to Anna. She briefly considered summoning the
carriage early, but she didn’t want to make Carson take two trips. It appeared

as though the food only came from waiters holding trays, and she didn’t see
any at the moment. A drink would have to suffice. She joined a line for a glass

of punch.
Fritz came and stood behind her. The line moved much faster than the

one for the dance. She turned slightly and caught eyes with him again. Fritz
started to say something, but chose to nod instead. She nodded back, eyes
sparkling. She wasn’t sure what possessed her to speak, but she said,

“If this punch is as stimulating as that dance, then I should plan to be

asleep within the hour.” Fritz laughed much louder than he intended to and
Anna, a bit pink, glanced around to see if anyone else heard. A few people

gave Fritz surprised head turns, and he nodded at them with polite confidence.
“I did notice that neither of you looked particularly engaged,” Fritz

admitted with a grin.

“Well, when you make a lady wait in line for over half an hour, she

tends to raise her expectations.”

“Gosh I hope the punch doesn’t disappoint you as well. It’s one of my

favorite recipes,” he said, shaking his head.

“What do you know about the punch?”

“I know it’s not self-serve for a reason.”

“What’s that?” she asked, eyes bright.

“A dignitary from the West Mountains came for a visit. We threw a ball,

of course. He spent the entire evening serving himself punch and dinner. And

it was strong punch, not like what they’ve got tonight. Peel paint with it.
Anyway, one of the soldiers in attendance - a hero from the war - confronted

him that he was ‘hogging,’ so to speak, the food and beverages. Needless to

say a fight broke out. Two please,” Fritz said to the woman serving the cups.
“Er, thank you,” Anna said, taking hers. “What happened?”

“The solider won. The dignitary was carted away and it made for some
awkward regional relations for a year or so. But time moves forward,” he
replied, eyes crinkling.

“And I suppose that also explains the lack of accessible food?”

“Waiters only. And unfortunately, they’re serving the creme de la creme

before the rest of the riff raff,” he said, indicating himself and glancing at
Anna to see if she was amused. She gave him a reassuring smile.
“You must work at the palace then, right?” she asked. Fritz looked

around to see if anyone was paying attention. He lowered his voice.

“I didn’t want it to come to this, but I do much more than work at the

palace. See, I wanted to get a real sense of the women in the kingdom, so I

sent my double to occupy each woman with a dance while I, the true prince,

performed my search.” Anna looked him up and down, thoughts racing. Then
she broke into a smile.

“At the risk of my execution,” she said, “Liar.” He laughed his loud

laugh again.

“It was worth a shot. Did you believe me for a moment?”

“Almost,” she said. “And now I don’t know what to believe.” A solemn

little man approached them.

“Pardon, madame, you recently danced with his highness Prince David,

correct?”
“I did, sir,” said Anna.

“Kindly step over to the desk and fill out one of the information cards

please. So that the prince may gather some additional details about your self
and your interests that you may not have covered during your dance

conversation.” Anna pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Fritz
tried to catch her eye but she gazed steadfastly at the little man.
“Of course, thank you sir,” she said cordially. The man bowed and

scuttled over to another woman who was unsteadily leaving the prince’s arms.
Anna glanced at Fritz, feeling awkward for the first time since she’d initially

spoken to him. She gave him a little nod before heading to the card table. Fritz
leaned back against the wall, hoping she would return. He enjoyed her
conversation. It had a rhythm to it that made him think differently than he

normally did. He wanted to know more about her. Her name, for one thing. He
looked away, realizing he’d been obviously gazing after her and his eyes

landed on Peter who was rapidly walking toward him.

“Ugh, Fritz, there’s a bird in the third floor lounge. It’s flying around the

rafters and making the women scream. Come and get it,” said Peter, a mix of
exasperated and amused. Fritz hesitated for a moment, glancing at the card

table.

“Come on. If the prince doesn’t find a wife, this will be what they talk

about,” Peter said. “It’s serious up there.”

“Alright. Take me to the bird,” Fritz said. Anna was bent over a sheet of

parchment paper. He followed Peter out of the ballroom with one more

unreturned look toward Anna. Through a wooden door, they climbed the cold,

mildewy backstairs up two floors. Their shuffling steps echoed against the
stone walls.

“What kind of bird is it?” Fritz asked.

“I don’t know. A black one. It was, of course, the moment I started

talking to a woman about anything other than ‘where are the h’ordeurves,’ and

then Lady Elsa screams, like the kind of scream you save for a murder, and
I’m like, ‘I’m handling the food tonight, so no way am I touching this bird.’ So
I came and got you!”

“That’s me. The guy who touches the birds.”

“Not lately. You haven’t touched one since Louise,” Peter said,

accusingly .
 “Oh yeah, Louise,” Fritz said with a grimace.
“Come on, she was cute. Buxom and blonde,”

“And very much into money and a shoulder to cry on.”

“Well, you have fantastic shoulders,” said Peter, opening the door to the

third level.

“Right, and nothing else,” Fritz said, grinning. They entered a carpeted

room and fell silent. A harpist plucked soft music in the corner of the ornate
lounge pretending not to notice the panicked gaggle of women giggling

opposite her. One woman approached Fritz in a red ball gown, holding a

broom she nicked from a closet.

“Oh thank heavens!” she cried. “I’ve been trying to shoo him outside,

but he keeps flying elsewhere.”

“That’s alright, Ms..?”

“Featherstone. Heidi Featherstone.”

“Ms. Featherstone. Lovely to make your acquaintance, I’m Fritz. Here

now, allow me,” he said, gently taking the broom from her. “Where did you

last see the little guy?”

“He’s over there,” said Ms. Featherstone, looking red. The poor
blackbird lay tiredly atop a grandfather clock.

“Thank you,” said Fritz. Ms. Featherstone retreated to her friends on the
other side of the room, giggling nervously as Fritz approached the bird gently,
with both hands outstretched. His fingertips brushed the bird’s feathers and it

flew across the room in a panic, causing the women to shriek and cover their
heads. The harpist stopped playing and folded her arms, with a stormy

expression. Peter laughed into his white glove. Fritz shot him a look and
missed seeing where the bird landed.
“Where did it go?” he asked, trying to sound pleasant.

“B-behind the bookshelf,” said a woman with a dark green hat. Fritz
nodded and crept over to the bookcase. The bird had wedged itself between

the wood and the wall. Fritz wasn’t sure if he could reach, but he figured

moving the whole shelf would be risky. It might fall inward and crush the bird

or outward and crush the lounge. Or worse, the harpist. He took a deep breath
and reached his hand swiftly toward the bird. He grasped the front of the bird

and he felt it nipping at his fingers, but willed himself not to let go,

preemptively shushing the room as he carefully withdrew the bird. He stepped

quickly to the window where he loosened his grip.

The bird sprung forward, leaving behind a grey, wet splotch of poop in

Fritz’s palm. He quickly cupped his fingers over his hand.

“Did it drop to the ground?”

“Is it alive?” The women rushed to the window.

“He flew off into the moonlight. All is as it should be,” Fritz said,

feeling the wet sludge ooze onto his fingers.

“Thank you for your help,” cooed Ms. Featherstone, stepping forward
and smiling at him with her head tilted down.

“The least I can do. Please, enjoy the rest of the ball. Peter?” Fritz said,
desperate to leave. Peter followed him down the hall and they turned into one
of the guest bedrooms.

“Good lord,” Fritz said, checking to see if the basin on the dresser was
full. It wasn’t, but the pitcher next to it was. “Peter, will you pour that?” Peter

gave him a look. “Please. Now,” Fritz said. Peter dumped half the water into
the ceramic basin and Fritz began scooping handfuls of the lukewarm water
over the grey sludge on his hand.

“Oh, it didn’t!” cried Peter, disgusted. “When?”

“About three seconds before it departed our lives forever,” said Fritz

grimly.

“Oh, ew!”

“You’re telling me. Will you see if there’s soap somewhere?” Peter
scanned the dresser and left to find some. Fritz continued rinsing his hands and

glanced at the large mirror. It had a few warped spots which made him look a

bit like an ogre. He fixed his reddish hair with his clean hand and gave his

reflection a pained smile. Peter returned with a bar of soap.

“I don’t know whose room I stole this from, but it’ll be someone else’s

problem,” said Peter, handing it over. Fritz vigorously scrubbed his hands and

shook them before reaching for a cloth to dry them. “Come on, let’s go.”

“No, no, we can’t leave this foggy dung water in here.”

“Foggy dung water! Fritz come on, we can clean it later!”

“Let me just dump it out,” he said, carefully lifting the basin and

carrying it to the open window. He tipped it slowly so the water ran quietly
down the stones. Peter shook his head.

“You’re out there killing chickens and hacking up trees, but you won’t
leave a bit of messy water-”
“Poop water,” said Fritz.

“Poop water, then, in it’s own basin for the maid. I just...eugh. You want
a cigar break with me?” Fritz shook his head.

“I’d better get back down there.”

 “Oh yes, you seemed to be making rather merry before I came and made
you leave,” Peter said, patting Fritz’s shoulder rapidly.

“Go away,” he said, shrugging Peter off.

“Who is she?”

“I don’t know,” Fritz said. He returned the empty basin to the dresser

and placed the dirty towel over it.

“You don’t know or you don’t want to tell me?”

“I don’t know, I should have asked. That’s why I want to get back down

there,” He glanced once more into the warped mirror and pressed his thick hair

down again. Peter sighed.

“Well I’m going out for a smoke. Good luck with the lady, poop hands.”

Fritz made a face and waited until Peter’s steps faded away before heading

back. He re-entered the ballroom, trying not to obviously look for Anna, but

obviously looking for Anna. He spotted her lavender dress at the edge of the

dance floor, her back to him. She was looking around too, but he didn’t notice
that. The line to dance with the prince was empty, but he didn’t notice that

either. He wavered a bit before committing to walking a direct path to her.

He took his place next to her, unsure of what to say. She turned and
smiled so widely at him that her eyes almost disappeared behind her cheeks.

“Hi!” she said.

“Did I miss anything?” he asked.
“Everything. Actually, nothing at all, really. The big news is this

mysterious maiden who the prince won’t stop dancing with. She came in late,
and it was at the exact moment that...that man,” she pointed discreetly to a red-

faced man drinking out of a ladle he’d gotten from somewhere.

 “Sir Edgar Rastille,” he murmured.
“Right, yes, I haven’t had the pleasure,” she said, eyes twinkling. “The

exact moment Sir Edgar crashed right into the quartet. I saw it happen. The
music literally stopped. And,” she said, turning fully to face Fritz, “now I feel

rather odd knowing Sir Edgar’s name there and yet you and I haven’t been

properly introduced, Mr...”

“Fritz.”
“Mr. Fritz.”

“Call me Fritz. I have to be honest, I’m so tired of the customs of who

can talk to whom and how we’re all introduced and how much wine everyone

has to drink out of a certain glass. At this risk of, ugh, being too forward,

what’s your name?” Anna laughed and her nose wrinkled.

“All that ceremony to avoid being ceremonious. It’s Anna.”

“Anna. Lovely to meet you,” he said with a small bow. “And how, may I

ask, did you find the prince? Quite suitable?”

“If you’ll believe this, Fritz,” she said directly, “And I think you will, I

didn’t come here to marry the prince.”

“No?”
“No! He’s what, twenty-three? But as you know, it was strongly

suggested that all eligible maidens show up and try. And though it may seem
very ordinary to you, I’m not one to turn down an evening of fine dresses and
punch at the palace.”

“I see,” said Fritz, stopping himself from saying more.

“What!” cried Anna. Fritz laughed at her indignation.

“Nothing! I just...want to ask you something, but I’m terrified of the

consequences.”
“Well, go on then. The worst case scenario is that I smack you across

your beard with one of these hand-stitched gloves and skulk off after one of
those disappearing appetizer trays. With the distraction the prince and his

maiden are making, I’m sure only three or four people would notice, tops.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirty two,” she said quietly. Fritz lit up.

“But so am I!”

“Really! When’s your birthday?”

“March fifth,” said Fritz. Anna smiled and patted her dress.

“You’re older than me,” she said with satisfaction.

“By how much?”

“Three months - to the day!”

“May fifth,” he said to himself. Anna laughed.

“June fifth.”
“No...” Fritz said, thinking quickly.

“Yes! March to April,” she said, counting on her fingers, “April to May,

May to June. You did two.”

“Oh lord, I did,” said Fritz, feeling stupid. Anna liked his sheepish

expression. He cleared his throat. “If I whirl you into a dance, a la Prince
David, will you forget my mathematical deficits?”
“I’m terribly flattered Fritz, but can I be honest with you?” Fritz

swallowed, feeling embarrassed. “I’d really prefer to snoop around the castle.
Show me one room that I’m not allowed in and I’ll dance with you at least a

turn.” Fritz let loose one of his loud laughs, suddenly thrilled. He quickly
located the prince, who held his dance partner firmly in an extended twirl. A
few party guests clapped politely.

“It’s a deal,” he said. “Follow me.” Fritz adopted an abrupt, professional

stride that Anna had to catch up to. He dipped behind a side door and so did

she. She stifled a laugh as Fritz looked both ways and briskly signaled her to

follow.

“Listen, if you’re putting my job on the line, you’re going to have to

take this a bit more seriously,” he said from beside her, face somber and eyes

bright.

“You’re absolutely right,” Anna whispered. “Please proceed, sir.” His

steps echoed down the large hallway against the sounds of the muffled party.

Fritz glanced around again and leaned open a heavy wooden door.

“This way then,” he said as she passed him. He let the door rest against

his fingertips all the way until it closed with a click. The sudden silence

startled them both.

“The library,” Anna breathed. “It’s enormous.”

“And rarely used, because we’re too busy and the prince has no need.

Other than to thrust books into the faces of impressed maidens,” he said, still
by the door. Anna was already between two shelves.

“There’s a whole section, here, dedicated to descriptions of houses in the

West Mountains!” said Anna. “Oh and these little drawings are charming I-
heavens, it’s religious book meant to convert natives,” she said, fluttering

some pages and drawing Fritz closer to her. “Do you spend much time in
here?”

“I’m afraid I don’t. It’s not generally encouraged, mostly because my

work gets my hands so dirty.” He instinctively looked at his hand to again
make sure it was clean.

“Oh, Fritz, look!” She held a small book in her hands. He gently took it
from her, and turned a few pages, feeling warm.

“What is it?” he asked. Anna started to laugh, looking over his shoulder,

scanning the words.

“I think it’s arguing the existence of trolls!” she cried.

“Like, from stories?” He turned to an illustrated page of an ugly little

creature scowling up at them. “Wow. It is. Someone spent a lot of time

creating this.”

“Yes, what have you done with your life?” Anna asked, tilting her head

at Fritz.

“I risked the wrath of a kingdom to show a woman with lovely hair a

book about trolls.”

“Oh, very nice, thank you. I am actually quite sick of these braids. It
feels like someone wrapped up two ears of corn and pinned them to my head.

And, uh, you have a handsome beard there.” Fritz laughed and Anna imagined

the books were startled by such a noise in the library.

“You’re only complimenting me because I complimented you.”

“No,” she protested, “I just didn’t want to say it in line for the punch.”
“Fair enough,” he said, noticing she looked a bit pale. “Are you feeling
well?” he asked.

“Yes, only,” she said looking a little embarrassed, “I was hoping to, at
some point, get one of those disappearing appetizers.”

“You must be starving!” said Fritz. “Wait here, I know where they are.”
Fritz gave her a shy smile and slipped out of the library. The sudden feeling of
being entirely alone when minutes ago Anna had been overwhelmed by the

bubbling crowd was like climbing into hot water. Jolting at first, and then
quickly satisfying. She pushed the troll book back and wandered to the center

of the library. A rolling ladder track lined the perimeter of the room, and books

filled the walls nearly to the ceiling. She spotted a side table and a comfortable

looking leather chair and walked over, sitting heavily in the chair. Two books
rested on the table, a small map of the town and a history book, centered on

the kingdom. Anna picked it up and flipped through it, noting with amusement

how much Prince David looked like his great-grandfather, the beloved King

Hans. She looked up quickly when the door opened, briefly afraid it would be

anyone but Fritz. But there he was, holding a haphazard plate and looking

exhilarated.

“Camille, the head chef normally goes to pieces if anyone takes

anything,” he said breathlessly. “But she was distracted, you know- I took
whatever I could. I’m feeling rather proud of myself,” he said with a grin.

Anna smiled back, embarrassed that her mouth was watering.

“You could have brought me gruel and I would have eaten it. Thank you,
Fritz. You have no idea how much I appreciate this,” she said as he handed her

the plate.
“They were out of gruel, unfortunately,” he said. She sat back down in the
chair, plate on her lap and hungrily ate a roll with a pat of honey butter. Fritz

watched her, amused.

“Oh, goll,” she said, mouth half full, “I shouldn’t be stuffing myself. I

just feel like, no one’s around and I’m starving, so,” she took a bite of a small
drumstick and shrugged.
“I’m glad you’re counting me as no one,” Fritz said, scratching his

bearded chin.
“It’s a compliment,” she said. “Oh, this is so good, do you want some?”

“I ate a great deal beforehand so I wouldn’t end up in your current

position.” Anna looked up, shocked and then broke into a laugh when she saw

Fritz’s kind face, joking as well as worried she might be offended. He sighed
quietly, happily, as she removed her gloves and waved them at him playfully

as she continued devouring the appetizers.

After finishing the entire plate, Anna looked out the large windows to

the balcony. She laid a hand across her stomach.

“Don’t worry,” she said. I can eat however much and no one will notice

a difference until I get home and remove the corset.” Fritz laughed genially,

and a portion of his brain tried to picture the image.

“Who will notice then?” he asked. She laughed.

“No one, I suppose. Me?” Anna set the plate aside and put her gloves
back on. She walked to the large windowed doors and looked out into the

darkness.
“Does this balcony go all the way to the ballroom? Is it the same one?”

“Yes, it wraps all the way around to the front entrance.”

“Fritz, can we go out there?” she asked. His instincts told him not to, but

he truly didn’t want to say no to her. Feeling a surge of adrenaline, he nodded

and gently opened the door. They stepped out together feeling excited in the
night air, and just as he shut the door, they heard a soft conversation from the

other side of the balcony. A quick look confirmed what they feared; the prince
stood by the railing speaking softly to the lady no one knew. Fritz put a finger
to his mouth and crept behind some large potted shrubs. Anna blanched,

glancing at the library door a few times. She pointed that she wanted to go
back inside. Fritz tilted his head toward the prince and ran a finger over his

throat. She widened her eyes and ducked down behind him. She put a hand on

his arm, trying to get his attention, but he held up a finger. Anna pressed her

lips together and made a small huff noise. She pictured a bevy of knights
arresting her and the paper tomorrow would call her a “Royal Pain,” or a

“Gambling Governess.”

Then, to Anna’s absolute horror, Fritz was squinting his eyes and

rubbing his nose like he was going to sneeze. She shook her head forcefully at

him. His eyes seemed to apologize as the sneeze burst forth - loud, like his

laughs and snapping the prince’s attention to him.

“Hello, there,” called the prince in a voice deeper than his usual. Fritz

indicated that Anna should stay put with one weak hand and stood up.
“Your highness, I apologize for the disruption,” said Fritz, appearing

from behind the bushes. The prince ran a hand over his perfectly trimmed hair.

“Fritz,” said Prince David, looking a bit like a deer coming across a
hunter. His attire, trimmed in gold, glittered in the moonlight.

“Your highness,” he said again.

“Well, what- what are you doing out...here?”
“I noticed a few thorns from the window. On the bushes over there, so I

pruned them a bit. It would be a shame if they were to get caught on the lady’s
dress. Dangerous too,” said Fritz, with a kind nod to the prince’s companion

who looked a bit shaken as well.

 “Very well, then. But please, I’d rather you enjoy the party, Fritz. I’d
rather everyone enjoy the party,” said the Prince, glancing at the girl to gauge

her reaction to the whole ordeal. She fixed a serene smile on her face - which
was very pretty - and addressed Fritz softly.

“Sir, would you be so kind as to tell me what time it is?” Fritz looked at

his watch.

“Quarter past eleven, miss,” he replied. She smiled gratefully, looking

sort of like a painting in the moonlight. She reminded Fritz of a dove. Prince

David gazed at her as though he’d forgotten Fritz was there at all.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Thank you both. Sorry again for the, uh, disruption,” said Fritz with a

little bow. He walked away slowly and waited until the prince fell back into

conversation with his companion and then tugged Anna’s arm.

“Come on, quickly!” whispered Fritz. In what felt like a single move to

Anna, Fritz pulled open the door and guided her in by the arm. Once the door
was safely closed, they both looked at each other, wide-eyed and pale. Anna

began to giggle uncontrollably. Fritz laughed a bit with her, but mostly

groaned a variety of sighs.

“Oh that was too close. You’re going to get me banned from this place,”

he said. Anna wiped away a few laughter tears with her gloves.
“A disruption!” she choked out, still giggling. “You kept calling that
sneeze a disruption! I was dying,”

“What else am I supposed to say? ‘I’m just hiding with a woman who
forced me to show her the off-limits rooms of the castle?’” She touched his

arm playfully.
 “I would have been just as entertained no matter what you said. Did you
get a good look at the mystery girl?” Anna took a few steadying breaths as her

laughter subsided.
“Yes, she’s lovely. Young too, maybe younger than he is.”

“Oh, I’d imagine so,” Anna said, suddenly feeling awkward. Fritz

sensed the change in energy.

“You promised me a dance. I risked my career, my very life and yours,

and I insist on following through on our agreement.” He offered his arm and

Anna took it. She felt a small thrill jump up her spine as he led her from the

library back to the ballroom.

They joined a dozen or so twirling couples in a lively dance. Both

struggled to keep up with the proper movements while still attempting polite

conversation.

“Are you having...a nice time?” said Fritz.

“Yes,” said Anna, tugging her dress from her leg where it kept winding
around. They spun around and Anna’s dress suddenly collided with another

woman’s. She remembered how much she’d disliked dancing with Prince

David.
“Sorry,” she said as they passed a shorter dark-haired woman who

waved her away with a smile. “Sorry,” she said again, locking eyes with Fritz.
“You have nothing to apologize for. I, however, am making a mockery
of the entire institution of dance.”

“Perhaps we both are,” she said with a grin. “Perhaps an institution is

where we belong,” she said. Fritz chuckled.

“How long, do you know, is this song? And at what point are we in the
song?” he asked, half-kidding. Anna cocked her head to hear the music. Fritz
watched her expectantly, spun her around, and watched her again as she

continued to listen. “Well?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I was just taking the opportunity to catch my breath.”

“Duly noted,” said Fritz, stepping on her foot slightly. “Er - sorry. Are

you alright?”

“Never better,” she said smiling wearily. They continued dancing until
the moment song ended. They looked at each other, both nervous the other

would suggest another dance.

“Shall I get us something to drink? Ale, wine?” Fritz said, hesitantly

leading Anna off the dance floor.

“I would love a break, but I thank you, I’d rather not drink. I’ve got to

be up early working tomorrow. A glass of wine would put me to sleep before

midnight.” At that moment, a woman stumbled by and spilled red wine down

her yellow puffy dress. She shrugged and scuttled away with a belch. “You
know, plenty of reasons to abstain,” said Anna. Fritz led her to a bench by the

windows, which were ajar and admitting a gentle humid breeze. She sat down

and tugged at a hairpin that had been jammed against her skull all night.
“What is your occupation?” asked Fritz, “If you don’t mind telling me.”

“No, no. I’m a governess. Nothing fancy.”

“For how many children?”
“Three girls, they’re fourteen, eleven, and eight.”

“They must adore you,” Fritz said, looking down when her gaze met his.
“They like me alright. Mostly when I’m not teaching them anything.”

She yawned and covered her mouth. It went on longer than she wanted it to.
“Pardon me. I’m...”
“Very tired?”

“How perceptive,” she said, blinking at him and wondering if she would
yawn again. “Will you not sit down, Fritz?” She hadn’t felt strange about

using his first name earlier, but she did now.

“I thank you, I shouldn’t. I’m meant to keep the appearance of attending

as a guest but not really, you know, hanging out.”

“What exactly is your position here? If you don’t mind telling me,” she

said with a half-smile.

“Technically I’m a groundskeeper,” he said, looking a bit tired himself,

“But a little of everything.”

“What sort of work do they expect you to do at a ball?”

“Right now, I’m working on keeping you entertained, Ms. Anna, so you

don’t fall asleep on that bench.” She stifled another yawn before replying.

“Go on, then. How will you entertain me?” He glanced out over the
ballroom and saw Ms. Featherstone, merrily jigging in the arms of a tall man

with a dark, bushy beard.

“I’ll tell you a story. You see, once there was a man, a close friend of
mine. You know, very close. Almost a twin, I’d say,” he said, checking in with

Anna who was listening contentedly. “He worked in a palace not very different
at all from this one. In fact, they too held a ball where their prince attempted to
find a wife from all the eligible maidens in town.”

“What a coincidence,”
“Indeed it was! For the gentlemen, er, Bert, we’ll call him - you know

my friend Bert, met a woman in line for the punch. They chatted for a bit, and
she was called away,”
“This is sounding awfully familiar.”

“Well now, listen here, I’m getting to something you know nothing
about.”

“I apologize. It’s a wonderful story,” she said, patting his arm.

“Thank you,” said Fritz, briefly thrown from his train of thought. “As I

was saying, when she was called away, our hero Bert was also called away. To
the third floor of the...other kingdom’s palace, you see, because a blackbird

flew inside and was trapped there, fluttering around, frightened it would live

forever in a palace lounge, when it was meant to fly far and wide through the

air.”

“How awful!”

“Terrible. And the party guests weren’t happy about it either. So I- Bert,”

said Fritz as Anna held up a finger. “Yes, Bert reached behind a bookcase

where the little bird had flown, desperate perhaps to climb inside one of the
books and feed on the trolls within,” said Fritz, giving Anna a look which

made her laugh.

“Then what?”
“Then Bert wrapped his hands around the bird, silently promising to set

it free into the night,” Fritz looked dramatically off into the distance.
“And did he?”
“Oh yes. And the bird, not wanting his savior to forget the good deed he

did, left him a small gift, in the palm of Bert’s hand.”

“What kind of gift?” asked Anna, pretty sure she knew but wanting to

make him say it. The clock began to strike grandly.

 “Is it midnight already?” said Fritz in between chimes. “The palace has
strict laws about stories after midnight.” Anna giggled and shook her head.

She scooted to the edge of the bench.

“Won’t you sit down?” she asked again. Fritz looked around.

“Sure, for a moment,” he said with a tired smile.

“How long do you have to be here?”

“Until everyone leaves. Then I break everything down, put the heavier
stuff back where it belongs.”

“You must be exhausted,” she said. He yawned, which made her yawn,

and they shared a moment where neither could comment. Suddenly the prince

burst into the ballroom, stopped the music with a wave of his glove and cried

out:

“Has anyone seen her? Where did she go? Does anyone know who she

is?”

“Oh boy...” muttered Fritz. Anna nudged him with her shoulder.
“Search the exits, look about the grounds, I shall stop at nothing to find

her!” A gangly man in a powdered wig shuffled to the prince’s side and

whispered something into his ear. The prince looked at him in disbelief.
“Oh. Really? Well. Never mind,” he addressed the ball again, glittering

under the lights. “She is gone to-night. The search will resume tomorrow, and
I promise to all of you here now, I will find her. I will find she, the girl of my
dreams.” He ended his speech by breaking into a dramatic run across the floor

and out into the night. A few people clapped. Many of the women made
fainting noises without actually fainting. Anna snorted into her gloves. Fritz

tapped her arm playfully with the back of his hand.

 “We’re on the same page here, though, that was ridiculous right?” she
said. Fritz nodded, laughing softly and shaking his head.

“‘She, the woman of my dreams,” Fritz said as the music resumed. She
giggled and put her head in her hand.

“I feel like I should ask you dance again to get people acting normal

again,” Fritz said, thinking he wanted to hold her waist again.

“Would you hate me if I continued sitting here a bit longer? Lately

dancing has become so,”

“Tiring?”

“No. Well, yes. I don’t know. I’m not making myself look very good, am

I?” He laughed.

“You danced with me, you well know my deficiencies.”

“Dancing and counting months. Duly noted,” she said, raising an

eyebrow.

“Can I say, you do look lovely Ms. Anna. Your...hair,”

“Is very heavy and I’d prefer not to think about it,” Anna said, cheeks

pink. “I’m not very dainty and I and my appetizers are quite crammed into this

dress,” she said, moving her waist to display its stiffness.

“You cannot deter me from believing you to be beautiful,” said Fritz,

looking anxiously earnest. Anna looked up into his eyes, and couldn’t think of
anything to say. In fact, they both felt lost for a moment and then Teresa
arrived as an unwelcome compass at Anna’s side.

“Anna! There you are, I’ve been looking everywhere! Carson is already
here, we have to go,” she said, ignoring Fritz, who looked like he had

swallowed a whole ice cube. Anna hesitated for a moment. She had been
pondering their Goodbye Moment for several hours now, and this wasn’t it.
“Anna! Come on,” Teresa said, headband loose and eyes bulging.

“Well...Goodbye then,” she said, gently touching Fritz’s arm. He quickly

placed his hand over hers for a moment, before sputtering back,

“Bye,” and watching Anna disappear across the room and out the door,

her lavender dress shrinking into the crowd.

Teresa gripped Anna’s arm like a child’s and led her to front entrance
where twenty or thirty carriages waited with impatient horses, stamping and

shaking off flies. Teresa tugged Anna past several carriages down until they

came upon theirs, where a miffed-looking Carson attended the door.

“There you are, there you are,” he said. That was about as vicious as

Carson ever got.

“I’m sorry Carson, thank you for waiting,” Anna said.

“Well, well,” said Carson, closing the door behind them.

“Now we shall have to wait in this mess of carriages,” Teresa said,

folding her arms.

“It would be the same situation had we left the moment Carson got here.

It’s a mass exodus because of the prince’s announcement.”

“The prince! Can you believe that? He never let go of that girl once, I

don’t know how she got away!” cried Teresa, dropping her annoyed demeanor.
“At least I got to dance with him, maybe when he doesn’t find her, he will
think of me?” She gazed dreamily out the foggy window. The carriage was hot

and stuffy. It felt as though the sky desperately needed to rain, but wanted to
wait for a more appropriate situation. Teresa pulled her headband off and set it

on her lap, gazing at it like a treasure. “No one had a headband like mine, not a
single girl there. He has to remember that at least,” she said, petting the jewels
on it. “Anna, who was that man you were talking to when we left?”

“Oh,” said Anna, turning from the window. “Just one of the
groundskeepers.” Fritz’s face had not left her thoughts, but she didn’t want to

talk about him to anyone in the world, particularly Teresa.

“At the palace?! Did he talk about the prince? Does he know the

prince?”
“Of course he does. He works for the prince.”

“The prince has the softest hands in the world. He touched my bare arm

when we were dancing, you know! I bet he doesn’t just touch anyone’s bare

arm.”

“Wasn’t he wearing gloves?” Anna asked. Teresa ignored her.

“Oh, but that girl he danced with, who can compete with that? She

looked like a bird! Or an angel. Something with wings,” Teresa grumbled,

ruffling her dark curls. “Did you see her, Anna?”

“Mm-hmm,” Anna said absently. Her brain flipped through images of

the past few hours like a scrapbook. The library, the patio, the punch line, all

with Fritz. Fritz the groundskeeper. Fritz with the reddish beard. She rested her
head in her glove and bounced along as Carson started the horses down the

road. Free of the ballroom crowds, they trotted a dusty path to the little manor
she and Teresa called home.

Fritz pushed a table to the wall, it screeched against the floor and echoed
off the ceiling. He gave the table he’d just moved one extra push to make sure
it was secure and looked around. His arms ached, his shins hurt, and he felt as

though he could fall asleep standing up. Peter wandered out of the kitchen,
looking a little buzzed with his jacket coat draped over his arm.
“Well the kitchen’s as done as it’s going to be. What a night. If there was

a medal for spilled soup, Camille would win it,” said Peter, wobbling his head
from side to side. Fritz gave him a tired smile. “What the story, dung hands?

Who was the girl?”

“Oh,” Fritz said. “Her name’s Anna. She’s a governess.”

“And?”
“That’s all I know,” he said wearily. He’d spent the last hour moving

tables and kicking himself for his pathetic goodbye.

“Good luck with that then,” said Peter, producing a bottle of red wine

from under his coat. “You want a nightcap?”

“No. I’m going to bed,” said Fritz.

“Come on! I want to talk about Anna! She’s cute! I saw you talking to

her all night,” said Peter, toting after him. “You always tell me when it’s a

girl!”
“There’s nothing to tell,” Fritz said brusquely.

“Come on, there’s got to be. Did you get a chance to feel on those, you

know,” he said with a lewd gesture.

“Enough!” Fritz snapped. He turned around, embarrassed at his outburst.

“Peter. Sorry. I’m too tired,” he said, quieter.

“Enough? Since when are you some Mr. Aristocrat Prude Man?”
“I’m just tired, Peter. I’m sorry,” said Fritz. “Can I go to bed?”

“Sheesh, your highness. Whatever you want to do. More for me,” Peter
said, sulking out of the ballroom, clutching the wine bottle at the neck. Fritz

grabbed a wide broom from a hidden-panel closet and slowly pushed the
bristles back and forth across the floor, pushing crumbs and dirt to wall’s edge.
When he finished sweeping, he extinguished all the torches but one, a

candlestick that he carried up the creaking steps to the second floor. He stood
in front of the basin in his room and dabbed his tired face with water. He

looked at himself in the mirror lit hollowly by flickering candlelight. I look

old, he thought. He saw the grey streaks in his beard and felt as tired as he

could ever remember. He shed his suit and folded it up before placing it on a
chair and pulling on his nightshirt. He climbed under his quilt and closed his

eyes, with images of Anna crouched behind him on the patio filling his mind

as he dropped off.

“Fritz! Fritz! Wake up, man!” Fritz jolted awake in pitch dark, confused.

He’d been dreaming about riding an enormous ship, when suddenly the

captain began whispering viciously for him to wake up.

“Hm? What is it?” he asked groggily. Rain tapped against the windows.

A flash of lightning highlighted the prince’s figure, still glittering in his finest.

“Your highness?”
“How will I find her, Fritz?” moaned Prince David. “All I have is this

slipper, a reminder that she flies free while I am confined to this prison of a
castle!”

“What time is it? It’s the middle of the night,” he said, sitting up.
“It is barely four in the morning. And yet, four hours from the very

moment my angel flew away!”

“She didn’t really fly, did she?”
“No, why?”

“You keep saying she flew,” said Fritz, rubbing his eyes.
 “She may as well have!” cried Prince David, frustrated. “And look, look
at this shoe she left,” he held out a slipper, made of hand-blown glass.

“It’s a nice shoe,” said Fritz, wanting more than ever to be asleep.
“It’s a perfect shoe! But where is its mate, where is its owner?”

“I don’t know,” Fritz said, wondering if he was supposed to stand up.

The prince sat down on Fritz’s bed and put his blonde head in his gloved

hands.
“What am I to do!”

“Did you find out her name?”

“No!”

“Hold on...You talked to her for the entire night and she never told you

her name?”

“I didn’t ask! It didn’t seem important at the time, only our love

mattered! You wouldn’t understand,” said Prince David cupping the shoe close

to his heart. Fritz silently congratulated himself on at least finding out Anna’s
first name. “What shall I do? I can’t have every maiden in the kingdom try on

the shoe!” The prince held up the shoe and gazed at it, struck. “Or can I?”

“No, you can’t.”

“I can! I’m the prince, I can do anything I want!”

“Aren’t there like, five shoe sizes total? It might fit dozens of women,”
said Fritz.
“I’ll know. I’ll put it on her foot and I’ll know. Tomorrow, when the sun

rises, prepare a horse for me! I will find her tomorrow!” Prince David leapt
from the bed, clutching the shoe. “To-morrow!” He pointed at Fritz for

emphasis then closed the door with a flourish and a bang. Fritz laid back
against his pillow. He pulled the quilt over his face and chuckled. Every
woman in the kingdom, that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Every single

woman-
Fritz sat up again. He suddenly felt wide awake. Thunder rumbled in the

distance and Fritz began to think how he could use the prince’s dumb plan to

his advantage.

He arrived at the stables at the crack of dawn, dressed in his best work
clothes. He brushed all the horses - even Gwendolyn - who nipped at his

fingers when he fed her an apple. He fitted Shep, the largest and gentlest horse

with a polished saddle. The prince entered, in clothes almost finer than the

night before, though without the gold trimmings.

“Good morning, Fritz.”

“Good morning, your highness!” Fritz said with a desperate sort of

cheerfulness. “Gwendolyn is a bit fussy today, how do you feel about riding

ol’ Shep?”

“That will be fine,” said the prince crisply, knocking some mud off his
boots with his riding crop. As he approached the horse, Fritz rotated around to

be in Prince David’s line of sight.

“You know, I was thinking. I wanted to offer my services as a sort of

chaperone for this trip of yours. Make sure you’re not in harm’s way, you
know.” The prince tutted.

“You and half the staff. Thank you, but I’ve already made my selection.
I’m taking Edward, Clarence, and Peter.”
Peter, thought Fritz angrily.

“Besides, you thought my shoe idea was stupid,” said the prince with
wounded eyes as he mounted Shep. “So pleh!” He trotted off to the royal
grounds.

“Pleh?” Fritz said to himself. Peter arrived shortly after.

“Prince David said to suit up a horse for me,” he said smugly holding his

riding crop upside-down.

“Yes, I understand you’re going to every household in the kingdom,”

said Fritz. “You know it was sort of my idea. The prince came in and talked to
me last night about it.”

“Oh, no fair! Well, he didn’t let you go along, did he?” asked Peter, with

a grin. “He kind of wants his friends for that kind of thing.” Fritz pulled an old

saddle from the wall and heaved it over Gwendolyn who snorted disdainfully.

“I’ll keep you posted if I see Anna,” said Peter, looking at Fritz for a

reaction. A hot flash of anger surged from Fritz’s boots to his head.

“Go,” said Fritz, handing him Gwendolyn’s reins. “I have other things to

do.”
“Aw come on, don’t be mad!” cried Peter as Fritz stomped out through

the mud. “I really will tell you if I see her! I know you like her!”

“Have fun,” Fritz said, feeling emotions he hadn’t felt since he was a
teenager, a mix of jealousy and hurt at being denied the chance to find Anna.

He trudged toward the herb garden, thinking of pulling some spearmint to

chew on. The sounds of Peter struggling to mount Gwendolyn made him smile
very slightly. Still, he wanted to see Anna more than anything. The thought of

Peter and the prince and everyone at her home, seeing her in her regular
clothes - probably prettier than ever - without him, drove him nuts. He wanted

to be there. Even if they didn’t speak, he wanted to see her reactions to the
prince’s plan, to catch her bright eyes in a moment of suspended laughter. “I’m
an idiot,” he murmured, pulling a spearmint leaf and chewing it thoroughly.

Anna looked out the window at the rain as the girls pretended to study

their literature books at a sitting room table. Elisabeth, the eldest at fourteen,
could no longer contain herself.

“What was the prince like? You danced with him, didn’t you?” she

asked, twirling her hair with her pencil. Anna sighed and sat down at the table.
“Yes, I danced with him. He’s a handsome gentlemen with excellent

manners.”

“Teresa said he had blue eyes, were they blue?” Katherine, the youngest

asked, looking up from a doodle of a horse.

“I would believe that,” Anna said, pretending to thumb through a

periodical.

“How could you not stare deeply into his eyes for the whole dance?”

cried Elisabeth. Anna laughed softly.

“I’m not sure. I suppose I was immune to his powers.”

“Teresa said that he will be trying her shoe on every woman’s foot in the

kingdom today,” said Lily, the middle child, matter-of-factly.

“Is he? I hadn’t heard that,” Anna murmured.

“Oh yes! Don’t you want to change into a different frock?” said
Elisabeth, tossing her long dark hair. “Oh I hope he comes and I hope I get to

meet him!”
“If he comes, we can simply tell him to save his time and go to the next
house as I can independently confirm that neither me or Teresa is who he is

looking for.” Lily thought for a moment and set her quill down.
 “But if he is trying the shoe on every foot in the kingdom, isn’t there the
chance it will fit another woman? Or maybe several others? And what if he

finds he loves one of them even more than the girl he is looking for? Does it
not open up the chance for other women who may have been overlooked?”

said Lily with a furrowed brow. Anna laughed.

“That’s a very good point Lily, and I daresay, an idea many women in

the kingdom have had today. But it’s no use. The prince wants what the prince
wants.”

“Do you think he will find her?” asked Katherine, looking at Anna with

large green eyes.

“I’d imagine so. Unless she doesn’t want to be found,” said Anna.

Teresa entered the room in a flutter.

“Anna! The prince! He is but half a mile away! Roger said!” She was

breathless and clutching her headband. “Do you think I should wear my

headband again, so he remembers me?”

Anna tilted her head sideways, trying to figure out the best way to say

that she might look a bit desperate when Elisabeth jumped out of her seat,

nearly knocking over an inkwell.

“Yes! Let me help you put it in!” Teresa bent down as Elisabeth

excitedly tied the headband on Teresa’s head. “Anna’s not changing,” she said
accusingly.
“The prince isn’t coming for Anna,” said Teresa, fiddling with her

headband as Elisabeth tried in vain to center it.

“But he’s not coming for Teresa either, is he?” Katherine asked

innocently. Teresa rolled her eyes and stormed out. Anna sighed.
 “Girls, a royal visit doesn’t mean that reading isn’t important. Back to
your seats, all of you. You may watch when they arrive, but please do not

cause a scene.” Elisabeth and Katherine cheered, and Lily obediently opened
her book. Anna heard the horses approach outside. Though she had no interest

in the prince, she casually went to the window and scanned the riders for Fritz.

Her mood matched the grey and drizzly sky when she saw none of them were

him.

Anna and Teresa sat in the larger sitting room. Mr. Strickland, the man

of the house, was away on business, but Mrs. Strickland accompanied them in

a plush chair. Her small frame was electrified by the prince’s romantic

escapade, which was the only topic anyone had discussed all morning. Teresa

sat in a blue dress (borrowed from Mrs. Strickland), and Anna wore her plain

grey dress with buttons. The girls had been banished to the room next door,

but all three peeked not-so-subtly through the cracked door as Carson

announced the prince and his aides.

The three women stood and curtseyed. Edward, the frailest of the
gentlemen, unraveled a scroll and read:

“Let it be known that she who can fit this dainty slipper,” he began.
Anna caught eyes with Peter, who lit up and gave her a little wave. She didn’t

recognize him and nodded with polite confusion. Edward went on, “...shall be
the wife of the prince if she can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is

the woman who stole Prince David’s heart at the kingdom ball last night. May
she return it to him today.” Anna wondered to herself who wrote that awful
speech and if they were truly reading it at every house. Surely one of them

would realize it was ridiculous after twenty or thirty houses, she thought.
 “Madame,” said the prince, kneeling before Teresa, who bristled at
being referred to as ‘madame.’ She held her already bare foot daintily out to

the prince, pink from being very recently scrubbed. Her toes barely pushed
past the initial opening of the shoe, but it didn’t stop her from jamming them

as far in as she could.

“Sir, the glass, be careful,” advised Clarence, the handsomest of Prince

David’s aides. He nodded.

“Thank you for your time and your co-operation,” Prince David said

blandly as he moved on to Anna. “Shall we?”

“No thank you, your highness. With all due respect, I can confirm I was

not the maiden from last night.” Mrs. Strickland and Teresa exchanged a look.

Peter looked around for someone to exchange eye contact with, but no one

was looking at him. The whole room stared at Anna.

“You have to,” said the prince, a bit petulantly. “Every woman in the

kingdom has to.”

“As you wish,” said Anna. She reached down to pull off her heavy

brown shoe.

“It’s the left shoe. You’re taking off the right shoe,” said Edward. It
sounded as though he’d made that observation several other times throughout

the morning. She nodded a squinty ‘thanks’ to him and removed the other
shoe. It thudded on the wooden floor.
“My heavens, you have big feet.”

“Thank you Prince David. I do what I can.”

“No truly, I don’t think we can fit one single toe in this tiny shoe!”

Clarence chuckled at the prince’s comment, teeth gleaming, which encouraged

Prince David to continue. “I bet we could hide this whole shoe in any of
yours! Here let me try,” he said reaching for Anna’s shoe. Thankfully, Peter

stepped in.
“Your highness, we still have close to seventy houses to attend.”

“Right of course. It’s just, I’ve never seen bigger feet on a woman in all

my life!” Anna, glowering and red-faced, put her clumpy shoe back on as

Carson showed the prince and his men out.

“Thank you for coming!” called Mrs. Strickland behind them. “Oh, I

shall never forget that visit!”

“Nor will I,” grumbled Anna. “Come on girls,” she said addressing the

door. “Back to your books.” The girls followed Anna up the stairs, jumping

and giggling.

“He was just as handsome as the paintings,” whispered Elisabeth.

“I liked his manservant better,” said Lily. “The one with the gentle

brow.”
“I can’t believe he’s going to every single house!” said Katherine.

“I can’t believe he doesn’t think he would immediately recognize the

girl from last night without putting her shoe on her first,” Anna said irritably.
“What do you mean?” asked Lily.

“He was staring into her eyes all night,” said Anna, holding the door to
the upstairs sitting room as the girls entered and returned to their table. “I only
talked to Fritz for a little while, but I’d recognize him anywhere,” she said.

“Fritz! Who’s Fritz!” cried Elisabeth.

“Never mind. He’s one of the groundskeepers at the palace,” she said to

a sudden chorus of ‘oooohs’ from all three girls. “The point is, you shouldn’t
only want to marry a prince - in fact you probably shouldn’t want to marry a
prince at all. There are plenty of kind, normal men who don’t travel in

entourages and comment on women’s physical features. Now we are reading

in silence for the next twenty minutes and then switching to arithmetic.” The

girls groaned genially and opened their books. Anna looked out the window

and watched the men disappear into the distance. The rain had subsided, but

the village remained covered in a shroud of fog and Anna felt the same way, if
not a little rainier. “Keep studying, I’ll be back in a moment,” Anna said,

deciding to get a glass of water.

She passed by one of the guest rooms on her way and heard sniffling

inside. She pushed the door open softly and saw Teresa still in her headband

and Mrs. Strickland’s dress, struggling to change the bed sheets and hold back

tears at the same time.

“Teresa, is everything alright?” she asked softly, closing the door behind

her. Teresa looked at her with red-rimmed eyes.

“No,” she said, voice trembling.

“Hey, it’s alright, come and sit,” Anna said, taking the sheets from

Teresa and patting a section of bed beside her. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“How can you be so okay about this?” Teresa finally asked, letting her

tears flow freely. Anna handed her a handkerchief. “Thanks,” she said blowing
her nose and dabbing her eyes. “It’s just, that was my chance, you know?
Wasn’t it yours?”

“The prince?” Anna asked, startled.

“Yeah,” sniffed Teresa. “I really thought things could be different for

me. My family is worried about me. I’m beginning to think I won’t ever get
married. I’m twenty-seven,” she said, sobbing suddenly into her hands. Anna
watched a few tear drops spread across the blue fabric on Teresa’s lap. “I wish

I didn’t want to get married, like you!” she wept.

“Oh, well, Teresa, it’s not that. It’s not that I don’t want to get married,

it’s just that I’m... okay if I don’t. I like it here, I like the Stricklands, don’t

you?”

“Yes, I suppose,” said Teresa waifishly.

“People like us don’t marry princes. If we’re lucky, we marry someone

reliable and kind. I was just telling the girls, that’s better, I think.”

“I wanted to live in the palace,” said Teresa, wiping her eyes. Anna

briefly thought of Fritz in the library, standing close to her holding the troll

book.

“Well that, my friend, is understandable. Now come on, no one’s coming

to visit so leave the guest bed for a while. What do you say you and me and

the girls run some errands in town and pick out some ribbons and maybe a
new quilt pattern,” Anna said, patting Teresa’s back. Teresa nodded

pathetically with a little smile.

“Thanks, Anna.”

The wedding was announced the next morning all across the village on

elaborate wooden signs. The princess had been found! It seemed that no one
could talk of anything else. When Anna went to town to pick up the girl’s new

dresses, she ran into four acquaintances who all mentioned the wedding. Three
of them were women who were gleefully disappointed that the prince didn’t
pick them and endlessly in awe of the princess-to-be.

“Her name is Cinderella! She was absolutely impoverished before this,

Anna, I don’t know where she got that dress!” said Alexandria, the Olson
boy’s governess.

“She’s only twenty-one! That was her first night at any kind of society
event. Oh, to be that young again,” twittered Mrs. Fletcher as she polished

apples at her cart.

“I heard her family was very upset,” said Bella Pennington,

confidentially. “I don’t know the particulars, but the constable was called to
their residence late last night!”

The fourth acquaintance was a kind man, Mr. Reynolds, who waved to

her from the doorway of his furniture store.

“Anna! What do you make of all this?” he asked, eyes crinkling behind

his spectacles.

“It sure is something,” Anna said with a tired smile. “I’ve never seen

everyone so engrossed in the royal family before. Not since Prince David was

born.”
“Ah, yes, and I even remember when his mother was born! Her marriage

was not so talked of. Everyone expected that connection. But this is a mystery,

this is something the people can discuss.”

“You can bet they do. It’s all the girls and Teresa can talk about.” Anna

paused and glanced behind her. “Say, Mr. Reynolds, you’ve built pieces for the
palace, haven’t you?”
“You bet I have,” he said proudly. “Four beds, sixteen chairs, and a

dining room table.”

“Have you ever - that’s great!” Anna said, remembering her manners. “I

wanted to ask you, did you ever come across a man named Fritz when you
were there?”
“Who?”

“Fritz,” said Anna, reddening and regretting mentioning his name.

“Fritz. Do you have a surname?” he asked. She shook her head. “Can’t

say that I recall a fellow by that name. Who is he?”

“No one,” Anna said quickly, “Nice running into you, Mr. Reynolds.”

“You too, Anna,” said Mr. Reynolds, looking charmed and bewildered
as she hurried off. On her way home, she took a detour past the palace, though

too far away to identify the few figures she saw on the lawn. She felt creepy

for going so far out of her way and for harboring even a small hope that he

would happen to see her. She took a deep breath, and in a moment of self-pity,

wondered how long this particular want would ache. It didn’t seem fair to get a

couple of hours with a man so agreeable and kind and then perhaps never see

him again. She tugged her hood over her thick brown bun as it began to drizzle

and headed back to the manor.

“Mrs. Richter, all finished tutoring for the day?” asked Fritz, peeking his
head into the library. A crotchety woman with deep lines in her face peered up

at him from a very thick volume.

“What’s it to you?” she asked in a creaky voice.

“Nothing, I just wanted to see if you...needed anything,” said Fritz,

faltering under her sharp gaze.

“If I needed something, then I would get it or ask for it, wouldn’t I?”
Her grey hair was yanked into the tightest possible bun and her yellowed lace
collar nearly came to her chin.

“Could I ask you one question?”

 “That was one, but I’ll permit you another,” she said, with a jagged
smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Er, thank you. I wanted to ask, do you know any of the other
governesses in town?” Her face froze into an icy look of indignation.

“And why would I, the palace tutor, know any of the governesses, in

town?” She looked at him as though he’d just dropped a slab of raw chicken

on her book.
“I don’t know, I thought maybe you all knew each other,”

“YOU ALL! How dare you! I am not a common governess, I am a royal

tutor and I will not be talked to in this way!” Her eyes bulged and her lip

twitched. Peter, still exhausted from visiting all the households in the kingdom

the day before, happened to pass by and wearily stuck his head in the doorway.

“What’s going on in here?”

“Peter!” cried Fritz jubilantly. “Just the man I was looking for, come

along then,” said Fritz, nearly shoving his friend back into the hallway.
“Thank you very much, Mrs. Richter,” he called behind him as she continued

to gripe after them.

“What was that all about?” Peter whispered as they hustled toward the
kitchen.

“I don’t know, but don’t ask about her political views, lesson learned,”
Fritz said, patting his friend on the back.
“You weren’t trying to get the scoop on Anna from Mrs. Richter were

you, old boy?” Peter asked slyly. He watched Fritz’s pink face go red, nearly
matching his beard and Peter smiled hugely. “Listen, you could have asked

me! I looked for you all day yesterday and they said you weren’t even on the
grounds!”
“I was doing some errands for the Prince and Camille,” said Fritz. In

reality, he’d offered to pick up some small items as a means to try and find
Anna in town. “Did you see her though?”

“Yes,” said Peter with a big smile. “She tried on the slipper and

everything.”

“She did?” Fritz felt some surprise at this, since she’d mentioned at least
twice that she wasn’t interested in marrying the prince. He felt a small sinking

feeling.

“Well, yes, but she didn’t want to,” Peter said brightly. “She tried to get

out of it, but he wouldn’t hear it. It uh, didn’t fit.”

“Clearly. Whose house was it?” Fritz asked, amused at the image of

Anna trying to tell Prince David no. Peter bit his lip.

“I don’t remember,” he muttered.

“Oh, of course you don’t. I bet you could tell me exactly what she was
wearing and have no idea where in the kingdom you were.”

“It was this grey dress, plain but well made- I remember because

everyone else was sort of fancy, but she was in whatever she was working in,”
Peter said, trying to give as much detail as possible.

“No idea which house? Even which area?”

“No,” Peter said sheepishly.
“Fair enough. Thanks for trying,” Fritz said, clapping Peter’s back a

little too hard.

“Ow,” Peter said. Fritz gritted his teeth, upset with Peter but choosing

not to lash out at him. In his mind, he had already socked Peter, and the
Prince, and everyone in the world who had gotten to see Anna in person
today.

“Wanna go out for a cigar?” Peter asked hopefully.

“No,” Fritz said, trying to push Anna from his thoughts.

The morning of the wedding, Elisabeth woke the Strickland household

just before the crack of dawn.

“Please,” she begged her parents, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

We have to get there early. I have to see the royal wedding.”

As usual, the Stricklands bent to their daughter’s will, which left Anna

stuffing Katherine in her Sunday best and ordering breakfast extra early so

they could wait in line at the castle. She was beginning to wondering if she

were doomed to a life waiting in lines.

Part of her feared seeing Fritz, and every bit of her hoped she would.

She channeled that energy into doing and re-doing her hair while Mr.

Strickland ordered the carriage from Carson. She finally settled on a soft up-

do with a violet brooch clipped behind her ear. It complemented her pale
yellow dress.

They waited several hours, a good chunk of which Katherine spent

complaining about the heat. She mentioned several times that she hoped

someone would come by selling treats. Lily brought a book and stood quietly
in her own world. Elisabeth gaped and giggled at the ushers who scrambled

around placing decorations on the castle lawn. Mr. and Mrs. Strickland chatted
amiably with friends and acquaintances who passed by, and Anna nodded
during these encounters, speaking only when it was required of her. She spent

most of the time telling herself she enjoyed her position and lived a rich life.
But today, trying to count her blessings while waiting in the hot sun for the
wedding of Prince David and Cinderella, made her feel a bit dowdy and

generally pathetic.
Finally, at the stroke of noon, the castle doors opened and the population

was admitted. The crowd scrambled desperately, though attempting to do so

elegantly, to get a seat in the cathedral. Anna calmly held Katherine’s small

hand and followed the confident gait of Mr. Strickland. They ended up right in
the middle of the chapel, the center of a central pew. Anna breathed a sigh of

relief to be shielded from the sun and not doomed to standing. After another

hour, the rest of whoever could fit had filed in, with the remainder of the town

still standing in a line that stretched far beyond the castle doors.

Someone started playing an organ. The people in the pews looked

around, but the ceremony didn’t start. As Anna turned back around, she caught

a glimpse of Fritz’s profile, about ten rows up. Her insides felt like they’d been

dipped in wax - uncomfortably hot and suddenly stiff. Thoughts flooded her
head. Will I get a chance to talk to him? What if he’s here with a date? She

wrestled between keeping an eye on him in case he turned around and never

looking at him the whole ceremony. She shuddered, a collection of anxieties

bubbling beneath surface.

“Are you alright, Anna?” asked Mrs. Strickland. She nodded.

“Just excited for the wedding,” she said, gritting her teeth in a half-
smile. The organ kicked in again, and a flashy rendition of the traditional

wedding march billowed through the wide arching room. Four little flower
girls tossed roses and daisies from small baskets looped over their arms. Two

disgruntled looking young women skulked down the aisle, behind them, a
much angrier looking older woman followed and they took their places in the
front row. Anna recognized the royal aides Peter, Edward, and Clarence as the

groomsmen. Peter gave her a big smile, which she returned with a confused
one of her own, wondering again if she knew him. A priest followed them

down the aisle and Anna wondered vaguely why Cinderella didn’t have any

bridesmaids.

Prince David made his entrance next. He smiled grandly as he trod

grandly down the aisle, eyes forward. He basked in the gazes of adoration

directed at him from the crowd as he took his place at the altar. The music

stopped momentarily. Anna, who had been debating trying to catch Fritz’s eye

again, turned abruptly, deciding to watch for Cinderella instead.

She appeared in the doorway, looking exactly like a princess. An audible

gasp fluttered from the lips of the villagers, who stood respectfully as she

floated down the aisle. Her blonde hair was pulled back gently with ringlets

cascading from it and a veil trailing softly behind her. Her wide blue eyes were
bright with dazed happiness. She looked as though she had been tossed into a

tornado and just found out that she’d landed unharmed in a new town. Anna

saw her glance at the women who preceded her down the aisle and tried to
read her expression. For the moment, she forgot to check for Fritz, lost in the

wedding story.
She quickly lost interest however, when she realized that the priest, who
spoke as loudly as he could, was basically inaudible. A few people complained

and were quickly shushed by the ushers. Fritz must be more than just a
groundskeeper, Anna thought, glancing at him, or else they would make him

be an usher here. She felt an odd sense of pride at this conclusion. Every time
she looked at him, he appeared to be bored, often gazing at the ceiling.
It looked as though Prince David and Cinderella had written their own

vows. The prince went first and he launched into a dramatic speech that Anna
caught bits of anytime he raised his voice.

“Forever and eternally yours,”

“My dearest darling,”

“Until the stars turn cold,”

Anna wished more than ever she could see Fritz’s expression. She knew

he was close enough to hear the words. The only indicator of his mood she

definitely saw was Fritz passing a hand through his thick reddish hair. Part of

it stayed sticking up for the rest of the ceremony.

“Because people think I’m just a prince, you know?”

“I am a man, and I am in love,”

“I’m sorry, but it’s how I feel!” cried Prince David. He punctuated his

vows with a little laugh and grasped and kissed Cinderella’s hands. The priest
said something to her and she nodded calmly. She began to speak and a hush

fell over the room as every individual strained to hear her soft words. No

matter how much they wanted to, no one near Anna and beyond could hear.
Her demeanor seemed so gently honest, it was hard not to love her as she

spoke. Anna smiled, happy to see the prince with someone reasonable and
kind-looking, despite his eccentricities. They looked like a pair.
She glanced again at Fritz. This time, he was looking right at her. She

felt like she’d been struck by lightning. Her cheeks went red and she felt her
hand give a small wave. He nodded with a smile and turned back around.

Anna replayed the moment in her head for the remainder of the nuptials.



After the ceremony, Fritz waited impatiently, twitching his leg against

the wall as the townspeople filed out. Peter gave him a strained look as he

lugged an enormous bin of rice bags outside. Despite himself, Fritz’s mouth

twitched into a smile at Peter’s exasperation. Prince David had been very
much a nit-picky groom, whereas Cinderella flowed through all the

preparations with the grace of a fountain. Fritz was prepared to find her very

silly, but instead found himself liking her a great deal. He hoped they would
make a good match, but either way, he was fairly certain she would make a

kind queen. Someone to level Prince David out.

He smiled placidly at everyone as they filed out. He’d been unsuccessful

in catching Anna’s eye again as she emerged from the doors. He didn’t know

what he would do if it happened again, probably nod with a dumb look on his

face. Most of the crowd had left or was on their way out, so Fritz slipped out

the back door. Peter came around the corner with a near empty bin of rice bags

looking frazzled.

“They’re animals,” he said. “You’d think these rice bags were gold.” He
paused and reached down to the bottom of the bin and grabbed a half-empty

bag of spilled rice. “Here,” said Peter, voice cracking a little, “If his nibs sees
you and not throwing rice none of us will hear the end of it.” Fritz took it.

“Thanks, Peter. Always looking out for your good friend, Prince David.”
“After this, I’ll be lucky if he keeps me on as a garbage man. Oh, I made

sure Anna got one too,” Pete said with a significant look. “You know she’s
here, right?”
“I know she’s here,” said Fritz. “Thanks, Peter.”

“You’re going to talk to her, right?”

 “Yes, I think so.”
“Good,” said Peter, pinching some rice in his fingers and tossing it at

Fritz’s head. He brushed the rice out of his hair and rounded the wide yard of
the castle to the crowd, anxiously awaiting the exit of the prince and princess.

Anna stood with Elisabeth, Lily, and Catherine near the path beyond the

cathedral. They were practically trembling with excitement. Katherine had a

near meltdown when she didn’t get a rice bag, so Anna handed her the one
Peter had given her. She had almost asked where she knew him from, but he

was suddenly engulfed in folks grabbing rice from him. Afterward, the

minutes dragged by. The sun beat down, heating her scalp and she was glad

she hadn’t worn black. She glanced behind her and saw Carson and Teresa

standing a good deal away, both clad in black and looking miserably sweaty.

She gave Teresa a little wave, who gave her a cordial smile.

“When do you think the Prince and Cinderella will come?” asked

Katherine for the fifth or sixth time.

“I’m not sure. Hopefully soon,” Anna said. Mrs. Strickland came over,

bobbing excitedly. “Bella Pennington has a perfect spot right by the door, we

will get such a good view!” Elisabeth and Katherine jumped up and down
excitedly. “Come along Lily,” she said holding her hand out. Lily took it

obediently.
“Anna, you’re welcome too, of course!” Mrs. Strickland said as they
made their way through the crowd.

“Be right there,” said a hot and tired Anna.

“You’d think they’d do better appetizers, being the royal wedding and

all,” said Fritz, appearing suddenly at her side. Or it felt sudden to her, at least.
He spent a good five minutes debating how to approach before the girls and
Mrs. Strickland left.

“Fritz!” she said, grinning widely. Then, collecting herself, “You know, I
ate mine and it was actually pretty filling.” He let out one of his loud Fritz

laughs.

“It’s really great to see you again,” he said. “And your hair looks

absolutely-”
He was cut off by the doors of the castle opening wide, the new couple smiling

and waving. Cinderella threw the bouquet in a perfect arc.

“Look, her horrible step sister caught it!” whispered Mrs. Fletcher from

behind them. A few people tittered. People around them pushed forward to see

the couple and to throw rice, and Fritz and Anna were jostled closer together.

Someone chucked a nearly full bag that hit Fritz right in the back of the head.

They both laughed and began throwing rice at each other until they had no

more.
The Prince and Cinderella entered a white carriage at the base of the

castle property. They waved and the Prince yelled something about gratitude

and his loyal subjects. Anna and Fritz didn’t hear because they didn’t follow
the crowd down to the carriage. Instead, they stood face to face on the rapidly

emptying castle grounds, which were littered with empty bags and dry rice.
They barely heard the carriage start to ride away amid the cheers of the
townspeople.

“Do you think they’ll be happy?” Anna asked, really wanting to know
Fritz’s answer.

“I do,” he said looking after them. “But I’m so glad I’m not their age
anymore.” Anna smiled, not sure what to say, but happy to be near him.
Suddenly, Camille, the royal cook, came tottering up the hill.

“Fritz! Fritz!” she called, waving a red handkerchief and coming to a

breathless halt. “One of the horses, well, you know,” she switched a whisper,

“dunged. You’re wanted to clean it,” she huffed, bustling back down the hill.

Anna laughed, not unkindly.

“Is this what you meant by groundskeeping and ‘a little bit of

everything?’” she asked.

“It’s dung. It’s mostly dung. What can I say, I love my life!” he said,

flashing her a smile.

“Fritz!” called Camille. “Now!”

“Coming,” he called, taking a few steps after her. Then he turned around

and touched Anna’s arm shyly. “Anna. I know I’m about to go and clean up

poop and I’m sorry about that. But I’m never going to forgive myself if I don’t

ask you something this time.” She looked into his eyes and felt her insides
buzzing.

“What?”

“Do you want to go out sometime?” She smiled and touched his arm
back.

“I’d love to.”

The End.

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