The King's Unbreakable Wife-Chapter 46: Intentions (2)

"The two of you can relax in my presence. I won’t eat you alive," Tabitha said, to get Hazel and Jasmine to not be so stiff. "The two of you did well today with dancing. Hazel, you looked like you could tutor young girls if you had to work, but Jasmine, there was a moment when you stumbled."

Jasmine blushed, embarrassed by the queen calling out her mistake. She was normally more perfect when it came to dancing. She had practised more before coming to the palace because her mother suspected this was something they would have to do.

"Don’t worry about it. I’m sure dancing with my son for the first time made you nervous. Once should be enough for you to get used to his presence and not stumble again. Your fathers have been coming into the palace more now that you are here and it has only been two days," said Tabitha.

"My father always has a terrible time letting me out of his sight. I am the only girl," Jasmine said, happy to know her father might be here. She looked forward to passing on a message to him in secret or receiving one. She had to let him know there was nothing to worry about.

Jasmine didn’t worry much about not spending a lot of time with the prince because she was sitting before the queen.

"I see. They are always protective of the girls. Your father only has two daughters. I’m surprised your parents never tried again for a son. They are putting the future of their household in you and your sister’s hands with whoever you marry," Tabitha said to Hazel.

"My parents said they are satisfied," Hazel answered, unamused with the queen’s words.

The palace should be well aware of the tragedy that happened with her mother. The queen had to know the story of why there weren’t any more attempts for another boy.

Hazel was not going to open up an old wound before the queen. Her father never appeared frustrated that his other two children were girls. The Wallace household will be fine.

"Of course, they will say that. Parents have to hide what they feel and tell their children what they want to hear so they will not feel sad. Sometimes we have become the villains in our children’s lives trying to protect them. Every house wants a son to carry on the name. It won’t be long before you and Helena lose your last names. Oh dear," Tabitha said, covering her mouth with her hand. "We’ve gone far from why I called you here."

Hazel secretly wished the queen would get to the point of why she was here. Hazel wanted to laugh because of how much of a disappointment it was to meet the queen. The woman was nothing like what she imagined and Hazel had to partially blame herself for thinking highly of someone she didn’t know.

"My son has shown quite the interest in you, Hazel. From him choosing you twice on the first day to the two of you having a lengthy chat as you danced. I’m surprised you didn’t stumble during your dance because of how much you spoke with him. As of right now, it appears you will be one of the women to stay in the palace longer than seven days," said Tabitha.

Jasmine glanced to her right at Hazel. Why was she here to bear witness to the queen complimenting Hazel? Wasn’t it bad enough that she had to listen and witness Helena be so full of herself?

Jasmine could tolerate Hazel more than Helena, but they were competing right now so she couldn’t sit here feeling happy for Hazel. "I don’t know if the queen would like to hear what was said by one of the women. It was about the prince-"

"Out with it," Tabitha said, hardly in the mood for someone else beating around the bush. If it concerned the prince, she should know. If it was something the maids failed to gather, she should know from the women themselves.

They were always quick to try to please her so they would tell her things that had not reached her ears. Tabitha didn’t trust women so quickly to speak on what they heard someone beside them say, but for the sake of knowing things, she kept them around.

"Well," Jasmine said, glancing Hazel’s way once more. "One of the women was walking around last night and said they overheard Helena claiming Hazel turned down a dance from the prince at the ball. That means Hazel had the prince’s attention longer than we thought. Well done," Jasmine said, clapping for Hazel.

Jasmine didn’t know if she could trust that there was an argument between Helena and Hazel, but she wanted something to upset the queen with about Hazel. Surely the queen wouldn’t be happy to hear Hazel didn’t accept the prince’s invitation to dance.

If there wasn’t an argument, she was going to throw who told her under the carriage for the queen to deal with them for spreading lies.

Tabitha turned to Hazel, confused as to why she would not dance with Tobias if this was true. If asked for a dance from the prince, you were to dance with him. What could have been going on in Hazel’s head for her to not accept his offer?

It had to be a lie. Though she favoured the younger sister, Tabitha knew that Hazel was a sensible young woman who would not do something that would later come back to haunt her.

"Up until this very moment, we all believed that my son only asked your sister Helena for a dance. I have complimented your sister numerous times for being the only one to get my son’s attention the night at the ball. Tell me, did you receive an offer to dance from my son, Hazel?" Tabitha asked, expecting Hazel to say no.

Hazel looked at Tabitha without any shock by this being revealed by Jasmine so Tabitha believed it was a ridiculous rumour. One that Jasmine would be punished for bringing to the queen without proper facts to back it up.

Hazel considered her options. Only she, Hazel, Linda, and Tobias knew the truth about her being asked to dance. She could say that Helena was spouting nonsense and then if the queen asked Linda or Tobias, they might lie for her. Tobias had gone this long without revealing it to anyone.

Her greatest concern was Helena. Helena would not lie and say that Jasmine had misheard. It was best to be out with the truth so Hazel didn’t need to keep up with a lie. She knew that Helena’s childish outburst from last night would get her in trouble from the moment Linda said the women had been walking around.

"It is true," Hazel answered.

Like the queen, Jasmine couldn’t believe that it was true. One would have to be crazy to turn down a dance with the prince. Who did the Wallace sisters think they were? Again, the growing gossip about how Hazel got the prince’s attention seemed to be true.

"Jasmine, leave us," Tabitha said, no longer needing Jasmine’s presence now that she had something else to deal with.

Jasmine wished to stay, but knowing the queen was about to humble Hazel was enough for her. ’I’d hate to be her,’ she thought.

Hazel didn’t fear being left alone with the queen because all she had done was turn down a dance.