The princess' rooms were luxurious, but seemed slightly smaller than Catherine's. Of course, that would depend how much space was behind the doors she had yet to go through. They were kept dim by long, gauze-like curtains and re-lit by candles and lamps. It seemed the princess had had some furniture of her own brought along, at least Catherine had not expected to see the low table with cushions in the middle of the room instead of something like the sofas of her own rooms.
Princess Iris had changed into something impossibly long and flowing that she would not be able to walk many steps in. She was lounging on a pillow in a way that would have seemed arrogant if she had not worn such an honest, inviting smile on her lips. Despite her envy of the other woman's beauty, Catherine could not help herself. She felt attracted to her friendly eyes and found herself wanting desperately to impress her.
She looked at the cushions tentatively, not sure of how to sit down in her large dress. Before she could embarrass herself, Ingrid was at her side, pushing the fabric aside enough that Catherine could sit down. It was even more uncomfortable than standing up had been. Stiff things were poking at her everywhere, it was difficult to breathe and she was certain she looked ridiculous.
“Oh no, I am so sorry, Catherine,” Princess Iris said. “I should have told someone that we would be following my customs and not yours. Do forgive me.” Catherine had to bite her tongue before forcing a friendly smile onto her face and shaking her head dismissively. The princess smiled back.
“I am so happy you could join me. You see, I have been avoiding the company of most of the others here. Everyone seems to have so many hidden agendas and I find it disturbing.”
She looked at Catherine with bright eyes for a moment, then raised her eyebrows.
“I am sorry, I forget that you are not allowed to speak. It is a most honourable thing you are doing, my dear. Sacrificing for the sake of your parent. Do you find it difficult to keep quiet, may I ask?”
Catherine thought about her answer for a moment, then decided that the truth was, conveniently, more convincing than anything else. She nodded.
A maid came and served them tea in small glasses when she left, she looked at Ingrid pointedly and whispered something. Ingrid followed her out. Catherine did not move to touch it, remembering the many warnings she had had. Both the ones regarding poison - though she doubted that the princess was a potential threat - and the ones regarding etiquette.
“Do you wish to marry him?”
Catherine looked up at the princess. Her face was calm and friendly, the only emotion Catherine could detect was curiosity. She took a deep breath and went over her own plan in her mind. Either way she needed the confidence of as many of the women as possible. She had a feeling she was playing with forces much larger than herself.
She shook her head and smiled slightly.
“I was beginning to think so,” she said, shaking her head. She raised her glass and took a small sip of her tea.
“I would like to marry him. As would all the others, of course. He is quite a catch, if you do not mind … him. Is it that you are not interested in money?”
Catherine shrugged.
“The power scares you?”
She nodded.
“Maybe you do not wish to remain here, so far away from your own?”
She shrugged. The princess sipped her tea again, carefully placing the small glass back on the table. This time Catherine followed suit.
“I believe I could get used to the country. The customs might cause me some trouble, but what am I born for if not acquiring knowledge of foreign things? I must confess I find the language easier than I had feared.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, sipping their tea and smiling politely and warmly respectively. Catherine was beginning to feel a little more sure of herself. The role she was supposed to play really did fit very well with her own goal as well of those of the prince. All she needed to do was to make sure the prince did not realise what she was doing. But even in his eyes she was a little, innocent peasant. She did not think he would expect her to act on her own behalf.
“The prince is rather one of a kind. Have you known him long?”
Catherine nodded once, pushing her fingers together to signify something small.
“Spoken to him on several occasions, then?”
She nodded.
“Do you think I stand a chance? What do you think he prefers in a woman?”
Catherine did not need to think about it for long. The message about Princess Anna had been all to clear. She raised her arms and pretended to flex her muscles.
“Strength?” The princess' voice rose a few tones. “You mean confidence,” she suggested.
Catherine nodded, the lifted her finger and pointed to her arms.
“Also physical strength?”
She nodded again.
“I suppose for a soldier it makes sense to value such things. I have not been taught much that even resembles strength. Is there anything else?”
Catherine gestured to her mouth, smiling and rolling her eyes a little.
“Women who speak? Speak their minds? That is like confidence.”
Catherine made a wide gesture with her arms.
“Women who … have broad perspectives?”
She shook her head and gestured to her mouth again, then touched her ears.
“Being loud?”
She nodded.
“Catherine, you are telling me stories, are you not?”
Something froze in her at the question. She forced herself to keep the easy smile on her face and would have given anything to know for certain that her eyes did not give away her fear. She shook her head, trying not to breathe too loudly. She no longer had any idea if she looked natural.
“I must say I was not expecting something so difficult,” the princess said. Catherine looked at her closely, trying to determine whether or not she was the subject of conversation.
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