The leaves were turning brown and gold, and Louise knew her
parents would be coming to take her home soon. She was excited, but, at
the same time, she was very frightened. She knew how her father viewed
Alexander, but she also knew her mother's feelings. She hoped, somehow,
she and her mother could influence her father to approve of Alexander.
She had often written letters to her parents. She tried to tell all she
dared about Alexander without upsetting her father. She shared good things
he did for her and the people, and how much the people loved him. She
wrote of his interest in new plants and how he would share them with his
people. She was concerned that her father would think Alexander was
strange, for, in a way, he was. He was different from any man she knew,
but in a good way. She could see he was much like his parents, yet he
exhibited his own interests.
As the day approached for her parents to arrive, a big fall feast was
planned. Alexander seemed nervous. She tried more than once to visit with
him about her feelings, but it was as if he was sure of what would happen
and didn't want to talk about it. She was afraid his trepidation would cause
things to go wrong. One thing she knew, she had made up her mind, and
nothing could change it. Somehow it had to work out.
The day finally arrived. She hurried to meet her parents. She
hugged and kissed them. Alexander stood with his parents, and they all
bowed. The king spoke coolly, but politely to Alexander. "I see you have
taken good care of my daughter."
Alexander's voice quivered. "I've tried, Your Majesty."
Louise walked with her parents to their quarters. She looked back at
Alexander. The quiver in his voice was not fear; it seemed more like
sadness. She had spent so much time with him that she could sense his
every emotion.
Louise visited with her father as they walked, and Lady Margaret
visited with the queen. Louise had so much she wanted to tell them - so
much she wanted them to know.
Her father smiled. He seemed pleased at her pleasantness.
"Louise," he said, "I think this little vacation has done wonders for you.
You look healthy and happy."
"Oh, I am, Father. More than you could ever imagine."
She had no sooner said it than her father turned back and looked at
Alexander, who was directing the care of the horses and the luggage.
"I see," he said. "I'm glad you enjoyed it here."
The banquet that night was wonderful. The corn sticks were the last
of the season and, though not as good as some earlier, the king and queen
seemed impressed. As Louise expressed Alexander's desire to bring in new
things, she was careful not to mention the Esconodians, for fear of stirring
up her father's distrust in them. She mentioned the corn, potatoes, and
strawberries.
The king finished his fifth corn stick, turned to Alexander, and
spoke stiffly. "My compliments, young man."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Alexander replied. They were the only
words Alexander spoke during the whole meal.
When the banquet was coming to a close, Louise turned to her
father. "Father, would you be willing to go for a special ride with
Alexander and me tomorrow?"
Alexander stiffened and looked at her. His eyes showed his concern.
She had not asked him about this, for she knew he would have tried to talk
her out of it.
"What kind of a ride?" the king asked.
"I would like you to ride with us to a village in the mountains and
meet some people - just the three of us."
The king looked at his daughter thoughtfully. She glanced at
Alexander and could see him shaking his head. She glanced at Lady
Margaret, Duke Reginald, and her mother. All had the same expression, an
expression of concern as to what she was up to.
"Would it be safe?" the king asked.
She turned back to her father. "Yes, Father. Perfectly safe."
"All right, then. I think it might be nice to see what you've been up
to all summer."
She smiled. "Thank you. I'll talk to you more about it later."
They had no sooner finished the banquet than she took her father
aside. She convinced him to go with them as a friend, not as king, so he
could see what the people here were really like. In her heart she knew what
she really wanted was for him to see Alexander as she saw him.
As she approached her living quarters, she could see Alexander
nervously pacing back and forth. When he saw her, he ran to her. "Your
Highness, what are you doing?"
Louise felt a chill run down her back as he addressed her so. "Your
Highness?"
Alexander looked down, but not before she could see the same hurt
look in his eyes she had seen the night of her birthday ball.
"You know I must call you that."
She agreed he must - for now. But she knew she couldn't let him
forever, though she didn't say that to him. He looked at her and, again, his
eyes had that hurt in them that tore at her heart. "Princess, why did you ask
your father to go riding with us?"
She took his hand and looked directly at him. "I want my father to
know the Alexander I know."
"But what am I to do?" he asked.
She smiled encouragingly at him. "Just do what you always do.
Visit with the people, trade plants and knowledge, give the children candy."
"But he'll think I'm stupid - that I'm being less than noble. I mean,
he already feels I'm not worthy of..." He stopped, as if saying it was too
painful, and he looked away.
She squeezed his hand. "He won't think you're stupid or less noble,
and we can work to change his feelings."
Alexander still said nothing. She squeezed his hand tighter. "For
me. Won't you do it for me? Take us to the village in the mountains. Let's
do just like the time you took me."
Alexander swallowed hard and smiled a weak smile. "Minus the
chicken?"
She grinned at him. "Minus the chicken."
Alexander took a deep breath, but finally nodded. She smiled. "I
told Father we would leave just before dawn, so we better get some rest.
We will want to be up to join him for breakfast."
Alexander nodded, and, as he turned to leave, she called after him.
"And don't forget the lunch and the candy."
Everything was ready before they even sat down to breakfast.
Louise chatted happily with her father at breakfast. Alexander ate quietly.
Alexander's horse was heavy-laden as they left. He decided to take some
corn seed as gifts to find out how it would grow on the mountain.
Once they were on their way, Louise was afraid Alexander's silence
would be misunderstood by her father. In an effort to get Alexander to open
up she asked him questions about different mountains, rivers, and streams -
the many things she knew he knew so much about. Soon he was sharing
insights on different places and events. Even though he was still slightly
reserved, he was more like the Alexander she wanted her father to know.
As they had on that first ill-fated trip, they stopped for lunch by the
beautiful lake, bringing back mixed memories for her. This time the trees
were ablaze with fall shades of orange, yellow, and brown. The air was
cool, but not unpleasant. The briskness of it even added an exuberance to
the day. Alexander pulled out breads, cheeses, and meats, and they shared a
wonderful lunch.
When they reached the village, everyone ran out to meet them. She
introduced her father as a friend. It worked just like she had hoped. The
people gathered around and wanted to shake his hand and visit, noting that
any friends of Alexander's were friends of theirs.
At first her father was reserved about shaking their hands, but soon
he was visiting warmly with them. Alexander pulled out the seed corn and
shared it with the farmers in the village, describing how to plant it, how to
harvest it, etc. He made them promise to save half of their harvest and to
share half of that. He said he would really appreciate knowing if it would
grow up there.
Many people had to tell him how well their strawberries were doing.
Louise didn't even know he had taken strawberries up there, but it seems he
had done it the previous year. He was very pleased to find out they
produced quite abundantly in their second summer.
Louise's concerns about Alexander vanished as, here in the element
to which he was accustomed, he forgot all else and became Alexander.
When they brought some late season strawberries, Louise watched her
father as he sampled them. She smiled at the pleasure his face showed.
Nell's grandmother had to tell them that the chicken they brought was
giving an abundance of eggs. Alexander was very pleased to hear that, and
smiled at Louise as she blushed.
All too soon it was time to leave, even though the people begged
them to stay and offered them rooms for the night. Alexander assured them
that they needed to return. They were just preparing to mount when, right
on cue, the children gathered around Alexander. The king looked curiously
at Louise. She just smiled. Nell tugged on Alexander's coat and pointed at
his saddlebag. Alexander pulled out the leather bag and looked at Louise
and then at her father, questioningly. Louise nodded. Alexander knelt,
gestured toward Louise and the king, putting his arms across his chest. Nell
nodded and went to Louise, who knelt down to accept Nell's hug and kiss.
Louise hugged her back and said, "I love you, Nell."
Nell then went to the king. He paused for a moment, but knelt,
allowing this sweet display of affection. Nell returned to Alexander and
gave him a hug and a kiss as well. He gave her the biggest piece of honey
candy. She smiled and scampered to her grandmother. Soon every child
had a piece.
Alexander had five pieces left. He knew of Louise's desire to keep
her father's identity secret, so he bowed discreetly to the king and spoke
quietly so the villagers would not hear him. "Would you like to try some,
Your Majesty?"
The king nodded and took one. Alexander then turned and bowed to
Louise. "And you, Your Highness?"
"Yes, thank you, Alexander."
The king watched Louise to see what to do. Louise took her piece
and licked it. The king did likewise. Both Alexander and Louise watched
the king. A smile crept across his face. "My goodness, that is good. What
do you call it?"
Alexander expected Louise to answer, but she turned to him to force
him to reply.
"It's called honey candy, Your Majesty."
Louise turned to her father. "Alexander learned how to make it from
a trader, and he taught the cook."
"My compliments, young man. You will have to teach my cook
how to make it sometime."
Alexander smiled. "I'd be glad to, Your Majesty."
Alexander offered them each another piece for their ride home, and
they gladly accepted. He kept only the smallest piece for himself. The
villagers waved farewell. Even the king waved back and smiled.
They rode for some time in silence, enjoying their candy. Soon,
however, the candy was gone. Louise hoped her father would reveal some
of his feelings about the experiences of the day, but he seemed deep in his
own thoughts. The silence was almost frightening to her. Could the whole
day have done for her father what she had hoped, or could she have made
things worse? Alexander, too, seemed hesitant to speak, apparently nervous
about what the king thought of him. Finally, Louise had to say something to
break the silence.
"It sure is beautiful up here this time of year."
Trying to dispel Alexander's apprehensions, and his fear of speaking
unless he was spoken to, she addressed him directly. "Alexander, what is
your favorite season on the mountain?"
"I don't know, Your Highness. They are all so wonderful. The fall
colors are so beautiful. The winter sunrises and sunsets are incomparable.
The new life in the forest in the spring warms my heart. And the summer
sun makes me happy."
Finally, the king spoke. "I enjoyed our visit to the village, and the
candy, and those things you call strawberries are really good, Alexander."
Louise was happy to hear her father call Alexander by name. It was
the first time he hadn't called him "young man". As they rode along, Louise
found herself carrying most of the conversation. At times they just rode in
silence, and yet the beautiful scenery made the vacant moments less
noticeable.
It was late when they finally arrived at Denville. While Alexander
saw to the horses, Louise and the king went to the dining hall. Everyone
else had eaten, but the cook soon had them some warm stew, and at the
king's request, some corn sticks. They were just sitting down to eat when
Alexander came in. He seemed reluctant to join them.
The king motioned to him to be seated. He bowed and took his seat.
Louise was quiet as the king expressed his pleasure over the corn, as well as
the strawberries at the mountain village. Alexander bowed. "Thank you,
Your Majesty."