The Perfectly Proper Prince (6 page)

P
OOF
!
A
HUGE PUFF OF SMOKE APPEARED AND,
within moments, Prince Jerome had regained his princely shape. The girls all stared at the handsome prince perched on Gabriella's pedestal table.

“Jerome?” Gabriella asked. “Is that you?”

“Gabby!” he yelled.

Lysandra's mouth dropped open.
Gabby?

“I knew it was you as soon as I saw you,”
said Jerome. He took Gabriella's hand in his. “You haven't changed a bit, and you're still as beautiful as ever.”

Gabriella blushed. “I always wondered what happened to you,” she said. “I couldn't face you after what happened that night—that horrible piece of cabbage! After I left the table, I saw myself in the mirror, and I
knew I had to flee.”

Jerome shook his head. “I shouldn't have let you go. I searched for you the next day, but that's when the witch found me.”

Gabriella sighed. “For the last nine years, I haven't eaten a single forkful of boiled cabbage, and I've tried to be as perfect as possible.”

“Darling,” Jerome said, with more tenderness than Lysandra had imagined him capable of. “I've been a fool. No one is perfect, least of all me. But if you'll give me another chance, I'll try to make you happy.”

Gabriella's face lit up. “Are you saying…”

“Yes,” said Jerome, dropping to his knee. “Will you marry me, Princess Gabriella?”

“Yes, yes,” she answered. “A thousand times yes!”

“Hooray!” shouted Lysandra and her friends.

Jerome and Gabriella grinned sheepishly. Then, in front of everyone, Jerome gave Gabriella a great big kiss on the lips.

 

The wedding date was set for the next week to give Jerome's parents and younger brother time to travel to Zamora. His family was overjoyed to find out that he was still alive. When
they arrived, there were lots of hugs and kisses and tears as Jerome's parents greeted their long-lost son and future daughter-in-law.

As Lysandra and her friends waited to be introduced, Elena pointed to the handsome young man shaking hands with Jerome. “That must be Jerome's brother,” she said.

Lysandra nodded. “Gabriella says Jonathon was only four the first time she and Jerome were engaged.”

“He must be thirteen now,” said Tansy.

“He's very good-looking,” said Fatima in a dreamy sort of voice.

Just then, Jonathon looked up and saw the princesses. He smiled and came toward them.

Fatima blushed. “I hope he didn't hear what I just said,” she whispered.

The princesses introduced themselves. Then Jonathon said, “This is a beautiful place. I'd sure like a tour.”

Lysandra grinned. “I bet Fatima will take you. She's got a flying carpet. From the sky, you can see all over the grounds.”

Jonathon's face lit up. “I've never been on a flying carpet before. Would you mind?” he asked Fatima.

Fatima blushed again. “I'd be happy to take you.”

After Fatima and Jonathon had gone, the
princesses went up to Lysandra's room. It was over an hour before Fatima rejoined them.

“Have a good time?” Lysandra teased.

Fatima smiled. “Mm-hmm.”

“Find out much about him?” Elena asked.

Fatima nodded. “He's really interested in magic. He's been studying with a wizard for a year, and already he can do small transformations.”

“Like what?” asked Tansy.

“Well, after we landed, we went to the kitchen. He changed a cooking pot into an apple for me.”

“How did it taste?” Lysandra asked.

Fatima made a face. “A bit like iron.”

The princesses laughed. Lysandra looked forward to getting to know Jonathon better. After all, once Jerome and Gabriella were married tomorrow, she and Jonathon would almost be family.

H
UNDREDS OF PEOPLE CAME TO THE WEDDING
the next afternoon—nobles and villagers alike. Lysandra had invited Jack Flack, but she'd made him promise to leave the other guests' purses alone.

It was a pleasantly sunny day. The ceremony took place on the stage that had been built for the talent show. The rosebushes were in full bloom, and garlands of white gardenias wound
around the stage's pillars. Gabriella wore a gown with an embroidered silk bodice and a lacy train sparkling with diamonds. To Lysandra she looked like a beautiful white butterfly.

After the ceremony Lysandra spotted Owen in the crowd of guests. He gave her a nasty look and started to walk toward her.

“Oh, great,” said Tansy. “Here comes trouble.”

But before Owen could reach them, Jack Flack stepped into his path. Owen turned pale, then bolted away. Jack smiled at Lysandra and tipped his hat.

At the wedding feast Gabriella was positively glowing as she sat beside Jerome. The Royal Chef had outdone himself. The buffet table groaned under huge roasts of beef and pork, and platters of fish and vegetables. A gigantic silver bowl of fruit, as well as a great slab of cheese, stood in the center.

As Lysandra helped herself to the asparagus
in white sauce, she glanced toward Gabriella. She smiled to see the large helping of boiled cabbage on her sister's plate.

Jugglers and tumblers entertained the guests as they ate. They put on a splendid show. Balls whizzed through the air, narrowly missing the guests. And at one point, the boy at the top of a human pyramid toppled into a punch bowl.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lysandra saw Jonathon sneaking peeks at Fatima. “I think he likes you,” Lysandra whispered. Fatima blushed.

When the banquet was over, the guests began to leave. Jerome's family was leaving too. Jerome and Gabriella would be going with them, but riding ahead in their own carriage.

Lysandra felt a pang of regret for all the times she'd wished her sister gone. She hugged Gabriella through the carriage window. “I'll miss you,” she said.

Gabriella hugged her back. “We'll still see
each other,” she promised. “I'll be back to visit three or four times a year. And we'll find a time to chat at least once a week through the Crystal Ball Room.”

 

That night the princesses decided to have a midnight picnic and one last flying carpet ride. Sneaking down to the kitchen in their nightgowns, they packed a basket with bread and cheese, olives, custard, almonds, and cider.

As they were leaving to go back upstairs, Fatima stumbled into a bench and stubbed her toe. “Bats and bullfrogs!” she yelped, hopping around on one foot.

“Shh,” said Lysandra, stifling a giggle. Fortunately, no one seemed to have heard them.

Soon the four princesses were sailing through Lysandra's window and over the castle walls. Moonlight glittered on the moat as they floated down to the village below, landing in the very same meadow they'd
visited when they'd rescued Jerome.

Lysandra opened the basket and set everything on top of the carpet. The princesses dived into the food. Fatima grabbed a handful of almonds. “I can't believe I'm hungry again after eating so much at the banquet.”

Elena reached for a piece of bread. “Maybe being in love gives you an appetite.”

Lysandra and Tansy giggled.

“I'm
not
in love,” Fatima protested. Then she smiled. “But I may be in
like
.”

When the girls finished their picnic, Lysandra and Fatima lifted the carpet and shook off the crumbs.

Elena cocked her head. “I think I hear music. It's coming from somewhere in the village.”

The princesses listened and began clapping their hands to the lively tune. “Let's dance!” Lysandra yelled.

“Yes, let's!” cried Tansy.

The four princesses joined hands, and Lysandra led them in a merry dance all around the meadow. If only this night could go on forever, she thought. But at last her feet grew tired. Lysandra collapsed onto the ground, taking the others with her.

Giggling, Fatima sat up. “Time for bed?” she said, stifling a yawn.

“Afraid so,” said Elena.

Lysandra retrieved the basket, and the four princesses settled themselves on Fatima's carpet. Then they sailed back to the castle and tumbled into bed.

The next morning it was time for Fatima, Elena, and Tansy to return home. “I'm going to miss you so much,” said Lysandra as they stood around the carriages in the courtyard. “You're the best friends a princess could ever have.”

“Likewise,” said Tansy.

Fatima stood with her flying carpet tucked under one arm. “I don't know when I've had such fun.”

“If I had sisters,” Elena said softly, “I'd want them to be just like you three.”

Lysandra stared at the ground, a lump in her throat. Elena put an arm around her. “Don't worry. I'm sure we'll meet again soon.”

Tansy nodded. “And if we keep our eyes and ears open, one of us is sure to discover a new adventure.”

“In the meantime, we can keep in touch through our crystal balls,” said Fatima.

Lysandra cheered up. “Of course we can.”

Hugging one another, the princesses said good-bye. Then Tansy and Elena climbed into their carriages, and Fatima unrolled her carpet.

As the carriages clattered over the drawbridge and Fatima rose into the sky, Lysandra
thought how wonderfully everything had turned out. She hoped they all would meet again soon. With her magical purse, Tansy's flute, Elena's lotion, and Fatima's carpet, they could go anywhere and do anything. They had power—
princess power
! Lysandra could hardly wait for their next adventure.