3 Peasant Girl

CHAPTER 3

Peasant Girl Clara ran down the lane and up the hill toward the castle. She had some animal hides for her class geography project tucked in her pocket. I can't wait to tell Lucas the plan, she thought. First, Clara stopped by the royal stables to give her horse, Scallop, a carrot muffin from her father's bakery. A fancy horse and carriage was parked near the stall. The palace must have visitors, she thought.

Clara hugged Scallop and rubbed her cheek along her horse's neck. Then she ran up the back stairs to the palace. She opened the heavy oak door and bumped right into her mother, Anna Gills, Queen Tasha's seamstress. "Hello, honey," her mother said. "I was just on my way to town to pick up some thread. Lucas is in the

playroom with Princess Bella."

"Princess who?" questioned Clara. "Princess Bella," repeated her mother. "Lucas's cousin. Be sure to curtsy when you meet her, and please stay away from the throne room. The king and queen are entertaining." I wonder what Princess Bella is like, thought Clara as she watched her mother tap down the stone stairs. And curtsy? she wondered. I've never had to curtsy for Lucas.

But then again, she never thought of Lucas as royalty. She knew he was a prince, but they had been friends for so long, she never had to behave formally around him. Clara went inside and bounded up the stairs to the playroom. She swung open the door, and it banged against the wall accidentally. Bella's dog growled and scampered toward Clara. "Be quiet, Percy!" ordered Bella as she looked Clara up and down.