"You must be careful with what you say and who you say it to. Let the other women be the ones who run their mouths with gossip, with you only saying what is needed. Duke Collins is still a man to be careful of. A sullied daughter won’t change that," said Jade.
"I know, mother. I have the other ladies in the palms of my hands. I only need to say a little, and they run with it to please me. I shall make a great queen for them all to follow," Amelia said, joining her mother at the table.
"It is time that you stop dreaming of what could be and start making moves to secure yourself a good future. Prince Teo will be surrounded by many young women now. I don’t know much about him, and you have never mentioned him," Jade said, worried they might not succeed.
"Well, no one knows much about the second prince other than he is a prince. He has never stuck out to anyone, though he shares his brother’s looks. He was sought after by the women who had no chance at becoming queen," Amelia explained.
"I will use your father to find out what the prince’s hobbies are. He is a young, energetic man who will be curious about the ways of women. Your beauty will draw him in, but you must use other qualities to hold his attention," Jade advised Amelia.
Amelia frowned, displeased with her mother suggesting the same as her father. "I will not be the crown prince to find my place in the palace. If he is sensible, he will see that I am the perfect woman to sit beside him."
"Oh, you foolish child," Jade shook her head. "There are other beautiful ladies who shall hold his attention. The prince has the right to be picky. The lady who takes the risk to set herself ahead of her peers will become queen. You must think beyond your peers."
"You don’t have to share a bed with him, sweet child," Jade said, holding Amelia’s hand. "But you should feel his head with the idea of it. Make him want you so he shall make you the future queen to have you."
"Is this how you got my father to marry you?" Amelia asked.
Jade looked away from her daughter. "No. My father was a businessman through and through, just like your father. They struck a deal which benefited them both. Your father was given a portrait of me and agreed to marry me. I met him at our wedding."
"A fairytale way to meet?" Jade spoke over Amelia. "There comes a time a lady must stop hoping for such love. Your father’s attention slipped away over the years, but as a lady with children to look after, I did what I must to keep it."
Jade continued, "It is a cruel world for us, Amelia. Think of how much crueller it could be if you do not secure yourself a good husband who can take care of you all your life. You will be well taken care of from now until you rest if you marry the prince."
"I am well aware of this, mother. I don’t want to marry a man who cannot provide for me. I have had Tyrion taken from me, I shall not lose his brother. With your guidance, I shall do what it takes to become queen. You must help me with all your power," Amelia said, turning to her mother for help.
Jade rubbed Amelia’s hand. "Follow all that I say and you shall be rewarded greatly. We must get you near the second prince, but in a way which doesn’t seem planned."
"Must we plan now? I wanted to meet with the other ladies to speak about what Penelope has done. The sooner they speak of her, the sooner she will fall. I cannot believe she ran off with him," Amelia said, still in disbelief over the news. "Why did they?"
"I do not know. Your father only learned of Tyrion running off with Penelope from the court. We must wait to find out what else has been discovered. More importantly, if those two will return to show themselves," said Jade.
Jade could think of two good reasons a couple would run away in the middle of the night. If their parents disapproved of the union, or if there was great cause for a rushed wedding.
Jade tried to place when she last saw Penelope. "Amelia, when you saw Penelope, was there anything odd about her?"
"Odd? Everything about her is odd," Amelia replied. "Last time I saw her, she pushed someone. I have rightfully kept my distance from her. Why?"
"Nothing. One could only think that the reason for a rushed marriage is that news of a child will come shortly after," Jade shared her thoughts.
Jade had seen this plot one too many times. Very rarely did couples manage to pull it off.
"No, that would be too daring for a prince and a woman of her status," Jade said, ridding herself of the idea.
Amelia did not think it was impossible to occur. Penelope was always so close to Tyrion. "Wouldn’t that be wonderful news, mother? A lady carrying a child well before she is married. How scandalous!"
"It was wise of us not to let you get so close to Penelope and her sisters. Their ways would have rubbed off on you. You must be better than her," said Jade.
"I always have been, mother. I am quite happy," Amelia said, her earlier mood having changed.
Regardless of why Tyrion ran off with Penelope, their union was going to be tarnished by all the gossip which would soon start.
"She is a silly girl. She is said to be cursed to bring misfortune, and now Tyrion has lost his place in the palace. Perhaps my words were merely the truth. She is cursed," Amelia said, enjoying every bit of Penelope’s pending downfall.
"Enough of this," Jade said, clapping her hands to get Amelia’s attention. "We must focus on making you cross paths with the second prince. Only when you have caught his interest can you laugh at Penelope’s misfortunes."
"You mustn’t embarrass me or your father. You mustn’t let him down a second time. Promise me that you won’t."
"I won’t," Amelia promised.
"Good. With Penelope out of the way, you must only concern yourself with her sister Lily. I have never heard of her being courted by anyone in the palace, so we are in luck. Come," Jade said, standing up. "We must organise your dresses for future events."