They all gather for dinner then wait as the maids bring in the food. Feeling quite hungry and impatient, he starts tapping his fingers on the table as his parents engage in conversation.
Mia had had a feeling that something would go horribly wrong at dinner. After bringing in the prince's food, they say grace over it. Lord Hogsworth, the second cousin to king William greedily indulges in his portion.
Before anyone else starts their food, lord hogsworth starts choking and frothing at the mouth. Everyone stares at him in horror. That is when the king speaks up, "Have you all been sent forth to kill us!?"
Everyone is silent. "Well, taste the food." He tells the maids.
Mia takes the prince's spoon and scoops the salad she had prepared for him. The prince looks at her in shock. "Little mouse, put down the spoon." Whispers the prince, afraid that his might as well be poisoned.
She smiles at him and puts the spoon in her mouth. All the other maids then gasp in horror as everyone waits to see what will happen.
After a few minutes of chewing, she coughs a little then the queen speaks up, "I knew it! This little witch has been trying to murder my child!"
Mia then clearing her throat says to the prince, "Remind me never to out this much salt in the salad again."
The prince then sighs in relief and smiles at her. The king then yells at the other maids. "Well? Eat!"
They each shakily take a sip of the soups and suffer the same fate as lord Hogsworth. The king then spots a note in one of the maids' pocket. "I will have what is rightfully mine brother." He reads out loud and exchanges fearful glances with his wife.
After clearing the table and ridding the dining room of the bodies with the help of the guards, Mia retires to her chambers exhausted. She then lets her dress fall to the floor and enters her bed and closes her eyes.
Edgar climbs in after her and drapes an arm over her stomach and burries his face in her back. Too tired to complain, she accepts the comfort and warmth of his body as she falls asleep.
He rubs her stomach gently and falls asleep after her, glad that she was not among the treacherous maids and glad that he could get his way with her especially when it came to making sure that she felt secure. Not that he needed it but, he wanted to be the man that she could entrust her life to.
***
"I do not want him to fall William." Says May still shaking from the evening's incident.
"Hush my dear. He is in good hands." He says hugging her and pulling her close to make her feel secure.
"I hope so." She says.
"I know so. You may not trust her but I know in my gut that she is the right one for him." He replies, leading her to bed and gently stroking her back until they both fall asleep.