The Secret Promise

  For Abby and Megan, true Princesses, with all my love

  CONTENTS

  COVER

  TITLE PAGE

  DEDICATION

  CHAPTER ONE: The Castle of Mistberg Forest

  CHAPTER TWO: The Other Princesses

  CHAPTER THREE: Climbing in the Dark

  CHAPTER FOUR: The Dark Forest

  CHAPTER FIVE: Jaminta’s Jewels

  CHAPTER SIX: Meeting the Princes

  CHAPTER SEVEN: Ninja Princesses

  CHAPTER EIGHT: Moonlight in the Forest

  CHAPTER NINE: Trapped

  CHAPTER TEN: The Grand Ball

  CHAPTER ELEVEN: The Rings and the Promise

  PREVIEW: The Wishing Pearl

  BACK AD

  COPYRIGHT

  Princess Emily leaned out of the carriage window, trying to get her first glimpse of the famous castle of Mistberg Forest.

  She’d waited nine years for her chance to visit and she couldn’t wait a second longer. The forest air swept over her, sending her crown slipping sideways and her red curls flapping.

  “Emily! Please don’t hang your head out of the window like that. It doesn’t look very graceful,” said her mom, straightening her own crown.

  Princess Emily took one last look and reluctantly pulled her head back in. “You should have let me drive. I could have gone much faster than this.”

  Her dad’s mouth twitched into a smile.

  “The point is to arrive in royal style,” said her mom. “Not to shoot along like a race car.”

  Emily resisted saying that racing would have been more fun. Her mom and dad were the king and queen of Middingland, and they always knew the right way to do things.

  They had flown across the sea from Middingland that morning in the royal jet. Then they had traveled from the airport in a carriage, because everyone arrived at the Mistberg Grand Ball by horse and carriage. The ball took place at King Gudland’s castle every spring and was one of the biggest events of the season.

  The scent of pine trees filled the carriage, and Emily caught a flash of movement as a deer ran deeper into the forest. The horses pulling the carriage slowed down to a walk as they passed through gigantic golden gates.

  The call of a peacock echoed across the grass. Emily held her breath. We must be inside the grounds of the castle! She stuck her head out of the window again, and her heart drummed with excitement.

  “When we get inside we have a dress fitting at two o’clock,” said the queen. “Please remember to brush your hair, Emily. It’s gotten a little wild in the breeze.”

  But Emily wasn’t thinking about brushing her hair. Above her towered the round turrets of King Gudland’s castle, stretching up to the sky.

  Usually her little sister would have nudged her out of the way, but Lottie was staying with their cousins to recover from a bout of chickenpox, so, for once, Emily had a perfect view.

  The castle was much more magnificent than their palace in Middingland, and she had three whole days to explore it.

  A short, white-haired man hurried down the flight of steps as the carriage drew to a halt.

  “Philip! Maria! How wonderful to see you!” he exclaimed.

  “Hermann, how are you?” said Emily’s mom, gracefully stepping down from the carriage. She turned to her daughter. “Emily, I’d like you to meet King Gudland.”

  “A pleasure to meet you, Princess,” said King Gudland.

  Emily curtsied. She instantly liked the small man with twinkly eyes. She hoped all the other kings and queens were as friendly as he was.

  The purpose of the Mistberg Grand Ball was for young princes and princesses, age nine or older, to present themselves to the twenty royal families from around the world.

  Emily had never been there before because her parents had been so busy with their royal duties at home in the kingdom of Middingland. But this year was different; Emily was old enough now to take part in the ceremony.

  In three days she would have to curtsy in front of each and every king and queen, and she was already a little nervous.

  “Come this way, Your Majesties,” said King Gudland. He led them through an enormous hallway full of people hurrying around with suitcases.

  They climbed up five spiraling staircases, watched by the solemn pictures of King Gudland’s ancestors. When they reached the top, the king waved his hand toward three wooden doors.

  “This is the West Tower, with my most comfortable rooms,” he said. “The banquet begins at six o’clock. Don’t be late!” He gave Emily another twinkly smile before stepping back down the staircase.

  “That’s your room, Emily,” said her mom, pointing to the first door. “Meet me in the dressmaking suite in half an hour. It’s two staircases down and then on the right. You can’t miss it.”

  Emily nodded, pushed her door open, and took her first look at her room. A four-poster bed filled one corner, and a soft, velvety sofa sat in the other. But Emily was drawn to the window, and when she got closer she realized that she was very close to the top of the tower.

  Everything on the ground looked tiny. She could see the stables for King Gudland’s horses and a set of obstacles that looked like a huge adventure playground.

  As she stared down, another carriage pulled up in front of the castle and a girl dressed in green climbed out.

  Emily watched her eagerly. She was looking forward to meeting some more princesses her own age. Life at home in her palace in Middingland was great, but there was only her little sister to play with.

  Suddenly, Emily looked at her watch. Half an hour had flown by while she was daydreaming at the window. She was supposed to be in the dressmaking suite with her mom right now!

  She rushed out of her room and back to the staircase. What had her mom said? Two staircases down? Yes, that was it.

  She raced down the two sets of spiral steps so fast that she began to feel dizzy. At the bottom, she stopped, looking left, then right. Which one was it?

  Emily turned left. There was only one door in the passageway. That must have been why Mom had said she wouldn’t miss it.

  As she opened the door, she heard a man’s deep voice. It sounded as cold as glass.

  “There must be absolute secrecy, you understand? I will not put up with ridiculous mistakes,” said the voice.

  “Yes, My Lord. We understand,” came the reply.

  Emily stopped uncertainly. The man with the deep voice had his back to her. She could tell he was very rich by the fancy dark cape and purple hat he wore. The two other men nodded their heads humbly, their eyes fixed on the rich man.

  This wasn’t the dressmaking suite. She must have turned the wrong way. Emily started to tiptoe backward. But the man with the deep voice turned around.

  “What do you think you’re doing? Come back right now!” he barked, striding toward her.

  Emily knew she had no explanation good enough for a man who barked like that. Spinning around, she ran back to the stairwell, her feet thudding across the red carpet.

  She rushed down the opposite hallway, tearing open the first door and landing inside the dressmaking suite in a tangle of arms and legs.

  “Emily!” Her mom’s face froze in a frown. “Why on earth are you charging around like this?”

  “I went the wrong way.” Emily gasped. “When I opened the door there was a —” She stopped, suddenly aware of all the eyes that were fixed on her.

  Three other princesses stood nearby with their moms, while dressmakers fussed around them with pins and tape measures.

  Emily picked herself up, feeling shy.

  “Well, never mind,” said Queen Maria with a sigh. “Now that you’re finally here, please come and try this dress on. We have to make sure it fits correctly f
or the Grand Ball on Saturday.”

  Emily followed her into the middle of the room. There were mirrors everywhere, and long shelves stretched all the way along one wall.

  The highest shelf was covered with gold and silver necklaces. The middle one was full of shiny satin gloves, and the lowest shelf had rows of party shoes covered in glittering stones.

  Emily looked longingly at the necklaces. She’d brought her own ruby necklace in her suitcase, but she knew her mom would make her save it until the night of the Grand Ball.

  She went into a changing room and pulled the dress over her head. It was a pink ball gown made of smooth satin and decorated with red flowers.

  When she came out and looked in a mirror, her heart leapt. This dress was the most beautiful one she’d ever had. Her long red hair curled over the satin material and her hazel eyes shone brightly.

  “Stand up really straight, please, Emily,” said her mom, fastening the buttons at the back. “Now remember, we’re saving this for the very last evening, so that you can wear it to the Grand Ball.”

  Emily took the opportunity to have a look at the other princesses. The girl closest to her was the same one she’d seen getting out of the carriage earlier.

  She had dark hair and serious brown eyes, and wore a green silk dress. She saw Emily looking her way and smiled back.

  The next girl stood gracefully, with long golden hair falling down her back. Her mom was checking the fit of her pale-blue dress, which was so long that it even hid her feet.

  The girl farthest away from Emily had dark eyes and black hair. She wore a bright-yellow dress dotted with sequins. She saw Emily looking at her.

  “Hi, I’m Lulu from the kingdom of Undala, near the Great Desert,” she said with a wide grin.

  “I’m Emily from Middingland,” said Emily, smiling back. “It’s great to meet you.”

  “I’m Jaminta, from Onica, by the Silver River,” said the girl in green.

  “And I’m Clarabel,” said the blond-haired girl, smiling shyly, “from the kingdom of Winteria, in the cold North.”

  “When did you —” started Emily.

  “Girls!” scolded Lulu’s mom. “There’ll be lots of time for chatting later. Hold still now, Lulu. We need to measure you for your velvet cloak.”

  “Thank goodness you mentioned that! I nearly forgot,” said Emily’s mom. “Every princess needs a cloak to wear at Mistberg Castle. Turn around, Emily, while I check how long it should be.”

  The princesses exchanged grins as they lapsed back into silence.

  Emily looked at herself in the mirror. The dress looked great already. She didn’t really want to hide it under a cloak.

  From outside the window came loud whoops and yells. Her mom was still holding the tape measure against her dress, so Emily tried to lean over to peer into the garden without moving her feet.

  Right outside the window was the obstacle course that she’d seen from her tower window. Now that she was on a lower floor she could see it much more clearly.

  Four young princes were playing on the equipment, climbing the ropes, swinging across the monkey bars, and flying down the zip line.

  As Emily watched them, she longed to be out there. “Mom!” she cried, trying to wriggle free. “Have you finished measuring for the cloak yet? I really want a go on that obstacle course.”

  “There’ll be plenty of time for that later,” said Queen Maria.

  “Your Highness, we haven’t given you all the necessary instructions yet,” said the head dressmaker. “All young princesses must know the correct manners for the Grand Ball. How to enter the Banquet Hall and curtsy in the right place. How to hold your head straight as you walk. How to place yourself on your seat correctly at the start of the meal. There are many things to practice this afternoon.”

  Emily sighed. The other princesses didn’t look very happy, either.

  “I think I know how to sit down on a chair,” muttered Lulu. But she fell silent after a look from her mom, the queen of Undala.

  Emily looked from the zip line to her mom, who was still fiddling with the tape measure. She sighed. It was going to be a very long afternoon.

  Emily got back to her turret bedroom as the sun began to set. She found her maid, Ally, taking things out of her suitcase and putting them away.

  Ally looked at her. “What’s that frown for?” she asked immediately.

  Emily smiled. Ally had been her maid since she was five and could read her moods easily.

  “We had to do lots of silly stuff like practice walking and curtsying,” said Emily. “Mom said I could go outside when we finished but there wasn’t time, and now I have to go to the banquet. I’d really love to try out that zip line.”

  “Well, maybe you still can. If you choose the moment carefully, you could go out for a little while without them missing you,” said Ally, picking up a pair of glittery silver shoes and putting them in the wardrobe.

  Emily looked thoughtful. Ally always told her to work hard at her princess duties, but also liked her to think for herself. Everyone has a brain and everyone should use it, she always said.

  Before she became Emily’s maid, Ally had spent several years working as an undercover agent, solving jewel robberies and catching thieves.

  Emily sometimes wondered if her maid had really wanted to give up her old job, but Ally would always just say that she was happy working in the palace.

  “I know! I’ll go out there after we finish eating. No one will miss me then,” said Emily.

  “Be careful,” warned Ally. “You should take a flashlight with you; it’s getting dark.”

  Emily put on a cherry-red dress for the banquet. She added a gold tiara and a gold necklace, which she’d been allowed to borrow from the dressmaking room.

  Her heart began to thump faster. Now sitting and listening to the grown-ups’ boring conversations wouldn’t seem so bad. She wouldn’t mind the curtsying or the endless fussing with napkins. Not now that her own adventure was only a few moments away.

  Crystal chandeliers lit up the enormous Banquet Hall and rich tapestries lined the walls. Emily gazed around in amazement, her gold tiara sparkling on top of her red curls.

  Over her dress she wore the black velvet cloak her mom had chosen for her. Her stomach rumbled as delicious dinner smells drifted through from the kitchens.

  The kings and queens of the twenty royal families from all around the world were bowing and chatting with one another. The empress of the Marica Isles swept by, wearing a coral necklace that swung grandly from her neck.

  The king of Undala, looking very regal in his golden turban, bowed low to Queen Trudy of Leepland, who gave him a sharp nod. At her side, she clutched a boy with a sulky expression wearing an orange vest.

  Emily sat down at the banquet table next to her mom and dad. She knew who all the kings and queens were because she’d been studying them in her lessons for weeks. But she was thankful that she didn’t have to start talking and curtsying to them all yet. The Grand Ball would take place in two days’ time. Until then, she was happy to stay in the background.

  “Emily, please remove your elbows from the table,” whispered her mom.

  Emily took her elbows off and tried to sit up straight. It was harder than it looked. She gazed across the Banquet Hall and suddenly felt her shoulders tighten.

  At a far table sat the man with the deep voice and purple hat who’d shouted at her earlier. Luckily, he wasn’t looking at her. He was smiling at the person sitting next to him, the twinkly-eyed King Gudland. He didn’t look as fierce now, although Emily still hoped she wouldn’t run into him again anytime soon.

  Queen Maria leaned toward her. “As well as meeting the other princesses, you’ll see some princes here that are your age. Look, there’s Prince Olaf of Finia.”

  Emily glanced at the tall, blond-haired boy from Finia, then she noticed the boy with the sulky face again.

  “Who’s the prince wearing orange, next to the queen of Leepland?” whisper
ed Emily, wondering why he looked so grumpy.

  “Mom? Why can’t I have dessert first?” whined the boy. “You always let me at home.”

  “That’s her son, Prince Samuel,” said her mom quietly. “Now, remember, Emily! Use the silverware from the outside first and chew slowly.”

  Emily stared at the huge spread of knives, forks, and spoons next to her plate. Use the ones on the outside first, she thought. Why was there always so much to remember?

  A gong sounded to signal the start of the meal. The food tasted wonderful, but Emily’s feet tapped impatiently. When could she slip out? Did she have to wait until every single person had finished?

  Finally, dessert was served. Bowls of chocolate pudding and tall ice-cream sundaes were soon emptied, and the grown-ups began to murmur about having coffee in the drawing room.

  Emily sprang up. “I’ll be back in a minute,” she said to her mom.

  Queen Maria nodded. Emily hurried out of the hall, down the passageway, and past the kitchens to the back door.

  Her hand gripped the flashlight that she’d tucked underneath her cloak. Afraid of being caught at the last moment, she rushed straight out the door and into the night.

  She felt small in the darkness. Switching on the light, she let the round beam travel over the garden. She tried to remember how everything had looked in daylight.

  Over to one side was the fountain and the maze. She followed the gravel path to a wide courtyard set out with chairs and tables. Then she hurried down a slope and there, beyond the lawn, stood the biggest obstacle course she’d ever seen.

  She raced over to it, the beam of her flashlight bouncing as she ran. Where would she start? The zip line, of course!

  She climbed up the long ladder to the high platform, tucked the flashlight back in her pocket, and grabbed ahold of the rope. The thought of flying down there in the dark gave her a bubbly feeling in her stomach, half excited and half scared.

  She couldn’t even see the other end of the zip line; it was too far away in the shadows. Her skirts rustled around her as she got ready to leap off the platform.