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The house was unusually quiet. Adestra and her maid had gone to the market. Damaris the housekeeper had taken her children to visit their grandparents. And our daughter Nerissa had gone to play with the young prince and princess at the queen’s invitation, accompanied by Dimitra who was the children’s nursemaid.
I was amusing baby Philo while his older brother Nico sat on the floor playing with the toy ships made by his uncle. Eventually tiring of crashing them into the table legs and my feet, he came to give one of them to me, and I scooped him up so we could both play with Philo.
Of course this moment of calm couldn’t possibly last, but I was a little irritated when the gate guard arrived at the door, conducting a young messenger from the palace with a note asking me to collect Nerissa as soon as possible. A little concerned, I wrote a brief reply and sent the boy off.
I showed the queen’s note to our gate guard. In these peaceful times we had no real guards, just a couple of men who kept the gate, looked after the hypocaust and did various other jobs around the house. Thimios was new, a local young man who had only learned a few of my signs so far. I sighed. I could hardly leave the boys with him.
I signed slowly and carefully. I have to go to the palace. You will come with me. I could manage either of the boys, but both would be trickier. I picked up the sling we used for the baby and offered it to Thimios. He looked at it in horror. No younger siblings, then, I guessed.
So. Take Nico. Nico, where are your sandals? What a pointless question. I wrapped the sling around me and took the baby, who fortunately was still dry. He chuckled happily when I picked him up, and we all went on a hunt for Nico’s footwear. Thimios returned triumphant from the kitchen with what I realised was actually an outgrown pair of Nerissa’s, but hopefully Nico wouldn’t notice; they would be his soon enough anyway. It was no more than five or six minutes’ walk to the palace, but I pushed a couple of clean rags into the sling just in case anybody needed mopping up.
Naturally we were no more than a minute or two on our way when the baby began fussing and Nico decided he didn’t want to be carried by someone he didn’t know. Like an idiot Thimios allowed him to get down, at which point Nico realised he was wearing the wrong sandals.
We were all less than calm by the time we reached the palace, and the guards at the gate were patronisingly full of suggestions for placating Nico, none of them helpful. We walked through the palace with a screaming child, collecting disapproving looks as we went. Philo was getting louder as well. I ignored the stares; I could well remember a time when the twins had occasionally vied to outscream each other, or so it seemed. Fortunately just as we reached the queen’s chambers Nico suddenly gulped and was quiet, and I could concentrate on soothing the baby. I kept Thimios with me, not wanting to risk another outburst by leaving Nico with him, and went forward to make my bow.
The queen was sitting with her attendants. She smiled. “I’m sorry, Pheris, I didn’t realise you would have to bring the boys. I actually wanted to apologise.”
She turned to where the young princess was standing with Nerissa. “My daughter has something to say.” She looked pointedly at Eugenia.
I looked for Nerissa. She seemed to be trying to hide behind the princess.
“Papa! You’re not to laugh!”
The young princess let go of Nerissa’s hand and came forward. “I’m very sorry, Uncle Pheris.” She was flushed with embarrassment and clearly absolutely hated having to apologise in front of so many people.
I tried to look stern. Very well. I accept your apology.
“I didn’t think you’d mind, Papa,” said Nerissa. “Mama said your hair was short when you were young.”
Because I couldn’t easily braid it.
“Oh. But now you like it long so Mama can do it.”
I love my children, I do really, but between attendants, guards and pages there were at least a dozen people in the room besides ourselves, all of them seemingly trying not to snigger aloud.
I turned to look for our nursemaid.
“Pheris, I’m so sorry, I turned my back for two minutes, I swear …” Dimitra was near tears.
All right. I looked at the queen. Thank you, your Majesty, I’ll take her home now.
I nodded to Dimitra to take Nico (the least she deserved, I thought) and held out my hand to Nerissa, and we escaped.
Nerissa looked into the sling. “Pooh, stinky baby!” she said as we walked outside.
True enough, but this was distraction. I looked at her.
Did you ask Eugenia to cut your hair, Nerissa? Certainly the princess was well capable of thinking of this by herself: being six or seven years older, Eugenia had a tendency to treat Nerissa rather like a doll. But we hadn’t seen so much of that lately now Nissa was a little older and less compliant, and I had my suspicions.
“No, Papa! I just caught it on the tree when we were climbing and it was a nuisance. Papa, will Mama be cross?”
Of course not, though she might laugh just a bit. Perhaps we could ask Damaris to trim it so it’s straighter. Clearly Eugenia had simply chopped through the braids. Don’t worry, Nissa. Nobody’s cross. I only laughed because it was a funny situation. Eugenia doesn’t like to apologise.
A small smile. “It was a bit funny.”
And where was Hector while you two were climbing trees?
“Uncle Gen took him to practise sword fighting with the recruits.”
Wooden swords, I hoped. That would surely explain Eugenia’s misbehaviour. Even if the king had taught her the rudiments of swordplay he would not be likely to take her to practise with the guard, and Eugenia would be jealous.
Back at home I wrote a note and sent Thimios to fetch Damaris. While I could probably manage to trim Nerissa’s hair, I thought it was a job that would be better done by someone with two good hands. Dimitra took the baby to clean him up, and Nissa and I released Nico from the terrible sandals and returned them to the kitchen.
Unfortunately I had forgotten that Damaris’ children would be with her. Although their mother immediately quelled their teasing (“I don’t see any princess cutting your hair, Mira!”) and sent them off, Nerissa was a little pink and tearful, requiring reassurances and cuddles as if she was Nico’s age instead of the big girl of the family, as she usually insisted. Fortunately that’s something well within my capacity.
By the time Adestra returned everything was as peaceful as it ever was, and Nerissa’s hair was at least evenly cut: in fact I secretly thought she looked rather adorable. Dimitra had apologised multiple times. “I was watching so carefully when they were climbing the tree, and so was the Princess’ maid. Then when they decided to come in we went to fetch them a drink, we were no more than a few minutes, honestly. I thought, what harm can come of them playing with the queen’s brushes and hair ties?”
I was constantly grateful to have the means to employ a nursemaid, and Dimitra was sensible and kind: the children loved her. Don’t worry. You can’t anticipate everything. The Princess should have more sense at her age. At her age I had been a king’s attendant.
Adestra returned shortly afterwards. She smiled at everyone as she took up the baby.
“I like your hair, Nissa. Did you cut it, Pheris?” she asked, clearly suspecting nothing more than an amateur trim.
Nerissa and I looked at each other. Nerissa giggled.
Actually…
Des was torn between laughter at my antics and annoyance with the princess.
“Well, Nissa looks rather sweet, and of course nobody cares about her hair at her age. The princess is a problem, though. I thought she was improving.”
The king had taken Hector to train with the youngest guards. I expect Eugenia was jealous.
Des shook her head. “I think we should ask that she comes here next time.”
“Yes, Mama! And Hector too!” Nerissa idolised Hector, who was very tolerant of her adoration. And Eugenia would be far less likely to misbehave if her twin was there.
Oh, I think we should absolutely insist on Hector too, Nissa.