"My name is Evangeline, that much I remember. And I believe I was a princess like you. At least, this crown seems to say so."
Eilene hid her grimace at the word "princess" with a sip of her tea and continued listening to the ethereal being who had poured it for her.
"I love books and poetry—that one I messed up to talk to you was something I wrote myself; I do remember what my handwriting looks like, but for the life, or perhaps death of me," she giggled, "I cannot muster the tangibility to hold a pen."
A sigh flew from the ghost's mouth, and although she is not really a ghost, it is the simplest and most comparable term, so a ghost we shall call her. Her breath smelt of dried flowers, but the half rotten kind that come about when the person drying the flowers hasn't a clue as to what they're doing.
"But," she went on. "It seems I had enough passion in life for tea that I can serve it in this form as well as I could then."
Twin smiles played across both girls' lips, and Eilene was glad for this strange whatever-she-was. It was very good tea, she had to admit.
"That's good you have something to tether yourself," the living girl conceded, setting her cup on its saucer and leaning forward with curious eyes. "But you haven't the faintest idea why you're here? Or who you were? Or how long you've been this way?"
The apparition shimmered much in the same way one's lip would quiver at the mention of a long dead goldfish, and she likewise set down her tea.
"I see ... glimpses every now and then," she said. "Sometimes they seem less clear than me." A wan chuckle bubbled out as she gazed at her transparent hands. "And I think I'm forgetting more than remembering, but you..."
"Me?"
"Yes, dear. You. You've been in the castle, what, three hours? And since then I've seen more of myself than I have since Jael was born!"
"My, that's curious. And I am happy for you, but why now?” Eilene mused. “And why me? I'm sure you don't know the answer, at least yet, but my. So curious."
"Curious indeed," the ghost intoned. She took the last sip of her tea and poured a new cup for herself and Eilene before speaking again.
"I wonder ... if perhaps we are related somehow."
"Perhaps," Eilene mused, eyebrows lifting in contemplation.
"I don't remember giving birth myself, and I think that's something one would remember, haha!" Her laugh was light as a feather and Eilene was warmed to hear it from such a seemingly wilted creature. "But I think maybe I had a sister? Or even a cousin of royal blood."
"Maybe," Eilene nodded. She knew nothing of her own blood, and for some reason this made her more curious about the ghost's family tree.
"This castle has a rather vast library," Evangeline's eyes glittered with excitement. "Now that you're here, you could help me research and, oh! Perhaps even find out what happened to me!"
Eilene's eyes grew wide, for the ghost had floated up so high, the hairs on her head brushed the cavernous ceiling.
"Oh dear," the ghost squealed, her whole substitute-for-a-body flashing an embarrassed but lovely shade of pink, descending bashfully while holding her skirts in place as best she could. "I am dreadfully sorry, my dear. I do hope you didn't see anything you shouldn't have."
Eilene let out a hearty bark of laughter and slapped her knee. "Pff, of course not! Unless you count ghostly apparitions, which I've always considered the kind of thing one never saw—but here I am now! Ahh how delightful you are, Miss Evangeline. Do you mind if I call you Miss? I'm not the biggest fan of the word princess—unless you prefer me to, of course, then I would gladly refer to you as such."
"Oh darling, you can skip the formalities altogether! I was never too fond of the title myself, a pity it's one of the few things I recall," she sighed and adjusted the misty crown that must have been a part of her, still embarrassed, but already so fond of the girl that she was soon at ease once more.
They laughed and drank two more pots of tea together. Eilene spoke of her life with the duke and duchess and how lovely they had been, and how excited she was to have met Evangeline in the misery of being uprooted by the stony queen. Evangeline likewise rejoiced at the company, for in all the many years she had been this way—and it had been quite some time, that much she knew—she had never been able to get a living person to see her, let alone become friends with.
The princesses smiled, despite their respective predicaments, and sipped their tea and were merry.
❦
A chorus of birdsong woke Eilene with the rising sun. Her bed was rather comfortable, as well as the nightgown she'd chosen from a vast closet full of more clothes than she'd seen in an entire boutique. The pajama dilemma had been stressful, but she eventually settled on the simplest gown, which was still covered with lace and beaded with jewels.
Now she was faced with a more complex yet trifling issue. What to wear? There were rows of dresses in her favourite fabrics and favourite colours, and she half regretted sending away the lady's maid who came to help dress her. How was she meant to decide on her own?
A thought fell into her mind and she smiled.
"Evangeline! Are you there?" she called in a staged whisper. A few moments passed by and she was about to call out once more when the ghost phased through the veranda window.
"Good morning, my dear. Why, don't you look as fresh as a daisy," she smiled as she glided towards the closet.
Eilene scoffed at the remark, but her ears grew pink and she ran her fingers through her barely tangled hair. It tended to need little attention or care, she had long since discovered, and today was no different. But she was rather sheepish since it ordinarily attracted jealous remarks.
Sensing the girl's wardrobe distress, Evangeline diverted her attention the garment selection.
"My, oh my. We've got our hands full, don't we? Well. Best get started right away then. Wouldn't want to eat breakfast in our nightclothes."
Eilene's eyes sparkled at the notion, and she ran to ring for the lady's maid to ask for breakfast to be brought to her room.
❦
To be continued…
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A/N: Cover image made by my favourite person, who also happens to be the inspiration for this story and the character Evangeline <3
Go check out my sister Dani’s work of the week, Storm, and my sister Luthien’s work of the week, Let This Be The End (two stories separate but connected to my princesses)!