Prologue

Prologue

Ajuda Palace, Lisbon 1860

The garden door was enchanted. Isabel’s mother used to say it granted a princess her heartfelt wishes. As a ten-year-old, Isabel should have stopped believing in myths. She was, after all, at that season in life where princesses shed fantastical beliefs like trees dismiss leaves before fall. Still, Isabel clung to hers, each a ticket to the past, a thread of memory she had no intention of letting go.

Enchanted or not, the door was exquisite. While closed, light filtered through the stained glass, pooling over the aquamarine tiles. When opened, it framed the queen’s secret garden, an invitation to explore the exotic fruits and flowers.

Isabel clapped her hands twice and pirouetted, the necessary ritual for wishes to come true, and closed her eyes firmly.

I wish to see them.

Tugging her governess’ hand, Isabel crossed the threshold.

Ripened peaches and wet earth perfumed the air. Feathery leaves swayed to a gentle breeze. Isabel skipped through the fountain and the oriental pagoda straight to the pond. Mist floated above the lake. Their calling drew near. Shielding her eyes, Isabel peeked at the sky. They lived there between the clouds and all that blue—a castle of ice and feathers, where all the boys were princes and waltzed with princesses to the tune of heavenly chords. Once upon a season, they visited her in the garden.

Swinging her straw basket, Isabel scanned the line of trees. "Where are they?"

The governess glanced behind them and tapped her foot on the grass. Poor Marion hated to stand. It made no sense, as Isabel knew it was impossible to die while standing. When her mother and father died, they were lying on their beds.

Isabel whistled as her brother had taught her, then clutched her pinafore, waiting for a reply.

Pitter patter. A splash. A duck left the gnarled oak. Flapping its white wings, it entered the lake and glided toward Isabel.

Sighing, Isabel dipped her hand into the basket for the bread. "Can we come every day?"

"Oh dear, your schedule is full."

The ducks came only once a year. She couldn’t miss their visit. "At least while they are here, please?” Isabel curled her lips into her most winsome smile.

The governess sighed an enormous sigh. "If I consult the French teacher, he could arrange for the art history lessons to begin later—"

"Thank you!"

Isabel hugged the governess, the scent of church incense making her nose twitch.

The duck paused below the willow’s leaves, mere feet from Isabel, and arched its neck. Eager for a closer glimpse, she stumbled forward.

The governess held her arm. "My, such excitement will see you dunked. A lady should learn restraint."

Cooing gently, Isabel chose the softest part of the bread. "Do you think it’s a girl?"

"It’s just a duck, dear."

Isabel huffed. Just a duck? To Isabel, she was a lovely princess, owner of silvery dresses and tiaras. "I’ll call her Alva."

With a swish, a drake landed in their circle. Big, bulky, and brown, it flung itself atop Alva, shanks digging into her folded wings. Alva protested, trying to unseat the brute, but it chomped on her delicate neck with its red bill.

"The beast will kill Alva." Isabel shooed and shrieked, to no avail. Lifting her hand high, she hurled bread missiles at the demon duck.

Crumbs peppered his ugly feathers, but the drake shrugged them away. Beady eyes glittering, the duck pounded its tail in quick motions. Poor Alva tried to resist, shaking her wings, but he forced her head down until her crown vanished under the water.

Out of bread, Isabel grabbed her governess’s hand. "Marion, do something, please. Alva will drown."

The governess shook her head, eyes the size of her brother’s tennis balls. "Come, the piano master must have arrived."

"No!" Isabel vaulted into the pond, her feet sinking into the mud. Before she could reach the evil duck, the beast jumped from Alva’s back, leaving the poor creature disheveled and no doubt bruised. Cackling, the drake flaunted his wings menacingly. Isabel stared, open-mouthed, cold water seeping into her pinafore as the drake stalked another victim.

Marion pulled her from the pond. Limbs lax, Isabel let herself be dragged away.

"I’ll go for Luis. My brother will know what to do. That animal is mad—"

The governess dug her fingers into her arms. "His Majesty is extremely busy—"

"I will speak with my brother." She spoke through clenched teeth and stomped her feet. "You can’t stop me."

A flush rose on the governess’s round cheeks. "You must forget about the ducks. Oh, don’t you see? This is nature’s way of... They were mating."