Chapter 14

           Sophierodebacktothecastle’sKingsburyentranceinoneoftheKing’scoaches,drawnbyfourhorses.Onitalsowereacoachman,agroom,andafootman.AsergeantandsixRoyalTrooperswentwithittoguardit.ThereasonwasPrincessValeria.ShehadclimbedintoSophie’slap.Asthecoachclatteredtheshortwaydownhill,Sophie’sdresswasstillcoveredwiththewetmarksofValeria’sroyalapproval.Sophiesmiledalittle.ShethoughtMarthamighthaveapointafterall,wantingchildren,althoughtenValeriasstruckherasabitmuch.AsValeriahadscrambledoverher,SophierememberedhearingthattheWitchhadthreatenedinsomeway,andshefoundherselfsayingtoValeria,“TheWitchshan’thurtyou.Iwon’tlether!”

           TheKinghadnotsaidanythingaboutthat.ButhehadorderedoutaroyalcoachforSophie.

           Theequipagedrewtoaverynoisyhaltoutsidethedisguisedstable.MichaelshotoutofthedoorandgotinthewayofthefootmanwhowashelpingSophiedown.“Wheredidyougetto?”hesaid.“I’vebeensoworried!AndHowl’sterriblyupset—”

           “I’msureheis,”Sophiesaidapprehensively.

           “BecauseMrs.Pentstemmon’sdead,”saidMichael.

           Howlcametothedoortoo.Helookedpaleanddepressed.Hewasholdingascrollwithred-and-blueroyalsealsdanglingoffit,whichSophieeyedguiltily.HowlgavethesergeantagoldpieceanddidnotsayaworduntilthecoachandtheTroopershadgoneclatteringaway.Thenhesaid,“Imakethatfourhorsesandtenmenjusttogetridofoneoldwoman.