Missing Princess

Joan paced from one end of the room to the other as she waited for Bella to return, but her stomach churned with anxiety as more time passed, and there was no trace of Bella. 

Bella had promised her that she was going to come back in time to meet the stylists and prepare for her date with the Prince, so what was keeping her? Joan mused as she walked to the window to look down at the secret path Bella had sneaked out from once again, hoping to see Bella there. 

She had lied to the Queen that Bella was resting, and she had taken great measures to stay away from the Queen's sight so that she wouldn't have to keep lying until Bella finally returned, but now she was beginning to get worried.