The Princess and I

Chapter IV: The absence of the Duke

Never had I thought, when I woke up this morning, that I would have dinner at Arlington Park this evening. Since my conversation with the Duke's sister left me feeling unhinged, I could use tonight's dinner to get some answers myself and decide for myself if the Duke was worth my attention or not.

Regardless, I dress my best for this evening and though the Queen of England isn't very fond of girls wearing too much makeup and perfume I definitely wear enough this evening. It is to win a Duke's heart after all, her Majesty would surely understand it if it concerns true love. My dress is the same colour as his cloak doublet at the ball and emphasizes my full breast and coppery tan. I wear my hair loose tonight, so I can flick it over my shoulder temptingly, when he speaks to me.

And I am not the only one totally dressed up for tonight's dinner. Although Naomi is normally considered the female version of Elias, even she dresses up very well. She wears her straight dark brown hair not bewilderedly loose like a beggar's, but very elegantly in a knot. She looks very much like a proper young lady with her satin dress, many jewellery and calm exposure. My mother on the other hand is anything but calm. Her eyes are switching nervously from the window of the carriage to her hands, which she uses to spin her closed fan around time after time. It makes me a little seasick by looking at it. My father is as always his serene self. He also looks out of the window of the stagecoach, but he just stares lost in thought.

Although Arlington Park is just outside London the drive seems to take forever, while in the meantime this nervous and nauseous feeling in my stomach is growing. I pray to God I will not vomit, because of it. My patience is rewarded though, since after a mere thirty minutes I finally see the outlines of Arlington Park.

Arlington Park is a seventeenth-century country house set in formal gardens. It was completed in 1625 by the famous architect Thomas Ham. Arlington Park is a typical example of a Jacobean House meaning that it is a majestic estate with the characteristics of the Renaissance in Italy. And that's right as far as I am concerned, since I see many classic looking pillars, Tudor arcs, brown red coloured terracotta walls with a light coloured craftsmanship around the doors and windows, sculptures on the bannisters and parapets and finally, very slanted roofs.

We follow a broad avenue to the estate itself and are very soon surrounded by many trees, like an army of soldiers leading us to the front door. These trees I see also on the avenue leading to the guest houses. The house is set within a range of walled gardens. Each of the gardens has its own formal design, like the Cherry Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Maze and the Pond. There's also an orchard and a vegetable garden. Since I love walking outside, I hope Liam will do me the honour soon of taking a walk with me through his splendid gardens.

Our carriage halts in front of a small marble stair on top of which stands the butler of Arlington Park. He bids us welcome and asks us to follow him to the dining room, where dinner is about ready to be served. The Great Hall of Arlington Park is an enormous and impressive reception space. The black and white marble floor shines and shows the wealth this estate harbours immediately. There are many paintings on the ceiling, depicting gods, saints and the like, giving the hall a colourful and bright ambiance.

'Marvellous,' Naomi whispers impressed as she peels her eyes too.

We walk past the Great Staircase to a grand dining room, which consists completely of marble stone. The carved oak panelling, the gilt leather on the walls and the parquetry floor provide the perfect stage for an elegant banquet. The dining table forms an important factor in the furniture of noble families and you can see that in the splendour of the Duke's dining table. It's a twenty foot long rosewood table and is designed with a high decree of decoration. There are approximately twenty chairs, which have carvings of flowers on them. None of those chairs are the same though, each carving is different. There are a couple of table lamps on the dining table as well, made of solid brass, and which are obviously handcrafted, with many curved lines and in different colours.