This season, thirteen exceptional women are qualified to compete for the love of Royal Prince George, Duke of Buckinghamshire, however, when a random is accidentally thrown into the bunch, and actually catches the eye of the Prince's brother. What's...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
11 | A not so Royal Excursion
ANTOINETTE couldn't stop bragging.
''Oh, I danced with the Duke!'' She would say, as if all the girl's hadn't gotten to dance with the Duke before.
''He seems to fancy me.''
''I might just be 'the one'
Yeah, Katamina thought, the one everybody hates.
Apparently, catching onto her ceaseless eye rolls, Antoinette pursed her lips. ''Did you get to dance with the Duke at the Royal Cotillion?''
''No,'' Rena Hicks humored her with a snobbish curl to her lips. ''She was prohibited from attending.''
They laughed haughtily.
Katamina rolled her eyes again. And she would've been snotty if she would've replied, ''No, but I did get to hangout with his brother.''
''Ignore em.'' Fiona said, ''Girls like them have to be taken out the hard way.''
''Sorry, I didn't know Ginny Weasley was included in this discussion, but now that you are, how did you enjoy the Ball?'' Antoinette probed. ''Dance with any Duke's, Fiona?''
Fiona stayed silent, knowing they were trying to do everything in their power to trigger her, and get her to mouth off on them, just to hold leverage over her.
She was smart for not falling for it.
Lillia was not.
Leopold came in just as the Apple soared across the room, slapping into the side of his face. Splatting all over the front of his dress shirt.
Gasps broke out, and even Lillia was wide-eyed. She had been aiming for little miss perfect, but the girl had ducked just in time.
''Leopold, are you alright?'' Fiona implored, running to his side.
The man cleared his throat awkwardly, using the collar of his shirt to wipe away the juice from his chin. ''I'm fine.''
''Today, his Grace, plans to take you all out on a Royal excursion. I hope you are all familiar with the sport of Archery.''
Was Archery a sport?
Antoinette and Rena shot each other similar looks, this is us, they seemed to depict without saying much.
Whilst, Katamina, Lillia, and Fiona, all exchanged similarly lost looks.
''Excellent! Everyone head down to the stables to grab your horses, and when you're finished, meet outside with the duke.''
--
It appeared that all the other ladies had made it there before her, because a majority of the good horses were gone, and the only ones left, were the stinky ones, and the ones who didn't like people.
Great
Not to mention, Antoinette had went and grabbed the only horse she was familiar with at the Stables, making Coco not an option anymore until she gave her up, meaning she had to try out some other horse that was not Coco.
The other horses were mean.
Backing away from one particularly bitter mare named Gerald, she bumped into someone.
''Elijah!'' She grinned at her favorite Stable boy.
''My lady,'' He acknowledged, but with less enthusiasm. He spoke again before she could ask. ''I'm not allowed to talk you you, miss.''
''Why?''
He didn't reply, willing for her to figure it out herself.
Oh yeah.
That stupid duke.
''Well, the next time you see him, tell him he can suck it.''
''You can tell him yourself.''
She froze as footsteps trailed a couple inches behind her.
''Your grace.'' She heard Elijah greet, lowly.
The duke -- dressed in a tailored blue shadbelly, traditional breeches, and riding boots -- looked anywhere but at him. ''Elijah, bring me Isabelle.''
''Yes sir.''
''And you,'' He addressed her standing with her mouth hanging open. ''Why aren't you out with the others?''
''Can't find a good horse.'' She answered truthfully. Dancing on the balls of her feet, willing for the man to snap at her at any given moment.
''Elijah.'' He called as the brunette came back with the blood bay. ''She'll take my horse.''
Really? She hoped her face conveyed. He offered her no explanation in his narrowed and unfriendly blue eyes.
Isabelle was a gentle and obedient horse, so she wasn't about to decline the offer either. It was either Isabelle, the gentle giant, or Gerald, the cranky old biting horse.
''I'll ride my mother's horse.'' He answered before either of them could ask.
''I'm afraid, your brother has just left with her, your Grace.''
Prince George was silent.
Noticing her struggle to climb over the giant of a horse, Elijah gently boosted her up, being respectful the entire way up, which was.... surprising? Not entirely. Elijah was a pleasant kid.
But then she remembered he had said he didn't swing that way to begin with.
Did that mean he liked guys?
Judging from the way the brunette was avoiding direct eye contact with the Duke, she had a feeling she knew exactly which guy the boy was into, and he'd be a fool if he thought he ever had a chance with the Duke, especially with gorgeous girl's like Antoinette running around.
Then again, Katamina knew firsthand how unexpected things happened all the time, going from a dress deliverer, always running late to work, to an actual lady of the house, competing for a duke amongst five others.
And if the duke did like guys, she could only imagine how he felt inside. Desperately trying to keep himself afloat, in a Palace where anything wrong, or different was cast out, and marriage was mandatory to keep generations or Royals going.
Not to mention, the entire season was rooting for him to find a wife.
She recalled what Alex had said to her.
He's expected to find a wife by the end of the Season, or mother will pick one for him
He would have to find someone he remotely liked even a little bit, before his mother would choose one for him.
Poor George.
She'd just have to pray that wasn't the case.
When she blinked, she realized she had been staring at one corner of the wall for some time, and Elijah was waving a hand in front of her face, trying to get her attention.
''Elijah, forget it. I'll sort something out.''
The brunette dipped his head, tersely. ''Your Grace.''
