Emmy

CHAPTER ONE

"Can I take your hand m'lady?"

"There's a hand railing; I think that will suffice." She stifled a little laugh as she took the iron railing and walked down the stone steps.

"You make me look a fool."

She raised her eyebrow and stared into his brown eyes as she descended the last few steps. "How so?"

He looked away and laughed. "You make me look impolite."

"Well, is that not true?"

His eyes widened at the flirtatious accusation. "Who says I'm impolite?"

She laughed again, her cheeks rosy and plump. "Your brother for one. Do you want me to continue?"

"Make a list why don't you?"

Both laughed together. "Are you sure you want me to? It would be very long," she said as she touched his hand.

"So now you want to hold hands?" he said playfully as he grabbed onto it tightly.

She let out a quiet squeal of excitement. "If anyone caught us holding hands out here-"

"They would just think we were madly in love," he finished. She blushed. "You have to stop caring about what other people think. If they see us holding hands they see us holding hands. We're not hiding anything."

"But they might think-"

"Oh, so you're able to read people's minds now? When did this development start?"

Both childhood sweethearts laughed in harmony. They continued walking until they reached the end of the castle's walled garden and took a seat on a wooden bench.

"All I'm saying is that it's much easier for the brother of the King to get away with societal inaccuracies than the daughter of a Marquess."

He squeezed her hand making her giggle. "I can protect you. I can make sure nothing about us will leave these walls." She looked away. "Look, I know how reputation works and how important it is. I know what it can do to a family." She looked back straight into his eyes which shone amber as the sun hit them. "We can make this work. I know it. We've known each other for years anyway. People will just assume we are courting and before you know it we'll be..."

"Before you know it we'll be what?" she asked, playing innocent.

"You know!" he exclaimed.

"No I don't. You need to tell me what you're thinking."

"I thought you were the mind reader, darling."

They both laughed again until their sides grew sore. The winter setting sun shone on them both, illuminating their beautiful features which the other noticed. The girl's delicate, white skin was contrasted with her dark brown, curly hair, emerald green eyes and red lips. The boy's brown eyes matched his tanned skin and made his blonde, shaggy hair stand out. Both boy and girl fell into comfortable silence again.

"Emmy," he said, "we can't lose each other again."

"I know Alex," Emmy replied.

"We had such good times as children. Remember when I let that chicken loose in the nursery?"

"I remember," Emmy giggled. "I couldn't forget the look on the nurse's face."

"Or the time our brothers brought real daggers and began sword fighting."

Emmy smiled at the memories. Alex and his older brother stayed with their family for three weeks every spring when she was five until twelve. Emmy had always been close to Alex even as children, but when the visiting stopped both forgot each other as nothing but a childhood friend. When Emmy came to the castle two months ago accompanying her brothers she made a chance encounter with Prince Alexander. Both instantly remembered each other, and things between them had blossomed ever since. "We had a good childhood, didn't we?"

"Who knew it would turn into a lifetime?" Alex smiled. Emmy smiled too.

"We had better head back Alex," Emmy said as the daylight began to fade.

"Oh, before we go you've got something on your shoulder," Alex said. "Let me just..." he began as his hand reached over Emmy's shoulder and he suddenly whipped it round to reveal a rose. "For the lady," he said flirtatiously, taking her hand, delicately kissing it and placing the rose stem in her grasp. Emmy blushed as her heart fluttered and she tried not to let her excitement slip.

They walked back to the castle talking about their day. They had ridden together across the countryside in the morning with several castle guards and chaperones before finding the perfect place for a picnic. After they rode back they 'accidentally' lost their chaperones to take their secret walk. They reminisced about their time together and of the lifetime that they both wanted to spend together. Emmy felt it was leading to a single moment, to a single question. Alex was nervous but was hiding it well.

As they neared the castle, Alex stopped Emmy. "Dearest Emmy," he began, "it's been a pleasure today to be in your company."

Emmy smiled. "Likewise."

"I wonder ... I wonder if you would like to accompany me tomorrow night to the castle's jousting tournament. I assume your family is already going but ... I would like you to personally accompany me."

Emmy's stomach fluttered with butterflies. "Of course. I would be most honoured to." She smiled at Alex who immediately broke into a smile too. He knew she would agree to accompany him, but he always got nervous when he had to ask.

"Perfect," Alex said. "I will send a carriage for you early in the morning. Half ten or so. I'll meet you when you arrive here."

"That sounds wonderful Alex," Emmy said. This was what she had been waiting for. While most of the upper class knew Emmy and Alex were close, it had never been confirmed that they were officially courting. An outing at the castle's jousting tournament was the very thing that would show the upper class that Emmy and Alex were a pair. If anything, it would confirm to both families involved that their children were serious about their relationship.

"I'm glad. It will be a wonderful day."

The two quickly walked into the castle and straight to the stables. Alex caught the eye of the carriage master. "Can you take Miss Longford to her residence."

Emmy loved Alex's commanding voice; everything was said as a statement, yet at the same time it like he was talking to a friend.

"Certainly Prince Alexander." The carriagemaster opened to carriage door for Emmy to step into. Alex gave his hand as support into the carriage. Emmy took it gratefully.

"Until tomorrow, my love," he swooned. He blew Emmy a kiss.

"It'll be half a day before I see you. You should last until then!" Emmy said with a hint of sarcasm. She loved teasing him.

Alex laughed. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye." With that the carriage drove on. Emmy peered out of the window and watched as Alex became further and further away. They would not let go of each other, or at least their view of one another, until they had to. When Emmy lost sight of Alex eventually, she sat comfortably in the carriage. She clutched the rose he had given her and smiled at the beautiful memories they were making.