To Win the Prince's Hand

Chapter 1

1.

My mind was nearly pounding with boredom as I sat at the mostly-empty, long table. I gently lifted the soup spoon, bringing it up to my mouth to take a sip.

“Now Danielle, that can hardly be considered polite. You seem to be gulping down your soup as if you will never see any again,” Madame Goustav, my governess chided. I quietly sighed as I set the spoon back down again and turned to look at the lady across from me.

“I’m sorry, Madame Goustav,” I answered meekly, bowing my head. My stomach threatened to growl if I didn’t eat anything else, but I knew hunger was a much better option than being stifled by my already tight corset if I ate very much.

“Well, at least you know how to apologize correctly for when you make a fool of yourself at the ball,” she commented off-handedly. I opened my mouth to make a sharp retort, but bit it back with my better judgment. There was no reason to pick a fight, which would only bring a long lecture on respecting your elders.

The ball was in honor of my mother’s birthday. She loved to throw, large extravagant parties, and the largest was always bound to be her birthday celebrations. As a young girl, I had wanted to be a part of them so much, but now that I had been at them for a couple years, I had seen how much work it took to look pretty and proper.

As I thought about the ball, I looked down at the dress that was suffocating me. It wasn’t meant to be this tight, but Madame Goustav had laced it up exceedingly tight to the point where I could hardly breathe. It was a delicate light pink that my mother had picked out in honor of her birthday.

I picked up the spoon once more and slowly brought it to my mouth, sipping only a small amount before setting it back down. “Much better,” Madame Goustav praised with a simple nod of her head. “Maybe you won’t be a total failure after all. That’s all for the day, the servants will help you change.” She stood up to walk out as another servant entered.

“Madame, Lady Victoria would like to request Lady Danielle’s presence immediately,” he said, bowing.

“Alright, never mind. Danielle come with me right now,” she ordered as she strode towards my mother’s room. I didn’t dare disobey as I followed her, trying to remain as graceful as the older woman.

Fortunately, years of training had instilled grace in me fairly well as we swiftly moved through the manor. The house was as familiar tome as the back of my hand, so I moved with confidence.

As a young child, the building seemed so big. I could remember the fear that I would get lost in the immense maze I felt so often. I could also remember the amazement that people could easily navigate along the corridors.

I nearly chuckled as I thought of this memory, but remembered the stiff lady walking ahead of me and held my tongue. To be totally honest, she intimidated me a lot. But then again, she intimidated everyone.

“Do you know what mother wants?” I asked her as we walked. She shook her head, but there was a gleam in her eye that told me she knew more than she would admit.

“Now, make sure to act nice in front of your mother. I don’t want her thinking we waste our time together,” she instructed when we arrived at the door. A servant opened it and we entered.

Mother sat silently in her chair, sipping a cup of tea as we walked in. Her eyes rested on me and her eyebrows shot up as she appraised me. “Why is she wearing her gown for the spring ball around?” she asked with an air of elegant regality. She didn’t address me, but rather Madame Goustav.

“I’m sorry, m’lady,” she replied, curtsying to my mother. I mirrored the gesture carefully, trying to look graceful. “We were just practicing etiquette for the ball when we received your request.” My mother passed her a small, cream piece of paper which she proceeded to read. As her eyes skimmed the writing, she smiled a content smile.

“We’ll have to send her immediately,” my mother concluded as Madame looked up.

“Of course, but she’ll miss the ball-“ she started when Mother cut her off.

“Unfortunatly, it must be done for her sake as well as ours,” Mother commented with a wave of her hand. “We’ll need to get her more dresses. She can take this one of course, but she’ll need others. Please alert every seamstress we have that they will need to work double time.”

I blinked in confusion. Did they just send me away? Madame Goustav looked possessed with a stupid grin on her face, but I could also see hints of fear and stress. “M’lady, what to do about her manners? They could use a slight bit of improvement before we send her,” she worried.

“She leaves in the morning,” my mother demanded and Madame nodded, running out. My eyes widened. They were sending me off so quickly, surely it must be important. The door shut behind her, just leaving my mother and I.

Looking at the door, she let out a deep sigh and sunk back into her chair. As I looked at her now, I could see how much older she had grown. People told me that she was beautiful when she was my age, the height of elegance and society. Now though, I could see how time had worn on my mother.

I could also see how upset she was. I did not think it was because of my leaving. Surely I wouldn’t be gone for long.

“Mother, what’s wrong?” I asked cautiously. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes, suddenly standing and striding towards me. She wrapped her arms around me, not caring about the delicate dress I had on.

“You must hate me,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“Why would I hate you?” I asked, stepping back out of her embrace to look her in the eyes. “Mother, what’s going on?” She turned me around to look at the mirror.

We looked very similar. My long, dark hair had been pinned up around my head, while Mother’s hung down to her shoulders in dark waves. The light pink of my dress brought color to my cheeks and made my eyes look bluer than usual.

“I should have spent more time with you personally,” she answered after a long pause. I blinked, realizing that she was answering why I would hate her. “You never liked Madame Goustav, did you?” She laughed quietly. “I never liked my governess either.”

“Mother, where am I going?” I asked, turning to face her. She wouldn’t look me in the eye.

“Please dear, try to understand. I had no choice…” she drifted off as I picked up the letter. I read it several times over in shock.

“Mother…” I whispered, my eyes staring blankly at the page.

Lady Victoria,

Your esteemed daughter, Lady Danielle’s presence has been requested at the palace immediately. She is to leave as soon as you can send her with the palace messenger we sent to you. She will live in the palace while she stays there for the duration of one year. She may bring along whatever clothes she would like as none will be provided.She has been invited to compete in a competition to win the young Prince’s hand in marriage.