Roaring 20s Royalty

chapter 4- Better Judgement

With all the information my head was reeling. I wasted no time in returning to my room.

On my way I met Jurgelda about to clean a guest's room near enough to the hall, "Jurgelda, please, quickly, come with me."

She followed promptly. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was at least half sure of it, and not at all sure it was a good idea.

What had really swayed me was his promise of a new life. How much I'd wanted that for so long left me begging like a hungry dog for even the smallest chance. And, by pure luck that chance came from a handsome young man who matched me perfectly. I'd had butterfliees talking to him but I didn't know that. I'd never been genuinely interested in someone romantically in my whole life, I didn't know what to do.

Turning to Jurgelda as I closed my bedroom door behind me I said, "How much do you know about looking after a horse?"

She stared at me with a confused face, "Well, Ma'am, I suppose I understand that they require plenty of space and access to good grass, but I apologise, I don't quite follow?"

I took a breath to calm myself down. I still hadn't registered what exactly was happening, let alone how I'd make it all work.

"I'm going to be going away, somewhere far away, where I can't look after Trident. He's my first priority right now, and since your the person I'm closest with in the palace, I'd like you to look after him in my absence." I linked my fingers in front of me, looking at her hopefully.

Jurgelda nodded slowly for a moment, then paused halfway through a breath, "I am deeply honored, Ma'am, but I do not want to disappoint you. I don't think I am qualified to look after Trident. Why don't you consult your parents on the matter?"

I took a step toward her, startling her by accident as I burst out, "No, Jurgelda, my parents don't know that I'm going away. If I'm honest, neither do I, but, I need you to swear to my you will not uttr a word to any soul, ever. People must not know where I'm going."

I stopped for a second and watched her eyes. I could see she was unsure, it went against her job to hold secrets from the Queen, and this job was her life. She fidgeted with her hands, thoughts whirling around her head.

"Ma'am," She finally spoke, "I've served you for many years so, against my better judgement, fine. If you could teach me how exactly I should be looking after Trident for you, I'd deeply appreciate it."

My eyes lit up and my heart started beating faster than it already was, "Yes! Jurgelda I cannot thank you enough! Tomorrow morning meet me here, and bring clothes for the stables,for both of us." I smiled widely and hopped from foot to foot with excitement.

I plopped onto my bed laying on my back with my arms above my head. My hair splayed out around me, but stretching felt good, relieving.

"Of course, Ma'am. If you don't mind my asking, where exactly is it you're going?" She tilted her head with intruige.

I sat up, about to answer her but stopped myself. However much I trusted her, I also knew that if I left, my parents would try and find me, "You'll be the first my parents come to for answers about my disappearance. For my own safety, I'd rather you didn't know."

Her eyes lowered a little, but she nodded with respect, "If you wish. I had best return to my duties, Ma'am." She turned to the door, "Goodnight."

I smiled lightly, "Thank you, Jurgelda. Goodnight."

The door closed with a small click of the handle.

Laying alone then felt quiet, though I could now just make out the sweet melody coming from the ballroom. I thought about the words said to me, the actions I was to take. Every step of the way into this and possibly far beyond were going to be perilous, treacherous and any other word you could think of to describe the difficult and dangerous. It's what I wanted though. I wanted that freedom. I needed it, like a bullet needs gunpowder.

***

The next morning I awoke with a much happier attitude.

Like a movie the sun was shining in my window through a gap in my curtains, throwing a warm glow across my bedsheets. I pulled the silk to the side and sat up with a stretch, rubbing the sleep from my face. My hair was a tangled, black mess. Evidently I'd slept well. I couldn't contain my excitement as I smiled at the idea of the coming days. Day one, the time to begin my plans into motion.

I carefully straightened my hair, brushing it relentlessly before my mirror. Quickly I followed up with washing my face in my bathroom, then went about applying my makeup for the day. Not long after, Jurgelda arrived carrying a bundle of clothes folded over her arm.

She was already adorning her riding gear, and as per usual, aided me with mine. I zipped up my boots and she picked up my helmet and whip, following me down the hallways.

It was early still, so the halls were all empty, but there was plenty of cleanup to do. Every guest who had stayed with us surely slept soundly still, leaving the palace to return to how it regularly felt.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to ride with you, Ma'am." Jurgelda told me, "I was thinking about what you said, and I hope I can make you proud."

"You have my full trust, Jurgelda, I don't believe you could fail even if you tried."

"Well, Ma'am, its mostly down to my inexperience. My family, before I came here, we couldn't afford decent horses, and we were forbidden from riding my father's work horses. Not that I really wanted to however, they were mean bastards." She laughed a little, and I did too.

"Trident is no such creature. Once he's warmed up to you he's like a big teddy bear." I pushed open the backdoor that led to the gardens, "Besides, you'll have me to help, so if I'm there he won't have an issue in the slightest."

She gave a nervous look, "If you say so."
There was a pause for a couple moments before she spoke up, "I know this isn't really my place, Ma'am, but I saw you with that man last night. He's handsome."

I smiled to the ground, then chuckled and threw my hair back over my shoulder, "Don't worry, Jurgelda, I won't punish you. My place is your place." I flipped open the latch into the stable yard. It wasn't all that far through the gardens, "So, I'm not imagining it? He is as good looking as I remember?"

Jurgelda nodded and quickened her pace to keep up with me and I stepped faster, "I thought so at least. What I heard from the other maids is that he's some Lords son, but his father in question has a bad reputation."

I slowed again and turned to her, "Oh? He's actually the man who set us up, I really wouldn't have guessed it. What exactly has he done?"

Jurgelda shrugged her shoulders, "Some form of fornication is the word going around. He's a cheater at least, and a gambler. He supposedly lost a load of money in the Lurdas Casino, and at the races. Something close to two-hundred-and-fifty thousand GoldPers."

I looked on in awe, "Well if I had known being a maid was this full of gossip I would've spent a lot more time in the kitchen with the girls. Anyway, it explains part of why Henrique wants to leave so bad, and oh by the Lords I don't blame him."

I rested my hand on the door to the stable shed. Images of Henrique flooded my mind, his expensive suit, his clean look. Even his hair, slicked over with pricey gell. Then it hit me for real. I was going away, to another, free country, with this man. The man I had dreamt of for so long.