The little duchess

Chapter 3

    I watched as all sorts of people got out of their carriages. Some were old couples, some young, but of course no one I knew.
   Then it was our turn to get out, the foot man opened the door and smiled, as I walked up the stairs I was speechless. As we walked inside Gregory grabbed my hand so tight and said
   "Stay quiet don't talk unless someone talks to you, just stand there, and look pretty."
   Then he gave my name and title to a man who says all the names and then we walked out to see, Prince William of Windsor. At first glance he was astonished, someone his age, his body overflowed with energy not there a minute before. I did a curtsied and quickly scampered away.
     As Gregory said I stood alone and put a pretty face on. I waited for all the guest to arrive and for the party to start. The Prince came to the middle of the floor and thanked everyone for coming and started the dances. But he made a b-line for me. Before I knew it he was before me, about 5'9 dark brown hair that looked black, and deep brown eyes.
    "Hello, you must be the Duchess of Edinburgh?"
    "Yes your highness" I reply still as a stone.
    "What is your name?"
    "Anne" I say with my eyes in a daze.
     "Would you like to dance?" He says with a smile so soft, so kind it seemed so foreign.
    "Yes" I replied, as he took my hand and we walked out to the dance floor.
    We danced for about a while minute, I said nothing. I just stared at my feet.
    "So, how old are you?" He asked me.
    "15 your highness" I replied.
    "Please, just call me William, while we dance"
  I looked at his face he reminded me of myself, before I knew it my honest self slipped out, "Do you'll like riding? Like horses?"
   "Very! It's such a grand feeling! I like playing polo!"
    "I've never seen or played polo myself, but I've studied the sport!" I say with a spark of excitement.
    "Anne, do you have a horse?"  Says William.
   "Yes a beautiful mare! She's 15.1, black, big white face! Blue eyes! Rides like a dream! Skip is her name, short for dark skipping stone" I replied.
    "I have a black Friesian! He's Spanish, long mane and tail, big build, sweet personality, I call him Nightstar" says William,"I'm surprised you have a horse, are you allowed to ride whenever?"
  I hesitated to answer, "Well not really, I.... I probably shouldn't say this but..." they tears start to fall one after another.
   "Hey, hey... it's ok, I understand, believe me!" Says William as he holds me tighter,"that man that came in with you, does he use you?"
   "You can't tell anyone..." I whisper as I wipe away my tears,"yes, he uses me to his benefit, I'm a prisoner. Anything I enjoy he takes, anything I get he looks over first, nothing is for me."
    "Aw, well, let's just spend the night together! Enjoy each other's company! Forget life for a brief moment" says William with a soft comforting smile.