Yours truly, Anto

Chapter 2- Who are you?

     The morning was quiet as I sat in the modiste. There was talk about King Hamish's arrival. Some said it was a great alliance, others said it was  death for me, the princess. I did not know what to think. I had never seen the man and I could not face my parents with doubts. 

I twirled a piece of fabric in my hand and listened to the sound of carriages rolling against the cobble stone below and children laughing. I wondered if I would ever have children. If I ever wanted children with the man they call a monster. Or what if I could not have children and he beheads me. I shuddered.

"Alice, dear." Said Mrs. Weatherington. I turned to face her. 

"Dearest could you help Lady Mary in her fittings. She is standing in the front." I nodded and went from the backroom to the front. Lady Mary stood there in front of the mirror adjusting her hat. 

"Good morning madam, are you about ready for your fitting?" I said hands crossed in front of me. She nodded and stood on the podium as we made small talk. 

"I never like the way any dress fits on me." She said. 

"Now that can not be true." I replied. 

"My hips are too wide and mother says my cage is too wide as well." 

I frowned. "I think you are beautiful the way you are miss." 

She looked at me and scoffed. "You are in fact the most beautiful girl I have ever seen." She said laughing. "I believe I recognize you somewhere?" I chuckled as I denied her suspicion. 

After aligning her I went to the back and picked out one of the dresses I had sewn the week before. It was purple and lines with intricate lace and detailing. Coming back to the front with it she gasped. "Who made this?" She said exclaiming. "I did, madam." I said.

"This is a work of art, I will definitely be telling my ladies about this place." She said. "I will take it now." She said. 

When she asked for the price I told her to not give me anything to which she was shocked. "Nothing for this beautiful design?" She said. 

"Please, it is from me to you. May it make you feel beautiful the way you are." I said.  

She frowned and took out some money and put it on the counter. 

"You worked too hard." She said.

I reluctantly accepted her money as she made her way cheerfully downstairs with her lady in waiting. Mrs. Weatherington came out shaking her head. "Before you go to Scotland dearest, you will have to make me batches of your gowns." She said. I grabbed her arm and smiled.

 "Of course." I replied.

"Oh, dearest, that reminds me. The flowers by the front of the shop's windows are withering, you wouldn't mind getting fresh lilacs and lavender by the rivers bay would you?" 

She asked. "Of course not Mrs. Weatherington. I shall be back shortly." I replied. 

Before leaving I put a cloak over my head and shoulders. It fell all the way down to the floor rather big. I grabbed the basket that hung by the door and went down the steps and outside. There was music playing in the town center in the distance.

"It would not hurt." I said to myself.

I walked through the narrow streets of the village hiding my face with my hair until I reached the center. 

There was a crowd surrounding someone. I slightly pushed my way through to the front. 

There was a young man with curly hair up to his shoulders. It was clear he was not from here. But he played beautifully.