First at Last (Updated Version)

Chapter Two

I awoke late the next morning to someone rapping on my door. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and yawned. "Who is it?" I called groggily, though I already knew the answer.

"Who is it?" I called groggily, though I already knew the answer.

"It's Agnes, Miss," Agnes answered, her voice muffled through the door.

"Come in," I said, sitting up in bed and rubbing my eyes once more. I got out of bed and shivered as my toes curled away from the icy marble floor beneath my feet.

She entered my room, followed by a small group of girls carrying a copper washtub. They set the tub down and went to work bringing in buckets of hot water and pouring them into the bath. Once they'd finished, one of the younger maids, Mathilde, who was perhaps a little younger than myself, helped me undress and I climbed into the bath.

I sank into the warm, rose-scented water and let out a long breath. Steam rose into the air, curling the hair at my temples. It was wonderful.

Altogether too soon, I was being pulled out and dried off. Agnesse dressed me in a simple lavender gown with long, tight sleeves and a square neckline. She braided my hair back and pinned it up into a bun. I thanked her and she only smiled at me and left, followed by the other girls.

After a quick breakfast in my rooms, I stopped down at the kitchen to thank Chef Louis, and then walked back upstairs to the library, where my tutor, Miss Grimoult waited for me. Miss Grimoult was a shrewish old lady with wrinkly hands who always wore her gray hair in a neat, tight knot at the back of her head, showing off the severe lines of her face, the sharp cheekbones and thin, hooked nose. A pair of spectacles perched on her nose and I always wondered if she could really see through them or if they were just for show.

"You're late," she said by way of greeting.

"Good morning, Miss Grimoult," I replied pleasantly and took a seat across from her at the round wooden table where my lessons usually took place.

She cast me another disapproving glare before opening up the history textbook and beginning to read.

I was nearly bored to death as she went through my day's lessons. First history, then arithmetic, then reading and grammar, then languages, then more history (it was her favorite subject).

The lessons seemed to last so much longer than usual. I stopped listening about halfway through, letting my mind wander. I would occasionally glance at my pocket watch, willing time to move faster.

Finally, Miss Grimoult ceased her incessant jabbering and released me. After mutter a quick, insincere thank-you, I hurried out the door.

I went up to my room, where I took a pouch of coins and my copy of The Portrait of a Lady before going to the front entrance. I put my hand on the door handle, but before I could get any further, I was stopped by my mother's voice. "Where are you going?" She asked, a note of contempt lacing her words.

I paused and turned to face her, where she stood in the door to the parlor, not quite sure what to say. I couldn't simply tell her I was going to meet my sister's future betrothed. "I am going to the market," I said quickly.

"We have servants for that, you know," she said incredulously.

"I know that, Mother. I am not going to do their jobs. I just needed something so I thought I would go get it myself." I pulled open the door, hoping she might take the hint.

"All right," she replied, narrowing her keen eyes at me. I had a feeling she didn't exactly believe me my lie, which was confirmed a moment later. "I think Alice will require use of the carriage, as well. It would be a good opportunity for Alice to make an impromptu visit to see the prince."

My stomach knotted and I shook my head quickly. "So last minute? Forgive me for saying so, but wouldn't that be incredibly rude?"

Her eyes flashed, but she smiled. Well, it was more of a tightening of her lips than an actual smile. "I'm sure King Henry and Queen Alexia would understand. After all, there are plans in the works for their future together."

I swallowed against the tightening in my throat. "Of course," I said. "I will have the carriage prepared forthwith."

"Excellent," she turned and strode down the hall.

I shut my eyes and took a long moment to compose myself, and an even longer moment to attempt to shove down my disappointment.

I found Walter in the stables brushing down a large bay gelding.

He looked up from his work and smiled at me. "Can I help you, My Lady?? He asked.

I told him to ready the carriage to take me to the market and Alice to the royal palace. He agreed with an enthusiastic, "right away, Miss," and went to work. After harnessing the horses, he brought the carriage around to the front of the house and helped me in. Alice arrived shortly after and sat on the bench across from me, looking lovely in a forest green gown, her hair tied back with a matching ribbon.

She sat straight, hands folded primly in her lap, mouth set in a sullen frown as she stared out the window, watching the carriage roll down the drive.

"Good afternoon, Alice," I said carefully.

She shot me a look before returning her gaze to the window. "Mother suspects you had intentions of meeting Prince William today, so I was forced to finish my tea in the garden quickly, so that I could go meet him, though I really do not feel like meeting anyone today."

That is not my fault, I wanted to point out, but I refrained. "That is very unfortunate," I replied instead. "Do you really think I had secret plans to meet the prince?"

She shut her eyes, looking frustrated. "Frankly, I do not care in the slightest."

This surprised me. "But wouldn't you want to meet the prince? Wouldn't you be upset if I were the one meeting him? After all, you might be the one to marry him."

She rolled her eyes. "Erika, how naive can you be? This will be an arranged marriage, meaning he will not love me. He will undoubtedly have a mistress. Probably more than one."

I reeled back, my face burning with indignation. "How can you say that, Alice? He doesn't seem at all like that kind of person!"

She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "And you know what kind of person he is? After a mere two dances with him? You didn't even remember having met him before."

I cast my eyes down to my lap, guilt gnawing at my insides. It did not matter, anyway. She was probably right.

The carriage slowed to a stop and Walter pulled open the door. Noise filtered in from the street as Walter helped me out and the bustle of the marketplace surrounded me. The door slammed shut and I watched dejectedly as the carriage pulled away and was soon out of sight.