The Thorn (wlw)

3 - Moving In

To call her new home a plot of land was unjust; it was something Leonore would call an estate, but she had always been a pedant. It was a large tract of land, suitable for a crown princess such as she. Rolling fields climbed over hills, which would have been a pastoral paradise if not for the sheer cliffs that shadowed the valley.

And she was the crown princess—one day she would succeed the throne, God forbid anything happened to the queen mother, but everyone knew Queen Carmilla had no intention of dying anytime soon, so Leonore was stuck out here in some back country with no one but her oaf husband for company.

Perhaps Leonore would respect him more if he was more assertive, or something else more becoming of a knight of his station. She felt he didn't respect her, only cautious as if she was some spooked animal.

More to her bruised ego was that she wasn't even alone with him; she had an entire contingent of retainers to help her with everything. She wasn't lacking in her old palace comforts, but she was lacking in friends.

It was also untrue to call the place a rural smear on the map; nearby, some miles away from the edge of her property, was a lively town large and sprawling enough to qualify as a city.

Leonore wanted to go, she wanted nothing more than to put on her boots, her plainest sundress—to be practical—and bustle around the town.

It wasn't particularly much of a surprise when her valet discouraged her when she expressed it, but she was still affronted.

"Worked for me for years, Albert, but now you turn on me?

"I only wish you would discuss it first with the Master, Your Highness."

"It's not even his land. It's mine," she hollered, stomping out of the hall and pushing into a drawing room at random.

Of course Gabriel was there, and he looked just as surprised as she was. He was eating some kind of pastry by himself and clearly expected no company. He had chosen to affect a leather cuirass in public today, but now in the privacy of this drawing room it lay at the foot of his chair. He stood, slipping back into it with urgency, as he said, "Your Highness—"

Everyone wondered what Sir Gabriel's deal was. Why he never took off his armor, why he refused to let anyone see him undress. Leonore was only just as curious as the next man, she supposed. Momentarily it made her chuckle, thinking just how many girls would give to be in her situation.

He smiled at seeing her laugh to herself. Leonore frowned, and he cleared his throat, his own grin failing.

"I want to go to the town. My own valet refuses to, without your word."

"Today, my lady? Perhaps not. We have only just arrived."

Leonore crossed her arms. Gabriel's lips pressed together. "The queen mother wanted to ensure your safety. After my men visit the town to examine the situation, we can arrange a visit."

It was a surprise to her that he even considered. She still said, as she left, "I want to go alone."

Her next order of business was to change out of her dress and into riding clothes, and in the late afternoon sun took her cat and her horse to gallop around the boundaries of her estate. Albert personally followed her on his own horse, several paces back.

What she thought were rolling fields of grass was actually a carpet of clover. Her horse padded gently, just short of where the trees stopped.

Albert rode up to where she stopped. "That way, my lady, is the town. If I may ask, what did your husband say?"

He had been her mother's valet, and was now her valet, and thus he was older than both of them. He had been a squire, and then very briefly a knight, before retiring to become a manservant.

"He was open to the idea. But if he says no, will you stop me?"

Her valet smiled an old man's smile, and said, "I will plead your case and accompany you myself. Surely a man like Sir Gabriel cares about his wife's happiness."

Sir Gabriel had a reputation for being disgustingly chivalrous. He was never seen at the pleasure houses, none of the whores even knew him, and he was always the first to leave the tavern.

Leonore hoped he kept his chastity for the rest of his life.