Scandalous Prince

1

It's another bitter winter morning that I wake up with the covers half off my body. I try to raise my back off the thin mattress but my bones are jittering from the chill. It's late October and the weather has been constant snow and icy winds. I can hear shouting downstairs, no less it's about taxes and how much this frosty weather is affecting our crops. We aren't majorly wealthy, but we aren't broke. Now and again we struggle. Shutting the sound out I curl up, holding my knees to my chest and let my mind wander whilst staring out the window into the fields of snow suffocating our crops.

Too soon there is a loud pounding against the door. I pull a blanket up to my chin as the door opens, Benny stood in the door way.
"Are you awake yet? You need to collect the eggs for breakfast."

"Okay, I'll hurry." I smile. As he leaves I quickly rush from the sheets stripping before yanking a thick white and deep blue dress on as quickly as possibly as my hands shake. I pull up a pair of thick stockings and flat black shoes knowing I'll be sent to the market to collect some meat for dinner later.

I stumble down the rickety wooden stairs pulling my dark brown hair into a bun on top of my head to keep it out of my face, but strands fall down as I pick up the pace. I don't speak to anyone as I move through the kitchen and out the back door to collect the eggs.
--
After breakfast, I help mother hang out the washing despite the bitter wind. Franky and pops are in the fields scavenging what crops they can find to sell. Mum clears her throat catching my attention.
"Essie dear.." She begins " You're a pretty girl."
"Mother-" My cheeks flush.
"Essie please listen." Her brown eyes look saddened, I begin to feel uncomfortable. I nod my head and continue to hang my fathers drawers and my cousins shirts. "I wish to tell you before your father does, and know I don't want this to happen" She smiles and her hand caresses my cheek but the knot of nerves in my stomach is only growing.

"Essie!" Cousin Benjamin shouts from the back porch. Benny is 20 only 2 years older than myself. Him and his twin Franky have lived with us since their mother died one winter of a stroke and their father was not found during the last civil battle. My father has treated them like sons and they are protective over me as if they were my brothers by blood.

I turn away from my mother towards him. "Yes?" I shout. I give mother a swift kiss on the cheek and advance towards the porch. I desperately want to know what she has to say but I probably have to run an errand. Benny is tall and well built thanks to the farm equipment, him and Franky both have shaggy blonde curls and stubbly faces but both have kind hearts and are popular among the girls.

"Your father asks that you be a sweetheart and run to the market for some wine and meat for dinner" I nod and grab some money off of the kitchen table.

--
The streets are crowded of men and women shouting prices for various items, thrusting them into passer by's faces. Carts and cars making groups scatter. The chatter is almost deafening, so I keep my head down slipping through gaps in the crowd heading towards the butchers shop first.

I wasn't watching closely where I was going on the way to get the wine afterwards, this resulted in my body colliding with the chilled stone ground the hem of my dress adorning a new rip. I drop the meat I'd just bought the packaging tearing also.

"Hey! What the fuck" My head snaps up to see I've managed to also knock down a stranger. But I'm shocked by his profound language. Father only said words like that when he'd had too much to drink. I frowned as I examined him, he was about my age with a mess of brown curls flattened by his hand running through them and hood hiding them he looked me up and down with striking green eyes. He was smirking at me. He found this amusing. He re-adjusted his hood without breaking eye-contact. Strands of hair fell onto my face, I scowl and blow them away.

"Watch where you're going" I bit back and stood up dusting off my clothes and walking away. I felt drawn to him. I shook it off and went on my way to collect the wine. Some people were so rude.

I walk into the small space, shelves of pictures of grapes and empty bottles of vintage wine line the walls, it's slightly musty but I don't mind it's slightly warmer in here than the frost of outside. Sal comes rushing out from the back of his small shop at the shrill of the bronze bell on the door. "My dear! What can I do for you? Your father want the usual?" Sal is the only man in town that sells wine meaning he makes quite a profit, he's a kind man that I've known since I was small; a close friend of my fathers, they drank together and played card games.

"What else?" I test, he gives me a sly wink and heads back to retrieve a bottle. Whilst I'm waiting the bell sounds again and the same hooded boy walks in. I turn away and stare at the wall reading the labels of old bottles in an attempt to ignore him.

"Hello again" the sound of his shoes moves closer and I look up to see he's stood right beside me. Thankfully Sal returns with a bottle in his hand.

"Here we are my dear" He hands me the bottle and I give him the money all whilst ignoring the greeting. Sal suspiciously looks at the man beside me giving a concerning look. "Can I help you Sir?" He adapts to a business tone and a charming stance. I laugh to myself and wave goodbye to Sal whilst heading out of the door. But before I leave I give the rude man a glare once again, shivering slightly at the chill. I head home as quickly as I can, my thoughts centred around sitting by the fire and helping my mother sew up the boys warn clothes and attend to my torn dress.