The Princess the World Forgot

Chapter 2

"They played right into our hands!" the King said gleefully. "We have the girl! They cannot attack us now! We have won, we have won!"

"Won what, father?" Edmund asked.

"The Lancaster rebels surely cannot attack us now! Not with their precious Princess Eleanor here in the palace! They wouldn't dare! And, when the girl is Princess of Wales, they wouldn't dare attack! Don't worry, my son, you will be free to take another bride. Once you start our York dynasty, we can... dispose of her."

Edmund was enraged. "Surely you don't mean that you intend on killing her!"

Sir Thomas grinned maliciously. "Surely you didn't think we'd actually allow a Lancaster to become Queen of England, did you?"

"That's enough out of you, Sir Thomas. I don't appreciate your apparent bloodlust. They are in the palace, are they not? But, yes, Edmund. We cannot risk a Lancaster on the throne. Imagine if she were to try to kill you, perhaps in your sleep?"King John replied.

"I highly doubt that Ella would ever do anything like that!" Edmund protested.

"Ella? Ah, it appears that the young prince is bewitched by the girl," Sir Thomas said. "Perhaps a spell? After all, the Rose of the Lancasters is red."

Edmund flushed a furious red color. "There has been no bewitching, Sir Thomas, and I suggest that you hold your tongue before you speak ill of your Princess!"

"I'll have no more on the subject!" the king bellowed. "Edmund, you will marry Lady Eleanor for a while. Sir Thomas, you will learn to hold your tongue in the presence of your betters."

Edmund stormed out of the great room. "Marry a stranger? I will, father. Kill her? Never," he muttered angrily.

"Your Highness? Whatever was the shouting about?" It was a serving girl, a few years younger than the prince.

"Nothing to concern yourself about, miss," Edmund said. Had she heard the conversation?

The girl bowed her head. "Yes, Your Highness."

Edmund put on a princely face and regained his calm composure. "You'll refrain from speaking of this event, yes?"

The serving girl made a slight squeaking noise that sounded like a "yes" to Edmund before running off. Edmund made his way to his chambers to mull things over.

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"Eleanor, dear, you simply must try the quail!" The lady in waiting assigned to Ella was absolutely obnoxious, but, as all of Ella's past ladies in waiting had been sent away, the king had given her this one.

"Madam, I can't. I cannot eat another bite," Ella lied. A lie, but she decided she wouldn't give the king a chance to call her greedy.

One of the King's advisors approached them. Ella recognized him as Edward of Wellington. He'd been her father's friend, but he'd turned his coat and become a York to save his own skin. Ella had since lost all respect for him.

The man cleared his throat. "Ahem. Lady Eleanor, the King wishes to see you."

Had she been more brash, she would have lashed out at him for betraying her father, but, instead, she said, simply, "Yes, milord." She wasn't about to make a fool of herself over a foul traitor.

Ella allowed herself to be led to the King's table, where, as a show of force and superiority, King John had not allowed her or her family to sit.

"Ah. The Lady Eleanor has graced us with her presence," King John said.

Ella, uncharacteristically shy, said nothing.