Unbroken

Chapter 6

(Laura's Point of View)

"Roslyn?" She called out on the balcony as she pushed open the door. Not seeing her daughter anywhere caused Laura to panic slightly. She took a deep breath and told herself that her daughter was probably sitting on one of the benches. She probably got distracted by something and had lost all track of time. That girl was always getting distracted.

Laura thought of that lovely golden dress and imagined the look on the duke's face when he saw Roslyn in it. She was absolutely stunning. Laura walked out on the balcony a few more paces and called out her daughter's name again. When she didn't get any reply she looked around her. The balcony was completely empty.

Laura hurried back in through the door and grabbed the guard that was closest to her. "Find Princess Roslyn, now." She commanded giving the guard a look that would ensure he knew she was being serious. "She went outside a few minutes ago."

"Yes, your highness." He said and gave a low bow. Then he scurried out the door. Laura paced back and forth at the top of the stairs waiting for his return. Roslyn had probably gone down into the gardens and would most likely be sitting on her bench. Laura spotted another guard at the top of the stairs and pointed a long finger at him. He immediately walked over to her and bowed his head.

"Your majesty." He said and waited for her command.

"I want you to go down in the gardens and find Princess Roslyn." She demanded and he gave a bow and followed the previous guard out the door. She waited a few moments and gave a huge sigh. Must she do everything for herself? She frowned as the balcony door closed behind her. What was the point of being a queen if she couldn't have other people competently do things for her? Was it too much to ask?

Laura grumbled as she went down the stairs. She paused at the last step and looked down at the grass. The idea of a grass stain on her gown was like a bad dream. Almost as bad as her daughter avoiding the Duke. She glanced out around the garden. "Roslyn!" She yelled. She refused to go out on the grass. With a loud huff she turned around and went back up the stairs. She ran her hand across the polished marble stair rail. She couldn't have gotten far. Perhaps she had gone inside already and was dancing the night away with the Duke.

Roslyn had been excited. Laura could tell. She was so excited for this engagement party and she was ready to start her new life as the wife of a Duke. While it wasn't the life as the wife of the king it would have to do. Laura looked through the windows trying to spot her daughter. She couldn't see her anywhere there were too many people. She pushed open the balcony doors and looked around for the guards that she had sent out to look for her daughter. Not that she would recognize them anyway. All of those guards they all looked alike. Most peasants looked alike now that she came to think of it. Their clothing was dull and colorless. They all wore their hair the same way. All of them were dirty and getting along with their boring little lives. Laura shivered in disgust. Peasants were such a mood kill. Laura shook her head and put a smile on her face like everything was alright.

Roslyn would be inside somewhere. While she was slightly annoyed at her daughter's carelessness she could be an understanding mother. She knew what it was like to be excited for the large parties. She knew what it was like to be excited to have all eyes on you. Just like on her own wedding day. She had been the talk of the kingdom. So young and beautiful. She had been loved and adored as a queen. Her husband had been everything to her. Their children had been the light of their lives. Then there was that day. She stepped back out on the balcony and let the cool air rush over her as she tried to push the memory out of her mind but it had already snuck in.

Men were vile creatures. All of them wanted more. They needed more. Having one woman who loved them wasn't enough. Men needed as many as possible. She thought of the first mistress. There had been the promise that the relationship had ended. Then she thought of the second and the third. Her husband had liked his women.

"Your majesty!" A voice crooned and Laura looked up into the face of one of her dear friends. She smiled and hoped that it had been convincing.

"How are you?" Laura asked Isabelle.

"I just met your daughter's Duke." She said glancing down the stairs to the party below. "He seems..."

"A bore?" Laura interrupted and Isabelle looked at her in shock. "It's alright you can say it." she said. "He is an old, unattractive, sweaty man."

"Then why?" Isabelle stammered.

"Why would I pick him for my daughter?" Laura finished Isabelle's sentence for her.

"If you don't mind me asking."

Laura wrapped her arm around her friend's waist and Isabelle did the same to her. They were old friends and Isabelle knew almost everything about Laura.

Almost.

"I picked the oldest, richest, homeliest old man that I could find." She said looking over the railing to the party below. "I picked him because even though he is rich there aren't any women who would want him."

Isabelle looked at her in understanding.

"You see, I love my daughter and I won't have her getting hurt in the same way that I did."

Both of the guards ran up the stairs to Laura. They glanced at each other as though they weren't sure what to say. Laura glared at them as she waited. "The gate is open." One of them said with a bow. "Princess Roslyn isn't anywhere to be found. We think she's been abducted."