Royal Love

Chapter 11

   When I told my ladies, the next morning, that I would be meeting with the person who wrote me the love letter, they squealed with joy. They helped me choose a dress to wear, and what I should do with my hair.

   The dress was a lavender color with short sleeves. It just barely brushed the floor. My hair I left down. Once I was dressed they stood back to look at me. "I like it," the oldest, whose name I learned was Ann, told me.

   The youngest, Susan, agreed, while April looked in thought. "I think you need a necklace," she said.

   "I can wear one of my mothers." I walked over to where I kept my jewelry. I found my favorite necklace and walked over to them. Ann helped me clasp it. Before I went to find my sisters I put some food in a basket just for my sisters. Then I made another basket that was more romantic for Henry and myself.

   I carried the baskets as I searched for my sisters. I found them dancing in the ballroom. Elizabeth was dancing while my sisters sat and watched I walked behind them and waited until Elizabeth was finished before speaking. "Are you ready to go?"

   They all turned around to look at me. "Before we go can you dance for us Sarah?" Alice asked.

   I looked at the clock. It was almost midday. Henry said he would wait for me until darkness settled. I looked back at Alice. "What dance would you like me to dance?"

   Alice smiled and thought for a moment. "A waltz."

   "I need a partner."

   Elizabeth came up with an idea. "Just dance like you would if you would have a partner."

  "Like I have a partner." I told the musicians what to play. Just as the music began to play I swept in to a curtsied as I  would if I had a partner. This earned me a few giggles from my sisters. I then became swept in with the music and the dance, as if I became it. My sisters fell silent. When the music ended they clapped. I gave another curtsy.

   When I stood up I walked over and picked the basket up. My sisters followed me out of the room. There was a carriage waiting  for us. We all got in. It was a tight fit, but we managed. The ride the park wasn't a long one, but I couldn't wait to see Henry, and that made it seem like the ride took forever. I had to remind myself that I couldn't run into his arms, out in public.

   When we arrived, I saw him standing next to a shaded area with lots of trees. The trees grew thicker the further back you traveled it appeared. I pulled Elizabeth aside and told her my plan. "Can you watch your sisters for a little while? I need to talk to Henry but I can't with so many people around."

   "Yes. Of course I can watch them," she told me.

   "Thank you," I handed her the one basket.

   I then walked toward the trees and disappeared into them. I was pretty sure Henry saw me and would follow. Once I was in far enough that no one would see me I waited. I was right he had followed me. When I saw him I ran over to him, and gave him a kiss.

   "We should go farther in. Someone might come wandering or they might hear us," he said when we pulled back.

   He took my hand and pulled me in to the woods. we stopped when we found a spot where the trees were spaced enough that we could lay the blanket down that I had brought. I sat down and pulled out the food. He sat beside me.

   I leaned against him as I ate. I could hear a brook, and birds singing in the distance. I sighed. "This is nice. We don't have to worry about being caught, or my engagement. It is just the two of us enjoying a picnic."

   He kissed the top of my head. "Yes. I like it here." He pulled me in to his lap.

  I looked up at him. "Father told me the Duke is arriving tomorrow. He told me I was right and that I should get to know him. Only I know that whether I like him or not my father is still going to make me marry him."

   He didn't look happy at this news. "We will figure something out."

   "Are you sure?"

   "Yes. I won't let you marry any other man. If we have to we can run away. I can bring back to France."

   "Oh Henry. I can't. I have my sisters to look after."

   "They can come with us."

   I tried to picture Henry trying to sneak us all out of Scotland, and laughed. "I do not think it will work very well."

   He sighed. "You are probably right. We are just going to have to come up with another plan."

  He kissed me and the kiss eventually deepened. I was still in his lap, but he soon moved me so that I was on my back and he was leaning over me. We kept kissing but that was all. He knew I wanted nothing more at the moment and he respected that.

   Only at the moment I questioned whether that was all I really wanted. Before I changed my mind, I wiggled out from under him and ran behind one of the trees. I looked back at him. "Catch me," I whispered. He smiled and stood up. Before he had even took a step I raced off between the trees. When I came to the brook I ducked behind a big willow tree.

   I tried to catch my breath. Henry emerged from the trees. I turned to run but he caught ahold of my shoulder and placed his hands on either side of me just as he had in the library. I giggled. "You caught me. Now what are you going to do?"

   He grinned. "Don't tempt me. I think I may have used up most of my restraint."

   I gave him a kiss and moved closer so that almost no space us between us. He moved his hands to my hips. "Does this help with restraint," I joked.

   "You know it doesn't." He pulled back suddenly and I felt lonely. "We need to find something else to do," he said, his voice husky.

   I thought for a moment. "How about we dance.'

   He looked surprised at my choice of activity. "We don't have any music."

   "Of course we do. Listen to the brook and the birds they are the music," I told him. I swept into a deep curtsy, and offered him my hand.

   He took it and kissed it lightly. He placed his other hand on my back, and before we began dancing, I moved it a little lower. We then fell into step, moving around in the little space that we had. When we finished I swept into another deep curtsy. Then we heard claps.