Royal Love

Chapter 12

   We turned around and saw my sisters' heads peeking out from behind the trees. They all looked awed. Alice ran up to us. "That was beautiful," she said.

   I turned to Elizabeth. "I said to watch them not help them spy."

   She looked amused. "We all wanted to see what the two of you were up to."

   I blushed and silently hoped they hadn't seen much before the dance, but something told me they had seen it all.

   Henry came to stand beside me and took my hand. Alice looked up at us. "Can you dance some more?"

   I looked up at Henry. He smiled. "It isn't that late yet. We still have time," he said.

  My sisters all squealed with excitement and found places to sit that would still give us room to dance. We danced and danced until darkness started to fall. Henry walked us to the edge of the trees. I had stopped and picked up our picnic. He gave me a kiss. Then my sisters and I headed to our carriage. The ride back to the castle was painful I felt like I had been ripped away from him.

   When we arrived back at the castle it was time for supper. Father was waiting for us and he did not look happy. We all took our seats. Father didn't waste anytime. "I heard the Prince of France visited you yesterday."

   "Yes. He did," I said.

   "I told you to stay away from him. You are engaged!"

   I stood up. "And I told you that I don't want to marry the Duke!"

   My father stood up also. "You opinion dose not matter!"

   "I'm the one that will have to marry him! I'm the one that will have to spend the rest of my life with him! My opinion should matter!"

   I saw him clench his fists. I was happy there was a table between us or I may have been slapped again. "You are going to marry him whether you like or not!"

   "Mother wouldn't make me marry a man I didn't love!"

   "Your mother is not here! She won't ever be here again! I make the decisions, I'm the King, and I am your father! You are to listen to me! Your mother may have wanted it differently but it doesn't matter!" The words hurt but I pushed on.

   "I thought you loved her!"

   "I did! Then she left me all alone! She isn't here for me and she isn't here for you!" the words echoed around us.

   I looked at my sisters. The all looked shocked at his words. Alice was crying. My father followed my gaze. "Alice I'm sorry." He took a step toward her but she flinched back and then ran over to me. My father watched as I tried to sooth her. He looked shocked when I managed to get her to stop crying. He knew how the only person that could get her to stop crying had always been my mother.

   I saw pain on his face before he turned and left the room. I walked Alice back to the table, and the rest of us tried to have a normal supper, but after that outburst it seemed near impossible. I walked them to the nursery, then headed to my chambers.

   My ladies wanted hear all about my day.

   "Did he kiss you?" April asked.

   "He did."

   "What did the two of you do? You were gone for some time," Ann wondered.

   "We had a picnic, then ran trough the woods, and eventually we danced."

   "How romantic."

   I sighed. "Until I got back. My father heard about how he had visited me yesterday. We argued. Alice ended up being so frightened see cried."

   Ann gasped. "Poor thing. Is she alright?"

   "She is fine."

   "That's good," April said.

   Susan sound a little confused. "Why would your father be so mad. I understand you were not chaperoned, but still he would take it out on your lover not you."

   "He was mad at me because I'm engaged to the Duke of Spain." They all gasped.

   "And you are still seeing the other guy," Ann whispered.

   I stood up fast and knocked the stool I had been sitting on, over. "Yes I'm still seeing the other guy. I love the other guy! Well I think I love him. I barely know the Duke."

   "And your father is still going to make you marry him?"

   "Yes."

   "Does the other guy...does he love you?" Ann asked the question softly.

   "I....I am not sure. I think he does."

   Ann thought for a minute. "Why does he not ask you to marry him."

  "We thought about it. My father has made arrangements with the Duke. He is not only marrying me off he is getting something in return."

  I dismissed my ladies shortly after that. I crawled into my bed, with one thought on my mind.Tomorrow I will meet the man my father is forcing me to marry.