Royal Love

Chapter 16

   "Princess you must get ready," Ann's voice was gentle.  

   I was on my bed, where I had been all day. I didn't want to see anyone, not even my sisters who had tried to see me earlier.

   I sat up and brushed the tears away. "I'm coming." I got up and took a bath then I slipped into my wedding gown. It was simple. Floor length.

   I let Ann braid my hair then pin it up. Once I was dressed, I left my chambers and slowly walked toward the gardens. I was going to marry the Duke. I had no other choice. Henry had left me, and the king wanted nothing to do with me. That was what he was to me. The King. Not my father.

   The King waited for me and when the music started playing he and I walked through the doors and in to the beautiful garden, only today it was anything but. I was stiff and showed no emotion, except when I saw Emanuel. I wished it was Henry and a tear slipped down my face.

   When we reached Emanuel and the Priest, I slipped my arm out of the Kings and when Emanuel took my hands in his I tried not to flinch. He leaned toward me and visions of last night ran through my mind. "I didn't get what I wanted last night," he whispered.

   I looked at the guests. My sisters all sat in the front row, most of them had tears in their eyes. Others sat rigid and stiff. Behind them were other people that were royal, and noble, beyond them stood servants and maids, my ladies among them.

   I turned back to Emanuel when the Priest began to speak. I was scared. Emanuel had a grin, and he looked like he had captured his prey. He said his vows, and I got ready to say mine. Only before I could there was a disruption among the guests.

   Someone had rode through the garden on horse back. I couldn't see who it was. As he slide off his horse he kept his face hidden. People had stood up and were in the aisle trying to see who this man was. I myself dropped Emanuel's hands and took a couple of steps forward.

   The man pushed through the crowd, he had a hat on that he kept low so his face was covered or had shadows that made it impossible to see who he was. He stopped a few feet away from me, and spoke. "You can't marry this Princess." The man's voice was hard to make out, almost like he was trying to disguise it.

   Emanuel eyed the stranger. "Who are you?"

   The stranger lifted his head and took his hat off. I gasped. "Henry!" I almost ran to him. Almost. I remembered what he said this morning, and that held me back. well that and Emanuel arm, which he had around my neck pulling me to him.

   "Well what a lovely surprise." Emanuel said. When Henry started to move toward us Emanuel took out a dagger and pressed it to my neck. Everyone gasped, but no one moved. I think I saw Alice try to but Elizabeth stopped her.

   Henry took slow step toward us. "Don't hurt her."

   Emanuel gave a cruel laugh. "You can't do anything. You move I kill her."

   I gasped for air. The knife was pressed against my neck so that if I moved it would cut me. I couldn't breath, not only from fright, but also from the fact that my corset was to tight. "Henry go," I paused to try to take a breath. "You made it clear. You don't love me. Now go."

   Emanuel look amused. "See that? I can't hurt her more than you already have."

   "Why are you doing this?" I gasped.

   Emanuel's voice was low but it seemed to echo around us. "I lost my wife a few years ago. She was murdered. I vowed that I would ruin love if it interfered with my life again. When your father agreed to that deal, he was practically handing you over to imprisonment. All for land and men. I don't love you not like I loved me wife. "He gave a cruel sounding laugh. "I don't love you at all. I still don't have an heir though, plus you my dear are a very pretty."