Royal Love

Chapter 17

   We were almost to the ballroom when Elizabeth stopped and turned to look at me. "Maybe you should go change."

   I looked down and realized I was still wearing the wedding dress. "Yes. I guess I will meet with you all in a bit." I left them and headed to my chambers. My ladies were no where in sight and I didn't want to bother them. I tried to undo the buttons that ran down the back of the dress. I tried thrashing around trying to reach the last few buttons. Only my thrashing brought me closer to the mirror, and when I caught a glimpse of myself I came to a stand still.

  Some of my hair had fallen out. My dress was bloody, and ripped from stumbling back after Emanuel had cut me. The cut itself was horrifying. It ran from above my cheek bone almost to the corner of of my lips. The bleeding had stopped but the wound was red and ran deep. If he had cut me any deeper he would have broke through the inside of my cheek.

   I turned away from the mirror and grabed a couple of sheets off of my bed. I threw one over the mirror I had just been looking at and one over the mirror on my dresser. I sat down on the stool that was placed by my dresser, and I picked up my brush. As I brushed my hair I let my eyes wander around my chambers. They came to a stop when they spotted a handheld mirror. I got up and crossed my room to where it sat on my writing desk. I stared at myself.

   I closed my eyes and took a breath. A voice startled me and I jumped.

   "You still look beautiful." Henry stood behind me, looking at me through the mirror.

   I turned the mirror over and slammed it on the desk. "Don't look at me," was all I said, my voice cold.

   "Sarah, this wasn't your fault," his voice was gentle. He placed his hands on my shoulders and was about to turn me around to face him, but as soon as those words left his mouth I was already turning around.

   "No it isn't, but it still happened to me! You can't honestly tell me that this," I pointed to the cut, "makes me look beautiful."

  He placed his hand on my injured cheek trying not to hurt me. He ran his thumb across my lips."I think it does."

   "What about other people. I'm a Princess! People see me all the time. Children look at me. Now they will all see a scar that was placed on a wounded girl."

   He pulled me to him. "No. They are going to see a proud Princess who's father was forcing her to marry  the wrong man."

   I let out a sob. "It seems like forever ago you know."

   "I know."

   "We have know each other only for a few days," I voiced my thoughts from earlier,"It feels like its been years. Everything does, the ball, the park, last night, this morning and today." My voice caught at the last one.

   "I know," was all he said. A few moments passed and I asked him to help me out of the wedding dress. He responded with one of his grins. "Of course my lady." He undid the last of the buttons and before I could walk away he slid his hands underneath the fabric. I tilted my head back and looked up at him. He leaned down and gave me a kiss. Eventually the kiss deepened.

   When he took the dress off me I had to reach for his hands, which were on my hips, and bring him to a stop. "We can't. My sisters are waiting for us, we have already took to long."

   He slid his hands down my legs and back up again. "I don't see why it would be so wrong if we took a bit longer then."

   I gave his chest a pat then pushed him away and went over to put on a new dress. Of course when I asked Henry to help tighten my corset he took pleasure in it. Finally when I was dressed we were able to head to the ballroom.

   My sisters were all seated watching someone who was dancing in the middle of the room. When I got closer I realized it was my father and some woman. When Henry and I approached them they were just finishing. When the lady, whoever she was, caught sight of me she hurried over and pulled me into a hug. "I'm so sorry dearie. That man was horrible." She pulled back and held me at arms length. "Your poor face. That should have never happened." She stared at me for a moment longer before saying "You look a lot like your mother."

   "You knew my mother?"

   She looked sad. "Yes. I did. I still miss her." She seemed to have flipped a switch and looked happy again. "I am Lady Weller." She put her hand out I shook it.

   "I'm Princess Sarah. Nice to meet you." I was a little confused at who she was and why she was here. Most of the guests from the wedding had already left.

   My father held the answer to my question like always. "Lady Weller is going to be staying with us for a while. She is an old family friend. I thought we needed some friendliness walking the castle."

   "Oh," was all I said.

   Alice ran up and stood before me and Henry. "Sarah can you and Henry dance for us?"

   "Alice, you must use titles when addressing a guest, you are being very impolite," my father scolded, bringing tears to Alice's eyes. Before they could fall, Henry spoke.

   "That is all right Sir," he said to my father and then he knelt down in front of Alice. "What would you like us to dance?"

   Alice perked up. "I still haven't mastered the waltz."

   "The waltz it is then." He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the middle of the room.

   Once the music began we were spinning around the floor. Henry spun me around and around watching me with love and passion on his face. When the dance finished we were both breathing heavy. Everyone was applauding, and my sisters who had been sitting had jumped to their feet. I heard and saw none of this, I only saw Henry. I was still in his arms. He leaned down and I welcomed his kiss. When the kiss ended he didn't pull away his lips stayed just above mine. So when he spoke I felt his breath. "I love you."

   Those three words meant everything to me. Only this morning he had said he didn't love me. I threw my arms around him and gave him another kiss. He lifted me off my feet and spun me. When he set me down we were still kissing. Well until my father pulled me out of Henry's arms so ferecly that I fell. Once I was out of Henry's arms my father punched him.