When a maid of honor to the Queen is rescued by a handsome and contentious pirate, she has to spend three days aboard his ship before returning to court. But is three days time long enough to truly get to know someone? And is English court as diffic...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Sir Walter Raleigh arrived at court with a plethora of exotic foods from the New World for the Queen. He kneeled before Elizabeth and did not raise his head until she spoke, her voice strained to keep her excitement at bay. Celia watched carefully as he stood to his feet and explained the various fruits and vegetables he brought as an offering. Elizabeth's eyes did not stray once as he spoke animatedly before her, her lips occasionally forming a wide smile that she would quickly attempt to hide.
Celia noted the Queen's interest in the Captain and then searched the crowd for Harry, finding him with Luke amongst a few other unfamiliar courtiers. His eyes trained Walter, flickering back and forth between him and the Queen until they scathed Celia's strong gaze. He retracted his eyes from Walter and redirected them to Celia, sending a smirk her way. Her lips curled slightly before she broke their gaze and returned her focus to Walter.
After he was finished introducing his gifts to the Queen, the sound of a lute began to float through the air and Elizabeth stood from her seat on the throne. "Celia, follow me," she said into her ear.
The rest of her ladies stayed behind as Elizabeth led Celia across the room where Harry reunited with his father figure, Walter, embracing in a manly hug. The two women joined them in conversation after the men bowed to their Queen.
"Your Grace," Harry said. "Thank you again for your hospitality."
"Any friend of Sir Walter is a friend of mine. Especially one who saved my dear Celia," she smiled in return. "And I believe introductions are in order. Sir Walter, this is my most trusted friend, Mistress Celia Wright."
Celia curtseyed as Walter bowed slightly. "I've heard much about you," Walter said.
"Only good things, I hope," Celia said.
"Of course," he replied. "Harry described you as no less than a pearl of the sea." A smirk played at his lips as a rosy color blossomed on Harry's cheeks.
Celia bit her lower lip to hide a smile. "You flatter me, Sir Harry."
Harry opened his mouth to reply, but Walter interjected. "With good reason," Walter said. "You are almost as fair as the Queen."
"Oh, please," Elizabeth said. "Sir Walter has always been quite the charmer."
"Charm can get you farther in life than smarts, if you know how to use it," Walter said.
"Perhaps you can give me some lessons then, as I seem to be struggling with some matters," Elizabeth said, her tone morphing from playful to serious. "Excuse us, please." She linked her arm with Walter's as they walked away, her voice muffled as she discussed the 'matters' she had mentioned before.
Harry then extended his arm for Celia to take and whisked her away from the crowd, into a more secluded area of the throne room.
