IN HIS PRESENCE

PART ONE

Laura stood admiring some lily flowers in her hand, drawing it so close to her nose she sniffs the odor it produced, dropping it carefully she picks up rose flowers doing same thing to them. "Don't you think they are beautiful Cindy?", "Beautiful my Lady is an understatement it is lovely" ,Cindy replied blushingly. The thoughts of Lady Laura talking to her made her so happy, being a mere slave no much interaction was permitted between them, it was also the way her Lady carried herself so peacefully and calm that made her want to be around her the more. Lady Laura plucking an hibiscus gave Cindy to smell, "lovely I say my Lady" with much hesitation Lady Laura pulled Cindy to herself, the hibiscus dropped from her hand. "I will make you my court Lady in the waiting when am married to a king" Laura said, an amused Cindy turned to look at her, " But my Lady, Why me?. "You are beautiful Cindy, you will grow more prettier than I am". Cindy was gladdened in her hearts, the ball gowns and the dance in the court room, always fascinated and captured her young mind. "So I will be in a beautiful ball gown?", Lady Laura got up holding her by the hands, she signalled to the carriage man set. The journey home was tinted with smiles on Cindy's face, though fourteen she looked older than her age, Lady Laura kept stealing a glance at her with smiles. The road in the woods in which they rode in was so cold unlike how it was when they first came, the breeze that was once cool and chilling to the skin, now was a curse to anyone without thick clothes. Cindy shivered, bracing herself to be elegant even with the cold, Lady Laura smiling within her and not wanting to cast how she knew what was wrong brought her close to herself. "You shouldn't pretend next time, it won't save your elegance, you only die trying to be fake" Lady Laura said pulling out her own hand gloves, she wore it into Cindy's own hand. "This whole kindness my Lady. But why me?". Lady Laura smiled once more, "you won't understand yet, not now my dear you won't". Cindy kept quite and asked no more, with the colds still she points all those things that made her curious, her Lady was patient as ever. On their arrivals home, they were greeted by the servants who stood with flowers, throwing it haphazardly on the floor which they walked upon. Holding her face to hers, Lady Laura perked Cindy by her cheeks, "Now you must go home my darling", with a sad facial expression "Home it is then, my Lady". Cindy faded into the distance, while her Lady stood admiringly, and patiently watching. A servant came rushing towards her, bowing his head down "Your Highness, your father calls for you", "Tell him my presence will be seen immediately", leaving the figure of Cindy it was all about the darks remaining for Cindy was all gone like the winds since. Laura picking up her baskets, looked around for any other humans, just the guards and maids walking around remained she vacated the premises for her father's. Her father who was at the dinning, was eating with a young man, she was stunned by his presence. "Oooooooo gorgeous he his, handsome with the perfect fits", she said poetically in her thoughts. Clearing his throat "Laura my love, meet Prince Edward", taking her from where she stood he led her to his hands. Shy Laura couldn't say a world, she stared at him with grace and beauty, the prince captured by her eyes offered smiles and peeks to her fore palm. The dinner went smoothly, with the best conductor in the kingdom demonstrating to the team of violins, pianos, cello holders playing from a score sheet. Laura got the idea during dinner, though it saddened her heart, she was so happy at the thought of it. The kingdom of Gelton wanted an alliance with Her Father, marrying her to their son was the best he could offer, she didn't like the fact of being turned into a sacrificial lamb but he his handsome that's all she thought of. She was to leave tomorrow for her husband's empire, the whole dinner was for the officiating of this, confusion and hopes was all that ran through her mind. It's not that she could even say no to this, no escape, but to her the escape was a sweet one. She was stopped in between her thoughts by a warm touch at her back, turning round she saw it was Prince Edward, they both looked at each other not figuring out the words to say, "I am glad you accepted to be my wife, you are beautiful and, coughing" no words could come out any more from his lips. With a deep eye sight they held each other, kissing into the nights till Lady Laura was able to stop the situation before it got into another thing. That night she was busy packing and arranging her things with the maids, after all the arrangements she was set for the big day tomorrow, her mind kept taunting her and then she remember Cindy. She dashed out of the room running to where the carriages were, hoping in she woke the carriage man to move telling him to where he should go, the journey went through streets all not to fail her promise made. Getting to the home of Cindy it stood there among the houses which were never counted as houses, she knocked at the door, she was being greeted by a weary looking woman at the door who she presumed to be Cindy's mother. Opening the door for her to enter, Cindy's mother wept, and her lady could not understand this till she saw Cindy lying sick on a poor furniture bed. With a pale turn and face Cindy coughed trying to mention her name, "Calm down Cindy, don't say a word, I want to come pick you it is time, with a smile and more energy on her Cindy got out from the bed. "Mummy you see am no more sick anymore, I can go with her" she replied her mother when she was being turned down, stuff her clothes in her bag she was all over the place scattering everywhere. As they left Laura handed her mother a bag of money, with blessings and also a heavy heart Cindy's mother wished them luck, standing at the door she watched the carriage go away with her daughter also rubbing the bag of money. "What does it feel like to be in his presence and with such a short notice as this", Cindy asked her Lady. Replying with a deep sigh "In his presence it was love at first sight, but in yours it will always be love", the whole place went silence, Cindy asked her no more questions, they both squeezed hands through out the journey.