Banished. It was as though they wanted her out of sight and out of mind. She was like a criminal that no one wanted to see. A whole week they had kept her cooped up. She had ventured out of her room on three separate occasions, only to be sent back almost instantly. Seven days she had stared listlessly at the gray walls of her bedroom.
She felt empty and alone. There was no one to talk to. Apparently, Maria had been kept downstairs just as she had been kept up. There had been almost no contact between the two of them, and Rose was keenly feeling the lack of companionship. Even a 'chat' with the gruff old maid would have been welcomed.
It wasn't that her room was uncomfortable. It was fit with everything necessary, but there was nothing homey about it. It was cold and lifeless, just like she felt. Everything was driving her to insanity's door.
Hope had been abandoned on the long afternoon of the second day. Now, all she could do was wait. And wait. And wait. She tried to keep herself busy with embroidery, but there was only so much needle work one could do before one's eyes felt like someone had thrown sand into them. If only there was a library of some sort where she could find books to read, but then, she didn't know what the great castle held.
Was it their intention to treat her so terribly, or was it some misunderstanding? Did they want her to feel out of place and alone? She couldn't believe it was so. She told herself that at any moment someone would come and, with profuse apologies, tell her there had been a mistake, and all of this would be at an end, but no one came.
Her meals were left outside her room for her to find at her convenience. No matter how messy she left her room, it was always in perfect order by morning, and there was always a fire. The only time she saw servants other than a quick moment with Maria was when they drew her a bath. They had ignored her completely, giving no answers to her questions and, in fact, no indication that they'd heard her to begin with.
On the night of the eighth day, she had no more tears to cry herself to sleep and no more sleep to sleep. Drawing a deep breath, she threw a robe around her shoulders, biting down on her lip in determination. If they were going to treat her thus, so be it, but she wasn't going to sit idly without at least trying to change things.
She paused at the door, considering, hesitating. It was not in her to be intentionally troublesome. She had no desire to go out of her way to disobey anyone, no matter who they were, and hadn't she been told to stay in her room? But no, she gritted her teeth. Enough had to be enough at some point. She had to get out if only for a few moments.
Opening the door, she stepped into the hall. Tentatively, she moved down the hall and turned first one corner, then another. Suddenly, a smile spread across her face. There was a certain joy found in freedom. She wanted to run and jump with the joy of escaping the confining walls of her chamber, but that would be the quickest way to find herself back in the stuffy room.
With no clear idea where she was going and why, she tiptoed down hallway after hallway, taking in her surroundings curiously. Her surroundings were dimly lit with golden candlelight—presumably so the nighttime servants could find their way around the castle without too much trouble. Even in the shadowy light, she could see the fine architectural design of the palace. It had clearly been built for a king.
Turning a corner, the hall widened abruptly into an open, spacious room of sorts. She paused, taking in the towering pillars and statues of perfectly carved stone. Here, there was no yellowed candlelight. It seemed almost untouched by human hands. The ceiling above her was an intricate, glass dome that seemed to reach up to touch the heavens themselves.
YOU ARE READING
The King's Bride - Book 1 of The Queen trilogy
FantasyYoung Lady Rose Esthelar, the beautiful mistress of Morecliff Manor since the death of her mother, the beloved daughter of a dear father, the dear sister of a pair of rough-and-tumble brothers, and now future bride of King Henry. Morecliff has never...