The Blue Queen

Chapter 11

I write Elizabeth that father is doing much better and that she can come home in the morning. Father dressed himself but needed an hour's rest after. I make breakfast and plate it for father but there is a knock at the door before I take it up to him, when I open the door I cannot help but wrap my arms around him.

"Well I missed you too." Harry says as he laughs softly; holding me close and stroking the back of my head as he does so. "Are you alright?" He asks.

"I am now. I missed you so much." I say, still not letting go of him.

"Did you miss me for any particular reason?" He asks quietly. I sigh and finally let go of him, I look into his wonderful forest green eyes and draw strength; I shrug slightly and look down.

"He was sick and delirious; he did not mean the words he said. I just needed my teammate to reinforce the knowledge of my worth." I say honestly. "He is asleep but I was about to bring breakfast up to him, he has gotten better, still weak but much better. My sister is coming back tomorrow." I tell him.

"I am glad he is doing better, but I am upset his treatment of you has not improved." He says, running his hand through my tamed hair.

"Me too, but I expected as much. It is my role anyway to look after him, should have known that nothing would have changed." I say with a slight shrug. "But I always have you, so I will be okay." I assure both him and myself.

"And you will always have me." He says. I smile and he takes an envelope out of his pocket. "The invitation to my birthday masquerade ball; only addressed to your father and sister." He says as he gives me the envelope.

"I will give it to my father with breakfast." I say with a smile.

"With things going back to normal, when will I see you again?" He asks. I bite my lip for a moment as I think.

"Perhaps you invite me to Hampton court to design your clothes for the ball; when you ask me to mend something on the morning of the ball it would make more sense would it not?" I ask. "Just wait a few days for my father to get more of his strength back." I say.

"You will see the lavender I have planted then." He smiles. I smile widely and nod.

"I look forward to it, but I have to serve my father breakfast now." I say sadly.

"I will leave you to it, if you give me a kiss goodbye." He says. I laugh and give him a quick sweet kiss, pulling away quickly and closing the door before we have the chance to say goodbye, for it always hurts to do so.

I serve my father breakfast and sit with him to assist if he needs it. I watch carefully as he reads the contents of the envelope. He smiles widely.

"You've perked up father." I say. He smiles and nods at me.

"Your sister and I have been invited to the Prince's birthday masquerade ball. This must mean when he had cake with us your sister impressed him, imagine your sister the queen of England!" He says happily. It causes a bitter taste in my mouth but I say nothing about it.

"What about George?" I ask him.

"They are not betrothed, it doesn't matter; it's royalty!" He says. "When does your sister get back?" He asks me, still gleaming.

"It should be tomorrow." I say, trying to also be happy.

"Good, you have two weeks to make her dress. I want it to be your top priority, so do not worry about making too many time consuming things to eat. The dress has to make the Prince focus on only her." Father says.

"I will do my best father." I say simply. He goes to rest again and I take the tray down to the kitchen. I look out and see the lavender bushes outside, it reminds me of the broach Harry got me; I remember him and our teammate-ship. Even if he did pay attention to Elizabeth I know in my heart that he is my teammate and I remember him saying how he did not like Elizabeth at all. I have nothing to worry about other than the backlash after Harry dismisses her.

I clean the house from top to bottom and finish all of my duties for today. Once awake in the morning I go downstairs to a knock at the door. It is lighter than Harry's knock so I open the door carefully. Elizabeth walks in very annoyed.

"Aunt Mary is the most annoying woman. Honestly she just keeps telling me how spoilt I am. Me, spoilt? I am in a family which can afford a team of staff but all I have is a disabled sister to do the chores. It is insanity!" She says as she storms in. I take her bag from the carriage and go to make breakfast.

"Elizabeth! Did Anna tell you the news?" Father says as he carefully walks down the stairs.

"No father, what news?" Elizabeth asks as she flops her body down on a chair. Father smiles happily and sits with her, holding her hands.

"The Prince has invited you and me to his birthday masquerade ball. It must mean when he had tea here you impressed him my girl! You can steal his heart yet my dear." He tells her. She gasps happily and I roll my eyes as I continue to listen to their conversation from the kitchen. I serve breakfast quickly then spend the morning designing dresses with Anna. She has many ideas I have to sketch for her and we have to decide on fabric and colours. My head is about to explode before there is a knock at the door. My father has been watching us designing so he stands and gets the door.

"From the Prince? Thank you very much." My father says. Elisabeth and I look over and father closes the door, opening the envelope. He reads it as he walks back to us and sits down.

"What does it say father?" Elizabeth asks.

"Due to the fine shirts made by your daughter Anna, I would like her assistance in making my attire for my upcoming birthday celebrations." My father quotes. "I will send a carriage for her every other day at one pm and aim to have her back before nightfall."

"Really?" Elizabeth asks, taking the letter from our father. "How will she make my dress?" She whines.

"No, it is a good thing. Anna can find out what the Prince likes, and then we do not have to try and figure it out. She will make it on the days she is not at the palace." Father says.

"Oh, indeed father." She says. "Anna you have to tell me everything you find out about the Prince so I can make him fall in love with me. Everything." Elisabeth says sternly. I smile slightly and nod.

"I will do my best." I say simply. Now they have to wait for my information about the prince I am relieved of my designing duties and am sent to the kitchen. As I make lunch and prepare dinner I find it hard to not get over excited to see Harry again. Luckily Elizabeth and my father are too busy scheming to notice. It is all they speak of as they eat and all they talk to me about as I help them to bed.

"Make sure to mention me to the Prince; not too much but enough to keep me on his mind." Elizabeth says as I unlace her dress.

"Yes Elizabeth." I say.

"If things work out I will have hundreds of servants, I will give Father some also so maybe I'll get father to agree to a marriage for you, maybe to one of our servants." She snickers.

"Yes Elizabeth. Sleep well." I say as I walk out. I go to my bed and try to sleep quickly. I just know I will have a busy morning.