The Blue Queen

Chapter 15

I get home after my father and sister but they are asleep when I get home. I slide into bed and sigh happily. I wonder how Harry and I will see each other now we have no excuse for me to visit him. I dwell on the thought for less than a second. I will just sleep and dream about dancing with him again, nothing shall ruin this night.

Naturally I wake up as the sunlight streams through my window. I'm glad, for if I was any more awake I would be laughing as Elizabeth tries to tell me how well the party went. She was given a bracelet by George, probably while I was on the roof but my father just sighs at her while she speaks.

"What happened to you anyway? You weren't home when we got home." Elizabeth asks as I pour her some tea.

"I had to stay in case something happened to the Prince's clothes during the ball. I had to wait until he went to bed then wait for a carriage to take me back home." I explain. "I was with the servants for the night." I say as I take her empty plate and my fathers to the kitchen. Elizabeth moves on and talks to father as I go back to my normal routine. He watches me more often now, I have noticed it since he got better from his sickness but today he watches me more intensely now.

After a couple days my worry that Harry hasn't sent a letter or anything is overshadowed by my father basically following me around all day. If I sweep one room he moves to the next room I plan on cleaning as I pour the dust away. He has done this before however he has read while doing so; to be discreet. He blatantly sits and watches me now.

"Anna?" Father asks me as I mend the fire in the drawing room.

"Yes father?" I ask him as I watch the fire grow once more.

"Did the Prince mention Elizabeth to you when you saw him in the Palace?" He asks me, watching me carefully. I sweep the ash and shake my head.

"No father. He only said if he wanted me to change something in regards to his clothes." I tell him simply.

"So he did not tell you he was in love with another woman?" He asks me. My heart rate increases and as I brush the ash into the dustpan my father stands up.

"No father. We hardly spoke." I reiterate. My father huffs and circles me once I stand up. I hold onto the broom to steady myself as my father carefully observes me.

"He told Elizabeth he was in love with another woman." He says. "He danced with her at the ball. She looked slightly like you. Her dress was an ode to lavender. Tell me Anna, what is your favourite plant?" He asks me.

"It is Lavender father." I tell him quietly.

"I am watching you Anna." Father says quietly. "I will not allow you to destroy this family with whore-like actions. The Prince will never love you. No one ever could, even if they were your own blood." He spits at me. I hold onto the broom tightly and he walks out of the room. I step outside for fresh air and I cry quietly. I can only just about see the next house, but I know if I let the tears fall properly they would hear me howl sadly. Having to refrain from being loud cases the pain to last longer.

It is when Elizabeth calls for me when I force myself to calm down. She just says I have to make her an apple cake so doesn't even look at me. I calm down as I bake, I just let the cinnamon and other scents distract my brain. The cake bakes as I serve dinner. While I have nothing left to do while it bakes I refuse to sit with them. I stand in the door leading to the garden; I stare at the lavender bushes and try to remember all of Harry's kind words that lay beneath the soil.

I make an apple jam and make the cake much like I made the strawberry cake. I set the cake to the side and unlace Elizabeth as she gets ready for bed. She talks about George but I do not know much else, I am focused on not crying.