Historical romance: The Tudor Rose

14th May

Today is my 17th birthday. As mama tells me it is high time that I find a husband. But for what purpose other than to be rich and bear him heirs? I want to be in love not have everything chosen for me. If I am mature enough to get married then surely I am mature enough to choose my suitor? That will not be happening anytime soon; not in medieval England that's for certain. Us women just sit here reading, sewing and lying down for our husbands at their pleasure. I always wonder what life would be like if the shoe was on the other foot and men had to give birth, cook, clean and sew. I know that it will happen later in time for I have seen it in a vision. However, it is a long way off and I shan't be dreaming about things that won't occur in my life time. Yes that is right a vision, my family and I come from a long line of magical women that can see things and cast spells. But if anyone found out every woman alive in our family would be burnt at the stake for witchcraft. It is an awful thing really to be burdened with visions and have to pass them on to a daughter I will surely have in the future. Even though I see things in the future I cannot choose what they are about or when I have them. They come to me as a horrible pain pulsing through my skull and eyes and I either sit down or fall to the floor if there is no where to sit. We have been left with this secret since the dawn of time and it is our duty to conceal our powers or deal with the consequences.

Mama is calling me it is time for my riding lesson with the stable boy. I must go. Harry gets awfully moody if I'm late. Harry is my dapple grey horse I have had since I was able to ride. I change into something more suitable for riding in. The stable boy and I have been enemies since birth always quarrelling but mama insists I haven't learnt everything yet about riding and papa tells me that Fred is the best stable boy in the land and he shan't dismiss him for petty quarrels of a sensitive young lady.

I stumble down the stone stairwell and trip on the last step. I land face first on the cold hard slabs of the hallway. I look up to see a strong hand extended towards me and an almost fully grown man giggling in a pair of breaches. "You sure know how to make an entrance Evie! Here don't be so contrary give me your hand." Fred says stifling a giggle with his newly found husky voice that other women may find attractive. But I am not other women, I find him repulsive, I slap his hand away. They don't know him as well as I do. They don't know how annoying and disgusting he can be. For instance, I sat for a nice mug of ale last week only to inhale a slug which had been strategically placed there by Fred. He likes to annoy me so I annoy him back. We have always been this way. Mama says we should grow up but I enjoy it it's funny to watch him squirm with my come backs. I give him my hand and pull him to the floor and laugh in delight at him going crimson as I stand up and brush off my clothes. "Are you coming today? Or should I wait till my next birthday?" I joke as he stands up laughing.

"Fair play. I will get you back though!" He says still recovering whilst I laugh my head off. My red ringlets bounce around my head as I take deep breaths before carrying on giggling.

"Today I shall teach you how to ride side saddle like the lady you shall never become!" he jokes placing the side saddle onto Harry who whinnies in appreciation when he is given oats. I nuzzle into his main that smells of hay and drizzly rain. I hold the reigns so he refrains from going off into a canter. Fred jumps onto the saddle and shows me how to sit on it. "So Evie you have your hands holding the reigns and your legs are placed together at the side like so. Now this may feel a bit strange at first but your mother insists you most learn how to be a lady. We don't want your legs spread apart do we? I might get the wrong idea!" He jokes setting off to the woods at a trot. I follow him speechless at what he has implied I am not a common slut.

We stop at the woods for a picnic tying the horses up. "That was good Evie maybe I was wrong maybe you can be a lady after all! Side saddle what's next children?" He laughs as I playfully hit him in the shoulder.

"What's bought on all this talk about children and bedding men?" I ask going scarlet.

"No reason I just thought you'd like to know that men will be flocking the country to marry you now you are of age. Especially the old and rich ones that want to take your fathers wealth."

"Just so you know I will be choosing who I marry and I will not settle for anything less than being in love." I shout looking away in embarrassment. He touches my chin and swings it around so I am looking him directly in the eyes."You are so beautiful when you're mad. I feel exactly the same way. Kiss me please before I die. I am in love with you."

We are staring into each others eyes. I edge closer to him so our hips are touching. Fred sweeps a piece of hair out of my face. I part my lips and lean in. Love is blind one minute you despise the person and you don't know until it's right under your nose. Our lips push against each others as I kiss him. It is as if we are joined as one. Wait. What am I doing? He is a stable boy. I push him away in tears. I then fall into his chest as he puts his arm around me.

"I'm sorry" I stutter through tears "I love you too but it will never work."

He raises my chin and kisses me again. I moan in delight as he pushes me onto my back. He whispers into my ear. "Of course it will."

I kiss him one last time before getting back onto Harry. I can't believe he has loved me this whole time and I was blind and thought I hated him when really I loved him. "You must not tell a soul about this we will act as normal so that they don't suspect a thing."

Gwynlenith castle is full of secrets now I have created my own to add to the collection. I would be dead meat if anyone found out I was in love with Fred, a common stable boy with a Lord and Lady's daughter. I don't know how it will work but it will have to for I don't know how I'd live without him.