One Look

Chapter 12

"I long to be outside on a glorious day like that", Amelia groaned as she stared out at the clear blue sky beyond the window. I gave my friend a small smile as I knew exactly how she felt.

"Girls concentrate on your sewing", Princess Mary-Anne quipped from beside me and I held back the smile I wanted to give to the princess. Amelia's cheeks flushed pink as she turned her head away from the window and back to her sewing.

"Apologies your highness", Amelia said quickly, and I coughed in a failed attempt to hide my giggle. Amelia glared at me and I shut my mouth tight as another giggle slipped through my lips.

"Miss Eloise", Mary-Anne scolded, and I could feel Henrietta's gleeful gaze on me before I even lifted my eyes. "If you are unable to control your laughter you know where the door is".

"Apologies your highness", I gasped dramatically, and I watched as Mary-Anne forced her mouth into a straight line.

"Eloise", Elaine hissed from behind me and I turned my head slightly. "Watch what you say to the Princess, she can get you thrown out of here as quickly as you arrived".

"Of course,", I grinned. After a few minutes everything settled back down so I slightly nudged Mary-Anne.

"What?" she whispered, a small smile on her face.

"Would you be able to organise me a meeting with your mother? I asked and she nodded her head.

"Of course, Eloise", she grinned, and I went back to my sewing.

Mary- Anne then stood up and approached her mother. After she whispered in her ear, Queen Adelaide looked at me and nodded her head. I quickly went back to my sewing as Mary-Anne approached and took her seat beside me.

"She said she will request your presence after dinner", Mary-Anne said quietly as she continued to sew, without even glancing at me.

"Thank you", I whispered back.

Eventually the time spent with the Queen came to an end, and my ladies in waiting walked with me as we made our way out to the garden.

"Are you excited to see Charles?" Jane asked dreamily from beside me and I grinned at her.

"I do enjoy walking around the gardens with him", I smiled. "Even with my little hens behind me".

"It wouldn't be proper if you did not have a chaperone", Margaretta explained quickly from beside me.

"I know, and I am very lucky to have three", I laughed in response. Margaretta was a proper lady; she liked the way things were and liked when we all watched our manners.

Charles met us by the maze and grinned at me as I approached.

"You look wonderful", he grinned, and I wondered would he ever get tired of complimenting me. My ladies walked a little bit behind us as we started our stroll around the gardens.

"I apologise for my behaviour last night", Charles said quickly, and I shrugged slightly.

"Do not worry about it, I have forgotten already", I smiled comfortingly. He squeezed my arm gratefully in response.

"If there wasn't so many watchful eyes right now, I would kiss you", he said quietly, and it felt as if my heart stilled in realisation that I had not been kissed by Charles yet. I was unsure whether I wanted him too.

"That's too bad".

"I was thinking we do not know very much about each other", he said after a moment of silence.

"Well my name is Eloise Thompson. I live with my father, brother Patrick, and my grandmother Elizabeth", I laughed after I finished speaking, he was right we knew nothing about each other.