A Royal Marriage

Page 2

"I'm afraid I must go and see to duty. Will I see you before our engagement party?" I ask him.

"I've been invited to come to dinner tomorrow night if that's alright."

"Of course. It'll give us a chance to talk." I turned to his and my mother and bowed before leaving. As Crown princess I saw to many things, with my mother sick I had taken up much of her duties. My next task was to meet with the generals and get reports of our troops. After that I went to meet with two ladies who had trouble with someone robbing travelers on their lands. It was hours of talking and trying not to snap at them. After that was letters and then hours of written reports and dealing with everything from problems with grain transportation to the recent trouble with the kingdom to our south. I was told that dinner would be just me since mother felt to tired to come. I ate then went to my room to read and relax. The next day was more of the same. Breakfast alone, meetings with people, lunch alone, letters, reports, trouble and then my secretary stepped in smiling at me.

"Your mother asked that I remind you that your fiance' is coming to dinner tonight so you might wish to freshen up." I sighed.

"Thank you. I had indeed forgotten about that." she would stay till I dismissed her. "What do you know of him besides what my mother has said?"

"He's been sought for husband by many but none liked how shy and withdrawn he was and sought elsewhere for a husband. His own father was much more forward. Despite being an extremely handsome man he's considered almost too shy and withdrawn to be any kind of help as a husband. He was formally educated, his mother insisted on it, he has three younger sisters who are all bright spots among the court. He's also been trained with knife and sword, on his mothers insistence."

"Do you know why?"

"Rumor says his mother did it so that he couldn't be taken advantage of. He'd be able to defend himself."

"Probably a bright idea. He is very shy." but I liked how quiet and shy he was. "What about how he spends his time?"

"According to rumor he spends most of his time at his fathers side doing whatever is asked or needed of him. When he does get time on his own he spends it mostly reading. He's a great admirer of the classics it seems." I found that appealing.

"What about social graces?"

"Taught proficiently by his mother. He'll be perfect at the party."

"If he's such a catch why would anyone pass him up?" I wondered.

"Because his mother was insistent that he be allowed to choose the women he married and he rejected those that did ask, until your mother asked for his hand for you." so he accepted me but no other. Hmm, he couldn't have known that he'd be asked for me, so what had he been waiting for? Well maybe I'd find out for myself. I thanked her and dismissed her. Going to my room I washed and dressed in fresh billowy pants and short robes. Sandals that matched then pulled my long hair up into a ribbon at the top of my head leaving the rest to flow free.

My mother sat in her normal chair. Efren and his mother sat to her left. I took my chair at her right hand. Efren gave me a tentative smile. I gave him an encouraging one back. That made him brighten more.

"Mother. Lady Helen, Efren. How are you all this evening?" I asked.

"Tolerably well." mother replied.

"I'm well." Lady Helen said. Efren smiled.

"I'm very well." he told me. He did seem delighted to see me.

"So daughter how was your day?" I launched into the normal account of my day to my mother and then turned to the subject of the engagement party.

"What will be expected of me for this party, you know I am not a fan."

"You will be expected to be at your husband to be's side for the evening. Introduce him to all as your fiance. You'll be expected to dance with him at least twice. And I'll tell you now, you can not run off until the party is over. I'll be there as long as I can, when I get to tired I'll leave it to you but expect to have a long evening."

"I'll be sure to sleep in that morning." I turned to Efren.

"What is your plans for the two days between now and then?"

"Mother has asked me to begin planning the wedding. I thought to start on that."

"Well if it's not a bother, perhaps you'd have dinner here each evening. It'll give us a chance to talk and get to know each other."

"I'd be very glad to." he was smiling, pleased that I wanted his company.

"I heard you are a lover of books might I ask about your favorites?" he smiled and I managed to actually get to see him animated as he talked books. I encouraged him each time he flagged, by asking a question about his opinion on things. Our mothers ate quietly allowing us to talk. When dinner was done I asked my fiance for a walk about the garden. Mother took Lady Helen to a parlor and I took Efren out to the garden. I took a circuitous route. We talked more and I got to see him happy but nervous.

"I'm curious, I understand that you have had many offer for your hand but you never accepted them, may I ask why?" he looked away and bit his lip.

"To be honest I always put a great faith in reactions to people. Those that asked never made me feel as though they truly would care for me and be a good spouse."

"You accepted before you met me so why did you accept me?"

"We have met. When we were younger." I frowned and looked up at him.

"We did?"