One Look

Chapter 20

A knock on my door ripped me from the memories of the night before. Clara entered and gave me a kind smile as she opened the curtains.

"A note for you my lady", she declared before she handed me a folded over note.

Dear Eloise

I hope you will care to join me for a walk around the gardens.

N.

"Ugh", I groaned and pushed my bed sheets off me. Clara picked out a light blue day dress from my wardrobe and helped me get dressed before she fixed my unruly hair.

"You are all ready my lady", Clara smiled.

"Thank you, when my ladies awake tell them I went for a stroll, alone", I stated. I hurried down through the palace corridors and finally made it outside where Nathaniel was indeed waiting.

"Good morning", he grinned when he spotted me. I returned his smile before I fell into step beside him.

"My guess is you want to discuss last nights events", I said as a slight frown took over my face.

"Now why would I want to talk to you about that?" Nathaniel stated sarcastically and I glared at him. "But seriously Eloise what were you thinking?" he sighed.

"I wasn't thinking, that's the problem. I arrived at court excited to find a suitor and all I have found is betrayal and mistrust. I have no idea who I can trust and every time I think maybe things will start looking up for me more questions start to arise", I snapped, and he sighed.

"But why would you speak to the king like that, risking everything?" he asked exasperated.

"I was angry okay. I was angry that the man who is courting me is instead just using me. I was angry at Maria for destroying the only part of my mother I had left. And I was angry at your father and the secrets I thought he was hiding". I flung my arms by my side. "And trying to keep all that inside just caused me to bubble over and your father appeared, and I couldn't keep my words down".

"You need to try harder. We all know my father is not a good-tempered man. He could have sent you home in disgrace, or worse he could've locked you up for speaking to your king like that", Nathaniel grumbled.

"I didn't care, I thought your father had something to do with my mothers' death". I began to quicken my pace, but he grabbed my hand stopping me from moving any further away. I turned around to look at him, my arms crossed defiantly across my chest.

"But I do care. I told you I would look into your questions about my father, but you had to risk your own safety by presenting yourself like that to the King", he stated. He placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "He told me to warn you that if you ever speak to him like that again you will be sent home in disgrace".

"You just don't understand", I whispered, my eyes watering. "You have no idea how hard it was to look at his face daily, and see him living a life of luxury, and the thought that he had caused my mother's accident just brought me over the edge". I blinked back my tears as Nathaniel sighed.

"I understand why you did it but Eloise you are at court now. You are living amongst powerful nobles who see and hear about everything, you do not need any of them becoming interested in a girl who doesn't know how to speak to a King".

I pouted before I put a light smile on my face. "Well luckily I am not on your list of girls who you could potentially marry. You will be King one day and I won't know how to speak to you", I laughed. Nathaniel smiled briefly before he took a step away from me.