Section I, Next Section

Chapter One

Posted on Thursday, 14 August 2003

Will had long since escaped the hustle and bustle of the castle. There was too much of a likelihood that he would be pulled into some task against his will. Instead, he snuck out of the servants’ entrance, managed to sneak past the guards, and climbed up the path leading away from the castle to lounge by the roadside where he knew there were some excellent blackberries growing.

He’d found a particularly good bush of the berries and was risking his hands to pick and eat them with relish. He hadn’t thought to bring food with him during his flight from the castle.

A voice startled him.

“I say, can you tell me if the castle is nearby?”

Will turned around to look at the speaker. He was surprised to see a young woman in a lovely pale blue and yellow dress, a grey, hooded cloak slung across one shoulder, and a sack strapped to her back. Even more shocking was her long, wavy, brown hair hanging loosely down her back, and the smudges of dirt just visible on her face. But he was drawn to her eyes, which sparkled with amusement and seemed brightened from the exercise of walking.

In a little louder tone of voice, she slowly said, “Can you tell me if the castle is nearby?”

“I can hear you, no need to shout,” Will retorted.

“After you stared at me dumbly for a minute, I was beginning to doubt.”

Will was shocked once more to be addressed in such a fashion. It was almost an insult! “The castle is just down that lane. Two minute walk.”

“Oh, thank goodness!” she exclaimed with a sigh. “I’ve lost my way twice already this morning. You’d think it would be simple.”

“Where did you come from?”

“A small village called Meryton in the corner of the kingdom. About sixty leagues away.”

“Sixty leagues! You didn’t walk the whole way, did you?”

“I hiked for the first ten, and then I was lucky enough to get a ride in a hay wagon for about five leagues yesterday afternoon.” She sat down beside him, shaking off the sack on her back. “I started out yesterday morning. It was a pleasant walk and I wasn’t disturbed at all where I slept last night.”

“Where did you sleep?” his curiosity getting the better of him.

She leaned forward conspiratorially. “Don’t tell, but I slept in someone’s barn. Just crawled into the hay with my blanket and slept until dawn.”

“How were you not caught by the farmer coming in to milk her cows?”

The girl shrugged. “I don’t know. I call it luck.”

“You believe in luck, do you?”

She nodded. “Don’t you?”

“I don’t know.”

They fell into a small silence. Then the girl said, “Can I have some?”

Will looked at her blankly. “Have some what?”

“Some blackberries. You’ve got them smeared all over your fingers and your teeth are stained a little. All I’ve been living off of since I left is bread, cheese, and apples.”

Will felt somewhat embarrassed, but he said, “Sure. Though I must say an apple sounds a lot better than blackberries.”

“Oh? Well why don’t you have one then? I won’t be needing it since I’ve reached my destination. I packed more than enough for myself.”

She opened the sack and pulled out a number of odd things, including a ball gown. She dug her arm deep into the sack and pulled out a green apple. She handed it to him. “Here. It’s from my father’s orchard, so it’s really nice and fresh.”

Will bit into it. It was sweet and juicy. His eyes must have shown his appreciation, for she smiled at him.

After munching on a couple of bites, Will asked, “What’s all that?”

“Oh, this. Well, have you heard of the ball tonight?”

“Vaguely.”

“The prince needs to marry, so an invitation was sent to all the young ladies of the kingdom to the ball this evening, where he shall choose his bride. My mother made me go, but none of the horses could be spared from the farm, so I just walked. I’ve always been a good walker, though.”

“And that’s your ball gown?”

“Yes. Not much, I know. But I’m not really expecting to be chosen as a princess. I’ve just come for the adventure.”

“A ball? An adventure?” Will said incredulously.

“Not just the ball, the whole thing. I’ve never been this far north in the kingdom, never walked so far, never seen the castle, never glimpsed royalty, and I’ve never been to a ball. I’d call this a grand adventure.”

“I can see how you would consider it so.”

She kneeled next to the blackberry bush and began to pick the berries, putting them into the bowl made by her skirt, ignoring the stains the juices made. “Why, don’t you think so?”

“No. I live around here, so none of this is exciting.”

“That’s a pity.”

“What’s your name?”

“Oh,” she laughed and sat back on her heels. “I’m Elyssa Bent. But most people just drop the E and call me Lyssa.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Will. So what are you going to do until the ball?”

“I’d prefer to put off going to the castle as long as possible. It’s such a beautiful day I think I’m going to remain out here.”

“Would you like to accompany me?”

“Accompany you to where?”

Will shrugged. “I’m escaping from the castle as well. I figured two fugitives are better than one.”

She laughed mirthfully. “All right.”

Will continued munching his apple contentedly, looking about the roadside.

Lyssa went back to picking the berries. Finally, when she had a small pile, she dug a roll from her sack and broke it open. She proceeded to smear the berries onto the roll halves and eat it.

She grinned at his curious stare. “Breakfast,” was all she said.

Will couldn’t help but chuckle at her.

Soon, a large carriage slowly passed them by on the road. The occupants stared disdainfully at the rough-looking couple on the roadside.

When the handsome carriage was out of sight, Will laughed.

“What?”

“That was the Duchess of Grendy and her daughter.”

Lyssa looked at him in surprise. “How do you know?”

“When you live around here long enough, you begin to recognise some of the nobility – especially the ones to avoid.”

“And I assume she would be one to avoid.”

“Oh yes!” Will nodded emphatically.

Lyssa laughed gaily.

“Are you done with your breakfast?” Will asked, tossing the apple core into the bushes.

She nodded.

“Then are you up for a short hike? More of a climb, but the view is definitely worth it.”

“Let me just hide my sack out of sight and then I can fetch it later.”

She bundled all her things back into the sack, stuffing the poor ball gown in last, then leapt through the bushes into the woods and hid it in a hollow made by tree roots. She returned and said, “Let’s go.”

They walked away from the blackberry bushes and Will led her up the road and then into the forest to the left. They trudged noisily through the forest for ten minutes before it began to get steeper. Soon, the forest went steeply upwards.

“No, no. This way,” directed Will. “The trees and roots are like a ladder, just put your hands and feet on the roots and climb up.”

She began to follow him up.

He stopped and looked down at her. “Are you going to be all right in that skirt?”

“Don’t worry about me, just keep going before I slip.”

He kept climbing. He nearly stumbled once, but regained his footing and kept moving up the slope. When it began to level out, he stood upright and turned to see Lyssa right behind him. He held a hand down to her and she took it. He pulled her up and she smiled at him, both of them panting a little. “Would you call this an adventure?” she asked.

Will grinned and shook his head. “Nope. I do this all the time.”

“Do you, now?”

They continued walking up the ravine, occasionally grabbing onto a young sapling to help them up.

“You must be a very lazy, naughty young man,” she teased.

“That I be.”

The forest leveled out and they were soon walking flat again. Finally, after they had been hiking for half an hour, the forest ended and opened out onto a wide, grassy field full of wildflowers.

“Oh my goodness gracious!” Lyssa exclaimed, stunned at the natural beauty of the place.

“That’s not the best bit.” Will was grinning. He grabbed her hand and they ran through the field. He glanced at her and was struck by the beautiful sight of her hair flowing behind her.

Will slowed down, still holding onto her hand. He walked more slowly then Lyssa noticed the view spreading out before them. They had to be several hundred lengths up looking out over the countryside for leagues around. As they walked closer to the edge, she could see the castle below them.

“This is amazing!” she breathed.

Will beamed at her.

“Can we just sit down here and admire it all?” asked Lyssa.

Will nodded. They walked closer to the edge of the cliff and stopped. Lyssa looked down at his hand still clasping hers. He saw her and muttered, “Oh, sorry.”

She just smiled at his embarrassment and sat down on the grass, settling her dress around her. He lay down on his side beside her, propping his head on his hand. She looked lovely just sitting there in the sunshine. So serene and peaceful. She smiled sweetly at him.

“How did you find this place?”

“Years of exploring.”

“Adventurous exploring, eh?”

He nodded.

She plucked a blade of wide grass, placed it carefully between her two thumbs, then blew on them. A loud, piercing screech was emitted, startling Will.

“Ooh. That’s a good one!” exclaimed Lyssa in delight.

“So much for the peace and quiet of the meadow,” Will snorted.

“Haven’t you ever done this before?”

He shook his head.

“Really?! Didn’t anyone teach you this in school?”

Will shook his head again.

“You poor, deprived child,” she pitied him.

“I was a very deprived child,” agreed Will, sadly.

“Shall I teach you then?”

“Could you?”

“Of course. First, you have to find the right blade of grass. It has to be quite wide. About half a measure wide, like this one.” She plucked a blade of dark green grass and showed him. “But you have to pluck it so it’s long enough.”

Will chose a piece of grass and showed it to her.

“That’s a good one. Now, put your thumbs together, side by side. You see how there’s that tiny concave gap? You’re going to hold the blade between the two knuckles of your thumbs, like this…. And you see the blade between them. You try.”

Will did as she instructed, finding it difficult to keep the blade of grass there. He became frustrated. A gentle hand on both of his calmed him down. “Just be patient,” she said, gently.

He tried again, and on the third attempt, he got it.

“Good. Now you put your lips at the gap, keep your hands open, and blow.” She emitted a loud SCREEEEECH. “See? You do it.”

He put his lips to his thumbs and blew. He didn’t quite get it a couple of times, emitting only a few whines. Then he tried one more time and got a substantial screech from it. He pulled back and grinned with glee.

“That’s incredible!”

Lyssa laughed.

“Pick another blade of grass and do it all on your own.”

Will sat up and looked around for a suitable blade. Finding one, he wedged it between his thumbs, his tongue sticking out with the effort, then blew through it and made the loud SCREEEEECH noise.

Lyssa clapped her hands. “Well done. It’s easy, isn’t it?”

“What else do you know?”

“Oh, I don’t know. These things just sort of come to my mind randomly. I can’t think of them all now. Oh, we could do a daisy chain!”

“Uh… you go ahead and make one. I’ll just watch.”

Lyssa leapt to her feet and went to search the meadow for some daisies. She came back five minutes later with two handfuls. She settled down beside him again, pouring the flowers into her skirt, and began to twist the stems together in a small chain. Will was content just to watch her in her task.

After several minutes of silence, he asked, “You don’t think you will be chosen by the prince to be his bride?”

Lyssa laughed. “Look at me. Do I look like princess material to you?”

Will did look at her appraisingly. “Maybe the prince will think so.”

“I doubt that. Especially next to all the fine, wealthy young ladies who will be there tonight.”

“What does wealth have to do with it?”

“They’ll be dressed much nicer, that’s for sure. They’re certain to be more beautiful and elegant. They’ve been trained that way.”

“You can be beautiful without money. When it gets a little later, we can go into the gardens and make that kind of chain with roses for your hair. That’ll look lovelier than any diamonds or jewels.”

“You think so?”

Will nodded.

“I do, too. But I didn’t think it would be appropriate for a ball like tonight.”

“If you’re not going there to impress anyone, why should it matter?”

“You’re right.” She paused. “But wouldn’t we get in trouble taking the roses like that?”

Will waved his hand dismissively. “The head gardener and I go way back.”

“Old friends, huh?”

Will smiled at her mischievously. “Nope. Old enemies.”

Lyssa chuckled.

After a long pause, Will asked, “What would you do if you were princess?”

“I don’t know what a princess can do, but I would like to make the southern people have more of a voice.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… take two years ago, for example. There was a severe drought in the south and a lot of people lost their crops. We sent requests to the castle for more food and we were sent more cattle. Yes, cattle is food, but it requires grain we didn’t have to keep them alive. So we had to slaughter them all immediately, salt and smoke the beef to preserve it, and then we had unhealthy diets for a winter. If the south had had more of a voice in the castle, these misunderstandings would not occur.”

Will nodded, impressed.

“What else?”

“I would get rid of the Milk Bucket tax.”

Will’s eyebrows flew up. “Really! Why? It was supposed to be the best decree sent out last year.”

“But it was misguided. It was meant to tax the rich more than the poor, since the rich supposedly would own the milk buckets that they get their wealth from. But what the nobles did was require all the people who milked their cows to provide their own bucket to work and receive wages. So now it’s only the poor people, who barely make a living milking the nobles’ cows, who get taxed.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Besides, what’s going to happen is that people will stop using milk buckets altogether.”

“What else would they use?”

“They’ll use something else … like… cooking pots at first. Then they’ll design and make something new that’s not a milk bucket, but could be used for collecting milk from a cow, thereby avoiding the tax. What about you?”

“What do you mean what about me?”

“If you were the prince, what would you do?”

Will was taken aback by the question. “I don’t know.”

“Come on. There must be something good you would like to do for your people in that kind of position.”

Will thought for several minutes. “I would redo all the road signs.”

Lyssa laughed out loud.

Will was offended. She saw the look on his face, and assured him, “No, no. I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’m only laughing because I’ve had some very recent experiences with those.”

Will’s mouth cracked into a lopsided grin.

“What else?” she prompted.

Will went back into a brown study. “Um… I’d like to …” he paused again. “How about if I limited the number of cows a person could own?”

“What about large families where each person ‘owns’ their allotted number of cows, making the herd huge?”

“Well then, limit the number a family could own, too.”

Lyssa looked doubtful. “It could work, if you studied the statistics enough. What else?”

“I would try and bring back the prestige of the Music Guild.”

“Ah!” she said with pleasure. “Why?”

“I feel that music is an important part of our culture and that it can also be a useful tool for teaching.”

“I like that one. What else?”

Will continued to think while Lyssa worked on her daisy chain.

“I would make school compulsory for all children.”

“Why?”

“Because… because with an educated public, the whole kingdom fares better.”

“But what about the peasant farmers who need their children for harvesting and planting?”

“I could make it optional during those important seasons.”

“What ages is it compulsory for?”

“What do you think?”

She smiled down at him, knowing his tactic of asking her. “I think from age 6 to 14 is good.”

Will nodded his approval. Then he asked her, “What would you do about the nobles’ disapproval over all of this change?”

She considered her answer for several minutes, then stopped her dainty work, resting her hands in her lap. “I think I would do the change a little at a time, not all at once. And I would charm them into thinking they thought of the idea.”

Will believed she was completely capable of charming anyone. She was certainly charming him.

She returned to her task. “I also may use popularity and ostracism to keep the nobles in their place.”

“What is their place?”

“Lower than the royal family.”

“What is their purpose?”

“They are supposed to guide and protect the peasant farmers on their land.”

“What if they don’t fulfil this purpose?”

She looked at him in surprise. “Now, there’s an interesting thought.”

“What?”

“If nobles weren’t so steadfastly hereditary, they could maybe lose their title if they don’t fill their obligations.”

“But who is to decide whether they fulfil the obligations or not?”

“Yes, I see the difficulty. Whoever is the judge would think themselves higher than the nobles. It would have to be a mix.”

“Like what?”

“There would be a group of people, one man and one woman of each; two nobles, two guildmembers, and two peasants. Together they would decide.”

“A tribunal of sorts.”

“Yes.”

Will nodded. “It might work. But you would still have to be careful of the powerful nobles.”

“At first, yes. It would have to rely on honest people. Otherwise the nobles would be able to easily buy off the peasants.” After a couple minutes of contemplative silence, Lyssa said, “Look, I’ve finished!”

She held up the ring of closely-knit daisies.

“Put it on,” he said.

She gently laid it on her head like a crown. “What do you think?”

“More beautiful than the royal crown.”

She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

She brushed the remaining daisies from her lap and stretched her legs out.

He picked one up and began to pluck the petals from it one by one. “What are you going to do after the ball?”

“Walk home. What else would I do?”

“I don’t know. You could find work around here.”

“What would I do?” she laughed.

Will shrugged.

“Would you marry me instead of the Prince?”

Lyssa leaned back on her hands and smiled mischievously. “Saying it that way implies that if the Prince asked me, would I pick you over him.”

“Yeah.”

“Ah. So this is hypothetical.” He didn’t reply, but continued to keep his eyes on plucking the tiny daisy petals. “I don’t know. I haven’t met the Prince, so I don’t know what he’s like. If he’s anything like what I expect, yes, I would pick you over him.”

“What do you expect?”

“A spoilt, snobbish, stuck up, immature, selfish man,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Ouch. That’s harsh.”

Lyssa shrugged. “We don’t hear much of royalty where I live. I almost want him to be like that. Then I won’t have to regret not dancing with him.”

“You don’t think you’ll even dance with him?!”

She shook her head. “I doubt he’ll even notice I’m there with all those other women around.”

“Well, I would think him a very silly fool not to notice you.”

“Thank you.”

“So, if I asked to marry you after the ball was over…?”

“I don’t think my father would approve.”

“Why not?”

“He’d like to see me in a financially stable marriage.”

“You don’t think I’m financially stable.”

She smiled sweetly and shook her head. “You’re up here with me instead of working.”

“Ah. So you think I’m a vagabond.”

“Not necessarily. You could be a Duke and I would still be unimpressed.”

Will’s eyebrows rose. “Explain.”

“Because you’re up here wasting your time with me instead of overseeing your land.”

“This could be my first day off in months.”

“Yes, but you said you came up here often.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

She nodded.

“So what about you? Would you approve?” he pushed.

She looked at him seriously. “I don’t know you.”

“You don’t?”

She shook her head gently, careful not to let the daisy crown slip. “I don’t know your last name, I don’t know what you do for a living, I don’t know what you like and dislike.”

“Oh. Well, I like spending time out here. I like horses. I dislike cabbage.” Lyssa chuckled. “I don’t like stuck up nobility. I like flavoured ice.”

“I’ve never had it,” Lyssa said.

“Really? It’s so refreshing on warm days.” He continued. “I don’t like lessons. I like my parents. I don’t like being an only child. And I like spending time with you.”

She smiled at him.

“All right. Now your turn,” he said.

“I, too, like horses. I love my father, but have a hard time getting along with my mother. I love my older sister, but find it difficult to like my three younger sisters.”

“You have four sisters?”

She nodded.

“Any brothers?”

“No. Just five of us girls. I like the first batch of my father’s apples. I like listening to music; I like to sing.” She thought for a few moments. “I like bumblebees and birds. I don’t like snakes and wolves. I like maple toffee. I like honesty and loyalty. I dislike insincerity and deception. I love beautiful sunsets. And I love flowers, especially daisies and roses.”

“Do you like dancing?”

“I don’t know how to dance that well. I can sort of do it. My mother made all five of us learn, but I usually snuck out to climb in the apple orchard.” Will chuckled. “That’s another reason why I wouldn’t make a good princess.”

“You can learn dancing.”

“How?”

“I’ll teach you.”

“Do you know how?”

“Sure. I had to learn same as the other lads my age.”

He stood up and brushed off his plain brown trousers and thin natural linen shirt. He held a hand out to her. “Come on.”

She looked at him dubiously, then with a sigh took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet.

He held onto her hand and guided her other to his shoulder, slipping his around her waist. They stood close together and looked into each other’s eyes. He hadn’t realised earlier how tall she was – she was able to look him almost straight in the eye.

“Ready?” he whispered.

“Where’s the music?” she whispered back.

“It’s in our heads.”

Her serious face cracked into a slight smile. “What do I do?”

“Just follow my lead.”

“All right.”

He began to move them, stepping backwards then sideways and turning them slightly. Slowly at first, soon they picked up speed. “How are you doing?” he asked her quietly.

“I think… I think this isn’t so bad.”

He laughed quietly. “Not so bad? Let’s see what we can do about that.” He broke their grip, holding onto one hand, he spun her around a couple times.

“Will!” she cried out.

He stopped. “What?”

“Warn me the next time you’re going to do that!”

He grinned mischievously at her. “Try this one.” He took her waist in both hands and swung her around once as she gripped his shoulders.

She laughed. “I don’t believe they do this in the court.”

“They should,” he said.

Taking her hand, he pulled away from her then pulled her towards him and she spun several times towards him, her skirt and hair billowing outwards. He clasped her, then began to move around with her in synch. Several times he picked her up and spun with her. A permanent smile of enjoyment and merriment was on her face, sometimes laughing with him. Soon, she began to be daring enough to do her own moves. She grabbed her skirts in one hand, held out the other gracefully and improvised her own steps on the soft grass, doing little skips and jumps.

Will marveled at her grace and natural beauty. Yes, her hair was in tangles; yes, her dress was stained; yes, her face was a little dirty; yes, she wasn’t fashionably alluring. But somehow, none of that mattered, or else it just made her more beautiful somehow. She was carefree and joyful.

When they were both out of breath, they stopped and collapsed onto the grass. She began to laugh. Will looked at her. She just continued to laugh.

“What?” Will said, chuckling himself from the contagion of her laughter.

She just curled up on her side and covered her mouth, turning her laugh into giggles.

He poked her a couple of times. “Tell me.”

When she was able to speak, she just said, “I don’t know what’s funny. I just feel very giddy and happy.”

Will smiled at her.

She panted, her laughter retarding her capability of gaining her breath back from dancing.

“Did you enjoy that?”

“Yes, I did. But that wasn’t anything like what mother tried to teach us.”

“Times have changed since then.”

They were quiet for a good ten minutes, just watching the puffy white clouds passing and changing overhead.

Lyssa murmured, “I’m suddenly very sleepy.”

“Take a nap then.”

“I think I shall.”

“You’re welcome to use me as a pillow.”

She raised her head, one eyebrow raised.

“I promise to be a gentleman.”

She looked dubious. But he kept his face sincerely honest, so she acquiesced and shifted to rest her head on his lap, curling on her side to face his feet. He pulled her hair away from her face and fingered as it fell to across his lap.

Soothed by his caresses, she was soon asleep. Will just leaned back on one hand looking out over the view of the land, absently running his other hand slowly through her hair. He just sat there in thought until he, too, became drowsy. He shifted her so he could lie down and settle her against his chest. He rested his head on one bent arm, while his other arm rested on Lyssa’s back.

When Lyssa awoke, the sun was very near the horizon, casting a soft orange glow across the countryside beyond the field. She sat up, and felt Will’s hand slide off her back. She looked down at him and where she’d been sleeping. He looked tranquil asleep like that. She looked around the meadow and sighed. It had been simply a wonderful day. She was sad that it was ending and she would have to go to the ball that evening. She knew that if she didn’t return with sufficient stories of the ball, she would be punished and scolded by her mother.

She looked back down at Will. Despite the short amount of time she had spent with him, she was attracted to him, felt drawn to him. He seemed to enjoy many of the things she did. He was ruggedly handsome, too, in his simple clothes and at least two day’s growth of beard showing. He seemed to be just as attracted to her, but she knew that a match between them was unwise.

She leaned over to brush a long lock of hair off his forehead, gazing down at him to memorise his features. She accidentally knocked the hand that had rested on her back and he awoke, opening his eyes to see Lyssa gazing down at him tenderly. He reached up and straightened her daisy crown, then stroked her cheek gently.

“I should be getting to the castle,” she said softly.

His face saddened.

“I’m sorry this day has to end, too,” she assured him.

He sat up, stretching the stiff arm that had been tucked under his head the whole time. She stood, brushing off her skirts ineffectually. Then she offered him her hand. He took it and she helped him to his feet. He looked around and realised it had become quite late.

“Come on, then. Let’s return to the road.”

She nodded.

“But first,” he said and she looked at him curiously. He stepped closer to her, looking at her earnestly. “May I kiss you before we return to the real world?”

She gazed at him for several moments, deliberating. Finally, she leaned forward and he met her half way. Their lips met softly, caressing and exploring tentatively. They parted and he looked at her, seeking approval and further permission. Seeing it, he returned to kiss her more firmly this time. His hands, which had been holding hers, let go and instead took gentle hold of her face. Hers circled his neck, pulling her body flush against his. Their hearts pounded as they shared this intimate embrace. Finally, she broke away. She kissed him a couple of times on the cheek, then pulled out of his arms. Very reluctantly, he let her go.

“I think I just made it more difficult for myself,” she muttered.

“Lyssa,” he said. She looked at him gravely. “You shall always remain special to me.”

She smiled ever so slightly. “And I shall never forget you.”

He took her hand and they strolled away from their meadow through the forest, carefully down the steep slope where Lyssa soiled her dress even more, and finally to the road. They walked slowly, side by side towards the castle. Lyssa stopped to pick up her cloak and sack from its hiding place. They continued walking in silence, each walking more and more slowly as they got closer to the castle.

Twice they had to move aside to let carriages pass; both times the occupants looked out disdainfully snobbishly at them.

When they finally came in view of the castle, they both stopped, looking at it. Lyssa sighed. “I don’t think I’ll enjoy this ball as much as I had thought I would.”

Will smiled at her. “I hope you’re wrong. I hope you have a wonderful time there.”

“Thank you.”

“Maybe I’ll sneak in and see how you’re doing.”

She looked at him, expecting his mischievous look, but instead saw a sombre one. “I would like that,” she said softly.

They were silent for a few moments. “Lyssa… I’ve really treasured our time together. I didn’t expect to, but I did.”

“Me, too.”

He paused. Then taking something off of his wrist, he said, “I want you to keep this.”

“Will, no,” she protested, gently.

“I mean it. Just wear it for me.”

“I can’t.”

“Please.”

She couldn’t refuse the look he gave her.

“All right.”

He took her wrist and attached a silver chain with a round pendant on it, then he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “When you get to the castle, show this to Mistress Reynolds. She’s a dear old friend of mine. She will take care of you.”

She looked at Will in wonder. He just smiled at her. She looked closely at the bracelet he’d given her. The pendant looked like it was some sort of seal – a coat of arms. But she knew nothing of coats of arms. She looked up to ask Will what it was, but was shocked and dismayed to find him gone. She ran a little down the road, and saw Will sprinting towards the castle gardens. She stood and watched him as long as she could. When he was out of sight, she hoisted her sack onto her shoulder and began walking down to the castle.

Chapter Two

Posted on Monday, 25 August 2003

He took her wrist and attached a silver chain with a round pendant on it, then he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “When you get to the castle, show this to Mistress Reynolds. She’s a dear old friend of mine. She will take care of you.”

She looked at Will in wonder. He just smiled at her. She looked closely at the bracelet he’d given her. The pendant looked like it was some sort of seal – a coat of arms. But she knew nothing of coats of arms. She looked up to ask Will what it was, but was shocked and dismayed to find him gone. She ran a little down the road, and saw Will sprinting towards the castle gardens. She stood and watched him as long as she could. When he was out of sight, she hoisted her sack onto her shoulder and began walking down to the castle.

The castle was a truly intimidating sight – tall and formidable, with five towers around the central tower, each gaily decorated with banners and flags.

When she reached the drawbridge crossing the moat, she drew a deep breath and crossed it, passing between the guards. She walked up to the huge double doors, going by a carriage that had just emptied its passengers.

She walked through the main doors, but was stopped by a footman.

“Servants,” he said in the haughtiest voice Lyssa had ever heard, “use the back entrances.”

“I have come for the ball,” Lyssa firmly replied. “I was told to see a Mistress Reynolds.”

A matronly woman was hurrying through the hall when she heard Lyssa say her name. The woman came forward, saying, “I’m Mistress Reynolds.”

“Oh, um, Will told me to show you this and that you would … you would tell me where to go.”

She held out the bracelet, feeling not a little foolish.

Mistress Reynolds keen eyes flickered from the bracelet to the woman wearing it.

“Come, my dear. I will show you to your room.”

“My room? No, I just need a small, private place to change.”

“Follow me,” was all the reply Lyssa received.

“Howard, you will bring her things.”

Howard, the haughty footman, stepped forward to take Lyssa’s things. “No, no. I can carry them myself.”

The look Lyssa was given stopped her protests and she released her things to him. She meekly followed Mistress Reynolds up a large, carpeted staircase. For the first time that day, Lyssa was more than conscious of her appearance. She tried to smooth her hair, but realised that she must look so dreadful that no smoothing of hair would fix her appearance.

Lyssa became more alarmed and shy the more grandeur she saw. She suddenly realised how little she belonged at this ball. She wished she could run and go back to the meadow again. It was so perfect up there.

Mistress Reynolds turned down a hall and led Lyssa into a large bedchamber. The bed alone was almost as big as Lyssa’s room at home. It was sumptuously draped with scarlet hangings embroidered in shimmering gold.

“Oh, Mistress Reynolds. I believe there has been some mistake.”

“No, madam, there has not. You shan’t be returning home tonight, correct?”

“Um, no, but I hadn’t planned on staying in the castle.”

“Nonsense. This is your bedchamber. Now,” Mrs Reynolds eyed Lyssa’s dress dubiously, “is that what you are wearing tonight?”

Lyssa laughed. “Oh no. Not this.”

Mistress Reynolds’ face relaxed.

“My dress is in there,” Lyssa pointed to her sack and Mistress Reynolds worried face returned.

Lyssa took her sack from Howard and opened it, pulling out the poor, rumpled gown. Mistress Reynolds took it and held it up, tsking with her tongue. “This will need pressing. Howard, see to it that this gown is pressed and fixed up nicely.”

“Yes, madam,” Howard bowed.

Lyssa watched in dismay as her dress was whisked out of the room.

Mistress Reynolds went after him and told Howard, “Oh, and tell Lucy to bring a bath for this young lady.”

Mistress Reynolds returned to Lyssa’s room and said, “What is your name, dear?”

“Elyssa Bent. But people just call me Lyssa.”

“Would you like to rest before the ball, Ms. Bent?”

“No. I took a nap this afternoon in the field.” Lyssa realised what she’d said, but couldn’t take it back.

“Very well. I would normally take you on a tour of the castle, however, with the ball this evening, I’m afraid I’m too busy.”

“No, that’s all right. I have a book I brought with me that I can read in here.”

“Your bath should not be long.”

“Thank you, Mistress Reynolds.”

The kindly woman bowed her head slightly and began to walk out of the room.

“Mistress Reynolds?” Lyssa called out after her. She turned and looked at Lyssa. “Could you thank Will the next time you see him?”

Mistress Reynolds smiled and nodded.

Lyssa, feeling overwhelmed by the situation, pulled the great wooden chair over by the window and settled into it with her book and an apple. She munched on it happily, reading her book. She felt like she was at home, now.

Only a few minutes after she’d finished the apple, she was startled by a servant walking into the room with a large copper bathtub. He set it down in front of the empty fireplace. He was soon followed by eight servants each carrying two buckets of hot water, which they poured into the tub. Lyssa was shocked. She’d never had a bath inside before.

Lastly, a young woman walked in carrying a large towel, a scrubbing sponge, and a new bar of soap. She closed and locked the door behind her and set the things beside the steaming tub.

“Come on, Madam.”

Lyssa realised that she was expected to take a bath with this woman in the room. She stepped forward and began to take off her dress. Once she was nude, she slowly, gingerly, climbed into the hot water, sinking down into it. The maid rolled up her sleeves and began to scrub Lyssa. Lyssa had a difficult time keeping her blushes hidden. She had never been bathed before. But the events of the evening kept her silent.

After the bath, she did feel much better. She stood beside the tub, wrapped in the soft, warm towel. A knock came at the door which made Lyssa yelp, holding the towel more closely to her. The maid opened the door and received a gown from a maid outside. The maid who had bathed her handed the maid in the hall Lyssa’s pale blue and yellow dress that she had worn travelling. Lyssa opened her mouth to protest, but stopped when she saw her ball gown. It had been pressed beautifully and she was shocked to discover minor details added to it. She walked forward to look more closely. Yes, it had pearls embroidered into the skirt, and more lace had been added to the bodice. She didn’t know what to think of it. Perhaps there was some sort of standard dress code that had to be met that evening.

The maid helped Lyssa into her underclothes then directed her to sit while the maid began to work at Lyssa’s hair. Lyssa obediently sat, staring at the elegant tapestry that adorned the wall in front of her. She didn’t even cry out when the maid hurt her.

Another knock came at the door, but Lyssa didn’t see who it was. The maid returned to her work and had soon pulled the sides of Lyssa’s long, wavy, brown hair into a crown of braids, while the rest of it hung loosely down her back. The maid helped her into the ball gown, tying the back and making sure it fit snugly. Then, the maid brought forward what had been given to her at the second knock on the door.

Lyssa gasped when she saw a crown of roses that matched her gown flawlessly. They were small roses, each perfect in shape. Will must have had a hand in this. The maid rested the crown on her head and secured it, then stepped back, admiring her work.

Lyssa smiled a little under the scrutiny.

“Ye’ll do,” the maid said.

“When should I go to the ball?”

“Whenever ye like. It started an hour ago.”

“An hour ago!?”

“But it’s not unusual to be late, madam.”

“I don’t know the way.”

“Come, I shall show ye.”

When Lyssa left the room and reached the main stairs, she heard the music wafting through the halls. All of a sudden, her stomach was full of butterflies and bumblebees.

She followed the maid through the halls, trying to keep her eyes on the maid instead of on the splendid grandeur all around her. Finally, the maid stopped and Lyssa could see the ball through the majestic double doors. Taking a deep breath, she walked through them and down the steps. A few people turned to look at her, but then turned away with disinterest.

She was surrounded by the luxury and splendour of the royal ball. She couldn’t see a sign of the royal family yet, but there were plenty of nobility milling around, dancing, and talking. Lyssa felt out of place. She kept to the edges of the room, just watching everything in wonder, trying to store all the details in her memory to tell her family back home. She didn’t know if she could describe it. The floor was covered in sparkling mosaics, candles were everywhere, and three exquisitely sparkling chandeliers hung from the muraled ceiling. The minstrels played on a low balcony, their music filling the ballroom. Each wall had a mural painted on it and was surrounded by gilt mouldings; couples danced in the centre of the ballroom. Lyssa was quick to notice that they danced much more like her mother had instructed than Will. She still found herself preferring Will’s kind of dancing.

For half an hour, Lyssa wandered around the perimeter of the room, just watching and observing. She did take one glass of the drink that was offered, but found it had a metallic taste she didn’t like.

She was startled, then, to hear her name being spoken softly. She turned to her left to see Will standing there, absolutely dashing in a full black evening suit and clean-shaven face.

“Will!” she gasped, thankfully not too loudly.

He smiled at her. “I told you I would try and look in on you. You look… you’re the most beautiful woman in the room.”

Lyssa, still unable to fathom the complete change in him, stammered, “How are you…? What…? Who…?”

“Would you like to dance?” he asked her, holding out his hand.

Still in complete confusion, she accepted. Had she been thinking clearly, she would have turned him down in favour of talking. He took her hand, and paused, fingering his bracelet on her wrist fondly.

Lyssa flushed.

He smiled at her, then led her through the crowds to dance in the centre. There, they faced each other like they had earlier that day. He smiled slightly and guided one of her hands to his shoulder, keeping the other in his, while his second hand slid around her waist. They began to move together in time with the music. Lyssa couldn’t take her eyes away from his. She felt thoroughly bewildered.

“You dance beautifully,” he said softly.

She couldn’t reply. She didn’t know what to think. Finally, she tore her gaze from his and focussed on her surroundings once more. She stiffened, noticing that they were the centre of attention. That was when she realised they were the only couple dancing on the floor. Everyone else was watching them. Lyssa suddenly became very afraid.

She looked back at Will who was watching her warily. “Who are you?” she whispered.

“Will.”

“No, who are you?” she demanded.

“I’m the Crown Prince Fitzwilliam of Shire.”

She felt her body stop moving, her breath becoming laboured. Thousands of thoughts and images and memories flashed through her mind in an instant. She looked down at the floor, her hand reaching up to her chest, as if to lift the sudden burden pressing down on her there. She needed air. She needed to get out of that awful ballroom. Vaguely she could hear him calling her name, but she couldn’t register him. She looked wildly around, seeing all those people’s eyes staring at her. Then she spotted the door to the garden terrace. She tore from Will’s – the Prince’s – grasp and ran towards it, pushing through the crowds. She burst through the doors and ran down the steps. She felt one of the roses from her crown fall off, but she just kept running. She knew not where she went, for it became too dark once she had left the light of the ballroom.

Suddenly, she tripped over a small statue. She went flying forward, and putting her hands down to stop herself, she skidded on the stones. She crumpled up in a heap, sobbing and cradling her bleeding hands to her chest.

It wasn’t the physical pain of her skinned hands and shins that she was crying over, but the stabbing pain in her heart. Will wasn’t Will. He was some other man she knew nothing about. He had used his last day of freedom to dally with a peasant girl. He had lied to her. The most beautiful day of her life had suddenly become the worst. She heaved sobbing breaths, tears streaming down her face.

She didn’t even move when she heard footsteps nearing her. When she heard Will’s voice cry out, “Lyssa!” she did curl tighter into a ball.

He bent beside her, whispering her name over and over. He gently lifted her up and cradled her against him, stroking her hair, kissing her wounded hands.

“Oh, Lyssa.”

She had to calm herself. She had to tell him to leave her alone. When she had regained enough breath and composure, she whispered, “Please go. Leave me alone.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. You’re the Prince, you can do anything,” she said, bitterly.

“I’m Will. Your Will. Please, Lyssa.”

“Please what?” she said, her sobs subsiding to anger. “Please allow you one more day of dalliance? Please allow you to deceive me even more? Please come and grace your ballroom for a night?”

“No, no.”

She tried to turn away from him. “You lied to me,” she whispered.

“I did not,” he protested. Then he acceded, “Well, I did in a small way.”

“A small way?!!”

“I was truthful about who I am in every way but my title.”

“That’s leaving out a huge part of yourself.”

“Please, Lyssa. You have to understand.”

“Why?! Why must I understand?!! Go away.” She subsided into a sobs again.

“No,” he said firmly, holding her tightly to him. “I won’t leave you. Not while you insist on misunderstanding me.”

She didn’t say anything.

He continued to talk to her. “I had no intention of spending the day with anyone. The castle was full of preparations and I wanted nothing to do with them. I hated the thought of this ball. Hated the whole idea. But I had wasted enough time, and my parents thought it high time I found a wife. So they were forcing me to choose tonight. I escaped to spend the day away from the castle. Then you came, and I enjoyed your company. I figured we could both waste the day away. But I didn’t want you to think of me as the Prince. I wanted you to know me for me. Not my title. I enjoyed every second I spent with you. You challenged me in ways no one has ever made me think before. You are so beautiful and special. I wanted to choose you for my bride. But I didn’t want you to accept just because I was the Prince. Now I realise I should have told you earlier. I should have realised how much of a shock it would be at the ball in front of all those people. I’m an idiot, I know. But please, Lyssa, please forgive me.”

She just sniffed quietly, her breath still heaving sporadically. “So, the bracelet… Mistress Reynolds, she knew?”

He nodded.

“And the gown….” She turned her face away from him. “You just couldn’t stand up with me for who I was. You had to turn me into a wealthy-looking lady.”

“No. No, Lyssa. I thought… I thought they were nice gifts. I didn’t mean it that way. I assure you, Lyssa. I want nothing but to please you and gain your forgiveness.”

Lyssa didn’t know if she could forgive him. Her heart still felt wrenched in two. She remained silent.

“Please, Lyssa. I swear to be honest and true to you from now on.” Lyssa realised he was now beginning to cry. He just kept begging, whispering “Please, Lyssa,” and kissing her head and forehead.

Slowly, Lyssa began to realise how much he had at stake. She realised that by turning him away forever, he would feel as devastated as she was feeling. Except she felt her heart mending with every kiss he placed on her. She shivered, holding onto him more tightly. Finally, she lifted her face up. He began to bestow kisses on her damp cheeks and eyelids. He kissed her lips softly, gently over and over again. She began to return them, feeling her heart lifting with every kiss they shared. She still felt a few tears slip down her cheeks. He deepened the kisses, pouring his desperation and passion into them. After several moments, he calmed down and slowed his kisses until he pulled away and held her tightly against him, his hand caressing her cheek.

“I love you, Lyssa. I want to be the only one to have the honour of being your husband. I want you by my side until we die. Please, please say you’ll have me.”

Lyssa trembled hearing his impassioned words. She hesitated, considering the massive change of life-style. “I don’t know,” she whispered.

“Why can’t you? Can you not forgive me?”

“I don’t know if I can fit into your world,” she murmured softly.

Will didn’t say anything at first. “I can only promise to try and make it as easy and pleasant for you as possible.”

Lyssa realised that she could choose a life of difficulty with him, or a life of hardship without him. She nodded.

Will grasped at the gesture hopefully. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she sighed.

He lifted her face to look at her. “Will you be happy with me?”

She smiled slightly. “If you continue to be like you were earlier today, yes.”

“We can go visit the meadow as much as we can,” he promised, his smile lightening his sombre face.

She raised her hands to clasp his face and kiss him, but she was startled by the pain and he was startled by the dampness on her palms. She jerked her throbbing hands away, curling them to her chest.

“My love, you are hurt.”

She half-laughed. “And I have just smeared my blood all over your face.”

“Never mind that. Let’s get you inside so Mistress Reynolds can deal with your hands.”

He stood up from his crouching position and lifted her up by the arms. She stumbled, pain screaming from her shins and knees at being straightened.

Will looked down to see the scraped, torn and stained gown at her legs. “Oh, Lyssa,” he said, sadly, and bent down to scoop her up into his arms.

“Will,” she protested weakly.

“Shh.”

Lyssa wrapped her arms around his neck, careful not to stain his evening attire with her hands. Will walked with her through the gardens and finally through a servant’s door. He climbed the stairs and came out into the cobbler’s room. He exited it and walked through the halls. Lyssa was too tired to notice her surroundings or where they were going. She just closed her eyes and rested against him.

When she felt them going through a door, she opened her eyes and realised she was in her bedchamber. He was moving to set her on the bed, but she said, “No. I’ll sit in the chair.”

He acquiesced and carried her to the large wooden chair still in front of the window. She slouched into it as Will rang for Mistress Reynolds. He knelt beside her as they waited.

Lyssa looked down at him and shook her head, chuckling. “Do you not have a handkerchief?”

“Yes, of course.” He pulled one out of a pocket and handed it to her. She took it gingerly with her fingers and then took his face in her hands.

“What…?”

“Be still. I’m trying to get some of my blood off your face. You look like I’ve gouged your face with my nails.”

Will sighed and submitted to her tender ministrations. She couldn’t get all of it since it had begun to dry.

Mistress Reynolds knocked and walked in. When she saw Lyssa’s state, she exclaimed, “Good grief, Your Highness. What did you do to the girl?”

Lyssa hastily explained before Will said anything, “I fell in the garden.”

“Oh, child,” muttered Mistress Reynolds. “I’ll return with some supplies. You behave yourself,” she said sternly to Will.

When she had left, Lyssa looked down at her gown and bleeding, dirty hands. “Everyone calls you Your Highness?”

Will nodded. “Everyone but you. You call me Will. Oh, and my parents call me Fitzwilliam.”

“Your parents. The King and Queen.”

Will nodded again.

Lyssa sighed and sank back into the chair. “I don’t know if I can do this, Will.”

“Please, Lyssa. You must. For me.”

“For you?”

“I’ll be desolate without you. Can’t you see how I am so alone in my gilded cage?”

“So you want me to join you in the gilded cage so you’re not alone.”

“No,” he assured her. “You have the key to my freedom.”

“How?” she whispered.

“I don’t know. I was listening to you today, and you just gave me a tremendous sense of agency. When you were talking, I felt like I could be anything and do anything. You even said that to me. I had never viewed it that way before. With you, I see a future of doing worthwhile things and being happy together.”

“You see that?” Lyssa sighed. “I can’t see anything.”

“That’s because you need to believe in me. Believe in us.”

He leaned forward and kissed her softly. She returned it briefly, but Mistress Reynolds came in and Will leapt backwards away from her.

Mistress Reynolds, fixing Will with a stern eye, bustled into the room and set a bowl full of different bottles and bandages at Lyssa’s feet.

“You’re excused, Your Highness.”

Will opened his mouth to protest, but Mistress Reynolds glared at him, so Will meekly left the room.

Lyssa was amazed. Obviously not everyone deferred to him.

Mistress Reynolds lifted Lyssa’s gown to reveal her shins and knees. The woman tsked with her tongue and took out one of the bottles. With a rag, she dabbed the ointment on Lyssa’s wounds. Lyssa flinched, but bit the insides of her cheeks to keep silent. When Mistress Reynolds reached her knees, Lyssa couldn’t stop taking an intake of breath in a hiss.

“It’s a nasty cut, but you’ll mend in a few weeks. What were you doing to get so scraped up?”

“I was running away from the Prince,” Lyssa sighed.

One of the woman’s eyebrows rose as she looked up at Lyssa.

“I tripped on something in the garden and fell.”

“You must have been running pretty fast to get these cuts.”

Lyssa blushed.

Mistress Reynolds didn’t say anything more. When she reached Lyssa’s hands, Lyssa caught sight of the bracelet once more. “What is it?” Lyssa asked softly.

“This? It’s Prince Fitzwilliam’s birth identification. Though the chain has grown since, he has worn the pendant ever since he was born. It has his own personal coat of arms on it.”

Lyssa’s heart clenched and she could feel tears starting to force their way to her eyes again. She swallowed with effort and leant her head back against the chair with a deep sigh.

Finally, Lyssa’s hands were bandaged lightly.

“Now,” said Mistress Reynolds, gathering her things back into the basin. “You need to change out of that ruined gown.”

“I’m sorry. And after all that extra work was put into it.”

Mistress Reynolds waved away her apology. “I shall take it and have it repaired. No doubt you will want to save it for sentimental value.”

Lyssa was surprised to hear that. It was frightening to think of a time when she would look back on this day sentimentally.

“I shan’t be returning to the ball,” Lyssa said.

“Are you sure?”

Lyssa nodded emphatically. She did not want to go back to that place.

“Can I just wear my blue and yellow dress from today?”

“Yes, dear. It has been washed and pressed.” Mistress Reynolds opened the large wardrobe and took out the lone gown in the large space.

Lyssa took off her ball gown and put on her much more comfortable dress. She felt better just wearing it. Then she realised the crown of roses was still pinned to her hair. Sadly, she took it down with some awkwardness due to her bandages and laid it on the chest at the foot of the great bed. A couple of the roses were somewhat crushed, and there was the one missing.

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” asked Mistress Reynolds.

Lyssa shook her head. “Thank you very much for your help, Mistress Reynolds.”

“It has been more than a pleasure,” the formidable woman smiled gently at Lyssa, then left her bedchamber, leaving the door open.

Lyssa peeked outside, but didn’t see Will. She returned to the chair by the window. She couldn’t curl up in it like she preferred to; she couldn’t even cross her legs. Gingerly, she stretched them out and propped them against the wall; she rested her hands palms up in her lap, looking out into the night sky, thinking.

Ten minutes later, she heard a soft knock on the open door. Lyssa turned around and saw Will standing hesitantly in the doorway.

“Come in.”

He walked in, closing the door gently behind him. He looked at her sitting in the great wooden chair that seemed to envelop her.

“I like that dress on you better anyway,” he said.

Lyssa laughed a little.

He went over to the chest and gently picked up the crown of roses, setting it carefully on the bed. Then he picked up the chest and moved it beside her chair to sit on. He looked up at her and asked, “Better?”

“You sitting at my feet like that, or my injuries?”

Will smiled slightly, “Are you feeling better?”

Lyssa nodded.

They were silent for several minutes. Then Will said, “I have noticed that you have lost that sparkle that I saw in the meadow. That spirit.” He looked down at his clasped hands, leaning his elbows on his knees. “I don’t want you to be unhappy. More than anything, I don’t want that. So… if you do not think you could be happy here, then I shall,” he heaved a deep sigh, “not hold you back.”

“I don’t know what this life is even like. I am so much of a country girl that I can’t even fathom how you live. But, I am adaptable. I have been known to make the best out of a situation. And I do want to be with you.”

Will looked up at her. “If, after giving it a try, you still cannot be happy, you must tell me.”

She nodded. “I will.”

He reached over and caressed her face. He leaned forward and she met him halfway, their lips meeting and softly caressing again and again. He pulled away only to begin planting gentle, feathery kisses on her face.

When they finally parted, Will said, “I suppose you don’t want to return to the ball to announce our engagement?”

Lyssa emphatically shook her head no.

“How would you like to announce it?”

She sighed. “I don’t know. But I would at least like to meet your parents before we announce it to the world. What if they don’t approve of me?”

“That’s impossible,” protested Will.

Lyssa fixed him with a serious glare.

Will heaved a sigh. “I shall speak to them first.”

“I couldn’t even meet them tonight. My ball gown is ruined and this is the only thing I have.”

“I fell in love with you in that dress.”

“You don’t count.”

“Didn’t you come prepared to meet the royal family?”

“Obviously not. Please, Will. Could we not keep us a secret?”

Will shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, dear. My life can’t be secret.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I can’t keep anything secret in my life. Everyone gossips about me.”

The look of dismay on Lyssa’s face made Will realise that he hadn’t been wise to say that.

“But you get used to it,” he quickly assured her.

Lyssa made an effort not to completely deflate each time she heard more about Will’s completely different life.

“Tomorrow,” said Lyssa. “I shall face your world tomorrow.”

Will looked at her anxiously, considering just running off with her to live in the meadow for the rest of their lives.

“What about your family?” he asked.

Lyssa sighed and looked out of the window.

“We can have them move here if you want,” he suggested.

“No. My father loves his farm, and … I’d prefer not to have my mother and younger sisters in easy visiting distance.”

“And your older sister?”

Lyssa looked at him, saying, “It would be of great comfort to have her here with me.”

He nodded. “Of course.” Then he added, “We can go and visit to tell them.” With a mischievous look he said, “We could walk there. But we’d have to sneak out of the castle together. It wouldn’t do for us to be seen.”

“How often do you sneak out of the castle?” she asked.

Will had enough conscience to look sheepish. “Probably too often.” He took one of her hands and played with the fingers that protruded from the bandage. “How long do you think we should wait to be wed?” he asked her.

“I don’t know. At home, couples are usually wed within a month, or after the busy season of planting or harvesting.”

“It’s expected that there be at least a six month engagement in the noble classes.”

“Six months?!”

Will looked at her worriedly.

“What will I do until then?”

Will now saw the difficulty. She was a stranger in his world and would be without his full guidance for six months. He also knew that with royal weddings the planning could take even longer. He began to see his castle in the air crumble.

Lyssa’s face showed fear and apprehension; it pulled at Will’s heart. She stood up, wincing a little, and went to lean on the windowsill. Will got up to stand beside her, draping his arm around her shoulders.

“Listen, here’s an idea for a plan,” Will began. “We won’t introduce you as my betrothed to anyone but my parents and Mistress Reynolds. You can stay here for a couple of days and I shall show you around, then we can both return to your home. I shall speak to your family and you will remain there for the duration of our engagement while I visit very often. When the time is near for our wedding, you can come here with your older sister. How does that sound?”

Lyssa turned to look at him. “I like that plan very much,” she replied softly. “But what will you tell the rest of the court?”

“We could say that I am marrying a woman from another kingdom, which would explain why you won’t appear in court before the wedding.”

She looked into his eyes, saying, “That is more deception.”

Will looked embarrassed. “You’re right. What do you suggest?”

Lyssa shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t like the idea of telling the truth. Perhaps we shouldn’t tell them anything.”

“People will want to know.”

“Let them be curious. You will just say you are engaged, but you’re not revealing who she is.”

“Is that what you want to do?”

“Do you think it would work?”

“For a while. We can try it.”

Lyssa nodded. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his waist. “Will.”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s only tell my father. If my mother found out, she would tell the entire kingdom. I shall let Jane, my older sister, know who you are, but I shall conceal your title from my three younger sisters and mother.”

Careful to keep his tone of voice neutral, Will asked, “Lyssa, isn’t that deception?”

“It’s necessary.”

Will yearned to point out her double standard, but decided not to. He didn’t want to start an argument. Besides, he had already admitted that he should have told her before they parted that late afternoon. He just said, “Whatever you wish.”

They stood embraced in front of the window for some time. Will would occasionally kiss her head, otherwise remaining silent and still. When he sensed her sleepiness, he said, “Why don’t you go to bed?”

She nodded and embraced him more tightly. He rubbed her back and stroked her hair. “Lyssa, why don’t you climb into bed and go to sleep?”

“Hmm hmm,” she murmured.

He gently pulled away from her, lifting her face to kiss her softly. “I shall say good night, my dear.”

Lyssa smiled at him drowsily. “Good night, Will.”

“Thank you for saying yes.”

They kissed once more, then Will left her bedchamber. Lyssa took off her outer dress and climbed into the gigantic four-poster bed. She felt lost in it, but her physical and mental exhaustion was such that she went to sleep within a few minutes.

Chapter Three

Posted on Saturday, 6 September 2003

Lyssa was woken the next morning by Mistress Reynolds. “Rise and shine, child.”

Lyssa stretched and suddenly recalled her surroundings and what had occurred the previous day. She looked down at her hand to see if it was true. Yes, there were the bandages and the bracelet.

Lyssa curled into a ball and put her head back on the pillow with a moan. She realized her life would never be the same again.

“His Highness is waiting to eat breakfast with you in the garden.”

Lyssa lifted her head to look at Mistress Reynolds. “You mean Will?”

The matron smiled and nodded.

“What hour is it?”

“Nearly nine.”

“I have nothing to wear but that same blue dress.”

“If you get out of bed, I shall measure you to have new gowns made today.”

“Oh, but….”

Mistress Reynolds put her hand up to refuse any protest. “His Highness has ordered me to see that you are properly outfitted and supplied with everything you need.”

Lyssa supposed she shouldn’t harp at the messenger, so she got up, careful not to scrape her knees, shins or hands on the great four-poster bed. She stood straight as Mistress Reynolds made quick work of measuring her with a knotted piece of rope. When she had finished, Lyssa washed her face in the warm basin of water provided for her and then put on her blue and yellow dress. She was beginning to think of it like a favourite childhood blanket.

“I have brought my ointments so that I may see to your wounds again.”

Lyssa considered this a command and promptly sat down in the wooden armchair and lifted her skirt to expose the tender scrapes on her legs. Mistress Reynolds gently massaged ointment on the raw flesh, and then unwound the bandages on Lyssa’s hands to smooth in some more ointment. When the balm had dried on her hands, Mistress Reynolds wrapped them in new bandages.

“If you are ready, I shall take you to your breakfast. His Highness gave his express wish that you be kept away from the court’s prying eyes .”

Lyssa nodded, still feeling a sense of fear in her stomach about being an impostor in this majestic lifestyle.

Mistress Reynolds led Lyssa through the hall to which her room let out, and then down a back staircase to the servants’ domain. Lyssa could smell the kitchen nearby and heard chatter out of a few rooms. Hurrying to catch up, Lyssa followed Mistress Reynolds down a small, winding staircase that opened into a beautiful garden. Winding through paths of rose and lilac bushes, crossing patches of soft, emerald grass, they eventually reached a small pond graced by three weeping willows. Beside the pond were a table and two chairs, on which a small breakfast was laid.

At first, Lyssa just admired the pleasant surroundings, but then a movement caught her eye, and she saw Will parting the draping branches of the nearest willow and walking towards her, a bright smile of delight on his face.

Lyssa returned the smile and went over to meet him. He took her left fingers in his and gently kissed her hand, before drawing her into his embrace. He looked at her, asking, “Did you sleep well?”

She nodded. “It felt like only ten minutes between the time I closed my eyes and when Mistress Reynolds woke me up. And then I thought all of yesterday was a dream.”

He began to kiss her face softly, saying, “It was no dream, however dreamlike it may feel.”

She moved to catch his lips with hers and they exchanged their first kiss that day. Just being with him again restored Lyssa’s confidence. When they parted, she sighed contentedly and rested her chin on his shoulder.

After a few moments, Will asked, “Shall we sit down to breakfast?”

Lyssa nodded. They parted and walked over to the table. Lyssa sat and rested her elbows on the table, leaning forward to gaze out over the peaceful pond and its surrounding garden.

“This is a lovely place,” Lyssa said quietly.

“It is. It’s one of my favourite parts of the garden.”

“I wonder why you escape to the meadow, then.”

“Because at the meadow, no one can disturb me. I’ve never taken anyone to see it before you.”

Lyssa was both surprised and extremely flattered. She started to entertain the question of how exactly she of all women caught his attention, but pushed it aside for a later time.

Will offered her some tea and she nodded. As he poured it, he said, “I spoke to my parents last night.” Lyssa swallowed and nodded. “First, I told them that I had chosen a bride, to which they were delighted to hear. Then I explained how I met you – I didn’t tell them any details about the meadow or anything. I told them about you and a little of your background. Enough for them to understand that I was going against the usual practice of choosing a bride from the nobility or neighbouring royalty.” Lyssa had begun to pick up her teacup, but decided she was shaking too badly to prevent a spill. “They would like to meet you. I did have to do some convincing that this is what I want. But I’ve put off finding a wife for so long, they don’t have much room to complain. They have given their permission on the condition of approving you first, which I don’t see as much of a problem.”

Lyssa licked her dry lips and asked, “A-and when would I m-meet them?”

“This evening in a private audience.”

“Oh.”

“You should have some gowns made for you by then.”

“Really?” Lyssa’s gowns had always taken several days to make, but then she hadn’t had an army of seamstresses to work on them.

“Meanwhile, I have every intention of spending the day with you. What would you like to do?”

“I think it would be best to do something quiet to avoid unwanted attention. While I would love for you to show me around the castle, I do not think it would be very wise.”

Will nodded sadly.

Lyssa took a pastry and began to spread blackberry preserves on one end. She smiled at him and said, “We could go blackberry picking.”

Will returned her smile. “If you want to. Or you could choose something we haven’t done already.”

“Would it be all right to walk around the surrounding countryside?”

“An even better idea is to ride.”

“Horses?”

“Well… unless you planned on riding donkeys.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

“The donkeys?”

“No,” she laughed. “Riding horses around the countryside.”

“I like the idea, too. We can bring a picnic lunch with us.”

Lyssa was determined to enjoy her time rather than let it be spoilt by her dread of that evening. The weather proved ideal for riding – breezy with the sun shining around puffy white clouds. As they rode, Will told her about the area; he told her its history, its main characters, and its habits. Somehow, he made her forget the impending royal meeting, he made her laugh, and she actually discovered she was enjoying herself.

They neared the castle as the sun set behind the hills, leaving a spectacular show of orange, purple and deep blue colours on the horizon. Lyssa decided to ask Will a question that had been at the back of her mind for some time. “Don’t you think this is sort of a rash decision?”

Will looked to his left at her, puzzled. “What is?”

“We’ve known each other only for two days. Do you not think it is foolish to make such a big decision like marriage – and your marriage as a prince makes it even more important – based on knowing a person for one day?”

Will nodded in understanding. “If you think about it, I got to know you five times more than any bride I would have picked from the ball.”

She had forgotten that he was supposed to have chosen his bride at the ball.

“Why didn’t your parents arrange a marriage for you? Isn’t that the usual way of things?”

“I… uh… put up a bit of a fuss when they suggested it.” He looked slightly sheepish.

She turned her keen eye on him, raising one eyebrow in the fashion he was growing to adore. He grinned mischievously.

“You’ve already seen how I like to escape the castle. I simply threatened to run away if they tried to arrange my marriage. But then, of course, it gave them the opportunity to push me into a marriage. The longer I put off choosing a bride, the more they began to plan an arrangement. The ball was actually a compromise.”

Another thought occurred to her – a horrible thought that would not go away once it had entered into her mind. She did not want to voice it. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer, and she didn’t know what good it would be to know the answer anyway. But the horrible thought still plagued her. Lyssa focused her gaze on the view of the road between her horse’s perked ears.

Though he had known her for so short a time, Will perceived something was bothering her. He waited, hoping she would tell him without his having to ask her. When the heavy silence continued for many minutes, Will gave in. He knew he was asking much of her to take this leap of faith for him. He already understood from the previous evening that she did not agree to marry him for her own ambition. Rather, she had agreed for his sake, and for the sake of what she felt for him – or what he hoped she felt for him.

“Lyssa,” he said.

She looked over at him questioningly. He held her gaze. She looked back down again, knowing what his look meant but not wanting to say anything.

Will maneuvered his horse close enough to hers to grab her hand in his left.

“Tell me.”

It sounded like a command, but a gentle one said in a tone that would allow her to disobey it only at the risk of disappointing him.

Now that she meant to express her horrible thought, she could not find a way to put it into a coherent stream of words. And even as she made the attempt she became more aware of how horrible it would be to express it. However, she did try and make him understand how she felt. “Am I…. Are you using me…” it sounded so much like an accusation. “Is your decision to marry me… an … act of rebellion and defiance against your parents?”

“No.”

That was all he said, but for some reason, his simple, honest, firm answer did more to convince her than any speech or shocked protestations.

He did elaborate further after a few moments, his tone low and earnest while his steady gaze held hers. “I had an escape plan all laid out. There was no way I was going to settle for a bride merely because it was convenient for my parents. I want someone who I can trust, enjoy, respect, and if I am lucky, love. It just happened that I found that person on the day my parents expected me to announce my decision.”

It seemed so unreal. She gazed at him, gauging his sincerity by his open expression. In another, distant part of her mind she wondered if it was a birthright that princes should be so handsome.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be. You have every right to be suspicious.”

“It wasn’t suspicion,” she protested. “I’m just… wary. And not a little disbelieving.”

“Do you trust me?” he gently asked.

“I will.”

“But not right now?”

“Give me some time. It takes time to build trust.”

They reached the path that led into the gardens.

“Wait here. I’ll ride in and get Mistress Reynolds to come and take you to your room.”

Lyssa understood the need to retain secrecy. Will leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry about this evening.”

Lyssa gave him a dubious look before he turned and made his way to the castle entrance. Lyssa dismounted and found a relatively smooth rock to sit on. She propped her head in her hands, avoiding the wounds, and tried to think about whether she had made a wise decision. Supposing she had said no, she would have missed him for sure, but she wasn’t sure if she would have forgotten him over time and then married happily in her province. Lyssa sighed. She had never exactly fit in with the populace there in the first place. And her mother was forever telling her to keep her pert opinions to herself. Maybe she wasn’t meant to live a provincial life. But then she considered palatial life. She didn’t think she fit in that society, either. Only when she considered Will did she feel like she belonged somewhere. He made her feel at ease and seemed to like her for who she was.

Lyssa stood up at the sound of footsteps coming through the garden’s gravel pathway. Mistress Reynolds appeared around the bend and smiled at her.

“Come along, my dear. We haven’t much time to get you ready.”

Lyssa felt the bottom of her stomach drop as she remembered the impending royal meeting. Her face must have shown it for Mistress Reynolds took her hand and patted it consolingly.

“You must show strength, child. Keep your head up, stand tall, and be proud of who you are.”

It was the best advice Lyssa could have received. It nudged her pride into action once more. Besides, what was the worst that could happen? The King and Queen would be displeased with what they saw and she would begin the journey home to her normal, provincial life. It was only then that Lyssa realized just how much she now wanted to stay with Will.

Lyssa meekly followed Mistress Reynolds through the servants’ entrance and through the halls to her chamber. A steaming bath was ready for her and Mistress Reynolds soon had Lyssa stripped of her clothes and cleaning off the day’s grime in the water.

Lyssa’s apprehension only grew as the preparations for her royal meeting progressed. Mistress Reynolds brought out a long, lovely gown of a soft, pale green. The dressmakers had only had time to embroider it with a winding vine pattern along the two princess seams on the bodice. Lyssa was grateful it was a dress she was comfortable wearing.

While Mistress Reynolds put Lyssa’s hair up into a delicate but beautiful arrangement on the top of her head, she explained the procedure of the meeting.

“The private audience chamber is on the fifth floor of the central tower. It is relatively small with two ordinary thrones by the fireplace.” Lyssa didn’t know there existed ordinary thrones. She knew only of extraordinary ones. “The King and Queen should stand when you come in. You must walk toward them and then when you’re a small distance away, you curtsey low, count to three seconds, and then say ‘Good evening, Your Majesties.’ After that… well… you’ll just have to improvise.”

Lyssa felt such pressure by this point she nearly whimpered from despair.

“Here, put these on to cover the wounds on your palms.” Mistress Reynolds handed Lyssa a pair of long, white cotton gloves that just covered the palms and went around her thumb. They concealed the wounds nicely.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Now, you look lovely, dear.” Lyssa carefully stood and moved away from the stool she’d sat on while Mistress Reynolds had fixed her hair. The woman sighed and smiled. “You really do look lovely.”

Lyssa’s confidence was somewhat boosted by this comment. “Thank you for all your help.”

“Well… it is in my interest to help you.”

Lyssa looked puzzled.

“Should you and His Highness get married, you would be my future Queen. I have seen enough nobles and people of all classes in my life to spot a character worth keeping. His Highness seems very happy with you and that is what would be best for this kingdom.”

Lyssa was not a little stunned at this speech. She now felt a sense of duty to her kingdom settle on her shoulders. It was a new feeling for her, but she now realized it was what was constantly weighing Will down. The more she could take on her shoulders, the less it would burden him.

Mistress Reynolds turned and opened the door. “Come along. Try and look casual, like you’re not going to meet your royal in-laws for the first time.”

Lyssa followed, keeping her head bowed and her eyes on Mistress Reynolds’ heels. Her gown flowed behind her elegantly as her soft, slippered feet moved across the marble and stone floors.

Finally, Mistress Reynolds stopped, asked her to wait for a few seconds and went inside a set of large dark paneled doors. Lyssa’s hands felt clammy and damp with sweat. She was thankful her gloves would disguise any evidence of her nervousness. She took a deep, slow breath and closed her eyes, imagining the meadow where she had become acquainted with her fiancé. It helped slightly.

The door opened and Mistress Reynolds beckoned her into the private audience chamber of the King and Queen. It was much larger than she expected, walls flanked by vibrant tapestries and a long, rich carpet leading to the huge fireplace at the end of the hall. On either side was a large wooden chair. Standing in front were the King and Queen, watching her carefully, steadily walk toward them. Beside the King’s chair, standing just in the shadow of the King, stood Will, smiling at her.

That, more than anything Mistress Reynolds had done or said, gave her the confidence she needed to walk forward with her head held high, stop ten feet from the royal couple and curtsey as low as she could without losing her balance. She looked at the carpet for three seconds, then rose gracefully to face them.

“Good evening, Your Majesties,” Lyssa said in a clear, firm voice.

“Good evening to you, my dear,” said the King.

He had called her ‘my dear,’ that must surely be a good sign. As she looked at him, the King had a gentle look on his rather austere countenance. His dark brown eyes, Will’s eyes, put her more at ease.

“It is nice to have the opportunity to get a closer look at you than we were afforded last night.”

Lyssa suddenly realized that they would have been present at the ball and witness to her rather ignominious flight. She dropped her eyes and felt the heat rise in her face.

“Yes,” she began. “I apologise for my hasty exit. I had been given… rather a fright.”

“I’m sure it would be,” the Queen spoke.

Lyssa wondered how much Will had told them. It did seem ridiculous that she would not have recognized the prince. But she doubted many peasants in the land would recognize any of the nobility without their usual trappings and finery.

The Queen gently suggested, “Why don’t we all sit down?”

Lyssa turned and saw that Mistress Reynolds had brought forward two more chairs and placed them in front of the thrones. Lyssa settled into one of them and only just remembered not to cross her legs and to keep her back straight.

“Fitzwilliam informs us that he has chosen you as his bride.”

Obviously the King wanted to get down to business, thought Lyssa. She glanced at Will and then replied, “Yes, he has informed me of that as well.”

This caused the King to give her a second, closer look, which Lyssa calmly returned. Finally, he continued, “You have grown up on a farm, have you not?”

“I grew up on an orchard, Your Majesty. My father’s estate produces various fruits and nuts.”

“Do you feel prepared to undertake such a position as the wife of the heir to the throne?”

“No, not yet. But I am adept at learning and adapting.” She paused, uncertain of how to refer to Will. She decided to just use the only name she knew him by. “Will has expressed confidence that I will do fine.”

“We understood you two to have been acquainted but two days.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“How can he have formed such a judgment of your abilities after such a short acquaintance?”

“I’m sorry sir, but you would have to ask him that yourself,” Lyssa replied firmly, feeling her irritation increase. For goodness’ sake, Will was sitting right beside her.

The King ignored her impertinent comment. “Do you yourself feel capable of fulfilling the role expected of you?”

Having now had a glimpse of the Queen, she had begun to assume that as a princess and queen she would be expected to remain quiet, passive and acquiescent. This was something she did not feel she would be able to do. Lyssa decided to continue diplomatically. “It depends on what is expected of me. I’m afraid I have no familiarity with the royal court.”

There was a long pause broken only by the crackling of the wood in the fire.

“You will be expected to bear children.”

“As far as I know, I am able to do so, Your Majesty,” Lyssa replied, her face becoming hot at such a subject.

“You must entertain visiting diplomats and nobility.”

“I have full control over my temper and manners under stress, Your Majesty,” Lyssa replied calmly, though she didn’t believe a word she said. She wondered what the punishment was for lying to the King.

He didn’t say anything for several moments. “The wedding would most likely be scheduled for next spring. What would you do in the meantime?”

Lyssa noticed that he kept talking in terms of possibilities. “I shall return to my father until such time I am required to be here. Only my father and my older sister would be made aware of my situation.”

“How much do you know of politics?”

“I am most familiar with politics dealing with the kingdom of Eos, which is very close to my father’s estate. And I have first-hand knowledge of politics in my province.” Lyssa slipped her hands into her sleeves, her right hand fingering the bracelet and coat of arms Will had given her. She had tried to return it to him that morning, but he had insisted she keep it. Now, it served to give her comfort, and she remembered Mistress Reynolds’ words to her earlier: she must show strength. Perhaps this entire interrogation was a test of her strength. Certainly if she displayed her composure under such pressure as this, visiting diplomats and nobility would be relaxing.

“Why did you agree to marry Fitzwilliam?”

To Lyssa, the answer seemed obvious. Then she reminded herself that the court was different from her home, where people generally only married for love. Still, she didn’t feel comfortable saying it aloud. She cleared her throat and resisted the incredible urge to squirm in her seat. Instead, she gripped her wrists tightly. She also didn’t want her reply to sound like she was marrying him merely because Will wanted her to.

“Will had become … dear to me and the prospect of spending my life with him was agreeable.” It sounded so cold to her ears. She wished Will wasn’t witness to this examination. She couldn’t wait to get out of the royal presence and relax into his arms. She ached to feel his embrace by this point. “The decision was not made lightly, I can assure you.”

The Queen spoke, then, so softly Lyssa almost didn’t hear her. “Do you want to do this?”

This time Lyssa did shift in her seat, avoiding the Queen’s piercing gaze. “I am willing to undertake a new life that intimidates me in order to remain by Will’s side, which is what I want.”

The Queen met the King’s gaze. The King stood and held his hand out to Lyssa. Tentatively, she put her hand into his. He lifted it and kissed it gently. “I look forward to getting to know you better when you become my daughter.”

Lyssa could hardly grasp his meaning. She managed to remain calm. “I reciprocate the sentiment, Your Majesty,” Lyssa said, standing up.

The Queen moved forward to Lyssa, put her hands on Lyssa’s shoulder, then leaned down to kiss both of Lyssa’s cheeks, smiling gently at her.

Lyssa must have had a dazed look on her face, for Will turned her face to his with a gentle hand on her cheek. He leaned down and kissed her softly and swiftly. Lyssa closed her eyes, savouring his touch. When they parted, Lyssa blushed to have been so intimate with him in front of the King and Queen.

To her surprise, however, the King was actually smiling. When he spoke, his countenance became grave once more. “Return to your father safely, and be wise during the interval between now and your wedding.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lyssa dipped a shallow curtsey to them before the King and Queen left the chamber. As the doors closed, leaving Lyssa and Will alone, she wanted to collapse in the chair with relief, but Will grabbed her waist and spun her around in circles laughing.

“Will!” she cried, gripping his strong shoulders as tightly as she could with her injured hands.

He set her down and kissed her firmly. “You were incredible!” he exclaimed.

She didn’t feel too much like celebrating, however. In fact, she felt her ire rising. “Could you not have warned me they would interrogate me like that? I wanted to just snap at them and tell them it was all your doing anyway.” Lyssa rubbed her forehead and eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Lyssa looked up at him warily. “Did you know it was going to be like that?”

“Not exactly, no.”

She wanted to be annoyed with him for putting her in such a difficult situation, but she couldn’t find the energy. Instead, she said, “Please don’t do that again.”

“Do what?”

“Lead me into a situation unprepared for what you knew I was to face.”

Will did begin to look somewhat sorry. “I will try to do better.”

Lyssa was finally able to sink into the chair behind her, resting her head in her hand. She kept her eyes closed, breathing in deeply, trying to contain her passionate emotions. They seemed to be feuding inside of her. She wanted to be angry with Will for the ordeal, angry at the King and Queen for being so cold, relief that it was over, happiness that the last barrier to the marriage had been removed, but also fearful and apprehensive over agreeing to a role she now did not feel anxious to take on.

Will noticed her subdued mood. He knelt beside her and asked softly, “Are you angry with me?”

Lyssa sighed. “I’m trying not to be.”

“Why are you so upset? You succeeded in winning my parents’ approval.”

Lyssa then discovered what was bothering her. She stood up suddenly and strode rapidly to the fire, turning and nearly clenching her hands in order to rein in her escaping temper. She spoke rapidly in clipped tones. “I did not exactly come to the castle with designs of becoming your wife. You remember: I was convinced I wouldn’t get near the prince and had no illusions about it whatsoever. I didn’t welcome the opportunity to become your wife with open arms. You had to use your powers of persuasion. This hasn’t been easy for me, it is something I am apprehensive about, but … I care for you and have faith in you enough to trust that this is something I should do. It was therefore disappointing, not to mention hurtful, to be treated by your parents as if I were some girl whose very designs from the crib were to catch you as my husband merely to have the prestige.”

Will walked slowly over to her and took her fingers into his hands, a gentle expression on his face. He waited several moments before he spoke, waiting for her distressed face to relax. Looking at her intensely, he said, “I’m sorry. I am fully aware that you are no such young woman. You are remarkable in more ways than just that. But you must understand that my parents have a duty to be cautious, not only for my sake, but for the sake of the kingdom. You also have no idea what kind of an impression you made on them.”

She snorted tearfully. “What? A bad one?”

“No! Quite the opposite, I assure you! You were diplomatic and didn’t allow my father to fluster you. You didn’t divulge any information you didn’t want to. You behaved impeccably, but at the same time showed them that you could be strong enough against the nobles and politicians of this court. They were impressed with you. They didn’t expect me to find someone so well suited for me and to be Queen.”

Lyssa couldn’t believe it. She just simply was skeptically incredulous. She wiped her damp cheeks with one hand. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”

“I can assure you I am not,” Will replied in such a firm tone with a hint of resentment at being so accused that Lyssa felt compelled to believe him. His offended expression relaxed into one of concern. He pulled her into his embrace and bowing his head so his mouth was next to her ear, he whispered, “As sure as I love you, you will suit the role of my wife. You are exactly what I need.”

She sniffed and whispered back, “What about what I need?”

“What do you need? Tell me,” he implored.

“I need a haven of happiness and love. You are not an island. You belong to a family. If I were happy with you and at odds with your family, I would be unhappy and discontent.”

“My parents will learn to love you as they do me. Just give them time. I’m sorry they did not welcome you with open arms. That’s just not how they are.”

Lyssa knew she was being silly. What kind of king and queen would they be if they did just let her waltz in and marry their son when they knew so little of her? Especially when what little they did know was so dubious. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried a little more. He felt her short breaths and heard her sniff. Holding her more tightly, he rubbed her back and whispered to her, “It’s all right. Don’t fret any more. I know this has been difficult for you. I wish I could have made it easier.”

After several minutes, she managed to pull herself together. She pulled away and wiped her face. Will took it in both his hands, looking down at her a little from his height. He wiped some tears from her cheeks and looked into her brown eyes. He gazed at her several moments before leaning down to kiss her ever so gently. When he pulled away, he said, “I have someone I would like you to meet – someone who will welcome you with open arms.” Will smiled wryly. “He greets everyone with open arms. Wait here.”

Will released her and walked rapidly out of the hall. Lyssa sighed shakily, using her glove to wipe her face off and try to compose herself enough to receive company. She sat down on the stone hearth in front of the fire, feeling the comforting warmth emanating from the shimmering embers. She became entranced – mesmerized – by the flickering cinders. It was difficult imagining her future at this point in time. She couldn’t imagine her life as a princess here in the castle. But she also could not imagine returning to continue her old life like it had been.

Lost in her thoughts, she did not hear Will enter the hall with his guest. They walked toward the fireplace, their footfalls muffled by the carpet. Will’s pace slowed as he neared her. She looked like a vision as she sat there, the fire’s soft glow lighting her serene countenance.

“Lord, Will, she’s lovely!” he heard his friend breathe in his ear.

That she was. The comment, however, brought him back to himself. He moved toward her and she looked up, startled.

“I’m sorry,” she laughed a little. “I was … thinking.”

“Drowning in thought, I would say. I thought I’d lost you,” Will teased, helping her to her feet. “Allow me to introduce you to my most trusted and beloved friend, Charles Bailey.”

Lyssa curtseyed to the tall, dashing, blonde man. Charles Bailey bowed low to her in turn, then straightened with a grin on his face. “Forgive me, my lady, if I am not yet coherent. If I didn’t know Will never fooled people, I would most certainly believe he was trying to fool me by telling me he is engaged. I am still quite in shock.”

Lyssa smiled at him. “I confess, I am still not over the shock myself. It may take me several years to absorb the truth of it. And what do you do for the prince that he calls you his most trusted and beloved friend?”

“Ah… clean after his messes, would you not say so, my Lord?” Charles turned to Will with a mischievous look.

“Among other things,” Will added dryly. With a more serious look, he told Lyssa, “Charles runs important errands of state on my behalf, he is my fencing partner, and he is my bodyguard.”

“I also stand in for him at social events he wishes to avoid at all costs,” added Charles. “I have played the prince to numerous visiting diplomats and royalty.”

“I’m sorry,” Lyssa replied gravely. “I had no idea you were so essential to him. We must become great friends, then.”

Charles took her outstretched hand and bowed over it, kissing it gallantly, but not flippantly. “I would do me great honour, my lady.”

“Oh goodness! Do not call me that for I am no lady,” she protested laughingly.

Will opened his mouth to object, but Charles replied, “I use it more as a mark of respect and a result of the person I see before me, not as a title.”

Lyssa was chagrined to feel herself blushing. “Thank you,” she mumbled.

Will suddenly sat down in his father’s chair, looking every bit the rightful resident, and gestured to the two chairs in front of him. “Sit down, for we have much to discuss.”

Charles and Lyssa obediently sat down, this time Lyssa allowed herself to cross her legs, though a bit gingerly as a result of her still-painful wounds on her knees.

Will began. “I told you, Charles, that Lyssa lives on an orchard in a small province in the southeast corner of the kingdom. We have decided that it is best for her to return to her father’s estate for the duration of our engagement. Indeed, no one even knows about the engagement but Mistress Reynolds and my parents. We must keep it secret for Lyssa’s safety. I shall visit Lyssa and will write to her.”

Charles nodded as if he already understood why Will was telling him this and what was expected of him. “Shall I accompany you to the province in order to learn the way?”

“We leave tomorrow morning.”

“Very good, Your Majesty.”

“Wait a moment,” Lyssa put it. “It must be a good day’s ride to my home. You cannot expect Charles to do so much traveling just to be our messenger.”

“Lyssa, if we are to keep our relationship secret and secure, we must be confident that our correspondence does not fall into the wrong hands.”

“Do not worry, my lady. It will not take me as long as you believe. I would have fast horses at my disposal at ready intervals. These delicate tasks are my purpose.”

Lyssa still did not feel comfortable, but understood their reasoning for its necessity.

Charles stood and said, “If we are to make a journey tomorrow, I have several things to attend to. We shall have the opportunity to talk and discuss tomorrow. If you will excuse me my Lord, my lady,” Charles bowed, “I shall say good night.”

“Good night, my friend.”

“Good night, sir.”

Charles stopped and turned on his heel after several steps. “And may I say congratulations to you both. I am sure you will make a wonderful King and Queen together.”

When the man had left the hall, Will turned to Lyssa. “So?”

“So what?” asked Lyssa, puzzled.

“What do you think of him?”

“He seems a delightful man, and it does my mind great ease to know he befriends and protects you.”

“He is handsome is he not?”

In an offhand way, Lyssa said, “Hmm… I suppose so, but he is more my sister Jane’s taste than mine.”

“Hmm.”

Lyssa looked sharply at him. Suddenly, she shot up from her chair and began to walk as rapidly as she could to the door of the chamber.

Confused, Will called after her. “Lyssa?”

She ignored him and kept on walking, nearly running. Will did run to catch up to her before she reached the door. He leaned on the huge wooden portal as she tried to pull it open enough to escape through it.

Grabbing her wrists and pulling her in front of him, he asked, “Lyssa! What is the matter?”

“It angers me enough that you do not know. It means you are becoming mentally lax.”

Will looked stunned.

Seeing his continued ignorance, Lyssa snapped, “What was that last question about? You asked me if I thought your friend handsome. Why would you ask me that if you did not doubt my faithfulness to you? What man asks about his friend’s appearance unless it bothers him in some manner?”

“No, you are wrong.”

“Am I? Will, that is horrid!” Her face showed her revulsion. “In fact, perhaps this is for the best. Here,” she took off the chain and seal from her wrist, stuffing it into his hand. “Don’t bother about an escort tomorrow. I’m quite capable of traveling on my own.”

She pulled open the massive door with some effort, but Will slammed it shut before she could slip through. She stepped back away from the door and kept her eyes focused stubbornly on the brass door handle.

Silence engulfed them for several minutes.

“If you are so quick to become jealous of your ‘most trusted and beloved friend,’ what will become of you when I must entertain the court, some of them quite determined and experienced womanizers? Not only is it the deepest insult you could give me, it is also most wounding to your best friend!”

“Lyssa, please,” Will began. “I did not know what I meant when I said it. It just came out. It was a silly, irrational thought that escaped my mental doorkeeper and passed through my mouth. I know in my heart of hearts that the idea of you and he betraying me is preposterous. But you must understand that Charles has had a way with women since we became men. I never minded before. Only now, I did wonder if you would not have preferred him had he found you first. Would you have been more eager to leave your province for him?”

“If you were being assailed with doubts of your own worth and my devotion to you, why did you not ask me outright, instead of insinuating through deceptive questions?”

“I should have said something directly to you, I see that,” Will replied with shame.

“Good. I’m glad you do. How long do you think we’ll last if you become jealous at the tiniest provocation? You must trust me, or else our union will fail, and I shall retreat sooner rather than later to ensure that I have time enough to get a new position in life.”

“I understand and you are perfectly right. I shall not make erroneous and damaging assumptions about you.”

“No, it must go beyond that. Don’t just not make them, don’t even think of them. Just trust me. And if you have doubts, you must tell me of them so I might put you straight before the thought eats at your mind.”

Will nodded, looking properly humbled, not attempting to speak.

Lyssa sighed gustily and rubbed her eyes with one hand. “And I must learn to control my temper,” she muttered.

Neither said anything for several minutes, both wondering how to proceed with the other. Finally, Lyssa moved toward him, reached up to cup his cheek with one hand and kissed him softly. “You forgive me?” he whispered.

“I must,” she replied.

He captured the hand on his face, pulling it down. “Then may I return this to its rightful place?” He held the chain and seal in his other hand.

“Are you sure this is wise? I mean, this is like your badge of office.”

“You don’t have one yet, and I shall have another one made for my use. It means a lot to me for you to wear this.” He clasped the chain around her wrist.

“How will I explain this to my friends and family at home?”

“Have you had any ideas on how to explain any of this to them? You’ll have to explain why a handsome young man travels a great distance to visit you.”

“I could say I’m engaged but to a man who works in the castle.”

“Yes.”

“But doing what? What do you do here in the castle, my dear fiancé?”

“Um… I work as a butler?”

“Don’t ask me, I have no idea what people do in this place.”

“All right then. You’re engaged to a butler.”

“And this seal is merely …”

“…Merely the only family heirloom I own and gave to you as a token of my devotion.”

“What is your name, my beloved butler?”

“I should think it best for you to call me Will. Nobody will think Fitzwilliam from that.”

Lyssa nodded. She reached up and slid her arms around his neck, resting her head against his shoulder. Will wrapped his arms around her body. “It’s been a long day and we have another long one tomorrow. You should get to sleep.”

“Hmm….”

“Come on, Lyssa.”

She reluctantly pulled away and kissed his cheek. “Lead the way to my room, then.”

“I daren’t. Let me fetch Mistress Reynolds.”

Lyssa waited until Will returned with Mistress Reynolds.

“Good night, Will,” she said, then followed Mistress Reynolds to her chamber where she crawled gratefully into her bed. But she could not sleep for a good hour for all the thoughts that swirled in her head.

Chapter Four

Posted on Monday, 15 September 2003

Mistress Reynolds woke Lyssa early the next morning as the sun was just rising in the east. She had already packed her sack with food and the few belongings she came with. Her blue and yellow dress was already laid out and waiting for her.

Lyssa slid out of the huge bed and asked Mistress Reynolds, “What is to become of the gowns that have been ordered for me?”

“They shall be stowed away safely to await your return, my lady. And I’ve put some extra bandages for your hands into your bag.”

“Thank you.”

Lyssa dressed and had her hair put up. Then Mistress Reynolds led her through the servants’ halls and out a side entrance into the garden. They walked through the garden to the back entrance that led to the road east.

“They shall be along to meet you shortly.”

“Thank you ever so much, Mistress Reynolds.” Lyssa hugged the woman who patted her shoulder awkwardly.

“There, there. Very well. His Highness has impressed me suitably with his choice of bride. I think you will do very well as his wife. I know you will keep him in line.”

Lyssa smiled and nodded.

“Be safe, my dear.”

Mistress Reynolds left her standing alone at the edge of the garden. Lyssa turned around and surveyed as much of the castle and grounds as she could see from her position. She tried to commit as much of it to memory as she could. Presently, she heard the sounds of several horses coming up the road.

Will and Charles appeared, riding tall on their horses. Charles led a third horse behind him which appeared to be a packhorse, carrying four saddle bags. When they reached her, both men dismounted. Will drew her to him and kissed her softly.

“Good morning.”

Smiling at him mischievously, she returned the greeting.

Looking at her suspiciously, he asked, “What is it?”

“What?”

“You look like you’re up to something.”

“Nothing that you aren’t up to as well. I find it rather amusing the three of us stealing away from the castle like outlaws.”

Charles snorted. “You didn’t see us trying to hide the fact from the stable boys that we were saddling this old girl with a lady’s side saddle. They are nosy little buggars.”

Will cleared his throat pointedly.

“Oh, pardon my language, my lady,” Charles hastily added.

“Good grief! I’ve heard far worse than that from my little sister. You need not consider my ears so delicate. I probably know more swear terms than His Highness here.”

Charles laughed. “Would you teach me some?”

“Charles!” exclaimed Will.

“Come off it, Will,” scolded Lyssa. “If you don’t want to listen you don’t have to.” She caught his eye and raised one warning eyebrow. “You’re not going to turn overprotective of me are you?”

“No,” he grumbled.

Will went to move the saddlebags from the third horse to theirs. Charles moved to help, then put her own sack behind the saddle. Will lifted her up onto the saddle so she was settled.

“I hate riding side saddle,” she muttered.

“You can sit astride once we’ve left this province.”

Charles and Will mounted their horses and the three set forth along the road. They soon turned left onto a rocky path through the woods in order to avoid the busier high road.

It took several minutes for Lyssa to get comfortable. She had always disliked riding side saddle. Not only did she feel quite unsafe, perched precariously on top of a moving animal, but she also felt uncomfortable.

For the first half hour, Lyssa told Charles about swear words, her sisters, and then the various interesting neighbours in the region she lived in. Will listened contentedly in silence. He was happy with her. Every so often she would turn and catch his eye and smile brightly, lifting his heart as she did so. He wished he could hold her hand, kiss her, hold her, not let her go. While he knew the plan of leaving her safely, anonymously with her family was necessary, he disliked it more and more as they drew closer to her province.

When there was a lull in the conversation, Will suggested, “Why don’t we get our stories straight?”

Charles and Lyssa looked at him in amused puzzlement. Realising that they hadn’t been privy to his inner train of thought, he explained, “How are we going to explain this whole scheme to the public? Who am I to your family and neighbours? Who is Charles and what’s his relation to you and me? How are we going to have me marry you without it turning into a fiasco? Things like that.”

“Oh,” said Lyssa. Then gave it some thought for several moments. “Well… we’ve already decided that you’re a butler in the castle.”

“What am I, then?” asked Charles.

“You can’t be his servant of anything.”

“Could I be a friend?”

“A friend who rides fifty leagues to deliver letters?” snorted Lyssa.

“What do you suggest, since you’re the cunning one?” asked Will.

“Why could he not be a messenger to Lord Albester?”

“Who is Lord Albester?” asked Will.

“Aren’t you supposed to know your own court?”

“Yes, but it doesn’t mean I do.”

“He’s the lord of my province.”

“If he claims he is a messenger to Lord Albester, then he would actually have to deliver messages to him.”

“Don’t you have messengers to and from the castle?”

“Yes, but not ones that only go to and from one place.”

“How convincing does this story have to be?” asked Lyssa.

“Pretty convincing,” Charles spoke up gravely.

“Why?” she asked.

“For your safety – both of you. There should be no doubts and no ties between you leaking out.”

“You’re not getting a bit paranoid, are you Charles?” said Lyssa.

“No, my lady. It is my job to think of these things, and I have made it my livelihood to do so.”

His tone of voice and the look on his face made Lyssa realize that she was putting herself in some danger by linking herself with Will. The thought was a sobering one, but did not give her fear. Rather, it made her consider her position more seriously, adding more weight of responsibility to her shoulders.

“What do you advise?”

“I think the messenger idea is a good one. But to make it convincing, it should be partially true. I shall take up the position of a messenger, deliver messages like I am supposed to, but I shall drop in on your farm frequently.”

“What is your excuse for doing that?”

“I shall have befriended you of course.”

Before Will could protest this, Lyssa hurriedly said, “I have a better idea. Why don’t you befriend one of my sisters? If I am engaged, it would hardly be proper for you to visit me so frequently. If you were seeking my sister, however, it would be seen as perfectly natural.”

“I could never give such a false impression to your sister.”

“She need have no illusions. Jane is my confidant and I have every intention of telling her the truth about what has happened at the castle. Her and my father. You needn’t mind about deluding my other sisters and mother. Mother will be absolutely delighted, and will most likely give you every opportunity to advance your relationship with Jane.”

Will added, “And I would feel a lot easier if you were checking in on Lyssa regularly, Charles. I shall visit as often as I am able without raising suspicion.”

“All right?” asked Lyssa.

Charles still seemed hesitant.

“We can ask Jane her opinion of the plan if you are still unsure.”

“All right. What about the rest of the court?” asked Charles.

“Why can’t I be who I am?”

“Apart from making your political career difficult from the beginning,” Will said caustically, “It could also make things difficult for your family. You’ve already expressed a wish not to have your family moved to the castle.”

“It wouldn’t work to say I’m from somewhere else, would it?”

“No, that would prove difficult. People would investigate wherever we said you were from.”

“We can’t fabricate an entire history for me, could we?”

Will shook his head. No one spoke for a while, each thinking and considering various options.

After discussing several different ideas, the trio decided to put the issue aside for a while. They dismounted and rested the horses at midday, eating a small lunch from the saddlebags.

Lyssa, enjoying her time with Will while it lasted, was in her element, lying in the field by the side of the road. The sky was fairly overcast, but it was still dry.

Lyssa wrinkled her nose in distaste at the apple she had been provided. Will chuckled at her.

“Just you wait until we get home. I’ll show you some apples unsurpassed in the kingdom,” she stated.

“You will, huh?”

She nodded emphatically.

The sky continued to darken as they continued their journey south. Finally, Charles asked, “Shall we find shelter before it rains or shall we continue on?”

“Where do you intend to find shelter?”

“At the next village there should be an inn.”

“That would be an excellent way to bring attention to ourselves,” Lyssa said. “Why don’t we just find an old barn?”

Lyssa realised then that the prince and his bodyguard had probably never taken shelter in an abandoned barn before.

She slapped the reins onto her horse’s neck and nudged her forward. “I’ll find one for us. Hurry up or we’ll be wet.”

Nevertheless, it was beginning to pour steadily when Lyssa spotted a structure on a hill top above the road. She turned her horse from the road and began breaking a path through thick underbrush. She glanced behind her to see Will and Charles following.

Ten minutes later, she dismounted and opened the double doors with some difficulty due to their long disuse. She led her horse inside and took her sack off of him. She set it out to dry, shaking her thick, woolen cloak to dry off. It was quite dark inside the barn, but there were enough holes in the wooden siding to let in enough light to see by.

Will and Charles walked in leading their mounts and waited for their eyes to adjust to the gloom.

After taking a long look around, Will said, “This beats a suite at an inn any day.”

“If you don’t like it, you can keep riding in the rain,” Lyssa snapped.

“Hey, I wasn’t being sarcastic. I’ve never roughed it like this.”

“There’s always a first for everything.”

“Are you all right with this, Charles?” Will asked.

“Definitely. I’m more used to sleeping out in the open with the elements.”

“We passed other barns earlier, how did you know this one was abandoned?” Will queried Lyssa.

“Because of the neglect of the fields surrounding it. You noticed the brush we had to come through.”

Charles looked at Will and said, “She’s good.”

Will grinned.

Lyssa brushed at the floor with her feet and settled down on the dirty floor. She looked up at the two men still standing rather awkwardly. “It’s not going to get any cleaner. Come on, just sit down and relax while you have the opportunity.”

Will sat down beside her while Charles relieved the horses of their burdens.

“Are you hungry? Should we eat now?” asked Lyssa.

“How long do you think we’ll be here?”

“Judging by the weather, I think it would be best for us to spend the night here.”

“Then we should wait until we’re hungry to eat.”

“Hence my first question,” answered Lyssa, drolly.

“Oh. No, I’m not.”

“Good. Now you can teach me.”

Will looked at her blankly. “I’m sorry. Teach you what?”

“Teach me what I shall need to know.”

“For what?”

“As your wife.”

“Um…” Will began to look uncomfortable. “Like what?”

“The politics of the court. Who should I watch carefully and who is good to have as an ally. That sort of thing.”

“Oh! Right!” Will looked considerably relieved.

Noticing his look, Lyssa smirked and asked, “What did you think I meant?”

Will flushed. “Nothing.”

From the look she gave him, she let him know that she was quite aware it wasn’t nothing, but she left him alone.

“I’m going to take the horses outside so they might eat before nightfall.”

He walked out of the barn into the pouring rain, leading the three horses. As soon as he was gone, Will leaned toward Lyssa and kissed her softly but firmly. He pulled away a little and murmured, “I’ve wanted to do that all day.”

Lyssa’s surprised face relaxed into a smile, and she leaned forward to kiss him more firmly. Will’s hand crept to her nape while she held his face in hers. When she felt herself getting carried away by the feelings he seemed to evoke in her, he pulled away. Breathing faster than usual, he said in a low voice, “I suppose it’s a good thing Charles is here to chaperone us.”

Lyssa chuckled softly. “I’d hardly call Charles a suitable chaperone.”

“Well… he’s better than nothing.”

Lyssa asked him seriously, “You wouldn’t … if we were alone … would you?”

Will sighed. “Of course not. Charles just makes it easier not to.”

Lyssa shifted closer to him so she could wrap her arms around him and rest her head on his shoulder. He clasped her as a nasty thought entered his mind. Remembering the last time he’d offended her, he decided to ask her honestly.

“Lyssa?”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve never…. Have you ever loved….”

“No.”

“No?”

She pulled away to look him in the eyes. “I’ve never loved anyone before. I was… not suitable for a country wife, so no man ever seemed tempted to seek my hand.”

“For which I am heartily grateful,” he murmured.

She smiled at him.

Will saw Charles returning, and pulled away from her after quickly kissing her nose.

“I’m not sure who are the best allies in the court, but I have a veritable list of people to avoid.”

“But isn’t that list going to include people who merely wanted you to marry their daughter?”

“Of course. Which makes it an excellent list for you, since I am positive you will have no friends among those people.”

“True,” she admitted ruefully.

“Besides, by the time you arrive at the castle, it is likely that the whole political situation will have changed anyway.”

Using her sack as a pillow, Lyssa lay down, crossing her ankles as she said, “Tell me more about politics in the castle.”

“You really want to know?” asked Will, slightly surprised.

“Yes, I do,” she replied seriously. “Not only does it interest me, but it also makes me feel more prepared.”

“All right, then.” Will settled himself more comfortably facing her. His face was more business-like than she could ever remember seeing it before. “There are essentially three factions in the kingdom. There are the falcons, the rabbits, and the turtles.”

Lyssa laughed. “Are you joking?”

With an earnest face, Will shook his head. “No. I’m perfectly serious. The falcons seem to itch for war. Right now they think we should invade Windham. The rabbits are completely passive, and believe we should allow Handerly its independence. Then the turtles are so indecisive and slow to act they never get anything done.”

“Are you just using those names to make it easier for me to remember?”

“No. They’re unofficially referred to by these names in court. Because the three groups aren’t exactly grouped neatly into active parties, they don’t really have official names. For example, there is a group of falcons who are almost malicious about wanting to go to war. There is a group that just think it’s the right thing to do for the glory of the kingdom and all that, and then there is a group which thinks it’s necessary to invade in order to protect ourselves. So you see it’s not as simple as it seems.”

“What are you?”

Charles snorted. “Turtle,” he mumbled so low that Lyssa wondered if that was truly what he said. When Will shot him a glowering look, she guessed that she had.

She grinned at him. “You’re a turtle, eh?”

“No, I’m not,” Will protested.

“What are you then?”

“It is possible for one to be a mixture of the sentiments, and not purely a rabbit or purely a falcon.”

“That’s right,” said Charles. “They’re called turtles.”

“Charles!” snapped Will.

Charles merely smiled innocently.

Lyssa nudged Will’s thigh with her foot. “Continue.”

“It depends on the issue that is being debated,” he hedged.

“Like what? Tell me about some of the debates right now.”

“Some of the falcons believe we should control the northern tip of Windham – basically from the Arnclivian border north to the Arcadian border.”

“Why?”

“It would give us a border with Roble as well as Arncliffe.”

“So what?”

“It means we could trade with them without having to go through another kingdom and pay taxes and be subject to security problems there.”

“Oh, I see.”

“It’s a decent idea except for the fact that Windham rather likes its Northern Province.”

“I could imagine.”

“No, they particularly like this province because it is rich with minerals.”

“Why is our reason for gaining that province to do with trade and not the minerals?”

“Ah! See, now you’re thinking like a courtier.”

“I don’t think I like that much,” Lyssa said, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

“A lot of the nobles who favour the idea of taking over that chunk of Windham are nobles from provinces sharing a border with northern Windham, or very near it. This would mean they would have much easier access to those minerals, and definitely the nobles on the border would want to invade just to enlarge their provinces with the land from north Windham.”

“Makes sense. So why the ruse about trade routes?”

“As long as these falcons say they want north Windham for trade routes, it sounds like a reason much more to do with the welfare of the kingdom as a whole, not just for their own gain.”

“Ah, yes, I see.”

“While espousing the more selfless reason of trade routes, they gain more allies.”

“Yes, they would. What is stopping them from conquering that province, then?”

“Windham. You can imagine that with a province so rich in minerals, they would have plenty of protection established there. They have several formidable castles dominating the hilly countryside, and fiercely loyal subjects living and working there.”

“Does seem to present a difficulty.”

“As well,” Will continued, “You can imagine that both Arcadia and Roble would not be too pleased with us taking it if they seek it, too. They’d rather Windham keep control than let us have it.”

“Why?”

“We would control more strictly. We wouldn’t sell nearly as much of the minerals to them as Windham does since we have more need of it in our kingdom. Actually, one plan several years ago, had been to marry me off to Princess Karina of Windham with the condition that north Windham be her dowry.” Will grinned. “But I got out of that one.”

Lyssa didn’t smile. Instead, she took off her bandages to inspect her hands. Some of her wounds had reopened from using the reins all day.

“It’s all right,” Will assured her. “It wasn’t like I wanted to marry her.”

“I know.”

Will figured out that that wasn’t what bothered her. “What is it then?” he asked.

“What is what?”

“What’s bothering you?”

“Nothing,” she said innocently.

“It’s not nothing.”

“No, really.”

Will didn’t say anything. He just sat there and watched her avoid him, waiting patiently for her to explain her ire.

Finally she said in a low voice, “I don’t have a dowry. My father couldn’t afford to since he has five daughters.”

“I know that.”

“But… surely your marriage would do so much more good for the kingdom if you married someone with a dowry like Princess Karina’s.”

“First of all, Princess Karina’s dowry was not north Windham which is the reason why the marriage didn’t go through. And second of all, you are assuming that I would go along with such a marriage. The whole reason for the ball was because I refused to cooperate with an arranged marriage.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that it would be much better for the kingdom for you to marry a lady with a dowry to bring to Shire.”

“Shire has more need of a good queen than a lady with a dowry.”

“There have to be ladies in all these kingdoms who have a dowry and would make much better queens that I shall be.”

“But I would not love them. I would not be a happy king. And an unhappy king is the worst thing of all for a kingdom.” Will shifted to sit right beside her torso, leaning over her with a hand on either side of her shoulders. In a low voice he continued, “With you, however, I am happy. With you I feel energized and empowered to do something for the kingdom.” She looked up at his eyes burning into hers. “How can you not admit this is vitally important and beneficial to Shire? At least better than a dowry bringing something the kingdom does not necessarily need. Besides, there was no guarantee what the lady brought as her dowry was going to be the Northern Province in Windham. Often, the ladies brought furniture or carpets for their dowries. Marrying you is the best decision I have ever made as the Prince of Shire.” He leaned down and kissed her firmly, softly … slowly.

Lyssa, aware of Charles’ proximity, laid a gentle hand on his cheek and lightly pushed him away. She held his eyes as she delicately traced the features of his face. She decided he had too many worry lines and too few laughter lines. She hoped to do something about that.

“Help me sit up?” she asked him.

He pulled away reluctantly, and pulled her up by the waist. Lyssa rummaged in her sack and found the ointment Mistress Reynolds had given her for her hands. Will took it from her, and gently, deftly applied the ointment to her hands for her.

Charles began to lay out food for their supper, beginning a conversation on Lyssa’s family and the orchards.

Soon after supper, Lyssa announced that she was going to sleep. She lay down, using her sack to pillow her head and her now-dry woolen cloak to keep her warm. She was lulled to sleep by the soft, deep murmur of her fiancé and Charles’ voices.

Continued In Next Section