The Big Day

"What does she know, Sire?

"She must think that I have an interest in you. I just don't know how she knows"

"She can't possibly know that, Sire, can she?"

He stands up and starts to pace around the room. Then he stops and sits next to you, holding your hand.

"Lady Winters, I need to know....do you want to be with me as much as I need to be with you?"

You look up at him with your brows knit. You put your hand on his chest.

"Your Highness, this past week made me think a lot about what I want and every time it all circled back to you. So if you're asking me if I want to be in your life and by your side then the answer is yes, Sire"

His face turns again into that beautiful smile you've come to love. Then he gets up and starts to pace again.

"Then, milady, we'll have to distance ourselves from each other. I have a plan to get out of my betrothment but if we don't do it right....there will be no chance for us to be together....ever"

"Sire, are you sure you have a way for us?" He kneels down on the floor next to you. He gazes in your eyes.

"I will do everything in my power to see to it, that I see you every day of every minute of every second and to be able to have you by my side. I have a plan but it might take a while to do it. This plan will require of us to separate from each other and, that, I can swear to you now, might kill me to stay away from you"

You see the earnestness of his words glint in his eyes.

"I understand the seriousness of this plan and the implications of it. Therefore, I have to go now or else, I might never want to leave"

His shoulders drop and his eyes fill with sadness but he doesn't give his feelings away. He doesn't say a word. You stand up and take your clothes to put it on. When you come back he's standing at the window, staring. He doesn't turn around.

"Maybe it's for the best that we leave now. I can't be seen getting back to the castle at an ungodly hour but I would like to ask you for one more thing before you leave"

"Of course anything. What's your wish, Sire?"

He walks closer to you. You feel the beating of your irregular heartbeat. You inhale sharply when he stops an inch from your lips.

"If I may just taste your lips one last time?" Your words come out a soft moaning whisper.

"You may, Sire..."

He starts to kiss your bottom lip and then his soft lips cover yours. His hand comes up to the small of your neck and his hand plays in your hair. Your entire being is filled with passion and need for this man. You get hold of his shirt and grab fists full of it, pulling him closer. He groans and pulls away from you. He put his forehead against yours.

"I honestly don't know how I'm going to do this....not being able to...to...be close to you"

"Sire, I wish we had another way-"

"...but we don't" You pull away from him and walk to the door.

"Lady Winters!" You turn around hopeful.

"Yes, Sire?"

"Please know...that I'll be thinking of you always...."

"Sire, how will I know if your plan worked?"

"The entire kingdom will know but I'll come find you first. I promise you"

You feel the sting of tears threatening. You bow before the King and a teardrop falls on you cheek.

"God...I wish I could just...hold you and comfort you..."

"Sire..."

The tears, come freely now. You see his eyes filled with pain. He walks closer to you but then he stops. You turn and run out the door and onto your horse. He runs after you.

"Lady Winters!!.....angel!!"

You race away with your horse and make your way to your house. Tears are streaming down your cheeks but you know there's nothing you can do. You go to your bedroom and fall asleep, thinking of all the things that could happen.

The next morning after breakfast, Stacey brings you a note from the palace that was delivered to your house. Your heart fills with joy. You open the note.

NOTE:

Dear Lady Winters,

You are hereby royally invited to a Ladies lunch this afternoon to celebrate my new Lady in waiting. Your presence is required.

Her Royal Highness

Princess Catherine of Monaco

END

"Stacey, please send Kendra a message to meet me-"

"Mam, sorry to interrupt but Lady Benette is in the living area"

"Oh, thank you so much" You almost run out of the dining room to Kendra.

"Oh god! Did you get the message??"

"Yes! What are we going to do??? I don't want to be her Lady in waiting???"

"I don't know, honey but what I do know is, that we need to get you a dress to kill for"

"Urgh, I still need to tell you about the King before you worry about the dress"

"Okay, I'm now officially sitting on this chair until you spill everything" You sit next to her and she cries and laughs with you until the end.

"Honey, you have problems"

"I know!!"

"Okay, let's first get you to the lunch. It starts in an hour"

You rush to your bedroom and you go through all your dresses until the right fit.

"Ooohhh...she going to be so jealous"

"Wait! Do we want her to be jealous?"

"Yes of course we do....or I think so, why not?"

"Well, we don't want to poke the bear?"

"But maybe the King will be there?"

"At a ladies lunch?? I don't think so..."

"But maybe he could be there and then we don't want you to look like a dried-up tomato? We want him to hurry up with his plan, don't we?"

"Yes but, but-"

"We got to go, anyway, otherwise we will be late and we really don't want that!"

You hurry downstairs and make your way to the palace. Servants are waiting outside as each Lady gets out of her carriage. You think to yourself that all these ladies are here to celebrate your "lady in waiting" status....or are they also ordered to be here. You walk through the palace doors, into the lunchroom.

The room is decorated with flowers everywhere. You stand in awe, all this was done for you but you can't help to wonder why she would do such a big thing just for you.

(What are you up to princess?)

All the ladies gather in the middle of the room. Then the princess enters. Everyone one bows before her.

"Greetings Ladies of the Kingdom, what an honor to have you all here"

Then the crowd bows again. Your pulse shoots sky high and you try to keep yourself composed.

"What is he doing here?"

"I don't know. I was only joking about him being here..."