The Lady of My Choosing Chapter Eighteen

 Chapter Eighteen

A Terrible Night

    Though they lingered as long as they could, the night was growing late. The court was retiring and Edward regretfully bid Cinderella good night at her door. Her rooms were adjacent to Caroline's own and the two girls stayed up a little while longer to talk. Every little detail of the wedding... well, both weddings... were being planned out. For, although Cinderella wasn't quite sure what was involved in a court wedding, Caroline was. It was duly decided, or rather, confirmed that John would give Cinderella away at her wedding... having already been asked, of course, and Caroline would be the maid of honor, as aforementioned.

    When at last Cinderella was left alone she found she could not sleep, she was simply too happy. And so she laid in bed, lost in the realization of a dream come to life. But then... sometime around midnight... fate knocked at the door.

oOo

    Caroline was startled awake by the knock on her door in the middle of the night. Hastily rising and wrapping a robe around her shoulders, she bid the unseen knocker to enter. It was Cinderella who stood at her door, her face pale as death and the happy light in her eyes replaced by a dark shadow.

    "What is it?" Caroline cried, frightened. "What's the matter?"

    Cinderella just stood there, as if she wanted to speak but could not. It was then that Caroline noted with a growing alarm that she was fully dressed in traveling clothes and that she was trembling all over. Putting an arm around the girl, she drew her into the room.

    "Caroline..." Cinderella's voice sounded unnatural, as if she was fighting tears. "They... they are... sending me away!"

    "What?" Caroline gasped in horror. "Whatever can you mean?"

    "The... the chamberlain said... the king said... I'm not... not worthy to marry him!" she sobbed and buried her face in her hands.

    "Not..." Caroline could not finish. She had expected trouble... but not this.

    "The chamberlain told me that... that I must go. That Edward must make... an alliance... with another country or... there could be... war!"

    "War? That's... that's..." Caroline began vehemently but realized suddenly that this was true and so she finished in a whisper. "That's ridiculous." But she shook her head.

    "Where are they sending you?" she hated herself for saying it. Her words seemed so flat, so meaningless. And she wanted to comfort her friend... but she knew she couldn't. So painful a blow could never be lessened, not by mere words.

    "I... don't know. Far away... out of Euphrania..."

    "I'm going with you." Caroline spoke firmly. Her decision was made in an instant. She had hardly given it a thought. But she knew it was the right decision.

    "You will?" Cinderella lifted her head.

    "Yes, I will. I'm not letting you go alone. I... I won't be able to stay for always," she continued, thinking of John, "But I'll stay as long as you need me."

    Cinderella was silent a moment, biting her lip as a few tears slid down her cheeks.

    "I will never be able to thank you enough for this," she whispered finally. Caroline smiled sadly. The terrible injustice, the horrible pain this decision to send Cinderella away was causing... could never be corrected. But she would do her best to see that the poor girl was not sent away completely friendless.

    "Give me a little time to pack a few things and... and leave a note for John. I shall join you shortly."

oOo

    The beautiful summer night had transformed into a howling storm. The bright moon had slipped behind the dark clouds and the light breeze had become a strong, chilling wind. The palace was dark and hardly a sound could be heard as the chamberlain led Cinderella down the darkened corridors. Caroline followed with Sarah, one of the maids who had been promoted to personal attendant for Cinderella. Sarah's face was about as white as Cinderella's and her eyes were large.

    A single, closed carriage stood at the gates. As the luggage was loaded atop it, Cinderella turned to the Chamberlain.

    "Tell his Royal Highness... the prince... that it wasn't love." her voice trembled, but she spoke the dreadful words anyway. "Tell him that what seemed right last night just seemed to fade away in the light of day. Tell him... that I've played this heartless game so many times... tell him that I'm not worthy of his love. Make him..." her voice broke and she blinked back her tears. "Make him hate my memory... make him glad that he's... free." She stepped into the carriage, then leaned forward.

    "Just... just tell him anything... but not that I love him." her voice was barely above a murmur. "Don't let him know why I must leave him... why I must go so far away. If he... if he knew how much I love him... no power on earth could... could make him stay."

    The Chamberlain bowed silently, his face troubled, her suffering reflected in his own eyes. As the carriage slowly rolled through the palace gates, Cinderella leaned back against the seat, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. She gripped Caroline's hand, clinging to it. And, although she hated the thought of being separated from the one she loved, Caroline was glad she had come. She would be able to return someday, but Cinderella's dreams had been destroyed forever.

oOo

"Dearest John,

I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am that I had to leave like this… in the middle of the night… without even saying a goodbye. But it couldn't be helped. There simply wasn't time.

They are sending Cinderella away… far away… so that poor Edward will be forced into an alliance. And, oh, John! The terrible, terrible cruelty, the injustice of it! I can't help but think of the proclamation… that whosoever fit the glass slipper should be Edward's bride. And my poor uncle has broken his word.

But I couldn't let her go alone. She was so sad, so frightened, so heartbroken, and yet… so strong. The thought of her being sent into such an exile, without a single friend with her, was more than I could bear. You see, I understand. And I know you do as well. It made me think of that dreadful night when the queen threatened to send you away… just as they are doing to Cinderella… if ever again I spoke with you.

I promise I will return, Dearest, you know that I cannot live without you. But I promised Cinderella I would stay as long as she needed me. It may be weeks, it may be months, and the separation will be cruel. But think, dear John, think how she and Edward must feel! For they cannot return to each other as we can someday.

She asked the chamberlain to tell Edward that she did not love him. The poor little thing, she is trying to keep him from pain. But… in this case, I do not think it is wise. Please do tell him, for me, that she loves him dearly, more than anyone else on earth. That her heart is forever his. I know it is. I can see it in her eyes. If he must be forced into a cruel alliance, I hope it will comfort him to know that, somewhere out there, she still does love him.

And never forget, Dearest, how much I love you. I'm leaving my heart with you. Never will a moment go by that I do not think of you, never will a day go by that I do not pray for you. It will be hard, I know, but I must do this. For Cinderella. For Edward. May the days fly quickly until I am with you again.

With all my love,

Your Lady Caroline

    John stood still in his room, staring at the letter in his hand. It had been slipped under his door and he had found it first thing that morning. It was still early.

    As he read those words, his heart sank. How could they do this? How could they separate two people who loved each other so much… no matter how important an alliance was? And now his Lady Caroline was gone also…

    He stood there, wondering what on earth to do next. His first impulse was to run wildly out the door and gallop down the road that led from Euphrania… perhaps he could stop them before they left the country. But that was ridiculous… that was…

    The door flew open with a bang and Edward stood there, in the doorway, such a horrible look in his eyes that it frightened John. In his hand he clutched the two little glass slippers.

    "She's gone!" he gasped out. "John, she's gone! They've taken her… she's gone!"

    "I know…" John began, but stopped. What could he possibly say?

    "Well? What are you waiting for? I can't lose her again! I've got to go after her!"

    Before he even realized what was happening, John found himself galloping down the road towards the border after all. It was a wild ride. Edward rode in front, followed by John, Willoughby, and a few sympathetic guards. He did not stick to the road, but plunged wildly through the ditch, across the fields, and through the woods.

    The border was closed that day and heavily guarded. Edward pulled his horse to an abrupt halt and dismounted. Frantically he lunged towards the border, thought better of it, then turned and moved quickly to the side. He stopped there, for beyond lay the lake. He stood there, staring numbly out over the water. John dismounted and went to his friend. He could find no words to say, so he simply laid a hand on his shoulder.

    "She's gone," Edward whispered brokenly. "They've sent her away." He was silent a long time.

    "What should I do, John?"

    "I'm sorry, sir." John wished there was something more he could say but words were so… empty. At long last, Edward shook his head, then turned back toward the palace, dejectedly, his head bowed.