Chapter Nineteen
Princess Kate
The very same day that Cinderella disappeared, Edward gave up. Something inside of him simply seemed to snap. He was too weary of fighting... what could he do? And so he went to his father and informed him, coldly, that he would make the alliance. But no further.
"The royal line has lived with you, but it will die with me." he declared. And the king had bowed his head, sadly. The king in him knew what must be done but the father in him ached. It was too hard to see his son in such pain. And yet he hoped that Edward would soon come to his senses and forget the little servant girl he had loved.
Caroline's hasty disappearance had caused quite a stir in court. At first Queen Elinor was absolutely furious. The king didn't much care, he had other things on his mind.
"She'll be back soon," he had said simply. "No reason to fuss."
But the queen most certainly did fuss. Almost as much as Queen Edith, who was absolutely impossible without Caroline at her side. Singlehandedly, the elderly queen had made Lady Allison and Lady Susan nervous wrecks. It was quite an accomplishment, rather, and Queen Edith was proud of it, in a gloomy, sarcastic sort of way.
Edward was like a shadow these days. He hardly ever showed up at meals and was almost never in the throne room when court was in session. Willoughby was doing his utmost to fill his new position as companion-at-arms but alas, poor Willoughby had a rather large space to fill. John was almost the only person that Edward could stand to be around.
"At least you understand," he said bitterly. "No one else understands. They couldn't care less."
But even John was hardly able to do anything to make his friend feel better. He knew that Edward somewhat resented him for the simple fact that someday Caroline would return. John would have his happy ending. But until then, John was rather miserable himself. Caroline was the light in his life and now his life was rather... dark.
At last the acceptance of the all-important political alliance was returned to Euphrania... the Princess Kate of Snarden would be arriving within a few weeks to wed Prince Edward. When the news was brought to Edward, he said nothing at all. He barely even looked up.
The kingdom prepared for the wedding, not with joy, but rather with a dull sense of duty that must be done. The poor Princess Kate hadn't the slightest idea how many dreaded her arrival. Most of all her future husband.
oOo
Cinderella arrived in the far-off country of Sylvania after a long, hard journey of several days. During all that long ride, she had said barely anything, but sat in silence, staring out into the distance. Poor Sarah hadn't the slightest idea what to do. At first she chattered on and on but, finding there was no response to her words, she gave up and also sat in silence, staring out the window rather miserably.
Cinderella hardly knew what she would have done without Caroline and hoped that her friend would sense her silent gratitude. Indeed, the pain would have been too much to bear alone and so she clung to the other girl's quiet strength, drawing courage simply from knowing that she had a friend close by. It meant everything to her during those first dreadful days.
The place to which Cinderella had been sent was a stately manor in the countryside. It was a beautiful place, with a rambling garden filled with an array of lovely flowers. But Cinderella neither noticed or cared.
The lady of the house was all sympathy and understanding, poor, dear soul, she had such good intentions but managed to say everything wrong. Each word was like a dagger to the broken-hearted girl but she hid her pain well and thanked the lady as well as she was able.
The day they reached their destination, Sarah and Caroline set about unpacking Cinderella's things, insisting that she rest, although she protested and wanted to help. As they readied her room, Caroline brought her something that she had managed to pack just before they had left Euphrania... a miniature portrait of Prince Edward. With tears in her eyes, Cinderella had held the portrait close to her heart. She said nothing, but the look on her face told Caroline that she had done the right thing in giving her the miniature.
oOo
Not long after their arrival in Sylvania, Sarah came to Caroline, a worried expression in her eyes.
"Milady," she began, hesitantly. "I was hoping... wishing... that is..."
She was spared the trouble of saying what it was that she was wishing, for Caroline had foreseen what the trouble was and finished for her.
"You wish to accompany me back to Euphrania?"
The girl's face cleared and she seemed relieved.
"Yes, milady. That's it."
"You don't have to call me milady," Caroline laughed. "I'm just Caroline."
"Oh, but milady sounds so much more poetical!" Sarah gushed, her eyes lighting up. "I can't imagine if I had such a lovely title... the Lady Sarah. That sounds so well, does it not? But... to get back to the point, if I may, I could go back with you? The Lady Cinderella will be receiving new attendants anyway, when you return, so she won't need me. And although she is a dear friend and I hate to leave her..." she trailed off. Again, Caroline finished her sentence.
"There is a young man," she smiled. "in Euphrania, waiting for you."
"Oh, yes, there is!" Sarah cried eagerly. "Well, that is, he's not exactly waiting for me. That is, there is no understanding... yet... but I am certain there will be soon. Even though he has been elevated, I suppose I have been too. And I... well... I really can't bear to be so far away from him. I guess I love him. I can't imagine how you can stand it, Lady Caroline. Or how Lady Cinderella can either."
"I really can't imagine it either," Caroline said softly. "God gives the grace... just when we need it most."
oOo
Princess Kate arrived the day before the wedding. The king and queen were both vastly relieved. Edward was taking it rather... quietly. He had actually refused to come down to meet his bride and instead had kept to his rooms. No one but John had spoken to him in days.
Even the Duke of Montague, who, under any other circumstances, would have been ecstatic over the thought of such a grand occasion as a royal wedding, felt the dreadful strain of it all. He worried for his cousin and he worried for his sister. He even worried for his future brother-in-law who had seemed only a few degrees less miserable than Edward lately.
The betrothed princess had been presented before her future parents-in-law and she curtseyed gracefully, murmuring the proper and polite greetings. But her face was white, her lips set in a straight line. She did not seem any less miserable than anyone else involved. In fact, once she was shown to her chambers, she locked the door and cried alone. It would be a prestigious match, her parents had told her. A great alliance. She was doing a wonderful thing for their little country. But... she had never even seen the prince except for the ball. And he had not danced with her. She was suffering under an acute attack of love-at-first-sight, and it had nothing whatsoever to do with Prince Edward. Indeed, even the object of her affections hadn't the slightest clue.
It had happened the night of the ball. Always a rather shy, plain little thing, she had kept to herself, dancing only a few dances, and none with the prince. She knew that it was supposed to be an exciting, thrilling occasion, but she hardly felt excited and thrilled. That is, until she saw him. And her heart stopped beating. She didn't have any idea who he was. She had never even seen him before. But there was something about it... she fell fast and hard. And to this day regretted that she hadn't made advances of some kind, so that he at least had danced with her. But he had not even seen her at all. She stayed there, in her little corner, watching him as he whirled enthusiastically about the room, always dancing, always laughing, always seeming to be saying something amusing. My, how grand he had looked, in a heavily-embroidered salmon-colored coat of velvet and such high heels...
Was it even possible to fall in love with someone she didn't know and had never even spoken to? Apparently so, for this dreadful ache in her heart could only have been caused by love. She dreaded the thought of marrying the prince. If only... if only... but why waste time on if only's? By tomorrow she would be a married woman and she would have to put the thought of the stranger from the ball far, far behind her.
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