The Lady of My Choosing Chapter One

 Chapter One

Ride Like the Wind

    As the Lady Caroline became a part of palace life, she was at first thrilled by the dazzle and beauty of it all. The palace was by far much grander than her old home at Montague castle. Her chambers were elaborate, her gowns the most beautiful she had ever seen, and the young nobility she associated with the most fashionable group she had ever known. Life drifted by in a whirl of beauty, colors, and music. Certainly nothing could be better than this! Wrapped in her own little world of happiness, the Lady Caroline could never have foreseen that before long, she would wish she had never been born the daughter of an earl, but rather the daughter of a farmer, a carpenter, a stable hand, a blacksmith-anything!

    Does youth ever foresee its troubles? No, of course not! Young hearts live in the moment while times of sorrow creep slowly up behind them. All at once they are staring their sorrows in the face as their happy dreams crumble into dust all around them and alas! There is nothing left.

    But times of sorrow were as yet distant and the Lady Caroline continued to live in happy bliss.

    Although Caroline had visited the palace often during her early life, her visits had been restricted to the throne room, the banquet hall, and the ballroom. Never before had she been permitted to wander at will through the dimly-lit corridors and slip into the elaborate rooms. She did so now with an irrepressible enthusiasm whenever she was given a few moments of freedom. It was during one of these solitary rambles in her first few days at the palace that she once again happened upon John. Or rather, she happened upon Prince Edward and John.

    She had been looking for the library, having informed her aunt of her wish for a good book. She had thus been directed, having refused the offer of an escort and was just beginning to believe herself hopelessly lost when she was startled and then frightened by the sound of clashing swords and what seemed to be rather fierce battle cries echoing down the hall. She stood listening in shocked silence for a few moments before she realized that the battle sounds were punctuated with laughter. Curiously, she stood silently in the doorway of what was indeed the library, and watched with amusement the scene before her.

    A seemingly rather violent duel was taking place in the center of that room as both the Prince and John appeared to be fighting for their lives. Yet at the same time, they seemed to find the concept of mortal danger rather amusing as they moved around the room, often knocking over various pieces of furniture. Once, as Edward fell crashing into a table, a vase tottered and fell, narrowly missing the traditional fate of a thousand pieces as John dived to catch it. At last, John backed Edward against a bookcase, pointing a sword menacingly at his heart and the prince cried out between gasps of laughter for mercy. Breathing hard, John granted mercy as he sheathed his sword and the boys shook hands. It was then that they noticed Caroline as she still stood in the doorway, smiling with suppressed amusement.

    "To the victor go the spoils," quoth she, extending her hand with mock grace and solemnity. John knelt to kiss it, then stood and stepped back, regarding her with a lopsided grin.

    "John!" the prince cried eagerly. "Allow me to introduce my cousin, the Lady Caroline de Montague. Caroline, this is my companion at arms, John Stewart"

    "We've met before," John answered. "And it is my good fortune to inform you that Regina has been introduced to the other inhabitants of the stable and, I believe, is enjoying her new home."

    "I'm glad to hear it," Caroline laughed. "I do wish her to enjoy this lovely place as much as I do."

oOo

    Caroline's first ball happened upon the occasion of her fifteenth birthday, no longer than a month after her arrival at the palace, and what a lovely occasion it was! All the nobility of the land was invited as well as a few foreign nobles-mostly young dukes, earls, and princes. But little Lady Caroline was ignorant of the plans to marry her off to a grand and foreign noble and happily danced with them all. Her cousin, Prince Edward, led her in the first dance and, afterwards, informed her it was the only dance he had enjoyed all the evening.

    "You've no idea how dreadful it is," he confided. "To have to stand up with all those empty-headed princesses while father and mother smile and nod approvingly as if they're already sizing up a match! Why they're in such a hurry, I can't comprehend. I am only seventeen."

    "But the princesses were all so lovely," Caroline had sighed happily. "I'm certain you must have fancied at least one of them!"

    "Not at all. You should know they are. After all, you danced three dances each with Prince Charles of Snodden and Prince Michael of Sylvania, and four with Prince David of Beauvai!"

    "Prince David was handsome, was he not?" Caroline smiled. Then she fell silent for a moment, reflecting, and sighed. "But he made not one intelligent comment during all those six dances. I do believe he said nothing but "Yes" and "No" unless it was some silly remark as to the color of my eyes or some such nonsense." She shook her head ruefully.

oOo

    Just in the nick of time, Caroline checked her sigh of impatience and, slowly, very slowly, shifted in her chair. The room was silent except for the soft snores of the Dowager Queen who sat reclining in her armchair, head leaning back and mouth wide open. Caroline lifted her hand to hide her smile for the old queen's position was so undignified. But one simply cannot amuse themselves for hours at a time by watching an old lady snore. Again keeping back a regretful sigh, she turned her eyes wistfully towards the open window. The sun was casting a golden glow onto the landscape beneath, the wind was blowing softly, and the song of birds seemed to be calling to her, calling to come out of the dreary, dim rooms of the palace to feel the wind in her hair and the sun on her face. Her wish, however, must indeed have been heard for at that moment, the door opened softly and the younger Queen entered, shadowed by Lady Susan, her favorite attendant. Caroline rose and curtseyed, murmuring the appropriate greeting to her aunt.

    "Caroline, dear," the Queen swept forward gracefully. "You have been long in attendance here. Perhaps you would enjoy a few hours to yourself?"

    "Indeed, I would be most grateful, Aunt Elinor," Caroline spoke politely but a smile lit her face. "I had been so longing for a ride through yonder meadow, if that would be permissible?"

    "Queen Elinor pursed her lips and frowned.

    "I am sorry, my dear, but I am afraid you cannot leave the palace grounds without a proper escort."

    "But surely an escort could be found?" Caroline protested eagerly.

    "Well, now that I think of it, perhaps..." the Queen paused a moment. "Edward is at his studies just now and is not in need of his companion. Perhaps John could accompany you. I'll send for him straightaway."

oOo

    Just a quarter of an hour later found Caroline out at the stables, dressed in her riding habit, eager for a good hour's ride. John led Regina from the stables and presented her with a bow.

    "Your horse, Lady Caroline." He helped her mount, then turned to his own chestnut gelding. "I'm afraid we must ride rather slowly until we pass the palace gates," he informed her. "But once we get out into the meadow, you can ride fast as the wind!"

    Caroline laughed as she reined Regina around to follow him. She had certainly never ridden fast as the wind. But perhaps a dignified canter...

    She changed her mind, however, as they reached the edge of the grassy plain and John urged his horse faster and faster. Bending her head low over Regina's neck, she tried to match his pace. Once he turned back, shouting over his shoulder to her.

    "Have you ever galloped, milady?"

    "No," she called back.

    "Would you like to try?"

    "Yes!" she cried eagerly. "But my name is Caroline!"

    He made no reply as his horse swept far ahead. Throwing up her head with a whinny, Caroline's mare followed and the girl hung on for dear life as the horses sped along the meadow till they seemed to fly. The wind swept past, tossing her hair wildly about her face as a few golden strands slipped from her carefully neat style. She was thankful that she had pinned her hat on securely for she certainly would have left it far behind. Never had she spent such an exhilarating few minutes and her eyes fairly shone as she at last drew up beside John, breathing hard with exertion and laughing with the sheer joy of the flight.

    "You liked it?" he grinned.

    "Very much!" she gasped. "I've never felt anything like that!" She dropped the reins and sat back in her saddle, weary from the run. "I suppose I must go back now," she added regretfully. "The queen will be cross if she wakes up and I am not there."

    Reaching over, John caught up Regina's bridle and led her along as he turned back to the palace.

    "Perhaps we could ride again, sometime?" Caroline ventured, hopefully as she twisted her fingers in Regina's silvery mane.

    "Perhaps," he turned back to smile at her and her heart suddenly seemed to beat faster for a moment though why it would do that, she could not imagine. Perhaps she was just overly tired.

oOo

    Having spent several hours poring over rather large and dull volumes of Greek and Latin, philosophy and mathematics, Edward was certainly in an ill humour when John returned. In fact, it must be confessed, I'm afraid he rather growled at his friend.

    "And what have you been doing whilst I've been tortured here, suffering slowly with all these dreadful books?"

    John shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets.

    "I've been just as hard at work as you," he grinned.

    "Really?" Edward was feeling sarcastic, though he wasn't really as grumpy as he pretended to be. It just somehow was a relief after all that study to be disagreeable to someone. "Did you muck out the stables? Scrub the kitchen floor? Repair the roof?"

    "Oh no, much more strenuous than all that." John was used to Edward's sarcastic moods and, unfortunately, sometimes took great delight in provoking him.

    "What then?" Edward shoved the pile of books aside and pushed his chair back from the desk.

    "Well, apparently the Lady Caroline took it into her head that she wanted to go riding outside of the palace grounds. And the Queen would not allow her to do that unless she had an escort. And so she forced that task upon me."

    "So you've been out riding with my cousin and I've been stuck in here."

    "Guess that's about it." John wandered over to the window, looking back out over the meadow where he had just ridden with Caroline. For the first time in his life, he was feeling rather discontent with his station. Why did he have to be born without position or title? Did it really matter?

oOo

    Caroline returned to the royal company and her stitchery willingly. Her brief ride in the afternoon sunshine had brought color to her cheeks, a glow to her eyes, and a spring to her step. After that beautiful fresh air, she felt as if she could sit and wait on the queen for hours longer.

    The elderly queen was rather relieved at Caroline's return for as the girl entered the room with a graceful curtsey, she smiled triumphantly and nodded to her daughter-in-law.

    "Ah, now Elinor, we shall have some diverting conversation. You really must employ yourself to thinking of more interesting topics! One does not always wish to discuss such dull things as afternoon teas and silk gowns. Come here, Caroline, my dear. You must tell me of your ride now. How was it?"

    "It was lovely, your Majesty," Caroline said earnestly as she took her seat and retrieved her sampler.

    "I insist, Caroline, as I've told you many a time before. I want you, no I demand that you refer to me as Aunt Edith. After all, I am your great aunt and it has been far too long since anyone has called me by my proper name." So insisting, she glared rather ferociously at Queen Elinor and Lady Susan, though what fault it was of theirs was left to the imagination.

    "Aunt Edith, then," Caroline smiled. She understood how it felt to forever be referred to by a title rather than your own name.

    "And what did you think of your escort?" the old queen prompted. Caroline felt her face grow warm and wondered vaguely why the room should suddenly seem so stifling.

    "Why-I-" she stammered and hated herself for her seeming inability to think of a proper reply. What was the matter with her today? "I-I mean he-he is a very good rider," she finished lamely.

    "Indeed?" the old queen arched an aristocratic eyebrow.

    "Yes. Yes. I-" Caroline fought for composure as she searched for something intelligent to say. "That is, I-" she stopped and fell silent. The old queen glared at her suspiciously.

    "Hm. I thought so." she said rather forebodingly and Caroline wondered rather uncomfortably what on earth she could mean. "What is the matter with you, girl? I was certainly hoping for more diverting conversation than that." She paused and the room was quiet as her three companions stared rather nervously at each other.

    "I suppose I shall have to just propose the topic myself, then." The elderly queen glared loftily at the others. Caroline bent her head to hide her smile. She really did love the dear old lady.

oOo

    Time passed quickly. As Caroline's time at the palace lengthened into months, her kindness and sweet personality won her a place in the hearts of all who knew her. In time, the old Dowager Queen refused to be separated from her, for she was the most attentive and caring of her ladies in waiting.

    In spite of the time she spent with the Dowager Queen, Caroline still had a few hours a day for herself. She delighted in her books and many a day found her in the library, surrounded by piles of her favorites. And many a sunny afternoon found her out with Edward and John, or sometimes just John, galloping through the meadow on Regina. Although sometimes, she did prefer aforementioned dignified canter. After all, one can't always fly like the wind. For these afternoon rides, John had become her accepted escort, although Queen Elinor didn't seem to approve and talked of finding someone else to take her. Why John would not meet anyone's approval, Caroline could not understand. She protested and the queen hesitantly dropped the argument.