The Lady of My Choosing Chapter Thirteen

 Chapter Thirteen

A World Away From Me

    The day after Caroline received her strange visitor, she stood at the window, watching as John and Edward rode out from the stables. As if he knew she was there, John turned suddenly and looked up at the window. Instantly, she drew to one side so that he could not see her. But he kept looking back as he rode off. How she longed to be out there with him! Such torture these last few months had been!

    "Three months," she murmured to herself with a sigh. "Three months, six days, ten hours. That's how long it's been since I last spoke with him."

    "Three months?" cried Queen Edith. "Three months since what?"

    "I'm sorry, Aunt Edith," Caroline turned from the window. "I didn't mean to say that aloud."

    "Twould do you some good if you'd stop moping about so," the queen continued. "I don't know what's ailing you, girl, but you haven't exactly been pleasant company since... since the ball. No one's been. What's gotten into everybody?"

    Caroline didn't know how to answer. That morning had been a particularly miserable one for her. She was as good as engaged, by now, to the Earl of Rambouillet, whom she had never even met. Queen Elinor had declared it a prestigious match, although not exactly the best one, and Caroline, to her surprise, had offered no argument. Though she hated the thought of marrying someone she didn't know merely for the sake of a political alliance or an important title, she was weary of resisting. She knew it was hopeless. So why not give in? She decided that a loveless marriage couldn't possibly be any worse than her current situation. As a countess, she would surely be living in a castle of some sort and it would be very easy to avoid him. The only real problem was that she would have to move to Rambouillet. And although it bordered Euphrania, she would miss home and her brother and Edward and dear old Aunt Edith dreadfully. And, yes, she would even miss the king and queen for, although they had been the means of destroying her hopes, she knew why they had and she could see that, in spite of it all, they still did love her. And she couldn't help loving them back. As for John, she barely even saw him now. And when she did, it was only a heartbreaking reminder of her pain. Better not to see him again at all. Yes, perhaps she would marry the Earl of Rambouillet after all. If she couldn't be happy herself, she might as well make her aunt and uncle happy.

oOo

    Blissfully unaware that she was the object of the most desperate search the kingdom had ever known, the girl sat on the bank of the river, staring dreamily out over the water. The melody was still ringing in her mind... such a beautiful, unforgettable melody! Three months had it been and it was still just as vivid as the day it had all happened.

    She could hardly believe it all... it had been so wonderful... so magical. And the thought most dear to her heart, the thing she treasured most of all was that she knew that he loved her. She had felt that he was special from the moment their eyes had first met. But on that night of the ball, when she had entered the ballroom in all her borrowed glory and the crowd had parted... there he stood, staring at her. It was as if no one else had been in the room as he moved toward her. And she had seen the love shining in his eyes.

    The sound of galloping hoofbeats interrupted her reverie. Just above her, on the hill, two riders suddenly drew to a halt. Her beating heart told her who it was and, standing quickly, she turned and ran for home. She didn't want him to see her as she was... a mere servant girl. She hoped that, years from now, he would still remember her, as she had appeared that night... a princess.

oOo

    "Three months, six days, ten hours." Edward sighed despondently. "That's how long it's been since last I saw her." So intent was he in his disappointment that he did not notice the little figure running through the woods at the foot of the hill. "What torture love is!"

    "Yes." John sighed also and turned his head away.

    "Oh, how selfish of me!" the prince cried. "Forgive me, John. Have you seen your Lady Caroline?"

    "Oh, yes..." John said grimly. "Infrequently. What torture love is!" He reined his horse around.

    "You see, sir," he continued, matter-of-factly, "It would be such a simple matter if my father had only been a duke or earl or even a chancellor... then the lovely Lady Caroline would be a proper wife. But both my parents were servants. So the lady of my choosing... is a world away from me. It's always been that way and it always will be that way." he shrugged resignedly as he spurred his mount towards the palace. Edward followed, regarding him contemplatively.

    "Position and positioning are all that even matter in life," John added. "Who you wed all depends on how you're born. Nothing can be changed or rearranged."

    Edward remained silent. And so John continued on in his monologue as he mused about the socially correct system of status and position.

    "Farmer's daughters marry cowherds. But think how absurd it would be if a milk maid were to marry a knight? Or if a simple soldier were to court his colonel's daughter?"

    They had reached the palace and entered through the kitchen. The servants scurried around, bowing to their prince as they attempted to look as hard at work as ever.

    "Even the servants here in the castle reflect the outside world," John laughed. "They stick to their rank and station with pride. Everyone just... locked into their positions."

    "That's how it is?" Edward frowned.

    "And how it was," John answered. "And how it always will be. Everyone stays where they started out in life."

    A funny thing happened just at that moment for, as Edward stood there, watching the servants quietly attend their own separate duties, he was struck with a sudden inspiration. So sudden was it and so forceful that it was almost as if he physically felt it. He looked up, startled, then smiled suddenly.

    "All right, you've convinced me." He turned toward John, determinedly. "But I shall prove you wrong. For princes, when convinced, take advantage of their position. I can't think why I didn't do something about it before."

    "About what?" John looked confused.

    "Wait," Edward grinned. "And all will be revealed. Kneel."

    "What? Me?" John's eyes grew wide in surprise.

    "I command it." Edward answered authoritatively. Still puzzled, John knelt quickly. Withdrawing his sword, Edward laid it on his friend's shoulder.

    "I dub thee, as is my privilege so to do, a knight of the order of Saint David. Arise, Sir John."

    John stood slowly, his heart racing. He could hardly believe his ears... could it be possible that he was dreaming?

    "As a knight of the realm," Edward was saying, "You can now claim the hand of the fair Lady Caroline."

    If John was any more astonished than he already was, he would have probably fainted. But he somehow managed to stay upright.

    "Which is fortunate for you," Edward continued. "But which, alas, leaves me without a companion-at-arms." Glancing around the room, he happened to notice a young footman, standing bolt upright in his assigned corner, staring straight ahead in a soldierly manner.

    "What's your name?" he stepped toward the footman. The boy looked up at him, startled, hardly able to believe that the prince was speaking to him. The major domo looked in astonishment from the prince to the footman.

    "Uh, Willoughby, your Royal Highness," he answered quickly.

    "Can he not answer for himself?" Edward raised his eyebrows.

    "It's not his position, you see." John smiled.

    "Ah, true." Edward nodded. "But it will be. I shall elevate you too, Willoughby. From henceforth, you are my personal companion-at-arms, with all the privileges such office bestows." Willoughby just stared at him, bewildered.    

    "You will need a sword..." Edward glanced around, as if hoping a sword would just appear out of nowhere. "Here. Take mine." He unbuckled his belt and handed it to Willoughby, who fumbled with it, nervously.

    "It goes the other way around." Edward informed him. "Help him, will you?" He nodded to the major domo. "Well, that's a good morning's work." he collapsed into a chair at the head of the long table.

    "Congratulations, Willoughby," said John, feeling as if he could congratulate the whole world for no reason of its own doing.

    "And congratulations to you too, Sir John." Edward smiled. John turned to him, his eyes suddenly shining as they hadn't in so long.

    "What can I say?" he murmured, unable to express what he felt inside.

    "Nothing. Go and find her. Be happy."

    John didn't need to be told twice. His heart was soaring as he bowed gratefully to his friend then turned and hurried from the room. He had absolutely no idea how to tell her, he only knew that he had to find her immediately before he burst from the happiness. But even in his joy, he didn't miss Edward's quiet words.

    "Be happy enough for both of us."