The King's Daughter (High Born Book 1) (14 page)

“It’s nothing,” I insist.

“Nonsense,” Mother interrupts. “Last night, your father gave Prince James, the future King of Scotland permission to court Grace.”

Isabella and Elizabeth squeal in excitement.

“Can we come to Scotland with you?” Asks Elizabeth.

“You are to be the Queen of Scotland,” Isabella’s eyes cloud with dreams.

“Nothing is set,” I inform them. “Father just gave his permission is all, he hasn’t asked for me to be his wife that means I have no question to accept from him so I am not to become the Queen of anything.”

“Yet,” Father adds and everyone laughs.

“Oh come now, Gracey,” Mother laughs. “You must see the way he looks at you, and the way he speaks of you. You had better prepare yourself for becoming a Queen because I suspect it won’t be much longer.”

A look cast over to George and his giggling face, I decide to finish my breakfast and get away from my family. Yes, I know that I am developing feelings for James and I already know I will accept his proposal if he asks me, but I do not want my family talking about it as we eat.

When breakfast is over and I join my Ladies back in my bedchambers, a knock at my door alerts me to the King and Queen arriving.

“Mother. Father,” I curtsey to them both. “I didn’t know you were visiting.”

“We wanted to check in on you,” Father steps closer. “How are you?”

“I’m okay, really I am,” I insist when he doesn’t look like he believes me. “If I am honest, I am more worried about the gossip than by the actual event of last night.”

“I am in awe of you, Gracey,” Mother reveals. “You are dealing with this like a true Princess. I am so very proud. Do not let that monster bring you down.”

“Of course I was scared during the attack, but now it is finally over I can forget about it and move on,” I assure them both.

“So very proud,” My father says as he places a hand on the top of my head. “I have already sent word to Spain, I have made it very clear I do not wish for Antonio to be breathing for much longer and I intend to get my way.”

Antonio is after all a Prince and not to any country, but to Spain who gave their daughter to marry their English Prince who was to become a King and unite the countries. Because of that fact, Father has had to inform King Alonso of Spain that an emergency involving his oldest son has happened and he needs to come and save his son as quickly as he can, otherwise my father will kill him as he wishes. I do not wish to be involved in that conversation and will stay clear of King Alonso’s way when he does arrive.

“Do not hide yourself away, Grace,” Mother advises.

My parents then leave, they will arrive at the throne room as the King will receive his gifts.

“What would you like to do?” Asks Catherine.

“I would like to stay in my rooms all day, but that is not allowed so I guess the next best thing is the garden,” I answer her, for the first time feeling the after affect since last night.

It’s a rather cold day, so my Ladies dress me in my cloak and we leave for the fresh air of the gardens. As I am on my way, I see Mistress Andrews walking from the direction of my sister’s bedchambers and I jump at the chance to question her about my brother.

“Mistress Andrews,” I greet. “I was wondering if I could ask you about Julien.”

“Of course, Princess,” she quickly agrees.

“You see, it has been pointed out to me that he has become silent and I wanted to see if you knew the reason why?” As soon as I ask her back straightens and her eyes widen.

“I do not Princess Grace, I am sorry,” she replies.

“Are you sure?” I ask again.

“Certainly, I do not know why the Prince is now mute,” I do not believe her, but I let her on her way regardless.

“She definitely does know,” Louisa whispers as we watch Mistress Andrews walk away.

“I know,” I add. “But she is a stubborn woman and will not tell me. No matter how many times I will ask.”

“Then what now?” Asks Beatrice.

“Let’s invite my sisters to our walk in the garden,” I suggest and with knowing smiles, they all follow.

I knock on their door and one of their servant’s answers. “Princess Grace,” she curtseys.

“Are my sisters here?” I ask her and she nods.

“I will alert them of your arrival,” she disappears and then suddenly Lizzy rushes to the door.

“Grace!” She shouts and runs into my arms.

“Very Princess like,” I tease but she sticks out her tongue in protest.

“Grace,” greets Bella. “I didn’t know you were stopping by.”

Isabella is of course the more grown up one out of the two and so she should be as she will be arriving at court soon.

“I wanted to see if you wanted to join me and my Ladies on a walk of the gardens,” I ask and Lizzy steps forward right away.

“Of course I will,” she bounces.

“Isabella?” I ask.

“I was reading,” she thinks. “But I suppose a walk will do me good.”

“Get your cloaks then,” I instruct and they quickly return inside their room.

Mother decided to let them share their bedchambers during their stay and although many will not agree, I think it was for the best. Elizabeth can be excitable but she does depend on Isabella a little too much. I suspect mother has a secret agenda and I think it has everything to do with wanting them at court with a Spanish Lady Mistress and getting them away from Mistress Andrews.

As we walk through the castle halls, my two younger sisters talk to my Ladies, asking them where they are from and how they know me originally. When we get to the gardens, I begin my questioning.

“Julien shocked me when he arrived,” I begin and Jane laughs behind me.

“Very subtle,” she whispers.

“How so?” Isabella frowns.

“He hasn’t spoken a word since he arrived,” I point out, surely they have noticed.

“He has to us,” Elizabeth reveals.

“Really?”

“He just doesn’t want to talk to anyone else,” Elizabeth adds.

“Why not?” I ask.

Isabella rolls her eyes, “He is sulking because he didn’t want to come here, which is silly because he has known since his birth that he would return here.”

“Julien is sulking?” I ask, trying to dig further.

“He liked a girl,” Elizabeth giggles, and it all becomes clear.

“Did he spend a lot of time with this girl?” I ask.

“Every minute he shouldn’t have, Mistress Andrews was furious with him and even-” Isabella stops talking.

“What Bella?” I ask. “What is it?”

Elizabeth looks down to her feet, not wanting to connect eyes with me so I look to Isabella.

“Please Isabella, tell me because I am worried about our brother. Mother doesn’t like that he is not talking and is worried people will think they have a mute Prince,” I confess.

“When Julien told Mistress Andrews that he didn’t want to leave, and kept on insisting she struck him,” Isabella finally informs me and I am stunned.

“Mistress Andrews struck Julien?” I ask.

“I’m afraid so,” She replies. “I must admit, Julien did go a little too far and he knows his responsibilities so he should not have spoken to Mistress Andrews the way he did.”

“But Mistress Andrews should not have struck a Prince,” Elizabeth adds, looking rather sad.

“No, she should not,” I agree. Now I know why Mistress Andrews reacted the way she did. If Mother knew she would threaten her with her life.

“Thank you for telling me girls,” I smile. “I want to help our brother.”

“Well isn’t this a lovely surprise,” I hear James as he speaks from behind me.

“James,” I turn and smile at him. His handsome face welcoming me and drawing me in that little bit more.

“I’m not disturbing am I?” He asks, looking behind me at the two young Princesses.

“No,” I answer and gesture to my sisters to join us. “Isabella, Elizabeth, you remember Prince James of Scotland.”

“Lovely to meet you,” Isabella curtseys.

“Are you going to ask Grace to marry you?” Asks Elizabeth and I look to James with wide eyes.

“Elizabeth!” Scolds Isabella.

James laughs and I hear some of my Ladies join him.

“Sorry,” Elizabeth whispers to me.

I shake my head, not quite believing what has just happened.

“I don’t know what to say,” I laugh out of embarrassment.

“Not to worry,” James winks and then bends to Elizabeth’s height to whisper in her ear. A few seconds later she begins to giggle.

“What?” I ask. “What did he say?”

“Nothing,” Elizabeth laughs some more.

“I just told her what I have planned is all,” James smiles and then sends a wink to Elizabeth. “It’s our little secret.”

Elizabeth blushes and I cannot say that I am shocked Prince James can affect a young twelve-year-old.

My Ladies took Isabella and Elizabeth on a different walk as Prince James led me in the opposite direction. I’m glad, Elizabeth gave me a fright asking James when he would propose.

“So, your sisters are interesting,” James begins.

“More embarrassing I think,” I add and James laughs.

“Elizabeth is young and innocent and she wants what is best for her sister,” he replies.

“Are you what is best for me?” I daringly ask. I surprise myself, I’m not usually this straight forward but James brings this side out of me. I should have been more subtle about it, I am a Princess and I begin to worry how James will respond. I’m about to withdraw my comment but James replies.

“I believe I can be, if you accept my proposal?” He stops in the middle of the flower garden. Surrounded by greenery and all things beautiful.

I look around us and see that we are in fact, unusually alone, “What are you asking me James?”

Of course I know what he is asking me, but I have to be sure. I have only known him for a couple of days as a Prince, but I have known him as the strange stable boy for much longer and I fell for him before I knew of his royal birth. I am stunned when James, amongst all the beauty of the outdoors gets down to his knees and holds out his hands to me.

“Come here my Princess,” he asks me, and I walk closer to him and when I am close enough, James holds onto my hands. Both of them in his as he looks up to me. “Princess Grace of England, will you become my beautiful wife and take on Scotland with me. For one day we shall be King and Queen, if you accept my proposal.”

I have to smile at the proper and formal way he is asking me, for I know a much different James.

“The mention of us ruling is frightening,” I admit, the thought of being responsible along with James, of a country is truly terrifying.

“You can leave the scary parts to me, for I want to care for you and love you because I do Grace,” as James continues to look up to me, I see his tears gathering and I become overwhelmed. “It’s a rare occasion for a man to love his wife in our status of living, but I do love you Grace and I don’t want to lose you. Last night I felt terrified, I don’t want anyone to hurt you and I don’t want you afraid.”

“I love you too,” I cry, letting the tears fall and James smiles up at me. 

“Then will you do me the absolute honour of becoming my wife?” James asks.

“Yes,” I make a weird noise, somewhere between a laugh and a cry.

“Yes?” He asks, sounding unsure of himself.

“Yes!” I shout and laugh as James jumps up and grabs me in his arms and begins to spin us around. It’s rather uncomfortable in my dress and cloak, but I do not care. In this moment I am so happy, nothing could destroy it, not even the reminder that my father has organised jousting for this afternoon.

“You have made me a happy man, Gigi,” James sets me down, still holding me close.

“I cannot believe this is happening,” I laugh. I never thought being in love with my husband would be possible. My marriage would be out of duty, but here I am accepting a man I truly love and he’s a Prince of Scotland who the King of England has already blessed his permission to me become my husband! How did I get so lucky?

“We need to tell your parents,” James grins. “I want them to end the search for your husband.”

I laugh even louder, “Are you meaning to tell me you are jealous Prince James?”

James doesn’t seem to like my teasing, and his smile turns into a little frown which actually looks adorable, “I must admit, I do not like King Louis walking around here, still pining for your attention.”

I hide my laughter from him, because I know he won’t appreciate hearing that, “Trust me, King Louis isn’t the one I love or want.”

James smiles at that.

“Want?” He teases, holding me a little tighter around my waist.

“I do indeed,” I bite down on my lip, feeling a little heated even though it is cold out here.

“Then let’s hurry with the wedding,” James nibbles on my neck and I throw my head back in laughter.

“You haven’t asked because of Elizabeth have you?” I suddenly think as we continue on our walk.

“Not at all,” James answers. “I wanted to propose to you before I knew you were a Princess, but then I knew it was forbidden, now it is not. In fact, Elizabeth knows what I had planned all along.”

“Really?” I ask. “Is that what you whispered to her?”

“I told her I would be asking you to be my wife within the next hour, so I needed to be alone with you,” James smirks.

“That’s why she was the one who insisted going on a different walk,” I think back to her sulking and wanting to go a different way.

“Lady Louisa may have been in on it too,” James adds and I stop from the surprise.

“Well, all these secrets,” I shake my head and throw James a teasing look.

We walk arm in arm, in extremely good moods until we come to a group of ladies bunched up in a huddle. I hear the whisperings of Antonio’s name and my body freezes. James must have heard too because one of his hands cover mine as I grip onto his arm.

“Good morning ladies,” James announces and they all jump and turn around. When they see me standing with Prince James their eyes widen and they know they have been caught.

“Good morning Prince James,” the highest ranking Lady here replies, they all curtsey to us. “Princess Grace.”

I know little of her, but I do know she is the daughter of a Lord. Her father works alongside the King’s guards. I bet my father would love to hear that this girl has been spreading gossip that she learnt from her father. The girls all stand awkwardly as James and I watch them, they know they have been caught and they look to each other in worry.

“Well then, we shall be off,” she speaks and they all curtsey before hurrying away.

James shakes his head, “Ignore them Grace.”

“I guess the news of Antonio will be all over the castle,” I stress.

“Then we shall give them something else to gossip over,” James winks to me.

I shake my head, “No, it is father’s birthday. We can’t announce our engagement today.”

“You are right,” James agrees. “Then tomorrow. Everyone will know that you are to be my wife.”

“What about your parents?” I ask him.

“Once I have spoken to the King and we announce the news, I will rush home to tell them,” I think about this, and have an idea.

“Why don’t I come with you?” I suggest. “I’ve never been to Scotland, and what better way to announce our engagement to Scotland than both of us arriving together? I will have to live there with you soon enough.”

James leans down and kisses me, “You are brilliant Gigi.”

“What is this?” King Louis asks as he appears from our right. He must have been down at the stables and is on his way back to the castle. He looks between James and I, and when his eyes turn to me he looks annoyed.

“Nothing that concerns you King Louis,” James almost barks back.

“We will see,” King Louis stalks off in the direction of the castle, but pauses as he stands beside me. “I shall see you later, Princess.”

Then he walks away and James growls an irritated noise, “I do not like that man.”

“I take it Scotland doesn’t have a good relationship with France?” I ask.

“Our fathers did not get on, and Louis seems to think Scotland was responsible for his father’s death. Since discovering my father is ill, Louis has been making idle threats,” James frowns at King Louis as he walks away from us.

“Your father didn’t, did he?” I ask, because if I’m going to be his wife and partner in all things, I have a right to know.

James sighs heavily, “I would like to give you a definite no but they hated each other Grace. My father insists he had nothing to do with Louis father’s death, and I have to believe him.”

“I get it,” I offer, there’s some things my father says he hasn’t and I’m not quite sure whether he’s telling me the truth or not. The harsh reality is that our fathers are Kings and most of the time, the role of king comes before the role of a father. A fact you quickly become adjusted to at a young age.

James kisses my hand and we start our walk back to castle, the jousting for my father will begin shortly.

As the jousting is prepared and we wait for the King and Queen to arrive in the royal box, I stand with my Ladies.

“Are you ok?” Jane asks me, looking concerned.

“I am,” I answer and they all continue to watch me. “Really I am, I won’t forget what Antonio did so quickly but he hasn’t broken me like he wanted.”

“Then that is good at least,” Catherine adds.

“How was your walk with James?” Asks Beatrice and I see Louisa smirk from behind her.

“It was the best walk I have been on,” I laugh, not able to contain my happiness.

“Why was that?” Jane asks with wide eyes.

I am just about to whisper to them what happened today, when my Ladies look behind me and I see Louisa’s eyes widen in warning. She of course knows what happened on my walk to make it so important to me and wouldn’t want me to reveal this to someone who shouldn’t know.

“Princess Grace,” I hear King Louis from behind me.

I turn around to face him and make my mother proud by giving the French King a false smile that would fool anyone, “King Louis, lovely to see you.”

“Are you looking forward to the joust?” He asks, and I motion for my Ladies to take their seats which is beside the royal box.

“I’m afraid not. I do not enjoy jousting but I have to cope because my father does,” I laugh.

“If it were my birthday, I would much rather be spending time with my wife and she would choose whether we spent that outside,” King Louis steps closer to me and almost whispers his next words into my ear. “Or if we spent the day in bed and enjoying each other’s company.”

I try to ignore his flirtations and take a step away from him. It feels a little forward of him and it’s probably due to him spotting James and I together, Louis is feeling threatened that James will get my hand in marriage. 

“Your future wife sounds a lucky lady,” I reply, looking to my Ladies as they glance over.

“She will be, and I have a feeling I have already met her,” Louis adds and I begin to feel a little awkward.

“Really?” I look to him, I am acting shocked to his face but I know what he is getting at.