The King's Daughter (High Born Book 1) (17 page)

“I do not want to let you go Jane, but I have to marry,” George complains.

“How hard for you!” I shout back. “Poor Prince George has to marry but he cannot let go of his whore.”

“Do not say that!” He demands.

“Why not? I have been treated like one all day, haven’t I?” I ask him.

“I wanted to see you,” he says quietly.

“What happened to the picnic on the fields?” I start to become angry. “But now we’re hiding away and fucking all day is all that matters.”

“It is not like that at all Jane!” George glares at me, beginning to dress himself.

“Really? Because that’s exactly how it feels,” I admit to George and myself. Until now I hadn’t thought like this, all I saw was that I loved him.

“I wish it could be different,” George whispers.

“Well it is not,” I finish for him. “And I think we should stop. You said so yourself that your parents want you to marry and I will not become your mistress. I will not degrade myself or give my family a bad reputation.”

“It would not be like that,” George tries to calm me.

“Will it not? Are you forgetting my father is King Louis cousin? He would abandon me if I become your mistress,” I begin to cry. “Do you not care?”

George stands in front of me, holding my face and a look of panic in his eyes, “I love you Jane, of course I care. That’s like asking me if I need to breathe. I can’t let you go.”

Tears roll down my face and onto my gown, “I’m afraid you need to. There is no other way.”

I turn to leave and George calls my name, but I do not look back. I cannot see him, I have to go. When I leave his chambers, I do not look up to see if any eyes are on me, for I know they will be. George still shouts me and the echoes of his shouts follow me. As I get closer to Grace’s bedchambers I know where I need to be. I walk past my own room, not wanting to be alone, I head for Grace’s door, hoping she is here when I knock. Surprisingly James answers.

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

“Is Grace available?” I ask.

“She has just fallen asleep, can I help you?” He asks. I shake my head.

“No, I need Grace,” James gives me a sympathetic look and it almost breaks me.

“Jane?” I hear a croaked voice ask.

James smiles, “Go in and see her.”

I walk into Grace’s rooms as James exits.

“Are you not staying?” Grace asks him, sitting up in her bed.

“No, Jane needs you and I need to talk to the King,” he answers, giving us both his most handsome smile before leaving.

As soon as the door closes, Grace holds her arms out as she still sits in bed. As if already knowing why I am here. I begin to cry on the spot and run towards her, jumping in her bed and Grace holds me.

“What has happened?” Grace asks, but I know she already suspects.

“George,” I sob. “I stopped it.”

Grace holds me tightly and lets me fall apart. I fill her in through my stumbling sobs and eventually I become exhausted and fall asleep beside Grace.

This morning, I’m feeling rather tired and that is no surprise. After Jane ran to my bed, pouring her heart out to me and tiring herself that much she fell to sleep in my arms, I could not sleep. I was angry at my brother and concerned for my friend. Jane has red and puffy eyes as she wakes.

“Oh Jane,” my heart bleeds for her.

“I know,” she sniffles. “You warned me but I ignored you.”

She gives me a sad smile and we share a morning drink together in bed. Once we are ready, there is a knock and Jane answers.

“Good morning Jane,” I hear James’ voice. “Are you better this morning?”

“I am, thank you,” she lies. I suspect James will figure it out by the look of her.

“Good morning James,” I greet with a big smile.

“My Gigi, you look stunning,” he looks me over.

“Thank you,” I go to sit down and he follows.

“I wanted to see if you would join me for a picnic breakfast,” he offers and I look to Jane who is stood by my bed.

“That sounds lovely James, but Jane needs me today,” I try to let him down.

“Oh no, Grace,” Jane immediately steps in. “Do not miss out because of me.”

“No Jane, I want to,” I insist. Trying to stress to her without letting James know why I do not want to leave her side.

“Prince James,” Interrupts Jane. “I will go to the other Ladies, there is no need for Grace to miss your breakfast.”

James then looks to me with his eyebrows raised, obviously not knowing what to say to that.

“If you are sure?” I ask Jane. She makes it very clear how much she wants me to go the picnic with James and even goes as far to fetch my Ladies and have the situation quietly explained while James waits outside the door. How could I not accept James’ offer after that?

“I’m sorry,” I explain to him. “She had a hard night.”

“I understand, I should have known after seeing her that way last night,” he nods.

“As long as I know she is with the girls, I will be content,” I assure him.

I almost laugh when I see that father and I were right when we said King Alonso would bring along Lorenzo and Carlos. My bad mood from yesterday still lingers, and that does not bode well for the meeting that is about to happen.

“Ah!” King Alonso spreads his arms as he enters the throne room. Barging past many important court members as he walks past them and through the door to the throne room. “King Stephan, my sister’s husband. It has been too long.”

“It has,” Father nods, standing from his throne. “Welcome back to English court, Alonso.”

“As I said to Maria, I wish it were on better circumstances,” Alonso frowns.

“So do we,” I agree.

Father flashes me an annoyed look, “You know my son, Prince George.”

Alonso holds out his hand for me and I accept, as we shake he adds, “I understand your anger George, my son has not done me proud.”

“Shall we head to my quarters where we can discuss this privately?” Father suggests and we all follow silently.

Father sits behind his wooden desk while I indicate for King Alonso, Prince Carlos and Lorenzo to take the seats facing him. Mother sits beside father and I stand beside him.

“Are you not sitting?” Father asks me and I shake my head, I need to stand.

“So, where is my son?” Alonso asks looking around the study.

“You did not think he would be in this room did you?” Asks father, sounding amused.

“To be honest Stephan, I did,” he replies. “Where is Antonino?”

This time Alonso looks to mother, but it is my father who answers, “In the cells.”

“The cells?” King Alonso shouts. “You have put the Prince of Spain in the cells?”

King Alonso looks absolutely furious and so does Lorenzo sitting beside him.

“Prince or not, he tried to force himself upon my sister! That is enough to put any man in the cells,” I answer and Alonso’s eyes widen.

“Do you talk to the King of England in that tone?” He asks.

“No, but you are not my father,” I reply, to which Alonso takes badly.

He stands from him chair, “I want to see my son now! I will not sit here and be spoken to this way. I cannot believe you let your son speak this way to me, Maria.”

“He is angry for his sister and so he should be,” Mother explains. “Now please, sit down and we will discuss whatever you need and then we will take you to Antonio, I promise you.”

King Alonso heavily takes his seat, mumbling angry Spanish to himself. Does he not know that my mother has made sure all her children have learnt to speak Spanish? I feel as though I should reply to him in his mother tongue, but I manage to hold back.

“You have to understand Alonso that Grace is a young Princess and she’s innocent in every way, your son terrified her. Grace is your niece Alonso, are you forgetting that?” The Queen asks her brother.

“Of course I know that but Antonio comes before Grace, he is my son and heir. I will not have his reputation ruined,” he answers. “He will struggle to marry if this gets out.”

“Maybe he shouldn’t go around scaring girls then,” Father finally adds.

Lorenzo leans forward, looking to my mother, “You speak of Grace being Alonso’s relative, but are you forgetting Antonio is your nephew? You should not have let the King put him in the cells.”

“Maybe I would have if I didn’t agree with the King,” the Queen snaps back.

“Before you see Antonio, you need to know something,” the King speaks to Alonso.

“What?” He demands. “What have you done to him?”

Now this time, I cannot help my smile from creeping and Lorenzo stands this time, “Your darling Prince is smiling, he has done something to Alonso hasn’t he?”

“Of course not,” I frown.

“Sit down,” Alonso pleads with Lorenzo but when a slight laugh escapes me, Lorenzo charges towards me. I stand to protect myself, and so does father as he blocks Lorenzo’s path to me but it is Carlos who puts a stop to this.

“Enough!” He shouts. “We are not going to get anywhere! Now Lorenzo take your seat and we will discuss what is to happen, we are in England now, not Spain so respect the royals here.”

Begrudgingly Lorenzo sits back down, his father pats his knee, sending his approval and I stand beside my own father and do my best to calm down.

“Antonio has been tortured during his stay in the cells?” Alonso asks me.

“Correct,” I answer and Alonso looks up to the ceiling.

“I want to assure you that your Maria knew nothing of this,” my father adds and Alonso nods.

“So what do you wish to happen now?” Carlos asks.

“If it were up to me, Antonio would be dead by now but we are family and I wanted to discuss the matter with Alonso,” my father insists.

“I appreciate that,” Alonso replies. “Is there a chance I can have my son back alive if he never sets foot in England again?”

“It is tempting,” Father answers. “As long as you promise to never speak of this again and keep your son in line.”

“I promise you that on my own life,” Alonso begs. “I will never speak a word of what has happened to Grace and know I am truly sorry for what he did. I do not want our countries to forget our friendship of many years.”

“I hope we can keep the friendship,” Father adds. “That is why I wrote to you when I did and Antonio still lives.”

“Perhaps a treaty?” Alonso offers. “A marriage?”

“Of whom?” Mother asks, taken back by this offer. “We will not accept Antonio.”

“No of course not, my son Prince Carlos and your daughter Grace,” Alonso suggests and I see Carlos tense in his seat.

“Would you be happy with this Carlos?” Father asks him.

“I am.” Carlos answers. “I will do anything to keep the alliance.”

“You are forgetting one thing,” I interrupt. “Grace is engaged to the Scottish Prince.”

All three Spaniards look shocked, “I did not know this.” Alonso speaks.

“It was announced yesterday during my celebrations,” Father explains. “She will become Queen.”

“But we have two other daughters, Isabella is sixteen and will be ready to enter court in just one year. You can court her and have the wedding on the day she turns eighteen?” The Queen asks.

“I will accept,” Prince Carlos agrees and mother claps, a sign of her excitement.

“I will have the documents prepared to sign,” Father announces as he stands. “Now, if you follow me I will lead you to Antonio.”

Mother stays behind in the study and waits while a treaty contract is prepared for Carlos and Isabella. Father would not want her down in the cells regardless. The cells are disgusting, dark, smelly and dirty. The smell hits you as soon as you go down and we all hold our noses. We get to Antonio’s cell and Alonso runs to the door, “Let me in there.”

Hearing his father’s voice, Antonio tries to stand but he stumbles back down on the floor. I cannot help but smile at the awful sight, “Father?” Antonio looks up.

“I’m here to get you out of this,” Alonso tells his eldest son.

“Do you understand me?” The King looks down to Antonio. “You are not to set foot in England again.”

Antonio is now clean and although very injured, is sitting in the study with us. Everyone is on edge but I am raging.

“I do,” Antonio mumbles his understanding.

“Good, now understand you have been thrown a life line. Go home and use it wisely because next time I will kill you,” My father threatens and Antonio.