The King's Daughter (High Born Book 1) (7 page)

“Do you need a tour?” My mother asks him and I cringe inside.

“I must say I do,” King Louis admits. “I have never been to English court, so I am afraid I could get lost.”

“Do not worry, Grace can show you around,” my mother offers on my behalf.

“If you are sure?” Louis turns to me.

“Of course,” I answer, although I didn’t really have a choice.

“I will also attend,” George offers and everyone looks to him, curious as to why he’s intruding. “As future King of England I should take the time to get to know Louis and to be honest, I do not like my sister alone with someone I do not know.”

King Louis nods his head to George, “I respect that.”

“May I escort you to the party tonight Grace?” King Louis asks.

“Party?” I ask, shocked at his sudden question.

“Of course!” My mother laughs. “The King of France is here. A feast and party will be the least we can do.”

Of course I should already know this, my mind has turn to fog, “I would be honoured.” I accept and he bows with a huge smile.

We say our goodbyes, and as soon as my mother and I are alone she lets loose, “Oh Grace, isn’t he handsome?” She asks. “He adores you already, you will not have to try anything to catch his attentions! You have him hooked already.”

I begin to walk back, Mother talking excitedly alongside me. I am still in a little state of shock. I don’t know if I should be nervous, scared or excited. One thing is for sure, I have a date with the French King and I need my Ladies help to make me look the best I ever have. I can’t help the twinge of guilt I feel towards my Scottish friend from the stables.

My Ladies and I are in my chambers, preparing for the party, however the girls are shooting question after question about King Louis more than anything else. A knock on my door finally puts an end to that. Catherine answers and straight away I hear King Louis’s voice, “Could you let Princess Grace know I am here?” He asks.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Even though she has never set eyes on the French King, just by looking at him and his clothes, the guards he will have surrounding him will tell you a lot about a man’s station. Jane quickly shuts the curtains that lead to my bed, and then returns to King Louis to tell him I am suitable for company. I smile as he walks into the room.

“May I introduce you to my Ladies,” I gesture to them and they stand by my side. I know that this is the moment some of them have been looking forward to all morning. “Lady Louisa and Lady Beatrice are my cousin’s as well as my Ladies. Lady Catherine who I grew up with and Lady Jane, who you already know of course.”

“Jane,” he greets her with a wide smile. “It has been a long time.”

“And you too, Louis,” she curtseys. “Have you seen much of my parents?”

“I have actually,” he nods. “They’re very well, but are missing you dearly.”

It soon becomes time for us to walk down to dinner. As King Louis escorts me through the castle halls, many eyes turn to watch as we walk by. An alliance with France is what the English really want, and me marrying King Louis would be perfect for everyone, but it’s not always that simple.

A lot of people turn to look when we enter the large hall, stopping their conversations and watching us walk to the top table. My parents are both smiling widely. Possibly looking the happiest I have seen them in a long while. King Louis has his guest spot on the top table, sitting beside the Queen while I take my place next to the King and George. As soon as I sit, my brother leans over to me, “How are you getting on with Louis?”

Before I look to George I know he is going to be tormenting me by the tone of his voice and sure enough, his eyebrows are wiggling, “He seems nice.”

“I doubt he will be happy to hear you just think him nice,” George laughs quietly and my jaw tenses. I am holding back my annoyance. I try to ignore his teasing and after the feast has finished, King Louis stands in front of me, the table the only thing between us and bows his head.

“Princess, would you do me the honour of dancing with me?” He asks, a charming smile in place.

“Of course she will,” my father answers on my behalf, making me jump because he spoke so loud.

George pats my arm from under the table, giving me the encouragement I need as I stand. He takes my hand as soon as he is able to, and leads me to the space between all the tables. As we dance, onlookers from all tables watch us, “I hope that you did want to dance with me.” Louis speaks.

I bring my eyes back to him, “Of course, why would you think not?”

He then smiles, “Your father agreed before I finished asking you.”

We both laugh, breaking the awkwardness. We look into each other’s eyes, and he holds me a little tighter against him. I prepare myself for the lift I know is coming up in the dance. My skin heats from anticipation and when it does arrive, he doesn’t let me down. King Louis is a tall and strong man, not that I am very heavy but he lifts me as if I weigh nothing. His large hands are effortless and as he brings me back down, I slowly slide down his body and I have to force myself not to let a moan escape me. Others have now joined us on the dance floor and a burn creeps on my cheeks. Suddenly George interrupts.

“May I cut in?” George looks to Louis, an annoyed look on his face.

“Of course,” King Louis bows before stepping away. George places his arms around me and we begin to dance.

“Why did you do that?” I ask.

“I did not like the show you were putting on for everyone to witness,” George sounds unimpressed, I suppose it was a little scandalous.

“I am sorry,” I say, but I catch sight of King Louis watching us and he sends a wink over to me. A small smile creeps on my face and George sighs loudly.

“I can see you really meant that,” he rolls his eyes.

I have a feeling life around court is about to become a whole lot more interesting.

“How was breakfast?” Asks Jane when I return from my family breakfast. They do not happen often but when my mother arranges one, you had better not forget.

“Surprisingly ok, George and Mother were mostly disagreeing with each other,” I answer, taking a seat beside her on the long padded stool by my window.

“About the dance with Louis?” Louisa asks.

“Oh yes,” I laugh. “Mother thought George was wrong to stop it.”

As much as he seems to love to annoy me, my brother also has a caring nature to the ones he loves.

“I agree with George,” Louisa laughs, ever the sensible one. “What do you have planned for today?”

“I am going to visit Beauty,” As soon as I say the words she frowns. I can almost feel her judging me in her thoughts.

“Are you sure there is not a Scottish man you want to flirt some more with?” She asks me and the girls giggle. Perhaps I do, but I will not admit that.

“I thought I would take Beauty for a ride,” I answer.

“Are you sure you do not want someone else to give you that ride?” Laughs Catherine and my eyes widen in shock.

“Catherine!” I shout, but my smile is wide and I cannot help myself when I begin to laugh. The girls join me and my cheeks begin to blush.

With a knowing smile, Louisa gathers my riding clothes. Jane smiles at me when I am ready to go and I cannot help but smile back. As soon as I am ready, Louisa and I walk down to the stables. I did not want her coming, I would rather go alone but she was adamant she was coming along.

“You did say you would keep your distance,” she scolds as we walk. “Are you doing the right thing?”

“I am here for Beauty,” I remind her, but the way she looks to me I know she is not buying what I am saying. “Ok, he is handsome and I do like talking with him but I am not so silly to put myself in a dangerous situation.”

“But you do not see that you are doing exactly that,” Louisa answers.

My feet go a little faster as soon as the stables are in my line of sight. Excitement settles inside my belly and I realise that I am rather looking forward to seeing the stranger. Would he finally tell me his name?

As soon as we enter, I spot him brushing Beauty’s black hair. He strokes my horse and smiles as he does. I get that same funny feeling as I watch him as the first time I saw him. He has such a strong profile and I get an intense desire to hold his face in my hands. Louisa clears her throat and he jumps up in surprise, but smiles widely when he sees the both of us. He smiles, “Are you ladies riding today?”

“Yes,” I answer. “Do you still want to?”

“Of course,” he frowns. “I would never want to miss out on that.”

“Then let us go,” I clap. “The Princess wanted me to ride Beauty.”

“The only problem is I promised Johnson someone would be here to watch the horses,” he adds.

“Lady Louisa can stay here and watch the horses,” I offer and she shoots me a warning look and he looks to her.

“Is that ok with you Lady Louisa?” He asks her and I adore that he seems to actually care. I am quite taken by him. Maybe Louisa was right about keeping my distance, but it is too late for that now.

“Yes,” Louisa answers. “I did not want to ride today.”

“Ok,” he grins, clapping his hands together. “I will prepare the two horses.”

As he gets everything prepared, Louisa leans in close, “What are you doing, Grace?”

“Taking my horse on a ride of course,” I whisper.

“If you are seen by anyone…” she warns.

“Relax, it will be fine. I am doing nothing wrong,” I remind her as well as myself. “I will be seen riding my horse, where is the harm in that?”

“One more thing,” he reappears with the horses trotting behind him. “I need to know your name before we go anywhere.”

I freeze, thinking over what I could say. It makes sense that he should know my name, I would like to know his in return. It’s becoming annoying referring him to the handsome young man from the stables.

“My name,” I add, trying to stall him. He smiles at me, stepping closer with the horses following.

“Yes my Lady,” he nods. “I have to know your name.”

“My name is Grace,” I answer truthfully and then I begin to worry, should I have given him my real name?

“The same name as the Princess?” He asks, looking to me with a confused expression.

“She was named before the Princess,” Louisa quickly steps in. “Their mothers fell out over it actually, so now everyone refers to her as Lady Gigi.”

With wide thankful eyes I look to Louisa, hoping she can see how thankful I am. She truly saved me. My breathing begins to calm and I look to him to see if he believes us.

“Lady Gigi,” he repeats. “I like it. It is original.”

“That is good then,” I laugh. “Now you tell me yours.”

“James,” He answers simply. “Lovely to meet you Lady Gigi.”

“And you James,” I laugh as he shakes my hand. I look down to where our hands touch and that same electrifying sensation beats through my flesh where we join. I look up to his face and his jaw is tense, he looks so dark and brooding. I adore that look in his eyes, “It is good to finally put a name to the face.”

“Why Gigi, it sounds as though you think of me often,” he teases me.

“You would like that,” I laugh.

“Indeed I would,” he steps closer, our hands still gripping each other’s. “I have to say, I agree.”

I become breathless. Does that mean he thinks of me too? I surely hope so.

“Are you going to ride the horses?” Asks Louisa, and with a snicker James breaks our contact and stands beside Beauty.

“Your horse awaits my Lady,” he indicates to Beauty and I gladly take his offered hand as I climb onto Beauty’s back.

“Be careful,” Louisa warns me as James mounts his chosen horse.

“Do not worry,” I assure her, trotting away on my horse and racing James as far as we can go. The castle has a lot of open ground and I know just the place for a little privacy too. When the horses become a little tired from all the running, we slow to a walk as I lead James away.

“You surprise me,” he laughs.