To Court a Lady

Chapter Fourteen

I settle Harper in the bathing room and leave to my bed where I take a book and read the yellowed pages until Harper emerges from the bathing room in her bathing robe. We then walk my room, where she sits silently as I get ready, looking at the books that are piled around my bed.

I put on my corset which I didn't wear this morning, not that anyone noticed since I was riding and it wasn't of importance and look through my trunk for a day dress. I almost give up and wear an old dress when I see a cream package, I pull it out and look at the label.

Dear Willow,
I hope you like this dress. I wore it when I was a debutante many years ago. It may not be as modern but you can take it to the seamstress using the servants' corridors that I hear you like to use.
I hope you wear it to the gardens,
Paula

I smile at the label and open the package to see a beautiful berry coloured dress. It is made of a robust cotton and has no sleeves, resting on my shoulders with thick cream straps. The ruched bodice is cream with gold embroidery around the waist which grows down the skirt like vines. The circle skirt is a berry colour which hovers over the ground. I smile and fold the note to place it back in my trunk, before putting the dress on. It fits perfectly and the golden lace ribbon at the back pulls the bodice to fit my body.

I put on cream shoes and the amber teardrop necklace from my mother before spinning in a circle as my sister watches from where she is perched on my bed. She looks up from one of my books and her eyes widen and her mouth spreads into a wide smile,

"Willow, you look beautiful! Where did you get that dress?"

I smile sheepishly and shrug,
"Would you believe me if I said the Queen?"

She laughs and shakes her head in disbelief. Freya and Maya then rush in too get ready as me and Harper move to her room to let her get ready as well. 

I choose a dress for Harper and she finally agrees with it when I say she can use some of my jewellery as accessories because she finds it too bland. It is a beautiful dress though, made of a strong silk. It is a turquoise colour, changing her eye colour, with gold embroidery and belt.

When we are all finally dressed and ready we walk into the grand sitting room and wait for the maid to take us to the gardens. Two other debutantes already sit in the grand room and Harper goes to tell them about some gossip she heard at the picnic. I walk to the bay window and look at the books around it. They are all poetry and romance, focusing on the 'perfect life' that we lead. I sigh and walk out of the sitting room and to the other libraries that are scattered sparsely around the west wing in search of a book.

After looking in all the small libraries I decide to take a book about a traveller that goes all over the world, which he believes is a sphere. I rush back to the grand sitting room just as the last debutante walks down the staircase towards the gardens.

I race to walk next to Harper and when I do, she loops her arm through mine,
"Close one?"

I nod, out of breath because of the corset that stops me from breathing freely.

When we reach the garden I almost burst with happiness. There is a big clearing filled with tables and chairs to sit at and around there are different sorts of activities. There is croquet, drawing, lounging and a giant chess board, with chess figures the size of young children. I smile and walk with Harper to the croquet field. As everyone settles down the King walks into the garden and smiles happily,

"I see that everyone has arrived, welcome to the Royal East Garden."

Applause fills the clearing as usual and the King quietens it down,

"You are all welcome to do whichever activity pulls your interest and Daniel will walk around to talk with you all."

The King walks to a table and sits with his Queen, giving her a kiss on the forehead. I smile at the moment they share and Harper excuses herself to leave to the drawing field. I walk to the lounging blankets and start to read, the pages a familiar feeling between my fingers. I am pulled from my world when I see the King and Queen walk towards the lounging blankets. I stand up and curtsy,

"Your Majesties,"

"Oh, Willow, you know I hate formalities."

I meet the Queen's eyes and she winks at me. I stand with my book at hand and tilt my head to the side,

"With what my I help you?"

The King smiles and points to the chess field behind him,

"We wanted to invite you to a game of chess. If you can play of course."

I laugh quietly,
"I would love to,"

I follow them to the field, gaining a few looks from other ladies in waiting and debutantes. I take the whites with the Queen and the King takes the black. He looks over me and then calls out,
"Sebastian, join us."

Bash appears next to me and smiles, his hand touching mine for a moment before walking to his father,
"With pleasure,"

The King and Queen have slightly shocked faces and smile at their son as he stands next to his father. He then smirks at me and I return the look,
"Game on."