One Last Song - Rewriting

PART TWO - Chapter Seven - Daniel

Dear Prince Whitlock,

I have recently been thinking a lot about how we just seem to meet up in the strangest of places: The market, my bedroom and you mother's bedroom so I was curious if you perhaps wanted to arrange a date with me to meet at the Southern Lake tomorrow at six in the evening tomorrow afternoon? I would be delighted to hear you are able to come but I advise you to keep it a secret from your father.

Sincerly,

Lady Lucinda Godwin

I fold the letter back up and look at the small child who delivered it. I nod and hand over a few coins before stuffing the letter in my pocket.

I turn away and close the door to my bedroom. So typical of Lucinda Godwin to be wanting to sneak out but she had got it right, we were coming upon each other in the strangest of places as she had put it. 

I go to my desk, pull out some yellowing paper and a quill and start writing in a rich, blue ink.

Dearest Lucinda,

I stop and scratch that out, starting again. I remember, it needed to be formal. 

Dearest Lady Godwin,

I would be more than happy to arrange a meeting with you at six o'clock tomorrow evening. Although I think it would be best if I came to pick you up rather than have you wandering about the streets that belong to the peasants. Knowing you, my dear, you would most likely find yourself in another tricky situation and I cannot guarantee I shall be there for you as much as I would like to be. 

I will meet you just at the bottom of the Godwin Palace's hill ready to pick you up but make sure when you leave, you are wearing dark colours as you don't want to attract any unnessecary attention.

Yours sincerly,

Prince Whitlock.

I read the letter over a few times before closing it in the matching, yellowing envelope and waxing it with a stamp and giving it to Miss Pattie who rushes to the door, swings it open and is out of sight before I could say 'Embarrassed'

 I look out the window and see a man get on a black mare and riding down the hill. I guessed Miss Pattie would have passed the letter to him and he is now on his way to delievering it to Lucinda.

I don't know why, but ever since I met with her, I have been thinking about Lucinda so often, it was almost as if she was raiding my brain.

She is so beautiful and I can't help it as it has really only been a couple of days but I just feel as though I have this want for a girl like her. I need Lucinda in my life. 

                                                                                         ~

Sneaking out was easy. I had decided to leave half past five so I'd be on time for her. I still hadn't gotten a reply for her but nonetheless, I was going to meet her at her palace and be there for her so she won't lose herself in the crowd.

Getting caught was the worst thing to possibly happen to me right now and luckily, i didn't.The whole sneaking out process wasn't hard but getting into the horse's stables and finding Shamelia, my white stallion was the hard part.

She is right at the back, I think as I see a white tail swish delicately.

I sneak past all the other mares and feeling their icky breathing linger on my skin made me feel slightly sick.

Luckily, someone had already saddled Shamelia up so all I had to do was guide her out and run away with her.

The trip to the Godwin Palace wasn't long. I had to go through a few towns of peasants who did, I might add, get very irritated at me for causing such an anxious rush but I did it and no sooner had I left one palace, but I arrived at the other in less than an hour.

I could see her walking down the hill, basket in hand, cloak over head. She look as if she was humming to herself in the night. I couldn't help but feel a warm rush of love come over me as she notices me and starts to run down the hill.

'Hello, my lady,' I say, jumping off the horse and helping her up.

'Good evening, I didn't expect you to be here so quickly, I was going to go down to the peasants and find something for us to eat,' She admits from behind me.

'Hold onto my waist,' I say as I flick the reigns and Shamelia starts walking. 

'What?!' She gasps, sounding slightly horrified. I feel myself chuckle.

'Its alright, I will not judge you more than a friend, if you do.' I say.

She hesitates for a few seconds but then I feel her wrap her arms around me.

She didn't look particually ladylike as she wasn't wearing her usual dress - she was wearing riding pants and a blouse, with just a cloak over top.

Her grip slackens and I can't help but smile.

'It's alright, my lady, trust me on this.'

'Its not that I don't trust you, I just dont want to hurt you,' she says quietly.

'You won't hurt me. I've been trained in fencing and battle structure before, having a lady holding onto my waist tightly won't hurt me more than a needle pricking a finger.' I say.

'OK,' she sighs and tightly hugs my back.

We ride for about half an hour and by that time, Lucinda had gotten weary eyed and tired. She had forgotten all about hurting me and silently rests her head on my back.

I feel her warm breath seep through my cloak and I feel her delicate eyes blinking on my back.

In no time at all, she's asleep. Her left hand falls limp and lands on my thigh. I smile to myself and continue riding with a sleeping beauty on my back.