In French

Chapter Three

    “Oh my, you have a lot to learn young princess,” Eloisa laughed softly. “Without your heart you are not alive. We rely on our hearts to be involved,” She explained, “What about the poor families-the peasants?”

    I sniffed unpleasantly, face creased in confusion, “What of them?”

    “Well, why do they marry?” She pushed.

    “It’s not the same!” I wailed dramatically, “The peasants do not have anything to start with. They have nothing to lose. And they’re not royalty. They’re the ones that need an heir for their future. For the country’s future.”

    “Your bath is ready, My Lady,” The maid said bobbing her head.

    “Thank you,” I bowed to Eloisa who nodded, we shuffled into my chamber where she helped unlace me and I sat in my stay in the warm bath. Rose petals had been scattered along the surface, “Can you thank the maid for me again?” I asked.

    “Of course. I shall go do that now,” Eloisa said. I relaxed in the water, running my hands through it, liking the sound it made. It would be alright. I didn’t really love the Dauphin, I had just took an interest in him. Nothing had even happened, no harm was truly done. He wouldn’t remember me, he just knew my name and that was it. If he liked me enough then he would have requested me. He probably thought I was too childish for the likes of him. Well, I did not need him either and would prove to him by getting myself a nice handsome prince.

    I decided then that I would no longer shy away from Madre when she wanted to discuss the topic but would get my act together to prove that I was a mature young lady that could handle the married life. With an aim in mind I closed my eyes sinking so that my chin poked in the warm water.

    I stayed in the bath until my fingers were like prunes and the water was tepid. I was wrapped up and dressed again as at any moment the final part of the marriage was about to happen and seal the deal.

    I did not particularly want to see my brother and Nikola consummate the marriage but the entire court was going to watch to make sure that it happened. Not to mention that it was the King's law. Without that solidification then an annulment could be made. It probably wouldn’t matter much to us apart from shame and humiliation but it would make a grand difference to princess Nikola’s family and if nothing else could humiliate them to the extreme, making her unable to ever marry.

    The covers were drawn back and in white nightgowns Nikola and Dion got into bed. The covers were pulled back up and the whole court watched on eagerly. I stood deliberately behind a wide and rather tall man so that all I could see was the top of the intricate golden bed and nothing else. Oh my, the intricate design was pretty spectacular now it had caught my attention. Some words of encouragement were called to Dion then an intake of breath. We heard Dion mutter something to Nikola.

 ******

    Weeks had passed and my fifteenth birthday was fast closing down upon us. Madre had insisted that we would not be making a fuss of it this year but how could she not? It wasn’t as if it would make a huge difference to her exorbitant pot of gold.

    It was breakfast, I was next to Nikola and Josepha. Nikola did not speak much Catalonian and even littler Spanish. We found it hard to communicate to her but Dion insisted that he did not mind for he could understand what she was implying. “Are you not thirsty?” I asked her.

    She stared at me focused as she tried to translate what I had said.

    I pointed at her, “Are you-” I mimicked holding a glass and drinking it, “-thirsty?”

    “Oh,” she said nodding as she understood. “Uh, no,” she shook her head, “Thank-we.” I think she meant thank you.

    I nodded and we smiled at each other. Despite not talking much I really was taken to her and tried to make her feel as comfortable as she could with people she could never really get to know because she couldn’t understand them. We ate in silence.

    “Jeanne, I’m getting you fitted for a new dress today,” Madre sniffed haughtily once we’d finished. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that Senorita Dulcinia had her hands all over the King. It made my stomach clench threatening to heave my strawberries and red wine back up. Nikola looked a little shocked that Padre had a mistress. Weren't we all Nikola, weren't we all.

    “Oh goody,” Jeanne clapped her hands as the plates were taken away.

    After breakfast Josepha, Nikola and myself went and listened to Josepha play the harpsichord. She was gifted at the instrument. She had tried to teach me many a time but I could not flit my fingers up and down the keys in the same beautiful melodic way that my sister could. She sung as well, she had a high, light voice that was very quiet. Like a hushed bird of the forest.

    “She’s good, is she not?” I exclaimed grinning at Nikola.

    “Good,” She said clapping her hands a few times to show that she was enjoying it.

    I jumped to my feet, pretending to dance with someone, “Care to dance?”

    “Me?” She managed pointing at herself in surprise.

    I nodded, beaming at her, “Yes. I can teach you if you are not any good.” I danced with the Dauphin. Get that thought out of my mind. She got to her feet and we placed our palms flat against each other and then began to turn and dance. Nikola had a brilliant time and for the first time since she arrived she laughed and laughed and laughed.

    Josepha cracked up giggling every now and again and we all had a brilliant morning. It was purely delectable. After that we watched out the window. It was wet outside, too wet for us to particularly want to go out there but it wasn’t that cold. It didn’t really get cold here in the winter, it just got extremely wet.

    Josepha and I taught Nikola to play gambling games which she very much enjoyed. It took a long time to teach her the tricks as she knew very little of our language. Still, we had fun and she laughed a lot and whenever she won –mainly when Josepha and I let her- her mouth dropped open in astonishment and she raised her hands in the air in triumph. I really wanted her to feel alright living here and wanted her to know how welcome she was. 

    Jeanne on the other hand liked it when she had all her siblings. Despite being desperate to get married herself she didn’t like the other half of Dion’s life and often sneered down her nose at Nikola. I took Nikola’s hand once when I caught Jeanne trying to turn her into her skivvy. “No, Jeanne.” And pulled Nikola away telling her slowly, “if Jeanne does anything like that you are to tell me, Josepha or Dion.”

    “Dion and Josepha?” She sounded confused.

    “Jeanne,” I pointed down the corridor to where Jeanne was. Nikola nodded. “Not allowed.” I shook my head. I motioned with my hand her speaking, “Me,” I pointed at myself, “Or Dion. Or Josepha. Yes?”  

    “Jeanne bad. Me, Josepha, Dion good,” She tried to repeat. When she said ‘me’ she actually pointed to me.

    I’d give her that, “Yes, good.”