Dangerous Decorum

Chapter 1

   "Lady Mercy," a knock came at my half opened door and I glanced up from my letter I was writing addressed to my dearest cousin, Adelaide. "Ah, hello Louisa. Have I any letters?" I rose from my seat opening my door for her to walk in, with a look of dismay, Louisa tarried in. "I actually come to be the bearer of bad news." I exhale thoughtfully and close my door, "Out with it then."  I take my seat again and dip the quill pen once more into ink and began writing.

"Her majesty Queen Letitia requires your presence in her salon." I suppressed a breathy titter "Why ever would the queen desire the presence of a lesser lady?" Louisa fidgeted as I glanced at her in the corner of my eye, "Perhaps it would be because you'd ignored her last summons..." realizing what she had said her eyes briefly widened then added, "however, it's a rather uneducated guess." I sigh, glancing at my ditzy governess.

Louisa has been my governess since I was a small child, she's practically aided in my upbringing. She would've done fantastically if the king hadn't at some point inferred with her progress simply done in vain. Louisa was truly the mother I'd wanted however, the queen proved to be the mother figure I needed.

  Being abandoned at a young age had it's disadvantages, but, only the royal family had known I had no noble blood flowing through my veins rather I was the daughter of a bastard born man and a loose woman.

  "Louisa, had I not remind you that you may speak freely? I'm not some pompous royal. You've raised me from a small girl, you're basically my mother." I snotted in disdain, "In that sort of case, I stand by my prior statement. The queen has sent multiple summons this week and you better be glad she's sent me, and not a stony guard." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I blew on the fresh ink of my letter. "I'm sure it's just some unimportant topic of my recent lack of appearances." I mutter, with a yawn I rose and undid my hair from the intricate braid the maids had did up this morning.

  "I have you know your appearances are treasured. You're a lady of interest." My eyebrows shot upwards, mainly amused and I guffawed. "Lady of interest? You make me sound as if I murder." Oh, if only she had knew. Louisa flushed a bright pink and twitched in her spot, "I hadn't meant it as to say that! I meant it as many men are interested in you. You cast... intrigue."  I turned away and opened my trunk shuffling around for a shawl. Rumors had already spread; I was a lady that had no possession of lands, no counted for wealth, nor inheritance, nor powerful name. Of course, rumors would spread.

  It was quite amusing hearing what they had thought, the main one being, that I'm the secret child of the king. I give major credit to those who came up with it, I would think the same. We had striking similarities — as the king has freckles spread out unevenly around his face, as did I. We also shared the same rounded face that made us appear younger than seemed. With the addition of almost the same hair color, I look as if I was sprung out directly from the king but with great fortune, I was not.

  There may be many things I'd do for that man but being proclaimed his daughter is something I'd never do. "Why yes, I'd believe so. Given my provocative nature and all. Tell me, Louisa. Is this too revealing?" I raised the end of my skirts showing my bare leg. "Lady Mercy, this is no joking matter. You could marry well, you could —" I stop her as I draped a rather bland shawl over my shoulders daintily.

"Escort me to her majesty. I needn't make her mad, yes?" a look of frustration past over Louisa's face and soon, disappeared into a resolved facade. "Yes. You are true to your thinking." She began to escort me down the corridors which were lit graciously by the sunlight that streamed in. Windows lying in almost every corner of the corridor, I would see statues of some pompous royal and then that of terrifying portraits of past queens.

  "Please mind your manners, my lady. I rather not have the queen cross with me more than usual; you're my charge, how you behave reflects my capabilities." I gave a practiced 'proper lady' smile to Louisa. "Yes, Louisa." Louisa rolled her eyes muttering, "You're too insufferable." as we approached the queen's beloved salon the door was opened by an awaiting maid, there is the corner was a studious queen seeming to be reading documents of some sort.

  "Your majesty, Lady Mercy Rose Mayfair." The maid announced and I dropped into a low curtesy, I peered up to the queen through a shadow of hair and the queen nodded. I rose demurely. "My, my, Mercy, it's a pleasure to be graced with your presence," Queen Letitia removed her eyeglasses folding her hands in front of herself. "you may take your leave, Louisa." with a curtesy, Louisa disappeared without a word and the door clamored shut.

  "Yes, I have been a very busy lady here lately. Practicing in the ways of table manners, needlepoint, cross—" I stopped my mindless listing when I saw her staring at me which a stare of cold. "— may I have the privilege to ask to why I'm receiving such regard?" queen Letitia stood from her seat sauntering over to her book shelf. "I don't appreciate when you ignore my summons, Mercy. It's very offending." I clasped my hands in front of me but I secretly dug my nail into my skin to improve my ever so fleeting awareness to reality.

  "I offer my sincerest apologies. As of late I've been dealing with family concerns — my cousin Adelaide has been named the debutante of our family." once I had mentioned debutante, the queen's face seemed to grow alight. "Ah, such a exciting time. This Season my son, Prince Joesph will have the opportunity to find a bride." Prince Jospeh also happened to be the crown prince as well, whomever he chose to wed would become a princess and then soon after, queen. I had a difficult time imagining Queen Letitia willing to give up her crown so easily but I saw she'd loved her son on multiple occasions.

  "Yes, and I wish him such luck in doing so. I presume Princess Prudence will represent the royal family?" I queried as I watched the queen pluck a book sitting back down shortly thereafter. A few seconds of waiting for her response, she looked up. "No. Prudence is...disinclined." I pursed my lips, "I'm sorry to hear. Perhaps, Lady Elizabeth Killian-Thomas, her cousin, then?" I watch as Queen Letitia snuffed fighting away the look of disgust growing on her face.

  "Lady Elizabeth is unable to join us as she is come down with a dreadful case of the chicken pox," unbeknownst, my eyebrows shot up. Maybe in curiosity? Perhaps in shock? Maybe amused? It seemed as if the royal family had their own misfortunes. "but, providentially we've chosen our debutante." I tilted my head in the slightest in wonderment, there was no other girl of age I had known of in the royal family. Though, the blood line has ran deeper than my own knowledge so perhaps I am wrong.

  "We've chosen you, Lady Mercy." I started to blubber. It was one of those 'Are you absolutely bonkers?!' moments, I had not the foggiest idea why they'd chosen me as the royal debutante! I hadn't any royal blood in my veins, nor had I any status. I actually had some point started to feel faint; had they taken me as daft? Was this to be another test?

  "W-why would you ever do such a thing?" I asked breathlessly and an amused smirk danced across her lips as she looked down at her book. "The king and I came to terms you are a desired choice when it comes to male inductees and that of dukes, lords, and noblemen." I felt something drop inside of me as I clutched my skirts, sadness drained through me as I realized they wanted me out of the way. Were they finished with me, truly? Anger trilled through me as my nose scrunched up.

  "I'm quite afraid I refuse. I don't mean offense  but I couldn't possibly represent royalty when I am nothing of the sorts. I have been dismissed from many finishing schools and —" I stopped my rattling when I saw the chastised look on the queen. "I never said this was optional. You will be our debutante, choose your ladies maids, and marry. Let us not converse much longer on the topic." And just as that, she closed the conversation altogether and as if my anger couldn't grow more, it did. "You are dismissed, Lady Mercy," my nostrils flared a good second or so and I curtsied walking to the door.

  I reached for the door handle but to my ever dismay, it was yanked open and I jumped back in surprise.