The King's Daughter (High Born Book 1) (2 page)

Today I am attending my very first joust and I am honestly terrified. I have no idea what to expect, I know what the game entails but I do not know how I am going to feel watching it. The horns sound loudly making Louisa jump. Two men in their suits of armour appear from the tents at the far end of the field and I become nervous. Jane reaches over from beside me and grasps my hand. She tried to calm me this morning as I was dressing. She has been to a few jousts when she attended the French court. The Knights mount their horses, getting into position and we all wait in silence. I start to ease and laugh silently at myself for being silly and over the top with my nervousness, until it begins and the two horses charge. The knights hold up their lance towards each other and take aim to knock the other from their horse. The horses gather speed and I hold my free hands in front of my eyes, peeking through my fingers as they become closer. The rider on the left hits the one on the right and he lands to the floor with a loud grunt. There’s a loud gasp, followed by silence until the horseman gets back to his feet, and then everyone cheers both men’s efforts. We sit, waiting for them to mount and do it again.

“Why would you want to do this?” I quietly ask my Ladies and they giggle in return.

“You are such a baby,” laughs Jane.

“Sorry if I fail to see the fun behind this,” I frown, but my Ladies continue to think of me funny and I manage a small smile.

A messenger then approaches me, and reveals a red rose from behind his back, “For you Princess.”

I take the rose, smiling up at the messenger, “Thank you, who sent this?”

The messenger then indicates over to a handsome man further down the crowd, “It was Lord Rowlston, Your Highness.”

“Tell him thank you,” the girl’s gossip as the messenger walks away and I place the rose down beside me. However thankful I may be, I cannot show that I am interested. Even without looking I know that my parents are gazing down at me. When the next horseman falls from the horse and harshly onto the floor, I forget about my parents and cover my eyes.

“Lord Rowlston is a very wealthy man,” Jane whispers and I fight the urge to not roll my eyes.

“It does not matter how wealthy he is,” Beatrice adds. “The King wants Grace to marry a King or Prince.”

“Ladies,” I try to stop them, but they carry on.

“He is very handsome,” Jane giggles.

“But if it is money the King wants, he can get that and more from Lord Rowlston,” Louisa inputs and I quickly stand, bored of the conversation.

“Princess?” Jane asks.

“I am going for a walk,” I announce, knowing that my Ladies will have to come with me. I do not want to sit around, feeling the gaze from my eager father and have the girls talk about my marriage like I am a deal on the common market. I may be over reacting but I am perhaps using this as an excuse to leave the joust. I have to walk past the King and Queen on the way and I know that my father will want me to stay.

“Grace, where are you going?” He asks from him large chair.

“The gardens,” I answer respectfully.

“Are you not enjoying the jousting?” He loudly asks, with an annoying smirk and I see everyone curiously looking up to us.

“Honestly Father, I do not think this sport is for me,” I answer and his smirk widens to a full blown grin.

“Let her take a walk,” My mother adds. “The poor child does not look well.”

My mother’s laughter irritates me as I walk away. Together, my Ladies and I make it to the gardens and I take a grateful sigh, thankful to be away from the jousting. I look behind at my Ladies and see the same relief on their faces.

“Well, that was pretty terrifying,” Catherine giggles.

“Equally as terrifying as listening to you all discussing a marriage with Lord Rowlston,” I poke at them.

“I did not mean anything by it,” Jane frowns. “I’m sorry if I offended you Grace, it wasn’t my intention.”

All the girls begin their apologies and I start to feel bad, “No, you do not need to apologise. I did not say it for that reason, I just could not listen to it anymore.”

“Then let us speak no more of Lord Rowlston and his sweet gift,” Louisa smiles and she hooks her arm into mine. However I did not miss her slight tease.

“And say nothing at how handsome he is,” Catherine giggles girlishly as we walk.

“Well,” I laugh “I suppose we can talk about him a little.”

While we are laughing, I am approached by the Prince of Spain. Prince Antonio is a cousin of mine. His father, King Alonso of Spain, is my mother’s brother. I have only met him a handful of times and that was when we were both much younger. He is very handsome, obviously carrying the legend of the Spanish good looks.

“Hello Princess,” he bows and as I place my hand in his, he gently kisses it but he lingers longer than he should.

“It is good to see you Prince Antonio,” I curtsey, honestly glad to see my cousin after so long. “I did not know that you were at the castle.”

“I arrived late last night, and as soon as my father heard that you had entered court he sent me over,” he straightens up and we begin to walk together. His guards and my Ladies silently following behind. “You have grown to be very beautiful Grace.”

It is not unusual for family to speak in such ways, but the way he speaks his words make me feel awkward. I try not to let it show, “Thank you, you are very handsome also Antonio.”

“Of course,” he grins. “I am the most handsome Prince in all of Spain.”

I hide my amusement well but as I cough I am worried my laughter will escape. It is graceful to give a compliment, but vein to give yourself one. I am already gathering Antonio’s character.

“Did your father have a message for me?” I ask, wondering why his father, would send him here. Prince Antonio looks confused. “No Princess, why do you ask?”

“You said that your father sent you here when he learned that I was in court,” I answer, looking at Antonio curiously. This conversation seems odd and I would much rather be enjoying myself with my Ladies than boosting Antonio’s ego.

“Oh no,” he smiles. “You are confused, Princess.”

“Oh? Perhaps you could explain,” I ask, it’s more of an order but I’m starting to become tired of his game. Prince Antonio stops in place and I follow, he looks behind at his guards and my Ladies before continuing to talk.

“I want you to come back with me,” he announces.

“To Spain?” I ask in shock.

“It is your homeland as much as mine. You should come with me,” Antonio pleads.

“I need to ask my father of course. I am not allowed anywhere without his approval, but I have only just arrived at court, I doubt my father will want me away as soon as this.”

“You would not if you came as my bride,” Antonio announces.

“I’m sorry. Your bride?” I ask, shocked by his bluntness. It is not uncommon for cousins to marry, especially in royal families such as ours. It strengthens the royal blood and ties the countries together stronger than before.

“Antonio, have you spoken to the King about this?” I ask, already knowing the answer. Antonio strikes me as the type of man to think he is in charge.

He rolls his eyes and I do not appreciate his disrespect to my father, “I am the future King of Spain, I do not need to ask your father for his permission.”

Apparently, as a prince of a foreign country, he thinks himself above the King of the country he is currently in.

“You know that he is not just any father, he is the King of England, and as I’m his daughter you do have to ask his permission. He will be very angry with you Antonio. You should have approached him with this before you spoke to me,” I step away from him and I am glad when my Ladies come to my side. “I will tell him of your question.”

Antonio continues to stand there and smirk. I do not like the look on his face. It sends chills throughout my body.

“Your mother and father’s alliance ends with them, there are no other available Spanish Princesses to marry George,” Antonio takes another step closer to me. “England needs the alliance with Spain to carry on, Princess.”

“I will never be your bride. You have not asked my father because you know my father will never accept. Spain needs our soldiers for the troubles they are having with the Italians and the French,” Prince Antonio’s face turns sour and I know I’m right. I may be new to court, and just a Princess but I like to know as much about politics as I can. Especially when I could be used as a tool for a peace treaty or to gain something on either end. Antonio does not say anything and marches away with his guards quickly following.

“Are you ok Grace?” Jane asks me.

“Yes,” I assure them all. “Antonio seems to think he is already a King and thinks he can order me and my father around.”

“Are you going to tell the King?” Catherine asks.

“I do not know,” I answer as we begin to walk back to the castle. As much as Antonio annoyed me, I do not want to run to my father with every little problem I have.

“What about your mother? Or Prince George?” Jane asks. “You have to tell someone.”

During our walk back to the castle I think about telling a member of my family about Antonio. Back and forth my mind wonders until I make a decision. As we enter the castle, I turn to face my Ladies, “I have decided to tell my mother.”

My mother seems the right person to tell. George would be furious and I do not want to bother him.

“I am pleased,” Jane smiles.

Now that the jousting has ended, I know that my mother will be in her private quarters, freshening up before dinner. Once I get close to her door, my guards hang back a little as I knock. One of her Ladies answers, Lady Victoria, and she smiles widely when she sees me.

“Princess Grace,” she welcomes me into my mother’s chambers. “It is lovely to see you.”

“And you too Lady Victoria,” I greet politely. “I hope my mother is not giving you too much work,” I joke with her.

“No Grace, of course not,” Lady Victoria quietly laughs as I enter.

“Grace?” My mother frowns in concern.

“Can I talk to you privately?” I ask, looking around at my mother’s Ladies. All six of them.

“Of course,” My mother accepts, nodding her head to her Ladies and they all walk out the chambers one by one. My mother motions for me to sit beside her and she places her hand on my knee and looks to me. “What did you need to talk about my darling?”

“I went for a walk in the castle gardens with my Ladies, and Prince Antonio approached us,” I begin.

“Yes, I had heard he arrived. A few of my Ladies have reported how much he adores himself,” My mother grumbles. “What did he say to you?”

“He wanted me to go back to Spain with him, and when I replied that I would need to ask father, he told me I would not need his permission if I were his bride,” I do not have to wait long for my mother to anger and become the Queen that people fear.

My mother shouts, “He shall regret speaking to you like that my darling. I will tell your father, he needs to know.”

“I did not want to bother father,” I add, trying to calm her.

“He will want to hear about this,” she continues to pace and I sit and watch.

She curses Antonio and him daring to go behind hers and my father’s back. When she finally calms, she caresses her hand over the top of my head, smoothing my hair, “Your father and I have big plans for you Gracey and Antonio is not part of that, don’t you worry.”