Authors: Nicola Erasmus
Gwen breathed heavily in disbelief.
“If it wasn’t for the fact that she’s gone, I would have thought this insanity came from Margaret.”
“Now, calm yourself, Gwen and have some breakfast.
Just be yourself” the Queen said with a giggle.
“Oh, I damn well will be myself, alright.” she said disgusted.
“You keep me insight the whole time, okay? Gwen went back to her old style dressed in her favorite boots and jeans.
“I’ve got it. Don’t worry.” Elsie had a hard time not laughing at Gwen.
“I’ll give you the signal when I’ve had enough of this clown.”
“
Black Sabbath
. Got it. And if things are going well and you need me to disappear?”
“That won’t happen.”
“Your Highness.
The Duke of Doorn” Grace announced from the steps that lead out to the garden. She looked dreamily at the hunk as he walked away from her towards Gwen.
Elsie sighed and Gwen snorted.
“Princess Guinevere. Princess Elsabeth” he greeted in a deep, rich voice and bowed. He handed Gwen a bouquet of white lilies which she shoved into Elsie’s arms. He was tall, with straight blonde hair that seemed to have a way of its own and hypnotic blue eyes. His brought shoulders and arms looked like they could crack a watermelon into pieces with a light squeeze.
“I’ll leave you two then” Elsie said, her voice dripping with suggestion.
Elsie didn’t go far just as promised. She sat down on a bench just out of sight to where her sister and the Duke took a seat at the bench in the rose garden, pretending to read a very thick novel.
“You’re a difficult person to acquire an audience with, Princess” the Duke gave her an askew smile, flashing his brilliant white teeth.
“Please, call me Gwen” she said to him.
“Alright. Gwen. You can call me Dirk.”
Gwen gave an over the top laugh. “Dirk? Dirk the Duke of Doorn”
The duke’s smile faded. He looked around, stupidly for the joke.
“Alliteration, Dirk. Your name is quite poetic…”
“Thank you, Gwen” he said, smiling charmingly again.
“…in a comical sort of way.” Gwen mumbled.
“You must excuse my lack of intelligence, today” he said. “But your beauty has erased my mind of all logical thought.”
“Black Sabbath…” Elsie whispered behind her book with a giggle.
“Thanks, you should see me when I actually put some effort into it.”
“So, you travelled the world until recently, I’ve heard.”
“You’ve probably heard all about it already.”
“But I haven’t heard it being recalled in your sweet voice.”
Gwen laughed. “Right…”
“You must’ve had the world at your feet.
Were you entertained much, by other gentleman, I mean?”
“I was actually and I’ll tell you one thing,” Gwen looked around and dropped her voice, “that thing they say about the French? Totally overrated.”
Dirk didn’t get it. He looked at Gwen confused and then failed at forcing out a laugh.
They sat uncomfortable looking at the roses.
“Do you dance, Dirk?”
The duke pushed out his chest proudly. “I do and I’m a talented singer too.”
“Black Sabbath…”Elsie whispered again unable to control her laughter any longer.
“Tell me, what kind of music do you like?” he asked Gwen and took her hand
“Can’t you guess from my personal style?” Gwen said prying her hand slowly from his grasp. “I like a bit of everything.
Linkin Park, Muse and the classics of course.”
“I adore the classics. Mozart, Bach…” he started.
“Queen, The Rolling Stones….and
Black Sabbath
” Gwen added.
Elsie slammed her book shut and shook her head. The duke looked brain dead once again, searching his ‘erased mind’ for a suitable classic to serenade Gwen with.
“It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Dirk. I unfortunately still have a lot of arrangements to take care of before tomorrow’s ball and will have to cut this date a bit short.”
“I understand.” He moved in to try and steal a kiss but Gwen placed her hand on his lips, stopping him.
“Okay, the pickup lines I could handle but this is too much. Excuse me.”
“Gwen, you didn’t tell me the color of the gown you’ll be wearing to the ball?” he called after her.
“What is it with people and the color of my damn dress?”
“Well, I need to know so I can match my outfit with yours, of course.”
Gwen looked around at him, her eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“It customary for us to match when I escort…”
“I’ll be escorting myself, thank you” Gwen said walking off with clenched fists.
“Oh, you’re back” she barked to Sir Windsbury who were about to serve them with tea.
He gave a little laugh. “Yes, we are. The King’s in his office…”
“Thanks” she stormed up the stairs with Elsie behind her.
Gwen slammed open the doors. “This is crazy!” she yelled at the laughing King. “I’m glad to see that everybody thinks this is a giant joke but I ain’t laughing.”
“I’m taking that your tea with the duke didn’t go well.
Well, that’s one down…”
“This is bullshit!” Gwen screamed. “Now you can take your little waiting list, fold it up as small as possible and…”
Elsie covered her ears without being asked. When Gwen’s lips stopped moving eventually she had called the King almost every profane name Elsie had ever heard. The King wasn’t furious this time. He lounged back in his chair sniggering.
“I’m sorry, Gwen” he said finally. “I was just being thrown with all these requests the last few weeks and I didn’t know what to do with them.
You even got a marriage proposal but I informed the aged prince that I doubted that he was your type. Would you like to see the list?”
“No” Gwen said abruptly and left the office still swearing.
“She’s really mad, father” Elsie giggled.
“She can take good care of herself. I must say I pity the man she’ll eventually choose.”
“The Queen said that you might have a favorite on that list.”
The King opened his journal at a loose paper full of scribbling and looked at it. “Yes, he was the first to ask my permission to court her actually. I gave him my blessing but then Gwen left the next day to explore the world.”
“Oh,” Elsie said surprised, “have I met him?”
The King closed his journal secretively. “Don’t be nosey now, Elsie” he said with a wink.
Chapter 17
The palace had been a buzz of activity since late the previous evening. The ball room they’ve never used before was dusted, polished, cleaned and polished again. Even the treasure room was being reorganized under strict supervision of Sir Windsbury and Grace.
“This is it!” Elsie jumped onto Gwen’s bed. “Are you as excited as I am?”
Gwen pulled the covers over her head. “Please I didn’t sleep well.
I kept having nightmares about a blonde singing giant that was trying to eat me” she groaned.
Elsie looked at a long clothes bag that hung against Gwen’s wardrobe. “Is it your dress?”
“Yes and no, you can’t see it” Gwen said picking up her coffee.
“What’s with all the secrecy around your gown?”
“I’m scared that you or anybody else might say something that makes me change my mind about it.”
“Good morning” Sir Windsbury said cheery at the door.
“Hi” Gwen yawned.
“I’ve brought some jewelry from your collection to choose from for tonight.”
“Yay!” Elsie clapped her hands together as four servants entered carrying boxes of jewels.
“I’ll just have Grandmother’s pearls, the earrings and the bracelet, and my golden tiara. I already have my seal with me.” Gwen opened her bedside table and took out her chunky golden ring. “It just needs a bit of polish.”
“Certainly, Your Highness” one of the servants took the ring from her and left.
“Your golden tiara?’ Elsie asked.
“Mother gave it to me so I’m only wearing it for sentimental value.”
“But we’ve never worn crowns in public. That’s what the seals are for.”
The seal ring collection was a wedding gift to the King and Queen from a wealthy sheik. It was a collection of four, each unique apart from its rose seal.
A golden one for the first born, silver for the second. The King’s was gold with two rubies on either side of the rose while the Queen’s was diamond encrusted.
“And I’ll be wearing my seal as well. The tiara will just be an accessory” Gwen said irritated.
Elsie picked out her jewelry and went to put it in her room.
“Did you get it?” Gwen whispered to Sir Windsbury as soon as they were alone.
“I had to literally go and steal it during the night” he whispered back.
“And is it okay?”
“It’s perfect. It’s at the florist being taken care of as we speak.”
Gwen breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks.”
“It’s my pleasure” he said picking up a tray with dishes.
“Do you really have to go out tonight?” Gwen asked.
“I’m sorry but so much has been happening around here lately that I’m scared that if I don’t get to it tonight, I might not ever.”
“What’s so important?”
He sighed and looked out the window. “I’m one of your servants, Gwen. It’s inappropriate to discuss my private life with you.”
“Ooh, who is she?” Gwen cooed.
“None of your business” he sang.
“Come on, I thought we were friends.”
Sir Windsbury glowered at Gwen. “I thought so too but then you packed up and left without a goodbye” he said and walked out.
The day flew by in blurs of satin draping that obscured the halls and flashes of silver being laid on the round tables. By that afternoon the palace smelled strongly of the freshly picked roses being brought in from the garden.
“All the guests have replied putting us at forty-five for the night” Gwen checked off the last name from her list.
“This might be a bit prematurely but I’m going to congratulate you on a job well done” the King said where they stood in the middle of the ballroom that was unrecognizable. “It looks splendid.”
“Thanks. Well, we should be getting ready then. The guests are set to arrive within the hour. Does Grace have everything under control?” Gwen asked Sir Windsbury without looking at him.
“She’s in a bit of a flat spin but she’ll be fine. We’ve done all we could so she should have all her work laid out for her.”
“I guess, all that remains now is for me to excuse you.
I hope we didn’t keep you too long” the King smiled.
“Not at all, Sir. Thank you again and do enjoy the ball.” he bowed to the King and merely nodded in Gwen’s direction.
“I’ll be off then” Gwen excused herself and headed hastily to her room.
“You’re late” Elsie yelled through the bathroom. She was already in her light pink ball gown, hair and makeup done, adjusting her tiara.”