Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 281: Violet: Anticipation

That night, Violet sat at the ladies’ table for dinner without Ilse, almost twitching with anticipation. Her senses were alert to any possible movement around her, to anyone who could be trying to get her attention or slip her a secret signal.

She finally understood the heady excitement of arranging a hidden tryst. She finally understood why other women would sneak around to meet their lovers without worrying about their reputations. For the first time in months since arriving at the suffocating court, Violet felt truly vital and alive.

She was no longer going to pretend to be content with the existence of a virtuous noblewoman. One who filled her dreary days with prayer and embroidery, and her nights waiting to be asked for a dance by courtiers that held no appeal.

No, she refused to let those be the only things in her life. She wanted much more.

That night however, Prince Leo ignored not only Violet but every woman in the banquet hall. He ended up having a terrible quarrel with his father and at one point, it looked like the two men might come to blows.

Along with the rest of the courtiers, Violet watched as the two men argued, both shocked and amazed. The prince would have to admit defeat at some point, she figured. But Leo showed no sign of backing down, continuing to grow redder in the face as his voice grew louder and louder.

The queen looked distressed and tried to intervene, though both men ignored her attempts at peace. Their anger continued escalating - did they not realise the entire court was watching with fascination?

Finally, Leo hurled his goblet to the floor with such force that the clanging metal rang out through the hall. He stormed out through the enormous oak doors.

The mood in the hall was subdued, almost cowed, for the rest of the evening. There was barely any music or dancing. The king sat drinking in silence with a face like thunder and the queen looked like she might weep.

The ladies sitting around Violet gossiped in whispers, trying to guess the reason behind the quarrel. Some said they had to be arguing about Leo’s gambling debts, which were supposed to be substantial. Some of the wilder theories were to do with father and son fighting over a mutual mistress.

Violet didn’t really care what the reason was. She was just disappointed the prince probably wouldn’t be seeking her company that night.

Although did she really want to have to try and please a man who’d looked angry enough to strike down his own father? The Devon men were known for their volatile tempers. It was far better for Leo to summon her when he was in a better mood.

Violet trudged back to her bedchamber a little while later. When she cracked the door open and peered inside the room, she could see Ilse was already asleep. Or at least she was pretending to be.

It was probably for the best, Violet thought with a sigh as she undressed. It meant there wouldn’t have to be another cold, stilted conversation between them.

As she crawled into the bed, a sense of wistfulness washed over her.

In the past, Ilse would have still been awake and waiting up for her, no matter how unwell she felt. Violet could picture herself rushing to the bedchamber to share everything she’d seen with her sister, telling her all about the royal quarrel down to the very last detail. Ilse would’ve shrieked, half shocked and half laughing, then the sisters would’ve giggled and whispered late into the night.

Too late now though, Violet shrugged. Things were just too different.

- - -

Violet received no message from Prince Leo the next day or the day after. He didn’t ask her to dance or even look in her direction. In short, he acted as if she didn’t exist.

She began to despair, feeling more and more discouraged with every passing hour. Had he forgotten his promise to her, or simply lost interest? Even though she’d performed before his eyes in the most sinful way?

Ilse would’ve noticed her growing irritability but she said nothing. She was back to full health again and able to carry out her duties as a lady-in-waiting. It meant the twins were back to spending their days side by side and serving the queen, the silence between them thick and impenetrable.

Three nights later, the summons Violet had been anxiously waiting for, finally arrived. As the dinner plates were being cleared away from the tables, a servant bent down as if reaching for an empty platter. As he did, he gestured towards a young page leaning against a column.

Violet glanced at the scrawny lad, dressed in the livery worn by those who served members of the royal family directly. The two exchanged a brief nod of understanding. She waited until the evening’s dancing was in full swing before approaching the page.

"His Highness sends his word, my lady. He will wait for you in his presence chamber the day after tomorrow. He expects you there at three in the afternoon and no later." the boy whispered, never looking away from the dancing couples.

"You may tell your lord that I understand." she whispered back. "Except..." her voice died off.

"Is there a problem?"

Violet tried not to look embarrassed, but she had to ask. "How will I find my way there? Apart from Her Majesty’s rooms, I’m not familiar at all with that wing of the castle."

"I’ve been instructed to escort you there, my lady." the page said. "If you meet me at the Biscayan fountain in the south gardens a little before three that day, I will take you to Prince Leo’s rooms."

With that, the page scampered away. Violet remained standing, leaning against the column with one shoulder while she watched the court. She felt almost detached from what she saw. Violet could see Ilse laughing as she danced with Prince James to a jaunty tune. Prince Leo had taken pity on Kathryn Danner and was dancing with her. The gratitude on the girl’s face was laughable.

"This is my time." Violet whispered as she watched the others. "My time in the sun. I won’t waste a moment of it."

- - -

On the afternoon of the agreed day, Violet met the young page in the garden as agreed. He led her through a maze of back corridors that led to the castle’s southern wing.

She’d taken particular care getting ready that morning, scrubbing herself clean until her skin turned pink and choosing her gown with the most flattering neckline. She’d caught Ilse glancing quizzically at her preparations as if she wanted to ask questions. Still, no words were spoken by either girl.

As the page now held open the door to Leo’s apartments and gestured for her to enter, it struck Violet as odd that there was no one in the corridor. No servants, no guards, just her and the page.

"Where is everyone?" she murmured to the boy.

"His Highness arranged it this way." he shrugged. She took it to mean he’d either ordered or paid off everyone to leave his apartments unguarded.

The moment she stepped inside the room, Violet heard the door being pulled shut behind her. She was struck dumb by what she saw. She craned her neck and gaped like a simpleton at the large, luxurious presence chamber. She was well familiar with Queen Celia’s presence chamber of course, but the wealth and extravagance of the House of Devon never failed to stun her.

What would it be like, Violet wondered, to live among such wealth day after day? To be so used to it that you didn’t even see it anymore? The plush, imported rugs, the furniture upholstered in fine velvet and brocade, the -

Her quiet appreciation of the room was hastily interrupted as Prince Leo strode out from another room and stalked towards her, his mouth set in a determined line.

Violet bowed, though it seemed a silly thing to do for a man she was about to share such intimacy with. Her nerves prickled under her skin when it hit her how desperate she was to see him. She was really about to do this. "Good afternoon, my lord-"

Without any word of warning or even greeting, Leo pushed Violet back onto a couch and then pinned her down with his body. The heat and weight of him on her knocked her breath out.

She’d hoped he might lead her by the hand into his bedchamber, perhaps set her gently down upon his bed before he kissed her. Clearly he had no plans to do so. Still, Violet tried not to be too disappointed. Being inside the prince’s presence chamber was still far more dignified that having him take his pleasure with her in some dusty storeroom, wasn’t it?

It showed he held her in greater regard than his other dalliances, didn’t it?