Chapter 5
“Yes, I agree, it will,” Rupert smiled as he looked at me. “You’re so pretty.”
“Well, thank you,” I smiled and played with my fingers.
“You know, I’ve always wanted to-”
“Keep your elbows off the table!” I heard a whisper and looked behind me to see Alice.
“Alice, I thought we excused you,” I told her.
“Yes, Princess, I know. I was just reminding Rupert, here, to keep his elbows off the table. It’s rude.”
“Oh, yes. My apologies, Princess,” he nodded at me.
“Don’t be sorry. I didn’t mind.”
“Oh.”
“Excuse you, Alice,” I raised my eyebrows at her.
“Most certainly,” she said and walked away.
“Now, Alice told me how the day was to go,” I said.
“Yes, yes. After this, we’re going to the park.”
“Right.”
“Is he coming along?” He asked, pointing toward Michael.
I looked back at him. He smiled at me and I blushed. “Yeah. He has not choice,” I said, turning back to face Rupert.”
“Why not?”
“Father appointed him as my personal guard.”
“Oh. Well, you won’t need him with me around,” Rupert smiled and grabbed my hand.
I fake smiled. I wanted Michael to come. “Yeah, sorry, but he has to come.”
“If you say so,” Rupert shrugged as the food was placed before us.
“Thank you,” I said as I looked at the food on the plate. I’m not hungry, but I’ll eat just so I won’t be hungry later.
“Your mother is with child?” Rupert looks up from his plate and asks me.
“Oh, yes.”
“They waiting a little too long, don’t you think?” He laughed.
“No. They had complications. So, this is a miracle.”
“Oh,” he looked back down at his plate. I picked at my plate. “You’re not hungry?”
“No, not really.”
“Alright,” Rupert said and called for the maid to pick up our plates. “Are you ready for a stroll in the park?” He smiled as he got up and held out his hand for me to grab it.
“Sure,” I fake smiled and grabbed hold of his hand and got up.
“Your dress is pretty.”
“Thank you,” I said as he linked arms with me.
Michael followed behind us and I felt nervous instantly. Not because of Rupert, but because of Michael walking behind me. I was sweating like crazy. But I kept my composure. Hopefully, I don’t do anything stupid.
“I was told this was your favorite park in all the land,” Rupert smiled as we looked out at the ocean.
I smiled at the beautiful scene that I have loved since I was a little girl. “Yeah. Who told you?” I asked as I looked up at him.
“No one important. Let’s enjoy this beautiful scene.”
I took off my slippers and walked along the shore. He took my hand and held it in his then began walking along the shore. Michael followed behind us, admiring the beautiful scene as well.
“Tell me about yourself, Leah,” Rupert smiled down at me as he kicked some sand, apparently nervous.
“I’m nothing special. I just love to draw. I’ve been a Princess all my life and I never really get out, so I’m a boring person.”
“No, you’re not,” I heard Michael mumble. Rupert and I looked back at him to see him still admiring the sea.
“He says you’re not,” Rupert faced me.
“Well, I am.”
“How so?”
“I just am. Anyway, let’s talk about you, Rupert.”
“Alright. What would you like to know?”
“I don’t know.”
“Alright,” he laughed. “Well, I was born and raised here in your kingdom and unfortunately, my mother wanted nothing to do with me anymore, so I just lived on the street.”
“Have you seen your mother since you lived on the street?”
“Yes. We see each other all the time now.”
“Well, that’s good.”
“Yes, it is. Ever seen Shakespeares plays?”
“Oh, yes. I go to one every year.”
“Which one is your favorite?”
“Romeo and Juliet.”
“I figured. Every woman loves that play.”
I smiled at his remark. “What about you? Have you seen one?”
“Mmhm. I snuck my way into them.”
“How?”
“I had my ways, but my favorite is Hamlet.”
“Hamlet? Hmm. My father likes that one himself.”
“See, we’re meant for one another!” He smiled.
I made a face, “why do you think that? We just met,” I asked and let go of his hand. I felt awkward now.
“Your father and I like the same things.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. It just means you have good taste.”
“Right… my apologies.”
“Of course,” I looked down at the sand and watched the water wash over my bare feet.
“You’re mighty quiet back there, Michael. What’s your favorite Shakespeare play?” Rupert turned around and asked him.
“Mine? Uh. Romeo and Juliet.”
“Ha. Now, why is that?”
“It’s forbidden love. I find that, the best kind of love.”
“The best kind, huh? And why is that?”
“Cause, when you know that’s the person for you, it shows how far you’re willing to go for your one true love.”
“Hmm,” Rupert said and nodded his head.
I looked back at Michael in wonder. I totally agree with his statement. It’s the best I’ve ever heard.
“Well, ya know, I think it’s time we go horseback riding,” Rupert smiles as I slowly turn from Michael to Rupert.”
“Y-yeah. Of course,” I managed to say and began to walk back to town ahead of Michale and Rupert.
“Leah, I’m gonna go get the horses, okay?” Rupert said as he caught up with me.
“Yeah, okay,” I said just before he ran off. I was alone with Michael and began o feel nervous again.
“You’re not boring,” he said as he walked beside me.
“Oh? How do you know?” I asked.
“You were pretty fun last night.”
“Why is that? Cause I fell in the lake?” I laughed and looked down as the sand as I continued to walk.
“Well,” he began and stopped in front of me, then lifted my chin with his finger. “Not just that. It’s just somethin’ about you that just screams ‘not boring’ and you want someone to get that outta you.”
“Yeah, right,” I laughed and walked past him.
“No, really,” he said and followed me.
“And who’s supposed to supposedly bring it outta me? Rupert?”
“Ehh. I don’t think so.”
“So who then?”
“I don’t know, but someone will one day. Trust me.”
“Uh huh.”
“Well, what do you like to draw?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t drawn in a while since all this preparation.”
“What’s the last thing you drew then?” He asked.
I thought a minute, trying to figure out what exactly I had dawn. “A uh… a baby,” I nodded, finally remembering.
“A baby?”
“Yes, a baby. One day, I was here and a woman happened to be holding her baby while looking at the ocean.”
“So, you only drew the baby and not the woman?”
“I drew the woman too.”
“May I see it some day?”
“Uh, sure,” I said, feeling nervous all over again. What if he doesn’t like it?!
“Great. I’m sure I’ll like it,” he smiled that oh so gorgeous smile of his. “Do you like horses?” He asked.
“Yes, I do. I took horseback riding lessons when Iw as ten. But I had it stopped due to my pleasure of drawing.”
“Have you ridden a horse since then?”
“No.”
“You haven’t?”
“Nope.”
“This ought to be interesting then,” he smiled again as we reached Rupert.
“Here, love. Here’s your beautiful horse. Robin, here, says he’s the best they have that fits a beautiful Princess like you,” Rupert smiled and led to horse to me.
It. Was. Tall. It snorted at me and I knew right then and there I couldn’t do it.