Queen Joanna enjoyed eating breakfast in the Morning Room with its high glass windows that let everyone see the outdoors. The trees before her made her think they were a colorful symphony playing music. The leaves were fantastic with reds, yellows, and oranges all competing for her attention. She gladly studied them all!
Maria traveled to visit her father, but the other lady-in-waiting was an older woman who was exceptionally competent. Joanna was alone at the day’s events. After breakfast, she decided that if her friend thought her past so shocking, there was no hope for the rest of the Royals to accept her. She might as well do as she pleased. She left the Royals and walked the gardens alone. Samuel had looked for her all morning. She slipped out while the breakfast crowds were thick, but he eventually found her near the statues.
“Your Royal Highness,” Samuel called to her, but she turned to walk away from him.
He caught up to her and she stopped walking. Samuel was dressed in his morning suit. Joanna wished she would have avoided him. The wind blew her hair and her bangs moved, but the secure braid held. The garden hedges were waist high and the small leaf boxwoods and red fruited holly bushes made the gardens full of color even without flowers.
“Will you not wait one minute for my address?”
“I wish for solitude this morning,” she said. Joanna did not look at him; rather she looked at the ground, her hands together to display her pensive mood.
“Allow me to apologize for my impertinent remarks last night. I have no excuse and will not give you any. What I said was inexcusable.” He stood near her and his eyes tried to catch hers, but she averted his. “Sometimes I forget how young you are. You seem older than your years.”
“This remark explains why you insulted me?” She stared at him and he returned her look with a contrite one of his own.
“No it does not. I need to explain my error to you. When you get older — how can I say this? We make plenty of mistakes and need more forgiveness the more years that we live.”
This remark made her less angry.
Beyond the hedge near where they stood was a circled path. Impeccably manicured grass grew in the middle of the circle. Joanna heard a swish and she looked to see the Duke of Seine in his white fencing clothing. She had stopped near his working space. William practiced waving his sword as he spotted them and as he approached the pair, he lowered it.
“My young cousin.” He kissed her hand.
She was taken aback that he was so cordial.
“I didn’t interrupt anything too personal?” he said, looking first at Samuel then at Joanna. She realized he was mocking her.
“Of course not, anything that I discuss with the Prince of Ott can be discussed with my own relation!”
“Perhaps it would be best if I left,” Samuel suggested.
“What is the hurry? You know, Prince Samuel, I was just looking for a fencing partner. With the crowds, my own man couldn’t get away. Would you do me the honor?”
“Of course I will.” Samuel glanced at Joanna then at William as if to question their relationship.
“Excellent! You will find an outfit to put on near the first statue.” He pointed with his sword. Samuel walked over to the box containing the equipment.
“If you’ll excuse me, Duke William, I would prefer to continue my walk in your beautiful grounds,” Joanna remarked.
Joanna took a step, but William put out his sword. She stopped and William lowered his sword.
“You are leaving?” He circled her. Joanna closed her eyes for a brief moment to focus on his words. “Why would you leave when the game is just beginning? You see, the Prince of Ott is a fine champion! Or is the Queen of Bow not looking for a champion?” William’s eyes searched hers; she would not reveal herself to him.
“I must go.”
She stepped away from the path to avoid him, but William grabbed her arm and escorted her to a bench in the circled area and she obeyed him by sitting down. She looked up at William. He stood, looking down at her, until Samuel approached him.
“Are you ready?” William asked him.
Samuel nodded. They took their respective places in the circle. The distance between them was at least twenty paces. The calculations of battle began in each man’s head. They bowed to one another then each man raised his sword to his chin. In an instant they took the fencing pose. A continuous line between body and blade stretched across the circle to meet as blades clashed. Duke William took the first point rather quickly as Samuel did not protect his middle enough and William tipped the blunt blade into it. The Duke was highly skilled in the sport. They continued the match. Samuel would have to do better and he brought his arm closer to his body to counter the attack.
Their pose — legs apart, swords ready, and driven clashes of metal — made a splendid sight. The strides of their lunging legs shrunk the space between them and William’s quick hand to eye coordination gave him an advantage. Samuel countered the attack with a side step similar to a flanking action. Each man lunged with an extended right arm as the left rested behind his back.
The prancing movement looked smooth and almost effortless. The swords continued to meet. Duke William took the second point with a touch of the dulled blade to the upper right of Samuel’s torso. Samuel had been distracted for a moment. He would do better, he decided. His opponent smiled as he won the point. William went on the attack again and pushed Samuel back aggressively, swords pitted against each other as the long shriek of blades sliding against each other burst into a thunderous clap in the otherwise silent garden.
Prince Samuel labored in the circle and William sensed weakness, but Samuel countered his assault. The blades touched briefly as Samuel took a side blow. William made a slashing move to win the third point.
They continued their match with Samuel thrusting his sword into William’s middle, but William’s sword stopped his attack. The swords slid against each other, and then they broke apart from one another as William’s sword was pushed aside by Samuel’s for a brief moment. Samuel won his point with a jab to William’s lower torso.
The match stopped and Samuel turned his back on the Duke to regroup before the match would be renewed; he held his sword under his arm as he fixed his glove. Sweat fell like droplets from his face.
The Duke grew angry at him for winning the point, so he thrust his sword towards Samuel in frustration. Samuel turned with lightning speed and grabbed William’s arm and flipped him to the ground. Stunned, William sat up.
Joanna was tired of the game and rose from her seat in disgust. She passed them without a word and left the men to their fight. She moved quickly through the garden.
Samuel offered his hand to William.
“I suppose I had that coming,” William said as he took Samuel’s hand.
“I am sorry. As a military man, it is all reflexes sometimes.”
“I am happy we are at peace,” William answered honestly as he stood up. He brushed off his white clothes but the green grass stain had made a mark across the back.
“At least we are with each other,” Samuel told William.
They both watched Joanna reach the castle. They each saw the other as less than an adversary as they stood at the edge of the hedge.
William remarked, “I wouldn’t want to cross her.”
“I did last night,” Samuel confessed.
William looked at him. “I would never have thought it possible for you to lose her favor.”
The Duke of Seine bowed, and Prince Samuel bowed as well. To Samuel’s displeasure, the Duke smiled.
*
Queen Joanna was working on her needlepoint in a drawing room of the Duke’s castle. Most guests were already asleep given the late hour. The room contained three panels of shelves filled with leather bound books. Lanterns dotted the room to give light to the reader. The comfortable wing tipped chairs made the evening pleasant. She heard her uncle’s voice and William’s name. Her great uncle and the Duke were in the middle of a conversation, but they did not know anyone else was there, as the chair faced the fire.
“The Queen of Kane could be recommended to any ruler for a proper alliance, William. I am not telling you what you should do, only that you should consider the advantage that she would bring. If she is not to your liking then you should —” Joanna stood up so that they could see her in the firelight.
“I am sorry to interrupt you, my dearest uncle, but a lady is in your presence.”
“Queen Joanna, it is you. I was unaware that anyone was occupying this room as most of the guests have retired for the night,” her uncle said.
William noticed Joanna wore a simple gown which showed how comely she was. A shimmering light from the lantern fell across her and he saw that her hair was down in a disarrayed fashion.
The Grand Duke of Cline was still dressed in his evening attire as was William. William’s thick, black hair was damp as they had returned from outdoors.
“I am sorry to trouble you. I could not sleep so I decided to try some needlepoint as it helps me relax.”
“Perhaps the Queen of Bow would like a glass of milk to help her sleep?” Duke William offered. His attitude seemed to soften as he moved a book off the shelf and put it down on the desk.
“Please do not trouble yourself on my account. I am content.” Her hand rested on the back of her chair.
“Maybe the young Queen could enlighten you on her thoughts regarding marriage?” The Grand Duke said and looked at Duke William.
William looked surprised by the suggestion and studied Joanna like he would hold a candle up to her and scrutinize her past.
“If she is so inclined, I would welcome Queen Joanna’s thoughts regarding the issue,” William said in a serious tone.
“What does a Queen like yourself look for in a suitor?” the Grand Duke asked her as he picked up his cane from the corner and steadied himself.
“I am hardly an authority on the matter.” She tried to deflect the question.
“But you were married so you must have an opinion. My great nephew has never been and being young, he may be so inclined to listen to what you will say.”
“Great Uncle, it is true that I was married before and since my husband’s untimely death, I barely speak of it as it causes me pain. If you must press me, I would answer; I think men and women should be free to decide for themselves a matter so personal as whom they desire to marry.”
Duke William smiled. He knew her well enough by now to expect a surprise.
The Grand Duke of Cline had not expected her to answer in this fashion.
“I understand the romantic woman, but what of the ruler in you, Queen Joanna? Now that you are a queen, you surely see that a ruler has to secure the proper alliance.” The old man moved his right foot and both hands rested on the cane.
“It is true that we all must govern as best we can but to think of marriage as something reduced to a requirement for proper ruling, I think you missed the point of it. I doubt that you, uncle, had to put aside your heart’s desires when you met your lovely late wife?”
“Oh, my wife was the finest woman! Yes, Queen Joanna, you have made your point. Yet I still think a kingdom must be ruled properly, and when a royal must marry, then the entire scope of the magnitude of the alliance must be weighed.”
“It is true that marriage is more than an alliance, Great Uncle,” started the Duke of Seine. “However, the Queen must admit that when one thinks of all that must be considered when a ruler marries, it is about more than one person. It is an entire kingdom which may be adversely affected by a poor match. A ruler must consider other factors besides love because some alliances are more advantageous than others,” William said.
She saw William’s triumph over her as her Great Uncle’s face contained a wide smile. His reflective comment made her sorry she offered her opinion.
“An excellent point, Duke William! See, Queen Joanna, a gentleman has made a better point than a lady.”
“Perhaps a better point, but one that is less happy,” Joanna said.
“And what is happiness but a state that changes like the wind?” Duke William answered.
“No, it is not changeable at all. I believe that free will makes a person content, if the person uses the correct criteria to choose prudently.”
The Grand Duke stated, “It is of no consequence. Happiness is but a quaint word these days when war comes to a kingdom. Marriage solves so many wars that I think we must acknowledge it is a good that should not be overlooked,” Queen Joanna did not wish to upset her uncle. “I am happy to have your steady hand steering the Kingdom of Cline!”
“It is a wise statement that the Queen of Bow has made,” Duke William stated. She looked at him with a curious stare.
“I believe the Duke of Seine and I share the same opinion that you are one of the best men that has ever ruled,” Joanna said. Her uncle seemed very pleased with her statement.
“Yes, Queen of Bow, we do share the same opinion,” Duke William said.
Joanna thought that William seemed different. She looked at the clock on the mantle and realized it was late.
“I think the rousing conversation has made me tired, gentlemen. I should retire.”
“If the Queen from Bow would like to retire, then I will escort her,” Duke William said. She was surprised given their last conversation.
The Grand Duke sat down. “Very good, I am a bit of a night owl and will read for a while. Good night, Queen Joanna,” the Grand Duke said.
“Good night, dear Uncle.” Joanna leaned over and kissed him on each cheek which made him smile.
She turned to William then took his arm and he walked her to the hallway outside of the drawing room and down a corridor. The corridor was lit with candles in a crystal chandelier at its entrance.
William addressed her, “So you have an exact opinion even on happiness, Queen Joanna?” He turned to view her.
“I am afraid that I do,” she said.
“I wish I shared your confidence in it. To me it is not a word, but rather a dream.”
“Then I wish for you that dream.” She let go of his arm and faced him directly.
“If only it were that simple. I suppose it could be as simple as a peace accord?”
“I hope that peace endures between the kingdoms. Do you?”
“If I desired to conquer another nation, I would surely succeed. I have learned that enemies become quick friends once the threat of war is evident, Queen Joanna.”
“Then I will take heed.”
“I feel that peace is a fickle thing, like women.”
“I have known women to be fickle as well as men, and I have known women and men who are true. It is entirely the character of the person, I believe.”
“Then I stand corrected.” The Duke bowed to her.
“Good night.”
*
The night of the formal ball arrived and it was a splendid sight to see. The Royals wore the latest fashions and the ladies wore their crowns full of diamonds.
A crystal vase full of white roses greeted the guests at the entrance to the Ballroom.
The ball was in full swing but no one had asked Joanna to dance. She supposed she would sit instead of dance and the gossip the other royals threw her way stung her. She married a commoner and she would pay the price. Joanna thought of David. What she endured for him seemed small compared to his love for her. She would have given up everything for him. The sadness choked her for a moment and then she composed herself.
Joanna saw her uncle, the Grand Duke. He approached her and bowed, and he asked her for a dance. She was redeemed. If the Grand Duke of Cline asked her for a dance, then everyone would take note.
The dance floor was made of hard maple wood buffed to a shine. The room contained many mirrors that made it appear larger than it was, although it was already large and could fit many dancers comfortably. Glass chandeliers hung from the white ceiling and the mirrors on the walls reflected the light of the candles. A large fireplace adorned with white marble heated the room. The arches rose up into the ceiling and the windows lined the outside wall. Three doors led to private terraces. Joanna was impressed with the castle’s beauty.
To her great surprise, the brother of the Queen of Kane, John Phillip, asked her to dance. Joanna thought him a handsome man and a good dancer. He was a pleasant fellow and had a good jawline, but his nose was wrong for a royal, she thought. He was a half-brother and the lineage for ruling the kingdom belonged to his half-sister.
John Phillip told her a wonderful tale about his sister’s coronation brunch when he went fishing for catfish and fell into the water. He arrived there wet and smelly and had to sneak out and change before the guests arrived. She thought it a funny story. The music finished and she thanked him for the dance.
He moved on and danced with the Princess from Segal, the curly haired girl Joanna thought the Duke of Seine would marry. Princess Ella was by far the prettiest girl William could marry. She was a popular partner because she danced lithely.
Duke William danced with Princess Ella next. Joanna watched them as she sat on a bench. Princess Ella’s gown was made from a fine red silk and had a petticoat under it that gave it a fullness that looked graceful as she glided over the dance floor. It seemed that she wore a dress too short for such a formal occasion, but if Joanna would be fair to the Princess from Segal, it was the latest fashion. Perhaps she was being too critical because the Princess was so very pretty and dancing with all the eligible men.
The Duke seemed almost smitten by Princess Ella as he smiled at her while they danced. Joanna only danced with William once and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. He had offered to marry her, after all. Joanna thought William to be a selfish man, yet he did possess all the social graces young girls would admire.
She thought he would dance with Ella later in the night as the first few dances were more obligatory affairs. Balls were the best means for young royals to evaluate potential marriage partners. The dance became a serious means to find out if a gentleman or lady would be a suitable partner.
William was, as always, very handsome, and the two looked splendid together. His black suit looked sleek as he twirled Princess Ella around. Joanna noticed that William’s father, The Grand Duke of Seine, seemed pleased that William was dancing with her. The Lady of Seine, William’s mother, seemed less pleased. She wondered if they would announce an engagement.
Maria returned from floating about the ballroom and brought the two of them drinks from the punch bowl. She had more news to share with Joanna. It seemed that Princess Ella had suffered a broken engagement with none other than Joanna’s friend, the Prince of Ott. Joanna looked over to see Samuel dancing with the Queen of Kane, the short, plump girl. She never heard this story from Samuel. She wondered why he hid this from her.
“The Prince from Ott is a mystery! Why wouldn’t he marry the very rich Princess Ella?” Maria asked her.
“Why wouldn’t Samuel tell me about something as important as a girl he almost married?” she said.
Joanna was dumbfounded.
“And my lady, I found out some interesting things about you,” Maria told her.
“About me?” Joanna was curious to know what she had discovered.
“That you were married. To a commoner! Tell me about him,” Maria implored her.
Joanna wondered if she should. It seemed long, long ago now, but she wanted to remember her David.
“He was the most handsome man I have ever seen,” Joanna started.
“More handsome than the Duke of Seine?” Maria asked.
“More handsome,” she continued, “and yes, it is true, he was a common man.
When he held me I felt happiness would last forever. He was a wood carver. He made boxes and bowls and flutes and played the flute extremely well.”
“Oh he must have been wonderful!”
“He saved my life; that is why I am alive today, because he died saving me.”
Joanna almost cried at the memory.
“He saved you?”
“I am sorry Maria, I cannot say more. Not tonight.”
Joanna left her there. She got up and walked to the terrace behind the food table.
The terrace was small and the cool air from the autumn night stung her eyes, probably because there were tears in them. The cold numbed her feelings of sorrow. She remained on the terrace for a long while. The terrace was lit by torches and the warmth of the torches blunted her empty feeling of loss.
There were several separated terraces designed to allow for conversation during crowded events. Tonight was a bit too cold for their use. She heard the door open and she turned to see Samuel.
She wanted solitude more than company.
“I’ve been looking for you; aren’t you cold?” Samuel asked.
“No, I like the cool air.”
“Joanna, are you all right?”
“I am fine, please leave me alone.”
“If that is what you want. Does this still have to do with my feeble attempt at a humorous reply?” He touched the stone wall of the terrace.
“No, I am not upset about that anymore.”
“Then is it about David?”
“Yes, but you wouldn’t understand.”
She wanted company more than solitude.
Samuel was unsure if she wanted him to reach for her, but she was distraught.
He longed to comfort her, and he moved close to her.
Joanna embraced him and the tears began again. He thought of his wife and how he would hold her. Samuel held her as if to claim her except he imagined she thought of David. He wished for a woman who loved him and not another man. He broke her embrace.
Her hands went to her eyes to wipe the tears. He wished to tell her of his feelings for her but he could not interrupt her grief. She was not ready to love again. Samuel wished for her love as he grew lonely.
“Joanna, I understand loss and loneliness.”
“Samuel, this is different, you can’t understand. And I don’t mean this disrespectfully, but you don’t know what it is to have the one you deeply love torn away from you by circumstances that are beyond your control.”
“I do understand separation from the one you love.” His back stiffened.
“Your marriage was arranged and your wife a stranger. I realize you grew to love her, and the love was genuine. I am trying to explain to you — I lost not just David when he died — I lost myself.”
“I think that you only see your own pain, Joanna, instead of looking to see how you can relieve the sufferings of those around you.” He spoke with authority as if to shake her.
Joanna became angry suddenly. She needed his support, not his correction.
“So first you insult me and now you tell me I am being selfish? And this is my dearest friend?”
He stepped away from her and put both hands on the half wall of the terrace and looked out as if he would escape grief with a glance forward.
He replied, “I never meant that comment like it sounded, and if I were your dearest friend, then you would have forgiven me by now. I am trying to guide you, to help you work through your own grief. I think it is easy for a ruler to become spoiled and not admit that others may be in the right.”
“You act as if you are my father, Samuel, not my friend!”
“I correct you because I would do you no service to flatter you as some would.”
Joanna felt the sting of his words.
“I hate you, Samuel!”