Once their steeds appeared rested enough to make the return trip to the palace, the two siblings begrudgingly began mounting their horses once again. They had quite enjoyed the peaceful, quiet setting and were sorry to have to leave so soon. It was such a difference from the palace grounds, where, no matter where you were, there was always someone close by.
As Ray settled into his saddle, he paused. He thought he could hear footsteps heading towards them. Then he heard a gentle voice swear in the most ungentle of language.
“Stupid ball! Stupid skirt! Stupid shoes!”
Ray and Natasha looked towards the trees as they heard someone fall.
“Is wanting a decent pair of pants and walking boots too much to ask,” the person, still out of view, yelled after a string of cussing.
Ray started chuckling at this person’s misfortune, but was quickly silenced when the most beautiful woman he had ever seen appeared along the tree line.
The most noticeable thing about her was her out-of-control brown hair that she was trying to rid of leaves and grass. Her flawless, mahogany skin was enhanced by the late afternoon sun. The natural redness of her large lips only increased as she cutely chewed on them between muttered curses. Her monotone outfit of a cream, linen skirt and blouse accentuated her height while her light brown, front-closure corset enhanced her thin waist and voluptuous bust and hips. She looked up when a horse whinnied and Ray was taken aback by her fierce, piercing blue, angular eyes framed in thick, black lashes.
“Oh,” the woman said, startled. “I apologize for the language you must have just heard. I thought I was alone.”
“No need to apologize, my lady,” Ray said with a polite dip of his head. “You appear distressed. May I ask what ball you were just cursing?”
“Ugh, I thought we were escaping these conversations.” Natasha threw her head back dramatically. “I’m heading back. I’m sure you can catch up.”
Natasha gave Artemis a gentle pat before urging her forward and was soon trotting out of sight.
“You’ll have to excuse my sister,” Ray said. “She would rather read than talk to people.”
The woman chuckled. “I have those days, too. To answer your question, sir, I was talking about the ball the King is throwing at the end of the week. My family is obsessed with preparations and insistent that I go.”
“Oh? You’re a royal?”
“I’m just the daughter of a baron,” the woman said while looking down, clearly trying to downplay her status.
“Perhaps I have heard of your father, then?”
“Most likely not. He died 10 years ago.”
Ray felt embarrassed, but didn’t know how to properly respond. “Oh, I’m...sorry...for your loss.”
“It’s okay,” the woman said with a small smile that did not reach her eyes. “You would have had no way of knowing.”
Not wanting his conversation to end with this fascinating woman, Ray quickly thought of another question. “So I take it that you are not excited to go to the ball?”
“Uuuuuugh.” The woman let out a dramatic and very authentic groan. “Of course I don’t want to go!”
“What? I thought every royal would want to go.”
“Well not this royal.” She folded her arms. “An evening sucking up to people I have no interest in in hopes of becoming a princess, which sounds dreadful, sounds like the least pleasant way to spend an evening. No, I’d rather stay at home and let my step sister try her hand at gaining the prince’s favor by herself.”
At this point, Ray realized the woman had been so candid with him because she did not recognize him. He was simultaneously excited that he could, for once, have some anonymity and worried that, once she found out who he was, her demeanor would change. It was so refreshing to be spoken to like a normal person.
“Oh,” Ray replied. “Does your step sister believe she has a chance to win the prince’s favor?”
“Well, she is very pretty and she knows it,” the woman said while rolling her eyes. “She can be quite charming if she wants to be, so I’m sure if she gets a chance to meet him, he’ll at least enjoy her company.”
“What do you mean when she wants to be?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the woman said with a sudden fallen look. “I shouldn’t have phrased it like that. It was quite rude. Everyone should have a chance to make up their own mind about a person.”
Ray was taken aback. Never had he met a woman of royal birth that refused a chance to gossip, no matter how meaningless. He smiled down at the woman.
“You’re very loyal to your step sister, it seems.”
“I just don’t like talking about other people behind their backs. It is quite rude, you know.”
Ray chuckled. He really enjoyed her candidness. He was contemplating giving her his name at this point, as he hoped he could speak with her again, but he did not want her demeanor around him to change.
Ray suddenly was drawn out of his conversation when he noticed a tinge of pink starting to appear across the sky. It was getting late, and he would get an earful from his mother if he was not back at the palace by dinner. But he didn’t want his time with this captivating woman to end.
“My lady, may I ask, what are you doing so far out from town at this hour?”
“Oh, that,” the woman looked away shyly with a slight blush to her cheeks. “I may have run off to cool my head and fallen asleep in the grass. I was on my way home when I crossed your path.”
“Is your home far?”
“About a 30 minute walk. I could do it faster if it weren’t for these stupid boots.” She lifted up her skirt and kicked one foot forward as if to show off her footwear. Ray was rather surprised to see her wearing a rather practical set of ankle-high, laced up boots.
“Your boots look just fine to me,” he said with a quizzical look.
“That’s because you’ve never had to wear them! You can wear boots meant to walk around easily in!”
Ray looked down at his riding boots. He had never thought about the difference in men’s and women’s footwear. Once brought to his attention, it was rather obvious that he would have an easier time walking.
“Well, let me help you,” he said. “Please allow me to offer you a ride. That is, if you’re comfortable on a horse.”
“I wouldn’t want to put you out,” the woman replied. “You still need to catch up with your sister.”
“She’ll be fine. It would be my pleasure to relieve you from walking in your impractical shoes all the way to your home. I promise.”
The woman looked uncertain, but nodded in acceptance anyway. Ray helped her up and was pleasantly surprised when she insisted that she not ride sidesaddle.
“That would make it awkward for you to hold the reins,” she said matter-of-factly.
The pair continued to talk all the way to the town manor. Ray was surprised and pleased that this woman had such practical ideas. She was well spoken and very down to earth. She was funny and kind. Her laugh was quiet, but proud. She seemed confident in everything. Ray didn’t believe in love at first sight, but, if he did, this would be what it felt like. He was disappointed when they arrived at her home.
As Ray helped her off the horse just out of sight of her home, as she requested, he felt an intense need to see her again. There was only one way to ensure that.
“Please reconsider coming to the ball,” he said quietly. “I would love to see you there.”
The woman looked up at him, confused. He just smiled, waved, and headed back towards the palace. He hoped she would think that he was just another noble, and not realize that he was the prince.
Izzy stared at the beautiful, white horse and its beautiful rider as they disappeared into the distance. They weren’t sure who the man was, but he sure was fun to talk to. Not fun enough to change her mind about going to the stupid ball, though.
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