The sprawling castle grounds were a blessing, Mary thought as she sat down by the edge of a pond. When she wanted a moment alone, away from the guards and the servants, and even her well-meaning best friends, it was nice that she had an escape, albeit a small one.
Mary shifted as she adjusted her shawl, pulling it tighter around her. It was spring, but there was still a lingering chill in the air that would soon dissipate for the summer sun.
Summer, Mary thought as she shook her head. She should be wed by the summer, but if Francis' demeanor the past couple of days was anything to go by, she would be waiting longer than a few weeks for her wedding day.
Francis was not just her childhood friend, but her fiancé. He was supposed to be her support and confidant at the castle. All these years at the covenant, Mary had daydreamed about their life together. Images of him grown up and protecting her.
Well, she thought with a grin, at least one thing was for certain, the years away from the castle had been nothing but kind to Francis. He was beautiful, there was simply no denying it. She itched to run her fingers over the muscles his loose linen shirts did nothing to hide, and feel the silkiness of his hair.
"Mary?" A voice called, pulling her out of her reverie.
Mary smiled softly at the intrusion, looking up to see the source of her musings walking towards her.
"What are you doing out on the grounds unaccompanied?" Francis asked while sitting down next to her heavily on the cold grass.
Mary looked away from Francis and out across the pond.
"Just thinking, I suppose."
"About anything I particular?"
Mary turned back to the boy sitting next to her.
"You... Us... Our engagement."
Francis sighed and was the one to turn away this time.
"Mary, I'm sorry I have no new news to bring."
"So you wish there were? New news to bring, I mean?"
Francis turned back to look at the maiden before him.
"Of course I do, Mary. It... might be improper for me to say but I..."
"Yes?" Mary questioned
Francis swallowed. "I ... think about you quite often."
"Do you really?" Marry asked, quite shocked.
Francis grinned, a slight blush gracing his cheeks. "Well... I .. I mean... Mary, you know you're a beautiful girl. You're smart and clever and you are my friend and my fiancé. How could I not think of you?"
Mary shivered, whether from the cold or his open omission, she wasn't sure.
"I thank you. And ... I think about you too. Well I mean , obviously, I just told you I was, but I mean... in that same way."
Francis smiled a bit more. "Really?"
"Really." Mary grinned.
Francis held out his hand and Mary took it gratefully, allowing him to lead her back to the castle. Maybe, just maybe, she thought, she didn't have as much to be worried about after all.