Regina could feel the wind in her hair as she rode through the countryside. She could hear Daniel laughing as he rode up beside her. Daniel's smile lit up his face as he went past her. Regina laughed as she rode to catch up with him…
"Regina? Regina!"
Regina looked up from her thoughts to see her mother glaring at her. "A lady's mind does not wander during tea time, Regina."
Regina sighed. "I'm sorry, Mother. It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't."
Her mother looked her up and down as she set down her cup. "Sit up straight. You're slouching."
Regina sat up and drank her tea for a couple of minutes in silence.
She glanced at the clock. In just another few minutes, she could actually be with Daniel.
"Do you have somewhere better to be? I certainly wouldn't want to keep you."
Regina quickly turned away from the clock.
"Of course not, Mother."
Her mother waved her hand and Regina was forced back in the chair, hurting her back. She hated it when her mother used magic against her.
"Mother!"
"I told you not to slouch, Regina."
Regina said nothing and resumed drinking her tea. It would just be a few minutes more, and her daydream could actually come true.
Regina found herself glancing at the clock again. Tea time was nearly over.
"Why are you looking at the clock? We are going to be sitting here for another half hour."
Regina stared at her mother in horror. "But…" She had promised Daniel that she would meet him at six o'clock.
"Did you have someplace you needed to go? I was unaware of any plans."
Her mother was smiling that awful smile that never reached her eyes.
"Of course not, Mother," Regina said, struggling to keep the anger out of her voice.
They spent the next half hour in complete silence. Regina sat up straight and drank her tea, making sure never to glance at the clock. She was determined not to give her mother any more reason to extend tea time.
After what felt like hours, her mother finally told her that she was free to go. Regina tried to walk calmly out the door as though she had no place in particular to go, but as soon as she was away from her mother, she got onto her horse and rode as fast as she could to the tree where she and Daniel were supposed to meet. She hoped that he would be there. What if he was angry and left?
As the tree came into view though, she could see Daniel standing there, and she smiled as he waved at her. Before she could even finish getting off her horse, Daniel had already run to her. He took her into his arms and kissed her. They stayed with their arms wrapped around each other, just staring into each other's eyes.
"I'm sorry I'm late," Regina said softly.
Daniel tucked a strand of Regina's hair behind her ear. "It's alright," he said with a smile. "I knew you would come."
Regina smiled back. "Of course," she said, and they kissed again as the sun began to set. When she was in Daniel's arms, the world was a wonderful place.