Chapter 6
"Well, isn't this a cruel twist. A stable boy goes and rescues a princess and suddenly thinks he's good enough for our daughter." Cora seemed to have completely forgotten how she had been singing Daniel's praises just the day before when she didn't know who he was. Daniel and the king had departed that day and Cora now felt free to vent all of her frustration on the identity of "Lord Phillips."
"Well, I suppose we can still make use of this. After all he does have influence with the king for now, so he is somewhat useful for the time being. A few months with him and I'm sure we shall be as much in the king's good graces and then we can take care of that problem.
Regina had not really been listening as her mother rambled on, but something about the last few words caught her attention. "What do you mean 'take care of that problem,' mother?" she asked uneasily.
"Why, Regina, you don't honestly expect the other nobles to take you seriously married to a mere stable boy? No, no this will not do. We cannot refuse the king now, but there is no reason this has to be a permanent thing. If something…. tragic were to occur… don't worry dear. I will take care of it."
Regina sat there horrified. Her mother almost made it sound as if she were planning on killing Daniel. She had been so happy, so excited to tell her mother that she had been in love with Daniel all along and now they could both be happy with how things had turned out. Her mother had always told her that love was a weakness, that the idea of marrying for love was a silly girl's dream, but Regina had never until this moment realized how cold and heartless she could be. Cora would never understand her. Regina suddenly saw her mother's intentions painfully clear. She, Regina, was merely a means to an end. Her happiness meant nothing compared to Cora's goal of increasing her own power and wealth. Cora masked this with empty words about what was best for Regina, but she didn't see Regina as her own person with her own set of ideas and dreams.
Fortunately Cora noticed none of this. Years of practice had taught Regina some measure of control over her expression in her mother's presence. She continued to play the dutiful daughter while Cora prattled on with little need for an audience. Behind her mask of indifference, however, she was plotting. She had resolved on being with Daniel even if she had to run away with him. Running away was not really an option anymore, and it seemed Cora would never be satisfied enough to just let them be. Her own mother had threatened the man she loved, and Regina would not allow it. She would fight back. Now that she perceived her mother's intentions, she felt she had nothing to lose. Losing Daniel would kill her inside, and she would do everything she could to keep that from happening.
Somehow, miraculously, Regina survived through dinner. Afterwards, Cora went to speak to the housekeeper, and Regina was able to follow her father into his office. When the door was shut, she was able to let the tears she had been holding back burst forth. She confided her fears of Cora's plans to her father and begged him to do something. She confessed her love for Daniel, and told him that he was what would make her happy, duke or stable boy. Her father looked at her compassionately throughout this speech, as if even he could not explain away this latest plot of Cora's by simply saying it was done out of love. When Regina mentioned her mother's magic, her father grew thoughtful. He sat there for a while, then looked at her tenderly and said "You may be right. You know I only want your happiness. I will take care of it."
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, and special thanks to my beta for all her help with story ideas. My little break helped cure some of my writers block so I should be able to get the rest of the story written pretty fast. Enjoy and Happy New Year!