Darla raised a brow but said nothing but, "If you insist," as Will led out a tall roan steed.
At Darla's questioning look, he offered, "His name's Rascal for I first saw him at an auction a few years ago. We were warned that he was wild but," with a soft rub on the nose, "I simply had to have him." He lifted up the saddle with an ease that she could not help but notice.
So he's spoiled, too. "I'm sure one of your servants broke him?" she asked slyly.
"Of course not! I insisted so he was my responsibility." He swung over onto Rascal's back. Suddenly Darla felt incredibly small, over a foot below Will's towering perch. For the first time she wished Muffin wasn't so short. Will broke the silence, "So where are you from? You are new to court, are you not?"
"Yes. I'm from Sunrise Valley."
"No wonder you're so fond of horses…is that area not famous for such?"
She smiled. "Yes, my family was in that business." Her expression clouded. "But when Mother died, Father sold all the horses. He said he could hardly bear to live anymore so how on earth was he to take care of so many others?" Suddenly she realized what she had said and blushed. You're not supposed to confide in him!
His look was sympathetic as he said softly, "How long ago did he die?"
Pain flashed in her eyes followed by a shuttered look. "Oh, a while ago. So what's all this talk about a ball?" she queried airily, quickly changing the subject.
He obligingly began a lengthy explanation. Apparently, his mother felt that at his age of eighteen it was imperative that he find a wife. Queen Anne had met King Richard at just such a function and believed it was the perfect place for kindling romance, despite William's protests. "You see," he confided, "I've always wanted to marry for love. Whenever it comes, whether I be eighteen or fifty two."
Darla felt a rush of pity despite her initial dislike for him. "She cannot force you to marry, surely?"
His smile was wry. "Seldom are royals forced into loveless marriages. It's more…duty. A prince must not only think of himself but also the country he is soon to lead and marriage is a long accepted way of making treaties with warring countries." He sighed heavily.
"I'm sure there are other ways to bring peace." Tension hung in the air for both knew of the ever more frequent skirmishes breaking out on the border between Lavaria and Bardis, a neighboring kingdom. King Bernard of Bardis had recently conquered Skylark and many expected him to turn his attentions to the small Vitzden and were consequently surprised when he began teasing at the border of Lavaria.
Lavaria was prosperous and large but the need of an army had not arisen for generations; therefore it was a rather small, shabby organization. The beginnings of fear had been planted in the hearts of many citizens, especially with the prospect of drafting on the horizon. Darla broke the silence with the consoling statement, "King Bernard doesn't even have a daughter, if I remember correctly."
There was a crease in Will's brow as he said, "No, but he has sent messengers saying that he's…." He halted abruptly, his eyes snapping to Darla's as he remembered that Queen Anne had warned him to tell the news to no one. Generally he wasn't inclined to speak of such things in the first place, much less in front of a girl he hardly even knew. What about her made him instinctively place his trust in her hands?
Darla tilted her head questioningly. "Yes?"
For some reason, he had the sudden urge to tell her everything, to tell someone for once. Someone he was sure would understand. A small voice at the back of his head told him, But it really isn't at all a good… "What I am about to tell you, you must tell no one." She nodded gravely. "King Bernard has proposed to turn his…attentions…to Rayfair on the condition that I wed his niece." Rayfair was not a particular ally of Lavaria, and its army the match of Bardis' in many ways.
Darla's deep brown eyes were wide with horror. "But…is she that bad?" she said the first thing that came to mind.
Will laughed. "What do you mean?"
Darla faltered but continued. "I mean, if he had hopes of conquering Lavaria…that's no small thing to give up for one's niece."
He gazed at her approvingly. She is pretty smart, after all. "Exactly. He claims that he had no real hopes of invading Lavaria, it is simply a setup…but he is perfectly willing to do so if we don't go through with the marriage." The had dismounted at Willow's Creek, a small, merry stream that lived up to its name, fringed with lean, graceful willows.
"Well…who is his niece?"
"Lady Katrina, known for her petty ways and rather dense head." His tone was resigned and laced with weariness.
Darla's heart went out to him. "Oh, you poor darling!" Without thought, she gave him an involuntary hug much the same way her mother had often hugged her when boys teased her at school or her favorite dress was ruined.
William's stiffened, his breath taken away, looking down at the soft figure so close to his own. Her dark hair shone with the morning light as it rested on his shoulder. (She was short.) Before he could react, she had pulled away, sympathy shining in her eyes and seemingly unaware that his heart had begun to thud in a quick staccato and the cool morning air was suddenly thick with heat. "What are you going to do?" She looked up at him expectantly, still too close for comfort.
"I…I…" He took a quick breath. This is mad…her, of all people! Why, I've been around ladies loads prettier and with intentions less than innocent for years and it's never felt like this. It was true that Will was often considered frustratingly unmovable by ladies who ventured to flirt with him. Her head was now tilted to the side again…why must she do that!... her gaze questioning. "I…will meet her," he finished in a rush. When he heard what he had said, he felt ready to kick himself.
If Darla noticed anything out of the ordinary with him, she showed no sign as she asked, "When?"
As if…this is just any old conversation! Luckily, his voice had come back to him and he tried to eject confidence into it with the statement, "At the ball. You see, it is to be a masked ball. Mother says I must have pity on her and give her a chance and she cannot think of a better way for her to present herself anew. Though I rather doubt that she's changed much."
"One can always hope. Perhaps she's a kind, gracious, loving little soul now and you will fall madly in love with her and have a fairytale ending for yourself. I should be so happy for you!" Delighted with her fancy, Darla gave a sweet smile.
Suddenly even the prospect of marrying a newly reformed Katrina seemed repulsive…Will didn't dare begin trying to reason out why. "Yes, I suppose….say, you will be at the ball, will you not?"
Her gaze fell. "What does one wear at such things?"
He struggled to remember. "The gentlemen wear normal clothes, only with masks, and the ladies…I believe they generally dress up as animals."
A clear little laugh sprang from her lips. "Animals! Like a circus?" Images flashed before her of ladies parading daintily about dressed as elephants and hippos.
Mirth bubbled in her eyes, for some reason bringing a smile to Will's face. Oh, perfect, he thought sarcastically, now I'm delighting in her joy! "Yes, I suppose so. Did you have a specific animal in mind?"
That unsure look crept back into her eyes. "No, I…I don't," she swallowed hard, "I don't suppose I'll be going." She waited tentatively for his reaction.
"Not going! But why?" Why do I care?
She tried to think of a good reason…anything but the truth. "I don't dance well."
"Oh, no one would mind that…and I could teach you, if you like."
"It would be rather awkward?" she tried.
"Never! I'll stay by your side the entire time, I promise." He studied her. "Now how about the real reason?"
"The real reason?"
He watched, amused, as she tried to act confused. He could read her expressions like a book. "Yes, for you dance rather well, from what I've heard, and you know perfectly well that Carla would never let you become a wallflower."
She sat on the bank of the stream, dangling her feet in the water. Watching it skip over the pebbles with sudden interest she murmured, "I…don't have anything to wear." I might as well confess all of it. "I only have one ball gown and it is very unanimalistic."
"Oh, if it's only that…you can have one made, of course."
She shook her head helplessly. "No, you don't understand. I don't really have any money."
"What do you mean? I thought-"
She interrupted, "Remember how Father sold all the horses? He had never been much of a saver, and we were already a bit unstable because of all the doctor's bills…and in the months before his death the cost of keeping up the farm and taxes were quite burdensome." She tried to be cheerful. "Of course, I have money but just enough to last me through life comfortably. And not nearly enough for nice gowns and such."
He saw right through her martyr-like façade. "You're going to that ball," he announced with determination.
She gave him a hurt look. "I thought I just explained…"
"And I understand perfectly well, which is why Mother is going to help you get a gown."
For a moment her eyes widened with hope, but she quickly tightened her lips. "It is really not necessary but thank you. I would never be able to pay you back."
"It doesn't matter." At her unyielding expression, he persisted, "Honestly, consider it a present from me to you."
"A present! For what?"
"For…er…oh, I don't know! Please, Darla, just let me do this for you."
She hesitated then smiled graciously. "If you insist." Her eyes danced with excitement. "Perhaps this ball shan't be so bad after all!"
Relief washed over him. "Of course not." He glanced at the sky. "We should start heading back, for it's almost time for lunch."
Darla's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I'll race you."
Before Will had time to reply, she was perched on a reluctant Muffin, hastily heading towards the castle. He grinned, swinging up onto Rascal, whose long legs and lean body set short, stout Muffin at a terrible disadvantage. But William had already resolved that his horse wouldn't be the first one in today.
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