As the Lady Caroline became a part of palace life, she was at first thrilled by the dazzle and beauty of it all. The palace was by far much grander than her old home at Montague castle. Her chambers were elaborate, her gowns the most beautiful she had ever seen, and the young nobility she associated with the most fashionable group she had ever known. Life drifted by in a whirl of beauty, colors, and music. Certainly nothing could be better than this! Wrapped in her own little world of happiness, the Lady Caroline could never have foreseen that before long, she would wish she had never been born the daughter of an earl, but rather the daughter of a farmer, a carpenter, a stable hand, a blacksmith-anything!
Does youth ever foresee its troubles? No, of course not! Young hearts live in the moment while times of sorrow creep slowly up behind them. All at once they are staring their sorrows in the face as their happy dreams crumble into dust all around them and alas! There is nothing left.
But times of sorrow were as yet distant and the Lady Caroline continued to live in happy bliss.
Although Caroline had visited the palace often during her early life, her visits had been restricted to the throne room, the banquet hall, and the ballroom. Never before had she been permitted to wander at will through the dimly-lit corridors and slip into the elaborate rooms. She did so now with an irrepressible enthusiasm whenever she was given a few moments of freedom. It was during one of these solitary rambles in her first few days at the palace that she once again happened upon John. Or rather, she happened upon Prince Edward and John.
She had been looking for the library, having informed her aunt of her wish for a good book. She had thus been directed, having refused the offer of an escort and was just beginning to believe herself hopelessly lost when she was startled and then frightened by the sound of clashing swords and what seemed to be rather fierce battle cries echoing down the hall. She stood listening in shocked silence for a few moments before she realized that the battle sounds were punctuated with laughter. Curiously, she stood silently in the doorway of what was indeed the library, and watched with amusement the scene before her.
A seemingly rather violent duel was taking place in the center of that room as both the Prince and John appeared to be fighting for their lives. Yet at the same time, they seemed to find the concept of mortal danger rather amusing as they moved around the room, often knocking over various pieces of furniture. Once, as Edward fell crashing into a table, a vase tottered and fell, narrowly missing the traditional fate of a thousand pieces as John dived to catch it. At last, John backed Edward against a bookcase, pointing a sword menacingly at his heart and the prince cried out between gasps of laughter for mercy. Breathing hard, John granted mercy as he sheathed his sword and the boys shook hands. It was then that they noticed Caroline as she still stood in the doorway, smiling with suppressed amusement.
"To the victor go the spoils," quoth she, extending her hand with mock grace and solemnity. John knelt to kiss it, then stood and stepped back, regarding her with a lopsided grin.
"John!" the prince cried eagerly. "Allow me to introduce my cousin, the Lady Caroline de Montague. Caroline, this is my companion at arms, John Stewart"
"We've met before," John answered. "And it is my good fortune to inform you that Regina has been introduced to the other inhabitants of the stable and, I believe, is enjoying her new home."
"I'm glad to hear it," Caroline laughed. "I do wish her to enjoy this lovely place as much as I do."
Caroline's first ball happened upon the occasion of her fifteenth birthday, no longer than a month after her arrival at the palace, and what a lovely occasion it was! All the nobility of the land was invited as well as a few foreign nobles-mostly young dukes, earls, and princes. But little Lady Caroline was ignorant of the plans to marry her off to a grand and foreign noble and happily danced with them all. Her cousin, Prince Edward, led her in the first dance and, afterwards, informed her it was the only dance he had enjoyed all the evening.
"You've no idea how dreadful it is," he confided. "To have to stand up with all those empty-headed princesses while father and mother smile and nod approvingly as if they're already sizing up a match! Why they're in such a hurry, I can't comprehend. I am only seventeen."
"But the princesses were all so lovely," Caroline had sighed happily. "I'm certain you must have fancied at least one of them!"
"Not at all. You should know they are. After all, you danced three dances each with Prince Charles of Snodden and Prince Michael of Sylvania, and four with Prince David of Beauvai!"
"Prince David was handsome, was he not?" Caroline smiled. Then she fell silent for a moment, reflecting, and sighed. "But he made not one intelligent comment during all those six dances. I do believe he said nothing but "Yes" and "No" unless it was some silly remark as to the color of my eyes or some such nonsense." She shook her head ruefully.