The day following the ball proved even more harrying than the day of the ball itself. Hardly anyone had gotten a moment of sleep. Edward had paced the ballroom all night long, still holding the slipper as if it was some sort of a magical token. John had left him, realizing that Edward was completely oblivious to the existence of anyone else and all the rest of the night he paced in his own room, thinking longingly, wistfully of the girl he loved. The king and queen both lay awake, each fretting over everyone else's problems… that is, the problems they had created for everyone else.
The poor Duke of Montague was mourning over the fact that he had not met the girl of his dreams. She must be out there somewhere… either he hadn't met her yet or she just didn't speak Euphranian. There had been far too many ladies at the ball who couldn't speak a single word of his own language. How trying!
And poor Caroline, in an agony of despair, cried until her tears were spent. As the first rays of sun began to shine through her window, mockingly insensible of her pain, she slowly raised herself to a sitting position and reached out for the rose on her table. For five long years it had lain there, so much more treasured now than it had been the day he had given it to her. As she carefully lifted it, she caught sight of the ageless words that had given her strength and whispered them to herself.
"Love… looks on tempests and is never shaken."
She pressed the rose close to her heart and bowed her head. She had not much left in life… her dreams were naught but dust and she was forbidden even the friendship of the one who was more dear to her than life itself. But she would be strong. She would bear it. In years to come, perhaps it would fade into only a distant, bittersweet memory. In the meantime, she would devote herself to her attendance upon Queen Edith. The poor old queen was getting far on in years and when she passed on, Caroline determined that she would return to her old home at Montague Castle. For when Aunt Edith was gone, there truly would be nothing left but her dear brother.
"Lord, give me strength," she prayed, remembering suddenly that she was not entirely alone. She would rely on her heavenly Father and surely He would give her the grace to bear her pain in silence… and with a smile.
oOo
That day a royal decree went out all across the land for the prince was searching for the girl he loved.
"By royal command of his Majesty the King, know this… that whosoever shall try on this slipper and find it a perfect fit, then, by royal decree, she shall be given in marriage to his Royal Highness the prince Edward of Euphrania, heir to the throne. God save the king!"
Caroline heard the trumpets in the distance and the proclamation of the heralds. The court was in an agonizing fever of excitement. She wasn't certain what to think of Edward's situation… he was in love at last and with a princess! But she was missing… There was an odd twist for you. Edward loved a princess that he couldn't find but Caroline… loved a servant whom she saw nearly every day and now… was not allowed to even speak to.
What torture love is!
oOo
That afternoon presented to the lady Caroline the most trying few moments of her entire life... for it was then she discovered that John had absolutely not the slightest idea of the terrible order she was bound beneath. She met him in the hall, unintentionally, of course, and when she saw him coming, turned pale as death. If only she could vanish into oblivion or at least slip unseen into one of the many rooms that opened off the corridor. But he had seen her and, with a cheery greeting, stepped forward to meet her. As Caroline drew back, he frowned in confusion.
"Lady Caroline," he looked at her sideways. "Is something wrong? I know 'twas a late night and…" his voice trailed off at the pained expression on her face.
"John." she whispered, glancing nervously in both directions. "I don't know what to say… I… that is the queen… has forbidden me to speak to you."
"She what?" John cried, so loudly that Caroline was frightened and frantically, she motioned to him to remain quiet.
"She knows… she knows!" she wrung her hands in desperation. "Please… I'm so sorry. I…" she paused. Why must he look at her that way? Wasn't it all hard enough already?
"Please know that I still love you, John, and always will." she murmured at last, avoiding his eyes. "My heart belongs to you." With those words, in which she had attempted to cram all the feelings of her heart and felt she had failed so utterly in doing, she slipped past him and ran down the hall.
He stood there for a long time after she had gone. Slowly the full meaning of what she had said became clear to him. He had known already that his love was hopeless but to be denied friendship as well? To never even speak to her again? What comfort could possibly be left in such a miserable, dreary existence?