What would happen if the Plumverse went back several centuries?...Just testing the waters
Disclaimer (for the entire story): If you recognise it, I do not own it…but I damn well want to!
Princess Stephanie sat at her dresser, watching her maid braid her hair…again. She was tired of waiting, yet she had come to realise that he life was all about waiting. Waiting for a suitor to be found, waiting for the negotiations to commence, waiting for the negotiations to be finalised, waiting for the request for a portrait, waiting for the painter to finish the portrait, and then finally waiting for a reply from her letter.
And finally she no longer had to wait, there was a letter waiting for her to read in her study, but, much to her chagrin, Stephanie had to be 'proper' before bring allowed to commence the days' events. She fiddled, anxious to read the letter, not wanting to have to get 'ready'.
"Please, Lady, you be runin' your preety 'air!"
"Lula, look where we are! There's no one here to see my hair"
"Is that how you feel, Highness?"
Stephanie jumped and let out a small shriek, the man in the doorway chuckled.
"Sir Carlos, you scared me"
"I for one, enjoy looking at you hair"
Stephanie blushed faintly, "Thank you," she murmured.
The man simply looked at her, admiring the way she sat, straight backed, facing away but looking at him in her mirror, Quite a striking pose, he thought to himself.
Princess Stephanie had been sent to the Lodge, a smallish castle in the middle of Jersey, her father's country, and the home of the Duke of Manoso. She was to learn how to be a Ladywithout hundreds of courtiers surrounding her, criticising her and watching her make a fool for herself.
"Are you ready for your horse riding lesson, your Highness?"
"Uh…no, I have some correspondence to see to first"
"Midnoon then, and be there, I don't want to have to come looking for you." He crossed the room in three large strides and pick up her hand, kissing her palm feather soft. Stephanie closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his lips on her skin. "Your Highness," Sir Carlos dropped a bow in her direction and left before Stephanie could open her eyes.
"Lula!" The maid had quietly withdrawn to her bedroom but now came bustling out, her ample figure rather more speedy then one would have expected. "Riding, he wants me to go riding! At midnoon!"
Lula just smiled; it was obvious to all the staff at the Lodge that Duke Manoso had his eye on the fair Princess Stephanie of Jersey.
"Lady, yore letter aint goin' no where, eet can wait for you"