Chapter 6

Candace POV

The wind was hollowing outside the palace windows, blowing the new fallen snow around to add to the mountain that was forming outside of the windows. I glanced outside, suddenly glad that the palace had such good insulation. Well the upper levels did, the lower cellars would be freezing at this time of year. We used to live in the lower cellars…before my brother had married so well. I felt a little bad about the other families living down there. Hopefully they would be allowed to come up. People died of the flu everyday…

I made a mental note to bring it up with Isabella next time I saw her.

I hurried down the hall and to the grand staircase when I noticed the small group by the door. On closer inspection I saw that it was Phineas and Isabella, dressed up in overcoats and scarves.

"…phineas the storm, we'll never make it through it all."

"It's just a little snow, nothing to worry about." He assured her.

I staggered down the steps.

"Phin!"

"Oh, hi Candace. You dropped off the edge of the earth or something? We haven't really talked since I-"

"Phineas, you guys can't go out. The storm…there is no way a horse can get through that!"

"That's what I've been trying to tell him, all morning but does he listen? Nope, we'll be fine despite the fact that you can literally hear the wind blowing out there."

"Isabella, we will be fine!"

"The carriage will not get through that."

"Okay, so you guys actually fight like an old married couple then? Good I was thinking this would end up being a 'happily ever after'. "

The doors creaked open, the snow blew in with Jeremy. He struggled to close the door behind him. His hatless head was caked with snow. He patted his head and jacket, sending the snow to the carpet. With a shock, I noted his hands shaking. His lips were beginning to turn a pale blue.

"The horse is ready," he shivered.

"Where, the hell, are you going, that's so important?" I demanded, facing Phineas. I crossed my arms over my chest.

"We are going to see Prince Baljeet's family. We have to make sure that they do not wish war because Isabella…we just have to go, Candace we have no choice."

Isabella glanced over at him and gave a shy smile, assuring him that everything would be fine even if they declared war.

"I'm sure that they would understand, if you waited until the storm passed," I muttered.

"No, they would not," Jeremy interrupted. "I have met them, and they are not the most patient people besides they wouldn't understand. They don't get snow that far south. "
Phineas and Isabella nodded, in perfect sync.

"Still, there must be-"

"There isn't Candace and we have to leave soon."

"But I want to talk to you, Jeremy."

He blinked. "Y-you do?"

"Well, yes we do have plenty to talk about!"

"I-I have no choice but to leave now. If we don't leave now then we'll miss the welcome gala and if we miss that then…"

"War," Isabella offered.

"Exactly and we can talk when I get back, okay?"

I wanted to say, what if you don't come back? What if you get stuck in the snow and can't find your way back through the blizzard? What if you die a slow and painful death, by freezing to death?

But I didn't say any of that and just sadly smiled.

"Alright, we'll talk when you get back. We have a lot to sort through."

He smiled and quickly kissed my cheek. It was the most tender and loving gesture that a man had ever given me. I didn't even bother to argue over his bluntness. He didn't say another word as he trudged off into the inferno.

Isabella gave me a subtle smile as if to say, I told you so. For once, she didn't say anything and I was glad of that.

"Be careful, Phineas." I called after them. I watched them climb into the carriage. The horse loudly neighed in protest of moving forward. For once, I agreed with a horse. I waved after them when they finally got down the path. I waved until they were out of sight and until the wind chilled me to the extent that I couldn't stand there holding the door open any longer. So I slammed it shut, leaving the storm outside where it belonged.

I had finally set it into my mind that they would not be returning for at least two months [As that was the extent of their welcome] and that o had nothing to worry about. They would not be returning today so I shouldn't worry about their whereabouts. They were well on their way south and with some luck and a prayer they would miss the eye of the storm and safely pass through it.

Still, I couldn't help but worry and like the lady- in- waiting that I was I took to my needlework by the fire. I had neglected that lately and should get back on it. My hope chest was not as full as it should be when I was expecting a child. But then again, I should have had a least a year or two left to prepare for that stage of my life.

The blanket was for the baby. I had drawn the outside of a sheep onto the middle of the patchwork. As it was tradition, no matter what wealth, I used old scraps of clothing and used bedding to create my masterpiece. It was very colorful and the patterns didn't exactly match, except for the white and blue pieces that I was using for the sheep. It really fit, no matter how odd it looked.

Every once and a while I would glance over at the windows. I had opened all the curtains for reasons that were beyond me and for other reasons that I couldn't explain, I had lit a candle in the window. I glanced over at it, the flame flickered over the glass and make the scene outside even more frightful. But in a way, I was glad of it's meger light.

It was like a light leading them back home. Leading Jeremy back to me, we had so much to talk about that I didn't even know where to begin. All that I knew was that he had to come home, he had to come back to me. I still was unsure about my feelings for him.

He simply had to return. I would miss him bothering me. Meeting me every morning at the libaray doors just for an excuse to see me, it was hard to believe that anyone would want an excuse to see me.

And I realized at that moment that I was never bothered by him.

He was never annoying.

If he were to be gone, then I would miss him terribly.

It was strange that I would feel that way about someone that I hardly knew but in a way it felt right. Just like my candle in the window, a signal to all to return back home.

I turned back to my work and continued on, like a proper lady should despite the nagging worry that bit at the back of my mind.

It was warm. Before I even opened my eyes, I felt the sun shining down on me. It's rays warmed and tanned my pale flesh. The grass was soft and slightly wet to the touch underneath me. It was unbelievably comfortable. I sighed, in contempt.

"What is the matter, love?"

I glanced over and caught sight of a pair of flashing blue eyes and a mob of blonde hair. He lay very close to me, but we were not touching. His face was lined with worry, obviously concerned on my behalf. This warmed me more than the sun did.

"Nothing," I replied, "I have you here with me."

He smiled and linked our hands together. Both our hands were calloused from the work I once did and the work that he still did. In a way it was good to know that we had both suffered so and gained from this simple touch than most would have. It meant we connected on a much deeper level and I found that I loved it.

I loved him.

I hadn't realized that I had fallen asleep until I was roughly awakened.

"Candace! Wake up!"

I nodded groggily and rubbed at my eyes. Flashes of my dreams came back to me: laugher, smiles, blue eyes, and a friendly face. I didn't remember the details but the image of the happiness of the moment remained permanently etched into my brain.

"Stacy?"

"No time for explanations! The entire palace is awake, the royals got stuck in the storm and if it wasn't for that stable girl who was foolishly out in the storm then-"

She said this all very fast but I lost track of what she was talking about after the word 'stuck'.

"Are they alright?" I demanded. I stood up, my blanket hitting the floor.

"The royals are fine, possible flu…"

"The carriage driver, is he alright?" The words flew off my tongue and I felt guilty for caring more about Jeremy than my brother and his wife. But my brother was a true genius; he could take care of himself.

"Last I heard, he was putting the horses back in the stables-"

I fiercely shoved past her.

"Candace!"

"Well someone has to help him! Are you coming or not?"

"Not, I said I would get back down to help out the doctor after I woke you. Do you plan on coming to see your brother?"

I nodded. "I just have to do something first. Tell him I'll be right there."

She nodded and bent to pick up my blanket and set it back onto the chair. I glanced over to the windows, the raged still outside and my candle wick had completely burnt out.

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