Hey guys, so here it is - Chapter 2! I'm probably going to make this a weekly update thing and pretty soon we'll be getting into the actual series story-line rather than the prequel if that makes sense. Anyway hope you enjoy :D
From that first meeting Isabella was desperate to see the Prince again, so desperate that she was practically counting the days until she reached the age when she would be accepted to work as Elizabeth of York's ladies maid. Once she turned thirteen she hoped and prayed that every day her mother would come home from the Palace and tell her that her services would be required. She desperately wanted to be a member of the Queen's court, even if it was only to steal another fleeting glance at Henry.
Even after their brief meeting when she was a child she was infatuated with the Prince. Henry was everything that she dreamed of – handsome, athletic and charming – but she could never have him and she knew it. She knew that she would never have a chance to be with someone of Henry's social standing – he was the potential future King of England for goodness sake and she was the daughter of a servant. But there was nothing to stop Isabella dreaming and enjoying her infatuation with him while it lasted. Besides she knew it was highly likely that she would never even see him again.
Six months after Isabella turned thirteen her mother informed her that the Queen required her service as one of her ladies maids. Isabella was thrilled; this was the chance she had been waiting for! This was her chance to potentially see the Prince again, even if it was only for a fleeting second. Isabella was sure that Henry wouldn't remember her even if their paths did cross but she would still very much like to see him again.
When her first day of service arrived Isabella's mother took her to the Palace and she was introduced to Her Majesty along with a number of other girls all similar ages to her. She was informed what her duties would entail and what would be required of her. Isabella listened intently, trying to remember everything that she would have to know to do her job correctly. There was so much to do with etiquette; remembering to speak when spoken to, remembering to courtesy and remembering to always hold one's self with grace when in the presence of a better...and that was just with other members of the court, never mind members of the royal family.
A few days after joining the court Isabella had been sent on an errand by Her Majesty and, even though they had all received a tour of the Palace when they first arrived, she found that she was completely lost. Every single corridor in this place looked exactly the same as every other! It was impossible to discern one from the other and it was also impossible to find your way around after just one touring. Isabella supposed that she would eventually get used to it, she would learn to navigate her way around the Palace and manage to remember all the rules but that wasn't helping her right now.
Isabella turned a corner to yet other corridor that looked exactly like all the other corridors and wondered if she should turn back, find someone and ask them for directions. She knew she may get into trouble; she would be told that she should know her way around by now and would be accused of not listening to her instructions but she knew that she would be in even more trouble if she returned late. She was about to turn back when she saw a figure coming towards her from the other end of the corridor. She continued on down her path intending to stop them and ask the way back to the Queen's chambers; it was the only thing she could do at this moment.
As the figure got closer Isabella almost dropped the linens she had been sent to pick up. The person walking towards her was none other than Prince Henry himself. Isabella's heart nearly stopped beating as the Prince continued towards her. She stopped a few feet away from him and curtseyed, lowering her eyes (even in her current state of shock she managed to remember what she should do in the presence of a Prince).
"Your Majesty." she murmured expecting him to walk straight past her. To her immense surprise the Prince stopped. She looked up into his face and saw that he was smiling at her.
"Hello again Miss Lockhart." he said cordially.
"Good afternoon You Majesty." she replied blushing and averting her eyes again. She couldn't quite believe that he remembered her even though their meeting must have been at least six years ago.
"It has been too long since we last met." Henry said. Isabella tried to process what was happening – the Prince actually remembered her! This was insane; there was no possible way that he would have remembered someone like her, not when he was presented with all manner of beautiful women on a daily basis. "Is there something wrong?" he asked when she failed to comment.
"Forgive me, Your Highness," she said, her blush deepening as she continued to look away. "I was not expecting you to remember me, that's all."
"How could I not?" the Prince asked taking a step towards her. "How could I possibly forget the girl hiding out in the Palace grounds when she shouldn't even have been there at all?" Isabella's blush deepened at his words and she shifted nervously. "What brings you back here?" he asked.
"I've just been hired as a member of your mother's court." she explained, still trying to refrain from maintaining eye contact with him.
"I'm very glad to see you again." Henry stated and Isabella allowed herself to smile but still kept her gaze on the floor. "You have grown even more beautiful." Isabella's smile faltered and she looked up, staring at the Prince. She could not deny that he too had grown even more handsome in his adolescence but it still surprised and delighted her that he too should think the same of her.
"Thank you Your Majesty." she said, curtseying again. "You flatter me too much."
"I thought I told you when we last met," the Prince said, a smile creeping onto his face again. "to call me Henry." Isabella's mouth hung open for a minute – she had no idea how to respond to this insane suggestion that he was so adamant about.
"I...I don't think that would be proper Your Highness." she stammered. Henry snorted with laughter.
"I don't particularly care about what is considered proper or not." he told her taking another step towards her. Suddenly realising how close his proximity was to her Isabella looked around in worry, terrified that someone would come round the corner and discover her with him. She was also concerned that she was becoming increasingly later and later in getting back to her mistress.
"I...um, your mother...well I need to...I mean she'll be waiting...and I'll be missed." Isabella stuttered. She couldn't seem to get her brain to focus properly; the Prince's proximity was having a definite and embarrassing effect on her. She couldn't decide whether it was just because he was the Prince or whether it was because he was so devilishly handsome (and Isabella could not deny that he was handsome) but something about him was making it impossible for her to form a sentence or make her brain function properly.
"What is a few seconds more?" he asked shrugging. He placed his hand on the back of her neck and Isabella's breath caught in her throat. This could not be happening; she could not be alone in a corridor with the Prince, he could not have told her that she was beautiful and he could not be leaning in towards her face the way that he was.
Henry continued to close the gap between the two of them until their noses were just touching. Isabella felt as if her skin was on fire; her heart was hammering against her ribcage, she was trembling with nerves and she had virtually stopped breathing altogether. As Henry softly brushed his lips against hers her eyes shot open in surprise but as he applied more pressure to the kiss they slid closed in contentment.
The linens she had been holding slid out of her hands and fell at their feet as her hands rushed up to tangle into Henry's soft dark hair. She knew that what they were doing was wrong – she was only a ladies maid and he was hair to the throne for goodness sake! Things like that just didn't happen! She knew that it would never be more than this kiss but in that moment she couldn't stop herself wanting him. Every girl in the kingdom wanted to be in her position at that moment and Isabella surely didn't want to trade places with anyone else for love nor money in that second.
Henry finally pulled away from the kiss leaving Isabella wanting more, in spite of her better judgements. Henry smirked at her, it was clear he knew the effect he had on her and it was also clear that he enjoyed having that effect on her. He took her hand, just as he had done on their first meeting and brought it to his lips in the gentlest of kisses. Isabella felt the blush igniting on her face again and she knew that he was enjoying it. He let go of her hand and without another word continued down along the corridor.
"You were going in the right direction." he called back to her.
"Excuse me?" Isabella asked breaking out of the stupor he had put her in.
"My mother's chambers are just along this corridor," he said, not turning to look at her even though she had turned to stare after him. "I would hurry back to her."
"Th…thank you Your Highness." Isabella replied breathlessly, forgetting that he had specifically told her to call him Henry. At the end of the corridor he turned to look at her and flashed her that beautiful smile of his.
"I am glad that you have been asked to work here, Isabella." he stated putting that same emphasis on dropping the formality and calling her by her first name as he had last time. "I hope to see much more of you over the coming months." He bowed slightly to her and then turned the corner.
As soon as he was out of her sight Isabella hurriedly collected herself. She dropped to the floor and began collecting the scattered linens, hoping against hope that their tumble to the floor had not dirtied them in any way. She swiftly folded them to how they had been when she picked them up so no one would be any the wiser and continued on her way. She took the directions Henry had given her and at the end of the corridor she found the Queen's chambers. She curtseyed and apologised profusely for her lateness.
"What kept you my dear?" the Queen asked her as she handed the linens over. She didn't seem angry in fact she almost seemed as if she knew exactly what had made Isabella late in returning to her.
"I am so very sorry Your Majesty but I lost my way while returning." Isabella stated looking down at the floor in embarrassment and blushing. The Queen tilted her head up so that Isabella had to look into her eyes. She studied her young maid, smiling warmly at her.
"There is no need to apologise, you are new to the Palace." she said comfortingly. "In time you will learn."
"Thank you Your Majesty." Isabella curtseyed again, her face still a light pink. "I only wish to serve and prove my worth." she stated. The Queen smiled warmly at her again.
"I'm sure that you will, my dear." she replied as she signalled for another of her ladies maids to show Isabella what needed to be done next. "In fact I don't doubt it."