AN: Song: Taylor Swift's Enchanted. Pairing: Princess Elizabeth/ My OC Edward Brandon from before Daughters of A Rose Without A Thorn starts. Setting: The Michelmas Feast, 1543. Disclaimer: Anything you recognise isn't mine.
There I was again tonight, forcing laughter, faking smiles
Same old, tired place lonely place
Walls of insincerity, shifting eyes and vacancy
Vanished when I saw your face
All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you
"Make way for Her Highness the Princess Elizabeth! Make way!"
The crowds fell back at the herald's call and I made my way to the dais, executing a careful curtsy to my father," Your Majesty."
"Daughter." His voice was cool, but he did at least nod in acknowledgement of the respect I was paying him. He gestured abruptly for me to take the empty seat beside him, which I did. However, he then pointedly ignored me, concentrating instead on his conversation with the Duke of Suffolk.
The blatant dismissal hurt, but I kept my head up and a fixed smile on my lips. I was a Howard, a young lady of marriageable age and a Princess. Those were just three of the reasons I needed to be the most deceitful creature that God ever put on this Earth. I was had just turned thirteen and it was the first time I had been at Court since my mother's execution. I couldn't afford to give our enemies any ammunition to use against me.
At last, the dessert course had been removed and the musicians were tuning up. Father glanced at me. As I expected, he snapped, "Dance with the Duke of Suffolk". We were the highest ranking pair in the room after the King, after all. Since Father's leg was too bad for him to dance, the Duke of Suffolk would have to partner me before he danced with his wife.
"Of course, Sire," I murmured, rising obediently, though not without some trepidation. The music was a galliard; His Grace was seven years older than my father. I wondered if he'd be able to keep up.
But he surprised me. He might be past his prime, but he was still strong and healthy.
And anyway, soon it didn't matter, for it was as we went down the line that I saw him.
Your eyes whispered, "Have we met?" across the room, your silhouette
Starts to make its way to me
The playful conversation starts, counter all your quick remarks
Like passing notes in secrecy
He was dancing with one of the Manners girls; I couldn't make out which. To my astonishment, I found myself captivated by his lithe movements and, as I made my final curtsy to the Duke of Suffolk, I stared past him at the mysterious boy's back. As though he could feel my eyes on him, he turned round.
Our eyes met. A frisson of sparks coursed between us.
Excusing himself, he was bowing before me in time for the next dance, a salladre, "Princess Elizabeth? Might I have the honour?"
"Gladly..," I hesitated.
"Lord Edward. Lord Edward Brandon."
A jolt went through me at the name, "I've just danced with your father!"
"Indeed? And which of us is the better dancer, My Lady Princess?" Edward asked, spinning me around as the salladre required. I pretended to consider.
"I really cannot say. After all, courtesy forbids me from slandering such a great personage as His Grace and, though you have fine promise, you're a little young to have mastered the highest points of finesse," I replied at last.
"Too young! I like that! You're no older!"
Edward caught me unawares by the speed of his rejoinder. Moments later, however, he collected himself, "Begging Your Highness's pardon. I spoke out of turn."
I laughed, "Forgiveness granted. You've a ready tongue, Lord Edward. I like that. Tell me, what brings you to Court?"
"His Majesty requested that I join the Duke of Richmond's household, now that he has turned nine and requires some older boys to test his sporting prowess against."
The reserve in Lord Edward's tone told me that he wasn't too thrilled with his new position. Therefore, I felt safe in muttering, "I think you mean required, don't you?"
Edward nodded, "I do, Your Highness. Had it not been for the Royal command, my father would never have made me go. As it is…"
"We all know how dangerous it can be to defy the King," I whispered, before continuing, "How do you find your new position?"
"Truthfully? A bore. His Grace can barely stand an hour of sword training, yet he expects us to defer to him as though he is a knight already blooded in battle and we others just his squires."
"That doesn't surprise me. My father's bastard always gives himself airs," I growled. Edward glanced at me in surprise, "You sound as though you know the young Duke, my Lady."
"Sadly. Our households share a palace. He often comes visiting, if only because he knows he won't have to treat me with any formality."
"Then perhaps I shall have to accompany him, Princess," Edward breathed, lifting my hand gallantly to his lips for a kiss as the music ended.
And it was enchanting to meet you
All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you
This night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, blushing all the way home
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
I was enchanted to meet you
"I look forward to it, Lord Edward," I murmured, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. I glanced sideways at Edward. He looked so calm and controlled. Could he not tell that my heart was hammering harder than I had ever known it too at his proximity? Apparently not.
Forcing myself to follow suit, I tried to keep my face blank as I walked away, though I did grab a glass of wine from a server in the corner and down it in one go. After all, I was already blushing. I might as well be able to account the flush in my cheeks to something other than Lord Edward.
The lingering question kept me up, 2 a.m., who do you love?
I wonder 'til I'm wide awake
Now I'm pacing back and forth, wishing you were at my door
I'd open up and you would say
It was enchanting to meet you
All I know is I was enchanted to meet you
Father dismissed me at around midnight, but even then, it was hours before I slept. I tossed and turned, unable to take my mind off Lord Edward.
Images flashed before my eyes. Sometimes they were happy images – Edward and I talking, dancing, kissing.
I imagined how, once we were back at Hatfield, I would invite my half-brother and his companions to join my sister and I on a hunt. My half-brother was no rider. It wouldn't take long for Edward and I to outstrip him. Then, with Blanche entertaining the other, we two could truly be alone. Well, perhaps Anne and Susanna would have to come along for propriety's sake. That wouldn't matter though. I trusted them with my life.
Even if they didn't like Edward, they still wouldn't betray me to Father. They'd understand that I needed the happiness of a courtship after what had happened to my mother.
But all of a sudden, a wave of panic overtook me and the pictures changed. Edward frowned at me, walked away from me.
I saw him kissing another, faceless, nameless girl; standing before the altar with her.
What if he loved someone else or was already betrothed? I hadn't thought to ask. I hadn't even told him what meeting him had meant to me, for God's sake! All I'd managed was a perfectly formal, "I look forward to it, Lord Edward when he'd suggested accompanying my half-brother to visit me! What if he didn't know how I felt and thought I wouldn't want to see him? I couldn't bear that thought!
This night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, blushing all the way home
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
This night is flawless, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, dancing around all alone
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
I was enchanted to meet you
This is me praying that
This was the very first page, not where the storyline ends
My thoughts will echo your name until I see you again
These are the words I held back as I was leaving too soon
I was enchanted to meet you
When Anne came in to dress me the next morning, she commented on how tired I looked, "You look like you've barely slept, My Lady."
"Elizabeth," I corrected automatically, "And it's nothing that a bit of powder won't fix, Cousin."
"As you wish, Elizabeth," Anne murmured, busying herself with my dress, hair and face. I stayed silent, running over my conversation with Edward yet again.
"You're quiet this morning," Anne ventured at last, "Is everything all right?"
"Yes, Yes. I'm fine! Well…Anne, do you happen to know whether Edward Brandon is betrothed? Lord Edward, I should say. The Duke of Suffolk's son?"
"Anne looked taken aback at my question, "No. No, I don't, sorry."
"It's fine," I waved away the apologies, but she peered at my reflection searchingly, "Why do you ask?"
"No particular reason," I lied, "I was just curious."
"Just curious? Really, Elizabeth? I don't believe you. You've never asked this sort of thing before. Has he taken your eye, little cousin?" Anne teased. I flushed crimson.
"We danced once last night, Anne, and I liked his company. That's all."
"Well, I can find out whether he's betrothed or not, if you like."
I couldn't resist the offer. "If you would. Please."
"All right," Anne smiled, set my hood on my head and stepped back, "Signor Battista's waiting."
I nodded gravely, but as she curtsied and slipped from the room, I couldn't help hoping that my Edward would turn out to be a free man.
Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you
Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you
This night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, blushing all the way home
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
This night is flawless, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, dancing around all alone
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
I was enchanted to meet you
Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you