Chapter Twenty-Six

Lilyrose looked at the dark clouds, threatening more rain. She gave in to a mighty yawn, not bothering to cover her mouth. Her back was to Eleanor who could not see to chide her. It was barely late morning and already the day felt lazy.

All was quiet in the palace; the guests had already left, which they tended to do in the days following the celebration. Eleanor and Sarah sat with their embroidery, conversing quietly, while Lionel and Edmund were enmeshed in a game of chess. In the far corner, Alice read to Henry, who kept teasing her by covering the page or gently pulling at her hair.

Margaret remained in her bed with Lilyrose still the only one aware of the real reason. It hurt that her cousin refused to speak to her. She felt for her and wanted to make things right but didn’t know what to do or say. It didn’t matter that Margaret cared not for Ronal’s social status, her mother would never agree to her daughter being courted by, let alone marry, a farrier’s son. As Margaret’s male guardian, Lionel would never agree either. And it was obvious to Lilyrose that Ronal himself would never agree.

Her thoughts switched to Arthur. Although he’d yet to mention setting aside their betrothal, her chest tightened, as it always did, at the worrying thought. Lately, as much as she tried to deny it, the mere thought of him made her want to hug herself and giggle like a child. But, each time, the thought that followed questioned how he truly felt about her. With a gasp, she straightened.

“Lilyrose?”

Cheeks flushed, eyes wide, she turned to her mother. “Yes?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No.”

Eleanor frowned. “Then why did–”

“I-I remembered.” Unable to think of a good enough reason, Lilyrose’s gaze darted about.

“Remembered what?”

Sarah’s smile widened as she, too, waited for Lilyrose’s answer.

“Um, remembered to, tell Tilly, something.” Without waiting, Lilyrose hurried out of the solar.

Lifting her skirt slightly, she ran to the stairs but not to find Tilly. Having spied Ronal in the gardens, she raced to find him. After all this time, it had only occurred to her, in that moment, surely he would know why Arthur kept asking her that infernal question.

Barely hearing and acknowledging the greetings from the servants, Lilyrose ran around to the gardens. Avoiding the puddles that reflected fragments of the palace, she skidded on the wet grass and stopped, turning first one way then another, but there was no sign of Ronal. Hands on hips, she pouted, wondering where he might have gone.

Her shoulders sagged as she sighed heavily. Turning, she walked to the rose garden, the moistness of the grass darkening the toes of her slippers. As the banners flapped in the breeze, she hugged herself and wandered in, breathing deep of the perfume of her namesake. Having been battered by overnight rain, the blooms hung low.

“You’re here.”

Ronal spun around. “I’m sorry, my lady, I didn’t mean to–”

“No, no, don’t worry. I saw you from the solar and thought you’d gone from here.”

“Is something wrong? Am I needed?”

Smiling, she shook her head. “Please, sit.”

He remained standing, a slight frown on his brow. “My lady, the seats are wet.”

Her gaze fell on a seat. Giggling, she hitched her shoulders up. “Oh, of course.”

“How’s Lady Margaret?”

“She’s still keeping to her bed.”

“I fear she hates me now.”

“Oh no. She’ll recover from this, don’t worry.” Besides, thought Lilyrose, she’s too busy hating me. “You look very tired. Did you not sleep well?”

He jerked his head back slightly. “I sleep well enough.”

Raising her brows, she said, “But?”

“It’s nothing,” he said, shaking his head.

“But this is my home. If something here is disturbing your sleep, I should know. Maybe I can help.”

His smile widened. “It’s only a dream, my lady.”

“Oh.” She leaned forward, eyes wide. “Tell me. If you don’t mind, that is.”

“It’s a silly dream, about a baby, a crying baby. I can hear it, I try to find it, but I can’t.”

She stared, not knowing what to say. She’d been expecting to hear something more exciting than a crying baby. “And that disturbs your sleep?”

“I’ve been having the same dream for years now. Not all the time but often enough that I’m very familiar with it. My ma thinks it’s to do with my sister having a baby,” he finished with a half-smile.

“How strange, to keep having the same dream.”

The silence they fell into was punctuated by the plop of water dripping from the roses onto the path and benches.

“My lady, am I needed? You said you saw me from the solar and.”

She exclaimed softly, remembering the reason she’d come looking for him. But now that she was here, she didn’t know how to ask him. Clasping her hands before her, she looked around, but the roses remained silent.

“Is everything alright, my lady?”

“I-I don’t know. I want to ask you something, but. I’m afraid to.”

He took a step forward. “My lady, you can ask me anything.”

She looked away, glanced at him, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Do you know if. Does Arthur have a sweetheart?” The words tumbled from her.

Ronal flinched back. “What? No. He is your betrothed.” In his shock, he forgot to address her in the proper manner.

Half-turning away, she tried to calm her breathing, for she’d been hoping the answer was ‘yes’. That would have been better than not wanting her because of the curse.

“My lady, please believe me when I say there is no other in Arthur’s life. He only ever speaks of you.”

“Why then does he keep asking?”

“Asking what, my lady?”

Unable to look at him, she said, “If I want to set aside our betrothal.”

“What?”

“You don’t know.”

“He’s said nothing to me about setting aside your betrothal.”

“Then, that must be the only reason.” A slight shiver seized her. But she couldn’t tell if it was caused by the cool breeze or the realisation of her fear.

“My lady?”

Lilyrose met his concerned gaze. She tried to smile but failed.

Ronal’s forehead creased. “What is the only reason?”

They stood for long moments until she finally whispered, “The curse.”

“The curse?” He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t understand.”

“He doesn’t want to marry someone who’s been cursed to die, to sleep forever.”

His eyes bulged. “Lilyrose–my lady. That is so far from the–”

“What other reason is there?”

Looking around as if the answer was hiding among the fallen petals, he said, “I don’t know, but I do know the curse is not it. I’ll ask him–”

“No. Don’t say anything. He’ll know I told you.”

They remained facing each other, neither seeming to know what to say.

“At least let me ask him how he feels about your betrothal, that should be innocent enough.”

Lilyrose wanted to say she didn’t see the point for she believed she already knew the real reason.  But he looked so anxious and earnest, she slowly nodded. “Thank you, Ronal.”