My Room

I show him the nursery which is only one large room filled with toys and bassinets for children. The colors are pastels suited for young boys, and not in good taste for a Prince. I settled on coming here to delay seeing my room, to try to calm my anxious heart, but to no avail. Why is he so insistent to see my humiliation? It has never irked me, I never thought of moving rooms when my family left. That was so until he demanded on seeing it. Now my heart is overflowing with trepidation. Why is he having this effect?

He gazes uninterested in the array of childhoods before him. "This was the boy's nursery. As it is bigger than the girls one it now houses all the toys."

"You didn't mention a girl's nursery." I curse the slip of my tongue.

I sigh and honestly answer. He will know eventually, due to his intuitiveness. "It was transformed into my room."

"Take me to it." I can't refuse his direct order, but don't vocalize my feelings. I leave the room, crossing the hall to enter a plain door and he follows me. Inside are my belongings of a bed, a settee, a miniscule table for dinning, and a chest to hold my belongings. The room looks bare after the grandeur of the others, though I know that it is better than what most people have in this city. There are no tapestries, and the wall paintings suit little girls, not a woman. There are no adjoining rooms, or sitting rooms, which are the power of the nobility.

To my relief he makes no comment on the disparity of living circumstances. He walks around the room once, studying everything.

"Where do you meet your callers?" If he is to find a fitting ruler for here, then I am going to need to inform him of everything, so I don't hold back.

"I rarely had callers before my family left, so I would use a public sitting room. I have been using the Duke's study for political meetings since then."

He nods, before announcing, "I will be taking the Duke's chambers, and placing some officers in the various rooms you have shown." So that is why he wished to see the whole wing. This relieves some of my anxiety.

"As you wish your highness." I curtsy, showing my compliance.

"You will move into the Duchess's chambers from now on." Does he want to keep an eye on me? Does he realize the implication of this positioning? It is common knowledge that the two chambers are connected to facilitate marital activities. Is he sending me there so I can easily perform those genre of tasks for him? If it becomes common knowledge that I am staying there… I shudder at the imaginary back lash. Yet I can't refuse. I am now nothing more than a glorified slave.

My curtsy becomes deeper as I reply, "Yes Prince Clement-Victor."

He doesn't' say another word as he turns around and leaves. I follow behind him, ready to remind him of the room he is searching for in this maze of doors and halls I have shown him. He strides though the hall as if he had lived here his whole life. Without blinking an eye, he leads us to the Duke's chambers, and into the family dining room found within. The table is already set with our finest flatware, and silver. Without hesitation he takes his seat at the head of the table. I remain lower by the other end to return to shadows that I have lived in for 18 years. These kinds of gatherings among men tend to be rowdy and unsuitable for women, therefor I choose to be away from the action.

"Duchesse Pierrette-Danielle come here." Prince Clement-Victor motions to the seat to his right, the seat with the second highest importance in the room. Apparently, he will not grant me a peaceful life.

I stand from the seat I had taken and move to the one he has indicated with my head held high. I hope the confidence I am attempting to portray is seen by those in attendance.

As I sit the Prince leans in, and murmurs "From now on you are my right hand. I expect to see you there."

I mimic his actions as he faces forward, leaning in to whisper my reply. Only problem is that I timed it wrong, almost bringing my face, and more particularly my lips, crashing into him. I pull back, and bow my head, stammering an apology. From the corner of my eye I see his lips twitch upwards in a smile.

Oh, how I have made a fool of myself. After an instant I regain my composure enough for a second attempt. I lean towards him and murmur, "I will follow you to the best of my abilities, limited as they may be." When I pull back, he gives me a nod of approval. What have I gotten myself into with this Prince?