Over the next few days, nothing changes much. The Queen and the Prince eat their meals in the main hall, but when she has work to do, he hides in his room. I am disappointed because I really hoped to have a playmate, but I’m not the kind of girl who gives up, so I start playing my games below his window.
After a week I begin to get bored sitting there, so I wander over to the paddock and climb up on the fence to watch the men with the horses.
“Hello, Rayne. Everything okay little one?”
Mr Tobias calls out to me, and I wave back, smiling.
“Hello. I’m okay, I wanted to watch you work.”
“Really? Say, how old are you now?”
“I’m eight.”
“Eight you say, would you like to help?”
A huge bubble of excitement rises in me, and I grin like an idiot.
“Yes please!”
He laughs and then walks over to pick me up and carry me over to one of the horses, he is smaller than the others.
“This is Spade, he likes to have someone on his back when I lunge him. Put this riding hat on and then I will help you up into the saddle.”
I quickly do as he says and then before I know it, I am up in the seat. I lean forward and gently pet his neck which he seems to like.
“Hello Spade, I’m Rayne.”
He chuffs, and I giggle before I take hold of his reins, while Mr Tobias grips the lunge line.
“Okay then Rayne, your job is to stay in the saddle and try to keep him calm.”
“Yes sir.”
We start the session and I enjoy every moment of it. Sometimes, if I feel Spade start to get distracted, I put my hand on his neck and he refocuses. After a long time, Mr Tobias finally stops Spade and lifts me down.
“Well done, Rayne. That was actually, Spades best training session so far. Thank you.”
I grin stupidly after hearing that praise, I really enjoyed myself and I think I know what I want to do when I get older.
“Mr Tobias, can I help more often? I really like horses and I want to do more to help with them.”
“Sure, little one. I think you have natural talent. But you will have to wait until you are a lot bigger before you can help with much more. For now, just be sure to stay close to an adult if you want to help, okay?”
I nod, and he pats my head gently before I turn and run back to the house to tell my mummy what happened. I look up as I cross the yard and I am surprised to see the Prince standing at his window. I stare for a moment, but he sees me and quickly retreats out of my view.
Hmm, strange boy.
The weeks pass and finally the day for the Queen and the Prince to leave arrives. We all line up outside, the same as when they arrived, and watch them leave. The Prince still clings to the Queen’s skirts, but I notice that once he is in the carriage, he looks out of the window and our eyes meet. I expect him to look away, but when he doesn’t, I begin to wonder what he wants. I smile and wave discreetly to him at which point I am sure I see him smile back.
What does that mean?
Over the next year, I spend more and more time helping with the horses. I mostly fetch things for the other workers, such as the tackle items, but I also help to groom the horses after their training sessions. I enjoy brushing them and seeing their fur shine once it’s clean.
Once again it is time for a visit from the Queen and the Prince and it seems they intend to make this a regular thing. Just like last time and as I cross the yard, I spot the carriage in the distance. I let everyone in the house know and we are ready to greet them when the carriage stops at the steps.
They climb out and I notice that he is taller and a little less skinny than last time. His hair is a little messy and it suits him, but he still doesn’t make eye contact and clings close to the Queen.
So just like their last visit, I don’t see him unless he is in the hall for meals. I focus on my chores, instead of dwelling on him, until one day in the stables while I am brushing Spade, I see him standing in the entrance.
Remembering what my mum said last time, I wait for him to speak to me. I continue to work as though I haven’t noticed him, but it is hard because he is staring at me.
“Hello.”
My hand freezes mid-stroke and I look over to stare back at him.
Did he speak?
He looks uncomfortable and I wonder why he is here.
“Hello, your Highness.”
I smile and bow to him, but when I look up, he is frowning.
Uh, what did I do wrong?
“I don’t want you to call me that.”
I raise my eyebrows, surprised by what he said, but I don’t know how to answer him. As I look closer, I notice he seems a little sad, behind the annoyed tone of voice he used.
“What would you like me to call you instead?”
“Just my name is fine by me.”
The thought of speaking so informally to him terrifies me because I know that the adults would punish me if they found out. The fear must show on my face because he frowns again and begins to walk closer.
“Why are you so scared?”
“B…because it’s not my place to speak to you like that, your Highness. I would get in big trouble.”
“But I am saying it is okay. So, they have to listen to that.”
Now it’s my turn to frown.
“Why are you insisting on this?”
He looks me in the eye, and I feel a shiver run through me under his gaze.
“Because I want to have a real friend. Not just someone who has been told to be nice to me because of who I am.”
I gape at him in shock.
“Why me?”
That question makes him smile and it lights up his features, completely changing his face, I find I am drawn to him.
“Because you love horses as much as I do.”
I look at Spade and then back to the Prince, unsure of what to do. He approaches Spade and immediately Spade puts his muzzle into the Prince’s palm, I stare at them in awe. The change in the Prince is amazing, the confidence I feel flowing from him is worlds apart from the fearful boy I saw when he arrived.
“My name is Rayne.”
I say as I hold out my hand for him to shake, he pauses a moment to try to figure out my intentions, before placing his hand in mine.
“Hello Rayne, it is nice to meet you. Please, call me Lance.”
I smile, and he smiles back.
“Can I add a compromise?”
He frowns, and his hand pulls back slightly, but I grip him tighter which surprises him.
“I agree to call you Lance when we are alone like this, but, if there are adults around, would you accept me calling you Prince Lance?”
I keep my gaze locked to his and watch him closely while he considers what I have asked. Finally, he smiles and squeezes my hand back.
“Deal.”
From then on, we are inseparable, every summer when he would visit, we would help with the horses, together, and while he was back at the castle, he would write to me to tell me what was going on. But he would ask me a million questions about the ranch and what I was doing.
Then everything changed the year we turned fifteen. That was the summer they caught the runaway stallion and Lance got injured protecting me. After that, the Queen and Lance both stopped visiting the ranch, Lance’s letters also stopped once he was sent to the Royal Training Academy, and I haven’t heard from him since.
***Back to Present***
I am brought out of my thoughts by a shout from the yard, I pull Lightning back and walk him to the fence.
“Rayne!”
“What is it, Tobias?”
“We have received word from the Queen. Prince Lance has been denounced by the King, he has lost his Prince status and been banished from the capital, he is coming here to live, permanently!”
My return home is not a pleasant affair. My father had been so proud when the betrothal was agreed upon, but now as I stand in front of his throne awaiting my fate, he cannot bear to look at me. My family are all sat surrounding me, silently judging as my father decides my punishment. Finally, he looks up to speak to me.“You are an utter disgrace! I am ashamed to admit that my blood runs through your veins! I hereby denounce you as my son, you are no longer a Prince of this country! You will have no rights to the throne and will live out your days reduced to ‘Duke’ status. I don’t care where you go, just stay out of my sight. I never want to see you in my presence from this day forth. Now, away with you!”He turns his face away and waves his hand in the air as though he was swatting an annoying fly out of the air dismissing me. I glance at my brothers and sisters; I can see a conflict of emotion on their faces. They are equal parts annoye
***Flashback***Lance age 15My littlest big sister is due to turn eighteen in a few weeks, so they are preparing for her ceremony. Rayne and I wander over to the paddock where the mustangs are usually kept as we are both curious about the new horse that was brought in.We are both excited and talking about all sorts, I’m looking at her and watching her red hair blowing in the breeze, instead of paying attention to the paddock ahead.Suddenly there is a shout followed by the sound of splintering wood. When I turn to look, I see that the stallion has gotten loose.The ranch hands panic when they notice us in his path, everyone is shouting for us to move out of the way as they fear that we will be trampled to death.Anyone else would probably try to run away or dodge him, but I just think about protecting Rayne. I wrap my arms around her before throwing us both down to the ground and using my own body as a shield. She sc
I see the moment he raises his arm and I know what is coming, but I prefer he uses that thing on me than on the horse. I am fully prepared to feel its sting, but then a black blur engulfs my vision and blocks Lord Roderick from my view. What just happened? I take a step back so I can see clearer, and I am faced with the slender muscular back of a tall man dressed in a black suit. They are blocking Lord Roderick from me, and I realise they just stopped him using his whip on me too. But who would be out here at this time of day to be able to do that in the first place? As I struggle with my confusion and shock, my hearing comes back, and I hear what is being said. “How dare you even think of using a whip on a person! Have you no shame?!” The man in front of me is yelling at Lord Roderick, but the firmness of his tone tells me he is used to talking to people like this. “Who are you to speak to me like that?! I am
I know that when they find out who he is they are going to be shocked but, first I need to make sure Misty is okay. I slowly enter the stall and attempt to calm her down. “Shhh, Misty. Easy girl, it’s me, Rayne.” As I try to calm her with my voice, I see Lance remove a pocketknife from his boot and slowly approach her with it held low by his leg. The last thing I want him to do is spook her, so I keep talking, hoping to keep her attention on me. Suddenly she sees how close he is and feeling threatened, she tries to fight her bonds to get away from us. “Shhh, easy girl. I’m not here to harm you.” I hear a softness in his voice as he speaks to her, and I find myself drawn in. He extends his free hand out to her palm up as he continues to slowly approach, always keeping his voice low and calm. She is still breathing hard and eventually he is close enough to touch her neck. Laying his hand gently on her skin he slowly strokes the tense muscles there hopin
When she faces me, her expression is severe, and her biting tone cuts through me as do her words. But her voice rolls over my senses like warm honey and my skin prickles with goosebumps. I freeze like a statue in response, and I feel an electric current shoot through me as I lock eyes with her, I cannot look away. I have never been able to forget those eyes, they are burned in my memories forever, but I never thought we would see each other again, let alone meeting like this today. Those warm chestnut brown irises with that golden hue that pin me in place with their beauty and their odd way of making me feel like all my secrets are laid bare. Even though she is glaring at me I cannot deny that she is beautiful. There is a symmetry to her features that I find incredibly attractive, and it wasn’t there all those years ago. I fight back the urges that are building in me unbidden, she clearly isn’t my type, too headstrong and I won’t be put through another situat
I demonstrate what I mean by turning my back to the stall as I’m speaking to him, effectively ignoring the mare while still being aware of what she is doing. She inspects the stall all the while hearing me speak and eventually, I feel a tugging on my hair at the nape of my neck and a slight nudge to my left shoulder. Slowly I lift my left hand and she hesitates a moment before pressing her soft grey nose into my palm and allowing me to scratch it gently. Matt watches wide-eyed; she huffs out a breath but stays close. I turn slowly to face her and incline my head to her slightly, she copies me then moves away from the gate. “Okay Matt, what I am trying to do is gain her trust while she is in her own space, I want her to let me in and she has just done that.” “So, what happens now, Sir?” “I’m going back into the stall and if she lets me, I will brush her before I let her settle in for the afternoon.” “Surely you will still need to be cautious ri
My anger dulls a little as I walk away and focus on work. I saw a myriad of emotions flash through his dark brown eyes, anyone else would miss them as it is very subtle, and he hides behind his anger very well. But I see it all, surprise, desire, pain, bitterness and finally, anger takes prominence. It’s the flash of pain that shocks me most and I find myself wondering how deep that goes. He was such a nice, albeit awkward boy when we were growing up, he had a sweetness that he rarely revealed to the adults. But when he was around the horses, I noticed that they instantly responded positively to his presence. What happened to you Lance, to change you so much? I take a moment to recall his physical appearance, and I must admit he is fit. He has bulked out a bit but not too much, he always had a slim build, perfect for horse riding. His clothes hug his muscles nicely and his trousers hang on his hips in just the right way. His gorgeous dark ebo
I can tell my flippant attitude is annoying him and if I’m honest with myself, that was my intention. I frown in response to his raised voice. “I am sorry Sir, but I could not accompany them. After arranging and helping to get the cabinets out of the office it became obvious that I would not be able to perform well in my new job if the office remained in such a state. So, I had to remain behind to clean up.” “Cleaning can be done at any time Rayne! The contents of these cabinets are incredibly sensitive and vital to the running of the business! How could you be so nonchalant and allow them out of your sight?! They are your responsibility to keep safe!” My anger peaks, if he is so worried about that then he should not have ordered them moved in the first place. “Well now that they are in your office, they are your responsibility and frankly I’m glad! I wouldn’t want the added pressure with everything else I now have to deal with anyway!” After