Threats

The days and the weeks passed and the young redhead found her place within the court. The Queen was happy to watch her niece growing and fitting in with the other ladies. The King found her intriguing and an honest person and friend. He really enjoyed the times that they sat together discussing all manner of subjects. Her days were spent with the Queen learning how a lady should act in court and the proper manners expected of a person of her position. The evening would be spent before the fire discussing her interests and the knowledge from books. She was also privy to information that normally would be reserved for privy council meetings. The Queen had not been allowed to attend state meetings in many years. Rosalina was asked for her opinion on sensitive issues that a lady of court was usually not even thought to understand. Edmund grew to trust Rosalina more than most, the only other person he had ever really trusted more was Rosette. She would ask questions that would make him rethink many decisions made and left to be made. She would never say that he was right or wrong she would just try and understand his decisions and the situation. She looked at the world at a different angle than anyone else that the King and Queen had ever met. 

The new bond and influence did not go unnoticed. Most in the court saw her as a breath of fresh air and felt that she was a good influence on the monarchy. There were those that did not agree. Lionel Ivrae saw her as a threat to his plans and the lucrative future for his family. He thought about how to end her influence and to remove her from his way. He did not want to kill the child because he knew that, that would anger the King and Queen. That could also bring the royal couple closer together. 

Lionel decided that since she was just a child she would be easily scared and could be very pliable. If she proved to be harder to scare he would have to remove her permanently and deal with the aftermath later. After the evening meal Lionel snuck inter her chambers and waited. Rosalina entered the room and he thought that he could leave his hiding place and take care of the problem. Then Lady Lucinda entered after her.

 He sat back and waited. Lady Lucinda helped her remove her gown, leaving the dressing gown on. Lady Lucinda brushed the young lady's hair. Finally, the dark-haired lady left the room. Rosalina was left alone about to climb into bed. Lionel Ivrea left his secret place and approached her from behind. He grabbed her and placed a dagger to her throat. She gasped and tried to fight him off but he was too strong for her. “You think that you are so clever and untouchable. You are not that clever and I have slipped passed all the protection you are allotted. I can get to you any time I wish. I have many plans for the future and the future of my daughter. Josephina will marry King Edmund and give him the heir that Rosette cannot. You will stay out of our way and learn your place. You are a lady, a child from a foreign land that has no place here. I will not allow a slip of a child stand in my way and ruin my plans. If you do not heed these warnings I will have no hesitation in taking this blade, tearing your throat out and tossing your body in the river. Have I made myself clear?” He sneered in her ear. “Yes, sir.” she cried in a whisper. “Good.” He said and pushed her down on to the bed. When he pushed her down he allowed the blade to scrape against her neck. She laid on the bed for a while crying. A few moments later she got up and ran from the room. She was not sure where to go, she just let her feet lead the way. She found herself at the doors to the chamber of the Queen. She stopped and stared at the ornate, hand carved doors. She thought for a moment but realized that this was not a matter to wake the Queen over. Her problems were not important enough to worry her majesty. Rosalina turned to leave and saw a door that led to a small chamber. She opened the door she noticed a small bed and a chair, neither looked as if they had been used in years. She pushed the door to close it and went to the far corner. She put her back against the wall and slid to the floor. Where she collapsed into a ball and cried more.

  Rosette woke with a strange feeling. She was not sure what it was but it disturbed her. She laid on her bed for a while trying to shake off the feeling. She could not get rid of the pit in her stomach and knew something was wrong. Finally, she got up and went to her sitting room. Just as she was exiting her bed chamber Lady Luci?” Rosette asked the lady. “I was about to go to bed when I felt like something was wrong. I went to check on Lady Rosalina. When I walked into her chamber I noticed that her bed had not been slept in and she was not there. I saw in the blankets a small amount of blood. I do not know what has happened but I cannot find her.” Lady Lucinda started to panic. “Calm down, Lady Lucinda. We will find her, I am sure that she is fine. She could have cut herself on accident or she is a young lady. Whatever it is she will be found and will be fine. Just be calm and go look for her.” Rosette tried to calm the lady even though she was terrified that something had happened to her niece. Lady Lucinda bowed and left the room. Rosette turned to start looking around her apartments and noticed the nurse maid's chamber door ajar. That room had not been used in years so the Queen went to investigate. She opened the door and entered. At first glance the room seemed empty and undisturbed. She walked around checking behind the furniture. She saw nothing and turned to leave. That was when a shadow in the corner caught her eye. The moonlight streaming through the window made a spot of red hair glimmer. Rosette knew that it was her niece and approached the girl on the floor. She saw that she was shaking and heard her softly crying. She knelt beside the young lady and placed her hand on the small back. 

The little girl did not even flinch at the touch she just continued to cry into the floor. “What is the matter, Rosalina?” The Queen asked.  The girl did not respond, her face remained on the floor.  “Rosalina, please tell me what is wrong.” Rosette begged. Rosalina said no words but sat up slightly and wrapped her arms around the Queen's waist and cried even more. “What is it? You have to tell me what it is or I cannot help.” Rosette begged again holding the crying child. “Por favor, dime lo que he afectedo de manero, pequena.” Rosette cried. “Yo no quiero morir.” Rosalina answered into the Queen's skirt. “Who said that you are going to die?” Rosette asked. Rosalina pulled away and sat up, with tears in her eyes she recounted the night's events, “Lionel Ivrae entered my chambers after Lady Lucinda left me to sleep. I was just about to climb into my bed when I was grabbed from behind and then I felt a blade at my throat. I tried to fight him off but he was too strong and he pressed the blade harder into my skin. I told me that I was starting to get in the way of his plans and that I needed to back away. He said that his daughter would marry the King and that if I tried to prevent it that he would slit my throat and throw my body into the river. He pushed me down on the bed and left me there.” “How dare he think that he can even talk to you without my permission. Your chambers are in my apartments he is not allowed here without permission. We must tell the King. He must know about Lionel threatening you and this breech of etiquette.” Rosette said. “NO! You cannot tell the King. He will not believe us and he will use this as a reason to argue with you more. I know his affection for the Ivrae family especially Josephina.

 I know if any ill words are spoken of them it will anger him. He will think that we are just trying to stir up problems.” Rosalina panicked. “Rosalina, we have to tell him. Lionel cannot be allowed to think that he can go wherever he pleases and threaten my family.” Rosette protested. “I can handle Lionel, I do not want to hear the yelling anymore. I cannot stand the hateful words, the King storming out and your tears. It breaks my heart when those that I love are in pain and I am powerless to change it.” Rosalina cried “Please, be calm. If you wish we can keep this between us for the time. If anything like this happens again I will give you no choices, we will tell the King.” The Queen said. “I will concede.” Rosalina looked down at her lap. “Good, let us get you up and some tea.” Rosette said getting up off the floor. She helped the young lady up and walked her to the sitting room. The Queen set her niece before the fire. She stepped out of the way of the light and noticed the crimson shining on her night dress. She immediately knelt down in front of her niece and started looking for the source. She found a small cut on the small neck. “We need to send for a doctor and tell the King. Lionel has cut your neck.” she said in a panic and tore a piece from her night dress and covered to cover the wound... Rosalina put her hand to her neck and the wound stung as her fingers crossed it, “You promised that we would not tell the King about these events. Sent for my healers they can treat my wounds and bring some tea.” Rosalina protested. “I said that we would not tell the King before I knew that he had caused physical harm. If you think that your healers can treat this and not cause long term infections, then I will continue our agreement. 

If you are harmed or threatened again I want the King sent for right away.” Rosette said pressing the scrap of fabric to the wound. “Ok, thank you, your majesty.” Rosalina tried to smile. Lady Lucinda reentered followed by another lady. “Lady Anna will you make up the nursemaid's chambers, Lady Rosalina is not feeling well and will be staying there until she is once again healthy. Lady Lucinda will you send for the Lady's healers.” Rosette commanded. The two ladies bowed and went about their tasks. Not long later Lady Lucinda returned followed by three other women. “Your majesty, may I present Lady Rosalina's personal healers, Lady Lillian, Lady Juniper and Lady Iris.” Lady Lucinda introduced with a bow. The three women also bowed to the Queen. “Welcome, please Lady Rosalina is bleeding.” Rosette greeted. The three women rushed to their mistress and began treated her wound. Rosette backed away and allowed them to work. Lady Lucinda approached the queen and in a hushed voice asked, “What happened, your majesty?” “Lionel Ivrea threatened to kill her and cut her neck a little.” Rosette explained watching the healers work on Rosalina. “Have you sent for the King?” Lucinda asked. “No, she made me promise.” Rosette answered. “Why would she not want to tell the King?” Lucinda questioned. “Because she is sure that he will not believe it and that he would use it as an excuse to start an argument.” the Queen responded. “I can understand that. She had never been able to handle yelling and arguing. For her it brings back the memories and the tears she shed when her parents would fight. 

No one likes to hear their parents or anyone fight, but knowing that the last words she heard her parents say to each other were hurtful and filled with hate makes it even more unbearable.” Lucinda explained. “I know that she finds it difficult to see people yelling at each other but she never explained everything.” Rosette admitted. “I cannot say what went wrong and caused the discord but when the rift began it tore fast. The arguments started small and they tried not to allow her to hear but then they became heated. Rosalina walked in on many. The first time she ran and cried in a corner, it took her mother pulling her from the corner to get her out. The other times she started shouting for them to stop. Every Time her parents would stop but her father would storm out of the house and not return for days. Her mother took to her bed and cried until he returned and Rosalina locked herself away in the library until he apologized to both her and her mother. She did everything that an eight-year-old child could to try and make her parents stop fighting and love each other as they had before. Nothing she did worked and I think that is part of the reason she tried to take care of her brother and why she took it so hard when he died. That was the last thing her mother left and Rosalina wanted to cherish it and make her father happy again.” Lucinda explained. “For one so young she has taken on much and I can see why she was so adamant about not giving the King a reason to fight with me again. I will do what I can not to argue with him anymore, for her sake.” Rosette promised. Lady Lucinda nodded and gave a weak smile. Lady Anna emerged from the nursemaid's chamber, “Your majesty, the chamber is ready for the lady.” she bowed. “Thank you, Lady Anna.

 You may return to your chambers. And do not say anything about tonight’s events to anyone.” Rosette commanded. “Of course, Your Majesty.” The lady bowed again and left the room. The healers finished with Rosalina and gave her some tea. They bowed to the queen and left the apartments. After Rosalina finished her tea Rosette and Lucinda helped her to the bed in the chamber. When they were sure that she was comfortable they left the room. Rosette sat in the sitting room with Lucinda for a while.