The forced engagement

"Where are we going?" I asked as Bart ushered me down the stairs.

He offered no response as we made our way to the limousine where his parents awaited us.

An eerie silence enveloped me as I got into the vehicle. The luxury car was like a tomb. While three cold pairs of eyes stayed glued to their phones, my eyes landed on my father.

"Stop staring," Duchess Arden snapped.

I looked down immediately, feeling called out and somewhat embarrassed.

Duchess Arden gave me a once over, then promptly looked away with another snort.

Like it or not, without grandpa's monthly check, my mom and I were broke. I had plans for my life. If I was accepted as a PhD student at the University of Rosa, I would be assigned an advisor for my book next month.

The promised handsome sum to meet with my father seemed an insufficient reason to be in that car regardless.

How could my mother have gotten us cut off by Grandpa? Did she not know how the duke had no room for me?

I scrubbed this last thought from my brain, refusing to acknowledge the pain that came with it.

By now I knew that something was amiss. If the duke meant only to talk to me, he wouldn't have bothered to have me dressed up like this and dragged me along to wherever we were going. Still, I was in too deep to back out now.

Upon arrival at what I soon surmised was The King's Fancy, I could not help being astounded at the sheer volume of people all dressed to the nines.

Rows and rows of long tables topped with white tablecloths and expensive, delicious-looking foods were all lined up along the riverbanks, to offer a spectacular view of the shimmering blue river and its surrounding trees and hills. It was truly a beautiful place and I imagined it might be even more so when all the people had cleared out and it was quiet.

Their Majesties, King Henry and Queen Mary were announced, just as we made our way to the last empty table, receiving surprised looks from everyone as we did.

Chatter amongst the guests revealed that Duke Arden had last been seen at The King's Fancy five years ago, following the coronation of the now king. I could not help but wonder why the Ardens had chosen to make an appearance this year.

It was all over the papers five years ago. King Henry had come to power by the last-minute decree of the former king, who had no heir. King Henry's reign until now had been somewhat volatile, owing to his appointment to the throne as opposed to that of his long-time rival, Duke George Arden. To this day, the Ardens were hailed by many as the royal family that should have been.

Support for the Ardens was so fierce that many feared to see Terres Somnia alight with war even now, five years after King Henry's coronation.

Families had come in all their grandeur and splendour and offered King Henry gifts the worth of which might buy houses and flattered him according to the best of their ability. After doing so, they would go back and find other friends and acquaintances to pay similar respects to, a good many of them looking ready to leave by the end of the first half hour. But stay they did, as stay they must.

All others seemed momentarily dismissed as the House of Arden approached the royal table.

"My Lord," was all Duke Arden offered.

King Henry smiled. "How are you, dear cousin?"

"I am not here to make small talk, Henry. I'm here to be assured of my business being done," said Duke Arden curtly.

Duke Arden's being short with the king brought the latter displeasure. But it was only noted for a moment, a small change in the face that lasted only long enough to be seen by those paying attention. Queen Mary hadn't been, or at least pretended she hadn't been, and as such expressed displeasure of her own.

"How untoward. Is this to be how you would form such an alliance? We have not even been given the opportunity for us all to say hello," said Queen Mary.

With these words, Queen Mary gave me a meaningful look, and my knees promptly began to buckle.

I was not easily unnerved, but something was afoot here and I felt I had something to do with it. And although I didn't know what it was, I could not stop the bad feeling from settling in the pit of my stomach. I might have dropped or fainted under the queen’s scrutiny, had it not been for my brother's hand on my arm, giving me a tight squeeze. My eyes darted to his face, and I swallowed.

With an eyebrow raised in annoyance, Bart said, "Your Majesty, allow me to introduce Lady Zoey from the House of Arden."

Queen Mary looked me over for several moments as King Henry and Duke Arden continued a silent conversation, locked in a competitive glare as though to stare each other to death.

"I suppose she must do, being that you have no legitimate daughter, born and bred as noble," Queen Mary said at last.

At this, Duchess Arden saw red. Perhaps it was simply in her nature to see red, however, it was not surprising, given that the duchess had only recently learned about my existence. To now be talked down to by the queen about the same irked the duchess to no end.

"Then it is done," said King Henry.

"Not quite. What about your side? She is my only daughter. I should hope you would pay me the courtesy of presenting to me the man whom you would have me wed her to, prior to such an engagement," said Duke Arden.

The duke said this frankly and equally, without emotion. It was perhaps for this reason that it took me a moment to understand. And when my brain did once again function, I spat out the word engagement like every syllable was a hot coal.

In the midst of being on the verge of a panic attack, I caught sight of a shadow in the distance. There one moment, gone the next. I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

"Insolent child," Duchess Arden exclaimed.

"Forgive my sister, Your Majesty. She is not accustomed to noble society," said Bart, his apology swift and elegant, as though practised.

"It's true. Lady Zoey only came to us yesterday," Duke Arden added.

My head spun. Did this man, who deemed it appropriate to call himself my father, just speak for me?

But wait, that wasn't what was important. They had said engagement, had they not? Should I ask? Who was it that had said the words?

King Henry gave a nervous chuckle and said, "Think nothing of it."

"One might hardly expect anything less," Her Majesty quipped. "If nothing else, she is at least pretty, and pretty is all she needs to be."

Wait, wait, wait. Stop. Just slow down. Why were they speaking of me, but not to me?