Princess Charlotte searched for Thomas. He was her life long friend and it was unusual for her not to have seen him. He was the court composer at the castle so she had presumed he was busy practicing for the concert he was to play for her brother, the king. She pushed open the door of the great hall where his piano was but before she could get the chance to announce her presence she saw Thomas and a young maid, Helena, locked in a passionate embrace. Thomas' shirt was open as was Helena's, exposing her left breast. The princess stepped back. The sight of them together had made it all too real for her. She knew Thomas would never take her in that way although she longed for him inside her. She couldn't understand why he would choose a maid over her. Although Helena was very homely. She was slim and pretty and her skin was like milk. Princess Charlotte was alluring, darker than the maid. Her hair was ebony and her blue eyes like those of a cat.
Disgruntled by her inability to take her life long friend to her bed she took a black cloak and covered her royal blue dress that was trimmed with black lace. The air outside was icy cold so she pulled the hood, covering the silver tiara that rested in her coal black curls.
As she traveled through town she kept her head down so no one would recognise her. She enjoyed being amongst her people and seeing closely what happened in the day to day lives of the peasants. The market stalls in the town square were bustling. The princess was drawn to a solitary quiet stall that was surrounded with barrels of apples. Behind the stall stood a young woman with thick blonde hair which caressed her shoulders and stretched passed her ample chest.
"Some shiny red apples miss?" The peasant girl asked. The princess leaned over to pick one up and when she stood back up her hood slipped back revealing her blue feline eyes and her shining crown. The peasant girl was astounded. "Princess Charlotte!? Your highness you have wandered far from the palace," She said.
"I needed to get away from the palace. Please make no fuss. I will take your apples,"
The peasant girl lifted her finger to her full pink lips. "It is our little secret, princess," Princess Charlotte smiled and lifted an apple. She bit into it and the peasant girl continued. "My name is Alana. It is a pleasure having your business,"
Charlotte smiled again. She found Alana quite endearing. She had been mostly surrounded by men for most of her life treating her as daughter, sister, friend. It was quite a change for her to have the company of another woman. As she began to pass Alana the coins for the apples their fingers touched and Alana drew hers softly over the princess' palm. "People are starting to stare," the peasant girl lowered her voice to a whisper. "If you like some peace and quiet you can come inside," The princess looked back over her shoulder and could see guards sent from the castle to find her. She couldn't face going back home to face Thomas and Helena, knowing what they had just done so she followed Alana to a nearby house where she resided. The house was small and Alana led her through to a drawing room which consisted of a sofa and a small wooden table. "Would you like some wine your highness?" Alana asked. Without waiting for an answer she disappeared into the kitchen leaving the princess to look around the humble surroundings. She returned quickly with two glasses and a bottle of red wine. Charlotte had a fondness for red wine so she accepted the glass gracefully. "I was in the crowd when your brother, King James, was crowned. I remember thinking to myself that you were very pretty,"
The princess blushed slightly. "Thank you,"
"If you don't mind my asking... why ware you so distressed?"
"Has there ever been a man in your life you can't have? Do you know how frustrating that is?"
Alana sipped her wine. "I have never known that" She explained. "My fondness lies with other women,"
A shock of fear and incitement shot through the princess' body. "I have never known that. It seems very... wrong,"
"It has never crossed your mind?" Alana asked.