Don't Forget to Dream (47 page)

"On such a day as tomorrow will be, I thought it best you had someth
ing nice to wear as you escort me. I
don't
want you to
stand out," Lady Emelia said simply.

"Stand out," Rhyla echoed softly. She would cer
tainly stand out in such a gown.
How
could her ladyship think she would blend
in? Before her, Elsie was holding a
full length cream gown with thread of gold embroidery across the bodice and sleeves.
How could Rhyla wear such a beautiful
gown? She was a servant. S
he was there to serve her
lady; surely she didn't need to wear a gown such as the one before her.

Lady Emelia could undoubtedly see the hesitation on Rhyla's face. "I know it is a little extravagant compared to your usual attire my dear but with nearly all of the
nation
’
s
nobility attending the festivities, the day will be exhausting
and I will want you near me.
With
the elaborate details
the young ladies were going on about
the other night at supper
,
I didn't want you to feel out of place at my side. Sophia and Mistress Gina kindly helped us prepare this for you."

Rhyla was at a loss for words as she came to fully realise the extent her ladyship had gone to in order to have her there tomo
rrow. Making arrangements with
seating plans was not troublesome and s
he could see the sense in sitting near her mistress. It was much better to be seated nearby
rather than b
eing signalled from a distance, b
ut to prepare such a finely crafted and beautiful gown was beyond words
. Overcoming a dry
throat
,
she struggled not to stammer, "I don't know what to say my lady. It is more beautiful than any gown I have ever dreamt of wearing."

"It is a time for celebration my dear. Why not wear a pretty gown when the opportunity arises?" Lady Emelia said with a slightly frivolous tone and a flamboyant wave of her hand.

"Even I have a new gown, it's red," Elsie chimed. "I hope Kyle will dance with me."

Rhyla had to smile at her friend. "Kyle always wants to dance with you."

"I fear he may even have competition," Lady Emelia teased.

Elsie played at being horrified, "I will only dance at his blessing." The th
ree women laughed with
genuine mirth and relaxed friendship.

"You will wear it then Rhyla?" Lady Emelia asked.

She hesitated a moment longer, "It would be a dream fulfilled my lady."

"Excellent. Then we must all rest well this evening."

The dawn sunshine breaking through their little window was enough to bring Rhyla and Elsie awake. The usual morning noise of the Palace soon impinged on their quiet moments as sleep faded and the recollecti
on of the coming festivities in
vaded their hazy thoughts.

"Good morning," Rhyla said as she sat up and stretched, glancing through the window at the early morning sky
.
A few light clouds trailed
pale orange and pink across the narrow vista. Elsie's greeting was somewhat muffled by her yawn. The girls rose and donned their newest shifts, brushed out
and neatly replaited their hair;
a little more elaborately than normal.

Rhyla went to the kitchens to fetch their breakfast before joining Elsie in Lady Emelia's chambers. The kitchens and ha
lls were bustling with activity.
Servants were
rushing about fetching breakfast before their masters and mistresses dressed for the day
’
s activities. The junior kitchen maids hastily laid out an assortment of breads, cheeses and cold meats, leaving Mistress Cobb and her assistants
to continue
with the preparations for lunch and the evening banquet. 

Back in Lady Emelia's chambers they ate a quiet meal
together;
Rhyla was always amazed at how comfortable her mistress was at sharing her table with her servants. At the conclusion to the meal Lady Emelia spoke up.

"I would like to walk in the garden this morning. Th
e Palace will be too busy today.
I fear even our sunroom won't escape the clamour and hustle of the final preparations," she said indicating Rhyla help her up.

"The garden should be pleasant my lady," Rhyla replied, "
Shall
we bring a book and a rug?"

"Yes my dear. We don't want to walk all morning and waste the energy we will need for dancing tonight," Lady Emelia replied with a surprisingly girlish grin. Rhyla and Elsie laughed before they could stifle their mirth. "I may not be so young anymore but I can still glide across the floor in the arms of a handsome young man."

The girls laughed again before Rhyla replied, "I am sure you will have a long line of suitors my lady."

They soon gathered together what they would require and steadily made their way through the busy mass of people filling the halls as they made the final preparations. Walking slowly through the gardens
,
the ladies were able to talk casually about the changing season, the end of the summer blooms and the turning of the leaves to their grand array of vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. The gardeners kept the leaves collected and removed to mulch
;
out of sight so that the grounds always looked their best
,
no matter the season. The sun soon cleared the early dawn chill leaving their day comfortably warm and pleasant. Elsie joined Rhyla on the rug as she read to Lady Emelia who
sat comfortably on the garden bench by the lake. All too soon the sun was nearly overhead and they had to abandon their tranquillity to d
ress for the festivities. Rhyla was
still a little apprehensive at the thought of dressing above her station, wondering if Callum would notice her.

The guardsmen filled their seats, all pristine and sharp in their dark blue uniforms with their golden trim. The Royal Hall was draped with banners of the Golden Stallion. Servants filled the back of the
hall;
all
donned in their feast day best.
Several girls wore
ribbons in their freshly washed hair. The lesser nobility had likewise
taken their places wearing
moderately embroidered c
oats and fine dresses.
As
she escorted Lady Emelia between the rows
,
Rhyla silently thanked her mistress for the beautiful gown that outshone many of
those worn by
the
other ladies.
They steadily proceeded to their reserved
places at the front of the hall.
Many nobles smiled or quietly murmured
a greeting to Lady Emelia. Rhyla
,
they glanced at, or rather they glanced at the gown, but all quickly looked away without comment or smile once they recognised her as a servant. Soon Lady Emelia was seated
at the front of the hall with
Rhyla by he
r side,
just below the
dais, where the chairs awaited
the entire Royal family.

The ladies Madeline, Elizabeth and Caroline were there and she saw that Lady Sarah was sitting with her brothers Lords Janson and Tobias and a man who was obviously their father, Lord Blake. She also caught site of Lords Hough, Palmer and Gale along with Lord Palmers' son Lord James. Rhyla wondered if Kurt would be in Lord Hough's band this time. She was surprised to realise how long it had been since she had thought of her old friend Shana and her brother. Life would be simp
ler if she returned to Bendarin.
It
was safer there now and she had sa
ved enough money to start again. She could
rebuild her house.

Rhyla was happy to have distracting thoughts as she tried not to dwell on the fact that within minutes Callum would be sitting up there, looking handsome and finely groomed in an elegant coat
and snugly fitting trousers wearing
his favourite long black boots. She had not seen him since their ill-
conceived display before his family but no matter how hard she worked at keeping her mind occupied
,
her traitorous dreams drifted to him every night as she fell asleep and her
first thoughts every morning were
for his well-being. Yet now she had to sit patiently, not fidget with the fabric of her gown and silently get through the afternoon without looking at him.
She was t
orn between wanting him to notice her in such a lovely dress and
at the same time
longing to fade into the background so he couldn't see her.

A few minutes passed before a commotion was heard at the back of the hall and Master Thomas' loud bellow called for everyone's attention, "My Lords and Ladies, guardsmen and the men and women of this Palace. On this day of celebration, please be welcoming of our most illustrious King Liam, Queen Aletta, Prince Edwin, Princess Sophia, Prince Callum, Pri
nce Charlton and Prince Joseph.
”
The
entire hall st
ood as the Royal family made their
way down the aisle and to their places on the dais.

Rhyla watched Callum from the moment
she caught sight of him.
He was walking tall and strong, a slight pallor to his features the only hint of the injuries he had suffered so recently. As she had expected he wore a fin
e woollen coat of deep green this time.
A
delicate gold thread
was
embroide
red around the cuffs and collar. He was also wearing his
snug black trousers and
his favourite boots.
As he mounted the steps of the dais she told herself to look away, demanded she tear her eyes from his back. Just as he turned to face her direction she glanced away to the King. He signalled for everyone to be seated and Rhyla assisted Lady Emelia before taking her own seat and firmly returning her gaze to the King.

"I would like to welcome you all to our Harvest Celebrations," King Liam began in a voice loud enough to fill the hall. "We particularly have a great deal to be thankful for this year, not only in the crops harvested for the winter but in the success we have achieved in securing our homelands from those who thought to harm us or to make ill gains at the harm to others. Closer to home I am especially grateful to have my sons return home safely. As a King I must send them to their duty, but as a father I fear for their safety as any other
parent." He paused to glance at his sons, smiling warmly at them and receiving similar grins from the Princes.

Turning back to the crowded hall he continued, "I would like to start with commendations of the Lords who joined us in pursuit of the bandits that att
acked our innocent country folk:
Lord Gale, Lord Hough, Lord Palmer and his son Lord James." The King's speech became a long list of congratulations, commendations and awards for brave and loyal acts. After the no
bility he spoke of the officers with
particula
r guardsmen
awarded for certain deeds
.
Even
Master Roburt
received congratulations along with
the healers for the marvellous work they did in tending to all the injured.

Rhyla listened dutifully an
d watched as the men
mounted the dais to receive their awards. Pointedly, painfully, she kept her eyes from Callum's. As the afternoon drew on she lapsed, momentarily glancing at him, but managing to pull her eyes
away just as he turned
towards her. She knew she could no longer continue this way. She ached to be with him, not to be struggling every moment to control her emotions and guard her every
action. To be tortured daily,
knowing he was near but she dare
d
not look at him when all she desired was to be in his arms once again, feeling his strength and the warmth of his broad ches
t. Lady Emelia would understand.
Surely she would support Rhyla if
she moved on with her life, leaving the Prince to do his duties without her as a
n unnecessary
distract
ion. Returning home to Bendarin and rebuilding her farm
was the only sensible and responsible step for her to take.
Even Dratton was too near to Callum
. If she went there sh
e may physically be further away
but there was too much of a risk they would meet again and she would constantly be reminded of him.

Lost in her thoughts Rhyla was surprised to hear the King say her name.

"And finally I would like to turn our attention
to a young woman
known to many in the Palace as Lady Emelia's serving companion, Rhyla Farminer." The King and many of the folk closely packed into the hall turned in her direction. It took her a moment to realise he was indeed talking about her. Rhyla felt a flush to her cheeks as she
became the centre of attention.
Callum was looking directly at her.