How I became the Duchess

The punctuality is the royal privilege.

Present

"Here comes the Queen!" the servant called.

I was attracting to much attention already, as I was trying to get down the stairs, before the Queen notices me, without falling either, knowing it is impossible. I was not dreaming anymore and I could clearly see anger in Phillip's eyes.

I wanted to cry. I was not turning around, despite of knowing the Queen was staying on the top of the stairs and could clearly see me. I was looking just on Phillip. Like it would be possible to do not notice the Queen's attendance, when everyone is bowing and curtseying. I was the only one in the ballroom turned back to the Queen.

And then I realized something. Even when I will come to Phillip, it will not change the fact, I turned my back to the Queen and did not curtsey. And he will not support me anyway.

There were about twenty steps before me when I stopped.

Phillip's reaction was hardly noticeable, but I could perceive it. He jerked in my direction. Just a small bit. But how could someone observe it, when all eyes were on the Queen and with the edges of their eyes they watched me. He was clearly surprised.

I turned to the Queen and made my curtsey.

The Queen was wearing a green splendid dress. The cloth of the dress was glossy, but I was not able to identify the fabric. 'There are so many things I need to learn if I want to fit in this society.'

The Queen chose the second side of the staircase, as I was standing on. I was trembling all over my body, not able to move, when I felt a hand on my arm. Phillip's hand. I knew, it though I did not see him.

His grip was too tight and as I raised my head, I found his eyes killing me, yet he was incredibly appealing. His suit was - as usual - well fitting, obviously made to measure as my dress, and as everything these people in this ballroom have. Except for the liveries the servants wear.

"The dance floor!" He commanded me and his usual politeness was missing.

How could an ordinary woman without a royal title refuse the dance invitation from her fiance? Particularly when her fiance is the future Duke. Despite of  I was willing to run, I put a smile on my face - I believe it looked believably - and I was walking besides him to the dance floor,

´Why is he making this all more complicated for me than it already is?´ I thought, but I did not dare to ask. As he was leading me to the dance floor, his hand on my lower back, I could feel, how furious he was, even through his clothes.

But his anger was not seen by the people around. In the eyes of the women around us, there was just desire for him and the jealousy. All they ever wanted was to be in my place, to get the bachelor's family ring on their ring finger. None of them saw how worried I am. That was good. It meant I played my part well, as well as he did. 

How did we appear from the point of an not involved person? A young woman, nor twenty years old, without any social status, with only a few millions euros on her account. We even can not say, she is the most beautiful. We all know it is not the truth. She is nothing in comparison with him. The nothing is getting married into one of the eldest and the most serious royal families in Spain. She is supported even by the Queen! How sneaky is she, if she fooled even the Queen! A poor man. He is supposed to marry a child, just to make his grandmother happy. A young man having everything. The amount of the money he has is incalculable. He is the most handsome man of the royals, the future Duke - he will become the Duke the moment they will marry (if they marry) - third in the line for the throne... Every woman's dream. And he is ending up engaged to her. She tricked them. All of them.

"How does she dare to come so much late the her engagement ball" "And the Queen hosts this ball for her, to support her" "Oh, How can Phillip stand by her side such easy, he should give her a lesson she deserves" "He was fooled by her, nevertheless he still stands by her side" "How can she wear the jewelry of the Duchess the widow, she is not even a royal yet" sounded from each side to our ears. I could see and feel, how Phillip clenches his fists, that his knuckles whiten. ´I do not understand, should not he feel supported?´ ´Of course not, he is struggling for the family name. ´Everything for the family.

We are not equal. It is something I know and I have never meant this all to happen. We are both prisoners of this union, but for me, there is a jailor gratis to torture me.

Phillip stopped in the middle of the dance floor, I felt like we walked ten miles not a few steps, and I almost fainted. But he was holding me with strength. I could not fall, neither run. His eyes connected with mine and as the first tones of the waltz started, he led me around the floor, no mistake allowed. All eyes were observing every step of ours, ´Thank God my dress is so long´ But I did not make any misstep. Phillip's hold was tight, strong, supporting. And after a few steps, I started to feel comfortable. His eyes were making me relaxed.

"I thought you will not come." he said, when he was sure, I will not faint.

I looked into his eyes, not sure what to answer. ´What answer does he want to listen?´But what he said was not a question after all.

He continued after a few steps."This is not going to repeat." The angry Phillip is back. "Tonight, this time, you were not a part of the family, but from now on, you represent the family itself. You represent the spanish royalty and we are never late. The punctuality is the royal privilege."