Esme Adalacia Kinnaird

cosanta ó thuaidh

“Princess Esme, it is good to see you again,” King Kendrick spoke, standing at his full six feet. His face was cold, domineering, reminding Esme of her father in his early years.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Esme curtseyed. She hid her shivering well, from years of practice in her father’s court.

“Father, Esme has told me some disturbing news. There are rumors of Plague north of Donnigan,” Theodore released Esme’s hand and focused on his father.

“Is this true? Has the Black Death truly returned?” Kamryn said, moving to stand next to her husband. Kamryn knew more of the Plague than the rest of the nobles, being that her lands bordered Caldonya's.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Two years ago the rumors started and now they are being whispered all the way in court. My father has dismissed them as just superstition of peasants, but I have investigated further and found much truth behind them,” Esme said. “I assume the reason I was allowed to come to this year’s season was to escape it.”

“This is troubling news. For now, tell no one else, not even Asher. I will discuss this with my most trusted advisors. We will decide soon,” Kendrick said, his brows knitting together much like Asher’s often did.

“Many thanks, Your Majesty,” Esme said. She curtseyed and began to walk away.

“Esme wait!” Theodore said.

“Theodore, stop,” Kendrick placed his hand on his shoulder. “ Do not chase after her. So far she has been nothing but cold. Why torture yourself further?”

Theodore took a deep breath. “I love her Father and she acts like we are complete strangers. Even when I offered immediate aid against the plague, she asked if I would do that for Caldonya. I would do it for her in a heartbeat.”

“And if I recall Dear, you chased after me for a while before I gave in,” Kamryn interrupted her husband’s interrogation of Theodore. She had always favored Theodore a bit more than Asher, though she tried to hide that.

“Do you have to remind me?” Kendrick turned to the Queen.

“When you seem so intent on making our son miserable? Yes I do,” Kamryn replied, giving Theodore the chance to slip away.

----

Esme stood by the buffet table, her nerves not allowing her to even think of food.

“And why are you just standing here?” Reagan called, placing her hands on her hips in mock anger.

“I have no dance partners,” I answered truthfully. No one had asked me to dance since Theodore. I had caught a few ladies staring but other than that no one spoke to me.

“I am truly sorry but, I must go,” Reagan said, quickly walking to where the King and Queen were standing with Asher.

Esme was once more alone, her eyes wandering over the entirety of the ballroom. To the north was a babbling contingent of debutante-hopefuls, and to their left a bit were the inductees. Over across from Esme was the court people invited to attend this ball. Esme picked out a few recognisable ones, such as Lady Winters, wife of one of the lords whose lands bordered Caldonya. Her gaze wandered to Esme and immediately darkened. Esme shook her head and turned her head to the west was a foreign contingent. The Andalusian one, to be exact. She spotted Alejandro who was doing the same sweep of the ballroom as she. His eyes landed on her and he set down his glass of champagne, and begun to make his way over to her. Esme took a deep breath, readying herself for the man she had once known well.

“Princess Esme, how good it is to see you,” Alejandro said, a smile gracing his now chiseled features.

They both bowed.

“And the same to you Prince Alejandro,” Esme replied.

“Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?” Alejandro said, his charismatic voice cracking slightly. That earned a grin from Esme.

“I would like that very much,” Esme said. She took her arm into the crook of his and the two walked of to the dancefloor. The band started up a lively tango and they were off. He twirled Esme around with grace and caught her as the band crescendoed.

“That did not give us much time to talk,” Alejandro said as the pair wandered off the dancefloor.

“Would you like to sit with me?” Esme said suddenly.

Alejandro turned to her, his eyes filled with hope. “I would,” He said as they made their way over to her table.

How could Esme know that this was the first time she would sit with her future husband? And how could she know that Theodore would be watching all the while, as his heart broke? Asher was watching too and saw how far and long his little brother would go, to ever have a moment of her time. He saw that he would go to war if she asked. Asher smiled and took a sip of wine. Alejandro had another thing coming if he thought Theodore was giving up without a fight.

And to the north was his mother, frowning. Kamryn knew Brodric’s attitude, his oppressive command. Kamryn worried that Esme was in a situation far worse than her previous own.