Renisannce Romance

Love in a Letter

    Avianna walked out to the stables that afternoon to deliver the letter.  She saw Rhett working the stables and instantly thought he truly is handsome I cannot fault my sister.  "Hello Sir, I suspect you do not remember me?"  Rhett's eyes widened and he smiled, "Of course I remember you Your Highness.  What brings you down here to the stables?  I am afraid I can only offer one private tour and that has been taken already," he teased.  

    "Do not flatter yourself Sir.  I only came to deliver this letter for my sister to you."  Rhett's face brightened as he reached for the letter, "A letter for me?  My isn't she the sneaky one going against her mother's orders."  Avianna looked at him skeptically as she handed him the letter, "Rhett I can see you truly care for my sister and I deeply care for her as well.  I only want the best for her and I only desire her happiness.  I want you to think carefully about your next moves.  Please do not do anything foolish that may cost you your reputation or worse your life."

    "I can assure you I only care about her safety and happiness.  She is simply a beautiful friend.  I know she is to be married and she loves the Prince.  I would never do anything she did not want me to do, I give you my word."  Avianna sighed, "I suppose you're right, I can see you are true and would not do anything to harm her.  My sister loves quickly though Sir, do not give yourself a chance to break her heart."  She turned and left leaving him with the letter.

    Rhett sat down on a bucket in the barn and wiped sweat off of his brow.  He opened the letter to read it and could not help but smile at her words.  He immediately went and found a paper and pen to write to her with.  

My Dearest Princess,

I sit here in the barn and I am gazing at your house and all I can think about is having your arms around me again. I know I was told to stay away, however you wrote to me and it would be quite rude to leave you unanswered.  I have constantly been thinking of you since our day together and how I desire to have more days with you.  It is easier to write down feelings than it is to say I have found so I will tell you this, I have desired you since we were children.  I have always known I wanted you to be mine.  I only hate that I am too late and unable to become your husband.  I can never be a prince or a nobleman, I can offer you nothing but myself.  I am happy you wrote me and gave me the chance to express this to you.  I await your reply.

Yours,

Rhett

    Rhett sealed the letter and put it in his pocket as his best friend Twila walked in.  "Hello there!  What are you doing? You must clean yourself up, it is time for the announcement from the King and the party!  You certainly don't want to miss a town party do you?"  He chuckled and looked at his friends attire.  She was a rare beauty with her long bouncing red curls and her emerald green eyes.  She was very proper and dressed like a royal as she always wanted to be married to a nobleman, she said you should dress for the life you want to live and the person you want to be.  Her olive green dress had off white lace to compliment her coloring.  She wore pearl earrings and off white heels to match.  It wasn't that Rhett didn't think she was beautiful, he just had always had his sights set elsewhere.

    "I don't know that I am coming Twilia.  I have a lot of work left to do."  "Of course you are coming!  I need you to introduce me to men from the palace and the royal guard!  Maybe you'll even meet a lovely lady to share a dance with?  I need you there!"  Rhett sighed and shook his head, "There is no use to argue with you when you will always win."  She smiled in her victory, "Great now clean up, you do not want the Princess to see you like this do you? One of them is still not betrothed you know."  "I do not think Princess Avianna is my type Twilia," he laughed at the irony.  

    He washed off in the outdoor shower and changed into a black shirt and pants.  He walked out as Twilia said, "You have always looked handsome in black!  That is the outfit to wear if you want to find a wife!"  He suddenly felt that he needed to tell her about the Princess and their meeting.  "Twilia, I need to tell you about something."  As they walked he told her about their ride and meeting and the letters.  "I think she is truly interested in me Twi, she would not have written me if she wasn't right?"  

    Twilia looked disappointed as she shook her head, "Oh Rhett, you have fallen right into her trap.  She is acting like a poor little princess marrying a handsome and caring prince, but she wants you to fall at her feet in love while she marries someone else?  Do not lower yourself Rhett, you deserve better than to grovel and be second choice for the princess. You should be the first choice always."  

    He thought this over, but did not agree, "Twilia, she is going to love me I am sure of it.  I have waited years for her and I did not expect it to happen but it is!  She will be my wife one day Twilia, I know it."  Twilia shook her head as Rhett changed to talking about goings on in the town.  She tried to hide her jealousy and disappointment about the Princess.  She was supposed to be Rhett's wife one day, how could she compete with a Princess?