Ch. 2 We're doing what?!

“Lord Gregory you must get up.” I could hear my tutor Simeon saying as he tried to wake me. I rolled over away from him and groaned. I knew he knew I was awake when he said “Don’t make me roll you out your Highness.”


“Fine I’m getting up.” I said as I finally pulled my self out of bed. “Why are you getting me up so early on a Sunday? We don’t have lessons this morning”


“Did you forget Anjanique’s birthday party again?”


“Oh. Yeah. Right.” I stood up out of my bed and went to my wardrobe and pulled out the first hanger my hands touched. Oh great. The red one. I thought to myself as what I pulled out was my red clothes that I most definitely hated. It was a bit frilly for a boy almost better suited for a girl who wore leggings instead of a skirt; Like Anjanique. Then again she was the only girl in the village who wore leggings, and she wouldn’t like this either.


Just as I was going to put it back and grab one of the blue or purple hangers, Simeon said “Your mother would like you to wear the red one.”


I looked over at Simeon and shot him a quick glare. That was defiantly not funny. I threw the hanger on my bed and then grabbed a small box wrapped in silver paper off of the top shelf of my wardrobe. I walked over to my nightstand and carefully placed the box down on it, and then started getting dressed.


“So you didn’t forget Anjanique’s birthday did you?” Simeon said as he watched what I was doing.


I pulled my head out of my shirt and said, “No, I didn’t.” Although I’m usually fairly loud and obnoxious, when it came to things about her I could get defensive and quiet. And it was only around Simeon that it happened. Just because he knew.


“Plan on announcing your love to the world today?” Simeon joking with me and he laughed as he watched me blush. Another thing I only did around him. I didn’t even do that around Anjanique.


“No.” The word came out of my mouth harsher than I had intended. “I’m just trying to be nice.” I whispered as I stepped into my pants and tightened them and then slipping my boots on. I grabbed the box again and went to the door. “Are you coming?” I asked as I opened the door.


“Yes your Highness.” He said, while he walked to the door and I rolled my eyes.


I few minutes later in the dinning hall mother and father where already there along with Anjanique’s father, James, and my brothers. He must have got done late with Louis. I thought as I saw James and placed my small silver box next to the two larger gold wrapped ones. I took my place at the table next to Louis and by another empty seat, where I knew Anjanique would sit.


Only a moment later Anjanique was escorted into the dinning hall and she took her place next to me. “Happy Birthday Anjanique!” Mother said from across the table.


“Thank you your Majesty.” She said politely as she looked at my Mother and Father. She looked so pretty even though she was wearing leggings and a tunic instead of a dress or skirt.



“So let us open those gifts before the servers start bringing food to the table.” Mother started saying and the continued “And don’t start arguing with me young lady. Why don’t you open that little silver one first? That’s from Gregory.”


Anjanique looked over at me with a confused face. She was so cute when she was confused. I smiled lightly at her and then she turned back to the head of the table. “Yes ma’am.” She said and then Edmund slid the little box down the table. She carefully removed the paper off of the box and then folded it carefully. Why oh why did she have to be a perfectionist? My heart was pounding as I waited for her to open the box. When she finally opened the box her forehead wrinkled.


“Well Anjanique, what has my youngest son given you?” Father asked as she stared at the box. She carefully held the box up and everyone saw the simple little silver bracelet.


Father laughed when he realized that I didn’t give her something last minute. “Well my son it seems that you’ve grown up a bit in the last year.”


She turned back to me, still slightly confused. “Thank you Gregory. But where will I ever wear it?” She asked while she looked directly at me with those piercing green eyes.


“Oh I’m sure you’ll figure something out. Now Edmund why don’t you pass down yours and Louis’s gift?” Mother said and then Edmund pushed the smaller of the boxes down to Anjanique. She opened the box and pulled out a new falconry glove and bells.

“I made the glove and Louis made the bells.” Edmund said with great pride.

Anjanique handed the bells and glove to her father who started looking at the workmanship on the items. “Thank you Edmund. Thank you Louis. They’re lovely.”

“Sure thing squirt.” Louis said laughing.

Mother was practically bouncing out of her seat. What could be possibly be in that box? Edmund pushed it down and she opened and pulled out almost a whole bolt of blue fabric. Anjanique turned to Mother and said “Your majesty, I’m slightly confused. What is it for?”

“That’s the best part Anjanique. Its for a ball gown.” Mother said and then noticed that Anjanique was still confused. “Let me explain. We’re having a ball for Gregory’s sixteenth birthday next week. And we’ve decided that we are going to not only have it be a celebration for his birthday but a cotillion for you as well. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Anjanique’s eye got wide for she knew exactly what that meant. I looked at my mother and said “We’re doing what?”