A shiver ran down Esabells spine as she gossiped with a young lady-in-waiting, the sort that had no conscious origin but still shook the body as though someone had violently jabbed then in the side. A quick shake of the head and a breath and once again her body was hers again, shiver and tingle free.

“I’m sorry, it seems I caught a chill.” She apologized, glancing over at the Princess Anna from her seat. For several days Esabell had been meaning to speak with the woman, never having the courage to take advantage of a free moment in her time before another lady of the court would seize it and speak with the Princess. Her eyes lingered a moment before returning to the women before her, frowning slightly as she tried to talk herself into speaking with the woman.

“If you’ll excuse me ladies, I must speak with her Highness.” She smiled, standing and turning. The light shone in her eyes as she took a breath of encouragement, stepping forward with great effort as she covered the distance between the Princess and her self. Several yards away she paused, her skirts swaying to a stop in a small flurry of swishing. “Your Highness, if I might have a word with you.”

Her heart quivered but her voice remained firm, purposeful as she asked for a bit of the womans time. It had been a good while since she had spoken in the remotest bit in private with her Highness and many things had happened since then. Gossip had flown, courtiers had come and gone, couples had been formed and dashed and women had bedded with men. It was a very different feeling approaching the daunting woman before her without the bold courage of the King. She was familiar with his Majesty, she was comfortable with him, she understood how he felt and what he though on some issues, but she knew near nothing of the princess. She might have been a lady-in-waiting, but that had as of the moment meant no more closeness to the woman than any other Lady of the court.

She was scared, for so many more reasons than she wished. She feared what the princess’ opinion of her would be, if she would care so apparently honestly for her wellbeing as she had when they first met. Would the woman hate her for her relationship with her brother, for being close to a man when she, being unwed royalty had no hope of being openly attached to a man? Her eyes remained respectfully lowered, her teeth nibbling nervously on the inside of her lip as she stood before her Highness, her hands hanging useless by her sides.