Autumn 1501

Autumn 1501

The barge docked on the shore late in the afternoon.  The French Ambassador greeted them.  
“The French beauties have finally arrived!” he exclaimed when the princess and her ladies walked off the boat.  He bowed low to them and took the princess’ hand and kissed it.  
“It is good to see you ambassador,” she replied.  He tucked her hand into the crook of his are and walked.  “My father has sent the dowry with me,” she told him and a quiet voice while handing him the dowry, “you may give it to the King of England when you see him.”  They stopped at a scatter of horses and people.  The princess was escorted to her horse and the ambassador lifted her into the saddle.  They rode off toward London.  

“Here we are, Princess!” said the ambassador as the city of London came into view.  They rode father into the city to the Castle of Westminster.  After sliding from her horses the princess and her ladies walked to the castle.  
“When do I meet the Prince?” she asked.  
“I matter of hours, princess,” he replied, “at dinner. I shall show you to your rooms so you may change.”  She nodded and followed the ambassador.  
The party was shown to two large doors.  The guards opened the doors to show a relatively small presence chamber with a door that leaded off to her bedrooms.  “These rooms are only temporary until you are married to the prince, then you shall have your own house in London.”  The ambassador told her after seeing her face, “and these are you other ladies that the king has ordered,” said the ambassador waving towards the ladies on the far wall.  The princess nodded and curtsied to the ambassador.  “Thank you ambassador, you may go.” Said the princess.  He bowed and left her rooms.  When the servants had finished being in all her belongings she changed into one of her nicest gowns, a deep blue dress covered in pearls.  On the princess’ ears sapphires.  She wore her usual necklace, and pearl choker with a golden C and 3 small emeralds hanging off the C.  She walked out of her privy chamber into the presence chamber.  Her ladies were all waiting for her, ready for dinner.  
“Prince Tomas, Prince of Wales” the guard announced, at that moment all her ladies, French and English, started fixing their dresses and pulling at their hoods.  The princess only breathed deep.  A handsome, tall, young man walked into the rooms. His friends who went to some of the princess’ English ladies followed the prince.  
“Princess.” Said the princess kissing her on the hand and tucking in into the crook of his arm.  
Dinner lasted for hours and the princess didn’t get back to her rooms until midnight.  She went straight to bed when she got to her rooms.  

After breakfast the next day the princess was asked to join the prince’s hunt for the day. She happily accepted and quickly got changed into her emerald green riding gown.  She left her rooms with her ladies and met the hunting party in the palace’s yard.  She was lifted into her saddle and trotted up to the prince’s side.  He was shocked at her courage.  The horn that signaled to dogs sounded and everyone took off.  
Sometime around noon the servants started putting up tents and table by a small pond for the party’s lunch.  They ate just as they would have at court.  After their lunch the servant began cleaning and getting ready to have dinner.  Some ladies stayed with the servants out of exhaustion and everyone else went back to hunting.  At dusk the party made their way back to the pond and waited to the king and queen to come.  When they arrived they began dinner.  After most of the court had finished eating the king called for some dancing.  
“Dance with her, you can’t just expect her to love her, you have got to sweep her off her feet. You do want love don’t you?” the King whispered to the prince.  The prince got out of his chair and walked to the side of princess’ chair.  
He held out his hand to her and asked, “Would you care to dance, princess?” she looked down and blushed and nodded.  The prince pulled her out of her chair and led her to the center of the dance floor.  The prince asked for the musicians to play a galliard.  The couple turned and danced with out mistake.  The princess laughed and smiled at her future husband.  
“Am I truly that bad of a dancer?” he asked jokingly.  
“No I am sorry sire! I did not mean to offend you!” she said not noticing the joking tone in his voice.  The prince only laughed.  They danced for the rest of the night.