The princess Secret

Chapter 1

"This is the girl?" The woman looked up from the stack of letters she was reading. Her dark hair fell past her shoulders, pulled back into a tight bun on top of her head. She wore an austere gown that fit like a glove.

"Yes, Mother," Elizabeth replied. A large smile graced her round cheeks. "Her name is Sarah Houghton."

Her mother said before turning away. "I'm afraid I've never heard of anyone with such unusual last names, Elizabeth," she said. "Do keep me apprised of any eligible bachelors who might approach you."

Elizabeth watched as her mother hurried down the hall toward her room. A moment later, the door closed quietly behind her. Elizabeth sighed and transferred her attention to the stacks upon stacks of invitations piled by her feet. There wasn't much hope for her in finding love at this rate. She'd read all the names aloud, over and over again, hoping someone would strike the right note for her but had received nothing more than empty platitudes, empty promises, and empty promises. She knew there weren't many eligible bachelors in the capital city of England, and none who had even met her standards. There were some gentlemen in the country who would make do, but if she ever wanted someone she could marry, there had to be someone better suited. Someone who had more character and integrity. Someone willing to fight for what they wanted, regardless of what people thought of them. Not only that but someone she could look at without flinching. That's when her eyes found it. Sitting among the rest of the stack, nestled between two thick envelopes, a particular page of paper with elegant cursive lettering stared up at her. It was beautiful, with flowing script and bold lines, with one paragraph at the top. She reached down slowly and picked up the paper. As her fingers brushed against the edge, something inside her stirred. Something that made her feel warm inside. She looked closer, reading the letter. The writing seemed familiar somehow, but she couldn't place it. After studying it for a moment longer, she noticed something else. In the envelope's corner, written in a neat cursive script, was a signature. A signature she knew well, despite how long she hadn't seen it in years. It took everything within her not to rip the letter open and read it then and there. Instead, she tucked it into a pocket and continued sorting through the pile of discarded invitations. By the time she'd finished, the sun was almost completely gone from the sky. She gathered the pile up, placed them neatly on the table next to her chair, and went to prepare for dinner. Dinner itself passed uneventfully. Though no one mentioned anything about the letter that had been delivered earlier, Elizabeth could tell her mother wanted to talk about it, and she did her best to ignore the feeling. After finishing their meal, Elizabeth excused herself early, saying she'd rather retire early as well. Her father nodded in understanding, knowing his daughter liked to read late at night. He wished her goodnight, and the moment he left the dining room Elizabeth snatched up the letter. She sat on her bed and tore it open, eager to see what her mysterious correspondent had to say. She quickly skimmed through the pages, looking for anything that stood out to her. When she reached the end, she paused. She flipped to the beginning once more, scanning the words that had taken root in her heart so long ago. At first, she wasn't sure what she was looking for; it appeared to be only gibberish. But after several minutes she began to pick apart each word carefully. Her eyes scanned the text until she spotted the signature again. The name rang clear in her mind as she stared at it. For several moments she couldn't remember why it sounded so familiar. Then it hit her, and she smiled as she reread the note. It was the same handwriting as the ones on every invitation she'd sent out. And now she knew why. With a deep breath, she set the parchment aside and laid down on the bed, closing her eyes and letting sleep take hold. That night, she dreamt about two princesses and a magical kingdom. The next day, as the sun rose, she dressed for breakfast.