I'm George Ferdinand, at your service. I am a 28 year old member of the court for the beloved Queen Margaret, and a curious wanderer. Feel free to speak with me any time you see me, I will be happy to speak with you!
George sat there on the ground, between two of the flower bushes in the Royal Gardens. He stared at his shoes, dirt smudged on the sides of the soles, trying to find something to keep his thoughts off of what he had heard today. Yet nothing was working for him. Nothing he recited, not even his favorite song or one of the poems he was attempting to write, could seemingly pull him out of this mood he was currently in. He swallowed as once again his sister’s announcement to him tried to push its way to the front of his mind. The announcement he had thought he would never mind, until it actually happened.
What had his sister been thinking, announcing something like that without having consulted him on the idea first? Had she thought she knew the truth? Had he not been clear enough upon his feelings about the woman in question in the past when the subject of rumors about him came up between him and Margaret? This was something he had never truly anticipated in his future, never even saw as a true possibility. An arranged marriage was something he had expected, he was a Prince of Ever After after all, even if he was not going to be inheriting the throne. That was one thing he had accepted long ago before...before other things happened. Things that happened before this engagement was even announced.
An engagement, but not to just anyone. Maybe it was who he was engaged to that made this should-be happy day into one that had his heart beating faster, and not in a good way. Could this really be a happy day when he was tearing away a future that he had once promised? He had promised her, he had promised her that she would someday have a marriage where she was loved and adored by her husband. Where she would have dozens of young children running around and laughing and she would be happy, adored, and loved deeply by someone who deserved her love too. Now he was having to break that promise to the one person he had never wanted to break any promise towards.
Lady Wren Darling. His Wren, the woman who he had spent countless hours and so many years laughing and having adventures with. She was his best friend, his confidante in all matters. He could remember the first time they met, how he watched her grow up from a cute child, to an awkward adolescent with more poise and grace than anyone expected, and then into a young woman who was the perfect sweetheart around the castle and who everyone adored. He knew her better though. Wren was a sweetheart, but she was also so full of an adventurous spirit, always looking for any adventure she could find, and he had accompanied her many times over as they found whatever adventure had awaited them. He had taken her on countless picnics over the years to celebrate the little things, even just to celebrate another sunny day because it felt right. Their friendship was more than George had ever hoped for with the young woman. It was still less than what others believed they saw though.
No matter how many times he heard the rumors about he and Wren, he could never see what they saw. He saw his devotion to his best friend, and they saw a man in love who wanted to court the young Lay Darling. To potentially even have her hand in marriage one day. He could not understand their thinking, for could they not simply just be friends? He had practically grown up with Wren, caring and looking after her like he felt he must. He supposed that running around calling her by nothing but her surname once he learned it when she was sixteen could have been interpreted in the wrong manner, but that had not lasted very long. So how could they see anything but the deep friendship that had formed over the years? Yet that was all about to change, wasn’t it? Wren was George’s fiancée now, and he had his obligations to her. Fiancé obligations. To Wren. It left a weird feeling in his chest, one that was uncomfortable and painful in a way. The endlessly dry feeling in his mouth was uncomfortable as well. He had no idea what it was he was expected to do. Oh sure, he was well aware of his obligations as her fiancé, but aside from that what was he supposed to do? This was Wren for God’s sake.
Wren, the girl he had watched grow up over the years. Wren, the girl he had teased about the little things that never mattered. Wren, the woman who knew him better than anyone else in the entire kingdom ever could. It should allay his worries about marrying her, but he knew why he was more than just a little uncomfortable with this whole idea. If he wasn’t mistaken, Wren even knew why he would object to this arrangement, she knew that his affections were for someone else, even if he had never told he who it was. It was something that he was sure he felt, but something he never wanted the woman who held his affections to know. Her temper was legendary in the castle after all, and he had done all he could to avoid it so far.
Yet...he had to listen to his sister, especially now. He could not abandon Wren, he would do what was honorable and what was expected of him. How could he not? Even if it pulled him away from everything he wanted, and the person he wished to be with, he could not abandon Wren. What kind of best friend would he be if he abandoned her simply because he didn’t want the match? It was what his sister wanted, what she had told him would happen, and there was nothing either George or Wren could do about it.
George dug his fingers into the soft dirt, trying to will himself into accepting his new position. He would do right by Wren, he swore right then if nothing else he would make sure that Wren was happy in this marriage. He would make her smile every day, and though he would treat her as a husband treats his wife, he knew that their friendship would be the very foundation of their marriage. Their friendship was strong, and it was going to withstand this. It was going to grow stronger as they went about as a married couple.
Perhaps, he thought timidly, perhaps I might some day even come to love her as I am expected to. It was an errant thought, because he could not see how his affections for another could become Wren’s. He couldn’t fathom how he could feel that way about his best friend. Was that normal? Were his affections for...for her already so firmly bound within him that he would never love Wren like she deserved? It was sad, to be bound to one while wishing for another. It hurt, in a strange way that George was entirely unfamiliar with, and it pressed at his heart from all sides, as if someone was squeezing it so hard that it hurt when it beat.
George took a deep breath to steady himself, to try and lose the painful feeling around his heart, before loosening his grip on the soil between his fingers. He let the dirt fall back to the ground and he closed his eyes as he tilted his head up, wishing that somehow this would all turn out right. That everything would right itself, and Wren and he could be with people they held romantic affections for instead of one another. He opened his eyes and dusted his hands off against his pants before he crawled out from beneath the flowers. His pants were a little dirty from where he had been sitting and had rubbed his dirtied hands against his pants. It hit him then that he had one obligation that he needed to follow through on now that they were engaged.
Wren needed a ring, fit just for her in the way that he knew her. He would never give her anything less, for wasn’t this at least one kindness to help her in all that was happening to them both? Straightening his tie, George made his way out of the Royal Gardens and began heading straight to the jeweler’s shop. He needed to get her a ring before he saw her again, for the next time he saw her he knew that he would be expected to present it to her. It was the responsible, the honorable thing for him to do. Wasn’t it? And bluebells, he needed to stop by the florist to buy her bluebells because he knew she would be saddened by this news. Bluebells always made her smile.
Wren grinned, and playfully pulled her hat down closer to her head. “What’s wrong, Georgie? Don’t you think my head looks incomplete without a bonnet?”
She smiled and took George’s arm as they walked around the park. “… You were quite a funny looking boy at first, do you know that? Legs twice the size of the rest of you.”
“Oh, yes definitely Wren. Why, without a bonnet I honestly don’t believe I would recognize you anymore!”
George smiled back at her, putting the hand of his other arm in his pocket as they walked. He grinned, laughing a little at her comment. “Oh, so I was the funny looking one? What about you, my dear? You had quite a large mouth on that tiny face of yours.”
Izzy stared at the man before her, wondering what sort of a person he was. Was he truly that kind (and naive, she added) or was it simply an act? “If that pleases you.” She said in response. She doubted she could change his mind anyways. He was a gentleman, but even he was aware that she was nothing like the ladies of the court. Well, hopefully he wouldn’t turn out to be like that Hans Westmont. That man had certainly been a bother.
“For the same reasons. The castle is suffocating.” She stated. It was only after the words left that she wondered if it had been wise to say it to him. Then she decided she didn’t care. “I was planning to head to the book shop and then maybe stop at the music store for a while.” She decided now would most likely be a good time to end their conversation and walk away. “I suppose I shouldn’t be in your way for much longer. You most likely have something you’d like to do. Thank you for your help.” She bowed her head slightly then resumed her path, tucking her book under her arm.
She figured he wouldn’t come after her. After all, who would want to accompany an ill-tempered woman such as herself? She made a quick note to make a stop at the hat shoppe for some fabrics and then she’ll head over to the orphanage. It’ll be nice to see those children again, though she’d keep her distance. It’d be bothersome if someone saw and told Beatrice her activities.
“Only if it pleases you, madam,” he replied. So far, George believed the conversation was a bit…lacking. Although he supposed it could be going worse. He had already begun to think that Drizella’s temperament was over exaggerated; she seemed perfectly pleasant in his opinion. Of course, that might be just because he had yet to say something that might possibly offend her. Or irk her in some manner. He could only hope that his words wouldn’t irk or offend her.
He smiled at her, giving a light chuckle. “Imagine living within those walls all of your life. Suffocating is one of many words one might use if they spent a majority of their time within them.” She seems frank with her opinions, he thought, amused by that idea. She was certainly different from Anastasia in many regards; it was as if the two sisters were night and day to one another from the way they acted, and that idea was even more amusing. “Ah yes, the book store and the music store, I see. Quite good places to go to on any given day.”
Her quick dismissal from his company caught George off guard for a moment, and he hesitated before walking after her, matching his pace to hers once he caught up so he could keep speaking with her. He didn’t know why he was so disinclined to stop speaking with her, he just knew that he wanted to carry on their conversation.
“I’ve nowhere to be actually, not that I remember anyway. Would you like some company, perhaps?” He asked, looking at her with a questioning gaze. He was trying to reason with himself about why he wanted to accompany her when she had so quickly dismissed herself, and though he couldn’t truly figure out why, he supposed perhaps it was because she had yet to live up to the reputation the Court had given her. He supposed, that perhaps he wanted to see if she was anything at all like the woman everyone besides Anastasia said she was.
“Unless you arrange it prior to it, or are you familiar with a lot of people?”
“Ohh lakefront picnic, it sounds romantic, and trust me I’m not the romantic type. You don’t have to worry about what’s on the basket, you picked a good location and you are easy to look at, whoever wins is going to enjoy it.”
“I suppose I’m familiar with quite a number of people, but I’m leaving it up to everyone to decide on whether or not they wish to bid on my basket. It would take the fun and surprise out of it, you know?”
“Really? Well, I hope they do enjoy it regardless.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at his own shoes.
“Try today’s special, I hear its supposed to taste superb. I think it had something to do with chicken? It might have been beef though, I’ve quite forgotten honestly,” he gave a light chuckle at his own forgetfulness.
“Yes, that’s me” she said with a smile while taking his hand, “Isabelle Newton.” He was young, around Belle’s age, she was relieved, the probability of them not getting along was little, they had to have something in common. Perhaps they even went to school together. He had a kind voice, and watching him there on the blanket looking like he truly belong in a picnic scene from a book, made Isabelle felt more relaxed. “This is wonderful…” she said once again.
Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. He seemed like a good person, there was not reason for Belle to panic, she needed to let things happen. It’s not like he knew what she had done, there was not way it would come up. “So do you mind if I ask how you picked this place?” she said turning around to see their surroundings, “I didn’t know there was a willow tree here…” she said reaching for the tree’s trunk and running her hand over a heart someone had drew.
“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, miss. I’m George Ferdinand.” She was pretty, he noticed, and the mention of her name made her remember where he had met her before. He crossed one arm across his chest and pointed with the other one at her. “Didn’t we meet a while back, when you were lost and searching for an apartment complex?” He smiled and nodded saying, “It’s once one of my favorite places in the park.”
“I love coming here with my best friend, especially when she and I go on picnics. It’s shaded, and the lake makes for interesting times with her.” He said the last part with a light laugh, remembering a few occasions with Wren that a picnic by the lake had turned into a water fight between them. “Really? It’s been here for as long as I’ve been coming here, twenty years and counting, but it‘s been here for longer no doubt.”
“I spilt an entire three cans of paint onto a guy, all because I kicked one of the balls that the children were playing with and he happened to walk by at the wrong time! I felt so bad about it.”
“Would you like to share some hot chocolate with me? It’s keeping me rather warm and I thought maybe we could talk and you know, learn some things about each other. The day is perfect for that.”
Ana looked at George, a little surprised by his suggestion at first before smiling at him. “I hadn’t thought about that before. It’s perfect! Thank you!”
“Of course! You were the only boy in town willing to spend time with a lonely little girl. And now we’re all grown up. Isn’t that funny?”
“And we never did! I was devastated, those were my favorite shoes. Mother was so frustrated, she couldn’t believe I’d lost a new pair of shoes so quickly. When I was younger, that happened a good deal more than you may believe.”
“Well, I was charmed to be able to spend that first afternoon with such a delightful little girl. I believe any boy would have been lucky to spend an afternoon with you. It is funny though that now we’re all grown up.”
“Oh I would believe it happened quite often. I can’t count how many times we ran around in the castle gardens without a shoe on either of us.”
