The Balcony

Once Thomas left, she looked at the man and smiled "I'm sorry, my lord...but my brother is very protective to me. He didn't mean being rude. My name is Margaret...Margaret Wyatt. And he is the famous poet. But maybe...you both already know each other?" She asked curiously, looking at his handsome face

I knew Thomas only meant well, and I knew the he probably had heard the rumors about me and my liaisons. I then looked at him seriously. "I only mean well Thomas" I then turned back to this lovely lady. "It's a pleasure to meet you lady Wyatt. I never knew Thomas had a sister." I said with a smile. She was the most beautiful woman I had seen in quite some time.

Margaret giggled, blushing a bit "As you see...he has, my lord. But as I told you, he is too protective to share me to everyone. Especially in court. I...still know few people here..." She replied softly, without removing her eyes from him

She had a very cute laugh "Well i'm honored to meet you, and I'm glad he left us alone for a while at least" I said jokingly. "If I would have known Thomas had a sister I may have befriended him. We just know each other from being around court." I say as I admired her features.

Margaret laughed softly "Oh...you're a good flatterer, my lord. Do you act in such way with every women you meet?" She asked with a teasing smile, pretending to look elsewhere

I smiled at her, then took her hand and kissed it. I looked up at her. "No, my lady I only charm the special ones" I said with wink.

Margaret blushed as he kissed her hand. She could feel the warmth of his mouth on her skin. She smiled "Thank you, my lord. I don't know what to say...Can I know your name?" She asked almost whispering, staring at him

I looked up at her, but still held her hand. "Oh forgive me, you had me so distracted that I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Anthony Knivert." I said as a light breeze blew through her hair and I could see her face a bit more.

Margaret smiled and curtsied again "I'm very pleased to meet you, lord Knivert..." She just could whisper, staring back into his eyes. She was finding him very handsome but she tried not to show this to him

I smiled as she curtsied. "Well now that we are acquainted properly, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?" I asked asked as I leaned over the edge and rested my elbows on the side.

Margaret looked at him and leaned softly her hand on edge of balcony too "Oh...there is no too much to say, my lord. I always lived at Allington Castle with my brother, far from court. After my parents died, Thomas acted like a father to me. Since he is a poet admired by King, I decided to visit court. And now...I'm lady in waiting to the Duchess of Genoa, lady Alfonsina Garcia..." She explained with an innocent smile on her face

I listened intently as she told me of her time before she came to court. She then mentioned that she was a Lady in waiting to Alfonsina. I tired not to look nervous at mention of my past love's name. "Ah so you know the Duchess well?" I asked although I knew she would not speak ill of me, nor I her.

Margaret nodded, still smiling "Yes, my lord. Lady Alfonsina took me into her household as I came to court. She is a very kind and gracious lady, and I'm very grateful to her. Even if...she has a sad past, I think. She lost her son...and her love, I suppose..." She explained. Then she looked curiously at him "Do you know her too, lord Kinivert?" She asked, looking carefully at his face

I lowered my eyes as she spoke of Alfonsina and her lost child, our lost child. I then looked back at her. "Yes I do know her, she is a good friend of mine." I said as my heart ached to know how much pain I put her though. "I'm glad you have become close with her, she is a wonderful person."

Margaret noticed that there was sadness in his words. She looked at his thoughtful face and smiled, nodding slowly "Indeed, my lord. I feel very lucky of being so close to her. She seems happy, now. You surely know that she recently married with lord Thomas Craven. Oh...but I haven't seen you at wedding cerimony..." She added innocently. Then she lowered her blue eyes, feeling that probably he knew much more about Alfonsina...

"Well I am a gentleman of the privy chamber and I have many responsibility's to attend to so I was not able to attend the wedding." I said as finding out Alfonisa was married had struck me hard. "Well I do not wish to speak of Alfonisa anymore. I would like focus more on you." I said and then took her hand and kissed it softly while looking up at her.

Margaret smiled as he kissed her hand. She noticed he was trying to change topic, wondering why. Though, she decided to follow his suggestion and couldn't avoid to stare at his deep eyes "Oh...as I told you, my life is not so interesting as yours, my lord. I already told you everything. But...I could allow you to know me better, if this pleases you..." She said softly. Then she turned her eyes elsewhere "Tomorrow I'll be at Blacfriars to attend Trial with my brother. Will you be there too, sir Anthony?" She asked, turning to him again with a bright smile on her face

She had such beautiful eyes they were hard not to notice. "No , my lady I find your life very interesting. Like you said quite different than mine." I said still finding myself looking at her and nowhere else. "Yes, I will be at the trial. His majesty is a good friend of mine and wants me there for moral support. Perhaps afterward we can meet up in a more private setting?" I asked looking at her with a smile.

Margaret looked down and couldn't avoid to giggle after his words "I hope we can, my lord. I mean...if I'll have my brother's permission. As you noticed, he is rather jealous of every man he sees around me..." She answered, raising her eyes to him again

I smiled and laughed."I have no problem with Thomas, he does not bother me. It's you that has my attention, my lady." I said as I once again kissed her hand longing to know what it was like to kiss her lips.

Margaret smiled as he kissed her hand again "Thank you, my lord. I don't think I deserve such attentions...but I thank you for that..." She whispered, looking at his handsome face

"My lady, your being much too modest. You most certainly deserve all the attention in the world." I said as I stood closer to her and could smell her wonderful perfume. "Your very beautiful, tell me why is that you are not spoken for yet?"

Margaret looked surprised at him as he came closer. She tried to smile, hoping to hide her nervousism "What do you mean...my lord?" She asked whispering while blushing a bit

I took her hand and laced her fingers between mine. "Well I mean...why hasn't your father or Thomas betrothed you to some wealthy suitor?" I asked as I felt privileged to be the man in her presence.