The Balcony

Henry grinned,"I hope he is worthy of your trust."

He contemplated he belief in this man and thought it an admirable quality.

"Since he wandered into my life I have had no reason to doubt him." She sat back against the balcony. "Perhaps fate has plans for me but I was wary at first but I like him. I like him a great deal." Her cheeks went red again and she laughed, "Do not worry I have not given him my heart yet, I am guarding myself."

He nodded and nudged her shoulder playfully,"Since your family is not here then consider me your advisory - if you need a protector then consider me available."

"My family is not here, well I am not important to them anyway. I am not one of the prettier Howard girls that might be used to forward the family." She rolled her eyes as she thought of the family ambitions. "I do not care if the one I end up has money or a title as long as we have each other and you, I think I might have to call you brother. I like that I have you to confide it. And I trust you." Mary bit her bottom lip. "I am even considering telling you his name, but you might have figured it out, he is very well known here at court but he has been unfairly labeled."

"I don't listen to gossip and I have only arrived here- the only Cassanova I know of is myself,"he replied in jest and laughed.

"Well good but I have listened to gossip. You do not know my family, it is all around us and it made me very curious to met those who are spoken about so harshly." She laughed again, "Well it is not you, you are like a brother dear Henry. No the one I like has a very dark past it seems."

"We all have a dark past, Mary. Yours is still light because you are so young. Light and dark...that seems like a fine match to me,"he replied thoughtfully and glanced at the stars.

"Look how well the bright stars become the dark sky - a perfect combination. So this Mr Smith...may be ideal."

"You are very poetic, the light and the dark. I do not fear the dark, if he is dark then I embrace it." She nodded to him. "Mr. Smith we are calling him?" She grinned, "I like that, and I can confirm that Mr. Smith is quite charming."

"Poetic? Well I am a vagabond traveller so I suppose it comes with the territory,"he replied.

"Yes you are poetic. It suits you though." She eyed the sky and sighed. "I should retire to my chambers so I am not a dreary flower in the morning."

He chuckled,"Indeed,"he jumped from the edge of the balcony and bowed a little,"Good night, Mary."

"Good night Henry." She whispered then headed back to her room.

It was early in the afternoon and Elizabeth's first full day in court. She had arrived last night but remained in the warm confines of her room. Today, she had decided to explore the corridors of the palace. She found herself in a very large room, it was quiet - except the hushed whispers of gossips in the corners.

Elizabeth ventured onto the balcony and peered beyond the horizon.

It was strange to be back at Court after such a long time.
Apparently, things seemed to be the same: the walls, the gardens, the halls and so on...
But, actually, things had changed very much, or better to say, people had changed.
I remembered a joyful Court, but now dark times were just begun.
I walked thoughtfully through the Palace after my first meeting with my father.
I remembered there was a place I really loved when I was a child: the balcony.

There were not many people around, but when I arrived at the place, I noticed a lady was already there.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" I asked approaching her, with a kind smile.

Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder, her eyes identified the lips from which the words came. She smiled and nodded, with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"Mm indeed. It is nice to know there is life beyond court, past the fields and the trees."

Charlie nodded and sighed "Yes... But what kind of life?"

He turned to the lady, keeping his smile: "I'm Charles Brandon" he introduced himself "I fear we don't know each other yet, my lady. I'm just returned to Court."

Elizabeth thought for a moment and shrugged,"A life free from the constraints of...position. Everyone is so very conceded with wealth and their titles in royal courts."

She then raised her brow again and studied his face. She laughed and looked in-front of her again,"You are too young, sir for that name to belong to you."

He thought intensely to her words while looking at the landscape beyond the balcony.
He imagined a life without constrictions, rules, hypocritical words...
"But there is also much suffering out there... In a way or another, we all face our demons. Even... even if we live in big castles or in poor huts... There's no way to escape" he said.

Charlie was about to laugh at her words: many people told him those same words. Very often.
Everybody knew his father, but very few people knew about him.
"Well... You probably know the Duke of Suffolk, then. We share the same name. I'm his son..." he said with a little smirk.

She nodded in agreement,"I do not know your father but I have heard of him...as have many,"she replied.

Charlie nodded. He believed her with eyes closed.
He knew his father was very known... because of many things.

"Indeed... He has a very..." he tried to find the right words "... animated life" he laughed softly.

"So..." he started turning to her "You now know who I am... What do I have to do to find out who you are, my lady?" he joked.

She smiled, bright and warm,"An accurate observation indeed. I remember even hearing of him when I was abroad but not of his son..."

Elizabeth twirled a dark strand of hair,"Well what would you like to know?"

"I'm his first son. But it is what usually happens when you are also a bastard..." he replied immediately with a little laugh.

She was an interesting woman.
Charlie took his time to watch her, to study her face and her expression with a curious smirk on his lips.

"I don't get any unusual accent in your words, so you don't come from abroad. However, you said you've been away: it means you travelled until now. You are a noble woman: I can see it from your dress and the care for your hair and your fair skin. Mmm... Is it too much to ask for your name?"

"Elizabeth Black -also a bastard- and you would be correct in your assumption. I grew up in England but travelled across Europe for some years,"she replied with a knowing grin.

"Lady Elizabeth, then. I like your name." Charlie smiled with satisfaction, but soon that feeling was replaced with intense curiosity.

"How fascinating" he said jumping up and sitting on the handrail "Especially for a woman. Tell me more: what places did you visit?" he asked smiling "Spain? Italy? My sister is now there. France? I'd really like to go there!

"Full house,"Elizabeth replied and leaned her elbows on the balcony, her long fingers pointing to the grass below.

"I stayed in Italy and France longest - my mother was Italian you see and most of her family live there or in Spain."