The Balcony

"The only places I visited are London, Suffolk and Buckingham... My mother is a Stafford" he said with a sad little smile, looking down "You must miss those places..." he said glancing at her "Why did you return here? Because of your husband?"

Elizabeth smirked,"No husband. I grew bored. There are only so many statues and paintings one can see before they crave home. I had my pleasures but there is nothing like home sometimes,"she replied.

He was surprised by her answer: almost every woman he knew at Court was married and it was very rare to meet an independent one. She had clear ideas, she was clever... He wondered if she was hiding something.

"Home can have different meanings... If you consider this place like home, you will find it very changed" he said getting more comfortable on the handrail and thinking especially to the Mistress Anne.

He sighed and finally turned, in order to see the landscape.

"Oh no. Court? Home? Heavens forbid. But to return to the country would be more boring than travelling. I've always enjoyed courts. Pride, envy and debauchery,"she said playfully.

Charlie sighed and started to swing distractedly his legs upon the void: "Heads cut off, betrayals, balls..." he tried to smile "You'd better remain as far as possible from the throne. It's the only way to survive, here." he said seriously looking around the landscape "If there's a way, obviously. Court is... a load of shit". He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realized the words he used.

She smiled, not bothered by his language,"Fragrant shit. All the courtiers smell so beautiful here and look so handsome. It is only the mind of courtiers that is corrupt. Besides I am more than used to the ways of life in a palace - you needn't warn me."

She noticed he seemed troubled,"What corrupts your mind Charles?"she asked, softly holding her hand to her neck.

He turned to her with his mouth half opened. He didn't know what to say. She... she was absolutely right.
"I know very few uncorrupted men's mind in this Court."
He was thinking about his father and Thomas More. They were the only persons he trusted.

He sighed. He wanted to add more. He found out that he liked her company, even if he knew her from a short while only. She was clever, not like the frivolous girls and women he met every day. He liked the way she thought.

At her question, his face darkened. That was a very delicate matter for him: he couldn't talk about his problems with anybody... That was... a kind of secret.
"My mind is not corrupted, yet... I've been living far from Court and I'm not part of its big chessboard already. But I will. I know it. It's unavoidable, especially in my position." he looked down and bit his lips: "It's my soul" he said finally. "But if you don't mind, I'd like not to talk about it. I spoke enough..."

She smiled wryly,"You are young. Keep your eyes and ears opened - learn to be invisible and you'll excel in court. Perhaps as greatly as your father."

She made him smile. He was a curious man, with kind eyes and very sharp handsome features.

Those words meant much for him. They had more power than any words his teachers ever told him.
"I wish nothing more than make him proud of me" he admitted.

He turned to her: "You're such a wise woman, Lady Elizabeth." he said looking in her dark eyes "If I can give you an advice, never let a man control you. Men ruins intelligent women. They are jealous creatures"

He jumped off the handrail and laughed softly: "You might think I'm mad. I am a man, after all...But, you see, I spoke the truth. If I had someone like you beside me, perhaps I wouldn't be..." once again, he had to think to the right words to speak "... this mass"

She winked and rose to her tip-toes, peering below,"The trick is make a man believe he controls you. A quiet storm is more powerful than hurricane."

"Oh hush,"she said good-naturedly, touching his arm,"Do not be so harsh on yourself. You are a fine man and you will make a fine husband."

Charlie smirked while watching at her. She was older than him, but at the same time so young, so natural and in love with life... Her being perfumed of fresh and uncorrupted, unchanged...

He felt like a child who already has to learn much.

"I like the way you think" he whispered with a little smile. Perhaps, he blushed a little.

"I can't see myself in that role" he laughed softly "Not really... And I wouldn't like a stupid girl from an important or rich family by my side. It would be... so boring"

"Then what would you like?"she questioned and looked at him warmly.

This time he blushed highly and looked down to hide it: "Well... Perhaps, a woman like you." he started to babble" A woman... with whom I could speak... with whom having a serious conversation..."

She smiled brightly and turned away from the view and looked into the hall. It was growing busier and she could hear musicians practising their songs for the night. She rested her elbows still on the balcony and looked at him. She noticing him blushing and it made her laugh a little. He was sweet and handsome.

"There are scores of young and smart women who would suit you well and with whom you could speak. You want someone you may grow with. I am set in my ways, you would not like someone like that."

"How can you be sure of it?" he asked immediately "I'm not looking for a mother in a wife, neither a little girl to protect from the thorn of a rose. No, these things have no sense." he shook and came closer to her, looking straight in her eyes "If I have to chose a wife, I want to feel her. I want to make love with her mind, not with her body. I want a friend in her. I want that love to be composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. We never stop growing up."

She smiled not phased by him stepping closer,"Then I hope you may find that."

She stepped back and sat on the balcony, swinging her slippered feet,"I earnestly hope you do, Charles."

He shook his head and made a step back too.
He looked at the landscape and leaned his hands on the handrail.
He let his gaze travel: "Who cares, anyway?" he asked, still looking in front of him.

"Such things don't exist. We create a perfect love in our mind and then we get disappointed. And it's not just about love, but about anything else. I don't want to play the fool... So" he sighed and smirked "I will try to enjoy the freedom I have now. I'll try to do my best and to respect my values... It seems to me a good compromise. Isn't it?"

She shrugged,"I don't think we should ever compromise for what we want. We are here for such a short time and who knows what awaits after."

She tilted her head to the side, a puddle of inky black hair spilling to her waist. She noted the sharp line of his jaw the red hue of his lips and smiled like she were looking at a rare painting.

"I'm not saying we should content ourselves..." he specified "I meant that we should find a way to make things less difficult to accept, if we can't get what we want." he shrugged and smirked "We should try to be less unhappy, at least".

"Have you ever thought to how much we are checked by social conventions? If we wish to do something, we can't. In our mind we say 'it's wrong, it's immoral, it's scandalous'!" he laughed softly "We can never have what we want. We live in chain..."

He turned to watch her and he noted that she was staring at him. It didn't bother him, but it was a strange sensation. He smiled amused "What? Do I still have salad on my teeth?" he joked, laughing.

She shook her head and smiled genuinely,"No. I find people look most lovely when they speak truly and I perceive you speak truly now."

She then shrugged,"You should come to Europe with me then. They do not have English chains there."

He thought to her proposal.
He knew he had duties in England, most towards his father and the Princess Mary as a friend, but he always wanted to see the world outside England.

He leaned his elbow on the handrail. His second and third fingers caressed his lips, lightly.
His sky-blue eyes couldn't look anything but her.
"It would be my pleasure, but..." he raised a corner of his lips and made a little smirk "...I have two conditions"

She shrugged and smiled to herself. She could read his expression well and replied,"I'm sure I would have some as well."

"Good" he said. For some reason he was not surprised "Tell me yours, then"

She crossed her legs beneath her silk skirt and leaned forward a little - smiling,"Tell me yours first."

Charles shook his head and laughed softly "Are you kidding me? I asked first for a reason. Let's see your conditions, come on" he replied with a smirk.