Eating breakfast was one of Felicity's favorite time of the day. It was a time when she had a chance to talk to her parents. She hoped she could talk to them about her problem of marrige without causing anyone's temper to flare.
"Daughter, after breakfast go back to your room and put on one of your nicest gowns. Grace is waiting in your room to help you." her father announced.
"But what is the occasion?" Felicity asked.
"Your father has invited your suitors to stay longer than planned so that you can take a little more time to choose a suitor to marry."
Felicity said nothing. Not even bothering to finish her breakfast, she raised herself from her chair and slowly walked back to her room. She softly closed the wooden door behind her before releasing the breath she had been holding in. Rembering that Grace was waiting for her, Felicity's eyes searched the room for her. Seeing her wardrobe door open, Felicity peeked around the open door to see Grace going through her gowns.
"Grace please tell me what I am supposed to do? Now that my suitors are going to be at the castle all day, I will be pressured to choose one."
"Child, you must try to accept one of them. They are not going to leave until you choose one of them." Grace said as she selected a royal blue gown from the wardrobe. Helping Felicity out of the dress she was wearing and into the gown, Grace silently prayed that she would be able to save this innocent child from an unhappy marriage.
*******
Felicity threw herself onto her bed as Grace closed her door. Quickly becoming concerned about the Princess, Grace pulled a chair over to the bed amd slowly sat down. For once in her life, she didn't know what to say. She had watched the entire proceeding from a distance and now understood why this child was so unhappy. Being forced to talk and dance to countless men for hours at a time can wear almost anyone out, but doing that every day could easily wear on someone's nerves. Just as Grace was about to ask the Princess if there was anything she could do, Felicity crawled off the bed and opened the large wardrobe doors.
"Princess, may I ask what you are doing?" Grace asked.
"Grace, I need to get away from this place and its problems." Felicity replied as she drew her cloak from the wardrobe. "I am going riding so that I will be able to have at least a little time to myself."
"Be careful Princess and hurry back. It is dangerous for you to be anywhere outside the castle walls and it is nearly nightfall."
"Do not worry Grace. I will return soon."
