The Princess and The Pirate, Part 2: Princess Fioretta

The carriage finally came to a stop down by the docks in front of a large ship. Dust settled around them as people gathered in anticipation. The footman unloaded the trunks and took them up the gang plank onto the ship. Inside the carriage, the princess looked out through the tiny screened window. No one had ever been inside the carriage except members of the royal family. The princess and her parents sat upon the softest kid leather that could be made. Scenes from the Bible had been painted on the ceiling and the walls of the carriage. Soft satin curtains kept dust from settling inside and a rich tapestry comforted their feet.

The princess was anxious to get out, but her training was perfect: she waited without the slightest indication of impatience. The king and queen sat across from the princess and waited just as patiently. The king had longish brown hair and vivid blue eyes. His eyes had a sadness in them that could not be hidden with all the laugh lines that now decorated his face. He was a broad man with a heavy handshake and large feet. The last time a man had wrestled with the king, the king almost snapped the man's back in half with his legs of iron. Today he wore simple but stately garments as did his wife. They wore green hues to complement their daughter’s traveling gown.

The queen was as delicate as the king was manly. Her face looked as delicate as the shell of an egg, and it was so beautiful it made you want to reach out to touch it. She wore her dark hair in an elegant French braid that reached the seat of any chair she sat upon. Her maids had interwoven delicate gold chains in the braid that accentuated the color perfectly. Her bosom was modestly covered with her gown whether she was standing or sitting, but she could not hide the graceful curves of her body.

Once all the luggage was stowed aboard the ship and all the guards were in place and there had been sufficient time to build the anxiety in the crowds, the king climbed down from the carriage and helped his wife do the same. The crowds cheered wildly as she stepped down. He walked with royal dignity. She held her head with royal strength and carried herself as if she were gliding rather than walking. They made a stunning couple, even in their later middle years. Every person in the crowd bowed or curtsied to their monarchs as they passed. The royal couple stopped and faced the crowds at the foot of the gang plank.

"Citizens of Harbor Town," boomed the king, "we welcome you and thank you for greeting us in this manner. It gives me great pleasure to announce that the age of my daughter’s seclusion is over."
People cheered uproariously. It took them a full fifteen minutes to settle down.
"Yes," said the king, "my daughter awaits my word in that carriage. You will be the only privileged few in our great country to see her in the flesh until the end of the social season. We are introducing her to great society in Europe before we bring her back home to sit beside her mother and me. Good citizens, I give you Princess Fioretta!"

The crowds cheered once more, and people jockeyed for the best positions. Children pushed through legs and skirts. Adults were a little rougher than they were used to being. The princess now stepped out of the carriage as gracefully as a swan. Her clothes were as elegant as her features were delicate. Unlike the washer women and farmer’s wives who stood watching from a little distance whose hair had been swiftly thrown into a bun or hastily braided before they could begin morning chores, the princess’s hair looked as if a fine artist had sculpted each strand, painted it with the finest of auburn paints and set it in perfect ringlets to frame her porcelain-doll face. Without a doubt, her yearly portrait had not been enhanced to make her seem more beautiful. While the portraits were truly masterpieces, they were shockingly lacking when compared with the flesh-and-blood woman. The princess’s face was a beautiful as her mother's, and the men made a point not to look any lower than her chin, other than a general glance, for fear they might too strongly desire what they could never have.

She walked as gracefully as that first glimpse promised, seeming to glide. In a warm, endearing way, she waved with confidence to the people who surrounded her. Without a doubt, the people fell in love at first sight of this princess who had captivated their curiosity for so very long. She finally took her place next to her mother. Her tiny, delicate crown glittered prettily in the sunlight. She continued to smile and wave as the people generously cheered her.

Finally, the crowds quieted down until all that could be heard was the cry of a sea gull and the waves gently hitting the ship. When she spoke, her voice was like the middle notes of the best of flutes. Her words were delightfully musical.
"Good citizens," she said, "you have been most patient while I have grown into adulthood. I thank you so much for that, for my mother has trained me wisely and I am now ready to stand side by side with her and my father. I have prayed for you every day since I could speak, and I will continue to pray for God to bless our great nation. Please pray for me as I embark on this, the last of my education, where I am introduced to others of my rank. Fare thee well, and God save the King and Queen!"

At this cue, she waved then followed her escort of knights onto the ship. Half of them would be coming on board with her, while the other half would be escorting her parents back home. The sailors aboard the ship were members of the king’s own navy. The princess felt as safe as she had ever been locked away in her castle. She would very much miss her parents, especially her mother, but she was looking forward to this season. She would also miss the poor children who had dined with her over the years. Unfortunately, there would always be poor children to tend, no matter how good the times. She smiled as she remembered giving the last group parting gifts to remind them of her over the summer months.

The sounds of cheering continued to fill her ears even as she stood inside the captain’s quarters where she would be staying for her two week voyage. She could hardly believe how happy the crowds had been just to see her for less than ten minutes! She stood listening to the captain as he proclaimed how proud he and his men were to be able to transport such an honored person to London. He was thrilled to give up his cabin to her and his first mate’s to the princess’s maids. They had come to the ship before her, incognito. They had made the beds and arranged things so the princess would have the utmost comforts of home. Their cabin was right next door and could actually be accessed through the closet if they so chose. The princess was thrilled, but she showed absolutely no sign of ill breeding. The graciously thanked the captain and began her inspection of the room. Once she found it satisfactory, she told the captain so, and she returned to the deck to wave to the crowds. Then they set sail.