#henri001

Sarah tried to tell herself that she had learned her lesson about reaching beyond her grasp. After all, where had it landed her but in a state of perpetual frustration? Some part of her - that part that hoped for grandeur - was losing much hope that she would ever achieve much of anything except to be a failed mistress and perhaps, if she were lucky, a marchioness at best.

But somehow, that didn’t stop her eyes from wandering, nor from landing on the newly arrived Dauphin of France. Of course ladies all around court had been chattering about him and it was hard not to see why. So perhaps, in a last ditch effort to prove to herself that she was, in fact, desirable, at least to someone, she placed herself into his path. She curtsied, low, in her best imitation of a demure lady of the court, intrigued to see what sort of woman this prince preferred. “My Lord, I am sure that you are very busy, but - I have been searching all evening for someone who might play against me at a game of cards. I should hate to make any assumption - do you play?”

Juan’s planning had somewhat run away with him - it seemed a folly that he was setting in on such an elaborate game without being at all knowledgeable about one of the most vital pieces of it. The young Dauphin was, to Juan’s knowledge, an absolute wildcard. He knew nothing about him other than what had been passed down secondhand, but rumour had such a tendency to be untrue. He deemed it part of his job to place himself in the young prince’s path, so to speak, and so he did just that, requesting a meeting with him one evening after dinner.

“My Lord, I hope you will forgive the abruptness of this invitation, but I only just learned of your arrival, very welcome as it is, and I appreciate your meeting me.” He was nursing a cup of wine, studying the prince in the firelight. “His Majesty, the Emperor, sends his best wishes, and his desire to meet you, but naturally - he is a man who likes to know more of who he is to connect with.” He smiled blithely, taking in Henri’s face. “Have you found England pleasing thus far?”