“My word doesn’t matter more to him, than his promise to a King” Charles sighed. How come this suddenly seemed like it was his fault? He wasn’t the one that had decided to send her to Portugal. If it was up to him, she’d be allowed to do whatever she wanted to do. She stood up, and he reached for his hat again. His job? Sure, that’s what he’d do. “I’ll tell your ladies to come to you”
He bowed and took his leave. Charles told her ladies to go to her rooms, and then he left the women behind. He went up on deck, and joined the other men. God, how he needed to distance himself from the women.
It was nice to be outside, to be together with his friends and to be onboard a ship. They spent a few hours together, conversing over a good card game. Then suddenly his servant reminded him that it was time to go and have his dinner together with the Princess. Charles stood up, and bowed to the other men before he went down to her rooms again. He rapped the door, and the remaining women allowed him to enter. Charles bowed to the Princess again, waited until she had sat down at her side of the table and sat down at the opposite end from her.
“How about letting me entertain you with some cards afterwards? Or we can read together?” Charles glanced at the man that was serving them, before he turned to her again “Your sister, the Queen, sent me a couple of good dramas for your entertainment”