A Little Entertainment [Isabella ]

[Prince John]

Prince John was sat at the end of a long banquet table eating slowly from a bowl of dark grapes. His expiration was that of some one who was experiencing extreme boredom yet he was doing nothing about. In London there was always something going on always something to do and music was playing every second of the day. Nottingham was dark damp and quiet with absolutely NOTHING to do but punish and hang people. He did like hanging but it did get rather tedious when that was your only option.

“My Lord,” squeaked a timid as she stepped forward with a large jog in her shaking hands.

“Yes what is it,” John snapped with out sparing the servant a glance. He really had no time for servants they just took your money at ate your food still life would be a whole lot harder with out them. On that thought he turned his head to look at her with cold eyes. Nervously she held forward the jug of burgundy. “Yes more wine.”

She took a hasty step forward and filled the goblet that was pushed carelessly in front of her. She was a mousy looking girl and had the personality to match.

“This one,” John said clicking his finger and gesturing a hand towards the girl.” I don’t like her fine me another.”

The poor girl immediately burst in to silent tears.

“Ohh stop you’re blubbering its unattractive, you can go now.”

There was nothing worse that a crying woman unless they where crying with happiness when they saw his face. At that moment the door was opened and in stepped a very pretty young woman indeed. John’s mood took an instant rise and he straightened in his chair. There was really nothing like a pretty woman to brighten ones day.

"Well who do we have here!"

[Isabella]

Isabella smiled at him, curtseying as she entered the room.
"My Lord," she said, her ebony eyes fixed on him as she stepped closer.
She looked at him in the way that she had seen young women gaze at the men they yearned for, and tucked a strand of inky hair behind her ear flirtatiously.
"It is a simply beautiful day," she began, "And I am so bored alone in my chamber. A little company would be just the thing to cure my - restlessness. I was considering going out for a ride, but only if I could find the right person to go with. Do you think you could help me there? Forgive me for saying, but I need someone of more sophistication - more taste than I can find normally in Nottingham Castle - and you are the only one who has any of it."
She met his eyes and held his gaze.
"What do you say?" she asked.

[Prince John]

Sophistication! Taste!

“Oh you adorable girl”

Prince John rose from his chair in one fluid movement and glided forward to stand by her side. Once by her side he reached for her hand and his it in between his large pampered ones. Playing the gentleman came far too easy to him. He should really be given a medal.

“My dear what a glories idea,” he said swooping his head down to kiss her lightly on her small pale hand. “I too am monstrously bored. There is not an entertainer in sight and these servants are the most retched creatures alive. Just look at them not a smile in sight. It as if some one has died!”

He let out a loud musical laugh throwing his head back sending wind flying through his perfectly washed locks. It was a good thing he had taken his bath this morning, he thought as he looked over his attractive companion, the two of them ridding together would look dazzling to the populace.

“Shall we ride to the famous Locksley Village? I do wish to see it.”

With an elegant flick of the wrist he gestured to one of the stern faced guard who stood by the door like marble statues.

“You, saddle my horse and one for this delightful little creature.”

[Isabella]

Isabella did all she could to please Prince John. She blushed when he called her adorable girl. She smiled delightedly when he seized her hand in agreement to her proposal. She joined in his mirth when he said how miserable the servants looked. And when he suggested going to the village of Locksley, she was only too happy to agree with him.
"My lord," she said, "What good taste. I myself was about to suggest riding there."
She began to walk with him towards the stables.
"It is a wise king who goes to visit his subjects, and see his kingdom," she went on, "So your future must be great."

[Prince John]

"What good taste. I myself was about to suggest riding there."

“Ahh my dear great minds think alike,” He chuckled in regal chuckle and led his companion to the door. The two of them would look great ridding together and he didn’t give a thought about Rosetta she was momentarily forgotten in the light of his new acquaintance.

As they approached the door the armour clad guards pulled them open allowing the two nobles to pass through. They tried to keep there eyes to them selves but one couldn’t help but steal a glance at the beautiful Lady Isabella. John him self couldn’t keep his eye away from her apart from when they paced a window and he had to check his complication in the window. Wonderful as always!

“I have the perfect stallion for you. He is a handsome ebony as is your hair tell me how is it possible for some one to have hair as fine as yours.”

He was trying his best to flatter her and of course he had used most of his lines before but he was Prince soon to be King who said he wasn’t allowed to charm as many beautiful women as he wanted.

“After our ride will you do me the pleasure of dinning with me? I have grown tired of endless dinners with your brother its time U had some more appealing company.”

[Isabella]

Isabella smiled as he flattered her.
How is it possible for someone to have hair as fine as yours? – That was a new one, she realised, tackling it as she did most of Prince John’s lines – by flattering him back.
“My lord, it should be I who is asking you that question,” she remarked, “It is far finer than mine, by far.”
Will you do me the pleasure of dining with me? – That was an old classic. Of course, she could handle that one perfectly by now.
“Of course I will dine with you, my lord,” she replied, “And the pleasure will be all mine, I’m sure.”
She noticed how much he was looking at her and her eyes flicked away from his coyly. They left the dark of the castle and went out into the brilliance of the sun, where everything was alive with colour and the ground was scorching with heat.
“I do not blame you for tiring of my brother’s conversation,” she agreed with him, “It’s as entertaining as a funeral, and as lively as those servants at the castle.”

[Prince John]

John glanced over at his reflection. She was right his hair was glorious today.

“Isn’t it just horrid being so beautiful,” he joked leading Isabella out in to the sunlight where a couple of guards where standing with two large regal looking horses. Only the best for Prince John and his company!

He chuckled again at her description of her brothers company, she was right. Gisborne had nothing to talk about but his wish to be sheriff and planes to kill Robin Hood. Yes he, Prince John, wanted to kill Robin Hood like Guy but there where other things to talk about and one had to squeeze in some time devoted to entertainment.

“I want guards flanking us but keep enough distance that I cant smell you please,” John snapped at the chief guard and referring to a the stench of rusting metal.

“Ladys first,” John cooed Mounting his horse and fixing his hair as the wind blew.

[Isabella]

Isabella laughed at Prince John's jokes. Isn't it just horrid being so beautiful? In a way, she had to agree with him. Had she been a plainer woman, she would not have married Thornton and she would not have to be so flirtatious with Prince John. She nodded in agreement.
"Yes, it is hard to be beautiful, but harder still to have all the responsibilities of a prince," she gushed, "And one day, a king. It must be difficult for you. You deserve some entertainment."
Isabella mounted her horse as gracefully as she could, hooking her knee into the right place on the saddle, and making sure her dress was in the right place. It wouldn't do for her ankles to be on show - that would be most improper for a lady. She had got used to riding side-saddle. When she was younger she had pestered her brother to teach her to ride. In the end, he gave in, but as they only had one horse, she sat in front of him on their tired old mare and he took the reins. They did not have a proper saddle for a lady to use, so she learnt to ride the way Guy did. It was only recently that she got the chance to learn the proper way of riding.
She kicked the horse gently to start him walking, and she sighed:
"I wish every day could be like this. The weather is beautiful and I find my spirits are lifted already."

[Prince John]

"And one day, a king. It must be difficult for you. You deserve some entertainment."

“It’s a hard life but some one must live it,” John said with a fake look of concern and innocence on his face.

John kicked his horse in to action and steered the chestnut stallion towards the gate. Servile guards in clinking armour did the same but hung back at Prince John orders. It was a bright day and the sun shone down upon them fiercely. John was glad he had recently had a new spring summer closet made wearing furs in this weather would be ridicules. Instead of furs he had an abundance of jewels pined nightly around his royal blue jacket and a couple of expensive rings on his fingers.

“My dear you look absolutely radiant in the sun light”

He was taking it a bit too far and he knew it but really would it do any harm? Rosetta would not be too happy about it but then she would be dead soon enough and he would not have to worry about her. Once the sad news of her death was out in the open he would go through a very short morning period then get back to his womanizing.

“How do you find Nottingham? Do you think it in need of change?”

For quite some time John had been having his doubts about the sheriff of Nottingham. Perhaps now was the time for him to step down and for some one new to take his place.

[Isabella]

Isabella was surprised in spite of herself that Prince John had asked her about what Nottingham’s future could be like.
“I presume you mean who holds the post of Sheriff?” she said thoughtfully.
The Sheriff was by no means a friend of hers, but she realised that if he stood down, someone else would have to take his place. At the moment, the only available candidate seemed to be Guy. There was little to choose between them. She hated both of them, but Guy was her brother, and blood was thicker than water.
“If I may be so rude as to ask who you are considering for the task, my lord?” she asked, now far more interested in the conversation.
When it came to talking, Isabella was far more interested in politics than flirting. Guy had told her once that she should have been a man.
Maybe if I was, she thought idly, It would be me who is in the running to be the Sheriff of Nottingham, and not him.
She wondered what being Sheriff would be like, but still thought it impossible for her to ever become one. After all, this was a man’s world, and a woman was expected to know her place in it. It was just her who was in the wrong, who sinned, forgot her place and did not show her husband the love and loyalty any other wife would have given him. Even though she knew leaving Thornton was a crime, she felt that she would do it again – and gladly.