Michal Zamojski handed me the letters without a word. By the look on his face, I had a feeling he had an idea what messages they contained. The handwriting on the front of the parchment was quite familiar to me: first two were from my brother's Minister of State, the last from the King himself. I opened the Minister's letters first - it was quite obvious my brother dictated them. All business in a business tone; exchange between the King and his sister who, though blood, had to adhere to the rules and wishes of the monarch. They outlined problems with Sejm, impending marriage to Barbara, religious troubles.

Finally the news that made my Zamojski look so grave. The King requested that I release my protector and friend from his duties at my side, so that he could to return to Poland and take on the role as his new Minister of State. My brother has chosen a new guardian for me; he gave me leeway to arrange my household as I saw fit, but primary power was given to him. I needed to sit down.

"The King forgot to mention in whose charge I am being placed."
"Prince Charles of Sweden."

I groaned. I heard the name before. My sister has written to me about her husband's younger brother. Prince Charles. The youngest of three brothers of the Vasa dynasty. She spoke of him in passing in a few of her letters. He was a warrior, lover, adventurer. He wasn't in best of standing with his older brother, hated pomp and circumstance preferring the Knightly sports to courtier's way. He avoided court like the plague. From what Katarzyna mentioned, he was quite a bit into himself, though a man had a good heart, managed his house and lands well and would one day make a good king.

Zamojski and I exchanged looks. We both knew this would not be a smooth transition of power. I was in Michal's care for over six years. It took at least a year for us to learn to read each other. And here at least he was my countryman. I knew that all he did was for my benefit and I did not question his motives, though sometimes I did not agree with his decision.

I looked passed my friend at my chief lady in waiting. Magda looked grim. My lady took over the running of my house once my nurse passed on four years ago. Shortly after a romance developed between the lady and my Michal. Neither thought that I knew anything of it, but true affections of the heart cannot be hidden. They're in a look, a smile, a simple touch.

Magda was my maid of honor. She and my other ladies needed to stay pure while in service to me. But a lady parted from a man she loved would be distracted and unable to perform her duties to the best of her abilities. This especially was true for a lady in service to the Princess, who one day perhaps would be queen.

I sighed and shook my head.

Magda raised the loop back to her eye and focused on the dimly lit old horse training arena past the Versai court gardens. The small stadium wasn't being used much anymore since the new indoor one was put into use some months ago, giving its current occupants plenty of cover and privacy to work with the charger. The evening sun settled an hour ago making it difficult to for her to distinguish the action in the distance. Finally however she made out the dark shadow of a horse rearing high in the air trying to drop his rider. Magda tensed up. This was the scene for the last two hours, a horse fighting his rider with all its might, thrashing, rearing, bucking. But this time the rider skillfully, though more like it stubbornly managed to stay on. She's watched keenly as finally the mount finally lowered his front hooves to the ground and simply stopped. Breakthrough.

"She'll be the death of us" a voice behind her uttered. "Why can't she find more appropriate or entertaining hobbies or excursions?"

Magda turned towards her companion and surveyed him. She knew exactly that by "entertaining" Staszek was referring to Princess Anna's brother, King Sigismund August and his lover Duchess Barbara Radziwilowna. The relationship between the two started after the King found out that his wife had epilepsy. The attacks she suffered were worse when in his presence. They were so bad in fact that the rumor at court was that they never consummated their marriage and he, disgusted, turned towards a beautiful woman from a powerful Lithuanian family, inspire of all the warnings and pleadings from the senate who could not abide the growth of Radziwillow power at court.

"Bah!" Magda exclaimed. "Our lady took after her mother, you know that. They both share the love for music and horses."

"Ever since the old queen broke Her Highnesses engagement with the Swedish prince, she has been using horses as an escape from society. And no wonder. With her younger sister married to what was supposed to have been her husband, she is humiliated. Why not take advantage of our stay here and Versai and see if we can manage an alliance with one of the Medici princes?"

Magda knew it was true. And that's probably why her Highness stayed away from her brother and his beloved as well. The constant reminder of her lonely state, not to mention her brother's constant nagging about marriage; it was tough to see her so unhappy at court. But aligning her self with the Medicis? The closest she was willing to get to that family was here in France through the offsprings of Queen Katherine.

The first chance she got she left her beloved Krakow to visit her friend Princess Margot. They corresponded for months about the horses that were brought in from the northern France to court. Both women shared a passion for horses and the Princess was impressed with the size and power of the Percheron charges in Margot's care. Anna, Margot and Princess, well, now Queen Mary of Scotland became close friends sharing the joys of riding and playing.

Margot gifted Princess Anna with a fine black mount, Knight. He was breathtaking. The horse apparently also caught the eye of Margot's brother who was not to keen on letting the charger go. And so the bet.

Knock on the door startled them both. They exchanged knowing looks then Magda quickly disappeared in the bedroom while her companion opened the door. His Majesty's Chancellor Valmont De Ver met his gaze with a pleasant smile and tried to barge into the room hoping to push through the small opening left ajar for him. He failed.

"Doctor Botecki. Her Highness' presence was requested an hour ago in the main hall for dinner. Is Her Ladyship not well?." He peered inside.

"I'm sure that's the only thing you came to check up on. Damn French spy," thought Botecki while beaming one of his veneer smiles. He nodded to the chancellor, but did not release the door for him. "Her Highness has a tad of a head ache. I suggested she lay down. She fell asleep."

"His Majesty expressly ordered me to personally check in on your lady." He pushed at the door again, but it not budge. Botecki exchanged looks with Captain Poniatowski who was observing the exchange from a few feet away, awaiting a silent order to react. His men were sprawled in the presence chamber seeming quite oblivious to what was happening just in the earshot, but one command from him and they would react accordingly.

Botecki returned his attention to Valmont "Perhaps French manners are a tad different from those practiced in Poland. Her Highness will not be receiving visitors in her bedchamber. But I assure you, you will be called on the moment she wakes."

"I have been given an order."

"And so have I."

De Ver growled and once more tried to push through the door, but Poniatowski got up and slowly approached the doors to the privy chamber. He wasn't a big man, but his menacing look was enough of a warning. The Chancellor's brow furled and he glared at both men. "Remember who I am before you do anything drastic."

"No Sir, remember who you are planning to disturb."

De Ver was about to retort when the doors to Her Highness' bedroom swung open and the Princess herself entered her privy chamber. She was clad in a heavy velvet robe that covered her frame completely; a garment little too warm for the summer evening like this one. Her face was flushed, hair dishevelt and she did not look at all all right.

"Magda, close the window, I'm freezing. She told the lady that followed. " She glanced at Botecki and at the slightly opened door. She met De Ver's eyes who lowered them when he noticed her attire, but still asked. "Who is disturbing my slumber?"

At that moment the doors to the presence chamber behind De Ver opened and her Highness' Minister entered with a handful of men. Poniatowski and the rest of the military cadre stood up at attention.

"Chancelor?" Zamojski raised an eyebrow when he saw the Frenchman at the door to her Highness' privy chamber.

The French man swallowed. His mission failed. He heard softly spoken words exchanged between Botecki and the Princess and finally the doors to the privy chamber swung open. He met the eye of the Princess only for a second as she exchanged a look with her Minister who seeing her unraveled state quickly dismissed his men. This was not how her people should see their lady, no matter the circumstance. He then turned to the Chancellor again with a questioning glare.

"I am simply here to check on your lady, by command of my master."

Liar. "We appreciate the Crown's interest in the good health of our Lady. Doctor Botecki is an expert physician. She is in good hands, as we all are. Now, I believe her Highness is to meet the rest of the Royal family this evening. Express our apologies for her tardiness, but under the circumstances, I am sure they will understand if she does not attend on them."

He called outward to where maids were waiting with buckets and a tub. Four men brought in the copper tub through the presence chamber into the privy room. The maids followed pouring hot water into it. No one dared to look into the direction of her highness who was standing by the window watching the evening descend on the gardens afore her. Zamojski turned his attention towards the Chancellor who knew dismissal when he knew it. His audience with the Princess was done.

When the doors of the presence chamber closed behind the French man, the tension in the room decapitated.

"That was close." Zamojski expressed. Walking up to his mistress.

"Help me." Anna uttered towards Magda barely able to raise her arms to remove her evening robe, which revealed a male riding habit she was hiding. She winced as the garment fell off. Magda called for the other ladies. Alexandra Mazowiecka and Katarzyna entered with a light bow. Alexandra helped Magda while Katarzyna turned towards the bath adding fragrant oils and rose petals to water.

Katarzyna also ordered the maids to bring a divider screen into the room so that her lady could conduct business in privacy. The men awaited for everything to be set up before continuing. Botecki awaited until she was ready before coming up to her Highness and checking on her injuries. Mainly cuts and bruises on the arms, with exception of the sprain on her left arm.

"There is no way you can ride tomorrow."