Ewan swirled the wine in his glass as he continued to watch the events below with great amusement. “It’s so nice to see young people in love,” he joked to himself with no small amount of schadenfreude. “And well done, Victoria – though that girl was no match for you.”<span style="font-style: italic">And even more amusing,</span>he thought to himself,<span style="font-style: italic">you were caught having an affair by one child, then lectured another about morality a few moments later. God how I love you</span>.<br/><br/>Down below the young girl appeared to be surrendering the fight.<br/><br/>“Don’t leave yet, my dear…” he whispered to no one in particular. “This is just getting good.”<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: gray;background:gray;"/></div><br/><br/><br/>Allena’s sobbing paused momentarily as her mind struggled to absorb the crushing words Alexander had just delivered. He had just agreed with his mother who had, in so many words, called Allena a whore. Allena played his words over and over in her mind as she desperately tried to understand this fact while coming to grips with all of her dreams being murdered at once. Victoria had pushed a knife into her heart and then Alexander leaned in to twist it.<br/><br/>How could he say that? He; the boy she was going to give herself to entirely after months of courting by letter? His beautiful prose clearly pledged his undying love, trust and promises to be together forever. Alexander had played the game of courtly love exactly as he should, and she wanted more than anything to show him that she too, was just as serious about him. In a terrible flash it dawned on her that he didn’t really mean anything of what he had written.<br/><br/>It was true she hoped to become with his child in order to cement their bond – but that was only because Alexander had professed he shared that bond so completely. She would never have attempted to trap him into a marriage he did not want – nor would she ever saddle him with another man’s child. The plot Victoria accused her of was not only untrue, it would have been impossible to pull off. She was, after all, a virgin, and Alex would have known right away if she were not.<br/><br/>The air turned suddenly cold in the courtyard as she realized the only plausible explanation – that he was always planning to mislead her for his own gain. In the end he saw her as a serving wench to be used and discarded at his convenience. All at once she felt small and insignificant; shattered and used. Blinking away her tears, she stood up silently and allowed her outstretched hand to fall by her side. Never again would she reach out to him.<br/><br/>She then curtsied in the direction of the Dutchess, unable to make eye contact. “My lady,” she said in a gravelly voice after clearing her throat. “I swear to you – I will never so much as speak to your son… again. Ever,” she added as her voice began to break down.<br/><br/>Without waiting for an acknowledgement Allena then turned and began to walk out of the courtyard in opposite direction from Victoria, her head hanging heavy and low in the darkness, silent tears falling with every step. She wanted to run, but decided to do her best to allow herself some tiny shred of dignity.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: gray;background:gray;"/></div><br/><br/>The drama complete, Ewan decided to stay and wait for Victoria to make sure she was alright. He poured himself another glass as he waited.