Belinda:

Have my flowers arrived?

Maiden 1:

Belinda, you look so beautiful. That dress is so exquisite, with the pearls sewn on the bodice-

Nurse:

Hours of eye strain! My fingers are all pricked and sore I had to be so careful not to get a drop of my blood on the precious silk- such a fine lady as she is now- she’d have had me whipped like as not! And to think I brought her up, nursed her for 16 years-

Belinda:

Now nursie, you’ll have us all crying in a minute- and this is my special day

(Sings) ‘This is my lovely day; this is the day that I’ll remember the day I’m dying….’

Maiden 2:

Oh Belinda- you mustn’t speak of dying today- it’s terrible bad luck.

Belinda:

(shivers) Yes, of course you’re right- whatever made me forget that, why am I thinking such sad thoughts. Come on everyone – smile. Be happy for me!

Maidens 1 & 2:

We are happy for you. And envious.

Maiden 3:

The girl who is marrying the King should be happy today. And he should be even happier- you are the prettiest girl in the land after all.

Nurse:

My own little Belinda - to be Queen today - it doesn’t seem possible. I remember the Queen that was; I helped her dress for her wedding… 20 years since.

And now you’re to have her place. Sleep in her bed. And where will she sleep, poor soul…….

Maiden 1:

Will you cease your prattle you old harpy - cannot you see you are upsetting Belinda?

Belinda:

Don’t speak to my nurse in that way- she meant no harm. It is a sad thought, after all.

My mind keeps running on her- why did he put her from him? What had she done? Maybe the day will come when he is angry with me, and he chooses another younger bride- in another 10 years…..!

And then…I think of him; what is he like? What do I know of him? He sent for me; I was told I was to marry him. I met him for the first time yesterday.

 I knelt before him.

I was too frightened to look at him.

Belinda, my child, he spoke in a flat voice, no feeling in it- my child, you shall marry me tomorrow. You shall be my new Queen, and Griselda I shall put away from me.

Our marriage is annulled.

I tried to look up, to meet his eyes. I was trembling so I thought I would faint away.

Sir- I couldn’t say more. Your Majesty; I wanted to say- Must I?

Maidens:

(all gasp) Belinda - you mustn’t say such things! Why, you’re the envy of all the ladies of the court-

All sing :

‘the bride who gets married in June, is a bride all her life’ etc from ‘7 brides for 7 brothers’

Maidens:

You’re the luckiest girl in the Kingdom!

Belinda:

Am I so? Or are they glad it was me and not them?

I have looked at him ; I watched him at the feasting yesterday, the grease in his grey beard, his eyes cold as iron, icy eyes staring at me…….he is so old! His hands were shaking as he wrenched the wing off the goose, as the wine ran down the cruel lines by his mouth-