CHAPTER THREE

...Back at Worchester Palace...

*

''Did you just say Marriage?'' Annalisa-Jane Jacob blurts out having walked in on her parents

''Yes Annalisa, Marriage!'' Her father leans back and stares at her.

''You do not mean that. I mean why would you even think that?''

''Are you not old enough to be running your court and little weee ones? Maybe when you do settle down with a man who can rein you in you would understand your place''

''And what is my place exactly father?'' She walks closer to him.

''To learn the place of a wife, mother and-''

''Oh i see, become a boring old woman doing nothing other than attending to court, food, children and garden and talk about boring cloths and balls and debutantes arrangements..is that it?''

''Well..that is a place of a wife''

She scoffs ''And you think I want to settle for that?''

''You are a lady Annalisa, a princess but a lady never the less and by right you will tend to your husband because he comes first, your children when you begin to birth, the matters as it concerns your court, your home, the maidens, and others, meet with fellow wives and -''

''Boring Father. If that is the idea of marriage you have for me I do not want it.''

'You will Annalisa. You are stubborn and rebellious and only a man, your husband that can set you straight. You will stop this childish behavior that you portray and represent the castle even in your home. You will listen to your husband and you will obey him. ''

''Oh Papa, you think I am just a pushover?''

''Annalisa, listen to your father. '' Donna, her mother advises her

''About having this ridiculous notion of getting married?''

'' You will eventually be married someday''

''When I am ready to and to whom i want, not before!''

''Well, you do not get the right, Here, your husband would be picked''

''Oh Father, I hope you do not dare to want to impose that on me too because it would just be as ridiculous a notion as the first thought of getting me married.'' She laughs.

''You see how your daughter mocks me in front of servants Donna. No respect and decorum for her father the king''

Donna shakes her head ''Leave us!'' She commands as the servants scurry away.

''I have huge respect for you father and the servants know that but father, come on! You cannot possibly think that your thoughts and words should be swallowed up by everyone just because you are the king, and besides, you are imposing on my life. I will not listen and indulge in your talk of marriage and that is final.'' She folds her arms.

The king rises ''I am the king and you are my daughter and you will do as I say. I will arrange your marriage to whomever I desire and you will accept it without a whine. You are inconsiderate and you have no idea what your childish behavior does to you nor your family. This is a kingdom Annalise and princesses are supposed to act the part, But no..all you do is go against it. You will do as i say and that is final. I will speak to Lord Middleton and when i have a good match, you will be informed and the wedding would be set. It is high time you learn some manners and i am too old to keep chasing you around like a little girl you are not. You are a grown woman Annalise, and if you were not being a child you would have been an amazing confidante but..you refuse to act the part I stead you cause stirs and murmurs around the kingdom and i will not have it again, No, Enough!! '' He bellows.

He turns to his wife ''Put her in the princess program for new princesses again and this time, make sure she completes the classes, i would not want her embarrassing herself and us in front of our future in-laws whomever we decide to pick.'' Then he turns and leaves.

Annalisa sinks into the chair, her mother comes to her, she takes a seat close to her, ..'' Annalisa?''

''No Mother, i will not accept it! I will marry who i want and when i want and it would not be based on your stupid traditions that removes the choice from the parties involved. I have so much to do and live for mother, i would not be tied down to a lord or some prince or whoever, papa can take him and shove it up his Royal ass''

Her mother gasps. ''Annalisa -Jane Jacobs!! He is the king''

''That is why i said Royal arse Mama''

Her mother shakes her head ''You are stubborn. Maybe marriage would tame your tongue''

''No mama, that is confinement and it is bondage, look at you...you cannot do or say anything unless the king permits. I refuse such life, Mama, we are no longer living in the medieval times..this is the 21st century and we have a mind of our own and i wish to not be reined in by absurd ego -eccentric self-centered man who believes that a woman's place should be confined to the chambers, garden, kids, and gossips''

''You will do as he says, maybe..it might be good for you child!''

''No mama, i refuse it so he can go ahead and do what pleases him. He is the king after all.''

''Yes, that is true and you will obey the King!''

''Oh..i am a princess mama, and i have his blood coursing through my veins, and i got this stubbornness he complains about much from him. Let's see who wins this shall we?''

''You will not go head-on with your father Anna!''

''He started it, and i won't be giving in. Marriage my royal tush!!'' she storms out of the dining hall in anger as her mother gasps.

She holds her chest and then breathes ''Oh my goodness, Annalisa -Jane would be the death of me. i never gave my mother so much headache''

''Oh, but you gave me a bad spine!!''

She turns around to see her mother being escorted into the hall.

''Oh Mother!!'' Donna rises up to meet her mother, placing a light kiss on her forehead as she leads her to a chair.

''I came for the royal dinner but i come to meet a disaster, what has she done now that little wrench!!''

''She is your granddaughter Mama, not a wrench!''

She laughs..''Oh Annalisa is my granddaughter but she is a handful Donna, much like you.''

''But i wasn't a rascal Mama''

''No, you were prime and proper, Annalisa is her father, through and through.''

''What do i do Mama, Jacob is furious, she is at my wit's end. Oh, such royal mess!!'' She holds her head.

''You are the Queen, you should learn to tend to your home Donna''

''What do you mean Mama?''

''I understand the King, he wants his daughter to be respected as she is ought to be, but i do not understand Annalisa's refusal. She is old enough to be married and i agree with him, a marriage would rein her in because she is as stubborn as a bull..I get sore throats screaming at her to behave Donna.''

Donna laughs ''Ah that child will be the death of us''

''Of you, i have outlived you, paid my debt as a mother...she is your daughter.''

They laugh.. ''Serve me, i am hungry''

The servants begin to serve her.

She looks at Donna ''Don't worry, by the time the match is made, she would have no choice but to accept.''

''I pray so''

''He is king, no one dares refuse him even his daughter''

''Ah Mama..Annalisa is his daughter, that is what i fear.''

*

Lord Middleton rises as the King is ushered into his court.

He goes to him and then bows.

"Welcome my Lord.. What do I owe the honor of this visitation? I would have come if you had only summoned me to the castle. "

"No. I rather have the talk outside of it. "

They set, he refuses to be served.

"You seem troubled my love. Pray tell.. What bothers you so? "

"I have come that you will search for a good alliance for the princess.. From the east. "

"Marriage my lord? "

"Aye. It is time. "

Lord Middleton rubs bid jaw.. "It would be..difficult Sire"

"Who would dare refuse to court a princess. I will pay for everything. I would give them province to rule. "

"No no of course no one my Lord but.. The princess is..peculiar"

"Do you dare insult the princess of Worcestershire?" The king thunders

"God forbid Sir. I am just saying that..we know she isn't like Luther's princess and she is well-rooted and..well. I will look for a stable match for her Sire"

"Do so. "

"That is fine. "

The king is standing.

"You do not want anything Sir? "

"No Duke De beaumount is coming to the castle with some Lords to discourse the provinces and matters arising in the weekend hours of the morrow. I best be on my way. "

"Ahaa! Indeed my lord. "

*

They laughed..

"Oh thank you, my King. It was a befitting gathering. Now we can go ahead and make the pronouncement across provinces " The Lords thank him as they speak.

"Yes Lord Vasaly. I think we should. " The kin nods.

Soon they are filling out of the king's chambers for court.

The King remains drinking wine from his glass. His friend is seated still beside him.

"Your eyes are tired King. Family matters? "

"As always. Tell me.. How is the court taking the issue of the bembot trail? "

"The family have buried their dead and is seeking justice. It would be passed on the fourth night. "

"Fair justice? "

"Aye my king"

He nods. "The Queen? I didn't see her tending to the court?"

" I have told her to make arrangements for the princess for classes again"

Beaumont smiles " She is fire your Annalise"

"She needs to be doused with closing water"

They smile. "Children. They would outlive their rebellious stance soon. "

" I pray. At least yours do not give you as much headache like mine and to think I have one and you have two. Yet.. Nothing is heard. "

He smiles "Well.. Just because we do not talk my Lord doesn't me we have no issues but.. Goodness gracious I am glad my eldest is by my right hand doing what is required. And when my other returns.. He should stand at my other hand. "

Jacob's smiles " I wish I had one..a boy"

"God blesses with whom he feels is worth"

"My Annalisa is loved Beaumont by me most especially I just wish that she would be womanly enough to understand what is expected of her. "

"She will. She is a lovely child "

"She is a woman. Ripe for marriage. I have already met with lord Middleton to find a match. "

"Fair enough my King"

They are silent.

"You know.. My son would be returning this evening from out of states, from England. He has completed his Masters. You are aware he has always wanted to be a scholar of some sort. My boy. He came off with outstanding distinction I hear. The Countess is already planning a banquet for his return. We would be pleased if you graced his with your presence Sire"

"Ha! This is quite lovely. "

"The Queen and the princess is invited. "

"You have been a good friend to me Beaumont. I will tell the Queen. We had an original plan to go round the provinces this evening. I would inform her and we would grace your banquet."

Beaumont nods " Thank you My king. "

*

Williams is ushered in and taken to the chambers.

"Quick Duke Williams. The Lord Duke has said that the King would grace your banquet with the Queen and he wants you to meet him. "

"The King and Queen.? What did your father do to get them here? I envy you, Williams.. " Theodore lays on the bed.

"Don't. " He disappears to wash up.

"Give him something to wear Felipe. " he beckons to one of his servants. "I cannot have my friend looking like a refugee in my home. They laugh.

*

"Ah! My boy.. " Countess Brianna kisses his cheeks.. " See how a man you have turned into. My heart missed you so" she kisses him as he laughs.

"Mama" he hugs her back.

"Uncle Uncle Uncle! "" Two girls run to him and flinging themselves to him. He lifts them up with each of his arm and pacing kisses to their cheeks..

"Oh goodness! Look how pretty and big my girls are. Tell me.. What is your papa feeding you lot with? Cows.. Pigs.. Horses? "

They giggle. He kisses them a few times.

"Welcome Home little brother. " Adrian his brother comes to him and opens his arms wide. Williams puts down his daughters and then they hug.

"A-ha! He finally grew a beard and his voice is thick. He is a man papa.. See.. He is well built and taller than I am. Goodness.. What have they done to my brother" they laugh and hug.

He kisses the cheeks of his brother's wife and touches her tummy.. "Penepey.. You allowed this frog to knock you up again?.. Pray..birth a boy and name him after me. Then.. He would be handsome. We know the beautiful girls got their spark from you. Brother is such a black heart. " They laugh.

" Oh.. Don't worry Williams" she smiles at him "Welcome home"

"Come here my boy come here "

He hugs his father who places kisses to his cheeks..

"You look well? The people.. They treat you nice? "

He remembers his goodbye present "Very nice papa. Too nice " he smiles.

Theodore who had appeared behind him chuckles..

"Theodore Neville is it?. I figured that rascal would be glued to your hip" Beaumont says looking over his son's shoulders.

Theodore laughs "My Lord. My parents sent their greetings and it would be absurd to allow Duke Williams to venture into the banquet without a right-hand man to help him mulch down the thighs of a king-size chicken. I would be doing my duty being by his side and finishing what is left from the side dish my Lord. Tell me.. How do I refuse such glorious kind of food? Even my mama knows that I do not function without the score meals made up of special varieties just for me. " He smiles. Everyone laughs.

"Come on! Everyone is waiting. "

They enter the banquet hall to meet family and friends who have come out to welcome him home.

*

"The king is here. " The maid rushes to tell them in excitement.

Beaumont beams.. " Ah.. Open the doors, music.. Flowers.. Welcome him in go on. Go on.. Welcome. Our king"

*

"More Sire? " Beaumont inquiries.

Jacob smiles shaking his head. His wife and the Countess were laughing over a joke. Everyone is eating and drinking and the music is soothing.

He stares across the table and looks at Beaumont's sons.

"Your home is complete Beaumont. You are a fulfilled man"

"Aye my king. "

"There is nothing else you desire "

"Yes. Nothing really. I have a good home. Children who are already fulfilled. One who is already a man. The other who has achieved his dreams. I have grandchildren. I would die happy. "

"Aye. That is what every man wants Beaumont" The king says sadly.

"But human. We are insatiable are we not? "

"Necessary evil. "

Beaumont looks at his sons.. "They are good boys.. My son"

"I see that "

"My heart would be full when I see that he is settled too. He is strong-willed that one. "

"Who? "

"Williams"

"It is good for a man to be set in his way so. He can be able to put things in order and set those he presides over right. "

"Aye. You know.. I had wished he stayed back home like his brother.. Learn with him. In the court but he wanted to travel the world. Read science. Become an astronaut he said. "

The king laughed "Did he achieve it? "

"He traveled the world. He refuses science. But he didn't become an astronaut " His father smiled.

"We do not always get what we wish for. "

"True. "

They continue to eat.

The Beaumont wipes his mouth " Has lord Middleton found a match for the Princess? "

"No.. Sadly no"

He is quiet. Then he looks at his son.

"My son is of age my king. "

The king looks at him and then at his son.

"What does that mean Beaumont?"

"Why don't we discourse a possibility of an alliance? "

"My princess to your son? "

Beaumont nods.

The king frowns.

Donna and Countess Brianna exchange look.

*

Williams and Theodore who had been laughing suddenly looks up at them.

Williams frowns.. "Why does it feel as though they are talking about me, Theodore? "

Theodore rubs his lips..

"A-ha!! If I didn't know better I would say they are signing your death warrant my friend. Do you think we should run? "

Williams smiles " Don't be a fool.! "

He says. Then he sees his father smile and then his mother.. Then all of them are smiling as they look at him.

"Okay.. I don't like that look, Theodore. What are they talking about? "

Theodore is smiling now... "Oh.. Whatever they are talking about is worse than death Willy-boy. Oh.. Worse than death. Let us pray "

Williams frowns.

***