CHAPTER FOUR

Earlier After The Abruptly Ended Dinner...

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Annalisa heard the knock on her door the third time, she frowns.

"Annalisa?"

She rolls her eyes and turns away from the door while she laid on her bed and backs it.

"Annalisa! Would you open the door please" her mother's voice came from behind the closed door.

"Mother, i want to be alone"

"Anna, oh don't be a child. Open your door or i would have the guards kick it in!"

Annalise scoffs "No you wouldn't Mother. I really want to be alone"

"I want to talk to you"

Silence.

"Fine then. I would sit on the floor outside the door till you open it"

"I won't! Go away mother"

"I would sleep here then till the king comes back. You would have to explain to him why your mother, his wife the Queen is seated on bare earth"

Annalise scoffs again , "You just have to be dramatic Mother"

"No Darlyne, I just want to talk to you. Give a mother a little happiness child."

"I am not a child!"

"Ofcourse ..you are not. You are a grown woman, and you need to start reasoning like one"

"Leave me alone"

"I cannot. Now open this door or I would start balling my lungs out and you know I have a horrible voice, I would be kicked out if I auditioned for the opera."

Annalise laughs against her better judgement. She rolls of the bed , unlatches her door and swings it open to find her mother standing there, hands clasps together, the maidens behind.

"Really Mother, it is just my chambers, you do not need to bring the entourage to have a word with your daughter"

"Go on, you heard her." She shuus them away, Six of them take a courtesy bow to her and her mother and walks away. The guards move away and are stationed down the corridors.

Her Mother enters her chambers and then closes her door. Annalise walks back to her bed and seats on it, she raises her legs and tucks them underneath her.

"Oh seat like a lady" Her mother cautions, Annalise raises an eyebrow.

"You forget that you are in my chambers mother"

"You forget your place child"

"Mother, please..let's not fight"

"You should learn your manners Anna. All your classes and training and you flush them down the toilet at will. Seat properly when talking to your Queen!!" Donna orders.

Sighing Annalise pushes her legs from under her, seats up straight. "Better?"

"Here, on this single chair" her mother points to chair close to the mirror.

Annalise groans, getting off her bed and seating on the chair, chest out, back straight, legs crossed at the ankle and hands on her knees clasps together "I look like a perfect statue don't i my Queen?"

Donna smiles "Better"

She comes behind her, turning the chair to face the huge mirror facing them. She grabs a golden hair brush, unlocks Annalise's hair and then begins to comb it, running her fingers through them. "You are so beautiful Annalise-Jane Jacobs, so so beautiful"

Annalisa smiles up at her mother "You are doing that thing again Mother"

"What thing?" Her Mother asks her innocently.

"That thing you do that automatically softens me up hoping that I would accept what you have planned out"

"Oh nonsense. I am not"

"Good, because I am no longer a child and your emotional blackmail does nothing to my fragile heart anymore"

Silence as her Mother continues to comb her hair.

It stretches into minutes. Annalise rolls her eyes again.

"Argh Mother speak before you burst, I can feel you expanding within that tight corset of yours"

Her mother drops the comb and then turns her while perching on the table "Annalise, tell me, what do you want?"

"I want to be free to do what I want. I know I am the princess and I should act accordingly but Mother, gone are those days when a princess is like a controlled doll.."Do this, do that, say this, say that"Annalise states.

"But, the kingdom was constructed in the premises of rules and regulations that other royal families have gone through. It is a way of life, you cannot just decide to abandon them just because of your whims and caprices"

Annalise laughs "Oh Mother. Tell me, have you enjoyed your life thus far?"

"Yes, yes I have. I am married to a fantastic man and I gave birth to the most beautiful of daughters, the fairest in the land"

'"Don't patronize me mother"

"I am not Annalisa, I am speaking the whole truth"

Annalise gets up "I mean, how have you enjoyed your life? Is there something you wanted to do that you actually did without the King giving you a go-ahead? Did you want to ever bask in the sunset, walk around barefoot without an entourage like flies walking behind you? Did you want to ever run around in the castle and gossip about anything other than court and children and weed gardens made up of red and White roses and lilies? Did you ever just want to take your bag, walk through the forest and dive into the ocean without a care in the world? Did you just want to stare across the room and see your beloved and tear at your cloths, run to him and make mad love to him just standing there with your back against the wall and his hands going to places he is only familiar with?"

"My goodness dear God Annalisa-Jane Jacobs!" Her mother gasps placing her hands to her cheeks "My child, who have corrupted your mind so?"

Annalisa laughs coming to her mother and talking her hands away "I am not a child Mama, I want to live and enjoy the little gifts it offers. I want to run, to jump, to scream and to be happy. I do not want to be confined within the four walls of the castle and have to be watched everytime I make a move. Sometimes, I wish I am not a princess. Sometimes I wish I was like every other maiden in the palace, free to do what I want without having the King, your husband go "Annalisa Jane Jacob, I forbid you !!"' She mocks.

"Yes, he is right to do so"

"Oh bollocks Mother!"'

"I forbid you to swear in my presence child'

"Bollocks and Schmucks!!" Annalise exclaims.

Her Mother gasps.

Annalisa roars in laughter . "Oh Mother your face is so dreadfully horror" she laughs grabbing her mother's face and placing two kisses on her cheeks.

"No matter how annoying it gets, I love you Mama. And I love Papa, I do. But you lot would have to let me be who I want to be"

"You are the princess, heir to the crown throne. You cannot blame us to want to have the best for you"

"Mama, I know that, but, I would not be chained to archaic rules and regulations. I will neve marry whomever Papa chooses for me. I want to fall inlove, I want to be swept off my feet like the books talk about it. I want to meet that blue-eyed stranger with the most amazing smile, who would hold my hands, kiss it and love me forever and a day more Mama. I do not want to be matched with some hideous looking Lord or some rascal for a prince and have twelve children, tending to garden and listening to women whine about their maidens and castles and royal balls and sleep and then bed my husband all the days of my life. I want to be me Mama, I want to be me..Annalise Jane-Jacobs and with whatever assertion comes with it, but me nonetheless, without the hallabohoooo of everything this kingdom desires"

Her Mother sighs " You are the crowned Princess by birth and by right, you cannot do without the hallabohoo of the crown"

"Then I can modify it." She folds her arms.

"How?"

"Just tell Papa I would marry when I find the one whom my heart beats for, not before and not whom he chooses"

"If only you had behaved from the start, talk of your marriage would have come in later times"

"Behave how? Seat and smile when you say so? Bow to the Lords and allow them to pinch your cheeks like you are a small child in a baby basket? Watch them talk over your head like you aren't there? See Papa look at me across the room and wish I had hard steel chest instead of a bosom on my chest? Or let Grandma Cecile teach me the ways of the royal women which has nothing to do with thinking with your head but bowing to everything a man says? Absolutely rubbish! I refuse to be coerced into a life of bondage! Just because you loved your life doesn't mean I should be teased into one. It is bondage Mama, i tell you it is. I choose to be who i want to be and with whom. God forbid i say my vows to a mere pick-up by Papa and have him by night-time want to thrust into my royal puss-"

"Annalise -Jane Jacob, you will not use vulgar words in my house" Her mother shrieks.

Annalise clams her mouth shut with both hands and giggles, she nods her head.

"Oh dear child, you grow up too fast and i fear for you. You are stubborn, rebellious and so much of your father within you that breaking you would take a battalion"

"Don't break me, i won't be deterred. I stand my ground" She puts her hands at akimbo and stamps her foot.

"It is out of your hands. Your father has gone to have word with Lord Middleton already to find an alliance for you"

"Lord Middleton? He likes to butt in, doesn't he? The royal match-marker! More like the Royal frog!" Annalise chuckles.

"Oh God!! Why have you blessed me with a child so..insensitive to others' feelings?" Donna looks up to the heavens, one hand to her chest and the other placed on her temple.

"God knew that it was time to shake you and Papa up that's why he sent a child who would not conform to stupid rules. " She turns up her nose.

"You will not be the death of me child, i tell you" her mother points to her.

"God forbid my Queen, i would bury you in the royal cemetery next to your King when you both are old and grey and gone peacefully to sleep. Before then, i would have turned the palace into a jamboree of some sort, a golden circles palace, and a brothel!!"

Her Mother stands up, her gasp coming in tiny feats, Annalisa bursts out laughing again.

"I feel you make fun on purpose to deter me from my duties as a mother" Her mother clasps her hands together, her face firm.

Annalise walks to her "No, sometimes i just like the expression on your face, you are the Queen of dramatic and sometimes i love to tease, at thesame time making my point. Where is your husband, the King, my father by the way? I am surprised he hasn't summoned me to his chambers and go. .."I command that you obey me Annalisa. My word is final." stamping his feet and looking all dreadful. !!" She laughs " And to think everyone cowers in fear when he roars. I do not. Papa.. Is just being papa and I know just how to tickle him" she laughs.

"He is in his Chambers, he and i would go round the province to see the matters of the court and then we would go to Duke De Beaumont banquet. " The Queen states.

"Duke De Beaumont's?"

"Aye, your father said Duke De Beaumont said something about one of his sons just returned from the hinterlands from where he went to study in the land of science. Out of states"

"Duke De Beaumont? He the one with the bespectacled glasses and a tummy round and large enough to stuff a baby lion?"

Her mother gasps again "You are just horrid Annalise"

"Argh Mother, you are no fun. I didn't know he had a son who went to become a scholar outside of" She trails off as it dawns on her, her eyes suddenly grow big " of the- " She stutters as she throws her hands in the air, nodding her head and then laughing, she points to the wall as she spoke in reference to the Duke

" ohhhhhhhhhhhhh see, Duke De Beaumonte should have been my father. Someone of his caliber and royalty should have tied his son down to imbibe the laws of the land, But i bet his son went all "Oh stuff it in the jocket Father, i refuse to be tied to the court and these provinces and be fastened to the library of the royal highness, allow me go beyond the walls and have me be taught by the finest minds in all of the earth. When i return, i will make you proud. " And i bet his father went "Go forth my son and let me bask in the wonders of your splendor when you return" And see, viola , he is back and even the king your husband, my father had to grace his event..see? And yet he wants me to be tied to this place and won't allow me the peace of climbing trees and picking up fruits which he didn't mind nibbling on right before he nibbed me in the arm. Your Husband? he is not a fine man Mother. He is selfish but what do i know, i am nothing but the Princess who has to obey the rules and regulations."

"Stop it Annalise. He is nothing but the most caring man and he wants the best for you. You are his only child. Do you expect that he allows you go far away? You are a woman Annalise and you need to be protected in the kingdom. "

"Aye! Yet he didn't think I need to be protected from an alliance. "

"Marriage Anna. It would be good for you. "

"No, it would be good for you both! Get rid of the rebellious scalawag.!! " she chanted raising her fist in the air.

Her mother sighs "It is exhausting talking to you and trying to make you see reason. "

"Talk to him first to see reason. I will not marry. I am okay being by myself. I will not be tied down. I will not. I refuse any alliance. I will get married when I am good and ready and not before. Tell your husband Mama.. I, Annalise-Jane Jacob, crowned Princess of Worcestershire rejects any proposal. That is my final word. I will not. Tell Papa the King that. "

Donna shakes her head as she makes for the door "I have done my bit to talk to you Anna, it is your father's orders, you will not refuse it. But i promise you child, once you get married you would be the happiest. It is not as bad as you think"

"It is..you know why i dread it Mama?"

"Why?"

"I will lose myself because i have to please mi lord. No!! we should be equals, woman or not i should be able to stand on my own and do my wills. But here, in Worcestershire..it is a man's world. i refuse it"

"You think Child, when you are good and ready and you pick your own, he would be different?"

She smiles "He would be different. Just like in the books. He would be perfect. And he probably isn't Worcestershire born, maybe some stable boy from far away, riding on a white horse and come to whisk me away to never-land"

Her mother shakes her head. She should go by the library and stop them from giving her those books she keeps reading, it was messing up her daughter's mind. White horse and stable boy? She was the Princess for pete's sake. "Sleep Annalise, maybe by the morrow you will feel happy about what we have decided and when a proposal is brought, you would jump at it and i promise you ..all would be well."

Annalise scoffs saying nothing.

"I love you Annalise-Jane Jacobs"

"I love you too Mama"

"Sleep.."

She shuts the door. Annalise goes to her bed and sinks in.

"I will not marry, i will not" she bites her lips.

Tomorrow, she would go by the South Province and meet Sissy Veronese, the only friend she has and who understood her crazy. "Marriage her royal tush!!"

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