CHAPTER SIX

...Annalisa's Chambers...

*

''My lady?'' The knock on her door causes her to turn to face the closed door. She frowns slightly wondering who that was. She turns back away and closes her eyes again. Sleep had been the evasive little wrench.

''My Lady?''

Annalise groans as she turns again. ''Who in the bugger's name is that?''

''It is me my lady?''

''What is it Ameryl?''

''His Highness and the Queen are not yet in their chambers, you asked that I tell you when they return my lady''

''They have not yet returned from the banquet and the stroll across the provinces?'' She checks her clock on the wall.

''No my lady!'' Came the reply.

''What did they go to do, greet the entire kingdom while carrying a bag of heavy marshmallows and twenty midgets on their shoulders and walking around in the dark? It is almost midnight, if they were not my parents I would assume they have finally joined the nightwalkers and maybe acquired a thirst for bats!!''

The chuckle was faded but was heard.

''Oh very well'' Annalisa turns away from the door. ''They cannot be missing; their entourage could form a tiny colony. ''

''Do I inform you when they do return, however, how into the night they be in?''

''No Ameryl, that is fine, go on, back to bed. However long it would be in the wee hours of the dawn. Do not let me keep you from your slumber'' She says over her shoulders. ''Go and hug your sheets Ameryl.''

''Goodnight My lady''

''Goodnight!''

Another knock.... ''My Lady?''

''Oh Ameryl, you...what is it?''

''Are you not hungry? You left the royal dinner with a few crumbs of bread and scoops of soup, surely you must be hungry. It would be a thing of worry if the King your father were to find out you slept on an empty stomach, my lady. I will go to the kitchen and order them to make you a pie and chicken thighs and bring it together with a glass of wine, something not to heavy to allow your bowels move at night''

''No, it is fine. I will not die in my sleep Ameryl, even if I did I am sure I wouldn't be missed.''

''Good gracious your Highness, do not say such things, surely you would be missed, your mother would be pained and your father the king would be-''

''Happy! I am sure you must have heard what he intends to do?''

''My Lady, it is not my place to speak about what is said during the royal dinner''

Annalisa sighs turning to her back and staring at the ceiling ''Ofcourse it is not. Go on to bed Ameryl, in the morning, during the wee hours, get me a coach to south province, I want to leave before the king notices I am away from the castle.''

''Leave my lady?''

''Yes, I must see Sissy Veronese''

''Oh my lady, surely I can do that. I would pack you food and warm cloth as well, I assume you would be there and tarry till the morrow''

''I intend to, best leave before he sends the dogs to guard my room. These days, you cannot predict the king''

''Aye my princess. Goodnight, let the gods watch over you ''

''You too.''

Annalisa continues to stare at the ceiling as she heard her footsteps fade away from her closed door.

It was really unfair for her father to just wake up and decide that she be catered away to be married without actually talking to her, It was rude and inconsiderate of him. She was a grown woman, no longer that child he feels has no mind of her own.. she wouldn't want to get married, not now anyway.

Papa was just annoying. Bossing his Lordship above her his daughter. She will not have it, king or no king, she has a right to decide for her life. After all, this talk of marriage was borne out from the fact that he was tired of her presence as a girl and wants to get rid of her. If she were a boy, surely he would sit and talk with him, bring him all the royal matches but still allow him the final decision who, when, and where. But no she be a girl was a thing to be rode upon. It was just annoying.

What did he expect her to do, accept it without a fight? No

She sits up speaking as she raises her fist and shakes it in the air ''Oh my King, such wonderful thoughts must have come from the heavens, yes, yes I would marry any frog you bring for me, however, choose by the father of frogs Lord Middleton. Tell me, father, do I throw in my head as well since you wouldn't allow me reason but be mute while you make decisions for me like I was a weee tinny baby who still poops in her pampers..? Maybe I should cut my tongue too, they do not need me to speak, they just permit me only to do my wifely duties by giving my bosom and my royal tush in gladness to god knows what of a husband and allow him thrusts into me and then I would bore the kingdom a mountain hounds of little princes and princess. Argh!!!'' She shakes her fists more in the air and drops it, lying back on her bed and sighing.

Tomorrow, away from the castle she can have a clear head to think about all this and maybe he would have had a night to rethink this his delusional decision filled with holes, silly holes.

There was no way she was going to be bundled up like a sack of melons and tossed into the arms of a stranger she barely knew.

What happened to love, falling inlove like all the books says? What happened to being swept off her feet and get her heart beating fast and slow at the same time? Surely, there must be love like that that leads to marriage and beautiful ever afters. God forbid she be sucked into the old archaic way of marriage and matchmaking.. God forbid even more if who is picked for her is a grey-haired fellow with a large tummy, brown teeth and breath that smells like stale manure.

She cringes at the mere thought of her supposed matched husband offering her a kiss.

Argh! She was not getting married and that was it.

She turns on her side and tries to go to sleep. It took a long time coming.

*

****In The Inner Court Of the Beaumont's...***

King Aurelius Jacob frowns at the man infront of him, his face a mask of surprise.

''I do not understand your exclamation, Williams?''

Williams manages to close his mouth, he turns to his father, mother and then his brother who obviously seemed as shocked as he was, but his parents had a knowing look.

''I told you inner courts summons was serious Willy boy, and to think we talked about marriage not too long ago..the gods have eyes on you, you have been jinxed. But, the Princess? We did not see that coming..whao! I mean I saw them fixing you into the ways of the law but I didn't think it would come in this package dear Willy'' Theodore leans in to him to whisper, ''The gods have chosen you ''

Williams frowns nudging him away. ''Stop it Theodore!!'' he says to the king now, ''It is that i do not understand your proposal my king, surely this is preposterous!''

''Preposterous!!!!'' The king seats up.

Duke Alan De Beaumont seats up ''My king, forgive my son. His tongue is not bridled in such matters, I believe what he intends to say is--'

''No Papa, I can speak for myself'' Williams cuts his father off.

''Hush, you are before the king. Show some respect boy!!'' His father cautions.

Williams thins his lips ''My apologies my king, but father, I do not understand this''

''Williams?''

''My king''

''Step forward''

He does so, he lowers his head abit.

''Look up,'' He does so. The king continues ''You find my proposal, a royal proposal to marry the heir to the throne preposterous?''

''I find it utterly surprising my king. I mean, me? A mere Duke, jnr Duke to marry the Princess?''

''Why do you think you are a mere Duke, your lineage is partly royal..albeit from a distant lineage, a few steps below us doesn't necessarily make you mere. ''

''But my king..'' Williams shakes his head.

''What is the problem.. it should be a thing of joy, Infact, men would be joyous to receive such offer, I have tons of suits coming for her hands, people I do not know but you very well know that your father, Alan De Beaumont has been a friend for years, a good one. Else, how many Dukes and provinces do I grace and show myself when invited, yet, I came and now, I see that you are a fine lad, accomplished..you will make a good husband for my daughter''

''My king, I ..i cannot accept this offer''

His mother and father gasps.

''Williams, do not be an arrogant fool. The Princess's hand and your refuse?''

Williams stares at his father incredulously ''So what if she is the Princess?'

The guards suddenly step forward, the king raises up his finger to stop them ''Do not intend to speak ill of the Princess or I will order them to cut you dead where you stand young Williams''

''My King, he is naught but a child, forgive his arrogance '' His mother turns to the king almost going on her knees, she touches Donna's hands..''My Queen, tender mercy''

Donna turns to her husband ''Surely the boy has no intention to insult the throne, my king''

Jacob nods to her, but he turns to stare at Williams looking at him keenly.

He seems to be a rebellious lad, just like his daughter, was he making a bad decision? He needed someone to rein his daughter in, teach her the principles of the kingdom, cause and teach her to behave as her thorn dictates..but he, this Williams, he..doesn't seem to follow the traditional ways and wants to be out of it. Was he making a mistake?

He cocks his head to the side, but he had observed something about the young Williams, he was opinionated, he seems to know what he wants and not one to be bent to the rules ...maybe, maybe that is what his daughter needs, someone who wouldn't give in to her whims and caprices..anyone who has not a mind of their own and not able to handle her, she would override and have her way. He wouldn't want that. Maybe Williams has a strong bone within him, but with two stubborn lads under a roof, surely it would be a disaster or a recipe of happiness. Who knows!

Or maybe he should wait till Lord Middleton finds him another better match. But Duke Beaumont vouches for his son, with high praises, ..surely he wouldn't lie, would he?

''Bend a knee Williams'' His father orders ''Plead!'' bringing the king out of his thoughts.

Williams sighs bending a knee ''My apologies my king but you must understand that this is a surprise. I do appreciate your proposal but I do not want to marry now, let alone marry the Princess. I believe there are other better and more refined and royal matches that would be better than a mere chap returning from the hinder lands with lots of dreams in his head and many places he would want to venture out to. The Princess's place is here, in Worchestershire, where royalty booms, not on horseback, or coursing through the forest, sightseeing and spending days unending without walls and warm bath and maidens to answer to her beck and call Sire, I am a man who intends to explore with his eyes, mind and body..i do not intend to stay confined to four walls of not my making..so please, forgive me my arrogance and if I may have offended you mu king, and if I may have one way or the other offended the throne or the Princess, forgive me and if thee prefers I serve a Punishment, I will take it on gladly. But please accept my refusal for this proposal..my parents mean well, but sometimes they forget that I am a man and this is the 21st century things re not done the way it was in the old time. I prefer to choose my bride when I do find her, in the main time, I am not searching. Forgive me my lord.''

''He sounds just like Anna'' Donna shakes her head to her Husband. ''What do these lads eat these days?''

''Bread and the company they keep '' Brianna stares at Theodore

Theodore raises his hands ''Duke Williams is his own devil ..i am more of his student!!!''

Williams shot him a look, Theodore backs away ''Hey, what?''

''You will refuse the king?'' The King's voice draws his attention back to him.

''No my lord, I refuse to be forced into something I did not give my consent my lord, not the king, this is a matter of life, my king. ''

''You do realize what comes with marrying into royally? She may be the heir to the throne but as her husband, you get to stand inside and receive the privileges of the throne and when I finally go to meet my ancestors, you will stand in my stead because a woman cannot rule the kingdom of Worchestershire, she will be the heir but you would be her hand, her husband,... you will rule in her stead.''

''I do know my king but, I decline. That too is a responsibility I do not care to shoulder. I want to be wild and free, not burdened with the kingdom''

''So the Worchestershire kingdom is a burden?'' He thunders

''Williams, curb your tongue. The king would have your head, friend's spawn or not'' Theodore whispers

''I will not be coerced into a life of chains or something worse like I am a child Theodore'' he whispers back

''My king..'' Duke Adrian steps forward ''If I may?''

''You may?''

He turns to his brother and then takes a courtesy bow with his head briefly lowered ''The Duke De Beaumonts gladly accept your offer and we do apologize for Williams, he is still a growing man and do not understand the importance of bond and alliances and royally and much less Marriage, However, if you allow us some days to think it over and apprise him, we would get back to you''

''You want to officially decline the offer?''

Adrian shakes his head ''No my king, we would meet to finalize on the date of the wedding and match the horoscope accordingly''

''What, Adrian..?'' Williams exclaims still on his knees.

''Hush boy!!'' His father cautions as he steps side by side with Adrian, he takes a bow too ''Yes, my Lord, we would discuss as a family and we shall grace the palace with our presents to present the Princess a gift worthy of our acceptance''

''Oh schmucks !!!"' Williams exclaims throwing his hands in the air.

''You do not swear in my presence boy!"' The king cautions.

''My apologies Sire but ...bullocks and schmucks!!"' He couldn't help himself in his anger.