CHAPTER TEN

*

''What do you mean she isn't in her chambers and not in the Palace?'' Th King thunders

''My King, the coach for the Princess is not in the Palace''

''You mean the Princess left the palace without guards and no one knows her whereabouts?'' He stands up pointing at the palace guards.

''My King'' They say going on their knees ''She may have gone through the north gate, early when most were still in slumber''

''I will have your heads!! You are the palace guards, told to watch over her and make sure she doesn't go anywhere without my permission and knowledge, and yet you left her out of your sight?'' He is angry.

''My Lord '' He began. He was the one who had spoken to her in the morning. ''She had only told me she wanted to take a stroll to the gardens.''

''Oh, you do realize that she just sent you away from her tail you fool!!''

''But Sire''

''You will be relieved of your duties, all of you''

''My King, tender mercy, you know our daughter, she is impulsive and she doesn't listen'' Donna touches his arm.

''And they are supposed to follow my orders, yet they let her slip away. Have you looked and made sure she isn't in the palace?'' He inquired staring at them.

''She isn't my king'' They replied.

''Where else would she be then? Carry out a search party and bring her to me. If anything were to happen to the princess, your heads would be placed on a spike and i promise you, you will die a painful death''

They get up and scurry away.

''My King, surely she wouldn't be missing, She may have just needed a place to breathe, with all that we just dumped on her, surely..''

''That is not an excuse. She should behave. She cannot wake up and leave the Palace unprotected, that is one. And another, she is the Princess, we just told her that she is getting married, she ought to be thinking about it and how she can be presentable to her in-laws not hiding away. It would do her no good, i assure you. Did you speak with her''

''Aye, my king, but she would have none of it''

''That is not a choice Donna, she would accept it like it or not. She had better be far away from the kingdom and into the wilds because when they do bring her back, i will tie her to a chair ''

Donna smiles ''Oh you bluff my king, you would not hurt your daughter so, your love for her supersedes your anger''

''I should toughen that up. But i assure you, i would join her at my hip if i dare to, until she is married and under her lord, then lets see how she can wriggle out of it. In a month, she may be carrying a wee child in a stomach, that would tame her.''

''Yes, motherhood changes you'' She says remembering.

He turns to her and smiles ''But you glowed my Donna, while you carried our Princess you were the beauty under the sun.''

They smile at each other, he takes her hand and then kisses it.

''My King, young William, do you think he would be good for our daughter, he ..did not seem excited about the alliance either''

''Beaumont vouches for his son, and Beaumont is a good man, good lineage, a streak of royal blood in his line, albeit very very distant. He would not want us to be in-laws unless he knows how good a lad his son his and he knows i love my daughter and wants the best for her. Young William is a good lad, Beaumont assures me..''

''But he is opinionated, do not fear to express his displeasure.''

''Aye, that i see. Not afraid to want to challenge my words''

''Wouldn't that be a problem?''

He rubs his jaw ''I would have discarded my proposal immediately when i saw that but then again, Anna is rebellious, and he doesn't look like a pushover too. She wouldn't have her way with this one, he may tame her, two hotheads cannot be under a roof my lady, one would have to give''

''If they don't kill themselves first'' She points out.

He laughs ''Well, let us pass through the marriage first, we can discuss rules of engagement for battle with them later'' He laughs as Donna smiles.

''Oh, i cannot wait to see them have their first meeting, '' She touches her face ''You never know she may have a change of heart. He is a fine man young Williams and has handsome features. Their wee ones would be such angels. ''

He laughs ''Already seeing your grandchildren my lady?''

''Aye, i cannot wait to carry them in my arms and spoil them silly '' She curves her hands as tough a baby slept in them. ''Do you think i would be a god Grandmother?''

''You will be a fine one my Queen'' He leans in and then kisses her lips.

''You flatter me my lord'' she rests on his chest as she stares at him, then a sad smile appears on her face ''My Lord, my dreams may not come true, she is bitter, she may give him hell, i pity him already''

He nods as they resume walking '' She is fire our princess, i hope she doesn't burn him''

''Let's pray that he is ice then, my King..'' She smiles

''Oh, this would be a journey, a journey i hope becomes a beautiful reality.'' He says

''But, what if Beaumont comes with a rejection if he cannot convince his son?''

''We still have lord Middletons who is searching for matches my lady, Anna would be married before the month runs out my Queen, even if it is with a fat Lord and a bald hair'' he laughs

''Oh you are just devious my king'' Donna places her hands on her bosom stopping a laugh.

''No my lady, you must do the needful to tame a child, and she has gone haywire. i just wonder where she has gone to, maybe to the mountains or climbing trees again. ''

''We could ask Ameryl, she is her head handmaiden''

''Aha!'' He nods realizing it hadn't occurred to him. Just then, they saw her pass down the hall and into the kitchen with other serving maidens.

''Ameryl!!!! Ameryl!!!'' Donna calls.

She scurries to them from the kitchen ''Your highness'' she takes a bow, ''My King, you called''

''Where is your Lady, ?''

''I do not know my Queen!'' She lowers her eyes

''Ameryl?''

''I am sorry My King, My Queen, Sissie Veroness, The Barons court''

''Inform the guards to get her home immediately and do not lie to your lord again''

''I am sorry'' She scurries away.

''She is loyal that one'' They watch her hurry away.

''Hmm, no wonder Anna keeps her by her side'' The king says as they resume walking away.

''Allow her till evening my king before they go get her, she is the only friend she has..''

''Aye''

''Tell me my Queen, would would you want me to do for you today?' He rubs her hands

''Oh my lord, they are so many things my mind goes to, but a walk through the gardens and you telling the lovely story of when you first realized you loved me would tickle my heart''

''Aye my fair maiden, that i will tell. It was when..''

*

''Are you not going to speak to me all day my William?'' Duchess Brianna says coming to stand beside him.

He is standing in the balcony, overlooking the tall trees and the vast land in their province.

''Its not that Mother i just wish you and Papa spoke to me first about it. I am not a man, not a boy you can just command. i like to do my things when i please and choose and marriage is not a mere topic to be discussed over hale and pancakes Mama. Marriage is a permanent thing, and i would want to be married when i am good and ready, not before, but Papa is stubborn''

''No, your father is thinking of your future , you would have a better one with the Princess, ''

He shakes his head and turns to her '' Have you ever seen me to be fascinated with royalty Mama?''

''No''

''And you think what you said is supposed to get me excited to bed her and seal the deal?''

She sighs ''Give it a thought soon, marriage to the Princess would be good''

''For you and Papa, not to be. And i took hours off sleep and thought on it, my answer is still no. They should get the royal matchmaker to get a suitable alliance befitting. Royalty stretches far and wide, a prince not to far away with other kingdoms, not me..not me''

''What if you see her and change your mind, she is a beauty''

''Now you sound like Adrian forcing her beauty down the throat. I like my women who aren't just beautiful but submissive''

''You mean you like to be controlling?'' she frowns

''No Mama, i just do not like them to be wild as a rascal, i have heard plenty about the Princess and last time, in my wee little age, we didn't get on well, i got a spank from Papa and she was a dreadful child then, i doubt she has changed much, but what do i know, i was just a boy angry that some person dares to drag and apple with me. But i am a man now, you think i would want a woman who was like that as a child? No mama. Look, this has nothing to do with her character and looks, this has everything to do with the mere fact that i William De Beaumont is not ready to b chained down to a woman, i have dreams and exploits i want to embark on..not tied to some royal damsel, good or not. i refuse''

She sighs ''You have no choice son, you father insists. He has asked me to let you know that by the morrow , not the fort night we would go to the palace and give them our gifts of acceptance. The sooner the better before the King assumes we are not interested and accept another proposal for the Princess.''

''Oh Bollocks!!'' he runs his hands through his hair '''I am not going''

''Respect your father's decisions my love, he means well and it is a good alliances for us, not just for you, it is good for us, for our province. Think about your family for once''

''A family who is inconsiderate to their son's desires.''

She smiles and then places both hands to his face ''We are sensitive to your desires, but parents want the best for their children young Williams, and this is deemed best, take a moment to relax, on the morrow, we shall go see your bride, the princess, our in-law'' She kisses his cheeks and then leaves.

Adrian and Theodore comes to him ..

''I need to get some air'' he turns walking away

''You think he would be fine Duke Adrian?'' Theodore watches his friend

''Aye, he would be, i turned out okay did i not?''

''Aye you did.''

''Tell me, in your hearts of hearts, do you think this is a good alliance for Willy boy?''

''Well, that i do not know, if Papa says it is, then it is''

''You hold the Duke De Beaumont's words in high regards'' Theodore notes

''Aye, my father is rarely ever wrong, his instincts are always almost right, i stopped doubting when i became a happy man. Williams would see so too.''

''But what if this time he is wrong my good sir, Willy boy would be miserable for all his years to come, that can make a man lash out''

He sighs ''Let us pray that is not the case. Let us see their reaction towards each other on the morrow, if they are going to kill themselves then maybe Papa and the King would have a change of mind''

Theodore nods ''Cannot join in the entourage?''

''No!'''

''Why not, i wish to give my friend and brother support''

''No Theodore you just want to tag along for the royal dinner sure to take place if the proposal is accepted and maybe get a whiff of maidens in the palace knowing that their skin would be fair and succulent, beauty not compared to the maidens in other court, you are a slut Theodore a hungry male slut, who can sell his birthright for a peace of heaven within a woman's thighs and varieties of food before them.''

''I wear my crown proudly, but don't be a party popper, infact, i will just ask Williams, he doesn't refuse me''

Adrian laughs ''True, oh well, you both should go out, get him drunk, let him forget thinking, from the morrow, a new chapter begins for my willy boy. '' Adrian walks away.

Theodore makes his way down to Williams, he is standing at the river bank and tossing pebble into the water.

''You know, there is a saying that Marriage is a beautiful thing and he who has found a wife has found favor from the gods?'' He picks a pebble and tosses it into the water.

''I didn't find a wife Theo, she is been foisted on me, i do not see how that would give me favour. I tried speaking to Father about this and he is firm on his words. He wouldn't budge''

''So what would you do?''

''I would have to do what is necessary to make sure this doesn't happen''

''What do you mean Willy, boy?''

''If Papa would not reject this proposal as i have pleaded with him to, i would make sure she calls it off.''

''Who, the Princess?''

He nods staring at the pebble

''What devious thing is running through your mind, pray do tell my lord so i know what to write on your obituary paper''

''I would make her life a living hell''

''Oh you are the devil. You wouldn't dare frustrate the Princess just to get your way would you?'' Theodore opens his eyes wide in shock.

''That is exactly what i would do, or better still, i can go, leave here, just run away back to the hinder lands''

''He would disown you, Duke De Beaumont would''

''I will survive''

''Don't be stupid, home is where the heart is. You love your Pa too much to be on a silly rebellious journey!!!''

''I will be stupid Theo since everyone has gone quite mad, the king, Papa, all of them''

Theodore sighs ''Do me a favor Willy boy, do not make drastic decisions, this is no ordinary alliance, you have to think carefully. She is the Princess, she is Royalty, the king is her father, you do know how ruthless he can be. So, she is not a Lady you might want to hurt in anyway''

''I did not say i would hurt her you fool! i mean i would just be un-charming and all that just so that she knows that there is no way we can possibly be good matches, i will just make it difficult for her and when she is frustrated, she would order the alliance be broken , i would be a free man''

''What if it doesn't work, and you both be married before the royal family and the court and the Winchestershire kingdom, what if you both are tied to the hip for ever'

''Then i will make sure it is a bitter one'' he frowns

''Oh Williams i do feell sorry for you'' He says honestly. ''Here we thought we would come back, do what the hell we want, have them maidens chase after us and marry when we are old and grey and have no more flirting cell in our body, and die a happy death, now, you are being whisked away with chains and here i am still a free man. Am i selfish to be happy my parents have not thought of this horrid thing for me yet?''

''Yes, you are'' Williams smiles, he laughs

''Come, i am instructed to get you drunk, i know just the place, do we take horses and gallop through the lands?''

''Aye''