CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

*

'''Argh!! i swear to the gods that i wanted to fling him over the balcony and rid him of his head from his body. I wanted to watch him writhe in pain and beg for mercy as i had hoped Papa would have made them flog him but no, what does he do, Embarrass me by ordering me to apologize to the fool. The fool who dared to spank my tush, my tush? I do not remember when last that was done, ever! And he, that dreadful vile man dared to touch me and Papa rather orders that i apologize to him? Oh dear heavens, give me a moment with him again and i would pour hot coal on his head and watch him melt into oblivion'' Annalise is furious as she paces the length of her room as Sissie Veronese watches her

''So you slapped him, twice. You slapped a man twice, surely you have gone quite mad. What have you been drinking these days Anna?''

Annalise turns to her;'He spanked me, several times, do you not listen?''

''I do, but you hit him first, surely your madness has gone over a hundred bolts, did you possibly think the King would have applauded you? He isn't like that Anna, he is your father and you should know his actions by now; he only renders punishments to whoever only they have really offended and you went the first strike and because he cannot punish you thus, he has to let something give but..he sees reason, he sees Williams anger and he sees your uncultured behavior''

''Argh, my uncultured behavior?'' Annalise is shocked.

''Aye, un-lady-like and un-Princess-like as well. You slapped a man twice? I never did think i would see the day a lady does that but..Anna is no lady, she be another breed,'' Sissie says shaking her head ''But your Williams, he is something, see the way he stood up for himself infront of the king and spoke, with authority..i tell you my Princess, your husband is one that cannot be pushed around, not even by you, i tell you your verdict..you have a strong one to contend with'' she smiles ''How do you proceed my lady, going in with a white clothe or with armor'

''He is not my Williams, nor my husband and there is no going in ..there is staying out. And with what has happened, surely, my father and mother is not blind to see that this is a disastrous match and i would not be surprised if they be kicked out despite my half-baked apology and their proposals and gifts be given back to them. Papa may not like my behavior but he wants my happiness and he would see that we cannot be together as be wedded. I would wait and go out, you would see , i would be a free lady again..''

''What if they do not call it off, and by the week's end, they be announcing your engagement?''

''They would call it off, i know my Papa, i know my Mama..they put me first'' She says sitting on her bed ''But I swear to the heavens, Williams De Beaumont..if we dare be in thesame room again, i would give him hell, i promise you''

''Oh, be prepared then, he looks like he likes to give tit for tat''

Annalise scoffs ''I wouldn't give him the chance to Sissie, this was a strike, there wouldn't be another one and whenever i see him, i would make him crawl''

Sissie laughs ''I do not see that happening but...i like your optimism my Princess, very..refreshing if i might add''

''Oh enough of that dreadful fellow, pray tell me, how is Blue eyes?''

Sissie rolls her eyes 'My Lady, you rather think of my long distant cousin?''

''He is breathtakingly handsome, strong arms..beautiful kissable mouth''

Sissie laughs nudging her ''How slutty my Princess, your books are residing in your head..''

''No my dear friend, i want a man that can weaken my knee, you know like the books, Blue eyes is...so Blue eyes'' She gushes.

They laugh

''Pray, tell him to come to the Debutante ball, surely i would want to have him walk me out and be the envy of most ladies and maybe to spite my parents..and if that horrid fellow Williams be present, he would see how radiant i look without his scruffy self beside me,..argh!! Why my papa think he be a good match, is beneath me, God!!! ''

''Maybe he sees a potential and do not let Philip into your head;''

''Why, anything wrong with the fine dashing fellow?'

''No, you are a Princess''

''Yet...they brought a duke for me be married to''

''Philip is no Duke..he is a Venodor, Viscount of Bavador''

''Even better, i do not want some royal bore anyways, as long as he can stare at me with beautiful eyes, serenade me with beautiful voice and make me shiver from his touch..i would take him and wed him''

Sissie is laughing ''Oh my friend, you had anything to drink? I need to know where the madness be seeping from''

''Aye, only water, maybe it has vile Williams in it''

They laugh again.

*

''Hey calm down Duke Adrian'' Theodore stands between them,

''If you were still a wee little lad, i would have whipped you little brother, what audacity you had to spank the Princess?' Adrian is angry ''See how you made Mama and Papa and other relatives go on their knees to beg for your stupidity. Why Williams, why?''

''She hit me!''

''She is the Princess, you take it''

Williams laughs angrily ''Ha, i wonder, you think me to be a fool and tell her thank you for such behavior, no brother, i will not and if she does it again in would spank her again. I would not tolerate it and kiss bottom just because she is the crowned Princess''

''Oh you little'' Adrian tends to grab his hand, Theodore stops it

''Relax Duke Adrian, everyone is under obvious tension, you do not want to have scruffle with your brother in the palace?''

''No i merely only want to show him that he may be a man but i can still show him i am his older brother and he should listen to me ''

''Brother, you are not fit to take me but nevertheless, i have no intent on scruffling with you. Look, i would not tolerate her behavior, that is all i have to say. I only pray that Papa and Mama have severed our alliances because heavens forbid i be wedded to that..lady''

Adrian shakes his head, Theodore nudges Williams ''Hush man, just because the King forgave you doesn't mean he would appreciate if you be talking about his Princess like this''

''I am not in the best of moods Theo, it's all annoying, they expect me to be happily wedded to her, no Theo..that won't happen. Thank the heavens this occurred, now they would call it off''

''I pray they do, so that you do not cause the King's wrath to fall on us because of your actions'' Adrian throws at him.

Williams nods ''I would gladly accept their refusal, looking forward to that''

Adrian shakes his head and walks away to go seat down, Theodore turns to him

''Williams, that was rather uncalled for you know?'

''No, what was uncalled for is this match''

Theodore sighs ''be careful Willy Boy, the King should be annoyed..''

Williams smiles ''Oh Theo, you do not understand do you, i would do anything to make sure this doesn't happen my good friend, and i would ensure to blow out little matters to the overboard proportions. But, i think this has already done the job..i only await their entrance and Papa and Mama saying that we should go home and take back our gifts.''

''Aye, so are you telling me that you acted all this to get the desired results?''

''No, she really did overstepped, slapping me, me Williams? She is uncultured..i only reiterated in a like manner and because i very well cannot hit a lady, i merely spanked''

''That is hit-a-lady Willy boy''

''No that is a correction tool for a child, and she be a spoilt one, her attitude is displeasing, God forbid i have a wife of such nature''

''Aye..pray then that you wish comes to pass''

''It will, De Beaumonts would want a respectful daughter in-law, Princess or not, Papa would reject it i know, see how she spoke, no regards''

''I could say the same for you, you are lucky the King is kind-hearted..your head would have been leveled ground with your feet''

''Aye, good thing''

They turn when the King and his father walks in, everyone stands. the Queen and the Duchess come through from the rear door that leads out to the garden, they are laughing and talking.

''Fetch the Princess'' he turns to a guard.

Adrian stands up and walks to them.

''Here we go, i would ensure to keep a sad face when Papa or the King tell us of the severed alliances with the royal Princess'' Williams says hopefully.

''Just know, Papa would ensure you find an ugly damsel large enough not able to fit through your door for punishment when we get home''

''Aye, i would take that over the Princess any day Brother'' Williams says ''Tarry, watch me perform a sad feature when the King makes a formal announcement of my severed match..i would love to dance out of here but i would coordinate myself till i am beyond this walls and i would take you on your offer Theo, go into the town and drink till mama calls. Yes?''

''Aye my lord..to your bachelorhood, it was already getting boring without you being my wing man'' Theodore smiles,

Adrian shakes his head giving up. ''Fool, you lots are. Very well,if it pleases you, so be it. ''

''Aye, it does!' Williams smiles expecting the goof news.

*

Annalise nods to the guard and then turns to Sissie, pushing her door wide open to see Ameryl and the others waiting.

''Shall we then Sissie, i would dare not miss their expression when they tell us the match is being rejected'' Annalise says as she is being ushered back into the hall.

''You would be happy?''

''Over the moon, over the stars and over the heavens'' She smiles

*

The Royal announcer stands before them '' Today, here before the royal family and others present and that of the De Beaumonts family and relatives here in present, we make an official announcement that would be spread across the lands for proper information so that the announcement is not distorted and speculations carried as facts, and that by virtue of this announcement, other things in relation of the matter would be severed.''

''See, i told you Papa would call it off ''Annalise whispers to Sissie who she allowed to stand beside her as she sat next to her mother the queen and her father the King.

''I , the Royal announcer makes this declaration as ordered by the king and accepted by all therein.. that today, being the fifth in the month of the third quarter, that by virtue of the proposal brought for the Princess's hand, with the gifts here in taken, that we have come to the conclusion our desire for the alliance..and with the situation thus placed before us and with careful deliberation, this is our stance on the matter and we hope that those here in present and party to the proposal would take in good faith and act accordingly in love and respect towards each other..''

''See, i told you father wouldn't want this to go on..i told you'' Williams leans towards his brother and says,

Theodore smiles ''Aye, you are a seer then Willy boy, it sounds as though you be a free man earlier than anticipated''

''Go on, be merry..do not come begging father you want to marry when he declares you be a bachelor all the days of your life.

Williams scoffs ''I do not even desire to for now..so..he can have at it for a bit''

''The royal family... '' the royal announcer continues ''..Hereby again accept the proposal of the De Beaumonts family as earlier stated, but now, they have concluded the engagement and thus...Duke Williams De Beaumont and Princess Annalise Jane -Jacobs, Crowned Princess of Worcestershire are officially engaged to be married on the by the last quarter of the the Royal calender year and by virtue of this engagement, all other matches would be refused and by virtue of this engagement, Williams De Beaumont would be her company for the debutante where they would show themselves to the whole of Worcestershire and further more, where she desires to go, he is expected to protect her as his future wife and be there in present for all functions as befitting the role of a husband.

''Their first function as an engaged pair, they are to represent the Royal family at the Green vertigo council meeting by tonight, as the King and the Queen would be indisposed to attend'' .

Williams and Annalise's mouth drops open to the floor.