Her knight

“You are really endowing me today, Mag,” Katherine told the older woman who has been standing behind her for over an hour trying to get her stubborn wavy auburn hair into the right style. “You have to look your best today of course,” Margaret replied with a smile. “Thank you very much Mag. You have been more than a nanny to us.” Margaret bent and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “This is the little I can do m’lady. Your mother would have wanted you to look more. She would have been very proud,” Margaret said squeezing her shoulder. She had been Lady Angela who was Katerina’s mother’s nanny and had followed her when she had got married to Lord Herbert and had become her children’s nanny too. “Now I have to hurry up to go to your sisters before they kill themselves from waiting. You know how very impatient they can be.” “Especially Anna,” Katherine chipped in. “Do I hear someone gossiping about me?” came the tiny voice from the door way. Both Katherine and Margaret turned to the door to see a smiling Anna. She was the last of five girls and was very mischievous at thirteen. Elodie who was the fourth daughter were soon behind her “Wow you look magnificent Kat!” Elodie exclaimed. “And what’s going on here?” Lord Henry Herbert Earl of Pembroke said with a laugh. “Good morning papa,” the girls chorused. “Good morning m’lord,” Margaret curtsied and left the room. “Good morning my angels. My goodness I can hardly recognize you lot. Looks like I won’t just be losing Kat today.” Katherine stood up and went over to him and hugged him. “You won’t be losing me papa. I’ll come visiting. I promise. But I can cancel the marriage if you want. There’s still time,” she said placing her palms on his cheeks. “And have your mother roll in her grave. No way. She would have been super excited today.” “Good morning papa,” greeted Vanessa who had just entered the room. She was the third daughter. “Oh, my darling! How you look so much like your mother,” Henry said giving Vanessa a kiss on both cheeks. A tear escaped his eyes and she wiped them away. “Oh, papa you don’t have to make yourself sad by looking at my face. I could wear a hood,” she told him. “What nonsense. I love you just the way you are. What I’m I doing? He smiled and cleaned his face with his palms. “Today is a joyful day. No tears. Come here my girls.” he said and spread his arms as the girls rushed to fit in. “I love you all. Don’t doubt that.” “We love you too papa,” they told him. “Alright papa we have to go,” Katherine said breaking out from the hug. “I’ll go ahead. Good luck”, he said and left the room. “Behave yourself anna,” Katherine said looking directly at Anna. “I don’t want you playing one of those your games or I may be forced to ask a maid to lock you up.” “Okay sister,” Anna said bowing her head. “Don’t worry,” Vanessa told her. “I will keep an eye on her.” “Please do. Let’s go. The guests are waiting,” Katherine told them and made for the door closely followed by Elodie. “Do you think I will great a fuss today?” “No. you have always been a lovely child though peculiar and besides I will be just right beside you,” Vanessa said smoothing her hair. “Now let’s hurry down before she sends a maid after us.” They hurried down to the great hall just as Katherine was about to send a maid for them. “What happened?” Katerina asked when they stood beside her. “We are sorry we are late,” Vanessa apologized. “Lest I forget, Lady Gwendolyn is arriving tomorrow,” she informed them. Everyone one turned to her in shock “How convenient for you to inform us now,” Vanessa told her. “Oh no! This castle will be hell for us,” Anna cried. “It doesn’t have to be so long as you obey all the rules.” “There are so much rules sister,” Anna complained. “Vanessa watch her unless you wish to see Papa’s sad expression.” “Alright.” Katherine took a deep breath and signaled for the guard to open the door which they did and they all walked graciously into the great hall. They all stood by the left side of their father as he welcomed the guests except Katherine who stood by his right side. When the last guest had entered and the door shut the Lord Herbert Earl of Pembroke stood up to make his speech. He signaled for the hall to quiet down and when a pin drop could be heard he began. “I welcome every lord and lady present in this great anniversary. I am grateful you honored my invitation and have travelled from far and wide. As stated in the invitation, today is also the day my first and second daughters the lovely Lady Gwendolyn who I must apologize for her absence and Lady Katherine who is standing by my right is to choose a groom. Also, I have my third, fourth and fifth daughters here by my right, Lady Vanessa, Lady Elodie and Lady Anna.” They all curtsied as he introduced them. There were whispers in the hall and once again lord henry signaled for silence. “Let the feast begin.” The hall became noisy almost at once. Young men tried to get Katherine’s attention and a place in her dance card. Soon the servants began to troop in with the food and everyone moved to the great dinning. Katherine sat between her father and a young earl; Anna sat on the other side beside their father followed by Elodie. Vanessa sat between two young knights. Throughout the dinner, the knight by the left of Vanessa said little to nothing while the other one flirted with her. By the time the ceremony came to an end, they were very exhausted. Some guests left while some stayed in the prepared rooms. ***** “Lord Herbert!” called out Lord Felix Courtenay. He was the present Earl of Devon “Yes, my friend. Hope you enjoyed yourself yesterday?” “More than I expected.” “I can you grinning widely,” Henry whispered. “Tell me what have you found.” “I have taken a liking to Lady Katherine and will like to make her my wife.” “How lucky my Katherine must be that she should be wife to a young and wealthy earl such as you.” “Well, if it pleases you, I will like the marriage to be the day after tomorrow.” “So soon? Well as you wish. If you will excuse me, I have to inform her of the recent development,” he said and walked off. The dowry was paid that day and preparations were made for the wedding. Lord Courtenay requested for little crowd so lord Henry sent out invitations to the neighboring lords. The guests who didn’t leave were informed of the marriage and they stayed back. In the evening of the next day, a young knight, Sir Adam Howard walked up to Lord Herbert as he was taking a stroll in the garden. “Good evening Lord Herbert.” “Good evening Sir Adam. How are you finding your stay?” “Marvelous. Thanks for your hospitality. There is a matter of importance I want to speak with you about.” They walked up to a bench and sat down. “Alright. I’m listening.” “I wish to take your daughter as my wife.” “Dear lord! But you are a day too late. Lord Felix of Devon already asked for her hand in marriage.” The knight smiled. “Not Lady Katherine but Lady Vanessa.” “My jewel. Don’t you consider her young. She’s but only eighteen.” “And will make a pleasant and beautiful bride. You raised her well. She’s calm and well mannered. I’ve been watching her. She’s ripe for marriage Lord Herbet. I hope you tell her of my intentions and if it pleases you, I will like the marriage to hold the day after her sister’s marriage.” “Sure.” A guard came and whispered to Lord Henry. “I must take my leave now. I have just been informed that my first daughter Lady Gwendolyn just arrived.” “How unfortunate. I shall explore your garden alone then.” ***** “Oh papa!” Lady Gwendolyn said and gave her father a hug when he entered the room. “I’ve missed you. You look younger than I remember,” she said after she broke from the hug. “And you have always been beautiful.” “Something I inherited from my mother,” she said smiling while Anna rolled her eyes. Gwendolyn was the only child Henry got from his first marriage to Lady Georgina which he was forced into by his parents. She had died giving birth to their second child and the babe had died days later. After which he had been able to marry his first love Lady Angela but she too had died of a riding accident when Anna was five. Lord Henry looked around the room and sighed. “It’s good that you all are here. I know you are just arriving but I will like to relay an important information.” “Go on papa,” Gwendolyn told him. “I’m not that tired.” “I am very happy that I have you beautiful daughters. It’s not news that I don’t have a son but whosoever marries Gwendolyn will become the Earl of Pembroke. Yesterday I celebrated the anniversary of my marriage to Lady Angela.” Gwendolyn gave a smirk. “The anniversary was also an avenue for Lady Gwendolyn and Lady Katherine to choose a husband though Lady Gwendolyn missed it,” he said looking at her. “Not intentionally papa.” “An earl, Lord Felix of Devon declared his intentions to marry Katherine and the marriage is to take place tomorrow,” he said looking at Katherine and found her giggling. He heaved a sigh and continued. “There is also another matter at hand.” “What else papa?” asked Anna “You shouldn’t interrupt Anna,” Gwendolyn scolded. “I’m sorry,” Anna apologized. “Sir Adam Howard, a favored knight of King James has also asked to marry Vanessa and has requested the marriage be the day after Katherine’s marriage.” All eyes turned to a dumbfounded Vanessa. “What nonsense papa!” fumed Gwendolyn. “How can my two younger sisters get married before me.” “Gwendolyn this is on you. You clearly know what the anniversary was for. You choose not to attend.” “It was for me and Katherine. I told you I was okay with Katherine since I’m all but three years older not Vanessa who I’m six years older. You’ve got to stop the marriage papa.” “Yes papa,” Vanessa chipped in. “I don’t want to get married yet.” “My jewel. I would love to, believe me. But I cannot withhold your marriage to Sir Adam. He is not just a knight to King James but a favored one and he is also family to the king. His mother is a cousin to the king. The risk of denying him anything is too much. I don’t want to make an enemy of the king. “No papa no. Not Vanessa!” cried Anna as she ran out. “Anna! called out Vanessa following her closely at her heels. Katherine and Elodie also left leaving Gwendolyn alone with their father. “I never expected this father,” Gwendolyn told him. “Neither did I,” he told her as she left the room in tears.