Her knight

Chapter Two

“Anna! Anna!” Vanessa called out. She had searched the whole castle for anna after she had run out and had finally come to their mother’s garden to search for her.

“Here sister,” came the tiny voice. Vanessa followed the direction she heard the sound coming from and found her sitting under the fountain. Her eyes were puffy and her red, evidence that she had been crying.

“You shouldn’t be too upset Anna. I won’t be leaving you,” Vanessa said and sat beside her.

“How I’m I suppose to believe that? You heard papa. He can’t stop the marriage. I can’t lose you too. I’ll be so alone.”

“You are not losing me and you won’t be alone. You have Elodie.

“But she can barely stand up to Gwendolyn and she hardly talks to anyone. She always keeps to herself.”

“Well that might change if she knows you need her and I will talk to her.”

“Thanks, but I prefer you don’t. I’ll have to learn how to stand up for myself,” Anna murmured and bent her head.

“I’ll write to you always and I will send for you once I’ve settled down. You can come visiting from time to time.”

“I can?” she asked looking up.

“Yes. Once my husband approves and papa gives his consent.”

“That’s a lot of approval.”

“But not something impossible, so cheer up. I hate to see you so sad,” Vanessa said giving her a hug.

“Lady Vanessa! Lady anna!” a maid called out. She has obviously been looking for them.

“Over here!” Vanessa called out.

“Thank goodness!” the maid exclaimed. She seemed out of breath. I searched everywhere for you.

“What is it?” Vanessa asked.

“Lady Katherine said to inform you both that dinner will soon be served and to make yourself available at the table.”

“Alright. We’ll be there in 5 minutes.” The maid curtsied and left. Vanessa stood up and smoothened her gown. “You must be starving cause I am. What do you say to us going there and stuffing ourselves up,” Vanessa asked stretching her hand to Anna who smiled weakly and took the outstretched hand. They got to the dining and found their seats.

“I thought you both were also not coming for dinner,” Elodie commented when they sat down.

“How will I decline dinner knowing it may be the last time we all have to sit together this way for a long time,” Anna said receiving the cup of water from the maid.

“Elodie, you said also. Who else is not coming for dinner?” Vanessa asked.

“Lady Gwendolyn,” Elodie murmured with her mouth stuffed with food.

“Why? She just arrived from a long journey. I’ll go talk to her.” Vanessa stood up and made for Gwendolyn’s room. When she got to her room, she knocked on the door and entered when Gwendolyn gave permission. She quietly closed the door and stood by the door as she scanned the room. It was quite dark inside and she had to make her eyes get adjusted to the darkness. She soon spotted lady Gwendolyn lying on the bed. she walked up to the bed and sat down.

“Lady Gwendolyn, dinner is being served but I heard you aren’t coming for dinner? Is anything the matter?”

“Nothing Vanessa. You should be eating your dinner. What are you doing here?”

“I came to persuade you to come join us for dinner. You just arrived and must be hungry.”

“Well I’m not and I will like to be left alone.”

“Then can I send a maid to bring yours for you here. You may have need for it later.”

“Do as you please,” Gwendolyn told her and pulled the quilt to cover her shoulder. Venessa knew she had just been dismissed so she left the room, closing the door quietly and making her way to the dining. Her father had already joined them.

“I was told you went to fetch Gwendolyn. Where’s she?” Lord henry asked.

“Well she wants to rest so I will ask a maid to send her dinner up later.”

“Good. Eat your food because you will need your strength.”

“Yes papa.”

Katherines marriage was awesome and it ended quite on time so the guest could rest up for Vanessa’s marriage the next day. Lady Gwendolyn was not in attendance. She had claimed she wasn’t feeling so well and her father had sent up a doctor but Katherine and her sisters knew she didn’t want to attend the wedding ceremony. Katherine begged Lord Felix to allow them witness her sister’s marriage and he gladly agreed.

*****

Vanessa stared into the mirror. She could hardly recognize her selfish. Today, she was looking more like the splitting image of her mother. She had found it very difficult to sleep the night before. She was going to be married to a total stranger who had not even bothered to seek her out for a conversation or get to know her.

“Do you think I will be happy?” she asked Margaret who was instructing the maid on how to decorate her hair.

“Does my opinion matter sweet child?”

“You know it does matter a lot.” Margaret heaved a sigh and signaled to the maid to leave.

“I’ll take it from here,” she said and collected the gold design from the maid who curtsied and left. “When your mother, Lady Angela came to me seeking my opinion about marrying your father knowing he had been married to her sister, I told her that if she really loves your father, she should marry him. The dead had no reason to deprive her of her happiness.”

“And what do you think I should do?”

“Same thing I told your mother. Don’t let a memory from your childhood deprive you of your present happiness.”

“You still remember him? I thought you must have forgotten by now,” Vanessa said blushing. She had fallen in love with a boy she had met in the woods when she had been ten.

“How could I? You talked about him nonstop everyday and went into the woods to wait for him until your father had to ban you from going out.”

“It must have been tiring.”

“No child. You were just in love. Love is a good thing. Always remember that.”

“Thanks, Mag. I knew I could always count on you.”

“Here,” Margaret turned the chair she sat on so she could face the mirror. Vanessa was short of words at her appearance. She turned her face from left to right to get a better view of herself.

“Gracious me!” she exclaimed finally. “I can hardly recognize myself.” She touched the jade pendant on her neck. This was her first time seeing it. “Where did you get this from?” she asked Margaret. “I’ve never seen it.”

“Your mother asked that you be given the necklace on your wedding day.”

“It’s beautiful. I’m so thankful. You took care of us when mama died. We wouldn’t have been able to come this far without you.”

“It was the little I could do for the children I came to love.” She took Vanessa’s hand and assisted her to stand up. Its time to show your groom that he has a beautiful bride. Vanessa hugged her then she took in a long breathe and walked towards the door with Margaret closely behind her. The chapel was filled with guests. Her sisters sat on the front row together with Lord Felix. Gwendolyn was present to her surprise. Her father walked her down the aisle like they had practiced the night before. He handed her over to Sir Adam who smiled and took her hand. Vows were exchanged and it soon came to the part she had been dreading. The kiss. The priest proclaimed them man and wife and declared that he could kiss the bride. Vanessa closed her eyes and waited. She didn’t know what he will do.

Adam looked at his beautiful bride. The ceremony had been fast and they were now man and wife. He didn’t know what to do and if she would want it but the priest had said he could kiss his bride and his beautiful bride had closed her eyes. Was she scared? he wandered. He smiled and bent placing his lips on hers. She tasted just as he had imagined. The congregation stood up and clapped some shouting their congratulations. He ended the kiss and looked at har as she slowly opened her eyes. Her emerald eyes which was a match with her necklace stared at him for a moment before she shyly lowered them to the ground. They turned and faced the congregation amidst the noise. Adam leaned closely towards her and whispered “You don’t have to be so shy. We are now husband and wife. By the way, you look absolutely beautiful.” Vanessa blushed but said nothing. Shall we he asked her talking her hand as they walked down the aisle side by side. The marriage ceremony took place in the great hall. Vanessa ate very little as she couldn’t stomach much. Together they received congratulations from the guests with Adam doing most of the talking and she just mostly smiling until her cheek ached. At a later hour, Margaret came to take her to their room to prepare her for the night and with her husband’s permission she left the hall amidst jeers from the guests. The walk to the room she was to share with her new husband was dreadful. Katherine was already waiting for her there when they arrived.

“You look like you are a lamb being taken to the s*******r,” Katherine admonished her. “It’s your wedding night not your execution night.”

“It might as well be my execution night. I’m scared Kat. I don’t know what to do?”

“Do nothing,” Katherine told her as Margaret brought her night gown and helped her out of her wedding dress into the night gown.

“What do you mean by that? Mag told us that what happens in the marriage bed is between the man and the woman so how I’m I to do nothing.

“I can’t really explain in words but trust me, you’ll enjoy it. I was scared too but I can’t wait to be with my husband again. No wonder the married couples never leave their beds. I thought there was more going on in the bedroom but soon you won’t want to leave either,” Katherine told her with a blush.

“I doubt that. What do you think Mag?” Vanessa asked her. Margaret led her to the bed and made her sit down then she placed a kiss on her forehead.

‘Listen to you sister. Everything will be just fine. Trust me. Now lay down,” she encouraged her and after she had laid down placed the quilt over her. “I will just be across the hall should you need me. You can also sleep as you await his arrival. You are married to a fine man. He will treat you well.”

“Thanks, Mag.”

“Let’s go,” Margaret told Katherine. “She needs her rest.”

“Good night Essa,” Katherine said placing a kiss on her forehead.

“Good night Kat,” she replied as they left the room. She could hardly close her eyes as Margaret had encouraged her to do. She kept tossing around. Her mind kept going back to the kiss they had shared at the altar. She had felt shivers down her spin. ‘Was that how everyone felt when kissed,’ she thought.

Adam climbed the stairs on his way to his room. He had just escaped the drunk lot who had insisted on witnessing the wedding night. Though his escape had been through the help of his father in law. He couldn’t wait to be with her. He had waited quite long for this day. As he approached his room, he noticed a woman standing there and as he got closer, he recognized her as the nanny. The older lady curtsied when he got to the door.

“Where’s she?” he asked her. She hesitated but she must have made up her mind on what to say.

“She’s inside,” she began. “I waited here so I could talk to you.”

“Alright but I don’t have much time. My bride awaits and it will be wrong to keep her waiting.”

“You are a knight so you must be a man of honor. She’s scared and doesn’t know what to do. I beg of you, be gentle with her and be kind to her.”

“I will ma’am. If that’s all, can I go in now?” Margaret moved out of the doorway and he opened the door and entered the room. Her walked to the dresser and took off his clothes then he walked to the bed. she didn’t make a sound so he assumed she must be sleeping. He sat down and looked at her as she breathed quietly. This was going to be his experience for a very long time. He smiled at the thought of that. He pushed aside the duvet and laid down and covered himself. That action must have woken her because she turned and when she saw him, she suddenly sat up.

“M’lord I’m sorry. I didn’t notice you enter. I fell asleep.”

“You don’t need to apologize. You must have been tired. You can go back to sleep. I’m the one who should be sorry for waking you up.”

“Why should I go back to sleep?” she asked him. “What... what about the marriage act?” she asked with her head bent. Adam sat up and smiled. His wife was sure a bold one.

“You should look at me when you say that,” he said lifting her chin to face him.

“I’m sorry m’lord if I offended you.” She tried to free her chin but he wouldn’t let her.

“It’s Adam. My name is Adam and I want you to call me that. Go on say it,” he encouraged her.

“Adam,” she murmured.

“I can’t hear you. And look at me when you say it.” She lifted her eyes and fixed her gaze on him.

“Adam.”

“You have such beautiful eyes. My beautiful Essa. Did I tell you how beautiful you looked today?”

“Yes m’lord…I mean Adam.”

“You don’t have to be scared of me. I won’t hurt you. I will never hurt you.” He bent his head and kissed her. She felt the shiver go down her spin again. “I was being considerate towards you but I can’t wait to have you,” he murmured and touched her breast through the night gown. Vanessa nearly jumped. She has never felt this way before. ‘Was this what Katherine was talking about or is it just the beginning?’ She closed her eyes and allowed him to take her to the place he wanted.