In The Land Of The Lost Princess

EPISODE 2

He moves to the window as he hears the sound of a carriage. With his hands tucked into his pants pockets, he watched his father emerge, trailed by a woman.

Steph's eyes nearly protrude from his head. He had never seen someone so radiant as the lady; she was truly gorgeous. Her eyes were marble-like in hue, but he couldn't determine what color they were. Her long, black hair fell freely over her shoulders. Her lips were pale pink, and they most likely felt cottony.

How in the world did his father meet a woman like that? She didn't look older than eighteen. With his new spouse, his father had truly excelled himself. This revelation would spark some interesting conversation among Londoners.

Steph laughed and followed the bashful maid, saying, "Master Steph your father send to make your acquaintance." You are such an unpredictable father.

Gwen struggled to find words. She had never seen a house so large. Counting the windows that were visible, she estimated that there must have been twelve rooms in all.

Gwen turned pale; she had forgotten why she was being pull away from her house—literally, drag, since she wasn't going into that carriage without a fight. "Come on Gwen. Let's go meet your future husband."

It was the moment of truth. It's time for her to confront her destiny and acknowledge what a horrible man she will marry. She followed the man, whom she had come to despise throughout the carriage ride, with sluggish feet. who, when he wants to, appears to be deaf. ignoring her persistent pestering while traveling.

The last words spoken by Lord Donald were, "Hello Archie, this is lady Helley."

She corrected, rolling her eyes, "It's Gwen."

"Is my son on his way?" Lord Donald asked her, giving her a strange look before turning back to his butler.

The Butler bowed and said, "Yes, your Grace."

"What news you have for me now?" Steph embraced his father, giving him a big hug. "Father, am I glad to see you."

Does Steph turn to face his stepmother more closely? She was younger than him, can he even call her that? With a monster's gaze, she was fixating on him. with such large brown eyes.

Gwen was taken aback by how attractive the man in front of her was! This was not going to be her spouse.

"I'll like to introduced you to--"

Gently, Steph lifted Gwen's hand and kissed it, saying, "I know father your wife."

"Nice to meet you lovely lady. I must admit I can't come to call you mother as yet--"

"Steph!" exclaimed Lord Donald, gazing at his son. "She is yours; she is not mine."

Steph turned to face his father and then turned to face Gwen in a shocked manner before he threw back his head and roared with amusement. "Father I thought you weren't one to jest."

His abrupt outburst caused Gwen to have a pang in her chest. She was strangely astonished by this. Why did she feel the way she did? It shouldn't matter how he reacts because she doesn't want to get married. Yes, but it did.

Lord Donald angrily replied, "I'm not jesting Steph. You to are to be married before sundown."

When Steph saw his father's severe expression, his face went pale. He was serious! "Father I would not marry her! Has everyone gone mad!"

With composure, Lord Donald approached the massive wooden table and took up the little silver bell, ringing it twice. Archie entered the room in an instant.

Gwen felt like a puppet being commanded what to do when someone instructed her, "Take Gwen up to her room and get her ready for her wedding." She was powerless to influence anything. "I assume her Lady's maid was already here?"

"Yes, my Lord," he bowed. "Come on, Gwen." Gwen left the room in a sour mood, trailing behind the cordial Butler. She needs to make the most of her newfound life since things has altered.

As soon as the door was closed, Lord Donald yelled at his son, "Steph, Steph." "Don't ever make the mistake of talking to me like that again."

Steph recognized a face from his many encounters. Compared to when he was a child, it has less of an impact on him now. His father had never physically abused him, but his reprimands were more than sufficient. With closed eyelids, he sighed, realizing that no matter how gorgeous she appeared, he could never marry that girl. It never occurred to him to get married.

"Father you can't forced me to marry a mere girl you picked up from a village that I know nothing about." Steph responded with anger.

After pouring himself a glass of whiskey and settling into a comfortable seat on the sofa, Lord Donald said, "Steph you sleep with woman you know nothing about. Marrying a stranger should not be so difficult."

He twisted the wine in his glass while examining his son's severe expression. A face that resembled him so much when he was younger. He could not allow his only son to squander his life on promiscuous women. "Son you know what your problem is?"

Steph put his hands over his face and sat on the other sofa, facing his heartless father. "If I have any problem, father is the girl you just brought here."

"w*****g is your problem. If you weren't acting like such a pig, I wouldn't have gone as far as I did to fetch you a wife." Lord Donald gulped down the whiskey and got up abruptly. Steph's head snapped up to stare at his father.

Steph stood up and pleaded, "Father please."

He grinned at his son and said, "You would marry Gwen before the day is out. I had already arrange everything the guest, the dress and." "the best man."

Steph's eyes widened at his father's organizational skills. It appears that he was the last to be informed about his nuptials. "Father David is on honeymoon."

His actual companion was the Earl of Birmingham, Lord David Cummings. Back at Eton, they accomplished everything together. Compared to Steph, who was taken aback to learn that he was marrying Lady Jennifer Clark, a baron's daughter, he was a far bigger rake. His companion was still on his honeymoon and appeared to be deeply in love. Dave was his other pal, and he was currently sailing the seven seas.

Steph glared at his father as the door slammed shut. "We'll see about that. Marrying this girl ain't a punishment Steph you will see but if you don't married her you would have me to deal with and inheritance and everything you own on this earth will be at stake."

His father had even gone so far as to threaten him with a woman he really wanted him to marry. Should he desire a wedding, he will undoubtedly receive one. His teeth chattered as he thought.

Gwen stepped into her new room, stunned. The bed was enormous, with white curtains encircling the outside. The butler silently closes the door behind Gwen, leaving her alone in the opulent chamber.

Her fingertips move over the plush, fluffy duvet that shields the bed. The white satin outfit in front of her makes her eyes widen in disbelief. It was stunning and appeared really costly. She approached the large cheval mirror next to the bed, adoring her appearance while clutching the dress to her body.

"You can admire it better,if you put it on"

Gwen jumped at the sound of the voice and spun to see a young maid grinning sweetly at her, "I'm Maggie, your lady maid." She curtsied.

Repositioning the gown on the bed, she smiled and replied, "I'm Gwen. I've never had a lady maid before."

The maid approached Gwen with a smile on her face and said, "Nothing to it really, now let's get you out of these clothes and into those." She pointed to the dress.

She replied in disbelief, sliding her long black hair over her shoulders so the maid could unbuttone the back of her gown, "Lord Donald wasn't jesting when he said I'll be married today."

" His grace don't jest my lady." She reply." Let's start with a bath, I'll have some warm water brought up here in a minute."

Gwen was at a loss for words. It was all occurring so quickly that she was having trouble keeping up. Even worse, she was unable to influence anything. The maid nodded and hurriedly headed downstairs to get the water ready.

"I never thought ,I'll live to see this day."

Now putting on his waistcoat, Steph turned to see his best friend standing there, a look of amusement on his face.

"I would have say nice to have you back here in Wessex but I'm pissed as hell. I can't believe my father had the audacity to bring back a wife for me. One I sure as hell ain't want. I don't even know her and to make things worst he even threatened me. This girl is just a naïve twelve year old who is just learning to grown up---"

David sarcastically asked, "Oh Steph, tell me how you really feel. Now tell me what's she like?"

He answered, adjusting his cravat. "she is alright, no wallflower I suppose."

"Hmmm"

"I have to go through with this silly wedding so you won't be able to find my body in a river or some sort." Steph said.

"You have a very active imagination there Josy. You're his only son and he wants the best for you." David responded,

"Jennifer, you've really grown on me in just one month. Two months from now, and you'll be a marshmallow," Steph said with a wry smirk to his pal.

David grinned from ear to ear and added, "It's love, my friend, and you will soon have it."

"My friend, that's not likely to happen." Steph put his hair back in a ponytail.

He sighed, "Let's just get this over with."

David arched a brow and questioned, "Where are your shoes?"

As if in line, the valet barged through the door, his teeth gleaming more brilliantly than the shoes. "My valet went to polish it. Seems like everyone was prepared except me."