Charles and Me

Chapter 4

"The King wishes to see you" Jacob informed me before walking away. I walked swiftly to keep up with him.

"Where is he?" I asked striding beside him.

"The courtroom I think" he stopped suddenly causing me to almost run into him "Do you remember the way?" he turned to face me.

"I think so" I replied trying to recall the directions he had given me yesterday. I had been here a week now and still struggled to find my way around the castle. I glanced at Jacob's face giving him a puzzled look. "Do I take a right at the kitchen or a left?"

Jacob sighed deeply "Neither, you go straight past the kitchen until you hit the stairs and then you....AHG I will just take you there myself". He began swiftly walking away again, as though he was in a hurry to be somewhere. Closely following behind I tried making mental notes so I wouldn't have to ask again. "We are going to have to make a quick stop before I take you there okay?!" he yelled back at me. He seemed to have picked up on his pace, almost running now.

"Okay!" I yelled back. Where could he be taking me? Finally he slowed down before coming to a halt in front of a large wooden door.

"Stay here" he said to me before entering the room. I could hear voices taking but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Leaning against the stone wall beside the door I started thinking about what the King might want to talk to me about. Without warning the huge door opened and out walked a very anxious Prince. "Hello" I said in shock.

He gave me a surprised look "Good morning" he said and bowed "If I may ask what you are doing?"

"Well.....I....Er...." I began.

"I was taking her to see the King" Jacob cut in.

"Well I am going to see him now, I can take her the rest of the way" Charles said.

"Very well Sir" Jacob replied sounding slightly relieved.

"This way" Charles gestured leading me back the way we came except this time we turned right just before we got to the stairs. "So are you settling in?" he asked glancing at me sideways.

"Yes but I am still getting lost as you very well know" I replied feeling a little embarrassed.

"Yes well it is easy to get lost but if needed ask the servants or even myself and we will point you in the right direction" he offered.

"Thank you" I smiled at him. He returned the smile to me.

"Well here we are" he pushed the doors opened and we entered the room together. The King was seated in his throne and seemed pleased to see us. "Father, you wanted to see us?"

"Yes, I have received word of Eleanor's arrival. She will be arriving tomorrow around noon" The King said.

"This is great news" Charles said. He turned to face me "I am quite sure you will like Eleanor, she is a very kind hearted person" he grinned "Much like yourself" I smiled at the compliment before shyly looking down at the ground.

"Jane, I trust everything has been prepared for Eleanor's arrival?" The King asked.

I looked up at the King and said "Yes, the last of her belongings were delivered yesterday my Lord".

"Excellent" The King seemed pleased "Well that is all". I bowed to the King before leaving the courtroom. I couldn't help but wonder what type of a person Lady Eleanor really was, Oh well I shall have to see for myself I concluded.