Rafe Sadler one shots

Maxwell House

Marriage is a funny thing.

It's complicated, messy and sometimes benefits knowone in the end.

But still for all of us it's unavoidable.

I knew someday I would have to be married, this was something I long understood as well as knowing my choice, opinions and feelings were all but irrelevant.

For some people in the world, castle maids and stable boys marriage can be for love or at the very least for lust. But even then sometimes for the sake of standing and coin you can be sold off still.

The higher you go the more likely that becomes and the concept of love is laughed at.

And I knew I could not escape this, I may have been born in a humble life, my father convinced the lord cromwell to take me in, teach me in the ways of business and of course as the time he was not the high level he is now.

I understood I would likely be married for the sake of business I had long come to terms with that fact, even if my heart so desperately longed to wed cromwell's eldest daughter, she was younger then me admittedly but I had grown so close with her we would talk often in the house often reading together of a dusky evening but nothing more. By the time cromwell entered the king's more direct service I understood we were Moving up on the world, going to court, to meetings to the king. I knew then that I had no hope. She would be arranged and wedded off to a lord and I'd be traded off for business even if it still hurt me when... when we lost the girls.

Liz had become like a mother to me, the girls my sister's when we lost them or broke us all. I like cromwell just focused on the work at hand we had enough weddings to worry about with the king and his so rapid changing favours. But one day he called me to his office.

"You asked to see me my lord"

"Of course yes. Come in rafe" he nods as he pushed away some paperwork I nodded and took a seat across the desk from him as he toyed with some papers "your not getting any younger, are you rafe?"

"No sir"

"Sometimes I look at you and can be convinced you are" he laughs making me chuckle a little

"Sometimes when looking in the mirror I admit I fool myself that"

"Many boys your age have long since formed their own households" he says "I know you have always been one to put yourself fully into your work rafe but, I think we both know the time has come" he says

And regrettably I nodded I knew it was time any longer it would be a struggle to go at all "I have been in communication with your father, as I agreed as part of your training that I would help to make sure you got a good match and after some... debating we have arranged a match for you"

"You have?" I asked a little surprised

"Do you recall of the Y/l/n's?"

"Briefly my lord, often times in passing"

"They have a daughter"

"They do? I have not heard of her?" I pondered I had heard of the y/l/n's connections to the earl of lincoln and if I recall they had an impressive Manor somewhat snuggly on the cambridge and lincolnshire border, I know the Lord for long well with lord norfolk and often was with him in times of importance. But I had never heard of their daughter, never seen her at court or even heard mention of her perhaps she was kept a secret as many women in lordly families are to prevent issues arising.

"We discussed the match at length and she is happy if you are"

"I would be happy" I nodded

"Good we'll get it finalized then" he nods "I'd suggest you start packing"

I nodded and headed out to my room looking at the life I had accumulated since I had been here, to think I was to be married, I'd be lord of the Maxwell house, married to the daughter of the y/l/n's.

I made sure I had everything I wanted to take with me, I said my goodbyes and climbed on my horse. I followed the staff member who has come to help take me out to the house who was currently pulling my belongings onna cart and I followed behind them making sure nothing was lost. We journeyed for a fair while before I saw it on the horizon this tall sticking stone house with vast fields and gardens surrounding it the began unpacking my things and I was greeted by the lord himself

"Ahh master rafe Sadler, my son in law to be" he smiled giving me a hug which I accepted a little unsure what else to say "as handsome as they said." He laughs

"Indeed" the lady smiled "I'm sure our daughter will be thrilled to meet you" she smiled as we headed inside it was a beautiful house with dark wood fixings an impressive chandelier and all sorts of other beautiful items

"Would I be able to meet her?"

"Not until your wedding she's rather... privet girl"

I accepted that and headed up to a small guest room for the next couple of days.