Empire of Dreams

*14*

How does it feel to know that your sisters fear you?

I could feel how shaken Elizabeth and Mary were after I put the bartenders in their places. The men scurried away in fear and served us in silence but it was not shame or repetence I saw in their actions, only fear.

I was beginning to understand what Catherine meant when she said men had their way.

Mary thanked me for saving her, but if she thought I missed the look of horror she gave Elizabeth, she must have been mistaken. We finished our food and drinks, called the footman to stop a carriage and take us back.

The next few days were spent in silence with me in my room most of the time, working on the dresses while Elizabeth was mostly somewhere or the other, only coming back to the castle for lunch and dinner. Mary would sulk in corners discreetly sometimes while the other times she would sulk openly in either the garden directly visible from my balcony or in my room.

Finally came a loving but stern order from Aunt Catherine, you will be a guest there no long. I was summoned at the earliest convenience and decided I was only available after four very busy days. Catherine didn't like being negotiated with, but I guess she'll have to deal with it for now.

Mary was somewhat teary eyed. Why do you have to go? Can't we stay together? Elizabeth wouldn't leave me alone, staying with me wherever I went. You're going to the market? I'll come with you. You are stitching something? I'll sit there and write. I was going to miss them and I knew it, but both Mary and Elizabeth were adamant not to join me at Sudeley because of my Uncle.

I did not want to join Harlowe and her mother and be miserable again but I also knew I couldn't stay with Elizabeth forvever. So I packed my bags gloomily and walked around the colourful gardens for one last time. I will come back soon I promised the flowers and slowly, I retreated back into my room. After lunch that day I gave Mary and Elizabeth the dresses I had made for them.

"This is lovely! Thank you Jane" Elizabeth screamed in joy and hugged tightly.

Mary was more composed smiling and caressing the dress in admiration. Finally my carriage arrived in the evening with Sia in it and after a teary farewell, I left for Sudeley.

"So, what's happening back there?" I asked Sia and she sighed heavily.

"It is a nightmare. They are going to kill that girl. She does as she is told but her mother finds a flaw every time. Not perfect. Not perfect. These two words are what I chant in my dreams now, I have heard them so many times. She is paling and withering each day and that troubles her mother too. Eat you fool, you need to bloom on your wedding day, not wither. That wicked lady is going to kill her daughter" Sia continued her story, but that was what I feared.

Would Harlowe even survive till the wedding day? Why was marrying such a torturous task? Wasn't it supposed to be about love and support instead of power and money?

I fell asleep with my thoughts but the dreaded morning came. Aunt Catherine welcomed me with a hug and Little Mary began jumping in joy from her little cradle. I could hear the faint voices of Harlowe, her mother and Thomas but I decided I would not interfere.

After breakfast Catherine and I went to the market with little Mary but everyone squirmed at our sight.

"That's odd. The people were never that scared of me" Catherine tried to laugh it off but I remembered what happened in the village when we went for entertainment and I told Catherine the tale.

"That was...... not expected from you Jane. I thought you were gentle and caring" Catherine admitted.

"I was Aunt, but that was before someone tried to abuse us. I couldn't just have stood there and watch that man threaten Mary!" I retorted.

"I would have taught you differently if I thought you were to become a duchess or a princess. But I know you are meant to be a Queen and a Queen does not bow down to anyone. Not even to her own self" Catherine explained, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

After buying some meat and fruits from the market, we returned back. I kept to my room most of the days and we stuck to our little routines until the wedding month.

The house was decked up and people kept visiting. Uncle Thomas somehow managed to go to court regularly even though he was the organiser of this great pomp show. The Countess was busy showing off the gardens to her sisters while her nephews gathered in the main hall for breakfast.

I was given the responsibility to serve food to them, keeping in mind that all the maids were busy with the overflow of guests and their individual needs that needed to be tended to.

"Kind lady, please pass me the bread, I can butter it myself" said Noah, the youngest nephew of the Countess. He was only three years older than me but he had already joined the army.

As I passed him the bread, I saw Catherine and Thomas talking in a hushed tone.

"You can come and sit, if you want" Noah offered, patting the empty chair beside him. Looking around, I saw all the plates were full and so, I sat down.

If I was to be the Queen, I needed to know all about the Royal troops and who better than Noah to ask about it?

"Tell me more about the troops" I just had to begin and Noah continued on his own accord.

"We are a strong army, maybe the strongest in Europe. King Edward plans to divide the troops into three divisions. One for the borders, one for the cities and one as the king's personal spies. This will take time, but if it happens, I think I will make a very good spy"

I would've loved to sit there and hear to the war protocols and spy tricks but we were interrupted by the two maids rushing in from different directions in the same time.

"The pope has arrived with his sister and nephew" announced one.

"Lady Harlowe has been found dead in her room" cried the other.