Empire of Dreams

*22*

"You are not worth being the eldest daughter of the house. Pampered and cared for, still you don't care at all for the family. It would have been nice if mother and father provided that heartily for me!" She had screamed and I could hold back no longer.

"Oh do you really think I am some pampered princess? Well, then you are wrong, because all I ever will be is a royal pawn. You know, even Mrs. Campden thinks you need to grow up"

"Libitina! Why were you speaking to her, may I ask? Or have made it a point to make sure I end up alone in the end?" She accused.

"Oh as if you were not the one who introduced us. As a matter of fact, it was your precious Libitina who was befriending me and much to your annoyance let me inform you, I agreed. Why can't you just let it go, Kathyrn? It is not my fault that I grew up in a different social circle than you" I tried to explain, but turns out, she was beyond that.

"You have no value for Mother or me! She is one whose influence brought you to court but how did you pay her back? Almost all the time, you're annoyed with her!"

"You don't have the right to bring the relation I share with my mother into this. She was my mother first, after all. There are things in my life that you don't value enough, Kathyrn, but that doesn't mean I should make the same mistake"

At that Kathyrn scoffed and with an expression of utter displeasure, turned to Aunt Catherine.

"What are you there for, then? Wasn't it your job to take care of her? Weren't you supposed to make sure she didn't turn out like this?"

"Aunt Catherine has done everything possible for me! She has taken better care of me than my own mother"

"First of all, Jane, I'm not speaking to you. The question was directed at Catherine for a reason. Secondly, of course she has let you loose for you to become so ungrateful and rude"

"Then speak to me directly Kathyrn. What do you know about our past that you think speaking in such a way is justified?"

"You know nothing about our family, Catherine! Jane has always been the favoured sister. She was loved by our mother and prioritised to be sent to the court. She was the one who was sent expensive jewels and gifts and now if she marries the Archduke, she will become the golden girl of the family. Everybody will love her more than they already did and I will be left to fend for myself"

"Well let me tell you one thing, Kathyrn. England has seen many rise and fall but one very common and important thing is that the eldest daughters are the most unfortunate, for we are the assets of our family. Our marriage determines the power of the family and so we are treated more like money than like children. Your parents love Jane, as they should, because she is their daughter and hence their pride. But they sent her to live with me and my husband though they knew basically nothing about us. Why? Because we were the most influential relatives they have who would take their daughter and raise her well. Do you understand what a sad fate that is? And as of Jane's ungratefulness, she is a very capable and courageous lady in her own right. She only has as much respect for herself as she deserves."

"Well if Jane is so amazing and great, why didn't she save you and your child? Mary would've died if I hadn't arrived and intercepted at the right moment and you would be dead too! It was my expertise that saved you, but you don't seem too thankful for it?"

"I will forever be indebted to you for your great service, Kathyrn. My little Mary is very precious to me. In fact she is the reason I am alive. I am eternally grateful but that doesn't mean you have complete control over me or that you can speak to me like that! I order you to go away from here, right at this moment and never to come near me or my daughter" Aunt Catherine ordered.

Kathyrn walked away as angrily as she entered and a timid servant entered hurriedly.

"I was supposed to deliver this to you urgently, my lady, but I waited for ....."

Of course she was talking about what had just happened but she couldn't say that, so she just hung her head low and handed me the letter. The letter was from the Archduke.

With my deepest respect,
I request you, Lady Jane Grey, to accompany me in the festivities at my estate. It is a two-day festival with lots of dancing, music and other amusing activities. You may also bring your friends if you wish to accompany you.
Yours most proudly
Archduke Gerardo

I immediately showed the letter to Aunt Catherine.

"So who's going with you?" She asked with a smile.

"I think I'll make you wait" I replied mischievously and went to my room to get some sleep.

Early next morning I was woken up by Sia and then quickly dressed. Borrowing a horse, I raced it through the empty streets of the kingdom to the peaceful wooden door I'd come to love so much.

One of the servants of Queen Anne opened the door.

"Can you please inform her I'm here?" I asked, settling on one of the chairs of her dining table.

It took some time, but she finally arrived sleepily.

"Is it something important, Jane dear?" She asked in between a yawn.

"Yes, I wish that you accompany me for a two day festival at my possible future fiance's estate. Would you do me the honour?"

"I'd love to! Tell me everything" She cheerfully questioned me for almost an hour after that.