June 17th 1856
Dear Cousin,
Please do not find this abrupt but my dear sister just passed and her daughter Katherine Elizabeth is in need of a good home. As you are well aware I have four children myself and cannot bear to take on another one of her age. Please, if you are able, take in my darling niece. She is five years of age and has a beautiful face and could become very popular in your society. Do respond to my letter as quickly as possible.
Your Cousin,
Anna-Lynn Margret.
Do understand that every aspect of life ever spoken about to me is most defiantly not the life I was ever bound to live. My name is Katherine Elizabeth Redreins of Devonshire- Kate for short. My mother passed when I was four and a half, I lived with my Aunt Anna-Lynn until I was five and soon after moved in with her husband's cousin, Sir Peter Frank of Devonshire. I was to be known as Kate of Devonshire from then on but keeping my mother's name. I remember only this of my mother and father, he was a soldier in the war and died in battle and she died of a disease that I was lucky not to have. I heard from my aunt in stories that she was a beautiful woman with dark black hair as long as a horse's mane. Blue eyes from her father's side that were bluer than the ocean itself, of course I have never seen the ocean but I heard it was beautiful. Tall, thin, and beautiful, that was my mother. Of course I only inherited some of those traits, I am short like my father was and I enjoy it quite a lot.
I am now sixteen years of age and live in a beautiful house on top of a large hill. Sir Peter is often at the castle and my companions are often his child, Maureen, and any servants I find that have any good stories left. Since I turned twelve I am only let out of gate when accompanied by sir Peter, this is for my safety I am told. He says that since I am now older staying inside will keep me young looking. If I was a normal girl I could leave anytime but being his "child" I must stay for necessary reasons. I have been to the castle and court many times but never invited to stay. Sir Peter says that if I don't wed soon he shall simply send me to the Spanish court and see if I can be useful to the queen there. Most nights I am put in a carriage and driven to the castle where I stay with Sir until very late in the night. He doesn't seem to understand that after being seen so much at these feasts some wealthy lord, or even the king, will wish for me to become his companion. I am always looked upon with adoring eyes from many suitors for I am very beautiful indeed, one of the finest girls in all of Britain, so I hear, but yet none have chosen me to be their bride. Life grows very dull here in my confinements and I am growing very longing to see the world.
August 20th, 1864
Dearest Aunt,
I have never truly thanked you for sending me to a better home than what you could provide. I know that you only did it to possibly produce a better life for me. I do enjoy this new home very much. Sir Peter takes me to the castle all the time, so tell little Dea' that I shall keep her posted on how well dressed all the ladies are. Also, tell them all how lucky they are that they can see sun outside. I only get a walk outside during the day every once in a 'while. Do give them all my love.
Your Niece,
Katherine Elizabeth
Tonight I am honored to be asked by Sir Allan's eldest son to accompany him on an outing with the King's court around the square and then on to a feast at the Castle. Some girls would be much more than honored but Lord Renaldo is just not the type of man that I am at all attracted too. I have found though that to make it here and keep my stay with Sir Peter I must do what I am told. I feel trapped sometimes, like there is no place to go and that this will always be my life. I don't want to be commanded to attend dinners and walk with total strangers forever...
My walk this evening is going very well, this is how I would reply to anyone who walked next to me and ask. Some knights and ladies are here, all is quiet. I love the silence when the King and Queen pass a certain home and how all I see are sweet little faces staring with wide eyes at our glorious gowns and tunics. I used to be that way when I was a girl. Sir Peter would take me on horse rides around the city when the King was out and I would just stare in amazement at all the lovely gowns of the ladies in waiting. Now I get to walk with them. Lord Renaldo is quiet a nice man. He is silent but when he does speak it is always filled with happiness, along with a bright smile upon his face, and intelligence. He is great companion, one which I have grown up with. Lord Renaldo is two years and seven months older than me. We were both raised in large estates with more toys and such than most children. His father, like Sir Peter, is gone a lot. Always working at the castle or attending to things much more important than his child. I hope to never treat my child like that. I have been asked by Lord Renaldo to accompany him tomorrow for a ride around the grounds of my estate, he unlike Sir Peter, has given me the option to decline. I am much too polite a lady to say no so I accept this in exchange for him saving me one evening from all of the dreary palace talk.
Sometimes I wish I was like the girls in the story books Nurse Anne would read to me when I was a child. All of them were poor as children and someday grew up to sneak out and marry the handsome Prince Charming. Unfortunately the princes in this kingdom are not charming per say. They look mostly like their father; "big boned" some call it but in the comfort of my home I call them fat, because that is what they are. They have large round bellies and matching noses. Their eyes must be the most magnificent part of the lot o' them; Large round blue or brown circles with the clearest white possible and a shining black dot in each. I try not to long so much for a Prince Charming, a Servant Charming or Carriage Driver Charming would work just as well. Sadly none such "charming" has come my way and I am stuck in this huge castle spending most of my days in the library or in the green room.
I sometimes pray that someday I will be free of this cage I have been in since I was a girl. I was like the rest of us always dreaming of living in a castle with hundreds of dolls and dresses, it has not turned out like we all hope it would. Always stuck inside these gates and only allowed out when I am to be taken to the King's Palace to be shown off like a jeweled tunic. No girl really would want any of this if she knew the sacrifices she would make.
Tomorrow Sir Peter and I are traveling to a neighboring kingdom for a festival celebrating the marriage of Prince Terrance and Lady May. King Phernando is very proud of Terrance for making such a wise choice in marrying a Lady of the neighboring kingdom. She is niece to the king and closest comfort to the queen and both are equally proud as King Phernando. As part of the royal family Sir Peter must attend and as Maureen is too young to attend such a long festival. I am to go in her place, though of course I would've gone anyway, Sir Peter would never leave me home with just the servants to protect me. Just our company consists of six carriages carrying people and, that I could count, five carts with our trunks and gifts.
"Soon enough we shall reach Westbrook," a young rider tells us. Perhaps he is the son of a great knight traveling his first journey with his father to prepare him for his knighthood. Or maybe just a servant dressed in nicer clothes for the journey. I may never know. "Beth. We shall soon be arriving. Be prepared to change into your new gown," Sir Peter says through the window. He has chosen to ride with the driver instead of riding with me inside. Not only so I don't ride in my own carriage but because he bought me a new gown. Lovely as it is; it is made all wrong for me. I am sure it is the latest style in this town which is why I must wear it but honestly I have never been made to wear such an uncomfortable hideous thing in my entire life. However, now is my opportunity to shine and try to make something of my life in Devonshire. If I do well perhaps I will be asked to court or even to wed one of the knights or dukes. So instead of sighing I reach over for the gown hanging next to me. After having my nurse undo my other gown I begin the timely appliance of the one Sir Peter bought. I slip on the fitted lace corset and petticoat. Then I begin the timely process of applying the jeweled solid covering. By the time I am finished we have arrived and after nurse ties the front and back bow it is my turn to meet the king of Westbrook, King Severen. He is an older man, perhaps forty or fifty, yet he is very lovely. His graying hair is the most shining thing ever to be seen. And his lovely blue eyes with green inside have such a youthful look in them.