RAISED APART

CHAPTER 7- THE DREADED ERA

            A few days passed and Annabelle had to depend on a walking stick for the mean time. Why did her life always suck so much?! That evening she was trying her best to get down the stairs and it was taking her forever when Herald who was nearby had caught sight of her and he came closer and offered to help.

"No I'm fine! I can do ok on my own, thank you!"
"You could trip and fall. Please let me help you, it's the least I can do."
"Would you leave and stop bothering me?!"
"Okay fine!"
Annabelle continued trying on her own until she realized, she really needed help and then she yelled "Excuse Me"!!!
Herald turned around. "Pardon?"
Annabelle rolled her eyes, frustratedly.
"You were right." She murmured defeatedly. "I need a hand."
Herald came closer , amused.
Didn't this woman just refuse him?
"You need help now?" He asked, sarcastically.
"Yes, I do."
"What are you supposed to say when asking for help?"
"What?"
"The magic word?"
"Adabracadabra?!" Anna was confused
Herald burst out laughing. "No it stars with a P
"Potato Potahto?! This is dumb!" Anna yelled in frustration.
"Wrong again....it's Please"
Oh...well, please I need your assistance getting down."
"That's better!"

           Days passed, Annabelle and Herald were very fond of each other. They were friends only. Herald still had eyes for Diana alone and Diana on the other had already started to like him. What's not to like about Herald? He was a sweet and caring gentleman with a rib cracking sense of humor. Herald and Diana were sitting by the lake not far away one night both star gazing and holding hands.

"I wish this show would end tomorrow morning." He said
Why's that?! Diana though worried.
Was he bored of her?
"Because the motive has already been accomplished. I've found my bride and I can't wait to take her home."
Diana smiled , blushing. "Well It's just four weeks left."
"I'm not that patient Diana."
"You'll just have to wait."

           When they returned back to the Mansion, everyone was already asleep. Herald kissed her goodnight and went to the Men's side of the Mansion which was different from the ladies. Diana was walking on cloud-9 as she walked to her bedroom. Her heart was singing and she was totally happy. Who could have thought?

              The next morning Herald was in his room getting ready for the usual morning breakfast in the General hall when he heard a knock on his door.

"Come in."
"Good morning, my Lord."
"Annabelle?" He looked surprised. "Good morning, do you need any help."
"No, not at all." She smiled.

             She was looking radiantly stunning as usual with her golden-like hair tied up in a bun and an equally golden like colored dress to match her exquisite skin and hair. One word "Breathtaking"

"I...just wanted to formally thank you for all your help and kindness during the time I got hurt."
"There's absolutely so need My Lady. I'm glad I was able to be of assistance."
"Even if it was absolutely your fault in the first place."
Herald chuckled at her sarcastic comment.
"Well I should be on my way now...see you at breakfast."
"You too."
Annabelle reached for the door knob before she stopped.
"Is there a problem?" Herald asked
"I just remembered something."
There was a worried look on her face and He looked confused.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Well you and my sister Diana are a couple right?"
"Well...yes? Is anything the matter."
"No not at all but you're my friend and it would be awful if I kept the secret from you."
"What secret?"
"No I shouldn't say."
"Annabelle! Please tell me." Herald requested, worriedly
"But she's my sister, I..."
"Anna it's ok, talk to me."
"Ok...but please don't tell her I told you."
"I promise."
"Well, Diana was once married."
"What?"
"Yes and to two husbands, the first one died mysteriously three days after their wedding and the second one died on their wedding night."
"What?!" Herald was flustered.
"It's a secret only the Osborns should know. We think she might be cursed. And now as my friend, I wouldn't want her to hurt you like she did the others. Many thinks she just married the men for their wealth. Urgh! I've said enough."

          Annabelle said, reaching her hands out to his suit and straightening the crumple she saw but Herald was so upset by what he had heard, he didn't know what to make of it.

"Anyways, My Lord, I should be leaving now, do think about all I've said." Annabelle turned around and left the room, revealing an evil smirk as she walked down the stairs to the dining hall.

            Throughout that day, Herald kept avoiding Diana and she couldn't help but notice and when He was alone, she came up to him.

"Herald....is something wrong?"
"No why do you ask?"
"You've just been off all day what's bothering you?"
"Nothing at all." He said without evening sparing her a look and she felt a tinge of hurt.
"Have I done something wrong?" Diana went on to ask.
"No, you haven't although I must ask you a question."
"Go on, please."
"How old are you?"
"Oh..." Diana was taken aback as she was totally not expecting him to ask and all of a sudden she felt embarrassed.
"Well...?"
"I'm twenty five."
Herald eye brows shot up In surprise.

          A twenty five year old was definitely capable of getting married twice previously. That means, Annabelle was telling the truth.

"Why did you want to know is something wrong?"
"Well, it seems you're older than I thought Diana."
"What?" She felt her throat dry up
"According to the customs of my people's hierarchy, I'm expecting to come be married to a young wife." Herald let out a sigh.
"What?" Tears were building up in her eyes.
"I won't be allowed to marry someone that's almost twenty six, you know what it means to be twenty six and still unmarried right?"
0Uh...oh...I...I see..." Diana stuttered. "But...age..shouldn't matter I mean as long as we love each oth...."
"Are you being serious? We are royals Diana, age matters more than we'll ever understand."
"So...what are you saying?" Diana asked, tears streaking down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry Diana, I loved you, I really did but....it's obvious we're not meant to be."
Diana nodded, sniffing. "Well that's fine. If that's your final judgment then fine." She said as she turned around to leave.

         Diana got to her room, threw herself on the bed and began sobbing. Just four more weeks till the damn show ended and she was going to return back to her people a failure. If she could get rejected because of her age, who would accept her when she finally turned twenty six, was this her life? Had she thrown her youthful years away all to her obligations as a granddaughter? Was she cursed to forever remain alone?  As she kept sobbing, she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," she said wiping her eyes.
It was her sister, Annabelle.
"Oh Anna, what's wrong? Do you need anything?"
"No." She said as she sat on the bed, close to her sister.
"I heard what happened." She began
"He told you already?"
"He's my friend." Anna shrugged.
Diana couldn't find her words anymore.
"I'm sorry, sister."Anna said.
"It's okay."
"You're almost twenty six Diana. It seems like only yesterday when I told you and momma about the dreaded "old maid" era and sadly my own sister is approaching it. I feel so sorry for you Diana."
"It's okay..." Diana said "...I'm fine." She added
"Well, you do know the times we live in and at your age the only men that would want you would probably be Generals looking for a third or fourth wife." This time the evil smirk on Anna's face was visible and Diana could see it.
"I beg your pardon?" Diana frowned
"No need to get upset sis, I'm just tryna help and besides you know it's the truth. All the young Lords are after youthful wives not a woman with a dry womb."
Diana felt hurt. "I don't need your help, you may leave."
"Anyways before I go, you might wanna take out the reason Herald broke up with you..."
"What are you saying?"
Anna shrugged. "It was all me." She smiled.
"You little she-devil how dare you?!"
"I liked him and I wanted him and now I've got him. Simple as ABC."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Why not? I'm not the old maid here."Annabelle chuckled before leaving the room.

        As she walked happily back to her room, she got a message that the duchesses were requesting her presence in the upper chambers. That must mean trouble but what had she done wrong? On arrival, she could see the two duchess sitted behind a desk with a chair opposite them for her to sit on. They looked strict and not friendly at all.

"Good day m'ladies." She curtsied before taking her seat.
"Lady Osborn, Do you know why you've been summoned?"
"Not a clue my lady." She said
"Well this morning, you were seen going into the male quarters and entering into one of their rooms, supposedly Lord Nottingham's."
"But M'lady I meant no harm, I only went to thank him for helping me the other day."
"And you couldn't wait till after breakfast?"
Anna kept a remorseful face
"You do know it is forbidden for both parties to cross boundaries."
"I'm sorry my lady, it'll never happen again."She said keeping the most pitifully innocent face ever known to man.