Endearment

Chapter Ten

As soon as breakfast was over Katherine watched as Jack left quickly saying he had things he needed to do.

"What he really means is he has to go paint something. I swear the boy never sleeps! All he ever does is paint." Medda said once he had left.

"Is he any good?" Elizabeth asked wanting to start up a conversation.

"Oh my heaves yes. He's painted 90% of the paintings in the hallways." Medda said glowing with pride.

Katherine's jaw dropped. Jack had been the one to paint them? Holy cow, he was fantastic! Katherine made a mental note to tell him so.

"Oh my, such talent he posses!" Elizabeth said. "And did you know that Katherine plays the Piano Forte? She is very quite good."

"Really? I must hear!" Medda said.

Katherine blushed slightly at the demand not entirely sure she wanted to play right now. She looked to her mother and read her expression. Guess she didn't have a choice.

"I could play for you Miss Medda, is there a piano I could use?" Katherine asked trying extra hard to be the polite Queen that she now was.

"Yes of course, follow me." Medda said and they followed Medda down the hallway until they entered a large room that was bright with light. The floor was elegantly carpeted with a grand black piano in the middle, to the side was a large harp and scattered around the room were various instruments in which one could play on. "This is our Music room, your welcome here when ever you like Katherine." Medda said spreading her arms out to the room.

"Such expensive instruments." Pulitzer commented noticing the large piano.

"Yes, well nothing less than that for royalty. They haven't been used in ages. I don't play and Jack hardly touches the piano anymore. The person who used this room constantly has long since passed." Medda said her voice hinted with sadness.

"And who might that of been?" Elizabeth asked.

"It was Jacks mother, her name was Annie. She was very talented in music. Sadly she passed away along with her husband." Medda said her face crestfallen.

Elizabeth patted Meddas shoulder at the news, Katherine had learned this from Jack the night before but it still made her sad too.

"Please play Katherine, maybe it will cheer me up again." Medda said forcing a smile.

Katherine nodded and made her way to the grand piano. It was magnificent! The ivory keys shined and the black ones looked sleek in the light of the sun shinning through the windows. Katherine was a little nervous, she hadn't practiced in over a month and was a little sketchy with her memory of her favorite song. Still, she could never forget how to play the piano, it was one of the many joys in her life.

Katherine placed her hands on the keys in the correct position and began to play. The melody was soft and filled her ears like a welcoming hug, she had forgotten how peaceful music made her feel.

"Ooooh she is wonderful!" Katherine heard Medda tell her parents. "She's so very well spirited and culturized, there's no doubt in my mind that she's a perfect match for my nephew."

Katherine disagreed with that statement but what could she say? She couldn't defend herself because she wasn't allowed, heck, she wasn't even supposed to be listening to their conversation. Still, she couldn't help but quite her playing a bit to listen to her mothers words.

"Yes indeed. And my goodness won't their children be simply perfect too?" Her mother inquired with admiration.

Katherine rolled her eyes wishing they didn't have to rush into such things so fast. Katherine didn't even have time to let it set in that she was Queen, much less that she was going to have a kid in the near future. The prospect still terrified her and it didn't help that Medda and Elizabeth couldn't stop talking about it.