A Months Notice

Chapter Five

Jack walked back into his room after the awkward dinner .

He knew deep down inside that his heart broke for Katherine.

She was 15
In a foreign country
Marrying a man who is 10 years older than her .

He knew that Katherine was only doing this because of her duty .

He knew that Katherine was dying deep down .

He knew that if it were up to Katherine she would jump on the first plane out of her .... But it's not up to Katherine.

In fact nothing is up to Katherine.

Not the flowers
Not the cake
Not the dress
Not the music
Not the food
Not the groom .

Jack went to his bathroom and saw the hidden door as he looked to his toothbrush .

He opened it and found the old jewelry his mother wore and his grandmothers and aunts wore too .

Inside was a ring with a box . 

Propose to her ! It's not that hard ! Do it tomorrow morning . Maybe it might make her feel better .

Jack took the ring and put it on his nightstand . Tomorrow when she's free he'll take her to the gardens .... Maybe the tea room .... No ! The private room . Which only he and Medda had access to.
Jack didn't want any one watching .

He finished his nightly routine and changed into his pajamas . Then he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep .

•••••••••••••••
Katherine

Katherine woke up rather earlier in the morning. Ah she was till on Pennsylvania time . Within a moment she went to the bathroom and took a shower .

It was her first showed in the new country and it won't be the last ... Sadly .

After a nice warm shower she put a fluffy towel around her .

It was a deep purple and was warm . It had details with a gold k on it .

Once she was dressed and ready to go she stepped out and made her way to the dining hall for breakfast.

Medda and Jack where already sitting . "Katherine! There you are ! " Medda said . She  took the seat next Jack .

"How did you sleep dear ?" Medda asked grabbing some egg and placing it on the fork .

"Well , thank you " Katherine answered grabbing a glass of orange juice.

"Katherine?" Jack said looking up from his food .
"Yes ?" Katherine said looking directly at him .
"Could I have a word with you after breakfast? " he said , the ring box in his coat pocket , yet no one knew .
"Of course , where ?"
"Oh I'll bring you there " he said .
"Okay ," Katherine said taking a sip of her orange juice.

Katherine looked around . Both Jack and Medda where drinking coffee yet she had a small glass of orange juice. She felt like a child again .

And this type of conversation over breakfast was very similar to her parents and hers back home .

"How did you sleep dear ?" Joseph asked .
"Very well father , thank you " Katherine said taking a glass of orange juice.

"Katherine dear ?"
"Yes mother ?"
"You have a lesson today with me after breakfast "
"Where mother ?"
"I'll take you there "
"Alright mother " and she would take a sip of her orange juice while her parents drank coffee.

"Is everything alright Katherine?" Medda asked .
"Oh ! Yes , it's just that color your wearing remind me when I was younger and play dress up with my mother's old gowns " Katherine said back lying at the tip of her tongue.
"I remember Jack playing dress up !"
"Mom !"
"What ? She's bound to hear the story some time ! Anyway , Jack was marching around with a pot from the kitchen on his head and a wooden spoon saying he was a shoulder !"
"That's adorable!" Katherine said smiling at Jack .
"Yeah ? And one time Mom had the guards play with me . They were the bad guys !" Jack said taking some jam and putting it on his toast .

"Katherine do you have any siblings?"
"Yes , two Oscar and Morris . "
"Older or younger dear ?"
"Older , they're twins . Oscar is the head general of Pennsylvania's army and Morris is the head of war fare . They both denied the crown . "
"If you don't mind me asking , why ?" Jack said instantly interested.
"Well Oscar loves serving and so does Morris . Oscar is older by 10 minutes or so . They're both 28 and extremely over protective of my mother and I " Katherine answered .

"And how old where your parents ?"
"When they married ? My father was 22, my mother was 17. They had the boys within a year then waited almost 12 to have me . "
"Why so long ?"
"Well when your 12 you must pledge your honor to the crown and neither of them wanted to so they had to have another child quickly . And since I was the last child I had no choice but to pledge to ten crown . But my brothers will use the title Prince if it helps them cut airport lines " Katherine said which caused Medda and Jack to laugh .

After breakfast Medda went into her study and Jack and Katherine walked to Private room .

"What did you want to talk to me about ?" Katherine asked stepping in the room .

"Well I - I um- well .... Uh .... Katherine ?"
"Yes ?" She asked
"Will you marry me ?" Jack asked kneeling down on one knee .
Katherine had no choice but to say yes .
"Yes Jack " she said , Jack then smiled at her sympathetically.

"Here " Jack said placing the diamond ring on her hand .
"It's stunning "
"It was my mothers , and grandmothers and grandmothers . Almost every marriage in my family for the past 100 years has been arranged . With the exception of Medda and my father of course."
"Thank you Jack . It's absolutely gorgeous " Katherine said marveling at the new rock on her hand .

"Katherine, I have to go , I'll see you at dinner ? Have a nice day "
"You too Jack " she said . Jack then took her hand and kissed her knuckles . "Goodbye " "goodbye " Jack said and exited the room .