Dearest Evelyn

-chapter 17-

Joanna’s eyes widened at the news I told her. Well, I guess you could call it news. She was just as curious as I was about Terrin’s actions compared to Hector’s, and then Gwindire’s words. Perhaps they had all told each other, which was very likely.

“Mother is holding a banquet tonight. Perhaps Hector will do something else with you there.” Joanna said when I was finished.

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe he’ll ask you to dance first, and then maybe he’ll start courting you!”

“Don’t get your panties in a wad, Joanna.” I scoffed. “I don’t think he’s even interested in marriage-“

“You can’t put it off forever!” Joanna interjected. “And think about it, Eve-“

“No. This is enough. I’m not going to marry my best friend.”

Joanna looked defeated by my stubbornness to even hear her out.

“Besides,” I continued. “Since when were you so fond of marriage?”

“Mother keeps telling me King Har- I mean, Father is looking suitors for me.” She rested her cheek on her knees, wrapping her arms around her legs. “I’m curious to who I’ll get saddled with.”

I laughed. “You make it sound like a burden!”

“Well you aren’t too bright about it.”

I rolled my eyes. “I wish I wasn’t a lady.”

“I don’t. I like being a woman.”

“I know.” I giggled. Joanna had always been far girly-er than me. It made me wonder how she stood such a tomboy like myself.

A sudden thought popped into my head.

“But what about your religion?”

“What about it?” she asked.

“Surely when your . . .er, husband, and the King find out you’re Pagan-“

“Oh, no. Mother said keep it quiet.” She quickly interrupted. “So they won’t know. Mother goddess forbid they find out.”

“That’s terrible. You should be able to marry freely without worrying about prosecution.”

“I know. But Mother is happy here . . . so I shall be as well.”

I wondered for a moment at Joanna’s words. She seemed to be happy to conform to such a secret.

“Well, if you say so . . . .” I hid my grimace. I had never expected Joanna to be so willing to bend over backwards to appease society. I suppose she had to now, being the King’s daughter and all . . . .

~

The banquet was spectacular. I had to hand it to Joanna’s mother for putting together such a festive atmosphere, despite the freezing cold outside.

The food was amazing, as always. There were bounds and bounties of endless pheasants, turkeys and golden rosemary-roasted chickens. They were lined with chestnuts and sugar-coated peanuts, almonds and macadamia cookies. Baguettes imported from France, potatoes, leeks, lime-glazed carrots from Spain, duck, cranberries and honey-baked apples also filled endless bowls and platters, scattered in-between countless vegetables. Caramelized fruits along with small cakes and pastries, chocolate crêpes, chocolate-dipped cherries and strawberries and mugs of ale, wine, mead and root beer filled the tables. It was indeed simply superb, but I knew this was only the first of many feasts in celebration of the holidays.

Music was being played by the castle’s best musicians and muses.

Joanna was required to sit next to her mother, and the King-who had arrived earlier that day- so I was sitting with Gwin, Terrin and Hector, as usual.