Royal Love

Chapter 27

   "You agreed awfully fast father." I knew I should be happy but something was off.

   My father looked startled at my words. "All this time you were begging me to let you love who ever you wanted. Now that I agree and say you can, you question how I agreed so fast?"

   I ignored my sisters and Henry who were all looking at me confused. "Yes. Why did you agree so fast?"

   "I loved your mother if she said to let you may whom ever you wanted then will let you. She would have fought me on it like she said, like you did. You are so much like your mother. I never wanted to force you into married, but with out her I didn't know what to do. To be honest I wanted you gone you remind me so much of her. You look like her and act like her."

   "Loved? I think you mean love. You still love her. You miss her." I ignored the part about wanting me gone.

   "Yes. I do. I love her. I miss her." The words were spoken very softly but they seemed to have been shouted.

   "Why are you going to marry me then?" Lady Weller looked like she was close to crying.

   "Sarah would want me to move on. She knew you and I were close. I believe she was nudging us together. I think she wanted us to fall for each other," my father stood up and walked over to Lady Weller. He took her hands in his then continued speaking. "To be honest I fell hard. Since I lost her I have been on the edge always ready to fall over, but with you I feel like I'm being pulled back, like you are my anchor."

   Lady Weller threw her arms around my father. I was touched by his words. "I think we all need to celebrate. Mourning is almost over. Lets have another ball. One that last a few days. Each day to celebrate something new, like your engagement, the baby, being free to marry who we chose, and the last day will be in celebration of mother and the end of mourning. The last day of the ball will be the last day of mourning." The idea was sudden but I knew it was a good one.

   Everyone looked at me before my father spoke. "That is a brilliant idea. Sarah you will be in charge of planning it. You have a little while but it must be spectacular, like no other ball, one of a kind.

   I smiled. "I think Elizabeth needs to help. She is almost of age and needs to learn how to throw a proper ball."

   "It's settled then Sarah and Elizabeth will plan the ball." My father said. "It is almost time for supper. I think our guest," he looked at Henry, "should stay."

   I was shocked. My father went from forcing me to marry any one he could find, hating Henry and telling me to leave to asking Henry to stay for supper.

   Everyone started to leave and head for the dinning room but I held Henry back and told my father to stay also. Once everyone was gone I hopped over and shut the library doors. "Father there is one last thing you should know."

   He didn't look to thrilled. "What would that be."

   I took a deep breath and reached for Henry's hand. "Before Henry left I was having terrible nightmares, I still do, about what happened with Emanuel. After supper Henry would sneak into my chambers each night. With him I didn't have the nightmares." I might as well tell him everything. After finding out I was with child he couldn't be to mad.

   My father tried to stay calm. "Really. Well that was.... unacceptable."

   "After he left I still had them."

   "And you would like me to give him permission to stay in your chambers with you?" I nodded my head slowly. "Well not much more damage can be done now that you are carrying his child. As long as at any other time you are around someone I guess I might as well allow it."

   I threw my arms around my father and gave him a hug. "Thank you." He didn't seem to know what to do but after a moment he hugged me back. Then we headed to supper.

   While we ate we all talked. Henry sat next to me. I was curious about his trip to France. "What did your mother say when you told her about Scotland and me?"

    "She was shocked at first, but the more I told her about you the more she liked you. She would love to meet you one day."

   "I would like to meet her too."

   We finished eating and Henry and I were going to walk through the garden. We were just standing when my father spoke. "Henry I would like to have a word with you."

   I didn't  move but sent my father a glare. "Why would you like to talk to him?"

   "I'm not going to try to send him away or anything. Just a few questions."

   Henry took my hand. "Don't worry Sarah. I can handle him."

   "I know." I started to leave but still had to limp a little. My foot was starting to feel better but it was still hard to walk to far. Henry saw me struggling and helped me to my chambers before leaving to talk with my father. I wished him luck knowing he would need it.

   I walked around my chambers doing things here and there after a little while I picked up a book and sat in one of the chairs to read. When I heard the door open I closed the book. "How was it?"

   When I got no answer I started to turn around. Someone put their hand over my mouth. "Don't talk. Don't fight."

   My eyes widened. I recognized the voice. I would recognize it any where. That voice haunted my dreams and my mind. Emanuel stepped in front of me keeping his hand over my mouth. "Surprise." I struggled against him but got no where. "Remember don't fight.  Your father, the stupid fool, let me go after the wedding. He didn't want to cause trouble with Spain. He thought I had left Scotland. Only I didn't. I stayed and watched you. When the Prince left I was going to make my move, but I wanted him to feel the pain. The pain of have having something stolen from him. Then the other night you ran. You almost ruined my whole plan, you foolish girl."

   I bit his hand and he pulled away. That little bit of time was all I needed I sprang up out of the chair and kicked him as hard as I could. I heard him swear and I ran to the door. I almost made it before he attacked me from behind. "Stupid girl." He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and ripped it in half. He tired one half so that it covered my mouth and the other half he wrapped around my wrists. "Now back to the story. When the Prince brought you back to the castle I couldn't believe my luck. I knew I had to strike soon. I just had to get you alone and here we are. Now I just have to get you out of here. How you might ask?" He leaned over so that he could whisper in my ear. "I have an inside source. The best part is: that inside source is your lady in waiting, Susan. I just promised her a marriage that she won't ever get." My eyes went wide at the sound of her name and I started thrashing around.

   Emanuel pinned me to the ground harder, and laughed. "Not what you expected? Now the rest of the plan. I ruined your perfect face," he paused and traced the scar that was on my cheek, the one he had caused, then he continued speaking, "but what about your reputation. Take your honor and get you with child, then that Prince would never want you." His words told me that he wasn't always spying or he would know that I had no honor that he could take, and he didn't know I was already with child. "Now we should leave before anyone finds us like this." He lifted me off the floor and wrapped his arm around my throat cutting off any air circulation. I tried to escape but soon ended up unconscious.