A Winter's Tale

Chapter 3:

Chapter 3:

       I almost cowered under the cold gaze of my sister's icy eyes. If it weren't for Lucy, who proudly stood her ground, I would be curled into myself. "Well," Edith sneered "what has you two disgraces so happy?" The words didn't sting anymore. Both of us were used to it. Edith hissed words at us almost every day. "As a matter of fact," Lucy snapped right back "Emery is betrothed." The words shocked Edith.

      I knew that she always boasted of her soon to come marriage. It would be a handsome, rich, Count, and it would be before me. If I ever did happen to marry. Except now, that dream would not be a reality. But, I, was not at all excited about my life to come. Edith's head snapped to her sister, golden curls swinging "truly? Well, who is the unlucky man? A merchant? Or, better, a servant?" Lucy just smirked, and turned to me as well. I swallowed, and replied hesitantly "the Count of Dubois." Edith's shriek was what had all the people running. Lords, and ladies, and even King James himself came to see what the awful sound was. Edith's face had gone red, and her eyes were alight with fury. "What is the meaning of this," King James made his way to the front of the crowd gathered to witness the scene. Edith whirled on the King "her! You chose this measly, little, ugly wench to wed the Count of Dubois over me!"

       The gasps, and whispers filled the crowd instantly. Some with pity, some with awe, some with disbelief. I grabbed Lucy's arm "we should go before the King punishes her for her words." Lucy nodded retreating with me back into the shadows of the corridor. It was strangely quiet as we walked, with all the commotion left behind us. It was a cold, gray mid morning, birds chirped above. I didn't say anything, and neither did Lucy. They were both just happy to be away from Edith's wrath, and the severe castigating King James would no doubt give the girl. Edith had been out of line, blinded by her fury, and hatred for me. But, I, still was distraught with my new future. The outlook was bleak to me. I would be shipped off in the next few days to marry a man I'd never even seen. A man whose rumors preceded him. A man who was dangerous, dark, and severely unknown. He was a savage. I was a quiet girl. King James had to have lost his sense of judgement.

      "Emery," Lucy said quietly "do you really think being betrothed that bad of a thing?" I sighed, and turned my head to the sky "I believe in knowing a man before you must wed him. Courting a man. I believe in love, Lucy. I have never even seen the Count of Dubois. It matters not what Edith has to say about him, or why she tried for him. It is now in my life." "It surely won't be as horrible as you're painting it to be. Perhaps, you'll find the love you want where you didn't expect to," my fair-haired friend smiled slyly at me. I highly doubted it. I would live my life barely seeing my husband, and I  would not throw any luncheons, balls, or dinners. It would be a tragic story of the beauty that got stuck with the beast, or the beast that got stuck with the hardly beautiful. I was to be the Countess of Dubois. It was hard enough to believe on its own. Now, with the prospect that I was chosen to marry him over Edith, it was just remarkable.

      Lucy, and I walked to Lucy's manor, on the far side of the court. The cold wind picked up, spreading through our dresses. I shivered, and leaned against the door. Lucy didn't have the key to her manor, so we would have to wait until Paula came to open it. "Where is she," Lucy knocked on the door again. We stood for a few more minutes before turning away. "We'll go to mine," I started walking. Obviously, Paula had gone to see the commotion as well. Since I did not have a family manor, and was a few coins away from destitute, I lived in a small house that King James provided. It was enough for me, though everyone else at court found it embarrassing, and shabby. Lucy loved the independence, and warmth of my small house. We  shivered as we walked briskly to the other side of the court. Farther away from the castle, we came upon the little stone building. Once inside, I started a fire. "Would you like some broth," I asked. Lucy shook her head "no. I ate some earlier this morning. Mother told me to eat bigger meals only when we had visitors." I shook her head. The nobles were finicky, and strict. Any little thing could set then off, and you'd find yourself in a situation just as I was in.

      "Emery," Lucy asked again "how far away does the Count of Dubois live?" I thought for a second "in the countryside." "Do you know what that means," Lucy shrieked "you'll have to leave soon to be there within actually marriage months!" I froze "how soon?" Lucy's eyes met mine "tomorrow."