A Royal Romance

Chapter 35 Lord Richard Brandon

The trip to Windsor Castle was uneventful. My father and I sat there in silence. Where his mind was, I did not know, but mine was back with Elisabeth. I still had her essence around my fingers. I shifted in my seat remembering the moment of unexpected passion before I had to leave. Though the distance from our manor to the castle was not much, it was too far from Elisabeth's side. Had she found my night shirt and note? Was she wearing it? I closed my eyes and sighed at the thought.

"We will not be long, son." I straighten at my father's voice and looked at him with a slight smile. "If there is need we can be home in short time. We will only be 4 hours ride."

"I know father, but..." I looked out the window watching the country side go by.

"But you miss her. I know how you feel Richard. I too had to leave your mother, your grand-mother when she was in her early stages of her pregnancy with your father. I was not easy, but when your brother the King calls you, you have but one thing to do...kiss your wife and go."

"I just want to be there during Henry's time of need and go home to Elisabeth."

"And I want to be in your mother's arms. I know too well that feeling of emptiness when you are away from the ones that you love."

"May I ask a question, father?"

"You know you may ask of me anything Richard."

I nodded. "I hope that I will never know how it feels to lose a child, but how do you survive something this dreadful? How did you do it?"

He looked away and then after few moments he turned back to look at me and I could see his eyes shine with unshed tears. "It is not easy, but once we realized that we had to care of you, we put aside our heart ache and gave you our full attention. You needed us and we needed you. Together we filled the emptiness your mother and father left when they died."

"I do not remember much. Have I all ways called you father?"

"When your parents died you were but 3 years old and you did not understand what was happening, but you accepted it. Then one day, when you were 5 or 6, you called me father and your grand-mother... mother. We tried to dissuade you, but you were so determined that when we would try to correct you for it, you simply said 'My mother and father are gone and you are all I have. Is it not normal that I give you the love and calling that you deserve?' We let it go and till this day you keep calling thus."

I smiled at his story.

"Yes even then you had spirit and we love you just the same."

"Do I favor my mother or father?"

He looked at me with a small. "At times I see your father especially when you smile and laugh. Then when you are pensive I can see your mother very clearly."

"Do you believe that I will be a good father? I must confess that I have some apprehension on the matter. I know Elisabeth is frightened that she will be like her mother, but I know that she will never be."

"We tried to give you the best education you can have, especially for one of your station. I have no doubt that you will be an excellent father and as for Elisabeth with your guidance, patience and love I am sure she will be better than her mother. You must remember, son, that you and your children to come are of royal blood and one day, maybe, you or them might sit on the throne. That is why we must support your cousin; we need to keep a solid relationship with him."

"I do not seek the throne. It has never been my goal."

"That is the reason Henry loves you so. He knows your feelings and you have never been shy on expressing them to him, but the future cannot be foretold. If Henry decides on his death bed, may it be a long time from now, that his heir is you, there is nothing you could do about it. You will take your pride in one hand and your wife on the other and sit on that throne and if that is the case you must be the best king this country has ever had."