A Chosen Love - Book 1 The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Thirty-nine

 Elissa chose an elegant gown of soft blue silk and dressed quickly, combing her hair and leaving it hanging in curls down her back.

When she walked along the passageway, she was pleased to see Ruskin awaiting her with Sir Thorbert and Sir Viktor. A playful smile curved her rose-pink lips; she was amused to see her brother's knight and guessed Viktor did not realize the meaning of the 'urgent' summons.

"You have a quill and ink, Ruskin? Good. Let us all proceed."

Elissa smiled as Ruskin announced her to the baron's bedchamber.

The page advanced into the room and flung the shutters open wide. Louis sat, slouched back, on a couch, with his leg on a footstool. He'd eaten his breakfast and a tray with the empty plates lay beside him. He wore a short tunic and Elissa could see that his thigh was heavily bandaged to below his knee. A dried bloodstain had seemingly seeped through and Elissa thought, If that's from real blood, then his bandage and dressing should have been changed.

David carried the tray to a sideboard near the door before returning to the bed to remake the jumble of bedclothes into presentable order.

Stepping across to stand before the baron, Elissa waited while Ruskin carried the high writing desk close to the couch and placed the quill and ink upon it.

Elissa lay down the roll of betrothal papers and squared her shoulders.

Louis did not speak.

By his doleful countenance, Elissa realized he must believe she'd come to announce her farewell.

"Sir Louis Chatelain..." Elissa waited patiently until he looked toward her. She turned to the two men, "Sir Thorbert, Sir Viktor, Ruskin, and David; please stay, David." The servant turned, surprised, then backed up to stand nearer the closed door.

Moving closer to desk, Elissa recalled words from her Aunt Jane's wedding ceremony, and said, "I call upon these witnesses, our revered Frencolian knights, Sir Viktor and Sir Thorbert, also, Baron Chatelain's Page Ruskin, and his servant, David, to witness that I, Elissa Jane Dorai, take you, Baron Louis Chatelain, to be my lawful wedded husband. I promise to honor and obey you as long as you shall live." In the ensuing silence, she took the quill and signed the foot of the three pages, dating each document.

Holding the quill out for Louis to take, she said brightly, "It's your turn"

He met her eyes for the first time since she entered the room. His face was like a mask to her. How could she read what was behind his eyes? She felt her heart pound in her chest, feeling sure he would argue with her and protest or send her to her brother, or aunt, and she would be lost from him forever.

Very seriously, he fixed his eyes to hers. She discerned the glimmer of the twinkle she remembered. Looking at the table, which Ruskin moved closer, he took the pen, cleared his throat, and said seriously, "I call upon this company to witness, that in accordance with the laws of Frencolia, I, Louis Chatelain, Baron of Chanoine, take you, Elissa Jane Dorai, to be my wedded wife. I promise to love and protect you as long as we both shall live."

Bending himself before standing, he dipped the quill and signed the three documents as Ruskin shuffled them in front of him.

Louis dropped heavily to sit back on the couch, watching his bride with unveiled amazement, verging on worship.

"Please sign the papers, Sir Viktor and Sir Thorbert. You've just witnessed our legal marriage ceremony."

Elissa extended the quill to her brother's knights who bore fallen countenances. She smiled and said, "Don't worry! My brother won't want to see the papers. If he ever does, then you can tell him that as a Frencolian knight, you had no choice. Sir, Thorbert, please tell our king the same." She watched the two men sign the papers. "You're a witness, too, Ruskin. I'd like for you to sign as well."

As the page complied with her request, Elissa turned to David, "David, you can tell Mavis that the master has married his betrothed and then the rest of Chanoine will know. Inform the new servant in the kitchen and order a celebration dinner for this evening."

With a sigh, she turned back to Louis whose eyes shone and the corners of his mouth turned upwards.

"I'd like some time alone now... with my husband," she said, as she held both her hands out towards him. At last, she thought, I've made him happy...

He held his hands out to her and she placed hers into his. Very gently, he drew her forward to sit beside him...

~~~~~

As Elissa expected, Louis made a 'miraculous' recovery from his feigned fall and fake injury. He, like she, had not wanted to go back to Frencberg. The simulated fall from his horse had provided the perfect excuse.

They decided to continue the pretense for one or two weeks more, to extend their reprieve from having to meet the public, and to face the king's court. The 'one or two weeks' grew into two happy months!

Romance, for Elissa, budded innocently before blossoming.

Love, for Louis, bloomed brilliantly, for he had loved his beautiful bride from the first moment he set his discerning eyes in her direction. There was no better place than the manor house to spend their honeymoon, especially whilst the eyes of the kingdom were turned towards the newly crowned king and his bride, now crowned Queen Estelle.

Sir Viktor and Sir Thorbert returned to Kings Castle with the news of Louis' marriage to Lady Elissa. King Leopold sent his congratulations, together with gifts and messages from Queen Estelle, the Dowager Queen Catherine and members of the court.

Over the next weeks, messages and gifts arrived daily at the manor house, dispatched from every possible location of Frencolia. The size and value of the gifts were proof, indeed, that the royal cousin was well loved and respected by his fellow-Frencolians.

Sir Samuel sent a wedding gift and congratulations from himself and Aunt Jane. Elissa gained comfort from their acknowledgement.

Elissa didn't expect a gift or message from her brother, but nevertheless, was disappointed when none was forthcoming.

When Dorai was asked about his sister, he replied, "What sister? I have no sister!"

Rumors of Dorai's denial and denunciations of Elissa came to Louis' ears and he sought to please his wife all the more. The baron organized a weeklong celebration during which he publicly installed his young wife as Baroness of Chanoine.