A Daughter's Love - Book 2 The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Twenty-four

The evening meal was presented two hours before sunset, as it had been in Litton and Jobyna went to bed after dinner, while the other children continued working.

The baron found the evening time invaluable to assemble the new parts of the printing press. The new model was beginning to take shape, and whenever he had a free evening, he went to the new room off the woodshed, where he worked until Elissa came, unlocking the door with her key, which hung with the rest of her household keys and necessary gadgets, from her waist belt.

Louis would work while his wife recounted the important and interesting happenings of the day. This time was precious to them as they could speak together without fear of being overheard.

The fitting together of the press wasn't going at all well because some of the men making wooden parts had not kept to the baron's precise measurements. He complained that they must use the wrong measure. But he knew that even a thin shaving off some of the parts made a difference.

He decided to carve and smooth the pieces himself; it would be something he could do on afternoons when they were snowed in during the winter months. They could sit around the fire in the smaller family hall; the children could take turns reading and each could be involved in their own handwork.

There was great excitement at first, one afternoon, when a letter arrived from Cousin Leopold, stating that the apprentice, Boone, was now a doctor in his own right. He was to be married before traveling to Chanoine with his new wife to settle in the manor house at Chanoine.

The excitement was destroyed when the baron read the king's request:

"Our youngest cousin, Jobyna Chatelain, is to journey to Frencberg, before the winter. She will be a great comfort and cheer to my sadly ailing mother, the Dowager Queen Catherine. Also, the Princess Stella will benefit from the presence of such a cheerful companion. She will be received and treated as a daughter in our family. When Boone has assessed our youngest cousin, he will make travel arrangements. If the family wishes to accompany her, then we will enjoy a visit from them all. My mother particularly asks after Baroness Chatelain."

Elissa and the older children knew that this was not a request, it was a command; A Royal Command.

The baron looked up from the letter he had read aloud, to see his younger daughter's response. Lying on the fleece, she had her head on her arm and was fast asleep. They had not partaken of the evening meal yet.

The baron said, "We'll plan a feast to welcome Doctor Boone and his wife. Sabin will arrange a set of rooms to be assigned to them. Had he been on his own, Boone could have managed with a bed-chamber and a small dispensary but now he'll need extra rooms to accommodate his wife; she'll likely have one or two servant-women." He looked again at the sleeping Jobyna, adding, "We won't tell Jobyna about our cousin king wanting her to go to the capital but we will tell her about Doctor Boone.

"Let's pray about it and trust God that she can stay here with us."

The father's eyes met with those of his wife and it was as though they read each other's thoughts.

Once Jobyna was at Kings Castle and part of his family, the king would likely have her betrothed to someone within his court; she might never return home because Chanoine would no longer be considered her home.

Later, when the husband and wife were alone, Elissa asked, "Why does he want our Jobyna?"

Louis smiled at her, "You forget, my love; once he wanted you."

Elissa pulled a face in disdain, and exclaimed, "This is entirely different, Louis. Jobyna is only eight. She's a little girl— and I mean, little."