One More Chance

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"Oh mum! He is here, they are here!," Elisha squealed in delight.

"We need to look our best, we have 15 minutes at most," Felicia joined in a mixture of excitement and panic.

"Off you go girls!" Cecelia shooed them away and glared at Cathy. "Enough of the cleaning. Make yourself scarce and I do not want our visitors spotting you. Remember, you are no more than a servant of this household. A toe out of line and you know the consequences. Lydia..." she trailed, not finishing the sentence.

Cathy had heard enough. She quickly carried the bucket of water and the rag she was holding and hurried down to the kitchens. The order suited her just fine. She had no wish to see Sir Ashford or any of the knights from his majesty's army. She couldn't understand how anyone would want to harm sweet Lydia. She was hardly a bother to anyone and absorbed in her own world. Without watching her step, she banged into Maggie. The bucket of water dropped and the water splashed onto the kitchen floor.

"Oh, sorry Maggie!" Cathy apologized and kneeled to mop of the mess.

"Cathy, darling leave that to me and go get ready! Haven't you heard the news? Haven't you heard the bell?" Maggie asked breathlessly. She seemed to have run some way to meet Cathy.

"Ready? For what?"

"Sir Ashford is coming to ask the hand in marriage of one of the Master's girls!"

"Yes, I heard. Felicia and Elisha are getting ready as we speak, what has that got to do with me?"

Maggie looked at Cathy with a mixture of amusement and shock in her face.

"Well, aren't you the daughter of my master? Should you not present yourself to him and be chosen as his bride?"

Cathy stared back at Maggie in aghast. For some reason that thought had never entered her. It was extremely astonishing considering that she was usually a person with high intellect. Her father had painstakingly indulged her sharp mind and taught her well. "Well, that is just a reminder of how well I have been treated in this household that I almost forgot who I am," Cathy thought bitterly. But, she had no interest in presenting herself to Sir Ashford. Her freedom and independence was too near. She wasn't going to trade it off with marriage to a stranger.

"Think girl, this could be the perfect opportunity to escape your horrid step mother. If you stand next to those half sisters of yours, I have no doubt that you would be chosen. You are far prettier, intelligent and kind-hearted than those toads can ever aim to be and I would say it is your right. Aren't you elder than them at twenty and four? Aren't you your father's first born?" Maggie asked.

"No Maggie, I know you have my best interests at heart. But I have no intention of giving myself to a stranger and anyway Cecelia banished me from the hall. Now if you will excuse me. I am going to check on father," Cathy responded and left the kitchen.

Maggie stared back hopelessly at Cathy. God knows, the poor child deserved a better life. She had heard about Sir Ashford. She knew that just as fearsome as he was in battle, he ruled his men with a fair hand. She knew that he would make her dear Cathy a good husband. If only, Cathy gave herself a chance.

*************

Christian got a first look at what would soon be his lands. Green pastures surrounded his right side and mountains could be viewed at a distance. His left side was a village bustling with people carrying about their daily activities. It looked peaceful and scenic and was prosperous too. Given time, he believed he could come to love this piece of land. It invoked a sense of serenity and calmness in him, keeping his shadows at bay.