"So it's settled then."
"Yes. You may have the hand of my daughter, Ella. I will return home soon to collect her, and we shall come back within two months.
"Very good. Farewell, Sir Peter."
"Farewell, Sir Bowen."
The two men shook hands. Sir Peter turned to step back into his carriage.
"Oh, and Sir Peter?"
Peter stopped and looked at the knight. "Yes?"
"I've heard of your previous business dealings. You have a tendency to- shall we say- turn your back on customers and "forget" promises. Be assured that I will remind you. I will marry your daughter. Nothing will stop me."
Peter smiled wanly and stepped into his carriage. Only when he was safely in its dark confines and it started rolling away did he allow himself to shudder. Sir Bowen was certainly a disquieting individual. He was notorious throughout the town of Torlia for his callous nature. However, he was the richest suitor to ask for Ella's hand. Perhaps Ella would not be happy with the marriage arrangement; no, of course she would. It was getting her out of her servitude, was it not? Surely Ella would see that Bowen was better than Olga for her. Yes. Yes, Ella would be contented, or else.
Suddenly the carriage stopped. Sir Peter peered out the window. Ah, they had come across the mail carrier. How wonderful. He could send a letter to his beloved Olga, as well as to Ella, informing them of Ella's engagement.
Peter hopped out and greeted the mailman. "Sir Peter! How wonderful to see you! I must congratulate you on the wonderful fortune you've stumbled across. 'Tis a pity, of course, that you have missed the wedding."
Peter looked at the man curiously. "What wedding would that be?"
The mail carrier looked surprised at his inquisitiveness. "Why, the royal wedding. Prince Charmont's. Ruler of Kyrria? I have your invitation right here. I tried to locate you, but I couldn't in time." He handed Peter a cream colored envelope with lavish gold script.
"Why on earth would I get invited to the royal wedding?" Peter wondered as he opened the invitation. He soon found out as he read the words with growing horror.
Celebrate Kyrrians!
You are cordially invited to the royal wedding of
Prince Charmont
Future ruler of Kyrria
And
Ella, daughter of Sir Peter of Frell and the Late Lady Eleanor
On December the thirtieth
The Palace
Ella had married the prince! She would become the Queen of Kyrria! The marriage was perfect!
But, what about Sir Bowen? In two months he would come to collect Ella! Oh, what had he done???
"Yes. You may have the hand of my daughter, Ella. I will return home soon to collect her, and we shall come back within two months.
"Very good. Farewell, Sir Peter."
"Farewell, Sir Bowen."
The two men shook hands. Sir Peter turned to step back into his carriage.
"Oh, and Sir Peter?"
Peter stopped and looked at the knight. "Yes?"
"I've heard of your previous business dealings. You have a tendency to- shall we say- turn your back on customers and "forget" promises. Be assured that I will remind you. I will marry your daughter. Nothing will stop me."
Peter smiled wanly and stepped into his carriage. Only when he was safely in its dark confines and it started rolling away did he allow himself to shudder. Sir Bowen was certainly a disquieting individual. He was notorious throughout the town of Torlia for his callous nature. However, he was the richest suitor to ask for Ella's hand. Perhaps Ella would not be happy with the marriage arrangement; no, of course she would. It was getting her out of her servitude, was it not? Surely Ella would see that Bowen was better than Olga for her. Yes. Yes, Ella would be contented, or else.
Suddenly the carriage stopped. Sir Peter peered out the window. Ah, they had come across the mail carrier. How wonderful. He could send a letter to his beloved Olga, as well as to Ella, informing them of Ella's engagement.
Peter hopped out and greeted the mailman. "Sir Peter! How wonderful to see you! I must congratulate you on the wonderful fortune you've stumbled across. 'Tis a pity, of course, that you have missed the wedding."
Peter looked at the man curiously. "What wedding would that be?"
The mail carrier looked surprised at his inquisitiveness. "Why, the royal wedding. Prince Charmont's. Ruler of Kyrria? I have your invitation right here. I tried to locate you, but I couldn't in time." He handed Peter a cream colored envelope with lavish gold script.
"Why on earth would I get invited to the royal wedding?" Peter wondered as he opened the invitation. He soon found out as he read the words with growing horror.
Celebrate Kyrrians!
You are cordially invited to the royal wedding of
Prince Charmont
Future ruler of Kyrria
And
Ella, daughter of Sir Peter of Frell and the Late Lady Eleanor
On December the thirtieth
The Palace
Ella had married the prince! She would become the Queen of Kyrria! The marriage was perfect!
But, what about Sir Bowen? In two months he would come to collect Ella! Oh, what had he done???
