Eleven
"There it is!" I exclaimed as I turned back to look in the carriage. Selling the house and packing all of our things had been a nightmare. It had taken us almost a fortnight to get everything ready. Papa left with the animals days prior and Momma ran around like a headless chicken for the remainder. Lydia had threatened to give her a sleeping draught if she didn't calm down. Charlotte and I just stayed up in our room and slowly packed away all of our dresses. Moving to Nottingham castle was the most stressful task I have ever endured but it was also the most exciting. I was going to live in a castle. Every girl my age would be plagued with jealousy.
Nottinghamshire was a large trade city due to the river Trent which flowed from York to London, passing through Nottinghamshire. Here people would stop and pay a toll to continue on through to London or York, trading their cheaper wool before stopping in London to make their larger profits. We came from the south side and passed over the river Leen, which met the river Trent on its left side, and headed west through the town. People watched us curiously. Our train was 9 wagons long, plus our carriage. There were 10 guards who had accompanied us and there were a few dogs running behind the last carriage. I smiled and waved at the townspeople. Some smiled back, a few children jumped and waved but most just scowled and watched us pass by. A feeling of unease sat in my stomach.
As we passed St Mary's Church the castle gatehouse came into view. The castle sat on a cliff side, with tall walls and our family sigil was painted onto a flag that flew from a tall tower. We passed quickly through the tall solid oak doors and into the outer bailey. It was a field of white with small pathways to the different guard towers. There was a small boy throwing a stick for his mutt to chase. When he spotted us he got up and ran to the castle gates shouting whist jumping up and down. The gates opened immediately and he smiled and waved as we rode through.
As we rode into the inner bailey we were met by a flurry of people. It was like a small town in here. There was a a large two story stable to my left with a little chicken coop. Beside it were the gates to the inner ward where we would be staying. Along the wall to my right was the servant's quarters. Here is where the soldiers and staff would sleep. When the our servants and soldiers would share their quarters when the King's staff, for the Inner Bailey was where the King would reside on his visit. Richard's Tower was built for King Richard the Lion heart. It was solely for the king. At the base of the tower was the king's sitting room. The second floor was a small library and study and the third floor of the tower was his bed chambers accompanied with a bathing room. There were two buildings just outside the doors to Richard's Tower, one was the King's kitchen and the other was the small Hall where he would hold meetings. Both were dark and silent for the King was in London. Beside the small hall was the chapel and the priest's house where Fr. Robert would hold mass when the King visited.
We climbed out of the carriage and marveled at our new home. It was beautiful. There was a frozen fountain in the corner and there were wrapped shrubs all along the left wall. The workers stopped and bowed to us and we all glanced at each other with shock. One boy stepped forward and bowed again.
"Please my Lady. Follow me." He said clutching his hat tightly in his hands.
"What is your name boy?" Momma said.
"Fitzwilliam Darcy. But they call me Will." He said with a blush. Fitz meant bastard which would explain the blush on his face. When he looked up his dark brown eyes caught mine and I couldn't help but smile. There were freckles all over his nose and his brown hair was pushed flat due to his hat.
"Well William it is very nice to meet you." Momma said and he smiled. We followed him through the gates to the Inner Ward. The gates closed behind us and Will smiled.
"This is the inner ward. Those doors lead into your quarters." Will explained pointing to the oak doors that replicated the gatehouse doors. In the middle of each door a swan had been carved into the wood. "They were just put in yesterday." He said to me, noticing my stare. "This large building is the great hall." The later Lord Nottingham never used this room." He pushed open the heavy doors and showed us the long room with a large stone fireplace at the back of the room. Off to the left side, almost directly in the middle of the wall was a door. Will told us that it led to the third Chapel where our Sunday Masses were held. He showed us two secret doors. They were made of the same wood paneling that the walls were and aligned perfectly with each stone. They were completely undetectable. He pointed out a small notch in a stone where the servants would pull the doors open and slip through. The door beside the fireplace led to the brewery and the one on the left wall beside the fireplace led to the kitchen. Beside the brewery was the third chapel and this one was for the parties and balls. The priest would hold a small service and would come and say Grace before the meal was to be served.
When we excited the great hall Will led us through the swan doors and into the courtyard. Here we were met by a sea of faces all standing in front of the steps to the West wing. There were hundreds of people smiling at us. Papa stood at the front of the group with the biggest smile. As we approached they all bent and bowed to us. Papa reached out his hands and kissed Momma gently.
"Well?" He said and she looked around.
"It's beautiful." I said. And he kissed my cheek.
"It's very big." Momma said with a nod. "I'm afraid I wont know what to do with myself."
"Oh my dear there is so much to occupy oneself. Come." He looped his arm through hers and led her through the doors. He took us on a tour, up the grand staircase and to the North Wing where Charlotte, Lydia and I would sleep. We each had our own rooms. Each room came with a large goose feather mattress and the softest blankets my hands had ever felt. There was a fireplace in each room and a vanity with a looking glass attached. We all shared a dressing room and a bathing room. But each wall was dedicated to one of us and the third wall had large windows that overlooked the fields below. We shared a sitting room and there was a secret passage way at the end of the hallway which led to the bakery and the kitchen below. The Kitchen and bakery was one room but was divided by a single white sheet. It was the largest bakery and kitchen I had ever seen.
Next was the West wing. Papa showed us the Library with floor to ceiling bookshelves full of books. There were winding iron staircases on both sides of the room with balconies that wrapped around the whole room for three floors. It was breathtaking. In the middle of the room was three cushioned benches and on the back wall was a large stone fireplace with two large windows on both sides. Next to the library was the dinning hall.
East Wing was last and that was where Momma and Papa would sleep. At Nottingham Castle the Duke and Duchess did not share a bed, so naturally Momma got the larger bedchamber and Papa the smaller. Their rooms were the same as ours only they had their own dressing rooms and bathing rooms. There sitting room was in between their two rooms and it had its own library on the back wall. I sat on a cushioned bench and marveled at the high ceilings and the carpets floors.
"Can you believe we live here?" Lydia said sitting on the adjacent bench. I shook my head. Words could not even begin to describe the way I felt. I was in awe and wonder at this place and also the fact that it was mine. It was marvelous and extravagant, yet old and spooky. So many generations of men lived amongst these walls. It had so much to tell.
"Come my darlings. You must change and get ready for supper." Papa said excitedly as Momma floated around the room touching the mantel of the large fireplace and feeling the stones in the walls. "There are many people that you need to meet." He clapped his hands and shoed us out of their apartment. We stood outside the bedroom door and looked at each other.
"Want to race?" Lydia said with a bold smile on her face. I looked at Charlotte and she smiled. I looked back at Lydia and she took off with a bolt.
"Lydia!" I screeched. "That is unfair!" Charlotte laughed and took off after Lydia leaving me to trail along behind.
Sissy dressed us all quickly in dinner gowns Charlotte wore green and I wore pink. She braided two small braids at the front of our heads, pinning them in the back. She placed a silver chain linked wimple around our heads, resting them in middle of our foreheads and smiled. Then she sent us on our way. Lydia was dressed in Jane's blue gown that she wore to the Coronation, with her long brown hair curled down around her shoulders and a necklace with a large teardrop pearl on it. I stared at her and felt a pang of jealousy.
"Where did you get that?" I said touching the necklace gently.
"Jane gave it to me for Christmas." She said with a smug smile. I scowled at her.
"I didn't see her give that to you." I crossed my arms. "And why haven't you worn it since."
"There wasn't an occasion." She shrugged and headed down the grand staircase.
"We went to the New Year Ball last month." I said and then I heard Sissy hiss at me from the top of the stairs. I inhaled deeply and put a smile on my face. At the bottom of the steps we heard a rustling from a door close by.
"I've forgotten what room that is." Lydia said pausing on the bottom step.
"That would be the dinning hall My Lady." A man said appearing beside the staircase. He was an older gentleman with a clean shaven face and short cropped graying hair. He smiled with a perfect set of teeth and there was something about him that made me feel safe.
"Thank you sir." Lydia said nodding to him.
"I am no sir." The man said with a smile. "You may call me Henry. I am the butler."
"What is a butler?" I asked him. He blinked at me in wonder and then smiled.
"A butler is in charge of looking after your poor old father." Papa said appearing from the door in question. There was a smile on his face but his eyes held worry and I wasn't the only one to notice.
"Papa?" Lydia asked descending down the stairs with haste. "What is it?" I looked at Charlotte and we raced after her.
"Thank you Henry." I called back and he smiled and bowed again before continuing on down the hall.
"It's Jane." Momma said passing Lydia the letter in her hands. "She has gone into her birthing chambers. Fear was all over Momma's face and I frowned.
"Is this not good news?" I said taking the letter and noting that it was not Jane's writing.
"It is too early." Momma said. She turned to a young woman who stood behind her and she started giving orders to pack up a trunk and to get a carriage ready.
"May I accompany you Momma?" Lydia asked. Momma looked at Papa and he sighed.
"More hands might be better Mary." He said.
"Very well. Instruct Lady Lydia's chambermaids to pack her things as well. We'll leave in an hour."
"Can I go as well?" I asked watching them leave the room.
"I need you here my darling." Papa said placing his hand on my shoulder. "You wouldn't leave your old Papa here with all these strangers now would you?" I looked up at my father and sighed.
"Alright Papa."
"Come. Caroline and her girls have created a beautiful supper for us." Three young men stepped out of the shadows of the room and pulled the chairs out for us. Then they disappeared into the walls and came back with bowls of soup. I looked at Charlotte and her eyes widened.
"Papa?" He looked up at me and smiled. "How many servants are there?" I tried to whisper so I wouldn't cause offence but the man behind me coughed.
"In total about one hundred servants." My eyes widened and I looked at Charlotte.
"One Hundred!" I gasped.
"Well think. At the old house we had at least 30 servants. The cook, the cook's assistant, the guards, the squires, the stable boys, the serving girls, sissy." He paused and looked pensive. "I think that's it."
"What about Tad?" I asked his face popped into my head less and less these days. At the beginning I could hear his voice perfectly but then, as time passed, even his face was starting to fade.
"Well I included Tad in the stable boys." Papa said with an uncomfortable cough. Our dinner of roasted chicken and baked potatoes with fresh peas and a loaf of bread was placed on the table. As we ate and talked the sky darkened and the fireplaces roared. Dessert was a berry pie with whipped cream on top. Charlotte and I exchanged glances of pure joy and wonder as we started to eat the delicious dish. Papa laughed when he noticed our empty plates a moment later.
"Would you two like a second helping?" He asked and when we both nodded excitedly he turned to the man behind him and he disappeared with our food.
"One helping should be enough." Momma's voice came from the door way. "We don't need glutenous girls who cant fit into their ball gowns." She sat at the end of the table, across from Papa and placed a napkin on her lap.
"Oh Mary. It's a special occasion." Papa said winking at me. Lydia sauntered in wearing her blue dress and sat beside me, copying Momma by placing a napkin on her lap. She lifted her glass delicately and a servant filled it with wine. I looked at Momma and Papa and they exchanged a glance of concern. "What time shall you leave in the morning?" He asked Momma.
"I was rather hoping to leave tonight."
"No Mary! It is too dangerous." Papa said with a crease in his forehead.
"I cannot leave her suffering alone." Momma said, her eyes watering.
"What if we send a note with news of your arrival tomorrow. That will give her hope and she'll push through the night." Papa smiled slightly but we all knew he was worried. Momma shook her head and wiped her eyes with the napkin. "It is also our first night at the castle." He said quietly. "We must meet our people."
"What of our daughter? When did servants become more important than blood?" Momma's voice raised and the room went quiet. Papa sat with his lips pressed together for a moment and then sighed.
"You know when a woman gets married she is her husband's responsibility." Momma's mouth opened with protest but Papa cut her off. "You have a duty to these people, which you agreed to when you married me. I will not allow you to make a fool out of me or my family." He snapped and Momma's face went red. Lydia, Charlotte and I studied our hands in our laps until there was a knock at the door and Momma's meal was sent in. As soon as it was placed in front of her she turned it away. Papa clenched the napkin in his hand and inhaled deeply. Lydia picked at her meal and Charlotte and I were suddenly full when our desserts were delivered. 10 minutes of silence passed before Papa spoke and he asked the boy behind him to get the staff and invite them to the sitting room for tea. Dishes were cleared away rather quickly and Papa led the way to the sitting room where he placed us in specific seating. Momma sat between Lydia and I on a cushioned bench, Charlotte sat in an arm chair by the window and Papa stood by the fire. It was a very obvious staged setting and yet the staff strode through the doors as if this were normal.
"Ah yes. Come in and meet my family." They 10 people bowed to us and I glanced back at Charlotte who smirked. "Let me introduce my wife, Lady Nottingham, my daughters, Lady Lydia and Lady Elizabeth and my ward, Miss Charlotte." They bowed again and even smiled at us. "My darlings," Papa said turning to us. "Let me introduce you to our staff." Papa went down the line of characters in our new story. I was horrible for remembering names, but I rarely forgot a face.
First was Lord Chamberlain Robert London. He was a tall lanky man with a wisp of black hair and a long pointy nose. When he stepped forward and smiled his teeth were horrendously crooked and his small green eyes were dull. His only saving grace was his lisp he enhanced for our entertainment. He was in charge of our parties and events.
Next was Ben and Caroline. Ben was the baker and Caroline was the cook. They were older, about the same age of my parents. Ben had graying short hair, a small black moustache and bright blue eyes. Caroline was very short with graying orange hair that she wore under a starched white cap. Her eyes were brown and there were freckles on her nose. She looked kind but when she glanced at Ben there was a fury in her gaze and his matched hers. The two were always at a crossroad, I later learned, they hated sharing a room which is why they put up the white sheet. Charlotte was convinced that they were secretly in love with each other.
We met Henry the butler, he bowed and smiled with a wink. Then Joseph the candlemaker, Lord Treasurer Rowland, who was in charge of the money, Seamus the red headed marshal who was in charge of the stables and Helen our head laundress.
Next was Phil. When he stepped forward and removed his cap Momma gasped and Lydia and I exchanged glances. For this man dressed in brown trousers and a green tunic was in fact a woman. She was young, a few years passed Jane, with long dark hair and tanned skin. Her eyes were brown and there was a mole just beside her nose. She wasn't ugly but she wasn't a pretty girl either.
"My name is Phillippa." She explained with a scottish accent. "And during the summer I am the head gardener. During the winter I work the stables. Both things are a man's job so I am required to wear these garments. Fear not m'lady I will stay out of the way when guests have arrived and shall not reveal myself to any but your highnesses." Momma looked at Papa and he smiled with amusement.
"Of course. It only makes sense that you would dress this…way." Momma said taking in her outfit one more time. She swallowed her judgments and smiled at her.
"This is my Steward, George Wickham." Papa said placing a hand on a young man's shoulder. He was only a few year older than Jane and pleasantly handsome. He had shoulder length blonde hair with bright blue eyes and a perfect smile. He bowed with a certain elegance and when he smiled my breath evaded me. He was tall and lean and I couldn't find one flaw. He carried a sword at his side and a dagger in his boot, the hilt was clearly visible. He smiled at Papa and then he gaze landed on Lydia. I looked at her and her cheeks burst with red.
"Such a beautiful family you have sir." He said with this voice that was as smooth as water. I looked at Momma and she was enchanted by him.
"George is going to help me manage the castle and town. He is my advisor."
"Such a big job for a man so young." Momma said with a smile but her cool blue eyes narrowed at him. He smiled and stood straighter.
"I was trained from a young age by the Former Duke of Nottingham, my lady."
"He had a boy for an advisor?" She asked and he smiled back, hiding the discomfort of being scrutinized in front of an audience.
"He had other, older advisors until I turned the age of 18 years. He thought I was ready by that point." He said proudly.
"Was he right?" She asked and the room went eerily quiet.
"He was indeed." George smiled broadly as Papa laughed.
"He's perfect for the job, don't you think Mary?" Papa said clapping him on the back. There was something in the way Momma was questioning him and the way he was responding that made me unsettled. My stomach churned when he smiled at Papa. He looked like a cat right before it was about to catch a mouse.
Papa invited the staff to sit and have a drink with us. Most of them refused and went back to work. Henry stayed as did Phil and George. Charlotte and I talked with Henry about the castle and he told us a few funny stories about market days in the past. Nottingham was famous for it's weekend markets. Friday afternoon people passing from York to London would stop in and sell some of their goods. It was one big celebration that night. He talked of the fresh baked cakes and the pies, the sheep and the pigs, the drunks and the fools. Charlotte and I looked at each other and then begged Papa to take us to the next market.
George stood in the corner talking with Papa and Momma while Lydia talked with Phil. He was constantly glancing at her but she stood with her back to him. Only she stood taller and was holding herself to firmly that she was shaking a little. I raised my eyebrows and nudged Charlotte who shook her head and we laughed. Momma announced bed time an hour later and the three of us bid our "fair wells" and headed up the stairs.
As our new chambermaids undressed us and brushed our hair Lydia started to hum. Charlotte giggled and I shook my head.
"I think he fancies you Lydia." She blinked at me through her looking glass and raised her eyebrows.
"Who?" She said pretending to be unaware of what I was saying. I rolled my eyes.
"George of corse."
"Oh him." She shrugged. "I was the only woman in that room close enough to his age."
"Phillippa is close to his age." Charlotte argued and Lydia blushed.
"Charlotte, with the way she dresses." She paused, "It is not men she fancies."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, her heart goes to people with much rounder chests." The chambermaids all snickered and Lydia smiled proudly.
"What you speak of is a sin!" I gasped and Lydia rolled her eyes.
"Oh Lizzie. So young and nieve." She patted my head as she passed by my chair. "Sometimes men love men and women love women. There's nothing you can do of it."
"But it's illegal." I said and she stopped at her bedroom door.
"A lot of things are illegal." She smiled a wicked smile. "But you only have to worry if you get caught." She let it sink in and then blew us a kiss. "Good night my darlings." She said in that annoying pretend grown up voice she had taken to using and then disappeared into her room. I said goodnight to Charlotte and laid in bed for an hour, tossing and turning. I kept seeing George's snakelike smile and imagining Phil getting her head cut off. There was a quiet knock on my door and Charlotte's little face peeked through the door.
"I cant sleep." She peeped.
"I can't sleep either." I said and she jumped into my large bed and we lay their looking at the stone ceiling.
"Do you think Phil really does prefer women to men?" She whispered.
"I don't know." I said honestly. "If she does she leads a very scary life." We fell into silence thinking about her.
"Lizzie?"
"Yea?"
"What if…I'm like that?" Charlotte asked with worry in her voice. I turned and looked at her and then smiled.
"Don't be silly Charlotte. You cant be like that."
"Why not?" She looked at me with her big green eyes and I smiled and touched her cheek.
"Because you're like me. I don't prefer women and you don't prefer women."
"But what if I grow up to prefer…a woman's company?" There were tears in her eyes. I pulled her close to me and hugged her tight.
"Oh Charlotte. If you grow up to love women, which you won't, you'll still be my Charlotte. My little cousin and closest friend." I said kissing her forehead. She sighed and I felt a tear on my neck as she fell asleep.
A month later we awoke to the sound of a rooster. The chambermaids came in pulled back the curtains and smiled at our sleepy faces.
"Are you never going to sleep in your own bed Charlotte?" Betty said. She was a young maid with Blonde curly hair that stuck out despite her cap.
"It's what we are used to." I said and the two women smiled at us.
"Well it saves us from making up another bed." She laughed.
Momma and Lydia had left bright and early the morning after we moved in and so far Jane still had not had her baby. She was getting a lot of rest and it was driving her insane, or so she wrote to me. Momma was constantly fluffing her pillows and Lydia was constantly complaining about how bored she was. So Jane was not too happy at the moment.
We were served breakfast in our sitting room and we dressed in warm blue gown with long sleeves and a thick white stockings. We wore our black leather boots and Charlotte's hair was let down with a blue bow at the top of her head, where as my hair was in a braided bun, laced with a blue ribbon and a silver fillet sat across my forehead. They were painfully annoying but I was a nobel lady now and this is how a nobel lady must dress.
We wore our dark blue winter coats and walked out into the cold spring air. It was the middle of March now and the snow was just starting to melt. The courtyard was alive with people going in and out. Lord Chamberlain was standing with George and Papa looking at the Great Hall.
"I'm afraid it's going to need a new roof My Lord." He said and Papa sighed.
"Where is Rowland?" Papa said to George. "Do we even have enough money for this?"
"I can be done My Lord." George said in his smooth voice. "Leave it to me."
"Good morning Papa." I said startling all three of the men.
"Ah my darling. Good morning." He kissed my head and then smiled at Charlotte. She was still a little weary of being touched. "How was your sleep? Did you eat yet?"
"We had a small meal this morning but we are not hungry. Will said he would show us the caves today." I said excitedly. Papa's smile faded and he shook his head.
"You've been spending a lot of time with his Will boy."
"He's my friend." I said wounded.
"He's a bastard." George added and I scowled at him. The more he talked the more I hated him. I was starting to notice things that clearly no one else was seeing. The hunger in his eyes was also in his smile. His nostrils flared when ever he was talking to Papa and he scowled a lot when he thought no one was looking.
"He's my FRIEND!" I said again and George smiled at me.
"Lizzie it isn't proper to be…friendly with a bastard when you are of nobility."
"I wasn't of nobility two months ago. Would it have been proper then? You had no problem with me talking to Tad!" I snapped and Papa's cheeks went red.
"I will not have my daughter talk to me this way!" He said, word he learned from George after I had scolded Papa for taking away my horse. I bit my tongue and stood back. I knew I would be locked in my room if I dare say a word. "Besides you have a dancing lesson today."
"Oh no! Not again Papa please!" I begged. He looked down at me with fury and I sighed. "Alright Papa." I said.
"Good girls. Now run along. Don't be late." He smiled with tired eyes and we turned and sulked into the great hall.
"I like our dancing lessons." Charlotte said.
"That's because you are good at them." I whined. "This huge castle and we haven't had a chance to explore it yet. Doesn't that make you want to scream?"
"Not really." Charlotte said with a shrug and we were met by the strong smell of Maxine, our dancing instructor.
"Good morning little birds." She said and I rolled my eyes. She was always so sweet at the start and then she got mean and angry, especially when I stepped on her toes. I sighed as the minstrel in the corner began to play a painfully familiar tune. "Back's straight and one two three. One two three."
An hour later there was a knock at the door and the music stopped. Maxine was red with fury. I had messed up the steps again and she was claiming that I better pray to St Jude for learning to dance was indeed a lost cause.
The person knocked again three loud raps and Maxine gritted her teeth "what is it?" She snapped! The door creaked open a bit and will stuck only his head through the door. He stared down at the floor and his cheeks were red. "Well? What is it boy?" He jumped and opened the door. He placed his hands behind his back clutching his hat tightly in his grasp and coughed nervously.
"Lord Nottingham wishes to speak with his daughter." Will said sticking his chest in. The air with pride as he relaid a message. I smirked and thought about how cute he was with his wild brown hair and the light freckles on his nose. He looked at me and I blushed.
"You better get a move on. Don't keep your father waiting! Especially now that he's a duke." She mumbled as I scurried out of the room. I frowned at Charlotte but she just shrugged and gave me a quick wave.
"So what am I in trouble for now?" I asked will as I wrapped my black fur cloak around my shoulders. It had started snowing again, light tiny flakes but the sun was out and it made the almost empty courtyard look magical.
"Nothing. I thought I would rescue you from MAXINE!" He said with a cringe and we both giggled.
"I'll surely get in trouble is papa finds me." I said looking up at the house.
"That's why I'm going to show you the caves." He said with a mischievous grin. I felt the flutter of excitement fill my belly as he grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen door. He poked his head through the door and then pulled me into the kitchen shutting e door behind him. "Quickly!" He hissed and led me me past the wooden table and stopped at stone fireplace.
"What are we doing here?" I whispered. He smirked at me and then took a rock out of the fireplace. He placed his hand into the hole and pulled a string. The wall popped open and I gasped. He smiled and then we both jumped as the kitchen door creaked open. Caroline came in whistling. Will pushed me through the door and quietly shut it behind us. We were frozen solid in pitch darkness listening to any sign of someone headed our way. When Will finally exhaled I knew we were ok. I couldn't see him but I could feel the heat from his movements beside me. "Will I cant see anything!" I whined. I heard two rocks being banged together and then their was a spark. Light appeared with haste and I turned away from its harshness. Will smiled proudly at me and I shook my head.
"Are you going to tell me what we're doing in the caves?"
"Have you ever heard the story of Robin Hood?" He said with a flicker of excitement in his eyes. I smiled and shook my head. "Well then let me tell you." He headed off down the hall with a dramatic glide. I laughed and then chased after him.
"Hundred of years ago, during the rule of Richard the lion heart, Nottingham was not the happy beautiful place you see today."
" I can't really see anything at the moment." He frowned at me and I giggled and apology.
"As I was saying during this time Richard the Lionheart was king and he hated England."
"He hated England? He was the king!" I said with shock.
"He still hated it. He spent most of his time in France. He hated our food and our weather. He even hated speaking English. He had a negative attitude about England and and when he heard the pope needed an army he left as fast as he could. He became the pops assassin in the war against the Muslims."
"The crusades?" I asked and he smiled with a nod.
"Thousands were killed and wounded and on his journey home King Richard was taken captive in Germany. The price of his ransom of was three times the prime of the royal crown. His youngest brother, Prince John, told his mother is was too much but she didn't listen. When he heard she was going to pay it he tried to bribe the Germans to keep his brother. But alas they freed him and he made his way home, at least that's what he should have done.
Once he was freed he avenged his defeats and took back the French towns and castles he had lost. During a battle he was hit in the shoulder with a narrow and died. Heart broken and nearly bankrupt the king's mother named her youngest son the new king.
King John was now faced with the horrible task of making the crown wealthy again. And his biggest struggle was that he was not a people person. He decided that increasing the taxes would be a good way to make the money back. But of course the people hated this idea. People could barely support themselves after the wars in France. He was a liar and he was constantly abusing the nobels by taking their money and their wives."
"Their wives?" I said horrified.
"He would give them back, just took them." He said with more emphasis on the word took. I stared at him confused and he sighed. "You know Lizzie. Like when two people get married the first night of their marriage is when he would take them." I was still so confused I stood thinking about it and then realized he meant sex! I stared at him with shock and felt my cheeks turn red. He nodded with raised eyebrows and smiled. "Exactly."
"That's awful!" I said shaking my head and trying to get rid of the unease in my stomach.
"People were in an uproar. And thus the greatest outlaw was created." He stopped and peaked around a corner, handing me the flame. "Stay here." He said and before I could answer he disappeared. I went to follow him but heard the linking of keys and stood frozen. They were moving closer and closer and then the man coughed. I felt as if my heat was going to burst from my chest. Just as the man was about to come into view will grabbed my arm and stuck the torch in the dirt letting it go out. He pressed me up against the wall and covered my mouth with his hand. I could see nothing but my ears could hear everything. The guard walked by carrying a small flame, half asleep, buried in his own thoughts. He didn't even notice the unwashed boy pushed against the girl dressed in the blue silk gown. He just marched on by without a care or concern. The hall went dark again.
"That was close!" Will said releasing my mouth.
"He didn't even see us!"
"They never do. You could jump up and down in front of them and they would never notice." I stared at them horrified! So far will had shown me two flaws in our castle. The secret passageways led right into the castle walls so any murderous outlaw could come in and kill us in our sleep. And the guards would make the way even easier for them.
"I must tell papa about this." I said as will handed me a bundle of fabric. I studied it as he lit the flame again. "What is this?"
"Clothes." He said checking down the hallway.
"Clothes?" I asked confused and studied he harsh brown material. "What for?"
"You can't wear that where we are going." He said looking at my dress. I stared at him with shock.
"You want me to wear these?"
"Yes your highness!" He laughed his preadolescent laugh.
"And what do you suppose I do with the clothes I'm wearing?"
"Leave them here."
"Leave them!" I shouted and he hissed at me. "Don't you see the problem with this idea?" He rolled his eyes. "My papa will surely wonder where my new clothes cam from seeing as I'm supposed to be at dance lessons and then with my tutor. And if I were to change into my original clothes, which would take hours and would surely be dirty from all...this-" I waved my arms around the hallway. "He would be curious as to how I became so dirty."
"Leave your silly clothes on then. It's not going to be my funeral." He said exasperated. I rolled my eyes at his short temper.
"I'm going back!" I said with a huff.
"Lizzie wait!" He grabbed my hand and sighed. "Just wear the cloak then. And the cap." He reached into the bundle and dropped the brown scratchy dress on the floor. He handed me a large brown cloak that I tied around my neck and best and wrapped my arms around my body. I looked at the cap with curiosity and Will sighed. He placed it on my head, rather aggressively, and tied it behind my head. He looked me over and sighed. "Let's go." He turned the corner and headed down the sloping hallway.
"So who is this great outlaw you were talking about?" I asked trying to defuse our tempers.
"His name was Robin Hood!" Will said excited once again. "He would rob from the rich and give to the poor." As Will led me through the caves, past the cells with shouting prisoners and the sleeping guards, he told me of this Robin Hood.
Legend says that this man was a yeomen, a working class man, who fought for king Richard during the crusades. After experiencing disturbing things he returned home and joined forces with a group of men who lived in Sherwood Forest. This forest was royal property therefore no one was allowed to hunt or cut down trees without the kings permission. Since the king was in German custody, the sheriff was in charge of all of Nottingham.
The taxes were raised and the bandits grew rapidly. Robin returned to a city that was full of violence and lacked authority. He and his band of what were called "merry men" robbed constantly from the sherif and the other rich nobels in the area and gave back to those struggling to survive. As we passed a large wooden door Will stopped and told about the one time Robin stole from st. Mary's church. He threatened the friar's li and got away. But weeks later the friar recognized him in a crowd and set e guards on him. He killed 12 guards before he was finally arrested. The guards through him in the oubliette, which was on the other side of this thick wooden door, and left him there to rot. An oubliette was a wine bottle shaped hole in the floor where prisoners were sent but never came out of. They were left to starve or go mad.
Friar Tuck, the one who had turned him in, became aware of who had robbed him and set out to free him. With the help of the merry men and a long rope they got Robin out of the oubliette and were forever friends. Friar Tuck remained at St Mary's church but acted as a spy for Robin.
The wolf heads (know as this for having bounties on their heads) tees and became stronger than ever. Among Robin's merry men were Little John who was said to be as tall as 7 ft and was a master with the quarter staff. He was Robin's right hand man, his closest confidant. Then there was William Scathelocke who was a pick pocketer and was highly skilled at picking locks. He was also Robin's nephew and after killing his fathers steward he was exiled to Sherwood Forest where he joined forces with his uncle. Allen A Dale was the minstrel, singing of Robin's amazing tricks and talents and of his glorious victories against Prince john and e sheriff of Nottingham. It wasn't too long before Robin Hood became the god of the Nottingham people.
As we exited the cave we were met by blinding white light and the sound of the rushing river below. Will grabbed my hand and led me down the rocky cliffs to the snow covered grown below. We were outside the town. I blinked at the sunlight and all the open field and was shocked at how many little cottages were located on the riverside. I had never noticed them before.
"Come on. I have to show you something." He led me into the forest and after hearing the tales of Robin Hood and his bandits I was feeling more adventurous. We raced through the trees and through the snow drifts and came out onto a field f white with a large stone in the middle. Will raced to the stone and touched it gently.
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's the motto of Robin Hood." He smiled at he stone and I read the words. Rise and rise again, until the lamb becomes the lion.
We walked back casually to the castle after about an hour of playing in the snow and pretending to be Robin Hood. Will showed me a passageway that led right to my bedroom. We bid farewell and agreed to meet there again the next day after lessons. Papa never suspected a thing at supper and asked me how dance lessons had went. Charlotte and I shared a secret smile and when I told her of my adventure she was eager to hear more. She made up excuses for me every day that week and the next week.
One day I entered my room laughing at the story of Robin Hood and Little John fighting on the bridge and then becoming friends. I washed my face with a wet cloth and took out the pins in my hair to let my curls fall and to take the messy wild look away. As I exited my bedchamber I almost stopped breathing when papa coughed from the window seat.
He looked me up and down with a face of disapproval. He didn't speak and I could barely control my breathing let alone say anything. After a minute I smiled and said.
"Oh papa I'm feeling much better. You didn't need to check on me." He blinked at me and there was a glimmer of surprise in his eyes. He looked down at his hands and sighed.
"Pack your things." I panicked horrified that I was being sent away. I almost started apologizing but he spoke. "Jane has given birth to a son and we must be there by the days end for the christening tomorrow. He stood up and walked to the door. He paused with his hand on the door and turned to me. "You're still my girl right Lizzie?" He said with a look of sadness.
"Of course Papa." I said with a smile and felt a pang of guilt as he shut the door behind him. I knew what that look was. I had never lied to him before. I had never done anything to defy him. But he had never been so careless with my feelings either. Will was my friend and I was not going to stop being his friend because Of his lineage. And if that meant hurting Papa then so be it.
I looked at myself in the mirror and for the first time I didn't see a little girl who was constantly seeking ways to please my elders. I saw a strong confident 11 year old who knew what she wanted and would do anything to get it.
