Chapter Fourteen
Thanks to everyone for the reviews!
A/N: I'm using lovebirds in this chapter. Even though lovebirds weren't classified in their genus until 1836, I'm taking a little creative license here with my story. So hopefully everyone will like it, but if not no hard feelings. Now on with the story!!
A/N 2: A BIG thank you to Teri over at I-C for helping me with the name of Henry's castle!! Let's see if anyone else gets it!!
3 Months Later
Daisy sat at the dining table with the rest of her family and listened to the conversation floating around her. The past three months had passed in a blur for her. After Daniel had gotten her back to town, Hilda had been waiting to grab her in a tight hug. Once her sister had checked her over to her satisfaction, she questioned her all evening about The Black Dragon. Daisy answered most of her questions truthfully, omitting nothing but her and Henry's private moments. Hilda accepted Daisy's explanation on the surface, but even she could see that something had changed in Daisy.
When Daisy had arrived back home, it seemed that everyone wanted to make sure she was alive and well. Queen Claire stopped by and checked on her, as well as Countess Christina, who seemed to want to take some blame for what had happened to Daisy. Ignacio and Rosa were quick to assure her that she was not responsible and that Daisy was indeed safe again. That is, until Hilda caught her crying night after night when everyone else in the household was asleep. It took three nights of Hilda sitting up beside Daisy patiently waiting for her to tell Hilda what was wrong before Daisy blurted out everything she had previously omitted to Hilda. She told her about Henry, not The Black Dragon but the man behind the armor. She confessed to Hilda about her lack of innocence now and swore her to secrecy. But as days passed, Daisy realized that even though Hilda wouldn't betray her secret her Mami was not easily fooled. Rosa called for Daisy in her sitting room a few weeks after she had arrived back home. She had watched her youngest daughter since returning home seeming happy to be back with her family and yet unhappy. She recognized the same look in Daisy's eyes as she had with Hilda when she'd met Santos. Her baby was in love; and from the looks of things, somehow Rosa knew The Black Dragon was not as bad of a man as people had made him out to be. So Rosa sat down Daisy and simply asked her. Daisy had looked at her mother in shock before bursting into tears and spilling out the whole story. Rosa listened patiently as Daisy told her what had happened between her and Henry. Rosa was surprised to learn that Daisy had given up her innocence, but she listened to her daughter's story calmly. When Daisy had finished Rosa took her in her arms and hugged her for a long time. After Daisy had finished crying, Rosa looked at her seriously.
"Mija, I know this is very difficult for you, but we must tell your father. He will be upset, but he needs to know that you are a woman and not a little girl afraid to tell him something you think might displease him." Rosa had said. Daisy had nodded and Rosa promised to go with her and talk to her father.
Needless to say, there wasn't much talking on Ignacio's part. When Daisy told him, he was at first upset thinking that The Black Dragon had taken his daughter's innocence. When Daisy explained that he had not forced her to do anything and that she went to him willingly, Ignacio had exploded. He forbid Daisy to go anywhere in town without her sister or mother to escort her. He threatened bodily harm to The Black Dragon should he ever see him again. He had raged in the privacy of their sitting room how was Daisy expected to marry now that her innocence was gone. Rosa calmed him even as Daisy sat rigidly in her mother's favorite chair and listened while her mother reminded him of the maiden's dance that took place at Meade Castle every year. The maiden's dance was held every year, where the unmarried women of the country were invited to be seen and possibly courted by the single men in Modera. Daisy had more than once called it a "servant auction" but had survived being entered in the maiden's dance.
"Rosa, she cannot be in the maiden's dance, not now!" Ignacio had said, "And what will happen if someone does show an interest in her only to find out she's been taken by The Black Dragon?" Rosa looked at her husband.
"Ignacio, Daisy is a smart, beautiful woman. Any man would be fortunate to choose her as his wife. I cannot believe that you believe that Daisy could not gain herself a husband who loves her for who she is!" Rosa said angrily as Ignacio walked over to her.
"Amor, I love Daisy. You know that; but the time we live in now a woman is judged by what she brings to the marriage. I want her to be happy, but she only wants to marry for love! Love comes later in the marriage." Ignacio said.
"Mi Amor, we had loved before we were married. We had more love than anything remember?" Rosa asked. Ignacio sighed and nodded.
The weeks since then had been mostly calmer around the Suarez household. Rosa made Daisy go to the dressmakers for a fitting for a special gown for the dance. Daisy went through the motions half-heartedly to please her parents, but everyone around her noticed her forlorn expression more than once. As she pushed her rice around her plate, she overheard Daniel and Ignacio talking.
"There is a new owner up at Mahrog Castle." Daniel said.
"I've heard that. Apparently there is a new owner with an old title. One your father gave to the old owner." Ignacio said.
"Yes, the new owner is the new Duke of Kentmore." Daniel said, smiling over at Hilda, "So there will be another alliance with a neighbor." Ignacio smiled down the table at Daisy.
"So there may be another eligible suitor for my Daisy." Ignacio said. Daisy looked up from her plate and smiled a little at her father.
"Papi, you don't know anything about the new Duke. He may already be married with a castle full of children already." Hilda said, grinning over at Daisy.
"From what I've heard about him, he's a very quiet man looking for some peace and quiet in his life right now." Daniel said, "When he came to Meade Hall and presented his papers for the Dukedom, he seemed very intelligent but sad almost."
"What does he look like?" Rosa asked.
"Tall, broad shoulders. Dark brown hair and eyes. Not an unattractive man…." Daniel stated as Daisy threw down her fork. She stood quickly and excused herself, running from the dining area up to her room. Daniel looked from Hilda to Rosa, a puzzled expression on his face. Hilda went to stand up from the table when Ignacio looked pointedly at her.
"Is everything all right with Daisy? I hope I didn't upset her." Daniel said as Hilda sat back down.
"She's fine." Ignacio said, "She's just a little nervous about the maiden's dance tomorrow night." Ignacio finished as he looked at his wife. Rosa's face was set in a worried frown as Ignacio reached over and patted her hand. Rosa smiled back at him tightly as Daisy cried herself to sleep upstairs, dreaming of her Prince in black armor.
The next morning Rosa rode over to Mahrog Castle bringing along a welcoming gift for the new Duke. As her horse started up the path to the castle, she noted how much improved the castle looked. Its' outer towers had been stripped of the overgrown ivy and looked freshly scrubbed. The moat bridge had been repaired, she noted as her horse trod over the new heavy oak beams. She dismounted in front of the wrought iron gate as a stable boy hurried to take the reins from her. She pulled the bell and waited as a middle-aged man in a dark waistcoat and pants hurried to let her in.
"I would like to see the Duke of Kentmore, if he's available." Rosa said. The man nodded to her.
"Whom shall I say is calling?" He asked.
"Lady Rosa Suarez; I come bringing him a welcoming gift and ask for a moment of his time." Rosa answered. The man hurried into the castle as Rosa waited for entrance. After a moment he hurried back to her.
"This way milady." He said, ushering her into the great hall of the castle. Rosa noted the vast improvements and cleanings brought to Mahrog Castle. She was already impressed with the new Duke. As if on cue, Henry stepped out of the shadows of the hall and approached her.
"Lady Suarez, a pleasure to meet you." Henry said, taking her hand. Rosa smiled at him.
"The Duke of Kentmore, the pleasure is mine." Rosa said. Henry smiled at her.
"Please, call me Henry. Addressing me by the whole title is a little too formal for me." Henry said. Rosa laughed.
"As long as you call me Rosa. None of that Lady Suarez nonsense." Rosa said as Henry laughed back.
"The Duke of Kentmore, your father; I remember him." Rosa said. Henry looked at her.
"You do?" Henry asked. Rosa nodded.
"I was and still am very good friends with Queen Claire. King Bradford and your father were equally good friends I'm told." Rosa said.
"They were. They grew up together and my father saved King Bradford's life many years ago in battle." Henry said.
"Then your father was a hero." Rosa stated. Henry nodded. Rosa thought for a moment as she spoke again.
"Prince Daniel lost his father very young also. You have brothers or sisters?" Rosa asked. Henry shook his head. Rosa treaded very carefully, choosing her next words.
"Perhaps that is why Daniel is so close to my daughters. Especially Daisy, he's been like a brother to her." Rosa said, watching Henry's expression. Henry's eyes lit up at the mention of her daughter, but he played his emotions close.
"Daisy….she is your youngest daughter?" Henry asked cautiously. Rosa nodded.
"I think my oldest daughter Hilda is being courted by Prince Daniel at the moment, but Daisy is still unmarried. But the maiden's dance is tonight and her father is trying to find her a worthy suitor." Rosa said, watching the raw emotions spill over Henry's face.
"Maiden's dance, is that something that one is invited to?" Henry asked.
"If you are a maiden, yes." Rosa said, "But if you are an eligible suitor, you only need someone in Modera to sponsor you for the evening, and a gift for whichever maiden you are interested in courting." Rosa said, praying that Countess Christina hadn't decided to sponsor a suitor yet.
"Rosa, it has been a wonderful visit with you, albeit a short one. I'm sure I will see you at the dance tonight. Would you please excuse me, I find that I have many things to do on short notice to get ready for this evening?" Henry said as Rosa hid a smile.
"Of course, I'll leave you to your errands. Good day to you Henry." Rosa said as Henry turned quickly and strode back into the castle. He penned a quick note to Countess Christina and sent his stable boy to her castle, warning him not to return until she replied. Then he hurried upstairs to his wardrobe to find his best eveningwear. He had to look his best tonight…..for Daisy.
Daisy dressed carefully for the dance that evening even though truthfully she didn't care about going. She sat completely still as Hilda styled her hair, Hilda glancing down at her every so often since it was rare that Daisy sat to let anyone work on her appearance. Hilda pinned up the sides of her hair high at the crown and secured it with two silver combs. She brushed out Daisy's hair until it hung in dark waves down her back. Hilda helped Daisy slip into her dress, a deep blue netted ball gown with a crisscrossed bodice and beaded sleeves. The v-neckline was dotted with beads as was the skirt. As Hilda laced up the back of her dress, Daisy picked up the amethyst she always carried now and laced it through a black velvet ribbon. As she secured it around her neck, Hilda wondered about where she had gotten the beautiful gem from, and from whom. Daisy turned around as Hilda stared at her little sister in awe of her transformation, the light catching the amethyst sending flashes of purple-blue from Daisy's neck. Hilda stood back and admired Daisy as she called for their parents.
"Mami, Papi! Daisy is ready." Hilda announced. Ignacio and Rosa walked into the bedroom already dressed in their finery. Rosa stood silently and stared at her daughter as Ignacio took his youngest daughter in his arms.
"Mija, you look beautiful. I want you to know that I am very proud of you and that I want you to be happy. I love you very much." Ignacio said as Daisy smiled and hugged her father tightly.
"I love you too Papi." Daisy said.
Daisy mulled over her father's words a few hours later as the maiden's dance was in full swing. There were couples everywhere dancing or talking. Daisy spied her mother and Countess Christina talking animatedly over in one corner of the room. Daisy looked away from her mother to see Hilda, Justin and Daniel approaching her.
"Daisy, you've been sitting here all by yourself all evening. Come and dance with me." Daniel said, holding out a hand. Daisy pressed her hand in his as he took her out to the dancing area. They were silent for a moment as Daniel led her around the floor. After a few minutes he spoke.
"Is everything going all right for you Daisy? You had me worried the other night when you left at dinner so suddenly." Daniel asked. Daisy looked up at him and pasted a smile on her face.
"I'm fine Daniel. And I'm sorry for running out like that. I just had a lot of things on my mind then and I felt a little overwhelmed." Daisy said. Daisy quickly changed the subject and chatted with Daniel as they danced about him and Hilda. Daisy didn't notice her mother and Christina leave the hall together as they saw a man walking towards the hall entrance. The musicians ended the song as Daisy and Daniel clapped for them along with the other dancers. As the floor cleared of the dancers Queen Claire's page came forward.
"All the maidens invited by Queen Claire please come forward." Daisy stepped forward with about ten other young women. As they assembled in front of the crowd of eager young suitors Queen Claire stood from her throne.
"Gentleman as you can see before you, we have some of the most beautiful young ladies here in our kingdom. They are here to find a suitor, someone for them to begin their life with. As you all know, it is not only a matter of choosing one of these ladies you would like to court, you must present her a gift; something worthy of these ladies you are trying to court. Many of you may be in competition with another suitor for a particular maiden's favor. Although many of the maidens up here were asked and invited because their families requested, the final decision of which suitor may try for the hand of a maiden is solely up to the young lady. Now, which maiden would like to go first?" Queen Claire asked. One by one each maiden stepped forward. Eager suitors clamored to be heard above one another as they each tried to offer something better than a fellow suitor. Most of the maidens blushed and giggled as each suitor tried for her hand. Daisy sighed to herself as Queen Claire called her name.
"The next young maiden is Lady Betty Suarez, known to most of us as Daisy. She is, as you can see, quite a beautiful young woman and would make a wonderful wife to any suitor. Who will be the first to try for the lady's favor?" Young Kenneth Brennan who lived down the road from Daisy stepped forward. He handed Daisy a small leather pouch.
"10 gold pounds and a parcel of five acres of land to build on." Kenneth announced to the guests. Daisy smiled weakly as Hilda rolled her eyes next to Daniel. Several other suitors clamored forward towards Daisy. Ignacio watched the young men vying for his daughter when he noticed a man standing off to one side by himself, his eyes fixed on Daisy. Ignacio made his way around the crowd of guests watching and quietly walked up beside him.
"She is very beautiful." Ignacio said, nodding toward his daughter. Henry nodded.
"She is beautiful indeed." Henry said. Ignacio looked at him, his eyes still watching Daisy.
"Well, she is my daughter, so I guess I would tend to be a little one sided." Ignacio said.
"Then you are a fortunate man sir, to be the father of such a spectacular woman." Henry said. Ignacio smiled at him fondly.
"Ignacio Suarez." He said, holding out his hand. Henry took it and shook it firmly.
"Henry Grubstick." Ignacio remembered where he had heard that name before he took a step back and bowed slightly in the younger man's direction.
"The Duke of Kentmore. It's an honor to finally meet you." Ignacio said. Henry shook his head.
"Please, I'm just Henry. The title is only a formality." Henry said. He nodded towards Daisy.
"Your daughter is looking for a suitor?" Henry asked. Ignacio sighed and spoke in a low voice to Henry.
"Daisy needs to be married. She is at marriageable age now. She is a wonderful daughter, but a bit on the stubborn side. She has until now only agreed to marry for love, but her mother and I have convinced her to try and find her a suitor especially now since it looks as if my other daughter Hilda is being romanced by Prince Daniel." Ignacio said. He couldn't help but notice the way Henry couldn't take his eyes off his daughter. He could see that the young man was attracted to Daisy, so he decided to try and feel out if he was interested in Daisy.
"I've noticed that you seem to be quite taken with my daughter's beauty. Why don't you go up there and try to win her hand?" Ignacio said just as Countess Christina's messenger worked his way through the crowd carrying something quite large with a cover over it. He shouldered past the suitors and stopped in front of Daisy. He placed his gift in her hands and removed the cover. Daisy found herself holding a cage with two peach and pale blue lovebirds inside. Daisy's face broke into a wide smile as she watched the pair of birds fly around inside the cage. The messenger took a step back from her and pulled out a folded piece of paper and a brocade pouch from his pocket. He unfolded the note and began to read:
I searched for you then, each hour and day
I searched for you then, both far and away
Not knowing then, that which I searched for
That which consumed me, left me wanting more.
I search for you now, my feelings anew
My soul awash in emotions that I never knew
Seeking to find you, and all that you are
My heart's hopeful compass; my sun, moon and star.
The messenger handed Daisy the poem and the brocade pouch as he turned to the crowd.
"One hundred gold pounds and the lovebirds to the Lady Suarez!" The messenger announced as the crowd gasped. Queen Claire looked at the messenger.
"Who is the sender of those gifts for the favor of Lady Betty Suarez?" The Queen asked with a small smile.
"Countess Christina's sponsored suitor, The Duke of Kentmore." The messenger announced as Daisy stood wide-eyed in shock. The Duke of Kentmore!! Daisy couldn't believe he was the sender of the beautiful birds and the romantic poem. Daisy let herself be led away from the crowd still trying to win the remaining maidens by Hilda as she found her a cushioned chair and set Daisy down.
"Daisy! The Duke of Kentmore! He's one of your suitors!" Hilda exclaimed as Daniel brought Daisy a glass of wine. Daisy sipped at the drink gratefully as Ignacio hurried over to Hilda and Daniel.
"I need to talk to you both right now." Ignacio said as he took Hilda and Daniel to the other side of the hall. Daisy watched as the three of them walked away while Rosa came up to her chair.
"The Duke of Kentmore would like to meet with you. He asked me to bring you to the Meade's library." Rosa said. Daisy nodded at her mother and followed her out of the hall. She followed her mother down the quiet hall and into the library. As they entered the library and the door shut behind them, Daisy saw Countess Christina standing with a man with his back to her. Christina caught sight of them just as the man turned. Daisy stood rooted to the spot, her feet planted on the wooden floor as he walked slowly towards her, never taking his eyes from hers. Daisy willed herself to school her features before her mother realized who was walking towards her daughter. He reached Daisy and bowed low before her, taking her hand and placing a gentle kiss on the surface. Henry stayed where he was, his eyes warring with hers as Countess Christina's voice broke the silence in the library.
"Lady Betty Suarez; I present to you the Duke of Kentmore, Henry Grubstick. Henry, Lady Betty Suarez." Daisy turned away from the deep brown eyes of the man on his knee in front of her to the softer brown eyes of her mother, Daisy realized in that instant that her mother knew exactly who the Duke of Kentmore now was. Daisy just wondered as she stood there with Henry still holding onto her hand what her mother and Countess Christina were planning on doing next.
TBC…………