Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from this writing…
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN MY POLL! I currently have a tie.
Chapter 52: Lady Lenora
Lucius walked in the next morning. He knew it would be early, but he couldn't sleep thinking he now had everyone back home. He knew he hadn't always been a good father, he knew it without anyone pointing it out to him, but he did care for his children.
All of them, he thought when he saw the three of them sleeping soundly together. He just stood there, he didn't know for how long, watching them. It was the most peace he had in years. "Father?" Lilith asked, surprisingly the first to stir. She tried to use her fingers to brush her hair and make her appearance agreeable. "Have you broken your fast yet father?" she asked jabbing Luke awake. "I could ring the bell and have one sent up if you like."
"No, I believe Princess Joan has a meal set out in the family parlor. I understand everyone is going to be there, and I would like to break our fast then. I have an announcement and I believe it would be best if everyone was there at once."
"Yes, of course, sir," Luke, Lilith, and Sarah chorused, like old times. He grinned, which frightened the three of them, and left the room.
"God, he is sending me to a convent!" Lilith said frightened. "Sarah, I have to escape. Where is the nearest servants' passage you think?" Lilith said jumping up. "Can you delay my absence for awhile? Maybe claim I am taken to my bed with all this shock . . ."
"Lilith," Luke said smiling, "Breath, everything will be fine, I swear it. I do not have the smallest inclination what this is about, what father could possibly want, but if he does try to send you off I am sure this Allan of yours will come after you. If he doesn't he is a fool and I don't think he deserves you then."
Lilith hugged Luke and burst into tears. "I missed you so terribly. You would have . . ." she bit off the end not wanting to alert him to how much she had suffered. "So if father tries to send me to a convent?"
"You shall come and stay with me in Derbyshire, of course. Or your own estate at Kent," he said.
"Well, I suppose we should prepare for breakfast," Lilith said changing subjects.
"Lilith, what aren't you telling me?"
"It is a long story, we do not have time for it now. I am sure you will learn it all anyways. Come, if we keep father waiting he is likely to do something even more drastic," she said. Luke sighed and went to his chambers.
"You didn't tell him?" Sarah asked not surprised.
"I couldn't. If you had heard everything he said, I couldn't bear to add to his burden by telling him what befell me while he was gone. He would hate himself even more if he knew he wasn't here to protect me."
"He will find out eventually, Lilith. I mean, you not being part of Kent is common knowledge."
"I know. I just don't want to hurt him even worse. What should one wear when finding out she is being sent to a convent?" Lilith asked as several maids came in to assist them in getting ready. "I am thinking something extravagant."
The butler opened the door to the family parlor and Lilith and Sarah walked in to discover everyone else had arrived except for the King himself and her father. "I have a bad feeling about this," Lilith whispered as a footman pulled out their seats. She was seated on Richard's right hand, next to Luke (on her right) and across from where her father would be sitting next to the king and besides Sarah (who was across from Luke). She could see Princess Joan at the center of the breakfast table seated next to Allan and Ashley with Prince John at the foot and Robin on one side and Marion on the other, chatting away happily. She found Allan who gave her an encouraging grin which she tried to return, but mouthed the word 'convent' just to prepare him. As an after thought, she added 'rescue me.'
"Lilith," Luke said grabbing her hand. "I promise you won't go to a convent," he said trying to hold back his laughter. "I'll rescue you myself."
She squeezed his hand. Their father and the king walked in and they all took their seats. "I must admit, Locksley, that I am surprised everything went as smoothly last night."
Lilith grinned. She was sure everyone was surprised. Especially those who knew how well Robin's plans typically went. "At the assembly this afternoon is when I will announce the return of your title, Locksley," the king continued on. "And We will make the new Bonchurch official as well as a few other surprises. Speaking of which, Canterbury, I believe you had an announcement yourself."
"When it is convenient for you, your majesty."
"We confess to being most eager to seeing the reception of your announcement," Richard said amused. Luke and Lilith squeezed hands and shared a look with Sarah, just as they had when they were children. Some habits never went away. "Lady Lilith, I dare say this will surprise even you."
"Your majesty, I am often surprised," she admitted.
"Lilith, Luke, I must apologize to the two of you, but to Sarah as well, perhaps most of all, for not making this announcement sooner," Lucius said standing. The three of them shared a glance. "I suspect you anticipated this announcement to be about Lilith," he chuckled and they almost fainted from shock at his laughter. Many a court jester failed at drawing any sign of amusement from Lord Lucius. "In a sense, it will affect both Luke and Lilith, but I trust in a positive sense."
"Father, if I am being sent to a convent please just say so," Lilith said but she doubted that was his announcement now.
Lucius grinned. "No, although the thought has crossed my mind but I believe it would be a futile effort, it seems there are several willing parties willing to break you out." Lilith glanced down the table at all of the gang. "No, I am simply announcing the formal and long overdue addition to the Canterbury state. His majesty," Lucius said with a bow towards Richard, "has finally been able to agree to this and gave his blessing."
"One that was completely unnecessary, Canterbury, everyone already understands this matter."
"Not entirely, your majesty, as some made clear yesterday evening," Lucius said darkly. "But I shall simply make this clear. Sarah," Lucius said turning to Sarah who was curious what this could have to do with her. She never caused trouble. The only thing she could think of was she was being dismissed or sent away. Luke and Lilith shared a look. Sarah was always the well behaved one. "I beg your forgiveness in the tardiness of my actions. But I am having Richard announce this afternoon the formal adoption of you into my family, if it pleases you," he said and Sarah had to try very hard not to let her jaw drop open. "You have always been part of the family, which I have always felt you were like a daughter to me, perhaps the most well behaved child I had," he added with a grin making Luke and Lilith, and even Richard, chuckle. "And I find that some could think anything less completely despicable. I have the same expectations and honors for you that I do for Lilith, and the same love," he added looking at the three of them. "Something, I am afraid, I have been negligent in demonstrating."
No one knew what to say. He turned back to Sarah. "Sarah, will you accept this official adoption?"
"My lord, I am completely speechless," she said honestly. She looked at Lilith and Luke who were grinning but clearly surprised. "I confess to having always thought of you as a father, and Luke and Lilith as siblings, and I am extremely grateful that it has not all been in vain."
Lucius bent over Sarah's hand, kissing the back of it. "It is in the official record books as of this morning," John spoke up. "I made sure Lady Sarah of Canterbury was entered myself."
Sarah wanted to find words to express her gratitude and joy; she looked between Luke, Lilith, and Lucius. "Your Highness," she turned to John. "Would you inscribe it as Lenora Sarah?" she asked.
Luke, Lilith and Lucius grinned at hearing her use the old, childhood name they had given Sarah.
Luke handed Lilith his handkerchief so she could wipe away the tears leaking out of her eyes. "Well then, I believe the other surprises can wait until later," Princess Joan said grinning happily. She knew what her brother had planned and was most eager to witness them.
"We should have known," Lilith said talking to Sarah. "After all, your bedroom was always extremely extravagant. Whoever heard of a companion receiving such treatment," she jested.
"Really? I thought for sure it would be you being sent off to a convent," Sarah teased. "I wouldn't have been surprised."
"Neither would I," Luke and Lilith said laughing.
"I don't believe that would have worked," Lucius said. "If nothing else, I can see Luke kidnapping Lilith on the way and giving her room in Derbyshire."
"So long as Cornelia doesn't mind, I suppose," Lilith smiled. "You have heard she has remained unmarried, have you not?"
Luke nodded. Lilith could tell he didn't want to talk about it so she turned to Richard. "Your majesty, what other surprises could you possibly have in store?"
Richard chuckled. "We will wait to show you. We think it will be most entertaining to see the reactions of everyone since it concerns all the people now seated at this table."
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "I must confess to being most curious now," she grinned. "I hope you will be remaining in London with us for some time before returning to France."
"We do plan on remaining here for some months," Richard agreed. "The queen mother is most eager for my return to her estate, but she does not expect that to happen before the end of the year."
"The hunt will be in Canterbury in a fortnight," Lucius announced. "We would be most honored to have you grace us with your presence."
"Joan, dear, how does the hunt at Canterbury sound?"
"Charming!" She said enthusiastically. "If we have all finished, I believe we ladies shall retire to the drawing room," Joan announced and the gentlemen stood while the footman assisted with the ladies chairs.
Before everyone knew it, everyone was whisked off to separate destinations and Lilith and Sarah didn't have the opportunity to speak to Allan and Will.
"So Lady Lenora," Lilith said linking arms, "how does it feel to be one of the daughters of Canterbury? I always told you he liked you best," she teased.
"Honestly? I am overjoyed, completely in a state of shock, and worried," Sarah confessed.
"What on earth for?"
"Didn't you hear your—our—father? He has the same expectations for me as you."
"Oh dear . . ."
"Yes, which means that he will only approve a man who is titled," Sarah pointed out.
"Oh, Sarah. My father is showing a softer side than I have ever seen. Who knows. He may buy a title for Will so you can marry him."
"Surely Allan as well?"
Lilith snorted. "You are his favorite."
"Lady Lenora," Princess Joan said happily. "I was so bountifully happy when I heard this morning!" she gushed. She led all of the women into the drawing room, her own ladies in attendance fluttering about. Sarah and Lilith shared a grin at seeing how Princess Joan incorporated Eve and even Djaq into her circle as if they were lifelong companions. "And Lady Marion, congratulations on your nuptials with Locksley," Joan added. Lilith listened in, contributing once in awhile, but more than anything wanted to keep the conversation away from the topic of marriage. She, Sarah, and Djaq all seemed to share a knowing look: Marriage didn't seem to be a topic any of them wished to discuss either.
Finally Princess Joan turned to her servant girl, "Phyllis I believe I will wear the emerald gown Richard gave me. If you ladies will excuse me, I believe I shall get ready for the assembly now." Everyone curtseyed and then stared at each other. "I am terrified of going to this assembly," Marion finally said to break the tension.
Lilith laughed and sat on a cushion. "That makes two of us."
"Three."
"Four."
"All of us," Eve said. "I am just a servant girl. I should be the one helping one of you to prepare."
"Nonsense! You are soon to be the future Lady of Bonchurch," Sarah said. "You helped to rid the kingdom of the vandal Sheriff of Nottingham. Let us hope whoever Richard appoints will be an improvement."
"Otherwise Robin will most likely spend the rest of his life in the forest," Lilith laughed. "And Marion willingly with him," she added.
"Ha ha," Marion sniffed. "I don't know what to expect. I mean, this is the king," she said.
"You are all doing splendid," Lilith assured all of them. For once she was in her element: court life and royal politics came as a second nature to her.
"Can I just say I have reprimanded Robin for how he kept Luke from you," Marion said startling Lilith. "I can't believe he didn't tell me, and that he kept it from you. I had no idea, please believe me, Lilith. I wouldn't hurt you like that."
"How is your brother?" Djaq asked.
"Different and the same," Lilith sighed.
"The same could be said of you," Joan said knowingly.
"And now I am going to go get ready myself. As Marion said, this is the King. Lady Sarah?" she said with complete acceptance and happiness. Sarah laughed and they looped arms together to head to their wing.
When they walked in they found several maids who dropped into curtsies. "We are honored to assist you in dressing, Lady Lilith and Lady Lenora," the leader of the group spoke.
"I don't know if I will get use to being addressed as such."
"Why not? Mostly everyone certainly already thought of you as such. Only Lady Cordelia, the old hag, would stick her nose up at my father and say anything dastardly," Lilith said as she was being fitted into a gown of deep blue silk while another maid began to twist her hair into some intricate contraption. "I have so long missed being pampered," Lilith sighed as another massaged oils into her skin and a fourth painted her face.
"Me too," Sarah said from her dressing table. She wore a gown of emerald green that contrasted lovely with her chestnut hair.
"Lilith, he will not accept a mere carpenter for me. We were worried about you and Allan, I know, but now he has given me so much but taken away the one thing I want," Sarah said as they excused their servants.
"I still say that you are my father's favorite; if he ever made an exception to his rule it would be with you," Lilith said. "Mayhaps I can convince Richard or John to give a small landless title. I bet Gisborne is going to be given away now," Lilith pointed out.
"That title is tainted," Sarah pointed out. "It would be best to strike it from the record books."
"Best not to worry, Sarah. Let us see what else is in store for us before we jump to conclusions. We can always live in Sherwood for the rest of our lives," Lilith grinned. She was trying to be cheerful but she secretly thought that was the most likely solution to her and Allan's predicament.
The maids returned and finally finished twisting Lilith's golden hair up, fitting in various jewels and flowers. She looked at Sarah. "You look lovely, sister," she grinned happily.
"I feel it!" Sarah said happily. "Even if today ends horribly, I will remember feeling like this. Sister," she smiled.
She knew she was ready when one maid slipped her slippers on and another placed her tiara on. She caught her reflection in the tin and smiled. "Nothing against our time in Sherwood, but is it so wrong I want Allan to see me like this?"
"No, you look like an angel," Sarah said. They linked arms as they walked out the room and down the hallway. They dropped their arms to their side when they reached the double doors leading to the large room where court was resided. "Lady Lilith and Lady Lenora of Canterbury," someone announced as they walked in. They noticed that most everyone had already arrived.
They walked up to join their father and Luke on the right hand side of the throne, in front of where John was standing.
Richard's introduction was unmistakeable and unforgetful.
special thanks to everyone for being patient waiting for updates! My exams are now over as of today! YAY!!!! My life is back!
