Woo! Chapter 4, here we come.
Christine hadn't expected much interaction with their visitor after that moment. Most kept to themselves, speaking with their family or those they brought with them during their travels.
And yet the next morning, dressed in her better dress and with her head covered, he asked her to show him the way to the church. She agreed, and they spent the time walking there talking stiffly of the various topics.
Normally Christine would walk to church with the others, laughing and talking along the way. But with the Duke by her side her friends hurried ahead and lagged behind, keeping their heads bowed to the ground. It wasn't his fault, not truly, but she felt a little sting of resentment at him away. She resolved to pray for forgiveness while at Church.
Once they arrived at the church, many of the benches were full, both The Duke and Christine were forced to sit at the very back, though not next to each other.
Try as she might, she found it difficult to focus throughout the meeting. It did not surprise her that this distraction was for the most part because of him. Throughout the meeting he would clench his fists, or roll his eyes at some statement. It shocked her how rude he was, even if he seemed to know the material well.
It took some time for her to learn to ignore his actions. It struck her suddenly during a prayer that he might be lonely. Who knew how long he had been traveling, perhaps she was the closed thing to noble folk he had seen in weeks. Lady Valerius had always taught the woman closest to her how to act, and thus she knew the mannerisms of a Lady, even if she wasn't one of them.
It came to her that he might think that she was a Lady. She had never told him she wasn't, perhaps he assumed she was. Quickly she bowed her head and prayed. Lord forgive me for deceiving me if that is what has come of this. I swear I will tell as soon as opportunity allows. After Mass, she walked out the door, dropping a coin into the poor box as was her Christian duty, behind her. The Duke Erik dropped several gold coins.
She walked quickly, searching the crowd for her friends that might join them. After all, The Duke could find his way back now. But before she could join them, he had joined her side.
They began the walk back to the castle, Christine telling herself fiercely was this was as good as any other time to tell him her station. "Perhaps you should not walk with me." She told him, gently. His face, having before looked resolutely forward, turned quickly to face her.
"Why should I not?" He asked.
Christine hesitated. "I have no noble blood." She confessed quickly. "I'm not even a lady. I am common folk."
He turned back to look at the path ahead of them, he seemed to be thinking, though she couldn't be sure with the mask.
"I suspected as much, though I wasn't sure." He informed her. "I have no qualms about not walking with er 'common folk' as you put it. It does not offend me."
Relief filled Christine. They walked in silence for a moment, the silence between them so intense that Christine spoke again.
"Do you not enjoy Mass?" She questioned.
He stumbled in his steps, but recovered quickly. "Pardon?"
Christine laughed. "In Mass, I saw you, all rolling your eyes and looking as if the devil had come to eat you. What is it about it that vexes you so?"
"I- ah." His thin, still gloved hand reached up to touch the mask, it was done so naturally that Christine wondered if he knew he was doing it at all. "I do not have, well. I have not had the best relationship with the church in some time."
He glanced at her, and must have noticed the fearful look on her face, for he quickly went on. "I am a God fearing man." He remeasured her. "And I strive to follow the laws of the Church as best I can, and I read and know the Bible, but-" He hesitated. "Man is unperfect." He said slowly. "And I believe that man's interpretation of the word of God is often flawed."
Christine looked at him in mild surprise. "You read Latin, then?"
"Yes, an old mentor of mine taught me." He heaved a great sigh, his hands clasped behind his back. "He was a knight for the Church, perhaps the most pious man I have ever met. He taught me many things, Latin only being a few of them."
Christine nodded.
They spent the rest of the journey in small talk, Christine telling him the story of one of the stable boys that had stolen a plate of pastry's, eating them all himself while hiding in the hayloft.
"How did you punish him?" He asked, and once again his eyes look intently at hers.
"Well, he threw up shortly thereafter, and his stomach troubled him for days." Christine laughed at the memory. "I considered that punishment enough."
The Duke Erik nodded. "It does seem fitting."
They strolled into the small courtyard their small fortress contained. They stood for a few moments, and he looked at her so intently Christine felt uncomfortable. She excused herself and left him alone in the entryway.
The Lady Valerius had once been one of the most revered lady in Baron Coard lands. Married to the Knight Valerius, she had run her household with a skillful hand. She was known for her love of music, as such, Christine and her father had come to grace her halls many times.
She had taken a liking to Christine, taking the girl under wing and teaching her the ways of the court. Once or twice she had even asked Christine's father if she could take her in as her own daughter. The Lady had given birth to many children, but none of them had lived passed a few days. It was natural that she was taken in by the rosy cheeked, angel voiced Christine.
Her father had refused, he wanted to keep Christine close to him, as she was all he had left of his wife. For years they had traveled all over France, and when her father had passed away, Christine had used their meager savings to travel to Lady Valerius's estate once again.
By now the Knight Valerius had passed away, leaving Lady Valerius to run the estate as she pleased. Christine had learned under her how to read and write, and how to act, and how to speak. She had been the only mother Christine had ever known.
It was when Chrisitine was twenty that her mind began to leave her. At first it was small, what day of the week it was, where she put her favorite dress. But it grew worse and worse.
Despite that it had been so for almost three years, it still frightened Christine when she looked into her adopted mother's eyes, and they didn't seem to recognize her.
They didn't know her now, when she looked into them that Sunday afternoon. Her wrinkled face frowned when she saw her.
"Who are you?" She asked wearily.
"One of your... maidservants. Mama- Lady Valerius." Christine sat on the bed. "I was wondering how you were feeling today. Is your headache better?" She reached for the aged hand to give it a squeeze.
"Yes- yes it is a little better." The Lady wheezed, coughed a little. Suddenly her eyes focused on Christine and suddenly they grew a little sharper. "Why- your the little girl that used to come to sing for me." She whispered.
"Yes, I am."
Lady Valerius shook her head. "My my, you've grown, you'll find a good husband."
Christine bit her tongue. She was eight and twenty, far too old to be married, a spinster. She had accepted long ago that she would never marry.
"Will you sing for me?"
Christine nodded. "Of course." She sat back, straightened her shoulders and began to sing a hymn. It was Sunday after all.
Almost immediately Lady Valerius gave a sigh, leaning back into the pillows, a smile curling at her lips. Christine continued to sing as she stood, reaching for a bowl of water, she began to wash Her Ladyship's face with the cool water, still singing softly.
Lady Valerius fell asleep within a half hour. Christine watched her for a few moments, then stood to leave.
When she left the room, she was surprised to see The Duke Erik waiting outside. He had been leaning against the wall, his back facing the door, when she opened it, he spun round.
Christine jumped at his sudden movement, then wondered if he was ill. He seemed transfixed upon her, his eyes large and unblinking. He drew heavy breaths, and his hand reached out to snatch her own.
"Where you the one singing?" He demanded.
Christine blinked. "Y-yes. Yes I was. To Lady Valerius-" She shook her hand free from his grasp. "Are you ill?"
"I- no. No. I'm never ill." His hand went up and adjusted his mask. "Your voice, it's beautiful."
"I- thank you." Christine gave a small curtsy. "Good day my Lord. I must be going." She tried to step around him, but his hand caught hers again, and he knelt.
"Christine, please. Let me ask for the honor-"
Suddenly realizing what he was doing, she jerked her hand away. "Are you asking me to marry you?" She demanded.
"Yes." He seemed less crazed now, but there was a determination in his eyes that made her worry. "You will have everything, every luxury there is-"
"I am eight and twenty and I haven't a copper in my dowry." She snapped, taking a step back. "What are thinking? You are a grand Duke, the richest man in the Kingdom! Our marriage wouldn't be legal-"
"I have not a drop of royal blood in my veins, I made my own title." He insisted. "I need only ask the King, he-"
"Stop." She said, holding up a finger. "I do not think this is the time for hasty proposals. I-" She looked behind her, there was no one in the corridor, thank the Holy Mother. "Let us go to my office." She finally said, looking back to Erik, who still knelt on the floor. "Then we shall speak of this rationally."
