The barge landed with little to no fuss less than two hours later with the sun directly overhead shining between the gaps in the clouds. We were quick to disembark because Daniel wasn’t sure what spies may be lurking around and the port wasn’t secured for my entrance. He didn’t want to risk being spotted by friend or foe.
The mountainous backdrop of the harbor frames the quaint town we drive through, reminding me of a time long ago, but now only found in trashy romance novels. The single lane street that leads out of town opens to a double lane road. Once on that road, we are immediately flanked by three black SUVs.
“Daniel?” I ask fearfully, gripping his hand across the gear shift.
“Don’t worry they’re with us.” He says smiling and patting my leg reassuringly.
“Can they be trusted?”
“Yes.” He says definitively.
Although his words should calm me, I still feel apprehensive. The drive to Daniel’s lands affords me a beautiful view of lands that are mine. Mine? It feels surreal. I’ve never owned anything as great as this. I guess I don’t technically own it yet, but it will become mine when the time is right.
The landscape ranges from gently rolling farms to rocky hills and crags seen in the distance. The hearty, purple heather growing full under the trees and along the road are breathtaking. The landscape is scattered with patches of snow. The further we head inland the colder it seems to get. The sun that was shining moments ago is now hidden behind the gray clouds and a light snow has started falling. The countryside is littered with old abandoned stone cottages, some with roofs, some missing. Farms are overgrown by neglect with the slightest hint of cultivation.
“Does anyone live in those?” I ask.
“When the road was put in, many of the villagers in this town moved away.” He replies. “This was all farmland until about twenty-five maybe thirty years ago when your father starting making changes to bring Farquadt into the current century.”
“How did that go over?” I ask, knowing that if I was asked to move out of my home or change the way things were, I wouldn’t be happy.
“Believe it or not the villagers handled the change better than the aristocracy.” He says. “The villagers were happy to receive the money, especially since many of them were struggling to feed their families and stay afloat.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Towns like the one we drove through are home to most of the people of Farquadt. The aristocracy didn’t want things to change. They wanted the lower castes to be dependent on them. What the king proposed by giving the lower castes more freedom as met with much resistance. It was after these events that the country started to see strife between the king and the aristocracy.”
“That’s about the time my parents were together?” I speculate.
“Exactly.” He replies.
“What made him decide he needed to make changes?”
“From what I understand, he was tired of not being taken seriously by our neighboring countries. He felt that for Farquadt to prosper it needed to be in the twenty-first century and not stuck in the Middle Ages. And in his defense, he was right. Farquadt and all its citizens have profited.”
“But why then is there still dissention?”
“The aristocrats don’t like that he gained the respect and trust of the lower castes at their expense.” He replies coldly. “They prefer the king then their own lords. The villagers pay less taxes to the lords who lands they work or live on because of the changes. Then the lords pay the King. They still own the same amount of land and the taxes haven’t changed but the people working it has. The farmers are living in the cities now, owned by the King.”
“Okay this is starting to get confusing. Wouldn’t it be good for the people of the country to like their King?”
“Yes, it is, but again the aristocrats lost their power in the process while he gained. They have been undermining him at every turn. It wasn’t until he was serious with your mother that they started threatening his future family. Mind you they had no idea that the king and your mother were already married.” He explains.
“How do you know you can trust these guys that are following us?” I look at the cars surrounding us.
“Because I do.”
I stare at him waiting for further explanation when he looks over at me and sighs.
“Fine. Two of them came back with me when I returned to claim my title. The other two are friends I grew up with here and know what happened to my parents. They are second born sons from titled families, but have no care for the aristocracy outside their family. We have been through much together as friends. The other two were with my father. I trust them.”
Then where is the supposed leak coming from? Anyone of these men Daniel surrounds himself with could be the one leaking information to the Purists. The Purists are the group against the current monarchy. Daniel explained this during one of our more intense conversations on the barge.
“Did you find out if I could meet my father today?”
“Donald should have delivered my message directly to him already. I asked that he come for dinner using the pretense of important business that could not be discussed in the castle.” Daniel looks at me briefly. “I told Donald to relay to the King that I will ensure his safety. I hope the letter I sent along will intrigue him enough to come.”
“I don’t understand him. Why would he hide if he is liked by the people? I would be out there showing my face despite what people are trying to do to me.”
“That’s why you’ll make an excellent Queen.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“The King has lost and sacrificed much- the biggest being his wife and the daughter he never knew he had. He never recovered from that. Imagine if he knew about you. I wonder if he would be different.” Daniel explains. “But don’t worry, he’ll come.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I told him he had to come and meet someone who knew Bridget very well.”
“Do you think he’ll come?” I ask eagerly.
“I know he will.” Daniel smiles. “He loves to hear any news about her, but he hasn’t found anyone in recent years who could tell him something he didn’t already know.”
“Well, I definitely fit that description.”
“Yes, you certainly do.”
“I still don’t understand how this is going to go down. Do I just say, ‘Hi Dad? I’m the daughter you never knew you had?’”
“Firstly, you have the same eyes as him. Remember when we first met and I couldn’t remember who you reminded me of?” I nod. “Well there’s the answer.”
“Fine, but that doesn’t say Delaney- I mean Bridget- was my mother.”
“I was hoping we could dress you in a way that would show off your brand.” He offers.
I shrug my shoulders, looking out the window lost in my thoughts again absorbing the scenery. What do I say to my father? How do I act? What will he do when he finds out I exist?
“Here we are.” Daniel says with pride, looking to the right and pointing. “Balwart.”
As we cross a bridge, Balwart Manor appears between a break in the landscape and to the left is a loch. The snow-covered roofline gives the castle a more enchanted look. I am taken aback when I notice the manor is really a stone castle. Four turrets mark the corners of the castle with a different flag at each point. There appears to be, what must have been, a drawbridge at one time.
The three cars enter a gravel driveway single file. The road is flanked by huge birch woods on one side and a running river on the other. We pass an abandoned building that leads into the water. Herds of horses graze up in the hills.
“What is that?”
Daniel looks briefly to where I point.
“It used to be the old water mill.”
“When was Balwart Manor built?”
“The third Duke started it in the fifteenth century. It has been added onto several times throughout the centuries. Most of the work was done in seventeen hundred.”
The closer we get, the smaller I feel.
It started raining once we entered the main drive. The center of the circle in the front of the manor is a beautiful marble fountain in the image of the Archangel Gabriel with his sword. The surround garden is void of anything living this time of year. The castle’s main wooden doors open and an army of people come rushing out to greet us with umbrellas once the cars have come to a stop.
“Wonderful weather we’re having today, Sir. How was your flight?” A small balding gray haired man says opening Daniel’s door.
“Wonderful, Timothy.” Daniel says with sarcasm. “Is Dante around?”
“Right here, Daniel.” Dante says, running down the stone steps getting drenched in the rain. “Do you think I wouldn’t be here for our girl?”
Daniel nods and finally reaches my side of the car. He opens the car door and I get my first glimpse of Dante. He reaches in to assist me out. There are men retrieving our luggage, while others hold umbrellas. Dante engulfs me a bear hug, lifting me off the ground. I squeal in delight. Everyone seems to stop his or her task to openly stare at us, mouths agape. Dante twirls us around.
“Oh, Dante. I missed you so much.”
My eyes start to tear. Dante places me back on my feet, wiping the tears from my eyes.
“Hey there, you’re safe and here now. No crying.” He pulls me in for another hug.
Daniel places his hand on my lower back.
“Why don’t we go inside out of the rain?” Daniel leans in, kissing the top of my head affectionately.
“Hmm.” I reply holding both Daniel and Dante’s hands.
“Welcome back, Princess.” Timothy whispers with a twinkle in his eye.
My step falters on the step at his words. Daniel and Dante are quick to catch me. I look at the both of them questioningly.
“Yes, he knows.” They say unison.
“Timothy has been with our house since my father inherited his title from his father.” Daniel explains further. “He knew your mother very well in fact.”
Someone who knew my mother before her drug use. He can help me get to know her. The real her and not the one I knew. I’m shaken by Daniel’s statement so much so that I didn’t notice us moving or the door closing behind us. My eyes adjust to the dimness.
The quiet simplicity of the entrance hall is misleading. The overall grandeur of the manor is overwhelming. The dark woodwork lining the walls lead to the central staircase where a bustle of activity is occurring. Directly behind the first staircase landing, framed on either side by knights’ armor, is an embroidered tapestry of a coat of arms, which I assume is the family coats of arms. An elaborate display of arms decorates the walls ranging from sabers and broadswords to muskets and rifles. Most appear to date back in time.
There are many doors leading off this room. Daniel guides us towards the left and through a wide doorway. He closes the door behind Dante. The magnificent tapestries lining the walls in this room are breathtaking. A huge fireplace dominates most of the outer wall, keeping the dampness at bay. This room reminds me of what a parlor should be.
Daniel continues to walk to the corner of the room where he shows me an ingeniously concealed door leading to a circular shaped room. The room is lined with bookcases full of new and very old books. Family memorabilia sits quietly on some shelves. There is a painted portrait of a man, who bears a striking resemblance to Daniel, hanging over the fireplace mantel.
Daniel stops behind a desk to retrieve a key from the top desk draw.
“Dante, do you mind if I take Daphne up to her rooms? Her father will be here for dinner and I think she needs to settle in before that happens.” Daniel says hastily. “Give us about half an hour and the she is all yours.”
“Sure. I’ll go change then meet you upstairs darling.” Dante says cheerfully, kissing me on the cheek. “I’ll help you dress.”
“Are you sure?” I ask hesitantly. “I mean we haven’t seen each other in a while.”
“I’m fine. Go along.” He replies in a shooing motion.
Daniel gently takes my hand in his, leading me out of the room by a secret staircase hidden behind a door concealed by the paneling of the room. The circular stone steps we take are old and worn. Long, narrow slit windows allow what little light there is outside to sneak in. Scorch marks mar the walls where candles or torches were hung from a time before the castle had electricity.
“Very few know about this staircase and other such places like this in the castle. As children, we used to play here. It would drive my parents crazy, especially when they were looking for us. My ancestors added these during construction but never included them on any floor plans. It was their escape route should the manor be besieged.” Daniel explains. “I’m sure the King’s residency has similar escape routes.”
It seems like we climbed a hundred steps before we enter an endless hallway. Numerous doors leading off this hallway are indistinguishable. The walls are lined with portraits spanning centuries. The lavish hairstyles, wigs and style of dress become more conservative as we near a set of doors that he finally stops in front of.
Daniel uses the key he retrieved to open the doors. The massive room houses an elaborately carved, antique, four poster bed, curtained with linen hangings pulled back to reveal simple silk bed coverings. I picture myself here closed in at night with Daniel- the linen curtains providing us the privacy we will crave. My face flushes as images of his naked body hovering over mine come to mind.
“Do I want to know why you’re blushing?” Daniel smirks.
This is ridiculous. I feel like a delinquent child getting caught in the act. Let’s see how he’ll react.
“Actually, I envisioned you hovering over me naked in this very bed.” I look him straight in the eye, caressing the bed for added effect. “Care to make it a reality?”
Daniel’s nostrils flare. He tries gathering his composure and unfortunately succeeds. Putting him off kilter is becoming my favorite past time. It happens so infrequently that I lavish in the feel of it. I strut by him to look at the closet when he grabs me around the waist pulling me back to him, our bodies flushed against each other. He turns me, his hand gripping the back of my neck tightly.
“Don’t tempt me, Princess.” He growls before his mouth crashes to mine.
My arms wrap around his neck. I lift on my tiptoes when I feel him lift me off the ground. I wrap my legs around his waist. He walks us towards the very bed I just envisioned us on. He gently lays me down. I start unbuttoning his shirt, but his hands stay my actions. He pulls away resting his forehead against mine. I sigh knowing that it was as far as we were going, but it was invigorating while it lasted.
“Will you stop trying to undress me?” He chuckles.
“Can’t we do anything?” I ask suggestively, dragging my nails down his back.
Daniel shivers then closes his eyes pushing himself away. He looks me over thoughtfully and walks a safe distance away before turning around. I roll onto my stomach with my feet swinging in the air like a teenager. He smiles, shaking his head.
“I know what you’re doing. It won’t work.” He remarks with determination. “You’re only making this harder on yourself.”
Harder? I know something else that’s hard. I look at the large bulge in his pants and quirk my brow.
“It looks like that’s not the only thing that’s hard.” I say with mock seriousness.
He laughs outright and I can’t contain my own giggles.
“Touché.” He replies, trying to adjust his pants.
“Fine.” I say, rolling off the bed.
“Now then. AnnaBelle should be here any minute to help acquaint you to your rooms. Everything has been ordered in your size. Although I didn’t pick it all out, there were a few items I did. See if you can figure out which I picked.” He winks.
“Goodie.” I rub my hands together in anticipation.
“Please let AnnaBelle lead you around. It’s a big house. I don’t want you getting lost. I’ll give you a tour after your father leaves and we can spend some time to together. We-.” He pauses at the knock at the door. “Come in.”
“Sorry sir, I can come back.” AnnaBelle states demurely.
“No need. Perfect timing as usual. I was explaining some things to the Princess.” He says with authority.
AnnaBelle curtsies, leaves a binder on the desk in the corner then enters the closet.
“As I was saying, after your father leaves we can spend some quality time together. Just you, Dante and me, friends hanging out.” He looks contemplatively at me. “I’ll send Donald when your father arrives.”
He keeps giving me a strange look, but I have no idea what it means or what he intends it to mean. There is something up his sleeve he isn’t sharing. AnnaBelle comes back with a beige outfit breaking my train of thought. Beige? I don’t wear beige.
“AnnaBelle.”
Her head snaps up at her name.
“Make sure the Princess wears a blouse that will reveal her birthmark without it being too obvious.”
“Yes sir.”
“I’ll see you later.” He says, kissing me on the cheek before leaving.