ihaveprobs
Junior Member
Duke Kellington had been sitting at his desk in his study when one of his best messengers arrived. Motioning for the younger man to take a seat while he waited, the Duke went back to work on finishing the letter he was writing to some of the lower lords of the kingdom. Strong strokes on the paper with elegant curves told of preparation for possible war. The kingdom was at unrest. With his brother, King Harold, taken ill, and his queen too fragile to carry an heir, the looming possibility of the throne sat heavily on his shoulders. Finishing the letter he fanned it a bit to help quicken the ink’s drying. Carefully placing the letter in an envelope and sealing it with wax and his ring’s seal of his family’s crest he inspected the wax for proper setting. The crest of a shield with a stag and sword was well embedded into the quickly hardening wax. He handed the letter over to the awaiting messenger. “Take this to Lord Ellot. Make sure it touches no other’s hands.” He warned with steeled blue eyes before signaling for the messenger to take his leave.
Looking out his glass window, he watched the servants working down in the courtyard. They were scrambling to finish their tasks before the coming storm later this evening. This year had been kind to his lands. The rains had been plentiful, and since marrying Lady Isabel their nation had not seen any more war. He had to wonder however, how long could this cease fire truly last? True, his marriage had been part of the peace treaty, but there had been other’s before this one. None of them had lasted long either; their people hated each other and nothing could change that. No, he wasn’t fool enough to believe that a marriage between a duke and a spare princess playing house in a war fort would ever make the people forget those they had lost to the war.
Backing away from the cobblestone wall and window, he left his vast study and began walking towards Lady Isabel’s chambers. He had not even bothered to see his wife since she had arrived here. In all honesty, she was of little consequence to him and he barely knew the woman. She was fair enough to behold, but he had been with fairer. It was no secret that he had a vast collection of woman to choose from should he want company in his bed; it was also no secret that his wife was not one of them.
The only times he had seen his wife was when they passed in the halls. Even then they would only give each other polite greetings before continuing on their way. His lack of interaction with his wife did not however mean that he was unaware of her doings. Each handmaid and guard that was to tend to her every need constantly reported her day in detail every evening to him. He did not trust the Princess. As much as she was a sacrifice while both nations took a breath from the war, she was also just as much in a position to provide crippling information as a spy.
He didn’t bother to knock on the door to announce his entrance. He was the lord of this fort and as such felt no need to bother with such courtesies. Ladies in waiting gasped as Duke strode into the room. Words didn't need to be exchanged for them to stop what they were doing and quickly leave the room.
Lady Isabel's chambers were fitting for her station of Duchess. Much more vast than any mere knight's wife, it was decorated with only the finest of embroideries and silks. Iron bar decorated glass windows would let light into the otherwise dark stone room. Iron bars that doubled as a safety measure if the fort was ever under siege.
Looking out his glass window, he watched the servants working down in the courtyard. They were scrambling to finish their tasks before the coming storm later this evening. This year had been kind to his lands. The rains had been plentiful, and since marrying Lady Isabel their nation had not seen any more war. He had to wonder however, how long could this cease fire truly last? True, his marriage had been part of the peace treaty, but there had been other’s before this one. None of them had lasted long either; their people hated each other and nothing could change that. No, he wasn’t fool enough to believe that a marriage between a duke and a spare princess playing house in a war fort would ever make the people forget those they had lost to the war.
Backing away from the cobblestone wall and window, he left his vast study and began walking towards Lady Isabel’s chambers. He had not even bothered to see his wife since she had arrived here. In all honesty, she was of little consequence to him and he barely knew the woman. She was fair enough to behold, but he had been with fairer. It was no secret that he had a vast collection of woman to choose from should he want company in his bed; it was also no secret that his wife was not one of them.
The only times he had seen his wife was when they passed in the halls. Even then they would only give each other polite greetings before continuing on their way. His lack of interaction with his wife did not however mean that he was unaware of her doings. Each handmaid and guard that was to tend to her every need constantly reported her day in detail every evening to him. He did not trust the Princess. As much as she was a sacrifice while both nations took a breath from the war, she was also just as much in a position to provide crippling information as a spy.
He didn’t bother to knock on the door to announce his entrance. He was the lord of this fort and as such felt no need to bother with such courtesies. Ladies in waiting gasped as Duke strode into the room. Words didn't need to be exchanged for them to stop what they were doing and quickly leave the room.
Lady Isabel's chambers were fitting for her station of Duchess. Much more vast than any mere knight's wife, it was decorated with only the finest of embroideries and silks. Iron bar decorated glass windows would let light into the otherwise dark stone room. Iron bars that doubled as a safety measure if the fort was ever under siege.