I, Clara and Claire going to my sister room first to pick up my sister before we go together to the great hall where people gather to welcoming Earl Stamfort"s arrival. When I knock her room"s door, my sister personally opens the door for me."Wow! Henry, you look so great!"
"Thank you, sis. Shall we go now?"
"Yes…Mmm…can I bring that flower? It"s girls duty to carry the flower"
"Sure, no problem. Here, take it"
I handed the flower bouquet to my sister to hold. Well, if my sister is the one who carries that flower bouquet, Clara and Claire will not be protesting. I raise my right arms for my sister to hold. It"s the etiquette when a gentlemen walk together with a lady. My sister grabs my right arm with her left hand and smiles sweetly. We walk together to the great hall while holding each other hand and our personal maids following from behind.
When we arrive in the great hall, there"re already many people gather there, including my father, my stepmother and my younger sister as well besides the servant and maids who appointed to escort the Earl Stamfort"s party to their rooms later.
"Ah...there you are, Henry and Eliza….."
My father greets us when see us coming to the great hall, somehow he didn"t continue his speech when saw us after that. He looks stunned and not saying anything anymore
"Father? What"s wrong? Is there something wrong with my suits?"
"Uh…oh…ah, nothing"s wrong with your suit, Henry…it"s just…."
"Just what, father? Something wrong with sister Eliza" dress?"
"No..no..no…it"s just watching you both walk together like that…reminds me when I married your mother"
"That"s right Henry…I also like seeing sister Madelaine and John in their younger time when seeing you and Eliza walk together like that"
My stepmother also seems surprised when see we come together like that. She"s actually my mother"s maid that comes along with her after the fall of my mother family. Later she also married by my father as his second wife. Although I do not much resemble my father, but my sister is said to resemble my mother very much. Of course, when they see us walk together like this, will bring their old memories back.
For a moment, there"s a silence that covers the area around us. The conversation about our mother always brings a solemn air between us although my mother already pa.s.sed away for several years. The silence is breaking when a horse rider comes from the castle gate. From his uniform, he seems to be one escort that comes from the border fort.
"My Lord, Earl Stamfort"s party already entering outskirt of the castle town and will arrive here soon"
The guard escort that comes along with Earl Stamfort sends a messenger to inform my father that Earl Stamfort about to arrive in the castle town. After hearing the news, the people in the great hall start come out to welcoming Earl Stamfort in the front yard. My sister Eliza also handed the flower bouquet to my sister Karen because it"s her duty to give that flower bouquet to my fiancé later.
Our family stands in the middle, while the servants and maids stand on the side of the road. I and my father standing together at the first row, while my stepmother and my sister behind us in the second row. Our personal maid stands in the third row.
"Henry, your future father in law is about to come. Is the preparation ready yet?"
"Yes, father. The red carpet already spread up in the front yard to welcoming Earl Stamfort as you see in front of us"
"Did the rooms where he and his party will sleep ready?"
"Yes, father. All rooms already have the best bed sheet we got, also best furniture, enough candle to give light at night and also maid and servant to serve them"
"The food for lunch also ready?"
"I personally supervise the food for lunch, don"t worry father"
"How about the security?"
"Uncle Jason personally supervises the security arrangement, father, and his men already standby in their respective posts."
"And what"s your plan when they arrive later?"
"First, we welcome them in the front yard, give welcome greetings and some speeches then take them to the room where they can rest after long journey, give them chance to refreshing by send some snack and drink, maybe offer them to take a bath too, that if they come early before lunch hour. If they arrive near lunch hour, then what we"ll do after show the room for them is we have lunch together in the dining hall, after lunch maybe free time to informal conversation, maybe tour to our castle, talking about the trip, or anything they want to do, we try to accommodate it, and at night we held the gala dinner for welcoming Earl Stamfort with guest from important person the town. The day after Earl Stamfort arrival, we held an official banquet for official welcome and announcement of my engagement with Earl Stamfort"s daughter"
"Hmm…sound good. What about the accommodation for other guests?"
"They will be placed in two best inns in the town father, we already booked all the room there for this purpose, just in case they too tired and decide to return the day after the banquet"
"Frankly speaking, I feel nervous Henry. It"s the first time a high-rank n.o.ble come to our territory. Usually, if they need to see us, they will summon us to come to their palace"
"Me too, father, but I did my best for it so I am confident that we can give Earl Stamfort proper welcome. But still, something is troubling me"
"What is it, Henry?"
"That Roland guy…he can show up anytime in here. I just hope he"s not making a ruckus in the banquet. And there"s still no further news about his whereabouts"
"Hmmm…that"s right. He can be troublesome if he appears in the wrong time. Alright, you can handle him as you wish, Henry, if you can make him break the engagement with your sister, it would be better. But try to avoid any trouble with his father"
"I understand father, you don"t have to remind me about that again. Don"t worry, I will find the best solution if that problem appears and if possible I can send him back to his land before the banquet start"
"I only hope the best for your sister and you, Henry"
After that conversation we both go silent and just standing and watching the castle gate, waiting for the arrival of our important guests.