Chapter 2: Gwendolyn Crutoe

"Would you please hurry up, Gwen?" I made the final stroke of the brush through my hair, then I quickly bonded it with a blue ribbon, letting its long end to fall over my shoulder. Looking up myself in the cracked mirror and proud of my work, I hurried out to Hailey.

"Oh, there you..." She paused, looking me up. I had spent two hard day's making that dress and even if the occasion wasn't that grand, I wanted to look good for once. I was wearing a hand made blue cotton dress with its neck cut so low, my cleavage was slightly exposed. It's a good thing Durnca wasn't so cold until early January, so I didn't need to hide my beautiful dress under a coat.

With my black curly hair hanging over my shoulder and my big green eyes, I knew I was a sight to behold.

"Oh my!" Hailey exclaimed and I smiled with pride. She wore a brown dress the colour of her hair and eyes and it was sewn to hug her figure perfectly.

"Oh my!" She said again. I did a twirl, so she'd see all of me.

"Do you like it?"

"Like it? It's... it's gorgeous. You, my friend are gorgeous."

"Thank you, Hailey." She smiled for a moment, then frowned.

"But I don't fancy your dress right now, I fancy being where the rest of the town is. Come on now, we're late." She grabbed my hand and linked her arm with mine. We shared a giggle before starting our journey to the town square.

The Earl and his wife just had a baby and they were throwing a party for the entire town, I even heard there would be fireworks. There is a more elegant party at the Earl's mansion but people like us are not invited. Hailey could be as her father was a merchant and he did business with the Earl, but for this occasion, her family wasn't invited and she's stuck with me, the peasant's daughter.

"We're so late, Gwen. At this rate we won't be able to see the fireworks." I laughed politely at Hailey.

"The fireworks will be in the sky, Hailey, even people in their homes would see it."

"People in their homes? Who would miss this chance to eat free food?" The pretentious terror on her face got me laughing again and I nudged her.

"Not everyone in town loves free food. You for one just like the idea of eating a meal not prepared by you." She giggled.

"That's true, ma has not been much help in the kitchen. She has dumped it all on me and you know how much my brothers eat and pa takes extra dried food for his journeys..." She trailed off and sighed. "I need to get myself a groom to save me from my family."

"That may be why she makes you do all the cooking, so your Prince charming loves your cooking." I put in and she suddenly burst out laughing.

"Did you say Prince charming? Gwen, my pa is a merchant, there's no Prince charming for me. The best I can get is a merchant like my pa or maybe a farmer."

"Well, at least you get a respectable man. I have no dowry so I would be lucky if any man takes interest in me." She nudged me. The town square was now in view and nearly half the town was there already.

"You have Albert, he's even better than a merchant, he's a knight! A man of title. And I'm very sure you made that dress to seduce him." I blushed and looked away from her. Albert was a knight and he did have an interest in me and yes, maybe I made the dress for him. In fact, he's asked me to marry him lots of times but he hates my pa and I fear that if I do accept to marry him, he would forbid me from caring for my pa and my poor old father would die alone.

"Don't be silly, Hailey. Albert left a month ago, he's rarely ever in town."

"Oh, but he likes you and he comes in town every now and then to see his pretty Gwen." I blushed again but quickly slapped my cheeks to snap out of it.

The music started just as we got to the town square and Hailey dragged me along to dance. We danced around for nearly an hour before the fireworks began. Hailey didn't let me watch, she dragged me to the banquet table.

"We are missing the fireworks. Didn't you want to watch?" She was too busy piling up her plate with drumsticks and pudding.

"Forget that and take some food before it all goes away, don't expect me to share." She was one funny person but I haven't eaten since last evening and I spent the whole of the day sewing this dress, I won't have energy to make dinner.

I grabbed a plate and took a few drumsticks and a little bit of a strange dish. We took our loot to the orange tree and sat under it, helping ourselves to the meal. 

The fireworks stopped and people continued dancing while some others made for the banquet table.

Hailey and I sat side by side, watching our surroundings, our meal was finished.

"This is nice, isn't it? The peace and quiet. It's good the drunks aren't here to ruin it." I didn't say anything to that. She was right, the drunks always ruin the peace of the village and guess who leads them, none other than my very own pa. 

I got up and went to get mugs from the bouquet table.

"Let's go get water from the well, I think a piece of bone got stuck somewhere in my throat." Hailey studied me.

"You don't have to be polite, Gwen. I know my words upset you but I didn't mean to." I gave her a hand and she got off the tree trunk.

"You are right, it is good they aren't here to ruin the fun. Now let's go get water." We linked hands and made our way to the nearby well. I drew some water from it and we drank greedily from the mugs.

"Hailey! You didn't miss me, huh?" We turned around to some boys from town. Sammy was the one who called out to Hailey, he was the only blonde boy amongst his friends; he likes Hailey but he's a rascal and only goes about looking for trouble. His friends on the other hand are worse than him and I dislike them. I find it hard to understand why Hailey likes Sammy so much anyway. The last time I asked her, she said:

"He's a charmer, I like how funny he is and the little kisses he plants on my neck." She just fails to see how much of a rascal he is.

"Sammy!" She shrieked and rushed over to hug him, holding tight to his arm. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Liar. Whenever you're with ice Queen here, you forget all about me. Come on, let's dance." He began dragging her back to where people were dancing.

"Hailey? Aren't we leaving?" I called out to her.

"Stay awhile." She shouted back at me and disappeared in the crowd.

"Or you could dance with any of us." I turned a glare to the boys I had already forgotten were still there.

"No, thank you." I said icily. They looked like they had more to say but they looked behind me and grumbled, walking away.

"What about me? I do want a dance." I was startled to hear a voice behind me and I turned around sharply. It was Albert, looking dashing in his uniform and a sword stick at his side, his hair grew a few inches more.

"Albert!" I breathed and hugged him like my life depended on it. "I didn't know you were back yet." I said as I let go. He straightened and leaned on the well.

"Well, I was invited for the function, I couldn't miss an opportunity to meet you again." Of course he was invited, he is a noble man. 

"Oh, forgive my manners, my Lord." I said, giving a curtsey.

"My Lord? Gwen, I'm your Albert, forget about my title." He took my hand and brought me closer to him.

"But I can't, I am only a peasant's daughter. It's not proper that you associate with the likes of me."

"That is not true. Soon I will make you my wife and no one will object to that." I shook my head, moving away from him.

"I of course can. I have told you, my lord, I shan't accept your proposal with your attitude towards my pa. He may not be a noble fellow, but he is a good man."

"Indeed. And how many good men abandon their young daughters for pubs and gambles? He is not only an ignoble fellow but a fool as well." I pressed my eyes closed to control my anger. This is exactly why Albert and I aren't married yet, he just won't accept my pa.

"That is why, my lord, I have refused to marry you. Look for another maiden with jewels to her name and make her your wife. I have nothing but my pa and until you cherish him, I am not worthy of being your wife."

"Oh, rubbish!" He jumped to his feet and grabbed my arm, pulling me close.

"I will give him only a dime and he will approve of our marriage. Then I will give him bags of money for his worthless spendings and he won't be a bother to us. I will make you mine, Gwen, you will be my very own wife." He was holding my arm so tight, tears came to my eyes. I struggled to get free.

"Please let me go, you're hurting me." His grip lessened and he drew me into his arms.

"I am sorry. Your words anger me Gwen, you don't know how long I have wished to marry you."

"It is not so hard to get a 'yes', just show a little respect to my pa and I will marry you." He drew away from me.

"If that is what you want, I will try. I have something for you." He took out a small pouch from his coat and emptied it's content into his hand, it was a necklace with a silver stone in its middle, a betrothal necklace.

"I found it in a foreign market. It would suit my Gwen, I said to myself. Here, let me help you." I moved away from him. A foreign market? Did he think I didn't know what a betrothal necklace looked like? Sure, I don't socialize much and I am always indoors sewing or baking, but I had a social friend and she kept me updated on everything happening around me.

I straightened my gown.

"Thank you, my lord, but I would rather not receive gifts from you any sooner until we are married." He grumbled and put the necklace back.

"Alright, I will save it until you accept my proposal, but I must warn you Gwen, I won't wait forever; no longer than the next spring."

"That depends on how you treat my pa, my lord. I shall take my leave now, good night, my lord." I gave a bit of a curtsey and turned around, heading for the exit and not even minding to look for Hailey.