86 Chapter eleven (9)
Lady Steinhouse had spent the entire day rearranging the property. Files and records had been regularized for when Walter take the Dukedom. When done, she had gathered all the staff to let them know of the change in masters about to take place.
"I will marry tomorrow and this property and all under the Steinhouse name will be my husband's," she had smiled sweetly as she said so. Her maid Lizzy, had almost rolled her eyes at this. This was information she could have had the head butler pass out. It seems her mistress wanted to show off that she will be getting married. Did she have to say husband so nicely?
"My lady, His Majesty..." she had said as though to remind her lady; even if you are eloping, you can't take all these with you. What about His Majesty?
"My uncle, the king will be there, of course. He decreed the marriage himself," she seemed to see the doubt in their eyes, so she explained.
"My lady, as to security?" the head guard asked. He had wondered if the person the lady was marrying was that boy from before. The thought had made him frown. How was he worthy?
"My lady, about the dishes and delicacies. We are not sure what the new master will like," the head chef complained.
"All these will be handled when my husband arrives," she had answered and skipped away, causing the rest to blanch. Had she gathered them just so she could say husband a few times?
Lady Steinhouse's happiness had carried unto the next day. By now, the entire staff had heard her throw out the word husband, so many times, if it were coins, they would have been rich. Though they had heard she was getting married, they had not really taken it to heart till she had descended the stairs an hour before midday, dressed head to toe in white. Her dress was not extravagant, but simple and beautiful. It was made of soft silk that flowed down and swept the floor behind her as she walked. Delicate lace draped around her shoulders like a shawl, letting her beautiful collar bones gleam, as the lace flowed down her back in a train when she walked. She was veiled and helped by two maids into the carriage, then journeyed to the holy tower. As the tower was a half clock turn from her residence; she had had the drapes of the carriage windows open, so people could see her veiled in white as she passed.
The wedding was everything she ever imagined and more. She had a slight fear that Walter would not come, but when it was time for her to enter, she saw him holding his horn and her feather, waiting for her at the altar. Thirty-six children sang a heavenly melody, as three virgins led her to the altar. The officiating priest called the groom to hand the bride her feather and Walter did.
"As the horn calls the winds, the feather bends to its will. As heavens above and man below, man above and woman below," the priest said and called for Walter to open his family registry. Walter opened the large scroll on the table and Lady Steinhouse entered her name beside his.
"I stand as heaven's witness that you take on the Krain name willingly. Do these eyes see wrong?" the priest asked.
"They see right," Lady Steinhouse answered. The priest asked her to give the ownership token of her belongings to Walter and she hands over the Steinhouse seal.
"I stand as heaven's witness that you hand all your possessions in exchange for his name. Do these eyes see wrong?" the priest asked.
"They see right," Lady Steinhouse answered.
"As heaven leads and man follows, the man leads and the woman follows. Take your leave under heaven's eyes," the priest said and Walter took Lady Steinhouse's hand and walked away under the rain of a thousand petals.
It was a beautiful ceremony.
