Chapter 1

A short, portly man stood on a balcony, talking to a small portrait of a lady. The lady was very beautiful, but the painting didn’t capture it all. In reality she had green eyes that glittered with laughter and happiness or flashed with anger. A slight smile danced on her painted lips. Her red hair, flowing freely in the portrait, was usually restrained by a piece of ribbon. “Why did you have to leave me, Elsa?” The man asked the painting of his late wife and love, “I can’t handle the children even with Brigid’s help.” Lord Madoc sighed and stared out at the lush rolling hills and quaint cottages of his fiefdom, the Thundering Fief. He could see people bustling about in the village, women tending to their laundry, children at play, and then something caught his eye. Leaning against an old knotted oak tree, next to the Thundering Spring, was a father and his three young children. His daughter and son were sitting at his feet and a baby was asleep in the little girl’s arms. Judging from his gestures he was reliving the adventure of a dangerous quest. His children listened in rapture never looking away. Envy filled Lord Madoc to the brim.

“I was meant to take care of my people, not my children.” He turned his gaze to the eyes of the painting, the emerald green swirls of paint that did not do his Elsa justice. Still her eyes seemed to be listening, wanting to know exactly what was bothering her husband. “It’s Adrianne.” Lord Madoc admitted and he could almost see the knowing grin that would have bloomed on her face. “She’s so, willful, I don’t know what to do.” Just then, he heard the door to the kitchens slam shut and a young man, mournfully proclaim his love. Lord Madoc sighed, resignedly, “Not again.” He turned away from the view and made his way to his daughter’s room and then the yard, tucking the small likeness into his breast pocket.

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“But Adrianne! You hardly know me.” A handsome young man of twenty-five yelled at the large, wooden door. Any normal girl would have been instantly smitten with his tall, dark looks and his blindingly white smile. It was gradually growing apparent to the young man that this Adrianne was not a normal girl.

“I know you and your type well enough!” a sarcastically sweet yet muffled voice floated out of the window in the door.

“What does that mean?” The man was obviously not as bright as his smile.

“It means: I am not interested in marrying you, much less loving you and that I want you to go away!” The voice called, exasperatedly.

“But, you could grow to love me,” he whined pathetically as he tried to convince her.

“No, Jonathan, I couldn’t.” the voice snapped at him. Apparently it wasn’t working.

Jonathan was taken aback. Of all the ladies in all the world his parents had arranged for him to meet this one. He was the son of a duke! Not a very important duke, but a duke nonetheless. No one ever spoke to him with such contempt and scorn. Yet at the same time, no matter how terrible she seemed, intrigue flooded his mind. “Why ever not?” He queried sounding quite put out.

He heard the scraping of wood on packed dirt. Out of the window in the door appeared the head of a sixteen-year-old girl. Her flaming red hair was tied back very simply by a ribbon that matched her blue dress, though a few stubborn curls had successfully managed to escaped its hold. Her intense, green eyes narrowed and peered down at him. A rosy blush of anger and passion filled her cheeks. “Because I find you pompous, ignorant, dull and lacking in humor of any kind,” She responded curtly. “I’m sorry, Jonathan, but you are just like every other suitor I’ve ever had.” She fiercely attempted to smooth back a stray lock of her blazing mane that had dared to creep in front of her eyes. “Now, run along and woo some vapid twit, for you won’t be winning me!” She slammed the window closed.

Unfortunately for young men of good birth, this was a regular occurrence. Jonathan continued to stand outside the heavy wooden door as if he was expecting someone to pop out and tell him that it was all a terrible joke. He waited for a very long and tedious fifteen minutes when, at last, the door did open. Out stepped a blustered Lord Madoc. Gently, Jonathan was ushered from his post, profuse apologizes bombarding his ears.

Adrianne rushed from the kitchen to the sanctuary of her room, tears of frustration and sadness staining her lovely blue dress. Why did her father insist upon parading her in front of these dunces?! Not so silently, she sobbed into her pillow, when she felt an arm slip around her shoulders. Adri looked up into the face of her stepmother, Brigid.

Brigid wasn’t your typical stepmother. There was no servitude for her stepchildren, or hatred. She was a kind woman who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Brigid had been Adrianne’s mother’s closest friend and sister. The blonde aunt had been a natural choice to be the second Lady Madoc, though she insisted that everyone call her Brigid or Lady Brigid.

The presence of her stepmother’s warm brown eyes and calm demeanor comforted the distraught Adri. Adri softly rested her head upon Brigid’s bosom, listening to the steady beat of her heart. Gradually, the sound of the desperate girl’s sobs dissipated.

“Tell me what’s wrong.” Brigid insisted after Adri’s breathing had steadied. 
 Adri sighed, “Everything.” She said, “Nothing is working in my life.” Tears began to resume their path. “He keeps sending these idiots to me. I feel like the only sane person in the festival of fools.”

“Is it safe to assume you didn’t enjoy Jonathan’s company?” Queried Brigid.

“Not at all!” spat Adri, “He was arrogant, ignorant and shallow.”

“Just like every other suitor.” Brigid stated rather than questioned.

“Yes, just like every other suitor! Apparently I radiate an aura that attracts men such as these. All of them idiots, half-wits and numbskulls.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. “This aura calls to them saying: ‘Why don’t you give this girl a try, her father will love it.’”



Brigid felt it necessary to defend her husband, “It takes a long time to find the right man. And your father is only trying to do what’s best for you. He just isn’t sure what that is.”

Adri scoffed and got up, “That’s apparent.” She began pacing the room.

“Now, now.” Brigid reprimanded.

Adri ignored her, “I don’t think he knows me at all! Either that or he does understand me and he just enjoys torturing me.”

“That is not true,” a slight edge entered Brigid’s voice.

Adri sighed and sat back down, “I know. He just doesn’t know who I am. Not at all.”

“Have you tried talking to him?” Brigid said, knowing very well that her husband was not one to listen. Everyone said that Adri got her free spirit from her mother, but few knew the extent of Lord Madoc’s stubbornness.

Adri shot an exasperated look at her stepmother. “That’s a laugh. A very big laugh.”

Brigid gave her stepdaughter a hug. “I’ll try to talk to him,” She pulled away and looked in Adri’s eyes, “Don’t give up, darling. You’re bound to find someone who is perfect for you.”

“I doubt it! Not with this group of idiots. What if I don’t find someone perfect?” Adri asked a bit frantically then insisted, “I’m not going to settle.

“I never expect you to do such a thing,” Brigid said.

“Yes, but Father will,” She slouched over, looking forlorn.

“Don’t think about that right now,” Brigid put an arm around her stepdaughter, “Go bother your brother.”

“Will?” Adri asked.

“Yes, make sure he’s keeping out of trouble.” Brigid rolled her eyes, but soon adopted a caring look, “He always knows how to cheer you up.”

“That’s true.” Adri sounded resigned. “You promise you’ll talk to him?” A hint of hope crept in as she looked at her stepmother.

“I promise. Now, run off!” Brigid urged Adrianne.

Adri kissed her stepmother on the cheek and thanked her. Though she has been deprived of her biological mother, Brigid has been a wonderful surrogate. Adri was feeling considerable lighter. Brigid was right; Will always did cheer her up.

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After Brigid left, Adri decided to change her clothes. She figured that Will would be in the town square watching the young women of the village go by and her formal dress was not very appropriate. Besides torturing their father’s friends and his tutors, watching women was Will’s favorite pastime. Adri changed into a simple cotton dress that was a delightful shade of green, that everyone said complimented her eyes, trimmed in bright yellow. She plaited her hair in two braids and headed towards the back door. As she walked down the stairs she heard a familiar impatient stomp coupled with frustrated grumbles. Oh no, Adri thought. Her father stepped into view.

“Adrianne!” He roared.

“Yes, Papa?” She asked as innocently as possible. Antagonizing her father happened to be her favorite pastime.

“Don’t you act innocent with me,” he bellowed. “How could you?! I bring all of these perfectly nice men and you reject every single one of them! Have you no concern for your future? Do you not care?”

Adri replied sharply, “Apparently not.”

“What would your mother have to say about this!?” He raged.

“Don’t you bring her into this.” Adri said in a low and dangerous voice. “She would have had nothing to do with you if she knew you were parading me about like some sort of catch from a hunt.”

“She would not!” Lord Madoc insisted. “Your mother would have agreed with me that this is best for you.”

“It is not! And she would not!” Adri yelled, “Leave her out of this. Frankly, leave me out of it as well.” And she stormed off.

Adri calmed down slightly by the time she reached the village square. She gazed over the people there, looking for the auburn head of her older brother. She spots his tall, lanky figure leaning against a wall, his blue eyes gazing longingly at the village seamstress. Slowly, Adri crept behind Will. It was a rare occasion when one could pull a prank on Will.

“Hello Will.” Adri said quite loudly as she stood on her tiptoes leaning towards his ear.

He jumped and yelped. “Who, what?!” Adri was laughing so hard it was difficult to stand. “That wasn’t funny.” He glared at her. 

“Yes …giggle … it … chuckle … was … snorts” Adri managed to choke out.

“What do you want, dolt?” He was still a bit sore. Unfortunately, Will wasn’t able to take a joke as well as he could dole them out.

“I just need cheering up. Father sent another suitor today.” Her face fell.

Will’s expression softened as he put his arm around his favorite and only sister. “How was this one?”

“Terrible!” Adri said exasperatedly.

“Was he worse than Nathaniel?” Will asked skeptically. Nathaniel was the son of a neighboring lord. He was twice as stupid as Jonathan and not even half as handsome. That might not have been all that bad, if he hadn’t thought that he was as smart as Aristotle or as handsome as Adonis. Nathaniel was a nightmare.

“Gods no! No one has been worse than Nathaniel. Jonathan is decent comparatively. Actually he was decent compared to most of them, but he was still egotistical, arrogant, ignorant and vapid!”



“Let me guess, you told him so.” Will said flatly.

Adri replied, “Of course I did! I wanted him to be aware of his faults so he doesn’t continue to flaunt them.”

“You have to be one of the most insensitive girls ever!” Will stated simply.

“Oh, and you are so much better.” She retaliated. Will looked sheepish. He has been labeled far and wide as a ladies man. A trail of broken hearts follows him everywhere he goes. There was a lapse in conversation. Adri’s attention turned to her thoughts and Will’s back to the seamstress. They started walking (because the object of his attention was moving).

“Who’s this girl we’re following?” Adri asked her brother.

“Her name is Nell. She’s father’s seamstress.” Will responded.

“So, you’ve taken a fancy to her?” She prodded. If he had, Adri could see why. Nell had clever eyes the color of dark chocolate, long, wavy brown hair to match. She was tall with a voluptuous build with ivory colored skin and high cheekbones. She was a very beautiful young woman and just Will’s cup of tea.

“Maybe.” Will cut the conversation off at that. There was another long pause.

“Maybe I should just leave.” Adri pondered aloud.

“What?” Will wasn’t really paying attention as Nell had flipped her hair in just the right way.

“I should leave.” Adri repeated.

“What?!” Will started paying attention.

“Bah. You’re right. It’s a silly idea.”

The seamstress ahead of them stopped and turned around. She marched right up to Adri and asked, “Why not?”

“Excuse me?” Adri was the daughter of the landlord. She wasn’t used to people talking to her like this.

“I said: Why not?” The girl sighed. “Are you hard of hearing?”

“No.” Adri was on the defensive. “And I just can’t go.”

“Give me one good reason that you, Adrianne, daughter of Elsa, a free spirit who listens to no one, shouldn’t leave.”

Adrianne was stumped. Why shouldn’t she leave? She hated her life here. Her only joy came from her brothers. The rest of her days were filled with learning how to be a lady. No, scratch that, a proper lady. Who wants to be a proper lady? 

“I don’t.” Adri’s inner monologue became public. Will looked at her curiously. “I don’t want to spend my youth learning how to be a proper lady and then my life being a proper lady. I’m going to get out of this place!”

Will’s jaw dropped. Nell beamed “That’s the spirit!”

Before anyone could say anything else, Adri ran straight for the castle. She had an idea and no plan; therefore she had a little brother to harass.