I gulped as Papa turned to glare at me. His head swung back around, his eyes like daggers.

Please Papa! I knew better than for Papa to give his consent to this marriage.

"Which daughter might that be?" Father's tone chilled me to the bone, he was so calm.

"The Lady Rose," I heard Alexander reply.

He said tomorrow! Why in God's name has he come? Son of God please do not let my father detest this marriage! My prayers were hopeless.

"Sir Veldon you may not marry the Lady Rose, she has pre-contract to a courtier. I'm quite sorry lad, unless you can come of proper peerage you can only but watch the Lady Rose from afar," I could have cried in that moment.

Papa lied to my beloved so easily and it tore me up inside. Mary gave me a sympathetic glance.

As the door closed I felt my heart tear into two.

Papa turned back to the family and Mother glared at him. "How dare you?"

"Sophia you will not question my decisions!"

"You will not act like an insufferable fool!"

"You will submit to me! I am the man of the house!"

"I will submit to no man that is beneath me! I only submit to God!"

We all watched as our parents fought yet another screaming match. The household and been happy when we were children but once Isabel was old enough to marry Mama and Papa fought more and more. I picked up my skirts and retreated back into the woods. I went back to the river and sat upon a stump that was nearby. I was not there long before I heard footsteps. As if he knew I would be there, Alexander pushed his way through the bushes to my side.

I noticed the hurt in his eyes. "You are betrothed?"

My eyes filled with tears. "He lies. He prays that I might find a courtier to marry and elevate our family but I am not betrothed."

Alexander nodded in understanding and hand me a slip of paper. I smiled a little as opened it. A little poem: "To My Beloved"

Hark! The cherubs sing a hymn of grace

Grace is thee

A rose that has blossomed from the bosom of England

A sun has not a comparison to thine smile

For thou is light

I blushed a bit and he helped me to my feet. His strong hand held my cheek and I felt even more desperate.

"It is hopeless as long as my papa remains arrogant." I wailed and Alexander pulled me close to him.

"I will find a way to elevate myself to your father's standards and marry you. He will accept our love as that of bishop's for Our Lord and Savior." He whispered.

I could hear the determination in his voice, the spirit in him that made me love him. "How will you do it?"

He did not answer my question but instead asked, "Will you wait?"

"As long as my body has breath." I whispered.

He abruptly broke our embrace and I whimpered a bit.

"Go pack your things. I must go and find a way to bring myself to the king's good graces." He kissed my forehead before sprinting away through the trees.