The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 391: A day with women (1)

The next day, Siena sat with Annalise and Rafael to recount everything Travis said or what she overheard. Rafael then passed on what he was told to his father which ended in Travis being tortured more for wanting to send Beatrice to a madhouse if he had caught her.

With Travis in their hands, they had no one to worry about and the manor was peaceful. Soon one day turned into a week with Annalise waiting to hear from the palace again.

"You want me to do what?" Annalise asked, looking at Beatrice.

Beatrice surprised Annalise with a visit saying she had good news.

"I want to host a party for you to have fun. It will be just women you are close to. I hope you don’t mind but I have already invited some of the women among the knights, Giselle, and Heidi. Now that she’s here, I invited Siena," said Beatrice, excited for the list to be getting longer.

"I don’t understand. What is this for? It isn’t my birthday, because that has already passed," Annalise said, scratching her head as she couldn’t think of what else was important for her to have a party.

"I just want to have something for you. I’ve heard from River that the palace is starting to open up to the idea of you going there to speak about the truce so you and Rafael will soon head to Lockwood. I won’t be going there with you because I don’t want to leave the River again," Beatrice said, turning down the offer made to her a few days ago.

"Travis is missing so my parents will come looking. River is dealing with Travis so the least I could do is speak to my parents. I have nothing to say to Travis, but there is a little I want to get off my mind about my parents. Consider this party a little going away gift to you. You might go home after you leave the palace so it will be longer before I see you again," said Beatrice.

"I have not thought of going home after the palace. I do need to see my parents," Annalise said, starting to plan what she would do then.

Would Rafael come with her to the border or would he come back here? Would the king have something for Rafael to do which could have him away for weeks?

"Oh dear! It looks like I spoiled the mood," Beatrice said, feeling guilty. She wanted Annalise’s possible last few days here before going out of town to be fun. "There’s still some time before you head to Lockwood. You have to wait for the king to send another letter so that you can enter the palace."

"From his last letter, it sounds like the next one will be an invitation to talk about the truce. Now that I have gotten used to life here, I don’t want to leave, but we need to because the truce is important. It’s a shame he is going to leave the manor because of me," Annalise said, looking out at the snow-covered yard.

"It shows how much he loves you. It will cost a lot to build up a new town. I’ve heard from River that he’s gathering which knights will leave and how many people they will be taking with them. We’ll need a lot of houses built. Not just a new manor. I think it will all work out. It won’t be long before the new manor feels like home and no one will miss it here. As long as everyone is together," said Beatrice.

"We won’t be leaving this manor anytime soon. It’ll take close to a year if not more to build up what Rafael is planning. He has not told me everything yet but it sounds like a large plan. I will be offering money to help build because some of my people will move. It will just take a little convincing," Annalise said, knowing that they would not be up for it right away.

"You have enough time before the town is built to convince them. Don’t feel like I’m pressuring you again, but if you and Rafael are married sometime in the year, your people will feel more comfortable moving because then he would be your husband. Rafael also needs to be home with you so they can get comfortable with him," Beatrice said, offering advice to help the two.

"We will need to do that. I told my parents I wanted to build my own home to get back at my father, but now I will have to stop that when I return. For the time I will be away, I will miss you, Beatrice. I hope that after your family leaves, you can come to the border. I would like for you to meet my mother. You two have different interests, but I am certain you’ll become great friends," Annalise said, knowing the two would bond over wanting a wedding and grandchildren.

Beatrice picked up her teacup to drink the last of her tea before it turned cold. Before she took a sip of the tea she asked, "What interests does your mother have?"

"She loves making poisons and she is talented at using a bow," Annalise answered.

Beatrice put the teacup down upon hearing this. "We are different indeed. I’m sure we’ll find something we have in common. It will just take a moment to find what it is. I think my son needs your attention. He’s been standing by that wall for some time now. You can go on with him. I need to plan more for your party. Do think of who else we could invite. I need to know by tonight because it is tomorrow."

’Tomorrow?’ Annalise repeated in her head as she stood up and walked over to Rafael. How did Beatrice plan a party for her without her knowing till the last day? Why didn’t anyone invited tell her about it? ’Does this mean I have to wear a fancy dress? But I like my pants,’ Annalise thought, looking down at her pants.

"Annalise."

"Oh," Annalise said, realising she had reached him already.

Rafael pinched her cheek, earning a glare from her as it was something she disliked. "What is making you so lost in thought? Was it something my mother said?"

Annalise swatted Rafael’s hand away from pinching her. "Did you know your mother is planning a party for me?"

"It’s been mentioned a few times. It had something to do with you being bored in the manor and not having a lot of guests. She wanted to do something to let you have fun," Rafael said, repeating what his mother told him.

"So you hid it from me too. Now it has become a party because we may be heading to Lockwood soon. I was thinking about the dress I would have to wear. I forgot to ask where the party will be held. What were you waiting for? Did we get another letter from the king?" Annalise asked, looking down at his hands for a letter.

"No. We just sent back our response, Annalise. You’ll need to wait a few days, if not a week for us to know when we are to head to Lockwood. When we’re there, I have a few friends I want to introduce you to. Why is your hair wet?" Rafael said, narrowing his eyes at her out of suspicion. He touched her hair and for some reason it was damp.

"I might have been out in the snow doing something I can’t share right now," Annalise said, walking around Rafael.

"Is it something I need to be concerned about?" Rafael asked, following Annalise.

"It is, but since you love me you’ll ignore it right?" Annalise asked, turning around to flash a smile to sway him.

Hearing this, Rafael knew that she had to be in the dungeon again before his mother had arrived.