A little romantic

  November 1612 United provinces

  The Duke stood outside the manor of Sir Leopold of the Dutch. The Duke's hand gently touched the horse of his carriage, thinking. The United Netherlands had invited him in an apparent attempt to sway him to join their cause. The war between Protestants and Catholics has ravaged Europe. Still, through it all, the duke has remained on a delicate balance, placating his emperor and the pope while also appealing to his fellow electors who had chosen the side of Luther. His position was tentative, and admittedly, he was a bit surprised they invited him due to his distance from the north, but perhaps, having the eternal lord of Mosion, they hoped to bring their revolt to an end. As he sighed, he headed to the entrance, where he was welcomed in. Even amid war, the scene was ripe with food and drink.

  “Aah, the illustrious lord of Mosion, I am so pleased you came”, A man sai,d approaching as they shook hands “Yes, well, I have not been this far north since this place was called Frisland, heh and such a heartfelt invitation, how could I not accept, Lord Huber?t”

  Hubert laughed, “Well,si,r I will let you get acquainted with my fellows, I shall find you later to discuss our business”

  The Duke was left alone as he looked around, scanning the room, lords of the Anglos, Dutch, and the occasional German knight.

  All the same to him, in the end, as he sipped his drink, sighing as he walked through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries, his Dutch was a bit rusty, but he could follow along.

  But in truth,he was bored; it was all the same: the papal menace, the evil empire, etc etc, and while obviously an issue of perception, it became an problem when a lord asked why the Duke had not chosen a proper side yet, a tone of accusation on the man's tongue

  Of course, if the duke was to be perfectly honest, he didn’t think either side was proper, that he believed in the lord of the Hebrews, but obviously, he couldn’t say that, as he opened his mouth to answer a woman's voice sounded.

  “Come, sirs, let us not interrogate our guest, who has given us his presence from so far, we don’t want him to think us bad hosts” she said

  The duke turned to see his defender, and before him stood a woman about 5’7 " with soft green eyes and a mole under her left eye. In a yellow and blue dress adorned with red bands holding long sleeves, her black hair was definitely long and wavy as two strands flowed free from her otherwise put-up hair. Her smile was kind.

  She approached the duke, looking up at the slightly taller man, “I apologise for my compatriots my lord; however,it is a pleasure to meet you”

  He smiled, looking at her, turning to fully meet her “ The pleasure is mine, my lady, if I may inquire what your name is, madame”

  “I am Lady Tersa Maria Van de Rostyne, and you are the eternal lord of Mosion’’ said a bit playfully

  He chuckled, “Aa,h guilty, though I find that epithet a bit tiresome” he chuckled

  .“I would imagine, though it does a certain charm to it, though I imagine not always in the way one would hope”

  He sighed, “Yes, you are correct in that, my lady”, he said, with a soft laugh as he thought about it. He always hated that name, felt it was too dramatic

  Teresa chuckled looking around the party then back at the Duke “ though probably helps you get invited to these events, your quite sulky if you excuse my bluntness”

  He was a little surprised but it quickly turned to amusement. “ Hmm so you noticed that, I suppose I never quite care for these sorts of things but the cost of progress and all that.” He shrugged

  She smiled looking at him thinking to herself a moment “ Well in that case, would his tired lordship have enough energy to walk a lady through the gardens “ she said

  He smiled” I suppose I could muster some strength to the task “ he joked as they headed out the door to the gardens

  The moon in full shining down upon them the ground still damp, the air having a nice chill to it.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  He looked at the gardens “ you know I have been considering expanding the gardens at my castle, right now it's a rather small affair but I've thought of making it a tad more grand” he said

  Teresa nodded “ hmm sound's interesting, aah I do love lord Leopold's garden, in Dort I used to keep one but well busy times and all that” she sighed

  “ Hm well perhaps once this business with the Habsburgs is finished you'll have time to revive it”

  “ Eh perhaps perhaps but suppose well see l, but enough on plants, I imagine we could go all night on this discussion” she chuckled

  She stopped by a tree in the center looking at it, the Duke found himself lingering on her face

  Her smile so calm content, the little mole by her lower lip, her green eyes catching the moon

  Though as Teresa turned he quickly feighned a cough a little embarrassed

  “ Cough cough eh em anyway my lady what do you wish to discuss I don't imagine you brought me out here for only simple conversation” he said

  But Teresa simple smiled “ oh my, well I hate to disappoint but that's exactly what I wish, less you wish to brave the party once more”

  The Duke was a tad surprised he wasn't used to just simply having someone to talk to, every conversation was usually followed by a request or some politics

  “ Oh well uh hmm I suppose I am not disappointed in this outcome” he joked” hmm you are quite a silly man my lord of you'll excuse my bluntness” she said

  “ Hmm none taken though you have me curious on how you mean” he said amused

  “ Well you have been neutral the entire war, yet went to war with the Pope, you come here yet it's clear as day you hate parties, and you while walking with a lady discuss gardening before anything else” she said simply pointing out his behavior not offended More observing

  He couldn't help but laugh a little “ my oh my seems you've read me like a manuscript my lady, though I wonder if your pointing this out for simple fact or something more” he said

  She shrugged” I suppose well have to see won't we “ she said smirking

  They continue their walk essentially doing circles around the garden

  “ So your telling me your brother got so drunk, you had to drag him out a river, in a dress like this my word I'm surprised you didn't drown “ he said

  “ Well Phillip, never handled rejection well, sigh 23 Winters and still a child”

  “ Where are your other brothers if I may inquire”

  Teresa was the eldest of five, the only daughter of Roystele

  “ Well Richard is in England last he wrote soliciting support, Philip back at the estate since his wife pregnant, Edgar probably on Northern France with his men l, the rest well just spread about really” she said

  “ So, they left you to run the estate alone “ he asked

  “ Aah yes well my father well…I suppose best not to speak Ill of the dead but he was a unpleasant man and rather frivolous with his money. My brother's didn't want anything to do with it and well the only thing left was the estate, so it was either marry and leave the estate to rot or try to revive it “

  The Duke nodded listening” well by the looks of it, one pf those plans worked “ he said though he felt almost a knawing feeling a small worry that shed say she got married

  “ Yes thankfully their was a Big boom in textiles so I was able to build up are house back from its corpse” she said

  The Duke sighed a little relieved “ hmm truly my lady, a impressive feat l, few would have such patience to save a dying family manor especially when everyone else has abandoned it”

  They talked for hours so much that the ground became indented by their walking path

  Discussing the Duke's adventures, Teresa work on her family estate and just general information simple things

  Colors, foods, animals etc

  As the first light of Dawn began cracking they both laughed “ well seems we really talked the night away” he laughed

  “ Aah yes, my word It felt like we just got out here”

  He turned looking at her then back at the castle” well nothing stopping us from continuing “ he said a bit cheeky

  She smirked” oh my you dastardly man, and I thought I was boring you “ she joked

  “ Oh, you are but it be so rude to abandon a lady” he said jokingly as she rolled her eyes pinching his arm” oh shush your like a book a monk writes “ she teased

  They walked through the castle most people gone or sleeping about as the Duke escorted her to her carriage

  “ I had a wonderful time talking with you my lord, even if you don't decide to join are fight please stop by Dort before you leave I’d love to speak more” Teresa said as the emperor helped her up holding her hand as she stepped up into the carriage

  “ Hm you have my word then my lady plus I am obligated I must hear the end of your story on how you got stuck with those two French ladies in Port for a week” he smiled holding her hand for a moment perhaps too long before releasing it

  Teresa smiled “ Then I shall see you soon, Lord of Mosion”

  “ And I shall see you Duchess of Dort” he said watching as her carriage drove off