Mister Downeby was furious, and he was just about to scream his living daylights out when Robert calmly interrupted him, as gentle as a feather. Mister Downeby had known of their love for quite some time. And ever since that day at the London Bridge in October, now that it was June, they couldn’t think or speak of anything else without thinking of each other.
Robert got down on his knees in the sooty breeches he always wore, and so very delicately asked a question which would bind the love of two individuals.
“Adelin, my dear sweet darling. I realize that our love has been tried to be kept in the shadows, but now I realize that whatever we do must revolve around each other, and we cannot be separated by our ranks, but we must be either together or apart because of our feelings of passion for each other.”
Mrs. Downeby looked hopefully and questioningly at Robert and Adelin with her brows raised and lowered, and her face tight as a drum. Mister Downeby, however, was standing straight above the boy, and listening intently to what he was saying. Adelin stood still and paralyzed. When a servant accidentally bumped into her and apologized endlessly, she shrugged it off and stood there. Her face was white as porcelain, her sapphire eyes showing blank emotion.
“Adelin Elizabeth Downeby, shall you marry me and become my beloved wife?”
Mrs. Downeby and Mister Downeby nearly fainted, although now they were the ones with blank expressions on their faces and Adelin was the one showing emotion. Her eyes were flooded with tears, and she bit her upper lip. Without even showing the slightest notion to ask her parents about this matter, she replied through a shaking body filled with joy and delight.
“Yes. Yes! Yes, I shall be your wife, Robert! Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes!”
Mister Downeby quickly interrupted the happy bliss with a harsh remark.
“Boy, you cannot possibly afford to be married to my beautiful daughter. You work in the stables, for Heaven’s sake! And as for you, girl, you cannot possibly think of marrying this wretch! He’s a stable boy! And look at you! You wear the fanciest fashions for London, and to disgrace yourself by marrying him!”
“Father, I can pay for the marriage. I shall sell a few of my dresses and fancies. After all, why do I need to wear a thousand jewels on my body, when I can simply walk around bare?”
Mrs. Downeby could not possibly take the pressure anymore.
“Why would you walk around bare when you can show off your elegant physique in a beautiful dress? And your pretty feet! The most elegant shoes with jewels that show off your pride!” She was hesitating now and breathing heavily. Mrs. Downeby was hyperventilating.
“Mother! I have dresses and shoes and all the fanciest things, but what about people like Robert and the rest of the poor in this world? They have none of these things!”
“Be grateful for what you have!” Was Mrs. Downeby’s rebuke.
“Mother, no! I am going to marry Robert and you won’t stop me!”
With that said, she surprisingly took Robert by the hand and started dragging him up the stairs. He was bumping along, and the poor confused boy didn’t know what was going on. When they got to her room, Adelin quickly and efficiently locked the door. She whispered into Robert’s ear.
“Hurry, climb down the vine and block the door from the outside with some rope from the shed. Then I’ll throw my stuff down, and you catch it all. I don’t care if you see my bloomers and petticoats; I’m selling as much of it as I can to pay for a marriage. Illegitimate children are one of my top priorities. Hurry now!”
Robert nodded and hurried off to get rope from the shed. Adelin started throwing her stuff down and out the window. She took fifteen dresses, several bloomers and petticoats, hats, blankets, and a case to keep it all in. Adelin didn’t forget the corsets, which she was almost glad to get rid of.
The servants and Mister and Mrs. Downeby tried to get in to her room and out the door, but it was a hard business. Adelin locked the door very professionally, yet Robert did a very skilled job on the door, because of his rough hands and skilfulness at his job in the stables. Robert had also thought up a second addition to the plan. He rapidly fixed up the carriage, and Madeleine and Black Rose were tied up to it. They were the fastest mare and stallion the land they lived on had, and Robert was sure they would do a good job at helping the couple escape.
When they came to the city of Oxford, Adelin spoke for the first time since they left.
"You know... Robert? Would not it be a truly blessing marriage if... we had children?"
Robert looked at Adelin with a playful smile on his face.
"Adelin, my sweetheart, whatever you wish is what you shall get with me. We have known each other for a long time, why would not it be lawful?"
"Yes, Robert. But we must make sure we are lawfully married. I do not want illegitimate children."
Robert's eyes looked down for a few seconds, then he smiled.
"Yes, that is true."
The ride was silent the rest of the way.
Their stop was in Northampton, in the countryside. They did not want to be rich. They did not want to be famously known. They wanted to be Robert and Adelin... Robert and Adelin... ?
That brought up a good question. What was Robert's last name?
Adelin brought up the matter first. "Robert, darling, what is your last name? Shall not we need it for the wedding papers?"
"I cannot remember. When my father died, your mother took me in and said the least she could do what make me stable boy. She treated me harshly, and never told me my last name."
Adelin thought for a moment. How was her family to have no name?
"Then we shall make one up!" she said cheerfully. "What about... More? Or Moreview? I think More is better."
"Yes, More! My father read to me about him. He was a writer in the 16th century. He knew Henry VIII very well."
Adelin started to unpack her bags. When she was finished, she took a large wicker basket and put her fanciest gowns in them, leaving the poorest.
"Where are you off too, sweetheart?"
"I am going to the market, to sell my gowns. We need 1000 crowns to get married, you know. I barely have 50!"
"Alright, my darling. Be back before sunset. I shall have dinner ready by then, or almost ready, per se."
Adelin walked a long journey to the market. They had gotten to Northampton so quickly because of the horses' great speed, racing through the rocky streets and narrow alleyways.
When she got to the market, she asked a woman where to find an empty stall. The stall had no signs or closing marks, so she set up her stuff there. The table was already covered in a red velvet cloth, and that was convienent so her gowns did not dirty.
A particular rich woman stopped by, and asked the price of her red velvet gown, opening to the corset. This was the gown she wore when she and Robert greeted each other at the carriage the past August.
"This gown, madam, is 250 crowns. I am willing to haggle lower, if you wish."
"This is a very pretty gown," the woman said, admiring it's beautiful embroidery. "Was it worn before?"
Adelin hadn't thought of that question. She quickly thought up a lie. "Madam, it was never worn. But I suggest you wash it before you wear it. I have carried it in this wicker basket for a long journey."
The woman thought for a few moments, eyeing Adelin and the gown, and considering the price. "I have made a decision. I shall buy it from you for 1000 crowns."
Adelin's face went blank. She couldn't think. Was she really hearing what she was hearing? 1000 crowns!
"Madam, are you certain you wish to pay such a price for a gown like this? I have offered it to you for only 250 crowns, and you offer me 1000."
Now the woman looked offended.
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