Forbidden Love

~~~Prologue~~~1

The Princess of England and her father have never seen eye to eye. Her father, Prince William, refuses to let Katherine be happy with the man with whom she has fallen in love… because he is a Frenchman. Her father wants her to wed Prince Frederick of Scotland. Kathy does not love Prince Frederick. She loves Monsieur Louis, a French lord. But her father is one of the most powerful men of all of Britain. Is there any way for Kathy to be with the man she truly loves, or does her fate rest solely with her father?2

And now that Katherine is so intent on helping the man who allegedly killed her own cousin, Charlotte, how can she possibly manage to clear Ethan’s name and run to France with Louis? She could not do so without admitting that Ethan was going to help Katherine and Louis run away to France. This information can never get out… Unless the two of them run away together as planned… but with Ethan… but that would never work. Katherine and Louis will have a hard enough time getting away without being accompanied by a fugitive of England. They would be pursued twice as hard if Ethan were to come along. There would be no way they could hope to pull it off, even if Ethan did agree to flee England.3

~~~Chapter 1~~~4

“I forbid you to see him again, Katherine.”5

“But father, I love him! And he truly loves me in return. Why is it that you wish me to wed someone with whom I share no love?”6

“You will wed a decent man, not that… that… not Louis of France.”7

“But father, I…”8

“Do not interrupt me, Katherine! You will wed Prince Frederick! You are Princess Katherine of Britain. Louis is a Lord in France. You must wed a member of true royalty!”9

“Louis is royalty, father.” How could her father be so stupid? And this was supposed to be the all-knowing Prince of England!10

“Yes, my dear, but the fact remains that he is French. The French are below our standards of royalty. They are not even worth the air they breathe. Frederick, however, is an honest and fine young man, perfect for you.”11

“But I do not love him, father. I love Louis.”12

“Do you not understand? There are more important things than love, Katherine. Like honor and keeping your dignity! You must help me keep peace between Britain and Scotland. Do you not care to stand true to your duties as an English Princess? You are my eldest heir, as well as my only daughter. As your father, I will do what is best for you as well as for our country. The decision is mine, with or without your approval.”13

Katherine just realized something: her older sister! How could she have forgotten about Samantha? 14

“What about Samantha? She is three years older than me. And she is married, so wouldn’t she…”15

“Samantha disgraced the family name when she married that man. I will not stand by and watch you do the same!”16

“I always liked Antoine. He was, and is, a good man. And they loved each other, so…”17

“How many times do I have to tell you? Love is not the most important thing in a relationship! Your mother and I were not in love when we were married. We just did as our fathers told us to do. And the same as with our parents, our grandparents… All the way back to the beginning of our family! You are no different from the rest of your family before you, so you will marry Frederick, as I’ve already told you!”18

Katherine’s eyes stung as she walked from the room. How could her father not understand? She did not love Frederick. She loved Louis. But he would not allow his other daughter to wed a Frenchman like Samantha had done. Frederick only wanted to win the throne of England and retain his place in Scotland. Louis actually loved her. And she, Katherine, truly loved him. They just had to find a way! But how could she disobey her father? And as much as she hated the way he was treating her, he was right. She did have a responsibility to her country.19

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~20

“Did you talk to your father?”21

“Yes…”22

“Et qu’est-ce qu’il dire? Sorry. And what did he say?”23

“He told me I was to wed Frederick, whether I wanted to or not.” She could not tell Louis what her father had said about the French. It hurt even her, and she was completely British. “But I love you, Louis! I could never marry Frederick! I would rather…” She paused, thinking.24

“What is it, my love? You seem pale. Maybe we should go in out of the cold…” It was always damp and icy-cold in Britain in mid-October.25

“No, I’m fine. Anyway, we would be overheard. I only just thought… You are still a citizen in France, right? You are only visiting Britain?”26

“Oui, of course I’m still a French citizen. Why do you ask?”27

“I just thought of it! Our solution! How did I not think of it before?”28

“Think of what, ma chérie?”29

“Do you… Do you think we could…?”30

“What is it?”31

“Would we be able to run away to France together?”32

“Oh, I could never ask you to leave everyone and everything you care about.”33

“I know you couldn’t ask me. You’re too kind a man to ask me to do such a thing. But that’s why I’m asking you. Wouldn’t you be willing to go back home, only taking me with you?”34

Katherine was ecstatic. This was the only way for her to be able to be with her love, Louis. They could run away together and be married. And, as an added bonus, she could get away from her power-hungry father. He never allowed her to do anything that he thought to be inappropriate for a princess. No riding her horse, no swimming, no dancing alone. All of which were things she loved to do. And now, she would be able to get away from him for good!35

Katherine just had to get Louis to agree. “It would work well for the both of us! And we could be together for the rest of our lives! Je t’aime, Louis, je t’aime.”36

“I love you too, Katherine. That is why I could never ask you to leave your home, your family, and the friends I know you hold so dear to you. Besides, our main problem would be your father. Do you honestly think that the disappearance of Prince William’s daughter would go unnoticed? They would come after us. And when we were found, you would be taken back and forced to marry Frederick against your wishes and I would be hanged.”37

“But, if we stay, and I disobey my father’s wishes, we will face the same consequences as if we were to run. I think there’s a better chance if we… Oh, hello, Frederick! What an unexpected surprise! Louis, we will discuss this matter further at another time. Farewell.”38

“Au revoir, mademoiselle.” Frederick could not have picked a more inappropriate time to come to see Katherine. She just hoped he had not overheard her conversation with Louis.39

“Well, what is it, Frederick?”40

“I just had to see your face at least for a minute. I knew it would brighten my wonderful day even further.”41

Whatever you say, thought Katherine. You know how much I can’t stand you!42

“Oh, you flatter me.”43

“No, it’s true, darling.” Katherine was disgusted at what he had just called her; that was Louis’s name for her, not Frederick’s!44

“Well, I’d better be going. Father will wonder what’s been keeping me.” She was willing to do anything to get away from him.45

“Alright, my love. Let me walk you home.”46

“No really. It’s late. You are probably needed at home and I can get home fine myself. It’s only a small walk up the street and…”47

“If you insist, darling.” He kissed her hand; she grimaced. “I will see you soon, sweet heart.”48

I hope not, she thought to herself. With any luck, she would never have to see Frederick ever again. With any luck, she would be in France within the next two days. She smiled to herself as she climbed the stairs into her bedroom. All that she could think of was that she and Louis would soon create a life together… Without her father’s approval.49

~~~Chapter 2~~~50

When Katherine woke up the next morning, all she had on her mind was to go see Louis. But she knew she couldn’t… Not until later could she risk it. Anyway, today was Sunday. She’d have to go to court with her father and brother today. Normally, she wouldn’t have minded. It was just that today, she couldn’t bear to hear her brother, Charles’s incessant whining. She just would have to keep reminding herself that she would never have to hear it again after today.51

“Wake up, Katherine! You are supposed to go to court with father and me!”52

“Go away, Charles! I'm trying to sleep!”53

“No. Father sent me to wake you. We are going to be late to court if you don’t hurry. Get up, I tell you!”54

“Fine. Go away at least while I dress, won’t you!”55

What an idiot! Why was he so interested in the courts, anyway? There was nothing to them except watching innocent men and women fight for their freedom. None of them ever even had a chance to win the cases anyway! And then, the witnesses of the trials had to follow the “Prisoner’s Carriage,” as it was most widely known, to the gallows or wherever else necessary to watch the execution. The ‘carriage,’ though, was nothing more than a cage with wheels, pulled by oxen that were no longer any good for other, more practical purposes. Katherine could not see what was so interesting in watching innocent people either hung or beheaded for their words or beliefs. This was the reason why she hated being princess of England most of all: witnessing these executions.56

“Come along, Katherine. We will be late!”57

“I'm coming, father.”58

Why can’t they give me a moment’s peace? Katherine said to herself. But she dressed hurriedly anyway and went downstairs to where her father and brother were waiting.59

“Well, I guess we can now proceed.” Prince William was never late for these things. Katherine, on the other hand, couldn’t have cared less whether or not they were late. She didn’t want to go anyway.60

“Who is to be tried today, father? And for what charges?” Charles always talked about the trial before and after it actually took place. It drove Katherine crazy how obsessed he was with the morbid details of the executions. Katherine never watched the beheadings; her father allowed her to go home. But the hangings, there was no getting out of. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t miss a single one.61

“Peter Spencer. He tried to break into the courthouse last night, assumedly to free his murderous son, Ethan. They will both be tried today and, if convicted, they will hang together today.” This one will be particularly horrible, thought Katherine. A father and his son will die together. How could her father and brother find this amusing? It sickened her to be related to two people who found death and destruction amusing.62

“But there is a chance that one of them, or even both of them, could get off, isn’t there, father?”63

“Yes, dear, of course there is. But with the charges that they have against them, a release is unlikely. Would you really like to see the man who killed your cousin Charlotte go free? That is why young Ethan Spencer was arrested in the first place. And his father wants that lunatic killer to be let free? There is no way that any sane man with a family will let the Spencer’s go free.”64

“Yes, father. I guess that is all true.” Kathy knew that Ethan had not killed Charlotte. She was with him and Louis at the time the crime was committed. But he had told her to keep silent. And if he was indeed convicted today… Kathy could not bear to hold the guilt of this. She would have to say something to the court today. Ethan’s life may depend on her statement.65

“You seem unsettled, Katherine. Do you feel well? If you don’t want to come today, I guess you could stay home just this once. But we couldn’t make a practice of it, of course…”66

“No, father, I'm fine. I feel perfectly fine.”67

“You never turn down a chance to miss a court trial. Does this case particularly interest you for some reason?”68

It was time for the truth at last.69

“Yes, father, it does. Ethan Spencer was a good friend of mine.”