Chapter 82 Frogs, Kisses, Ghosts and Wind

  "Remember when we were girls, still believing if ye kissed a frog he would turn into a handsome prince?" Honey Sanders asked her closest friend.
  "Ye believed that Honey?" Dame Esmerelda Frell was incredulous.
  "When I was a small girl.  Ye mean ye never kissed a frog?"
  "Those slimy things?  Ye didn't."
  "Well...only once..."
  Esmerelda laughed.
  "And did ye get a prince out of it?"
  "Well, not right away."
  "What prince would that be Honey?"
  "Why Winifred of course."
  "Oh Honey, Winifred had nothing to do with kissing a frog."
  "Try telling that to my childhood self!"
  "What did he look like...when ye kissed him?"
  "Winifred?"
  "No...the frog.  Did it's eyes bulge?"
  "Oh, the frog!  It looked like this."

Chapter 81 A Season of Change

  Laird Robert Morse had undergone many changes in his little life.  First he had gone from pollen to seed to a full bloomed boy in his mother's arms.  Then his little family had moved to a new home.  The most dramatic change had been the day his mother gave him a potion to drink.  He had sat upon the ground in distress as his leaves and bark fell away.

Chapter 80 Witness

  Shortly before sunset Thames arrived home from his daily wanderings.  A swishing of skirts and eager feet came to greet him.

Chapter 79 Forgetting

  "You wanted to see me Mother Teresa?"

  Honey thought the old nun had simply wanted company.  She thought wrong.

Chapter 78 Never Ever

  On his way home Reeve Kenneth was so absorbed in the memory of his granddaughter's eyes, he did not realize right away that he was not alone.

Chapter 77 Willow May

  Reeve Kenneth stood in the road near the brothel.  He was not here for the....typical reason.  How does one approach a brothel when one does not intend to....

  "Hello!"

  A little girl jumped out from behind the low stone wall.

Chapter 76 Dewdrops

  Time passed quickly for the Morse family.  Laird Allan still dwelled at the Fool's Tower.  Worry and age stole Lady Margaret's vibrant red hair.

Chapter 75 Seeking One Brother

  "Father Patrick?"

  The old monk turned toward Sister Shannon.  He looked uneasy.

  He must feel as uncomfortable around women as I do around men.  I suppose it comes from living without the other.

  "Father Patrick, I have a question for you."

  The good father seemed to pale.

  "A number of years ago a young monk came to the convent.  I've come to inquire of him."

Chapter 74 Awaiting a Princess

  Francis was spending what should have been a lovely day at the castle.  He supposed he couldn't expect Princess Jean to be here every time he came.  He continued hitting balls with his cue stick.  It was less practice and more fidgeting.  Perhaps he should go.

  From across the room came the gentle swish of a lady's dress.

Chapter 73 Thames' View of the Honeymoon PG13

  Thames thought back over his honeymoon.  It had been far better than he ever could have imagined.  He could hardly believe his luck.

Chapter 72 Lady Margaret's Baby

  "Sir Samuel, so good to see you."

Chapter 71 Worthy

Chapter 70 The Trouble with Besieging a Castle

Chapter 69 Sultry

  "That's me last apple!"

  "Come back here with me apple!"

Chapter 68 Moving On Alone

  Oh.  That isn't right.  No one left now, just me.  This was easier when Winifred did it.  Let's see...rent for one merchant woman...no husband...no children.  Even paying rent is a sad affair.  Oh, and Lord Lionheart lets me take off some for being a widow.

Chapter 67 Learning

  Frella let down her hair.  Carefully she took out the precious scarf Queen Yolanda gave her.  With great care she tied it around her golden locks.
  Imagine me, looking like a queen!  I hope Thames likes it.
  She stepped out from behind the screen.

  "Well look at ye."
  Frella smiled.
  "Thames, what is that stick for?"

Chapter 66 First Wagon Ride

  "Ye see Frella?  Jest like the caravan back home."

  "It's so fancy."

  "I'm jest glad ye like it.  That one there is fer us.  I jest need to sign some papers."

  "All set Frella."

  They walked inside.

  "Well....do ye need to rest..."

  "No, I rested all the way here."

  She sat down on the comfy carpet.

  "Well, if ye be ready..." he said, turning toward the wall.

Chapter 65 All a Father Can Do

  "Reeve Kenneth."

  "Father McGreggor."
  "How are ye fairing?"

Chapter 64 Let Them Eat Cake

  After Thames kissed her, everyone applauded.

  Or perhaps they had begun to applaud before that.  Frella was never quite sure.

Chapter 63 Frella's Father

  He stepped out from between the trees.  He watched the gypsy man from a distance.  The gypsy didn't see him, and he did not call out to him.  He did not want to be seen.  It would be best if his family knew not of his daughter, or his daughter of himself or his family.  And yet here he was, watching the gypsy prepare to marry his daughter.

Chapter 62 Cold Feet

  It was time for Thames to dress for the wedding.

  Thames dragged his feet all the way there.

Chapter 61 Frella

  Frella Longfellow finished putting on the gypsy clothes her husband to be sent to her.  She was ready to leave, to go and wed him.  Or at least she was as ready as she was going to be.

Chapter 60 What Ails You?

  Francis had worked hard all week.  He barely spent time with his frat brothers anymore, unless they studied or ate together.  In fact he had felt a little guilty about it.  To make up for it he asked if any of them would like to join him in his trip to Rosewood.  The replies had been scattered.

  "Busy," from Lord Alexander.

  "Again?" from his brother Henry.

  "I am not eager to go back to Rosewood anytime soon," had been Lord Henry's reply.  Then he had walked away muttering "the last thing I need is to visit the castle."

  What was that about?

Chapter 59 Where is My baby?

  After Lady Margaret birthed her baby some of the women helped her get clean.  Her first inclination was to protest, but she was too weak to cleanse herself.  Then they helped her into a clean shift and helped her get up on the bed to rest.  They had brought her a nourishing soup to keep up her strength.  After this she wanted to be up.  So then they helped her into her dress.  She was told how well she looked and was generally fussed over.

  Lady Margaret had been worn out up until this point.  Now she wanted to know one thing.

  Where is my baby?

Chapter 58 Come Out Child!

  Lord Allan and Lady Margaret Morse had been delighted to finally have a child on the way.  But once his wife was showing Lord Allan began to worry that their secret would be revealed.

  "I cannot attend your birth, I am a man."

  "I did not ask you to husband."

  "Surely you can not birth alone?" Lord Allan had a hint of hope in his voice.

  "No Allan, I cannot."

  "Are you quite certain?"

  "I cannot catch the babe."

  "But they will know!  We will surely be killed."

Chapter 57 Princess Jean Finds Out

  Princess Jean met Francis for sweets before he went back to college.  He had come to making frequent trips to Rosewood.  She liked to think he came for her, but it was just as likely to see his parents.

Chapter 56 One Sunday at the Castle

  Early Sunday morning King Leon ventured out and greeted Brother Michael Goodman, who conducts services in the royal chapel.  King Leon does not particularly favor Brother Goodman.  He does not particularly favor any of the monks.  Brother Michael used to care for a cat the queen used to have.  At her request Brother Goodman was granted the honor.  Thinking about it King Leon realized he really didn't care.  Well if it was Brother Gargamel he would.  Leon couldn't stand that Gargamel.

  I swear if that fool Gargamel dares to come to the castle I'll throw him in the dungeon.

  Thus the king was already vexed before his knight appeared before him.

Chapter 55 New Nun

  "Thank ye jest doesn't seem like enough.  That food will last me a spell.  I be a bard by trade, a poor one, but a bard nonetheless.  Shall I entertain thee?"

  Entertain me?  As if looking into your eyes is not enough.  Your eyes behind those curly locks...

  "Sister?"

  That is right, sister.  I was so certain, so certain about becoming a nun...then I looked into those eyes.

Chapter 54 Lord Henry Divulges

  "Francis, I'm going to see what are other 'brothers' are up to, care to join me?"

  "No thank you Henry, I'm busy."

Chapter 53 In Her Dreams

  Deep in the night Winifred Sanders visited his wife in her dreams.