Chapter One Lord Alexander's Future

    Lord Richard Lionheart gently lifted his wife's delicate hand.

  His nobility showed through with the kiss he placed upon it.

  "I have drawn up papers for Alexander's marriage."

  "And who is the fine young lady?"

  Richard paused a moment.

  "She isn't born yet."

  "Will it be like Henry's arrangement?  If his wife gives him no daughters the contract is void?"

  "Not exactly.  He has a harem.  It would be very surprising if he has no daughters.  But yes, if there is no chance that he will have a legitimate daughter then the contract would become void."

  Now Lady Yarrow paused.

  "Richard, what is a harem?"

  "In the Ottoman Kingdom the men have harems.  They take on more than one woman.  They are like a wife, but less in status.  Sometimes the men will marry one of their harem women, but most never do.  And if they do marry one, they still keep the other women of the harem."

  Yarrow's eyes misted over.  Then she spoke very softly.

  "Were you meaning to do the same?"

  "My Lady, I do not mean to start a harem.  I don't even want to move in a mistress."

  "There could never be a finer wife for this man."

  A blush warmed her pale face.

  "And will this be Alexander's wife or..."

  "His wife.  No harems for my sons."  Thank God.  It was enough just to arrange one marriage for each of them.

  "It is good to know that a noblewoman is secured for our eldest.  I am so glad he was not born a girl.  I'd hate for my daughter to become a harem girl."

  "Lady Yarrow, I have only just made an arrangement for our daughter, should we ever have one, to be a harem girl for a nobleman."

  Yarrow's face went paler than usual.

  "If the nobleman should have a son?"

  "He is a child near the age of our 2 sons.  His name is Lord Kendal Scorpion."  He may as well get this all over with at once.  "And Alexander will be marrying a daughter of a peasant man by the name of Ali Baba."

  "A peasant woman?"

  "You know I am not as wealthy as I once was.  It makes it more difficult to arrange good marriages for our children."

  "But Henry's arrangement is for a merchant woman."

  "I do see your point.  I haven't sent the papers yet."

  "The castle has 2 princesses..."

  "Yarrow, I know you want Alexander to marry well, but we are not royalty."

  "Samuel Roberts is not nobility, and you have arranged for his daughter to marry our Henry."

  "This is true."

  "And you know that King Leon and I are good friends, that must count for something."

  "That it does.  But as for arranging a marriage, he will be wanting to be better friends with myself before making an offer."

  "Perhaps we can entertain?"

  Lord Richard kissed his wife's forehead.

  "As you wish."

  Lord Richard went inside.  For a moment Lady Yarrow followed him with her eyes.

  "Mrrow?"

  "Edelweiss."  She held up the little kitten.

  She was glad for the distraction.  She cooed at the kitten, as she would for the baby she longed for...if she should be lucky enough to have another.  Setting Edelweiss down, Lady Yarrow drifted over to her little orchard.

  Her lips tugged down at the corners.  She felt that things would soon be settled for Alexander and all would be well there.  What worried her is what would become of her daughter, if she should have one.  To be not one wife, but one of many...and to be something less than a wife.  At least Lord Kendal is nobleman, she tried to tell herself.  It was thin comfort.