I Believe You

I Believe You 

Taken by The Carpenter Song

Lord Andrew Charles Howard finally persuades Karissa Elizabeth Ann Lowell to spend a weekend with him out at Balmoral Manor.

Balmoral Manor was the country home of Lady Patricia Eugenie Howard nee Stuart given to her by Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR for a wedding present.

Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR first three children were born at Balmoral Manor and they were Lord Charles Andrew Howard III, Lady Patricia Charlene Howard and Lord Patrick William Howard II but after Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR ascended to the Dukedom of Norfolk Territory in 2240, their last two children were born at their Howard ancestral home of Norfolk Estate.

Both Lady Charlotte Augusta and Lord Andrew Charles Howard were born at Norfolk Estate, but all their children were raised on Norfolk Estate.

Lord Charles Andrew Howard loves Norfolk Estate as it was a reminder of his great-grandfather, Lord Patrick William Howard who had built it with his own hands.

It was a majestic white marble manor in the countryside of Norfolk Territory where he could be happy, but Lady Patricia was from Lennox Territory and she was from the highlands where the heather grew wild and free and she loved.

Lady Patricia gave Lord Andrew Charles Balmoral Manor  as a graduation present to Lord Andrew Charles and he rarely used it, but when he met Karissa Elizabeth Ann Lowell. He thought that he would carry her to Balmoral Manor and woo her.

Balmoral Manor was a beautiful country manor in Wessex Territory and his paternal uncle, Lord Richard Edward Howard Senior was Duke of Wessex Territory.

Lord Andrew Charles found Balmoral Manor to be a lonely place and he didn’t visit it often.

When Karissa finally agreed to spend the weekend with Lord Andrew Charles Howard out at Balmoral Manor.

Lord Andrew Charles Howard told his father and mother, “ Karissa and I are spending the weekend together out at Balmoral Manor.”

Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR tells his son, “I don’t understand why you pursue this one young woman.” 

“I love her dad. She is the only woman I will ever love. She will pump new blood into our family and she is not an aristocrat and you know how I feel about the aristocracy despite the fact I was born one.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“Did my great-great-grandfather like being one?” Lord Andrew Charles asks.

“My father told me that the Howard’s were first born into a good gentry family in England and Lord Robert didn’t have any trouble marrying his children into good English gentry families.” Lord Charles Andrew JR states, “The Howard’s rose to power by supporting the Yorkists during The War of The Roses beginning with Lord Richard, Duke of York and following his sons, King Edward IV and King Richard III.” Lord Charles Andrew JR states.

The Howard’s were noble through King John of England who was the favorite son of King Henry II of England and Queen Eleanor of Aquatine.” Lord Charles Andrew JR explained and through their grandson, King Henry III of England and their great-grandson, King Edward I of England and his second wife, Princess Margaret of France who was the daughter of King Phillip III of France who was the son of King Louis IX of France.” Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR states.

“It was the great-granddaughter of King John who married Sir John Howard and they had a son, Sir Robert Howard.” Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR tells his son and it is through his great-great-grandson, SIr Robert Howard who married Lady Margaret de Mowbray who was the eldest daughter of Lord Thomas de Mowbray and they had our noble ancestor, Lord John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk and he died fighting side by side with Lord John Devereux on the field of Bosworth in 1485 for King Richard III of England the youngest son Lord Richard, Duke of York and Lady Cecily Neville.”  Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR states.

“Dad. I remember one Duke of York named Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George and he wouldn’t marry any other woman but Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon and she turned him down three times before she agreed to marry him, but they were happily married and she outlived him by many years.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“Later Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George became King George VI of England and she became his Queen Consort, Queen Elizabeth and they had two daughters, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret Rose.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“I do believe it was her grandson, King William V of England who was the monarch in 2153 when World War III broke out.” Lord Charles Andrew JR states.

“King Charles III of England didn’t reign very long just as King Edward VII didn’t  rule very long as he was up there in age when he ascended to the throne of England, but King William V was in his 40’s when he became King of England, but with the first blast of nuclear weapons I am afraid his entire family which included his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and his Queen, Queen Catherine all perished in the first wave of nuclear blasts.” Lord Charles Andrew JR states. “ He had a younger brother, Prince Henry who had two children, Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Winsor and Miss. Lilibet Diane Mountbatten-Winsor and no one knows if the family survived the blast when it hit the United States.” Lord Charles Andrew JR states.

“Queen Elizabeth II of a blessed memory had four children,  King Charles III of England, Princess Anne, and she had children and grandchildren, Prince Andrew and he had two daughters and grandchildren, and Prince Edward who had two children, and I have no idea if his children married.” Lord Charles Andrew JR states.

“I am not even sure if any of them survived the nuclear war in 2153 as my father told me on May 1, 2153 all the major cities in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and North America were destroyed.” Lord Charles Andrew JR states.

Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR tells Lord Andrew Charles the cities that were destroyed: At precisely 0230.26 hours Eastern Standard Time, on 1 May 2153 (an event later known as the "May Day Horror of '53"), the Eastern Coalition launched a first strike comprised of intercontinental ballistic missiles, bomber attacks, and portable nuclear weapons, against major North American and European cities, combined with a simultaneous Interface viral assault against the New United Nations computer infrastructure.[citation needed] Much to the surprise of the ECON political leadership, the New United Nations immediately retaliated with nuclear launches of their own, as well as bomber and satellite-based attacks against targets in the Middle East and Asia. Many Pacific nations sided with the Eastern Coalition against the United States when fighting finally broke out. Other political groupings, such as the Muslim Bloc, were likewise hit extremely hard during the nuclear exchanges, despite being non-aligned with either side during the war.

The detonation of nuclear weapons over cities (in the multiple-megaton range) such as Washington, D.C., London, Moscow, Berlin, New York City, Boston, Dallas, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Mecca, Riyadh, Samarkand, Karachi, Singapore, and New Delhi killed nearly half a billion people instantly. Smaller detonations occurred over Hong Kong, Beijing, and Ho Chi Minh City. Un-detonated or failed nuclear devices were discovered in or around targets such as Denver, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and Istanbul. Of the hundreds of ICBMs and bombers launched by the United States and allied forces, only one in five made it into the air, due to EMP weapons and viral attacks against the military computer networks — of these, only a fraction detonated properly.

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Conventional military forces on both sides were quickly moved into offensive position against their respective foes — on 3 May 2153, the First, Eighth, and Sixteenth Fleets under New United Nations command carry front-line troops into the Bay of Bengal, and the ECON launches a massive invasion of the North American continent, sending troops and military aircraft southward through Canada. Targets in New England (including Massachusetts), Minnesota, the Rocky Mountains, and the Midwest are hit hard by ECON forces, the U.S. military's defenses along the Canadian border failing utterly. The United States Air Force and United States Army both fought back against the invaders, but lost many fighters and ground soldiers to the enemy.

Certain military units were abandoned in enemy territory during the war, including a New United Nations brigade under the command of Colonel Green in Kashmiristan in late May. Finally, the Eastern Coalition's governing palace was destroyed by American forces, killing ECON founder Lee Kuan.

The post-atomic horror that followed severely destabilized global civilization; terrorist organizations and rogue states often detonated small-scale "suitcase nukes," while toxins and biogenic weapons were released. Drug-addled soldiers were often sacrificed in conventional battles on the ground after much of the planetary computer systems failed; numerous small-scale conflicts created chaos throughout the globe as warlords fought over the scraps of civilization. As a result of the ICBM detonations, an enormous dust cloud enveloped the Earth, resulting in several nuclear winters.

Sovereign nations, including the United States, essentially ceased to exist following the war, the country falling into barbarism, carved up into fiefdoms controlled by competing warlords (including Colonel Green's despotic reign over the Pacific Northwest). Without federal resources to fall back upon, most local governments are unable to feed their own people; chaos and anarchy would reign for generations afterward, well into the 22nd century. The President of the United States, President Mendoza, survived the initial days of the war, but finds herself in command of very little afterwards. 

The Siege of Las Vegas was a significant battle in the war, with American forces battling ECON troops for control of the city. The forces of the US troops would eventually prove victorious, defeating the ECON troops there.

In the initial nuclear exchange of World War III, Washington D.C. was completely destroyed, along with three surrounding U.S. states. Some major cities, such as Montreal, were actually spared from nuclear hits during the first rounds of ICBM exchanges.

During fighting in Paris during the war, the Eiffel Tower was destroyed. Additional combat took place in San Francisco, resulting in the destruction of the Coit Tower, among many other structures. 

The U.S. state of Arkansas would be devastated by nuclear weapons at the start World War III, owing to the many military installations in the region. Even into the 23rd century, some portions of the state would remain uninhabitable. 

In 2154, one year following the outbreak of hostilities, Colonel Green surprised the surviving United States government by turning up in Alaska at the head of a massive army composed of both New U.N. and ECON soldiers. President Mendoza ordered Green to stand down, but is refused; Green slaughters his way across the continent, culling the "weak" and "impure" and those afflicted with radiation sickness from humanity's gene pool, killing millions, until finally meeting his demise in Montana from an orbital strike launched by Flint the Immortal. 

Humanity eventually turned over a new leaf when a few courageous people began to realize that they could make a difference. Early in the war, weather-control satellites developed by Flint the Immortal begin modifying Earth's ozone layer in an attempt to regenerate it, along with raising the planetary temperature enough to mitigate the effects of the harsh nuclear winter. This proved successful, ultimately reducing the number of potential casualties from the war.

Adrenaline regimens were discovered to be useful in treating radiation sickness after the war; this would later be supplanted by the even more effective Hyronalin therapies in later decades, after the end of the Atomic Age. The philosophy of Neo-Transcendentalism was founded by Liam Dieghan in response to the war's horrors, seeking to redress the pains of World War III by "returning [humanity] to a simpler life." 

The war culminated circa 2153, when several of Earth's governments met in San Francisco to declare a cease-fire, effectively ending the war. 

In the end, most of the world's major governments collapsed, and over 600 million people had died just from the immediate combat.” Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR tells Lord Andrew Charles.

“Karissa told me she watched all of her family die one by one as the result of the long term side effects of radiation poisoning and that her kin didn’t want her.” Lord Andrew Charles tells his dad.

“I will not marry dad if I can’t marry Karissa.” Lord Andrew Charles tells dad “Can’t you use your influence please.”

“Lord Andrew Charles. She is not an aristocrat and I have no influence on non-aristocrats on Star Base 12 or within my territory. The decision is up to Mademoiselle Karissa .’ Lord Charles Andrew JR tells his youngest son.

Lord Andrew Charles is left on his own to win Karissa and when he goes to pick her up at Madame’s Boarding House.

It is Madame Valois that greets him at the door and he bows to her “ Good Day Madame Valois.”  Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“Bonjour Monsieur Howard.” Madame Valois answers, “You are here to get Mademoiselle Karissa. She is upstairs getting ready for the weekend with you.” 

“You may wait for her in the drawing room.” Madame tells him and with that he walks into the drawing room where Lady Josette and Isabella Collins are sitting and he walks in and says ‘ Good Day, Lady Josette and Isabella.” 

“Good Day,  Lord Andrew Charles.” Lady Josette tells him `` Would you like some refreshments  while you are waiting for Karissa.” 

“That would be very nice.” Lord Andrew Charles answers “How are your good parents?” 

“Our father and mother are very well.” Lady Josette tells him.

“My father is looking to match me with Lord John Seymour, Duke of Somerset Territory.” Lady Josephine tells him.

“Lord John Seymour, when  did he arrive on Star Base 12, I don’t believe I knew him.” Lord Andrew Charles tells Lady Josette.

“My father said he hasn’t been here very long, but he is the heir to the Duke of Somerset Territory through a common ancestor of your father’s, Lady Elizabeth Cheney.”  Lady Josette states.

“Lady Elizabeth Cheney had a daughter name Lady Elizabeth Tinley who married Lord Thommas Howard and she was the mother of Lady Elizabeth Howard and Lord Thomas Howard, who was son of Lord John Howard, 1sr Duke of Norfolk.’ Lady Josette tells him and she married a Lord John Say and they had a daughter Lady Anne Say that married Lord John Wentworth and their daughter, Lady Margery married Lord John Seymour and they had a son, Lord Edward Seymour who married twice.’ Lady Josette states that their daughter became the third wife of King Henry VIII of England and she had King Edward VI of England.” 

Lord John Seymour comes through Lord Edward Seymour and his first wife, Lady Catherine Fillio but they were divorced and her children were replaced by the children of his second wife.” Lady Josette states.

“I do believe The Duke of Somerset once belonged to the descendants of The Beauforts and Lord Charles Beaufort had an illegitimate son who became the Duke of Somerset.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“I guess the Seymours received it after there were no more male descendants of Lord Charles Beaufort.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“I look forward to meeting  the new Duke of Somerset Territory.” Lord Andrew Charles tells Lady Josette.

Karissa walks into the drawing room and Lord Andrew Charles rises, “ Good day Karissa .”

“Good Day, Lord Andrew Charles. “ Karissa answers, “I am glad to see that Lady Josette and Isabella were keeping you company.” 

“Are you ready to leave. I am all packing for our weekend.” Karissa tells him.

“I have my carriage outside waiting for us to take us to Balmoral Manor.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

Lord Andrew Charles bows and picks up Karissa ‘s overnight case and he offers her his arm and she smiles and accepts it and they walk out of Madame’s Boarding House.

Lord Andrew Charles helps Karissa to climb into the carriage and he climbs in with her and they head off to Balmoral Manor.

Lord Andrew Charles and Karissa head for Balmoral Manor and as the carriage passes through Bedford Territory it is met by Lord Richard William Carey, who is the Duke of Bedford Territory.

The two cousins look at each other “ I see Karissa and you are headed somewhere for the weekend.” Lord Richard William tells him.

“We are headed for Balmoral Manor in Wessex Territory which is governed by my Uncle, Lord Richard Edward Howard Senior.” Lord Andrew Charles tells him.

“He is my father’s younger brother and the father of my first cousin, Lord Richard Edward Howard II.” Lord Andrew Charles explains.

“I believe Lord Richard Edward SR is your first cousin twice removed as I am your first cousin thrice removed as is Lord Richard Edward Howard II is.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“Lord Richard Edward II and I share the same grandfather, Lord Charles Andrew Howard SR.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

Lord Richard William looks at his cousin, “ Have a pleasant journey to Wessex Territory.” 

Lord Andrew Charles and Karissa head down the road to Wessex Territory and Lord Andrew Charles tells Karissa “ I want you to meet my first cousin, Lord Richard Edward Howard II.” 

“My uncle is Duke of Wessex Territory.” Lord Andrew Charles states, “We grew up together on Norfolk Estate.”  Lord Andrew Charles explains.

The Howard carriage travels west to Wessex Territory and finally the Howard carriage enters Wessex Territory and the carriage is met by Lord Richard Edward II and he walks over to where Lord Andrew Charles and Karissa carriage is “ Hi Cousin, Lord Andrew Charles.” Lord Richard Edward Howard II tells his cousin.

“Lord Richard Edward. This is Karissa Elizabeth Ann Lowell.” Lord Andrew Charles tells his cousin.

“Nice to meet you, Mademoiselle Karissa.” Lord Richard Edward Howard II tells her.

“Nice to meet you, Lord Richard Edward Howard II.’ Karissa answers and with that the carriage heads for Balmoral Manor.

Finally, the carriage pulls into the driveway of Balmoral Manor and Lord Andrew Charles helps Karissa out of the carriage and he steps out and tells her, “This is Balmoral Manor. My mother gave it to me for a graduation present.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

Lord Andrew Charles walks Karissa up to Balmoral and he opens up the door and Mr. Richards walks into the corridor, “We were expecting you, Lord Howard.” 

“This is an unscheduled visit and this is Karissa. She will take my mother’s suite while we are here.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her. 

“Make sure she has anything she needs and please order some french champagne, chocolate covered cherries and strawberries, red roses, and ask the cook to prepare us a special meal.” Lord Andrew Charles asks.

“Lady Patricia’s suite is clean and so is your suite.”: Mr.Richards tells Lord Andrew Charles.

Suzanne is asked to show Karissa to her suite and she tells Karissa “If there is ever anything that you need Mademoiselle Karissa  please just ring the bell by the bed.” 

“Thank you Suzanne.” Karissa tells her 

Mademoiselle Karissa in the closet are brand new dresses that Lady Patricia brought, but when she moved to Norfolk Estate she left them behind.” Suzanne tells her.

Once Suzanne leaves the suite. Karissa walks over to the closet and she opens it and inside are brand new dresses that Lady Patricia never wore.

Lord Andrew Charles knocks on the door and Karissa calls out “Come in” and Lord Andrew Charles walks in and he sees Karissa looking at the new dresses that his mother left behind.

“Why didn’t your mother take her dresses with her when she moved to Norfolk Estate?” Karissa asks.

“My father brought a whole new wardrobe when they moved to Norfolk Estate. So, she left these dresses here.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“These dresses are lovely and see that your mother and I share and have similar tastes in dresses.” Karissa tells her.

“Mother was an old fashioned highland lass from Lennox Territory.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“The young women dress differently in Lennox Territory and my mother would never compromise her style or dress style for the sake of fashion.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her and he takes out a picture of his mother, Lady Patricia.

“Your mother was very pretty and I don’t understand why your father didn’t love her.” Karissa tells him.

“It was a pre-arranged marriage whereas neither wanted to marry each other.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“My father wanted to marry Lady Charlotte Augusta Beck who was the daughter of a minor aristocrat.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“What is a minor aristocrat?” Karissa asks.

“A minor aristocrat is one that becomes an aristocrat by marrying the daughter of an aristocrat, which Lord Edward Christopher David Beck Senior did when he married Lady Lettice Devereux.” Lord Andrew Charles states. “She was a distant cousin of my paternal great-great-grandmother, Lady Margaret Deverux.”  Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“You never talk about yourself?” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“There is nothing to tell. I come from a quite ordinary family.’ Karissa explains.

‘My family weren’t aristocrats.” Karissa answers, “We have no aristocratic blood in us.” 

“We lived an ordinary life on Planet Earth and a quiet neighborhood where the children played together.” Karissa tells him.

“In the summertime we played fifty yard scatter, went swimming and rode our bikes.” Karissa tells him.

“Tell me Andrew Charles Howard, do you dance or sing?” Karissa asks.

“My mother did teach her children to appreciate music, dancing and singing.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

Karissa turns on some music from the radio and she says “ Dance with me and show me how romantic you are?”

The song playing is Dance with me by Orleans and Lord Andrew Charles looks at her and he walks over to her and bows and she curtsy  and they start to dance together in her suite.

Lord Andrew Charles is mesmerized by Karissa Elizabeth Ann Lowell and he asks her “Where have you been all of my life?”

“I am not sure what you mean.” Karissa tells him.

Nothing happens for the first two nights but on the third night Lord Andrew Charles decides that the time that Karissa and he make love and he is determined to give her the daughter she wants so he can marry her.

Lord Andrew Charles and Karissa have to wait 60 days to find out if she is pregnant and then Lord David Beck can give her an amniocentesis test and ultrasound to prove that the child is a daughter.

Once Karissa finds out what the sex of theoir child will be is when she decides if she will marry him or if she will give him a second chance.

Lord Andrew Charles is victorious and he has given Karissa what she wants it is a daughter that will be given the name of Lady Elizabeth Victoria Ann Beltane Howard who will become the First Duchess of Norfolk Territory and pave the way for matrilineal primogeniture to take place on Star Base 12 and all the territories and this law will allow mothers to exclude their sons  from inheriting their mother’s title and property and it will only pass onto their daughters, sisters, female cousins or nieces.

Lord Andrew Charles Howard takes Karissa out to Norfolk Estate to give his father and mother the good news that their first grandchild is on her way and Lord Charles Andrew Howard Senior’s first great-grandchild is on her way.

Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR is overjoyed to hear the news that his youngest son has saved what his great-grandfather started  in 2159 will not disappear.

Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR creates Karissa the Marchioness of Pembroke Territory and she becomes Lady Karissa Elizabeth Ann Lowell until Lord Andrew Charles and she marries on Imbolc of 2275 and then she will become Lady Karissa Elizabeth Ann Howard nee Lowell.

Lady Karissa sings this song to Lord Andrew Charles Howard and she tells him it was sung by Karen Carpenter of a blessed memory.

I Believe You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAe3v2lC9_UI Believe You

I Believe you

When you say that you will reach into the sky

And steal a star so you can put it on my finger

I believe you

Baby, I believe you