The Long Over Due Honey-Moon

Lord Andrew Charles Howard decided to surprise Lady Karissa Elizabeth Ann with a two week honey-moon once he returned from Norfolk Estate.

Lord Andrew Charles Howard returns to Beltane Manor to find Lady Karissa with Lady Elizabeth in the nursery.

He walks into the nursery and he says, “ I see you are with Lady Elizabeth.”

“I am taking my responsibility in being a mother seriously. I don’t want my daughter to think that I have abandoned.” Lady Karissa states, ``My Goddess she came with a high price on her head.”

“I had to give up my freedom and become an aristocrat.” Lady Karissa tells him.

“I still think all aristocrats are stuffy, runny nose spoiled brats with a gold spoon stuffed up their asses.” Lady Karissa explains “The only exceptions to the rule are Lord David William Beck and Lord Richard William Carey.”

“It may be because both come from the female line of Lord Patrick William Howard.” Lady Karissa explains.

“What do you know about your cousin, Lady Eliza Katherine Howard?” Lady Karissa asks.

“Only what my father has told me. She was the only child of my uncle, Lord Edwin William Howard and his wife, Lady Penelope Rich nee Devereux who was a widow. “ Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“She was my father’s only niece, and he adored her and he loved his youngest brother.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“Once again, Lady Eliza Katherine was married  to a man that she didn’t love, one Lord William David Beck, and she was in love with the younger brother, Lord David Edward Christopher Beck.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“Lord William Beck was the eldest son and God only knows why the oldest sibling must be married off first. It comes from the Bible from the Old Testament.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“I understand Jacob wanted to marry the younger sister, Rachel but he had to marry her older sister first and he had to wait seven years to marry her.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“Leah wasn’t as beautiful as her younger sister, Rachel.” Lord Andrew Charles states, “What in the heck are men supposed to do if they have to marry a ugly woman?” 

“The man can bag her, feel, finger, fuck and forget her until next time.” Lady Karissa states.

“Does it work?” Lord Andrew Charles asks.

“Once upon a time in high school it may have, but for now I can’t say.” Lady Karissa explains.

“Beauty is only skin deep and superficial anyway, Lord Andrew Charles.” Lady Karissa explains.

“It isn’t the outward appearance that any man or woman should be looking at but what is inward and in their soul.” Lady Karissa states.

“Have you ever heard the story of the ugly duckling?” Lady Karissa asks.

“No, I haven’t, but I would love to hear it.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

Lady Karissa starts to tell Lord Andrew Charles the story of the Ugly Duckling 

“On a farm long ago, a Mama Duck sat on her nest.  “How long must I wait for my babies to hatch?” she said.  “I have to sit here all alone! And no one comes to visit me.”  But what could she do? A Mama duck must keep her eggs warm till they hatch.

At last, the eggs began to crack.  One by one, yellow ducklings stepped out of their shells.  They shook their wings and said, “Quack, quack!”

“Look at all of you!” said Mama Duck with joy.  “You are all so cute!”

“Quack, quack!” they said.

Mama Duck said, “Come and line up.  We will go down to the lake for your very first swim.”  She counted – one, two, three, four, five. “Oh dear!” she said.  “I should have six ducklings!”

But one large egg was still in the nest. “Well," said Mama Duck, "it looks like that big egg will take more time.” So she had to go sit on her nest again and wait some more.

The next day, the big egg started to hatch.  Out came a baby boy bird. But if one may say so, it was an odd-looking thing.  This bird was much bigger than the others. He was not yellow at all - he was dark-gray from his head to his feet.  And he walked with a funny wobble.

One of the yellow ducklings pointed.  “What is THAT? He cannot be one of us!”

“I have never seen such an ugly duckling!” said another.

“How can you say such a thing?” said Mama Duck in a stern voice. “You are only one day old!  Your brother hatched from the very same nest as you did. Now line up. We will go to the lake for your very first swim.”

Yet the other ducklings quacked, “Ugly!  Ugly! Ugly!” The Ugly Duckling did not know why the other ducklings were yelling at him.  He took the last spot in the line.

Each yellow duck jumped in the river and swam behind Mama Duck.  When it was his turn, the Ugly Duckling jumped in and started to paddle, too.  “At least he can swim,” Mama Duck said to herself.

When they left the water and started to play, the Ugly Duckling tried to play with his brothers and sisters, too.  They yelled, “Go away! We will not play with you! You are ugly. And you walk weird, too!”

 When Mama Duck was close by, she would not let them talk in this way.  “Be nice!” she would scold. But she was not always close by.

One day, one of the yellow ducklings said to the Ugly Duckling, “You know what?  You would do us a big favor if you just went away from here!” All of them started to quack, “Get out!  Get out! Get out!”

“Why won’t they let me stay here?” said the Ugly Duckling to himself.  He hung his head down low. “Ah, they are right. I should go.”

That night, the Ugly Duckling flew over the farmyard fence.  He flew till he landed on the other side of the lake.  There he met two grown-up ducks.

“Can I please stay here for awhile?” said the Ugly Duckling.  “I have nowhere else to be.”

“What do we care?” said one of the ducks.  “Just don’t get in our way.”

“Woof! Woof!”  Suddenly a big hungry dog came tearing by, chasing the two ducks.  They quickly flew up in the air, and their feathers fell down on the ground.  The poor Ugly Duckling froze in fear. The dog sniffed and sniffed at the Ugly Duckling, then turned away.  “I am too ugly even for the big hungry dog to want,” said the Ugly Duckling with his head hung low.

The sky turned dark.  Crack!  A bolt of lightning.  Then came a big storm, with heavy rains pouring down from the sky.  In just moments, the Ugly Duckling was soaked through and through. Then a cold wind started to blow.

“Brrr!” he said with both wings held close to his chest.  “If only there was a place I could get dry.”

All at once, a tiny light blinked far off in the woods.  “Could it be someone’s hut?”

He flew to the door.  “Quack?” said the Ugly Duckling.  The door of the hut creaked open.

“What is all this noise?” said an old woman, looking right and left.  Her eyes were not that good. Then she looked down. “Ah, look at that, it’s a duck!”  She picked up the Ugly Duckling and dropped him inside her hut. “You can stay here, but only if you lay eggs,” she said.

A tomcat and hen crept up to the Ugly Duckling.  “Who do you think you are, coming in here and taking up room by the fire!” said the tomcat.

“Squawk!” said the hen.  “I do not need anyone else in this hut laying eggs.”

“Do not worry about that,” said the Ugly Duckling.  “I am a boy duck.”

“Then why are you still here?” said the tomcat.  “Did you not hear what the old woman said?”

“Get out of here, pretender!” clucked the hen.

“Get out!  Get out!“ hissed the tomcat.

The door was still a bit open, so our poor Ugly Duckling slipped out the door, and back into the storm.

“No one ever wants me,” said the Ugly Duckling with a tear in his eye.

 The storm ended.  Soon he found a new lake.  Looking into the water, the Ugly Duckling saw the reflection of a flock of large white birds flying.  He looked overhead and could not believe what he saw. There, above him, were the most beautiful birds he had ever seen!  Their long white bodies and slender necks seemed to just glide through the sky. He watched until the very last bird had winged its way out of view.

He stayed at that lake all by himself, and time passed.  The leaves of the trees turned deep red and gold, and then the leaves fell to the ground.  Winter came, setting a blanket of white snow all over. The cold wind and the dark clouds made the Ugly Duckling feel even more sad.

He had to go into the cold, cold lake to fish, but it was getting harder to swim.  The lake was turning to ice. One day, all he could do was to paddle the water to keep it from freezing around him, and trapping him in the lake.

“I am so tired!” he said, paddling with all his might.  The ice got thicker and drew closer to him.

In a moment, two giant hands swept him up.  “You poor thing!” said a farmer. He held the Ugly Duckling close to his thick wool jacket and took the bird to his home.

Never was a warm fireplace more welcome!  For the rest of the winter, the farmer cared for the Ugly Duckling.  Then spring came. Tips of green covered the trees. Short, bright flowers popped up from the ground.

“It is time for you to go to the lake to swim again, as you were born to do,” said the farmer.  He took the duckling back to the lake where he had found him, and set him with care on the water.

“Gosh, I feel strong,” said the young bird, flapping his wings.  “Why, I never felt as strong as I do right now!”

He heard quiet splashing sounds behind him, and turned around.  A flock of those same beautiful birds he had seen in the sky before landed behind him on the water.

“Do not worry!” he said to them, holding out one wing.  “I will go now. I will not make trouble for you.” A big fat tear rolled down his cheek.  He turned to go away. When he opened his eyes, he saw a reflection in the water of one of those beautiful white birds.  Why was it so close to him? He jumped back. And the reflection jumped back, too

“What is this?” he said.  He stretched his neck, and the reflection of the beautiful bird stretched its neck, too.

“Why are you going so soon?” said one of the beautiful birds.

“Stay here, with us!” said another.  “We’ll be great friends.”

Then, the bird who used to be the Ugly Duckling knew what had happened!  He was no longer an ugly gray bird that wobbled when it walked. 

At one moment, all the swans flapped their wings and took off into the sky. “Come with us,” one called back. “Take the lead!” So he flapped his wings fast and took his place in front of the whole flock.  All his new friends flapped their wings behind him.

“Say!” he said, gliding and dipping through the sky as he sped on.  “Who’s an ugly duckling now? Surely, Not I!”” Lady Karissa tells the story of the Ugly Duckling to Lord Andrew Charles.

Lady Karissa tells Lord Andrew Charles that the ugly duckling didn’t know that he was a beautiful swan.

“A gentleman named Han Christian Andersen wrote this fairy-tale with it but it also has a moral to  it as well.” Lady Karissa explains.

“I don’t know why people look at the outward beauty but in time it will fade away, but what is inward will remain.” Lady Karissa states.

“I don’t understand why fathers marry off their oldest sons and daughters first.” Lady Karissa states, “I won’t let it happen to Lady Elizabeth.” 

“My father married Lord Charles Andrew III first to Lady Victoria Stanhope. It is far from being happy.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“Lord Patrick William II and Lady Pauline are happy, but their marriage is incomplete without a child.” Lord Andrew Charles tells Lady Karissa .

“There is time and they may still be blessed with a child.” Lady Karissa explains, “I don’t see Lord Patrick William II being a finicky man.” 

“Lord Patrick and Lady Pauline will be happy with whatever they are blessed with.” Lady Karissa states.

“At least your grandfather had some sort of decency when his brothers and him stood against your great-grandfather so that their sister could marry for love.” Lady Karissa states.

“My father was one year old when my grand Aunt, Lady Sophia Charlotte married Lord William Carey and my first cousin once removed, Lord George Carey was born in 2210 and my father and he were best friends as well being first cousins.” Lord Andrew Charles tells Lady Karissa.

“I am second cousin to Lord Robert Carey and Lord Richard William Carey and I are second cousins once removed.” Lord Andrew Charles explains.

“Please don’t get me wrong, I love my cousins, all of them from my great-great-grandfather’s side of the family.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“I love Lord Frederick William Howard III, Lord Thomas William Howard, Lord Richard Edward II, and Lord Richard William Carey and Lord David William Beck too.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“I didn’t know Lord Robert Carey, Lord Edward Howard, or their sisters.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“I did meet Lady Frederica Wihelmina Howard and Lady Thomasina Wilhelmina Howard.” Lord Andrew Charles states, “Along with Lady Richenda Edwin Howard and Lady Richenda Wihelmina Carey.” Lord Andrew Charles tells Lady Karissa..

“I hardly know my maternal cousin, Lord Alexander Charles Stuart, but he lives in Lennox Territory.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“Listen, Karissa . I know that we never had a honey-moon when we were married.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her, “We didn’t have time to take one.”

“No, I was pregnant with Lady Elizabeth.” Lady Karissa explains, “I have no regrets.” 

“I have arranged for us to take a two week honey-moon at the Inn in town. I have reserved the honey-moon suite.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“I am sure that Barbara can take care of Lady Elizabeth here at Beltane Manor by herself.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“We can bring her with us and Barbara. I am sure that there is an adjourned suite to our suite.” Lady Karissa states, “ I won’t leave Lady Elizabeth, not even for the sake of a honey-moon.” 

“Alright, Karissa . We will bring Lady Elizabeth and Barbara with us. I am trying to save our marriage.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“I love you and I feel you are slipping away from me.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“I am not slipping away from you, Lord Andrew Charles, but I tried to tell you that you may have bitten off more than you could chew when you became Duke of Norfolk Territory.” Karissa explains.

“Listen, I am not without empathy and understanding about how your dear father feels for his late great-grandfather, Lord Patrick William Howard.” Lady Karissa explains.

“I understand he wants to preserve what he started a long time ago and he is to be commended.” Lady Karissa states.

“I understand that he honors and respects his ancestors as without them we wouldn’t exist.” Lady Karissa explains.

“We all need to honor our ancestors and preserve our traditions,but it has to be within reason.” Lady Karissa states.

“You put Norfolk Territory in front of Lady Elizabeth and me and our marriage. We will not play second fiddle to it.” Lady Karissa states.

“I will not play second fiddle when it comes to honoring Our Gods and Goddesses, our first duty is to them and it is simple as that, then our second duty is to our family, and third is our work.” Lady Karissa states.

Lord Andrew Charles listens to Lady Karissa “ I have asked Lord Charles Andrew III and Lord Patrick William II to co-govern with me as Dukes of Norfolk Territory as they are the grandsons of Lord Charles Andrew Howard Senior as well.” 

Lady Karissa looks at Lord Andrew Charles “ Listen Andrew Charles. What your grandfather and great-grandfather did to Lord Frederick William Howard II and what Lord Charles Andrew Howard Senior did to Lord Richard Edward Howard Senior was wrong.” Lady Karissa states.

“Furthermore, I want Lord David William Beck, who is the grandson of Lord Edwin William Howard reinstated into the Howard family.’ Lady Karissa tells Lord Andrew Charles.

Lord Andrew Charles looks at Lady Karissa and he says “Once we return from honey-moon, I will reinstate Lord Frederick William Howard III, Lord David William Beck and Lord Richard Edward Howard II into the family and I will give them a title and property.’

Lady Karissa looks at Lord Andrew Charles and she says, “ Very well. I will get Lady Elizabeth ready with Barbara.” 

Lord Andrew Charles walks over to where 6 month old Lady Elizabeth is laying and she is wide awake and she looks up at Lord Andrew Charles.

“Does she know that I am her father?” Lord Andrew Charles asks.

“She will if you carry your damn ass into the nursery more often than you do. You can’t stand to look at her as she is a miniature female copy of you at that age.” Lady Karissa tells him.

“You see your successor in front of you.” Lady Karissa states.

Lord Andrew Charles picks up Lady Elizabeth and she looks at her father and Lord Andrew Charles looks at his 6 month old daughter, Lady Elizabeth and he says “ Please don’t let your grandfather down, Lady Elizabeth Victoria Ann Beltane. Our hope lies within you.” 

“Your grandfather dotes on you and loves you more than his own life.” Lord Andrew Charles tells Lady Elizabeth.

Lady Elizabeth looks at her father and if she could talk to she would answer “I love my grandfather and I won’t let him down.” 

“One day, your mother and I will give you a little sister or brother to play with.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her. “I won’t let you be an only child.”

Lord Andrew Charles holds Lady Elizabeth “ You come from a proud family that started with Lady Joan of Cornwall who married Sir John Howard. She was the great-granddaughter of King John of England and Isabella of Augouleme.” Lord Andrew Charles tells Lady Elizabeth.

“We also come from King Henry III who was the eldest son of King John as well who had a son, King Edward I who married Princess Margaret of France who had a son, Prince Thomas who had a daughter, Lady Margaret who became the first Duchess of Norfolk in England and it was her daughter, Lady Elizabeth Seagrave  that married Lord John de Mowbray who had a son, Lord Thomas de Mowbray who became the First Mowbray Duke of Norfolk in England and his son, Lord John de Nowbray became the 2nd Duke of Norfolk and his daughter, Lady Margaret married Sir Robert Howard and it was their son, Lord John Howard that was created the 1st Howard Duke of Norfolk by King Richard III of England and he died by his side along with another ancestor, Lord Walter Devereux.” Lord Andrew Charles tells his daughter.

“I don’t know why your mother named you Lady Elizabeth Victoria Anne Beltane but she told me it was after all of the three greatest Queens of England.” Lord Andrew Charles tells his daughter.

“I do know that all three were wonderful monarchs in their time and both Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria ushered in their own age in English history” Lord Andrew Charles tells his daughter.

“Do you know that Queen Elizabeth through her grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Howard was the great-great-great-granddaughter of Lord John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk.” Lord Andrew Charles states, “ Queen Anne Boleyn named their daughter after her mother, Lady Elizabeth Howard and her mother in law, Queen Elizabeth of York.” Lord Andrew Charles tells his daughter.

“Henry VIII was an old fool to believe that Elizabeth could never governo England but she did for 45 years.” Lord Andrew Charles tells Lady Elizabeth.

Lady Karissa listens to Lord Andrew Charles tell Lady Elizabeth about her ancestors and she smiles, “ I am ready to go Andrew Charles.” 

“You will have plenty of time to educate our daughter on her family history.” Lady Karissa tells him.

Lord Andrew Charles holds   Lady Elizabeth in his arms and he offers his other arm to Lady Karissa with Barbara they walk out with the porter carrying their suitcases.

Lord Andrew Charles settles Lady Karissa , Lady Elizabeth and Barbara in their carriage and he climbs into the carriage and he tells the driver “ The Ritz Inn in Norfolk.” 

The carriage starts on its way toward the Ritz Inn as they travel the people start to line the streets of Norfolk Territory and Lord Andrew Charles helps Lady Karissa to her feet with Lady Elizabeth in her arms as they wave to their people of Norfolk Territory.

Lord Andrew Charles presents Lady Elizabeth Victoria Ann Beltane to the people of Norfolk Territory as their future Duchess of Norfolk Territory.” 

The people start to cheer and dance in the streets of Norfolk Territory when they see that one day they will have a Duchess of Norfolk Territory.

Lady Karissa asks the carriage to stop and with the help of Lord Andrew Charles she climbs out of the carriage with Lady Elizabeth in her arms and she goes to meet the people of Norfolk Territory.

While she walks to meet the people. She is given a bouquet of white roses from a crowd of children and some of the ladies present Lady Elizabeth with a home-made blanket and baby-doll.

Lord Andrew Charles walks over to them and gives them a thank you gift of 50 credits and he smiles and thanks them.

Finally, Lady Karissa with Lady Elizabeth walks back toward the Howard carriage and the carriage heads for Norfolk and the Ritz Inn.

The carriage arrives at The Ritz Inn where the proprietor greets them at the front door and he bows “ You honor us with your presence, Your Grace.” 

“I have the honey-moon suite and adjourning suite ready for Lady Elizabeth and her nanny.” The owner tells Lord Andrew Charles.

“Thank you, Lord Johnson.” Lord Andrew Charles tells him.

Lady Karissa walks with Lord Andrew Charles inside of the Inn and she looks around “ It reminds me of a beautiful hotel call “The Grand Hotel” in  Mackinac Island, Michigan.” Lady Karissa tells Lord Andrew Charles.

“It was destroyed during World War III on Planet Earth and I hope that damn Colonel Green burns in hell and I am glad that Flint The Immortal destroyed that monster.” Lady Karissa tells Lord Andrew Charles with The Ebola Virus in the mountains of Montana.”

Lord Andrew Charles and Lady Karissa Eliizabeth walk in the Ritz Inn with Lady Elizabeth and Barbara and the porter shows them to the Honey-moon suite and the honey-moon suite is beautiful and it is decorated from a bygone era.

Lady Karissa exclaims “It is beautiful. It reminds me of my favorite movie “SomeWhere In Time” with The Late Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour, The Late Christophe Plummer.”

The nursery at the Ritz Inn in Norfolk was fit for Lady Elizabeth and Lady Karissa smiles “It is beautiful.” 

Lady Karissa walks over and places Lady Elizabeth into her crib and she covers her up and gives her a kiss.

“Barbara, please take care of Lady Elizabeth.” Lady Karissa asks.

“I will take good care of Lady Elizabeth. Lady Karissa .” Barbara tells her and with Lady Karissa and Lord Andrew Charles walks out of the nursery.

Lady Karissa looks at Lord Andrew Charles “It is a beautiful inn, Lord Andrew Charles.” Lady Karissa tells him.

“Thank you, but I don’t know who erected it. It was built during my great-grandfather’s time.” Lord Andrew Charles explains, “ He became Duke in 2200 and my father was born in 2209.” 

“My father would have more information on it, but my father told me that the creator came from your country from The State of New York.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“The gentleman was wealthy and industrious and he brought his wife with him and she was into interior design and she helped with the internal decorating and Lord Frederick and Lady Jeanette were very good friends with them.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

I think my father told me his name was Sir  John Rockefeller and his wife was Lady Constance and they came on board the USS Constellation.” Lord Andrew Charles tells Lady Karissa..

 “I have heard of the family along with many of the other influential families of the United States such as The Vanderbilts, The Kennedy’s, and so forth.” Lady Karissa states.

“I believe the current owner is his great-great-grandson, Sir Edward Rockerfeller and his wife, Lady Louisa Augusta Campbell.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

Lady Karissa walks out onto the terrace and she  looks over and she smiles “ Look at the garden, Lord Andrew Charles. It reminds me of the Gardens of Versailles.” 

“They are magnificent.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her and he walks over to her “ I love you Karissa and I don’t want to lose you to my second cousin, Lord Richard William Carey.” 

“I will work with you, Andrew Charles but I love Lord Richard William Carey and he loves me, but I have made you a promise and I will not break my promise to you and don’t give me a reason too.” Lady Karissa states.

“I love you Andrew Charles as you are the father of my daughter, Lady Elizabeth, please don’t rob of her childhood and let her grow up to be wild and free and she will make you proud of her.” Lady Karissa tells him.

“I have promised you four more children, and I tend to keep my promise. I have also promised Lord Richard William Carey two children only after our third child is born.” Lady Karissa tells him.

“I will not see Lord William Carey and Lady Sophia Charlotte Howard disappear from Star Base 12 and Bedford Territory.” Lady Karissa explains.

“Lord Frederick William Howard didn’t care much about his only daughter, Lady Sophia Charlotte but without her I wouldn’t have my dear Lord Richard William Carey and I have no doubt that his great-grandmother, Lady Sophia Charlotte Howard wasn’t a beautiful person.” Lady Karissa explains.

“Please don’t stop me as it won’t do any good.:” Lady Karissa tells him.

Lord Andrew Charles tells her “ Have I ever tried to stop you, Lady Karissa, from doing whatever you set out to do?”

“No, I won’t try as it will do no good and just make me more bound and determined.” Lady Karissa tells him.

Lord Andrew Charles and Lady Karissa start their two week honey-moon together at the Ritz Inn on Norfolk on Star Base 12.

It is on January 12, 2276, that Lady Karissa conceives their second child and daughter, Lady Samhain Wilhelmina Charlene Howard, Duchess of Clarence Territory.