The Dutch Read Online Free PDF Page B

Ghent and the Regent were in the process of selling both her late family’s estate and title to a wealthy merchant, who hungered enough to become a member of the noble class to pay an exorbitant price. After debts were paid, Hester would receive a modest amount from the proceeds. Her share could be used for a reasonable dowry. They both knew that other marriages would bring greater gains in wealth and property to the family, but the girl’s grace and beauty were beginning to have more influence on their decision. During her stay in his household; the old Duke became quite taken with the girl. She could read, write, and paint wonderful pictures of the Flemish landscape. Most important to both lords was the very aura of excellence that surrounded her. The Duke told his son-in-law, that were he younger, he would wage war on the devil to possess this woman. After a few days of watching the favorable interaction between the two young people, the Lords jointly requested, as was the custom of the time, the Regent’s permission for Lady Hester and Lord Jacobus to wed. It took Count Albert but a few days to give his blessing to the marriage. Since rumors regarding the wedding were running rampant among the castle’s servants, both Lady Hester and Lord Jacobus were well aware that the older Lords were talking about their marriage, but the young people were excluded from the discussions. The paternal egos of the Duke and Baron had risen immensely as the time approached to jointly announce their decision to the young couple that they were to marry. Jacobus’ reaction was visibly obedient but joyful, but Lady Hester showed she was a future force to be reckoned with within the van Weir household when she lightheartedly told the Duke of Ghent she would accept Jacobus as, “Probably the best choice available for her guardian.”
    Since there was no reason for delay, the wedding date was set for two weeks hence in the Duke’s palace in Ghent, with a modest wedding ceremony held in the summer garden. A week later a message arrived from the Regent that changed those plans. He would be visiting the French King but planned to detour his journey to Paris through Ghent and honor the couple with his presence at their wedding. Very quickly the wedding plans were revised to make the affair more elaborate and worthy of a kingly visit. The site of the wedding ceremony would now be the Castle’s Grand Hall. Accommodations were hastily arranged for the Regent and his large entourage and the local guest list was expanded. Great amounts of food and wine were collected and minstrels, jugglers and other entertainers were hired for the occasion. Even the bride’s choice of a simple wedding dress was replaced with a more elegant blue wedding gown reserved for nobility. On their wedding day, as custom demanded, the wedding party made its way through the narrow streets of Ghent while the population showered them with grain seeds to insure fertility. Upon reaching the castle, as tradition demanded, Lady Hester bathed nude in its fountain before donning her wedding dress while the female members of the wedding party attempted to shield her naked body from onlookers. As was also the custom among the ruling nobility, the groom was allowed a single unobstructed look at his future bride from a perch upon the castle’s highest wall. Jacobus’ look lasted until long after Lady Linda had left the pool. Because of the couple’s noble status, it was the Bishop of Ghent who officiated when the rings and precious gemstones were exchanged at the wedding ceremony.
    Count Albert had many reasons for attending the wedding. Foremost was to officially complete the sale of the girl’s estate and title which would enable Albert to receive his share of the proceeds. Another was Albert’s pure enjoyment of such events. He had recently ended his mourning for his murdered lover, and while the Regent was nearly as old as the Duke