"I cannot lie to you Uncle" said Wura as she sighed.
"I grow weary of this cold weather" said Wura as she was folding some balls of yarn that were left in the drawing room and Richard was helping her, Tessa had tried to sew some clothes for the baby, and let us just conclude that she ended up making a big mess, which her beloved niece and Uncle were busy cleaning up.
"My dear niece there is nothing in this world that does not surely come to an end" said Richard as he was spinning some yellow thread back on the yellow ball of yarn.
"Before you know it, in the blink of an eye, this cold weather would soon be replaced by warmth and sunshine" said Richard and Wura blinked.
"Uncle I blinked, and the winter has not passed yet" said Wura.
"You truly cannot be serious Wura" said Richard as he sighed and shook his head and Wura laughed.
Here he was trying to teach his niece a valuable lesson about life, and she was making jokes, if she thought she was funny, she surely was not.
"Oh Uncle, admit it, you want to laugh too" said Wura as she laughed, the unbelievable look on her Uncle face just made her crack up so much.
"I dare not, because if I do, I encourage your nonsense" said Richard as he shook his head and he threw the yellow ball of yarn he was holding into a nearby basket.
"If you do not encourage my nonsense, then who's nonsense would you encourage??" asked Wura as she looked at Richard.
"You seem to forget that I have your Aunt in my life" said Richard as he looked at Wura.
"Oh yes I did forget" said Wura as she seemed to remember, well then in that case she would leave him be, he was already as strong enough to be with her Aunt, and for that he had earned her full respect.
"Well then Uncle, I shall leave you be" said Wura as she laughed.
"Thank you" said Richard.
"*Ahem*" said Richard as he cleared his throat.
"So how are things with you and the Prince?" asked Richard.
"Ahh well Uncle, how do you expect them to be?" asked Wura as she threw the question back to him.
"Good" replied Richard.
"In that case things are good between me and the Prince" said Wura as she smiled.
"Wura" called Richard as he could not believe that this niece of his could intelligent as to dupe him like this.
"Yes Uncle" said Wura as she smiled sweetly and she looked up at Richard.
"I want the truth" he said.
"And that is the truth Uncle" said Wura as she smiled, she was not lying, things between her and the Prince were not necessarily good, and neither were they necessarily bad, and for Wura that meant that things were good, that was just her philosophy.
"Why do I not believe you then??" asked Richard as he looked at Wura with suspicion.
"Well Uncle that is because you do not want to" said Wura as she laughed.
"May I remind you that I am more than capable of handling my affairs" said Wura.
"Is that not what you and my father strived so much to teach me as I was growing up" said Wura.
"And now I am grown up, and I am keeping those teachings near to me" said Wura.
"So I ask you Uncle why you cannot believe me?" asked Wura.
Richard was quiet, he could not refute her, she was right, she was more than capable of handling all her affairs, she was no longer a child, and she proved that fact every single day.
"You are right Wura" said Richard as he sighed.
"I do need to trust you" he said.
"Thank you Uncle" said Wura as she smiled and she picked up the last of the balls of yarn as she put them in the basket.
"Uncle please remind me never to remind Aunt where I kept her balls of yarn" said Wura as she laughed.
"You do not have to tell me that twice" said Richard as he wanted to laugh and Wura winked at him as she carried the basket of yarn out of the room.
...
"Your highness, it is an honour once again to have you in my humble home" said Lawrence as he sat down.
"The honour is all mine" said Liam as he smiled and he sat down across Lawrence.
"I apologize your highness on behalf of my family" said Lawrence
"My wife has gone to the market, my sister and her husband have left for their appointment with the Physician" said Lawrence.
"That is alright Duke Scot" said Liam as he smiled.
"I can call Wura to join us" said Lawrence as he smiled.
"Wura" called out Liam to himself, so that was her nickname, he was going to have to remind himself to use that when they were married, although he was sure that she would find some sort of excuse to forbid him from calling her in such a way.
"No, No that is not necessary Duke Scot" said Liam.
"Oh??" asked Lawrence.
"Yes" said Liam.
"The one I want to speak with today is you" said Liam.
"We have some important matters to discuss" said Liam.
"Such as what??" asked Lawrence.
"The issue of your daughter's bride price" said Liam.
"Ahh I see" said Lawrence as his memory was jogged, he had truly forgotten about that part of their tradition.
"Yes Duke Scot" said Liam.
"And I trust that this would be a reasonable price" said Liam as he brought out a little treasure box and he laid it down on Lawrence's table.
"Please open it Duke Scot" said Liam as he smiled.
Lawrence did not say anything, he took the box and he opened it, and he could promise you that he could have been almost blinded by the mere shininess of the many jewels he could see.
"I truly do appreciate the gesture your highness, but I cannot accept this" said Lawrence as he closed the box and he handed the box back to Liam, he felt like he was selling his daughter.
"Is something the matter??" asked Liam.
"Yes your highness" said Lawrence.
"I apologize, but I cannot surely take such a price for my daughter your highness" said Lawrnece.
"How can I accept such price from you your highness" said Lawrence.
"It is an honour to serve you your highness" said Lawrence.
Liam smiled, he now knew that Duke Scot was an honorable man, he was sure that most men would have jumped to such a offer, but Duke Scot had kindly declined the offer.
"Alright then Duke Scot" said Liam as he smiled.
"I truly appreciate your loyalty" said Liam.
"But please, I cannot certainly marry your daughter with nothing at all" said Liam.
"I am a man of good traditions and this is one of them" said Liam.
"So do please tell me I pray, what you would accept as a price for your daughter??" asked Liam.
"An heifer would be more than enough your highness" said Lawrence.
"Thank you, I shall surely get you, what you have asked for" said Liam as he smiled.
"I thank you for your greatness your highness" said Lawrence as he smiled.