As Victoria rummaged through the wants of society—that is, to listen to her admirers, though decreasing by the day—Knight had already arrived at Lady Evelyn's place.
Her huge black gates opened as the carriage entered, with Lord Hordy slightly patting him on the knee. Knight, today, wore a black tailcoat, simple trousers, and boots, in addition to combing his hair backward with the help of Hordy. He hated his hair combed like that; it looked too formal for him, but his mother was one kind of woman, quite detailed when it came to grooming and being neat.
After a small ride, the carriage drastically stopped, and the doors opened for Lord Hordy and Knight to come out. Of course, here he was to be known as Prince Harry McVourse! He needed to be formal now, more than ever.
They both stepped out of the carriage as the familiar look of Lady Evelyn's huge castle came into view. It had, at its front, three tall white towers: one at the center and two at the corners, depicting a significant welcome to one.
"Who arrives now?" The sound was heard, already shouting from inside the living room, and before long, the click of a cane and a walking woman came out of the now-open doors. Her outside entrance had not much of stairs, just two at the center, a flat veranda, and another one at the bottom, then a simple ramp to the outside floor.
She walked through her stairs and outside floor steadily, as the stick helped her rhythm her walk until she was down towards Lord Hordy and Knight. She longingly stared at Knight!
"If I were a young woman, I would let you have none other!" She added, still longingly looking up at Knight's face, who wondered what he was to do with himself, standing as a statue on the gaze of an acknowledging and physically reading woman. "And where have you been?" She spurted out, using her cane to tap on the floor. To her, the cane was some sense of humor, but to many, it was a fright.
"I... mmhh..." Knight started but had no words, as Lady Evelyn turned and gestured for Knight to do her the honors of escorting her up her stairs and into the mansion. Lady Evelyn liked the cutest for herself—she liked Knight!
"Who taught you how to push your hair back like an old man?" Lady Evelyn spurted, as Knight walked her up the ramp, nearing the staircase, and Hordy followed them quietly.
"Do I really, my Lady?" Knight questioned, replying to the latter question by Lady Evelyn. His voice now more real, deep, and with a thick Welsh or Scottish accent easily depicted. His mother had sent for the guards to have him trained and taught in Scottish lands back in time; it is a situation Knight talks less of, but the accent still remained a testimony of his leave.
"And where have you been? Calling me 'my Lady.' I would have acquainted you with the Lancaster's daughter! Now you shall have to deal with either the Hardington's or wait for the King's acceptance of a political relationship between you and another country. You do not like an arranged marriage, I know!" Evelyn spurted out, her voice bitter from Knight's absence—a sign of care from her, but Knight felt she was just doing the duty everyone was given. Find him a suitor.
"I have been checking the hidden treasures of London. Probably a place where I would own for my own affairs!" Knight added, caressing the aging hands. He felt them frail as he walked her now towards the front door, which was, of course, still open. "I hear Mother is here!" he added, and Lady Evelyn removed her arm from Knight's embrace.
"You came here not lonely and missing me, but solely because you heard gossip of your mother around?" she questioned, her hand fisted onto the cane, as the wrinkles in it depicted the repercussions of aging.
"Of course not! I missed you a lot, especially. It was gossip I heard a few peasants laughing off. I needed to ascertain. Is she to be here?" Knight questioned, his face softened, despite the peak front of the reply being a lie. He knew Lady Evelyn was the most jealous of all women be! She needed to be shown her lone superiority over all, even if it were his mother. How ingenuine!
"She sleeps in your room! You shall share yours with your brother or Lord Hordy, whichever you prefer!" Lady Evelyn replied reluctantly, knowing that indeed Knight cared not for the gossip. He knew that his mother was here.
"Is she sick?" Knight questioned. They still stood at the first stair down into the living room. Lord Hordy quietly listened to the conversation.
"Go see her, boy!" Lady Evelyn dismissed, her eyes back to Lord Hordy as she held out her hand for Hordy to take. She was indeed good at dismissing people.
Seeing the straight-up dismissal by Lady Evelyn, Knight walked left, as Hordy and Lady Evelyn walked towards the kitchen, probably heading to inquire about being provided with some food.
Knight's given room was on the ground floor to the left of the living room. Lady Evelyn's living room was a cream-white painted room with one large chandelier, each layer depicting different colors from white, gold, and red. It quite blended with the velvet curtains of the living room, an aesthetically pleasing sight for one.
To the left, Knight found the brown English architectural-designed door, with a golden knob and a guard to the right.
"Harry McVourse," he stated to the guard, and as though expected, the guard opened the door wide, and in he delivered himself, as the door was closed back.
The room was, of course, purple-painted as he left it. The canopy bed had been shifted to the center of the room, and to its left, a large standing mirror and closet were placed. A little bundle-looking thing shifting on the soft blue blankets got Knight's attention, and he hastily walked towards the bed on the left, pulling the wooden chair from the table standing next to the bed.
He observed his mother for a while. Her skin was pale, her eyes looked tired even from the way she quietly snored while sleeping, and her lips were pink and dry. Knight's heart broke at the sight of her. He missed her, he ached for her, he got himself out here to look for a wife for her.
"You are getting no better, Mother!" Knight whispered, his eyelids trying hard to keep tears from getting out of their hold.
"Harry!" His mother stuttered, her eyes still closed. She was holding onto one of the blankets, as if still feeling cold even with the four layers of merino wool blankets Lady Evelyn had provided. This made Knight stand, remove his black tailcoat, slightly adjust the royal canopy-style net, and place the at least warm coat over his mother.
"Where have you been?" she questioned, now opening her eyes, dark bags showing on her eyelids. Knight did not get the question. His eyes suffered for his mother, he wondered what disease and what illness she had succumbed to that took her famous doctor years to even help her. He wondered how many more years, days, or weeks she had. She had suffered a lot, ever since their departure from the palace, despite being given a palace as grand as London's.
"Harry…" she called out, with a dry throat, as Knight hastily poured some water from the jug next to him on the table—he cared for her. He did. He really did. "I'm fine," she stated, rejecting the mug that Knight was placing at her mouth. Knight thus carefully placed the cup down and just looked at her.
"What am I to do, Mother? Edward knows not of this, Nick is still only sixteen; he can't stand this, and John and our dear Diana are still young!" Knight specified, his hand searching for his mother's and finally catching them. They were still fragile, more fragile than when he left them.
"Tell them not, dear! I stand insane for my words to you, I know, but Harry! You are strong. And you keep so much to yourself. I ask much of this off you, but I have no other option. Lady Evelyn knows too little of this; she thinks it's just a lingering cough and a small headache."
"What is it, what is it you feel?"
"They say it's—" She paused, and then started again, "I bleed much sometimes, it significantly increased after Diana. Resonating to us leaving! I needed them not to think me mad, or badly tarnish my name, honor, and yours, Edward's, Nick's, John's, and Diana's. I see myself not making it past this year, or God knows the next. Take care of them! I think my blood, or body, stands bewitched—"
"Mother…" Knight intervened, his voice more of a stutter, whisper, and a soft whimper. His mother deemed Knight strong, but he was the weakest human when it came to her. Truth was, Knight's mother was suffering from hypertension, and a condition that was later known to be endometriosis. However, she, presently knowing how little the female body was understood, and how rarely men came to any conclusion when it came to terms of the uterus and anything to do with a woman bleeding, whether nose bleeding, or just having super abnormal bleeding, always lied to all the doctors Knight had searched for to aid her. She lied it was a headache and was given some headache concoction, lied of a simple cough and was given a few prescriptions. That's why Knight still remained in the dark—and he would remain until her departure! A woman bleeding, anywhere, meant she had a mental condition or some personal infringements within her. It would totally ruin her reputation and her family's significantly.