Dearest Diary,

Andrew came to visit today. He is always so full of life and excitement, in invigorates me to the core. I remember how we used to play as children, he always the hero and I, always the villain sorceress. Despite his protests, I could never be an idle damsel in distress. I had to be a part of the story, involved candidly.

This feeling between us is growing. We dare not speak of it, but despite that, it is still there. And it strengthens when we are apart, holding us together, if only in spirit.

Andrew has many plans for his future, all of which he spoke of whilst we walked along the bank of the pond. Oh, such poetic dreams. They are a thing of beauty, and I can only pray that I can be a part of this poetry.

Ever hopeful,

Katherine

Dear Diary,

I fear I am in the worse trouble of my life and I cannot say a word to halt it. It is not my place. Oh, confounded propriety, you hold me back, a barrier preventing me from finding my truest happiness.

Father, bless him, arranged a marriage for me. He means perfectly well, but this lord is cruel and mean-spirited. I know all he can see is Brickwoode and the prosperity a union with me should bring him. Also, I fear the way he looks on me, as an object, not as a person. He has none of the joyful, fair nature of my Andrew.

In despair, I took refuge from my family down by our pond. Robert came looking for me down there, and knew that I cried, even though I tried to hide my tears. I was hesitant to confess my broken heart, as he is the closest friend to Andrew. The three of us were playmates. But as I trust him, I told him the truth.

Oh Diary, what am I to do?

Katherine

Cairo was caught up in the life of Katherine. She had been glued to the seat since she had started reading, and found herself unable to stop. There were many accounts of the happy times she shared with her "beloved Andrew", and of the depth of feeling she felt for him. But this was the first entry where Katherine was sorrowful. Cairo, feeling tense with worry for the author, turned the crumbling page and continued to read.

Dear Diary,

As I write, my hands are trembling. Never before have I been so upset. My breath shakes, and I am unable to shed tears for I am to upset.

Andrew was here just moments ago. I was sitting out on my balcony, finding refuge out in the night air, when his voice came up from underneath it.

"Katherine, come lady bird, for there are many unhappy tidings we must discuss," he called. My heart fairly leapt out of my chest as I heard his voice call to me, as I had just been thinking longingly of him, craving his presence and the reassurance of his company. My pending marriage was hanging over me as a threat of a life empty of love and happiness.

I climbed down, much as I used to when we were children and would flee into the night, to catch fireflies and watch the stars, free of the reign of our parents. The moon is out this night, and it was very clear and mild. A beautiful setting, wasted on such an unhappy gathering.

"Robert tells me you are betrothed, Katherine. Pray tell, is this true?" he demanded as soon as I touched the ground.

"I fear 'tis so, Andrew," I answered unhappily. He turned away from me and I feared that he would run off into the night.

"If you tell me you love him, lady, I swear I should run the blade of my knife through my chest," he warned. I collapsed into his arms as I cried to him.

"Oh no, my darling Andrew, I could never love ought but you. I do not love my betrothed. I loath for my wedding day to arrive," I sobbed.

"So it is true, what Robert told me. Oh lady, what are we to do?" he sighed.

"I fear that I can do nothing but remain to face my fate. I cannot leave my family, Andrew. I must not dishonour them. I cannot dishonour them. I fear that something like that would kill my father, for he is in fragile health."

"Then it is so. There is nothing we can do. Nothing can I do, except watch the love of my life marry another whom she does not love. Have it the way you choose, my ladybird, but do not expect me to attend your wedding," he cried, as he pushed me away.

"Andrew, talk to my father. He is a soft hearted man, you know this, especially for his only daughter. If you ask him, he would dissolve my terrible engagement, in favour a joyfully accepted one between us, I know he would," I told him, desperate to make my beloved hold on to hope for a future for us.

"Nay, Katherine. I could not do that. You fool yourself into thinking that he would consent, my darling. It has been a hard enough battle for him to accept the fact that you consort with a Protestant. He would rather die at the hands of an executioner than have his Catholic daughter marry one. I fear that this is hopeless," he said and I felt my heart rip out of my chest. Dissolving into tears, my one love held me as I cried for the future we would never have, for the happiness that I would never have again.

And now I cry in my room. I am so unhappy, so desperately sad. The simple fact that my family embraces a different faith than Andrew's is keeping us apart. My world is full of dark despair. I long for the days when sunlight fill my days, when the only care I had in the world was what game I would play that day.

Katherine

Dear Diary,

The day has been so full of excitement, sorrow and tension, I fear I know not where to begin it's telling. Perhaps the beginning is the best place, so I shall start there.

Lord Richard, my despised betrothed, was wandering the vast grounds of Brickwoode last even, and saw the sorrowful picture that my beloved and I were presenting. Outraged, he watched on until after Andrew had left me, and I climbed back into my window. The next morning, he confronted my father, and accused him of trying to impart on him "damaged goods". My father, not knowing of what he was speaking, grew quite upset at the disrespect that lord was giving him in his own house, and a grand yelling match soon ensued.

I was trembling the entire time, and finally told my father the truth of the matter, which was that I had been with Andrew during the time of which Lord Richard was speaking. My father, ignorant of the true nature of our relationship, quickly dismissed Richard's accusation as misinterpretation. The Lord was so angry, I thought that he would murder someone with the very dark of his eyes!

Unfortunately at this time, my beloved came calling, asking to speak to my father. As soon as Richard saw him, he put forth all of his anger and drew his sword, threatening to strike my darling down if he did not draw. Andrew does not like fighting, nay, not at all. The very thought of a battle has him turning rather green. But knowing that his life was at stake, and that this may be his chance to prove something to my father, he drew.

I have never known true fear until this day. As I watched the duel from a safe distance at which my mother held me, my very heart was with my love as I watch him face such a dangerous foe. For his lack of practice, my Andrew is a very skilled fighter, and he quickly disarmed and disfooted Lord Richard. After Lord Richard was sprawled across the floor, he turned his back on the deceitful man to look at my father and I.

Quick as lightning, Lord Richard grabbed a dirk from a hidden spot in his doublet, and he jumped up and was about to cut Andrew when my father stepped forward and disarmed the horrible man. Calling forth his soldiers, he had Lord Richard escorted out the door, disgracing the proud Lord.

And now I am free of the pending betrothal, free to love without guilt or dishonour. My father, realising that there had been a hint of truth in Lord Richard's testimony has reluctantly agreed to Andrew's suit, and I am now happy with my love. I am to marry my one true love. What a day this had been!

Delighted,

Katherine