Sitting on horseback and trotting forward, Isabel Walton followed the two flag bearers from a fork in the road on the right side of the road, and looked back at the group of believers walking on the other fork in the road on the left, and when she saw the Sharif Hatton Church at the end of the road, it seemed like a religious holiday.

At this time, the guard beside her looked at her and said softly, "Your Excellency, today is the Ascension Day, and these civilians are going to Sharif Hatton Church to attend Mass and prayer services. ”

Isabel rested her left hand on her thigh, and nodded calmly as she held the reins with her right hand, "Well, today is the 40th day of Easter, and it's Thursday, and it's indeed Ascension Day." ”

However, in this season of spring breeze, when Catholics and Protestants pray for a good harvest and for all natural disasters to leave the world, Isabel does not smile at all. She could feel the religious festivities surrounding the villages of Sharif Hatton and the Duke of Richmond's Castle, but the joy of the festivities was always suppressed by the Anglo-Soviet war. She felt that this war was about to overwhelm her.

As soon as they returned to Yorkshire, they encountered a religious festival such as the Ascension Day, and the Duke of Richmond's guards were naturally overjoyed. However, when they discovered that the privy counsellor who led the team was lazy, they gradually discouraged the idea of going to church to attend the Ascension prayer service.

At this time, Isabel looked ahead on the right side of the road, and saw the majestic, impregnable Sherif Hatton Castle standing on a huge mound, and couldn't help but think to herself, "At this time, Henry should not be in the castle." ”

"Now, all we have to do is store all the arquebuses and gunpowder in the army arsenal."

"Let the guys who are with me go to rest again. Then I can go back to Kirclington. ”

On second thought, today is the Ascension Day, and the duke's guards and servants should be sent to church to commemorate the completion of the salvation work of Jesus Christ. When I thought of this, a smile appeared on my calm and somewhat serious face. Immediately, the flag bearer who rushed ahead said in a loud voice from Baldwin, "Baldwin, when you return to the castle, you all attend Mass and pray to God in the church. ”

Fast on Baldwin's right held up his light rifle and turned back to her and smiled, "Your Excellency, you should also come with us to church." ”

Isabel was in no mood to attend today's Mass and prayer at the moment, but made an excuse and said, "I think I'd better go to the church in my father's domain." ”

As they spoke, the team had followed an uphill path to a field of guards and servants' quarters outside the castle. Two cuirassiers, guarding the road leading to the castle from the house, with halberds in hand, watched in amazement at the two flag guards who walked in front and the long procession of carriages behind them.

An older sergeant immediately laughed and yelled at the sergeant standing opposite, "Brother, go and report to the gentleman, Your Excellency has returned from the south!" ”

"Your Excellency is back!"

"Your Excellency has returned from the South!!"

"Your Excellency has returned from the south with a team!!"

………………

For a while, the news of Isabel and the others returning to the castle immediately spread throughout Sharif Hatton Castle. Because today is the annual Ascension Day, the members of the Northern Council stationed in the castle have returned to their territory to celebrate the holiday early, so the Duke of Richmond's sergeants, guards, and servants are all inside and outside the castle.

As the cavalry team slowly entered the iron fence gate of the castle, some of the sergeants, guards, and servants who had not gone to the chapel of the castle for mass and prayer services due to their duties all gathered at the entrance to the castle doorway. As Isabel rode out of the doorway on horseback, the crowd on either side saluted her and greeted her loudly.

When the cavalry squad reached the small square north of the castle, one carriage after another continued into the castle. Knowing that the castle's small square could not accommodate 10 carriages, Isabel immediately asked the guard to rush from Hall outside the castle to prevent the carriages from entering the castle and arrange for them to be parked outside the castle.

Beard Smith, a sturdy gentleman with a full beard, and the Duke of Richmond's butler and housekeeper left the chapel in the castle after receiving the notice, and walked quickly to the small square. After the three of them saluted Isabel, who had dismounted, the gentleman stroked his beard a few times with a smile on his face and said, "Your Excellency, with God's protection, you have returned to Yorkshire, to Sharif Hatton Castle!" ”

"Old Beard, you know, I've only been gone for 6 months and I miss it so much." Isabel looked around and saw that nothing had changed in the castle in the past 6 months. Turning his gaze at the gentleman in front of him, he couldn't help but sigh with some emotion.

"Your Excellency, you live here, you serve Your Highness here, Your Highness can't do without you, and you can't do without the North." The words spoken by the gentleman seem more and more gentlemanly.

"Yes, old Beard, you're quite right." Isabel smiled and nodded, glancing at the Duke of Richmond's butler, "Arthur Field, is Your Highness in the castle?" I need to see Your Highness. ”

When the butler looked embarrassed and was about to answer her, Beard stepped forward with a light cough and whispered to Isabel, "Your Excellency, Your Highness is at this moment... Not inside the castle. ”

This was to be expected, and she whispered to the gentleman, "Old Beard, let's talk in the drawing-room." ”

The gentleman nodded, and Isabel looked back at the flag guard standing beside the horse, "Baldwin, go back to rest with your brothers." Also, ask your captain to come and see me in the drawing room. ”

After speaking, he explained a few words to the male butler and the female butler respectively, and arranged for the rest and meal of 10 coachmen and a maid. Later, the gentleman and her were led into the hall by a man, and the two of them sat separately. When the manservant brought the wine to the two of them, the gentleman smiled and raised his glass to Isabel, who was sitting on the left, "Your Excellency, actually, I and the others would like to hear interesting facts about your trip to the south. However, I suppose you have more important business to meet Your Highness, don't you? ”

Isabel also raised her glass and saluted, glancing at the gentleman, "Old Beard, I'll tell you whatever you want to hear." It's just that I think you should know that His Highness is not in the castle. ”

The gentleman looked towards the empty entrance of the hall and, after seeing no one else entering, whispered, "We're about to go to war with the Scots." Excellency, do you know about this? ”