Once again, it has been unmistakably proved that aristocratic marriage is not a private union for the satisfaction of the psychological and physical needs of the individual, but a naked monetary transaction that ensures the perpetuation of the family and its property. To become the wife of a nobleman or knight, it is necessary to bring wealth to the groom's family. This wealth is either in the form of a dowry in cash or land, or in the form of a large inheritance from parents or other relatives.

Cash, Isabel did not leave much cash in the past few years as the privy counsellor of the Duke's Palace, and the income from the handicraft workshops, estates and pastures did not dare to be easily taken out, after all, the operation of capital requires a large amount of cash for turnover. And she is only the eldest daughter in the Walton family at best, and she cannot inherit a large inheritance. So, with ease, she kept out her young suitor, Sir William Ingleby.

Forced by the economic life of the family after marriage, the young knight had to reluctantly give up his pursuit of her. However, the power in the hands of Isabelle's father, Sir Augustine, and her own connections in the upper classes, made the knight unwilling to give up his partnership with her, which can be explained in one sentence, and he needed to use Isabel Walton and the family's influence in the north to obtain the power he coveted.

Isabel did not easily agree to him, one was that he was too young, and only last year was he knighted and able to inherit the family inheritance; second, he has not yet gained his trust; Third, he has no combat or battlefield experience; Fourth, he does not understand business affairs or legal affairs.

When it came to religious matters, William Ingleby inherited some of the gifts of his father, Sir John. His father, Sir John, married his wife and gave birth to his only son, William. After William's mother died young, his father left him and William's grandmother to become a Catholic monk in the Grace Hill Monastery. After becoming a qualified Catholic priest, he served as a Catholic bishop in the town of Norsaleton in the north and Landav in the south.

On the face of it, Sir William, who had achieved nothing, was fit to become a monk in a monastery, vowing to be poor and devotional, and to re-listen to the teachings of Jesus Christ. After studying Latin, philosophy, theology and classics, he served as a priest or as a bishop of the Religious Order, and once again embarked on his father's religious path.

Isabel felt really embarrassed by such a knight who had no knighthood and knightly virtues, but no knightly skills and chivalry. Even if there was a desire to help him and make him a retainer of the Duke of Richmond, his poor performance would have made the Duke very unhappy. In the end, she could only look at the young knight with a natural attitude.

Her attitude finally aroused the displeasure of the young knight. On the Sunday after Easter, he again invited Isabel to Ripley's Castle, just over two hours by car from Richmond Castle. When Isabel rode into the castle gate with several manor guards, she looked at the knight with some eagerness, "Sir, what do you want to tell me?" Why can't you tell me inside Richmond Castle? ”

William, who was on a horse, looked at her with a smile on his face, "Isabel, today is the Lord's Day and the Sabbath. I, as your companion, hope you can rest for a day in my castle. ”

"Sir, His Majesty wants His Highness to relocate to Sharif Hatton Castle immediately, how can I, as the temporary custodian of His Highness's domain, spend the Lord's Day at this time?"

"Isabel, you need God's protection for your body while fulfilling your duties."

"Well, anyway, your castle is not far from His Highness's castle, so I'll stay for a while."

After visiting William's widowed grandmother, the two walked slowly along the shores of Lake Ripley to the north of Ripley Castle. When the two talked about becoming a retainer of the Duke of Richmond, the young knight was somewhat skeptical of the other's statement, "Doesn't Your Highness know my desire to pledge allegiance to him, Isabel?" ”

In fact, Isabel did not mention this to the Duke of Richmond at all. She thinks that effective loyalty is good, but it must be effective and loyal. Walking slowly by the lake with his arms folded and his chest folded, admiring the blue and crystal clear waters of the lake under the blue sky, "Sir, why are you so anxious to pay allegiance to Your Highness?" ”

When William Ingleby heard her unhurried tone and saw her unconcerned eyes, he blurted out, "Isabel, now I am a knight officially knighted by His Majesty the King. As a knight, you should owe allegiance to your lord, isn't that right? ”

"Lord? Sir Sir Your Highness is not your lord. ”

"Why isn't Your Highness my lord? His Highness is the chairman of the Northern Council, and he has the power to oversee the five northern counties, and his power can intimidate all the nobles and knights in the north. ”

"Well, it's still for power." Isabel glanced at him and continued to admire the sapphire view of Lake Ripley, "Sir, if you become a retainer of Your Highness, what can you do for Your Highness?" ”

The young knight probably never considered such a question, and he thought that as long as he obtained the title of knight, he could enter the upper class of society, and be appointed by His Majesty the King to the position of magistrate and other magistrates. In fact, Henry VIII's condition for appointing magistrates was that they must be gentlemen, nobles above the rank of knight.

William Ingleby looked at the other party and thought about it, and then told the other party the answer he had come up with after thinking, "Isabel, I am qualified to serve the position of a magistrate, can't I serve His Highness?" ”

"Sir, you said it well. Now that you have a position, where is your influence, where is your prestige? You have no influence and prestige, how can His Highness recommend you to His Majesty the King to be a magistrate? ”

"Influence, prestige? Isabel, you... Can you make it clearer? ”

Isabel stopped, turned to look at him, "Sir, if you don't understand, see what the other knights in Yorkshire do." Alternatively, you can invite five knights from the council to your castle and let them tell you what you should do. ”

William Ingleby gritted his teeth and stared at her with a cold gaze, "I'm also a knight, and I don't need advice from other knights in Yorkshire. ”

Seeing that the other party was still calm, he said again, "Isabel, I just need you to tell me." ”

Isabel clenched the hilt of her saber without fear, "Sir, do you really want to hear it?" ”