Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of x-Silly-Caitlin-x. x-Silly-Caitlin-x is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: When Queen Tanya is unable to produce an heir King Edward is left resorting to a plan unheard of before: Bigamy. The result is Isabella Swan being dragged into the life of the court, and the bed of the King.
Rating: M for violence and adult situations.
Author Note: So I'm back; if you have no idea who I am (as is likely) then I'm Caitlin and to you this is my first FF. To those of you who have an inkling of who I am this is my fourth FF. The first three have been deleted and for the foreseeable future will not be reposted. I'm currently on a gap year so posts should be relatively frequent (at least one per week). And now, the first chapter...
Edward Anthony Masen Cullen
The day was warm and the May sun shone down on me as I rode my mount through the fields that surrounded the palace. Hunting had been most entertaining today and I was glad for the exercise as I had spent the previous day caged inside the palace dealing with the problems of the realm. Jasper, Emmett and I had been able to gain many deer this day, the local population abundant and thriving. There was nowhere quite like Coln Palace for hunting. Now my step brother and closest friend planned on racing me back to the courtyard, though their efforts were futile since Dragon, my steed, was no doubt the fastest of the three horses.
As anticipated it was I who reached the courtyard first and I quickly dismounted before passing my horse off to a servant. Many more servants milled around, offering food and drink as well being on hand for any other demand I might make.
"One of these days I will beat you brother, and when I do I expect to receive a medal for my triumph!" Emmett said as he approached me, he and Jasper having returned and also had their horses removed from their care.
"Your Highness?" I turned to find my secretary, Newton, standing at the edge of the courtyard. As I approached to see what the little brown-noser wanted he hurriedly bowed.
"Yes Newton?" Michael Newton was from a relatively well off family and had been my secretary since I ascended the throne aged sixteen, that was seven years ago now. He was a very strange man, twenty-six and unmarried. This drew a rather large amount of attention at court, however at least he was never distracted from his duties by a family.
"Your Grace, it is my regret to inform you that the Queen miscarried hours ago. The child has been identified as a girl, your Grace, and the Queen resides in her Chamber recovering from her ordeal." He whispered to me on my approach.
My good mood from the day quickly evaporated and I was left feeling nothing but sorrow and rage. Tanya had been pregnant with my child for several moons now and I had hoped...But apparently my hopes had been in vain.
It was by no means the first child lost but still the sorrow was like a punch to the face. Tanya had only once carried a child, another female, to term and that child had died mid-birth. It had been a sickly thing, torn and broken when presented to the world. All other children Tanya had lost however were normally lost earlier so I had fooled myself into thinking I may finally be blessed with a child, an heir. Apparently not, Tanya had failed me once again and I grew weary of such disappointment. I would once again be expected, and it would be necessary, to bed her. Tanya was not unpleasant to bed; even after childbirth she was still reasonably pleasurable. It was her expectations that annoyed me, she frequently expected me to pleasure her, an act which I had not performed in many moons as she had done nothing to warrant such a kind allowance on my part.
"Well then Newton, I would like you to assemble the necessary people, it is time to seek other avenues is it not?" I referred to a suggestion made prior to Tanya's most resent failure and although dismissed with the news of her pregnancy I was aware that the idea was still being safeguarded and nurtured.
"Anything wrong brother?" Emmett asked. He was my Father's second wife's son from a previous marriage. Esme had been widowed at the tender age of eighteen but left with a large fortune to sustain herself and her son. Emmett was only a year old at the time and I was only a few months. My own mother, Elizabeth, had died in childbirth along with her son from a subsequent pregnancy two years later and Esme and Carlisle were married swiftly thereafter. It was an odd marriage, Esme was inferior but royals marrying below themselves were not uncommon. What was uncommon though was the fact that the marriage was for love, a very rare occurrence. I used to think I knew love, when I first met Tanya, whom I did love greatly. Since then, however, I have read a great deal and seen my Father and Esme together basking in their love. Now I find myself unsure, I may have love but I wonder if I have ever truly been in love. That and any love I have for Tanya seems to be eroding itself as she fails me yet again. After all if she truly loved me she would not fail me so.
"Aye Emmett, I think much is wrong."
B&E
I and the most private, trusted members of the Privy Council found ourselves in the inner sanctum of my many private chambers, seated around a fine wooden table, with myself as the head obviously.
"My Grace, I know you are aware of the outlines of the strategy but if you were to allow me to divulge into greater detail not only for yourself but also for the benefit of the uninformed…"
"Yes, speak now Jenks." Jenks was an elderly and trusted member of the council and was most strategic, always able to find a way to achieve my desires without angering others. Well, that wasn't quite true, others were often angered but there was nothing they could do about it. All the plans suggested by Jenks were legal, just skewed somewhat.
"It's a simple plan, your Grace remarries. This second marriage would of course be bigamy and would not be recognised by God or officially the Pope but this is not an insurmountable obstacle. It just has to be handled delicately. Her Majesty the Queen would remain, in the eyes of the people and the Lord, your rightful wife and the new wife would of course not be. However any children she bears would not bear the name bastard. Your Grace, with our guidance if you desire it, would pick a woman and marry her. Any children born would of course be raised as an heir by yourself and the Queen. In fact as your wife, with the children being yours the Queen would technically also have a maternal claim on them."
The plan was good I'll give him that. Like many of Jenks' plans it would upset many however its legality would be unquestionable so nought could come of such upset.
"Your Grace, if I may?" I nodded to Crowley "The Queen is only three years your senior, perhaps in time she may successfully bear you a child. It may be an idea to wait before continuing with this plan."
"We have been wed for a near seven years and she has yet to produce a child that can survive even a day outside her womb. It is now obvious, with her most recent failure, that the earth of her womb is unable to nurture the seed of a man. Therefore I must seek out a woman who can. Now, Jenks you said that officially the Pope could not recognise the second wife. Is there a possibility of unofficially?"
"Yes your Grace. Rome fears that England shall become protestant, whilst bigamy is a sin to his catholic holiness you are not requesting divorce or even an annulment. Whilst he could not support your actions he could justify them and offer papal pardon in the form of a legal sanction of the second marriage. We could send the request, detailing clearly our aims and in the mean time search for a bride."
"Any thoughts my friends?" I said to Emmett and Jasper who had been silent throughout the meeting so far. They were previously aware of a plan, but not the details. Although as a King I could demand it, as a friend and brother I desperately needed their approval and assistance.
Jasper rubbed his chin thoughtfully, perhaps contemplating whether or not to stand by me? If that were the case I would be most grieved to lose his friendship.
"The girl would have to be of nobility, perhaps a member of the court. I think that would be the best place to look. She ought to be a virgin, and obviously unmarried. The Pope will without a doubt grant you the sanction but you must make it as easy a decision as possible." I breathed a sigh of relief, Jasper had merely been thinking of how to undertake my plan.
"We will need the help of the women." Emmett said, shocking me. Why would we men need the help of women?
"Rumours are most easily spread through women, brother; the Queen is in charge of her ladies and may be able to suggest one. In fact she may want to if the child is going to be rightfully hers. That and our dear sister Lady Whitlock is perceptive of the entire goings on of court. If a woman is unsuitable, she will know and of course my own wife will be more than able to offer assistance in that matter as well."
Emmett was right; Tanya must be made involved with the process. She is a jealous creature, despite the fact that excluding my first sexual experience she is the only woman whom I have any carnal knowledge of. She is also rather dim, so will easily believe that any children born will be hers. Obviously she will have maternal rights over such offspring but in matters of flesh it will always be the second wife who is the true mother. Tanya will not see it as such though; she will think that because the child is legally hers, it will be in body as well. This will work very well in my favour.
"Alright gentlemen, Jenks compose a letter to the Pope and have Newton arrange for its delivery. I will speak to my wife and gain her assistance. Once that is dealt with we will start searching for a suitable partner. She should be young, a virgin, unmarried, of noble family, healthy and relatively intelligent." No one wants an oaf for a son.
The Council nodded their understanding and approval and I stood to leave, with Jasper and Emmett following me. I would need their friendship in this endeavour; it was no secret in court that I was desperate for an heir.
What was not as well known however was the depth of my desperation. It was more than worry about producing an heir for England. I was three and twenty years old and I wanted a child, I wanted to become a father.
B&E
I walked with purpose into Tanya's chambers, walking through the rooms to find her in bed. Her beautiful strawberry blonde hair was tied behind her head and she wore nought but her cotton night gown. Her face was tear-streaked and she noticeably trembled upon my entry, I think due to a combination of fear of my reaction to her failure and loss of our child.
"My Lord." She whispered quietly, looking only at her interlocked hands.
"Tanya, in the light of our recent loss a plan of action has been thought of by myself and the Privy Council and is set to be carried out."
"Oh?" her responding whisper was even quieter than before and sounded more like a whimper than anything else. So I told her of the plan, particularly emphasising her maternal rights over the child.
"So the child would be mine, although bore from this second woman's womb?" She asked, she had seemed relived on hearing the plan and was very agreeable to it. It was no secret, although she thought it was, that she feared for her position in light of her inability to do her wifely duties. A Queen above all was an example of what a wife should be and Tanya had failed me, and therefore the whole country.
"Aye."
"And this woman would be no threat to my position?"
Again with her, only slightly, irrational fear "Not in the slightest, she would be unrecognisable as holding any power."
Tanya nodded, seemingly happy, until suddenly her brow creased "And how often will you bed her?"
Now it was her jealousy that was surfacing "Frequently until she becomes with child. I would only ever bed her when we're in want of a child." This statement seemed to calm her and she nodded, to herself I think.
"Then I'll start considering my ladies."
I nodded to her and bent to kiss her cheek chastely.
"I thought you'd be more mad" she whispered quietly once my lips left her face.
I am. "I could never be mad at you, now please get some rest as I'm sure this ordeal has been hard on you."
B&E
I sat atop my throne, intensely watching all the ladies of court.
"What about her?" Emmett said pointing to a young black haired girl with slender shoulders and a slighter figure.
"Not enough body, I want a girl with broad hips." That and she looked too much like Alice.
"What about her?" Jasper suggested, he pointed to a fair haired girl who had a soft figure. Her body was excessively womanly and beautiful, perfect for carrying children.
My sister Alice approached, curtsied to me and then turned to Jasper "My Lord" she said to him as he approached her and chastely kissed her cheek. "My love" she whispered into his ear when he was close enough. I pretended not to see their exchange, mindful that she was my sister and truth be told also slightly jealous. Alice and Jasper had been wed for four months and although not pregnant yet Alice was insistent that they would have children, but only once I did. Before today I would have told her not to hold her breath.
"Who are you looking at?" She enquired, standing besides Jasper, her hand touching his although not linked. She followed our gazes to the female who had caught our attention and frowned.
"She is very womanly." I said, in defence of my consideration of this girl.
"Yes, I suppose she is. If you want confirmation however all you need do is ask Lord Gray."
"Has he had her?"
"Brother, he still has her."
I frowned, so many ladies of the court were considered pure and it was only now that I was wondering how many really were.
It was then that a particular girl caught my eye. She was young and I had never seen her before in my life. She had pale skin, almost alabaster but a healthy blush seemed to be permanently stained upon those cheeks that sat high above her cheekbones. Her eyes were wide, doe like even, and the deepest brown I had ever seen. Her lashes were thick and black and made her eyes look even deeper. Her features were prominent but soft and feminine, her mouth pink and full, her top lip a little too full to match the bottom. Her hair was worn down with only a pearled band stopping her hair from covering her beautiful face. Oh and what hair she had, thick long dark auburn waves cascading down to her waist, shining in the light. The dress she wore revealed much of her neck and shoulders, as well as the tops of her breasts, pushed flat and up by her gown. Her ivory skin was sinful to watch, one yearned to see if it was as soft as it appeared. Her gown was a light blue and made of unquestionably fine material and showcased her slender figure to its greatest advantage. It was hard to see because of her dress but it also seemed like she may have broad hips, smaller than many because of her slender shape but still slightly wider than her ribcage giving her a gentle pear shape.
"Who is that?"
Alice quickly spotted who it was that I was admiring so intently and smiled "That is Isabella Swan; she has spent the last six years as a member of the French court, sent there by her mother and only returned last week. Apparently her parents want her to be unequalled in all the necessities of womanhood. She's literate in three languages, excluding the language of our Lord, and the dowager Queen was said to be very impressed with her many feminine talents, but most amused by her wit."
"How old is she?"
"Nineteen, and very youthful for it do you not think?"
"Indeed." She looked youthful; however her skin was flawless unlike the typical ladies of a younger age. She seemed spirited and, despite her slight frame, strong.
It was Crowley's turn to attempt to partake in the conversation "Your Grace, surely she is too old. She is the same age as the Queen at your time of marriage and that can be no benefit. What about Mistress Stanley, she is but fifteen and therefore far more likely to bear a child well."
"Nonsense, this Swan girl seems well enough. Alice, why do her parents extend so much attention to the education of one daughter?" I asked, hoping that Alice's unequalled knowledge of everyone at court was able to offer me an answer here.
"She is their only child, Renée Swan is said to have a disfigured womb following the birth of her son, Seth, who died after falling from his horse at the age of five. Isabella is therefore the only heir, to some rather extensive property I might add."
I thought on that, I would not want to wed someone who was a risk for disfigurement however I saw much in her beauty. Her looks were highly unusual and I thought they would mix well with my own for attractive children. I smiled to myself, involving Alice had been a wise decision, she knew everybody's business.
"Her mother is called Renée, a French name to be sure, yet hers is Italian?" Jasper questioned in confusion.
"Her mother is French, hence her being sent to the French court for education. However Charles Swan's mother is an Italian Countess. Rumour has it that the countess is richer than the Italian King and that Isabella is her favourite grandchild. Apparently she takes a portrait of Isabella with her wherever she goes."
That explained her unusual combination of looks, her dark hair and eyes matched with the pale skin. She seemed like a fine choice, beautiful, young, intelligent and apparently riddled with assets. She would surely come with a fine dowry.
"I think then, that it will be Mistress Swan that I shall choose." Let the courting begin.
So the first chapter is up, just a few things to mention:
This story disregards all historical accuracies. Basically swap the Tudor lineage for the Cullens (with Edward's reign paralleling Henry VIII's year wise). This also includes the fact there is a King of Italy at this time, therefore Spain does not control Italy in this story.
Any outfits are pictured on the story's blog:
http:/the-kings-wife(dot)blogspot(dot)com/
Now please review! Despite not saying otherwise all FF authors love reviews as (unlike the real owners of the original stories) we don't get paid! So reviews are our payment.
I'm not just begging (yes, I will go there) for you to review my chapters but all the chapters and one-shots you read.
How long did it take you to read this chapter? How much longer will it take you to review? Just think of how long authors spend on their stories, how long betas spend editing and show your appreciation by reviewing!
I've even prepared some cut-and-past reviews (idea courtesy of tumblin' di) so you have no excuse not to!
I have only one word for you: edit.
Why haven't we had any peen yet?
You're genius, pure genius.
Can you recommend any good stories?
Do you want fries with your burger?
I like the story, but I'm really getting a bit ticked off at the lack of 'M' substance. Come on!
Someone told me this was a BDSM story. What chapter is that on?
You live in one of those states where marijuana is legal, don't you?
Your story is so sweet; I'm going to let my 10 year old daughter read it. (Uh, you might not want to do that.)
Will Jacob ever be in this story?
Thanks for taking the time to read my story (so far), Caitlin xx