Chapter Two
"I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too."
~ Elizabeth I Tudor
BELLA
April 3rd 1607
"Enough with the roses I beg of you Ms. Copper," I sighed, trying to pull the blasted white flower from my hair but she simply slapped my hand away.
"You dare not remove a single flower, for you shall see another side to this old woman if you do." She admonished, spinning to face me. Two other maids as well as she fluffed and buffed me all over. It was bloody mad. In two hours time, they would have to undo all of this madness.
"This is extraordinarily excessive."
"This is the king! If it is not excessive, it is not acceptable." She frowned while pulling at my corset, "This needs be tighter."
"Ms. Copp—" My words were cut short by the force of which she pulled at the drawstrings.
"Really milady, you are the daughter of the Duke of Devonshire. You must act as such."
"I agree, but must I do so with little to no air in my body? And men wonder why it is woman fall weak so quickly. I swear a man designed this damned thing just so we fall into their arms after a spell, giving them an unaltered view of our bosom."
Her old face flushed, looking as though she herself would catch a spell as the younger maids behind me giggled.
"Let us go over the rules you father sent over—" She rushed to say, choosing to disregard my previous statement.
"Must we?"
"We must… Do not insult his lordship the majesty. Do not insult his companions, their royal highnesses. Dress as convention dictates. Behave appropriately at all times during his visit; something you failed at miserably this morn?"
My face turned as red the dress I just donned at the mere thought of this morn. Such a spectacle could only happen to me.
"Honestly milady what were your thoughts to act as such?"
Stepping back, I spun to see myself in the mirror; "I had not a thought. I went out as I do every morn, not expecting his company. I had been told to expect his presence in the morrow. Believe me, barefoot, soaked with perspiration and breathless was not how I wished to be presented to his majesty."
"Very well then milady, for that brings me to my next rule; no more riding."
Crossing my arms, I dared her; "You jest."
"Until his majesty leaves Devonshire, you ought not to engage in equine sport."
"I would sooner lick a man's boot. There are not enough bonds in this side of the earth to have me refrain from such sport Ms. Copper."
"Then at least do so as a lady in both attire and style." She begged.
I gasped in mock horror; "I beg of you, anything but that."
"The moment you step out that door, you will cease and desist any form of satire, wit, criticism, slander, profanity —"
"How ghastly you make me out to be Ms. Copper."
"Milady please, this is of the utmost importance. He is the king, we are his subjects and we need his favor. Your father is battling heaven and hell out over the seas simply for the chance to meet his majesty," She sighed once again. At this rate she may lose all the air occupying her body.
Rolling my eyes, I nodded as I walked to the door of my candle lit chambers; however before she opened it I paused.
"Bollocks. Bollocks. Bollocks. Damned. Damned. Damned. Bloody hell. Bloody hell—"
"Milady!" She yelled at me.
"Merely enjoying my free tongue before it is silence." I smiled, bending just so to kiss her flushed cheek. Almost all of the gray in her coif was due to me.
Again, her face adapted a frown. "I advised your father not to take you upon his ships as a child. But alas, he did not heed my warnings."
"What fun would I be if he did?"
It was at times like these did I miss those ships the most. Often children wished to be adults, falsely believing in the freedom accompanies age, not knowing it was they who were free and us who envied them for it.
The moment my foot graced the cream colored marble, I assumed my position, as did Ms. Copper. Copper had all but raised me, if it were not for her help, Devonshire would be a laughing stock to all of England. Charles was gone so often that all the work of Devonshire caretaking fell on to my shoulders.
As I walked towards the dining hall, I did my very best to sustain my composure. I knew no one else would be in the dining area, however everything had to be perfect and what I have come to find is that perfection was impossible.
"Evening blessings Milady."
"Milady."
"Milady."
The footmen acknowledged me as I entered. I knew the kitchen staff had gone beyond my expectations, my olfactory was with more scents than I could name. Across the long mahogany table was roasted lamb, turkey, and duck. Steam rolled off the breads when a footman lifted the tray cover.
"Is there anything not to your liking milady?" Mr. Melbourne asked, bowing slightly to my left.
"Mere moments ago I doubted perfection was reachable and yet here I stand corrected. It is splendid, Mr. Melbourne. Before the night is through I shall need to thoroughly thank Abigail." How long must it have taken her to plan and cook all of this? Aye, she retained a staff, but by God.
He held his head up and his chest puffed out; "There is no need to thank the staff ma'am. But I shall inform Ms. Abigail so she does not expire with nervousness."
"Thank you Melbourne." I looked as the footmen aligned the glasses and silverware; "And thank you all as well."
I knew with Melbourne standing behind me they would not smile or speak, he however allowed a small smile to grace his face before bowing;
"It is our honor Milady."
From my peripheral I saw Melbourne nod at the table and I did my best not to laugh. He would not let anything go astray this evening.
"I know there is no possibility we shall finish all of this. Tell Abigail to prepare baskets with leftovers for the townsfolk and any staff."
He smiled at me; "The evening has not yet commenced yet you are plagued with thoughts of when it ends."
"Oh, they are coming!" Ms. Copper rushed in and out the back door towards the stairs but not before saying; "Oh heavenly father be upon this room this eve."
I looked to Melbourne who took steps away from me toward the windows, all the other footmen following. I wanted to hide with them.
As the doormen opened the entrance to the dining room, he was the first to enter as convention dictates, dressed even more lushly than before. I curtsied as low as possible.
"Good evening and welcome your majesty."
"Lady Swan?" He called and I rose. He looked me over and his brow rose before he turned to his party; "What was in that wine? For this lady cannot be the same woman we met this morn."
They laughed and I wanted to die. All of England would hear of the incident and it would never end.
"Yes it is I sire, shoes and all." I could feel Ms. Copper glaring at me from down below.
Once again he looked somewhat surprised by my words. The way his eyes roamed my person made me feel indecent. He was much more handsome than I thought and what made it worse was that he knew of this fact. However, he did not comment as to my words. Instead, he moved to the front of the table and faster than I had ever seen a footman move, they were behind all the chairs. All of the king's party knew where to sit, his brother took to the seat at the right of him, while his cousin to the left. Alice looked disheartened because she could not sit beside him. It was improper since they were engaged. However, I did catch the look Jasper had given her.
It was only when the king sat did we follow suit. One by one the lids of the silver trays were lifted and the wine started to flow. Luckily, the king did not speak to the women, only the men closest to him.
"It is so good to see you Bella, I've missed you terribly." Alice grabbed my hand and squeezed.
Squeezing back I spoke earnestly to her, "I've missed you as well. Your letters always brighten my week. I feel like I've visited London the way you have described it."
"You have not been to London?" The king's brother's wife gasped in disgust, a hand going to her perfectly coiffed blonde hair.
"I have merely passed through it."
She was about to speak when Melbourne came over with a single letter on a tray for me.
Finally.
"A secret letter in the night Lady Swan? What scandals does it bring to us?" The king grinned leaning back.
"No scandals your majesty," I called trying to keep my voice steady before looking to Jasper and Alice. "My father has written a letter for you and the prince."
"Well hold us not in suspense then. Read." He said drinking, never removing his gaze from my person. There was something in his green eyes that left me feeling trapped, like fly in honey, unable to escape.
The footman pulled my chair allowing me to stand.
Just read, do not have a thought!
"My King, it is with great misfortune and the utmost sadness that I was not able to welcome you in the flesh. Have I had the foresight in seeing your arrival, I would not have left. I truly hope Devonshire does not disappoint you in my absence, for I sail back this very moment—"
"That's enough Lady Swan," he sighed before turning to Jasper; "Hopefully thy letter is much more interesting."
Biting down on my lip, I swallowed before changing letters; "Marquis, when you asked for my goddaughter's hand in marriage, I did not think it would be so soon upon us."
At this the king snickered while Alice giggled nervously.
"I have spent my nights trying to find fault in you sir and have come up with none. Which worries me greatly."
I smiled so large my face tingled. But only Charles would find something wrong in nothing being wrong.
"So it is with that failure I must put to rest my own fatherly pride and accept that an existence of such a pair was inconceivable. Because I know my goddaughter oh so well," I glanced at Alice who looked ready to fall out of her chair, "I have found it of the paramount importance I give her the wedding she has always wanted and as such I shall pay for it all… with full knowledge the poor girl may bankrupt me."
I laughed when Alice squealed; "Many blessings and much more love to you both, Charles H. Swan Duke of Devonshire."
Alice rose slightly giving me a small hug before I sat down.
"Here, Here," The King said picking up the wine; "To my cousin Prince Jasper of Gloucester and Lady Jackson."
"Cheers!" I drank more of the wine and noticed it was much stronger than I remember. Maybe this was a much older one Melbourne had saved for this night.
"Knowing Lady Jackson, I must ask what you will do if she spends all of your inheritance." Princess Rosalie asked me.
"I would never dare." Alice frowned.
"Oh please do, then I can spend all my time in the stables and no one would blink." I whispered back causing Alice to laugh and Princess Rosalie to frown.
"You would give up all of this for a horse?"
"Of course not." I gasped, she seemed comfortable until I added; "I would at least like to keep my dress."
Again, Alice and I laughed as she looked on in horror.
"I have heard many ghastly things about those of you wild ones in Devonshire, I had just not believe it true." She said with an air of importance.
"Wild ones?" I asked again slowly.
"Yes, the riots, fights, lacking of cleanliness but that is hardly your fault with all these trees, I have not heard one prominent person after your father to come from this place."
"Princess Rosalie, I am from this place." Alice whispered.
But she just rolled her blue eyes; "Yes of course darling, a long long time ago, but court is your home now."
"The reason you have not heard of any other prominent persons is due to the fact that they were all hung." I snapped, I wanted to listen to the little voice in my head telling me to silence myself, the problem was it was a 'little' voice.
"Excuse me?" She said.
"Princess Rosalie, Devonshire is at the very edge of this great country. Which means we are the very last to attain materials along with aid, but we are the first to get slaughtered at the sound of war. I am not sure if you heard from your drawing rooms but Devonshire was all but burned to ground. Even this room you sit in was once ash when the mad king came trampling through. Infants were thrown off of cliffs, fields burnt to the ground, men hung in the streets, their carcasses tainting the breeze for months until there were barely any men left. But my apologies if you find us wild or think us savage milady. Maybe when we are done rebuilding we will rise to your grand stature."
I hadn't noticed the room had gone silent or felt the pinch on my arm until after I was done and the red was cleared from my eyes. The King stared at me with utter shock and what was worse was the fact that I could not read his expression. The men to the sides of him waited for him to speak, to order my head off.
Oh bollocks!
Why must I always do this? I was cursed. I cursed myself. Turning back to Melbourne, I saw his eyes flash with anger and pride, but mostly anger.
Grabbing the cup of wine, I tried to smile; "Is anyone else interested in dessert?"
"Yes please, did Ms. Abigail—"
"Lady Swan." The king called, cutting off Alice's aid.
Oh dear God.
"Your majesty."
He eyed me carefully; "Yourself and all of Devonshire still harbor rage."
I tried not to freeze. "No, we still harbor grief."
"What shall quench this grief?"
"It is not my place—"
"What. Shall. Quench. It." He ordered.
Taking Alice's hand under the table, I kept my head held high and said; "Respect."
I was going to die tonight.
"Respect?" He sneered; "They, common serfs, want a king's respect? Who are they to demand such! Who are you to speak of such?"
"They do not see themselves as common serfs." Stay calm Bella. "They see themselves as kings."
The entire table and the footmen gasped.
"Kings of their home, their children, and fields. You, the king of kings, higher than all above us, anointed by God, to not only love his people but also protect them from harm. What is love without respect? What is a king without the common serf and the common serf without his king? We bow at your feet and kiss thy ring in hope we shall not suffer. All we ask is that when the king rests his anointed head he remembers us and knows we are his people no matter how far away or savage we may be. For we are England." Most surely I would die this night…poor papa.
"You are not a savage milady. But you just may be mad." He said nothing more, rising causing us all to rise as well.
When he left the room, I bowed slightly to the rest of the guest. "I do hope you all have enjoyed your meal."
It was all I could bring myself to say before rushing out the door as quickly as possible. I ran down the back stairs pulling at my corset. I needed to breathe.
"Milady?"
"Take it off Copper." I yelled at her, turning my back in her direction.
"Milady—"
"NOW! I cannot breathe!" I sobbed.
She pulled at the laces along with two other maids until the sleeves of my dress slipped slightly from my shoulders.
"I am such a fool." I cried pulling away from them heading back to my rooms.
God only knew what would happen tomorrow.
EDWARD
April 4th 1607
The cursed wench! She had haunted my dreams all through the bloody night. I could not close my eyes without seeing her face. Her passion as she spoke to me as if she were of my station! The way she bit her lip, how her damned bosom rose and fell with each passing word, how the strands of her hair coming undone, falling to her neck. She was not a wench, or an angel but a witch sent to drive me as mad as she was! The gall of her, I wished nothing more than to… than to… I wasn't sure.
I had not closed my eyes even when the night sky began to fade. Wearing only my trousers and top, I gave up on sleep and walked to the stables. I wasn't expecting anyone to be up so early and I needed peace. I needed to breathe.
God mocked me, for there she was; dressed in a simple blue dress unlike the extravagant silk she wore last night. She had looked a vision; the mere sight of her had set fire to me once again. I had believed her attractive before, only because of her lack of propriety. However, seeing her dressed as a proper lady did not quench my desire, it only made me wish to rip her clothes from person. I wished to see her legs and toes once more.
"Halo, you will never believe what I did last night." She whispered to the horse as she feed him. "I cannot believe what I did last night. It was the wine, I swear. Everything was going so well too. Papa will have my head. That is to say if the king does not get to it first."
Her horse huffed before taking more of the carrots causing her to giggle… it sounded just as beautiful as it did last night while she read.
"Selfish are you not. I fear for my life yet all that ails you is who will feed you."
"I'm sure the horse will miss thee." I said.
Surprised, she pulled back, yet upon seeing me she dropped to her knees.
"Sire I did not see you, please forgive me and add to the list my words from yester eve, I had not meant to insult you nor…"
"Rise Lady Swan." She looked at me with tears in her eyes and it bothered me to look see them.
Before her tears could be shed upon her flushed cheek, I wiped it away. Merely touching her so delicately was a shock to my person. She must have felt it also for not only did she flush further, she flinched at my touch.
"Sire—"
"Do not weep in my presence, I cannot bare for such a sight to forever be stuck in my conscience." I whispered running my thumb over her soft lips; "Do you always have this effect on my sex?"
"I do not understand?" Her big brown eyes stared into mine, confused, worried, and most of all hungry. Hungry for what, I had to know.
"You are the first person since I became king to speak the way in which you did yester eve."
"Sire—"
"Edward."
Her eyes widen; "I cannot. I have no right to call thee by thy Christian name."
"I wish to hear such name fall from your lips Lady Swan." Leaning into her, I watched as she swallowed slowly. "As your king, I command you to say it."
"Ed…Edward." She whispered. I closed my eyes, relishing in the sound of my given name falling from such succulent pillows.
"Again, with the same vigor you spoke this past eve."
"Edward, tis improper." She said trying to back away from me; "Highly improper, Edward. If someone sees us, they may have thoughts of—"
Hearing enough, I took her lips with my own. By God she tasted of the ripest of fruit. Pulling her closer to my person, I could not stop. I did not want to stop… nor did she. Her hands went to my hair as I fondled her bosom, my tongue battling hers, my sex pushing into her stomach. Never in my life had I kissed a woman like this, felt such a need.
All too soon she froze, pushing out of my arms. Gasping for air, she looked at me in horror.
"Oh dear God." She whispered, wrapping her arms around herself; "I cannot… oh God. I am not this person nor shall I be. I rather lose my head than to be ruined in such a way."
She ran and I wished to chase after her, carry her to my bed and finish what was started this early morn. I wish to bury myself between her thighs and listen to her whisper my name. I could do it. I had that power, yet for some unfathomable reason I would not. As I watched her retreat to the manor, I wondered my course. I wanted her to want more as well it was only fun that way.
Little swan. Little swan. Come to your king.
See you next time!