Disclaimer- Nothing related to the TV show House belongs to me. What a surprise.
A/N- I think this chapter will make a lot of my readers happy. Hopefully it will make up for not having an update yesterday. Enjoy!
To Love a King
Chapter Nine
As Allison entered the fifth month of her pregnancy, her belly had grown too much to be unnoticeable. Her patient seamstress continued to enlarge her gowns and her maids, who knew now that she was with child, laced them loosely. Gregory continued to call for her each night, and she pleased him as best she could in her condition. Late one night, as they lay together on his bed, he gently rested his hand on her belly. Suddenly, he felt a light flutter against his palm. He shot up to a sitting position and looked at Allison with wide eyes. She smiled.
"Finally," Allison said happily, "I have been wondering when he would move for you."
"The child has awakened?" Allison giggled.
"Yes, just this month. I wanted him to show you rather than tell you myself." Gregory kissed her excitedly.
"My child is moving." He leaned down and kissed her belly tenderly. She sighed contentedly.
"He wants to meet you." Allison said.
"I want to meet him. Will it be much longer?" Gregory asked impatiently.
"Four months. He must grow and gain strength."
"Yes, of course. I would not wish for him to be born until the right time has come." Allison nodded.
"Certainly not. I am happy to wait for childbirth, besides." Gregory laughed at her anxiousness.
"You are a strong woman, Allison. You have come so far already. Do not fear."
"For you, I will try not to." He kissed her affectionately.
"I need you, love. You will live, because you simply cannot leave me." Allison nodded and a small smile graced her face.
"Yes, Gregory. I will live for you. I already do."
…
Finally, Lisa confronted Allison about the pregnancy. Allison knew that Lisa had noticed and had long been anticipating her reaction. Lisa found Allison sitting alone in the garden by the stream, her eyes focused intently on the moving water. "Lady Allison," Lisa addressed her.
Allison rose and curtsied. "Your Majesty," she responded.
"Clearly, you are with child." Allison looked towards the ground in affirmation. "Tell me then, whose child is it?" Allison looked up in surprise at the question, but didn't respond. "Go on, do you not believe I should know?" Lisa prompted.
"Your Majesty, I believe you already do." Allison responded.
"It cannot be his. No, not my husband. His Majesty cannot conceive children." She said.
"Why, Your Majesty? Because he has not conceived a child with you?" Allison asked boldly.
"Lady Allison! Have you any respect for me?" Lisa exclaimed, affronted.
"I meant no disrespect, Your Majesty. It is His Majesty's child, though. I have been with no other man."
"No! No, not with you! You are a child yourself! A simple girl! How can you possibly bear his child?" Lisa said with anguish heavy in her voice. Allison cast her eyes down again.
"I am not too young. You can see that the child grows, that it is healthy. I have not failed. I will not fail." Allison looked up. "You need not believe what I am telling you for it to be true, Your Majesty. Please know that it was never my intention to hurt you."
"You could have left him at any time. He would not have forced you to be with him if you chose not to be. But you stayed. And now you are with child. It may not have been your intention to hurt me, Lady Allison, but you cannot change what has already been done." Lisa said coldly, and then walked away before Allison could say another word.
…
"My lord, have you a moment for your wife?" Lisa asked Gregory after finding him working in his chambers. He looked up without answering her question. She continued without an invitation. "I spoke with Lady Allison today. She tells me the child she carries is yours." Gregory nodded slowly. He had been expecting this conversation.
"She tells the truth." He affirmed. Lisa seemed to collapse entirely in that moment. She fell gracelessly into a chair. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes darkened with pain. "Lisa…" Gregory began, but did not know what to say.
"What will you do now? Will you acknowledge the child?" Gregory nodded. "Do I mean nothing to you now? The love you felt for me, has it all gone?"
"Our love began to fade a long time ago. Years before I ever knew Allison."
"My love for you has never wavered. I knew that the other women were not special. You did not truly care for them. Is she different? The Lady Allison, is she special?"
"Yes." Gregory admitted. "Lisa, you know I love her. I have made no effort to hide that. Perhaps it is time for us to consider separate lives. We are no longer happy with each other." A lone tear fell down Lisa's cheek.
"What are you asking of me?" She questioned mournfully.
"I do not know how to tell you kindly." He revealed.
"I no longer expect you to be kind to me." Gregory sighed, remembering that at one point he had cared for the woman before him. However, he knew that the love he had once felt for her was all but gone. Allison had captured his heart completely.
"A divorce. I will see that you are well taken care of. You may have a fine house and servants. But it is time for you to go, Lisa. Perhaps you will find another husband one day. A husband who will always cherish you." Lisa's tears fell freely.
"You have decided, then? I have no choice?"
"I have thought about this from the time I knew I was going to have a child. The mother of that child should sit by my side. It is what is right."
"She is fifteen, Gregory. And you believe she can be queen?"
"The people like her. She talks with them, goes into the city. And she will produce an heir. That is all she need do to be a good queen."
"You will truly make me go?"
"There is no sense in fighting me. Please, Lisa. Accept that your time here has passed." Lisa hung her head in resignation. Only recently could a divorce be a legal matter, rather than a religious one. Most divorces required the requestor to have solid reason, such as adultery. However, Gregory could find council members who voted as he chose. Those who valued their place in court would support Gregory's decision. If they did not, he could replace them. As king, it was his right. She could fight, but as he said, she would certainly loose. Lisa knew that she would only receive the fine house and servants that he promised if she cooperated.
"When must I leave?" Lisa asked in miserable acceptance.
"I will present this matter to my council. If they decide in my favor, you shall leave as soon as the house is prepared."
"You know what they will decide. Am I allowed to keep my things?"
"I would never take what belongs to you." Lisa nodded.
"I should like to return to my chambers now, if you please." Gregory nodded in dismissal. That night, Gregory told Allison of his decision. While she felt sympathy for Lisa, she was delighted by the prospect of being his wife and queen. They lay together, speaking of the child and their future, while Lisa sat alone in her chambers, knowing that it would be one of the last times she saw them.
A/N- There you go, Lisa is on her way out! What you've been asking for since the first chapter! Please review and let me know if it lived up to your expectations.
