Chapter 9
Joseph was, by general rule, not a sentimental man. He cared little for anyone but himself and was unapologetic about it. Why should he be apologetic, in any case? He was the bloody king, and no one was above him.
Well…no one but his son.
Niles was the only person Joseph would die for. There was something about being a father that had made Joseph a little less selfish – a little less cold. He loved his children (those who were still with him and those that were in God's grace), and he wanted nothing but the best for them.
He was ashamed to admit that he had doubted Niles would even make it, back when he'd first been born. Considering that he'd been a terrifyingly small baby and that they'd already lost five children by the time he'd been born, Joseph had believed he'd pass long before seeing his very first birthday. However, his boy had surprised him so, quickly gaining both weight and strength. Niles had also been eager to give his first steps, and by the age of three he already was learning how to mount.
Joseph had many faults, but he was an involved parent. He'd always been. He'd been there to support Niles on every step of the way, and he'd grown to be his spitting image – something that, of course, made him incredibly proud.
Still, he'd never mollycoddled the boy. It wouldn't have been good for him. Joseph had actually encouraged his boy going out to explore and he'd made sure to instil a sense of pride in him, as well as making sure he knew that, just like Joseph himself, he was above others. Battle wounds and women were reasons to be proud, and as such he'd seen a number of them over the years.
The latest additions to both lists, however, were worrying him greatly. The fall from Athena had hurt his son badly, and he'd been told by Potts that he'd have to keep well over a month of bedrest.
And then there was learning that Lady Babcock was to be his nursemaid for all of that time.
It had...well, fascinated and amused Joseph for a while, knowing that this utterly gorgeous thing, just ripe for the picking, was going to have her hands all over his son every day. He'd hoped his son would have her soon (and that he'd be up for sharing, as they often did) and then when she was all used up, he'd move onto the next kitchen maid or chambermaid or whomever it was that happened to catch his eye at the time.
But then he'd heard more, from whispers amongst the servants. And more than whispers, from those willing to talk.
It seemed his son spent a lot of time with Lady Babcock, and none of it was spend engaged in the only activity Joseph considered women worthwhile for. They read, they played games, they ate food and talked, and that was...well, it!
That bothered Joseph more than words could say. This was not the behaviour of a future king, spending time with a servant he could and should have been bedding, instead of getting to know (who bothered getting to know a woman, anyway?). She wasn't a noble anymore, or suitable marriage material in any sense of the word, so why was he even bothering?
Niles might as well have just given the girl over to him. He'd show him what a real man would've done with a prime piece of meat like that by now!
He could probably mention that in a few moments, come to think of it. He was arriving at his son's bedroom door, intent on spending some father-son time with him while he recovered.
He had to be bored out of his mind. How could he not be, with only a woman to talk to all day, otherwise?
He knocked when he got to the door, but didn't wait for anybody to call "Come in" before going in. He was the king, why should he bother?
He could just march in and-
"Methinks, Mistress, you should have little reason for that: and yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays-"
...What?!
Joseph could hardly believe the sight before his eyes - his son, and Lady Babcock, lying on the same bed (but she wasn't naked, or even dressed as though she intended to be?!) reading from the same book and eating food from the same plate?!
What did that girl think she was doing, being there like that?! If she wasn't there to amuse his son by at least taking off her dress, then she had no point! Putting his head in the clouds with some nonsense book instead of in her cleavage was a waste of his time and proved that Lady Babcock was not serving her purpose as a woman around there!
And as for eating from the same plate, it went to show that his boy knew nothing yet about what it was to be king! The king did not share what had been given to him with anyone, whether or not he hoped to get something from that person!
The king took all he could, and let others fight for their own. It was the way things were supposed to be.
And this was absolutely not the way things were supposed to be!
"What in God's name is going on in here?!" he demanded over the top of their little recital, or whatever it was they wanted to call it.
The part of him that liked being in control found it funny that Lady Babcock jumped out of her skin upon hearing his voice. Gasping and nearly leaping up, she immediately closed the book they'd been reading from, almost shutting Niles' fingers inside, as the boy finally looked up (from her, in confusion at her behaviour) to the doorway.
"Oh, hello, Father," the prince said.
He sounded...oddly bright, and not at all worried about the fact that his father had just caught him in an unacceptable act with a woman! And that only really served to infuriate Joseph further.
He knew it was the girl's fault. If she'd just given him what every man wanted, then Niles could've tossed her aside and been onto his next one by now! Possibly even a third! This one was holding him back as a man, and the fact that Niles had been amassing a mountain of used up women before, but now it had slowed to practically nothing, was deeply troubling to Joseph!
How would the world see that his son was a man, if he didn't take what he wanted every time he saw it? Only weaklings didn't take what they wanted!
His son was no weakling. The only person who got laughed at when each conquest was done was the conquered. And why not? Playthings were there to be amusing, after all.
He looked over at the girl (who was now stood a few feet away from his son's bed) and glared at her. She was a pretty thing, yes, but she had to know her place around the palace. The only reason why she'd ever be allowed to share his son's bed, was if she was to be fucked. Nothing more.
"Leave us," he ordered, ushering her outside, "Your presence isn't wanted here."
The girl didn't need to be told twice – she curtsied to both the King and the Prince and she quickly rushed out, not once looking back and taking with her Niles' treasured copy of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". She didn't do it on purpose, of course, but the mortification of having been found in that position with the Prince.
Said Prince was rather annoyed, as it was, and not precisely because Lady Babcock had taken his book. Actually, he'd be happy to gift it to her! No, what bothered him was the way his father had talked to her. He might not have wanted her there, but Niles very much wanted her to keep him company!
He stared all the way as his father came over, apparently unconcerned about anything that he'd just said.
How could he not be?! He'd just told another person that she wasn't wanted, and it wasn't true at all!
He didn't know how he was going to make it up to her. It would have to be something straight away, as soon as he next saw her. Maybe he could gift her a book to make up for it, that they could then read together, undisturbed?
He hoped she knew that it wasn't him who'd wanted her gone, it was simply his father and his...ways...
He didn't want to waste any more time in getting down to scolding his father about his behaviour, either.
"That was extremely rude of you, Father!" he told him. "I didn't want Lady Babcock to leave! I would have preferred that she'd stayed!"
Joseph quirked an eyebrow at his boy, "Why? It's not as though she'll have anything of value to contribute to our conversation."
Niles' jaw dropped open. Lady Babcock was one of the most articulate people he'd ever met! She'd had education and breeding, and had been brought up to use both! There was no way she could be any less than an intelligent and insightful contributor to a conversation!
This was going beyond his father's usual behaviour. What on Earth was the matter with him that day?!
Resolved to ask, he closed his mouth back up, clenching his jaw in some frustration, "Is there something wrong, Father? You seem...disturbed by something."
He nearly considered adding "and it's affecting your manners", but he didn't push it that far. As boorish as his father was being, he was still the king, and could dole out verbal lashes as well as physical ones without repercussions.
And Joseph approached his bedside with the air of a man who knew that very well.
And there was something wrong, in his eyes. His boy spending all this time with a servant woman, and none of it doing the only real thing he should care about servant women for, was a source of extreme worry and anger and bafflement for him!
Sometimes it was all of those things at once, and that made the king's head spin. He just didn't understand why or how it had gone on this long – apart from his deal with Marie, as frustrating and tiresome as that was, he'd expected this whole thing to go the way of all the other times their boy had chased serving girls by now!
He didn't like that it had gone on much longer than those times.
Not one bit.
Still, he couldn't say a thing about it – not if he wanted Marie to keep going to bed with him. If he'd been younger he wouldn't have been forced to keep this ridiculous deal, but since he couldn't be bothered to go looking for whores every day, he had to make do with his wife.
He had to admit, though, Marie kept herself in excellent shape. Even if she was no spring chicken, she hadn't lost her appeal. That didn't mean he'd stopped sleeping around, not in the least. He just...well...did it less often than he used to. Having his wife was easier, and he still enjoyed fucking her silly.
Naturally, he was milking this for all it was worth, and his wife was just as trapped as he was. She had to have him when he wanted and she had to engage, something which he knew infuriated her.
He'd have her that night. He'd make her pay for his silence.
"No, son, everything is alright," Joseph eventually said, waving a dismissive hand as he perched on the side of Niles' bed. "How are you feeling?"
In truth, Niles felt uneasy about what had just happened. He especially didn't like the fact that his father had just dropped the subject, when Niles knew from experience that he could and would keep on going, if it meant getting things to be the way he wanted them.
He didn't usually give in over things, or change his mind, either...
But the prince had no way of telling what had made his father decide to do it. All he could do was hope it was nothing too bad, and perhaps keep his mind off things related to Lady Babcock.
If it really was nothing too bad, his father might even forget. It would be a blessing if he did...
He shifted as much as he could to get more comfortable before he replied to his father's question, "Not as bad as I have been. At least a few things must be healing up..."
He hoped they were, anyway! As comfortable as his bed was, he was starting to yearn to be outside again - to be able to walk around the gardens, and take in some fresh air after so long!
He wanted to find some secluded place with Lady Babcock, where they could read and talk without being disturbed...
But for any of that to happen, he had yet to wait another four weeks or so. Potts had told him that he'd have to stay in bed for around six weeks, and so far he was absolutely dreading being cooped up inside. The only thing that made his confinement somewhat bearable was Lady Babcock.
For the last two weeks, she'd spent her every waking moment by his side, both tending to his wounds (he supposed that was part of her job as his nursemaid) and helping him pass time. She'd come up with countless ideas to keep him entertained, from playing chess to reading books together. They both loved Shakespeare plays, and so far they'd read Richard III, Romeo and Juliet (he remembered laughing at her overdoing Juliet's death), Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet. He'd been the one to suggest reading A Midsummer Night's Dream next, and she'd been more than happy to oblige.
He didn't know what he'd do without her. He simply could not imagine not having her around while he recovered; he'd come to depend on her and on her sharp wit to keep him cheerful throughout his recovery.
And now his father had ruined everything by making her feel unwanted when that was the last thing she was!
"Lady Babcock had been a wonderful company," shot the prince, a hidden reproach laced in his words, "She's an excellent nursemaid and has kept me entertained these past two weeks."
Joseph huffed out a laugh through his nose. Niles couldn't tell if it was filled with amusement or contempt.
He didn't particularly like it, either way.
"Reading books? Not exactly the usual form of entertainment you go for with a piece like that," the king said, indicating with his head towards the door. Then he looked down at his son with a smirk. "I certainly would be, if she was putting her hands over me, night and day! Unless, of course, you're just waiting to recover from an injury you only told the doctor about...?"
Niles could only blink back up at his father, a churning feeling starting to swirl in his insides, "No...I told you and Mama everything; I broke my arm and my ribs..."
"Are you sure about that?" Joseph gave him a slight playful nudge. "Nowhere else strained or pulled that day? I understand if you're embarrassed, but I'm your father, boy! You can tell me if that's the truth! Saying you'd rather rest than fail to hit the target with a broken arrow is less emasculating than simply saying "you'd rather just spend time" with the girl! At least it's believable!"
The swirling feeling in Niles' stomach surged into what felt like a small wave from the tide, and he had to do everything in his power to not try and get up to shout at his father.
How dare he presume that he didn't just want to spend time with Lady Babcock?! Granted, he might have been in it simply for what he thought he could get at first, but he'd...changed. He'd gotten to know Lady Babcock, and he liked her - simply to spend time with!
She was bright, and witty, and gave the most interesting conversation Niles could ever remember hearing! Who would not want to spend time with her, simply for that by itself?
His father did not understand. He wasn't ever around women to be a gentleman to them.
And the fact that he was laughing and joking so hard about potential... injuries (that Niles knew for certain he did not have!) only led the prince to feel uncomfortable.
Uncomfortable and more than a little bit ashamed. Couldn't his father see from the doorway that he'd been having a good time with Lady Babcock, up until the point that he'd stepped in?!
Why did he have to come in and spoil it?!
"Father, I can assure you that I have not suffered injury or damage to my…masculinity," he said, blushing a little. He was used to talking about sex with his father and even sharing women with him, but they'd never really discussed his bits and pieces. "I genuinely like the Lady Babcock for who she is. She is a learned woman, and her conversation is enthralling! Not to mention her fair beauty, my dear father. She is a sight to behold!"
Niles couldn't help the dreamy smile from appearing on his lips. The thought of Lady Babcock's fair looks always sent his head reeling. He imagined that was how Lysander felt every time he saw Hermia, or how Demetrius felt when he saw Helena. He was charmed by her – utterly and completely charmed.
Maybe he'd also been bewitched by Oberon, Niles thought to himself, his smile growing. He wouldn't mind if he had.
But his praise for the young Lady-in-Waiting did not please his father. Joseph could only look at his son in utter disbelief, almost as if he could not make sense of the words he was speaking.
And when Joseph did speak at last, his own words reflected the countenance he wore exactly.
"Never mind about your manhood, boy, are you absolutely sure you didn't hit your head when you fell from that horse?!" he exclaimed. "You're speaking about the girl as though she has some sort of value, and I've told you your whole life that they have usefulness, which is not the same thing!"
He honestly couldn't believe that all the lessons he'd ever taught the boy were clearly just not sticking! Treating a woman as though she had more to offer than the parts of her body a man liked the best? Looking as though he was thinking of her as more than just a convenient little toy, within arm's reach but also perfect for dropping again when he was done?
Next thing he knew, the boy would actually respect the wench! And then where would they be?! Respecting common whores and serving girls, so that they could see themselves as better than they were in the eyes of the ones who truly mattered?!
He really didn't understand it at all. Joseph could only think that his mother had been speaking to him. She'd never understood that a man had needs - it would be her doing. And just when she'd prevented him from meddling!
He'd definitely make her pay for this. And then he'd make the effort to go out and find a whore to have fun with as well, just to show her the place she held in society, and to teach her the lesson that there was nothing she could do about it.
Men were made for respect. Wives were for putting on display in public and fucking in private (sometimes with the goal of creating sons). Wenches were simply made to be on their knees.
"She is valuable to me, father," his son argued, frowning deeply, "She is of noble birth and I will not… use her, if that is what you are suggesting. She was very clear about wanting to remain pure until her wedding night, whenever that happens."
The mere thought of Lady Babcock being touched by other man always made Niles feel…uneasy. It was a strange, burning feeling and it made him want to punch the mystery man who would one day make Lady Babcock his wife. He knew he had no right or claim over her, but he simply would like it if no man ever sullied her.
The moment she was taken by a man would be the moment she'd be swept away to live her life as a wife and (most probably) as a mother. She would not be able to be around him anymore…
Honestly, the thought of a Babcock-less existence was not something Niles liked to think about.
He had to get it out of his head, before he was overwhelmed and his mind overpowered by thoughts of Lady Babcock smiling adoringly at some tall, strong, faceless man (but probably oh-so handsome, yet still humble and not at all vain or arrogant, which would only make him even more unbearable in Niles' eyes). He hated the idea of her riding off on the back of his horse, being carried bridal-style into some luxurious chamber, being set down on a bed for two and-
Dear God, would his mind ever shut up?!
No more so than his father, apparently, who let out another contempt-filled chuckle.
"Who's going to want to attach themselves to a disgraced lady like that?! She's nothing more than a serving wench now, and serving wenches, as we both know, are not for marrying! They do their duty and they warm our beds when we want, nothing more."
He then sat back, apparently amused by something, before speaking again.
"If that Babcock girl really does only want to give herself to the man she marries, she's going to die a virgin! Given everything, I'm uncertain as to whether I should find that admirable or pathetic!"
He then started to laugh, unable to help himself. How could he not? The woman thought herself important enough as well as desirable enough for one man to want her his entire life?! She was lucky she had a job in the palace, let alone anything else!
She might as well just give it away to anybody (preferably him - Joseph liked his meat fresh). Then at least she'd know what it was like to be a woman, and not remain a girl for the rest of her days.
It might come with the title of "whore" but it was less pitiable in his eyes than holding out hope for something that would never happen.
"You are wrong, Father," Niles said, forcing himself to keep his voice level and not disrespect his father. "The Lady Babcock isn't pathetic. She is wonderful. Any man would be lucky to have her, and I am determined to help her find a safe match, if she so chooses. I…I like her enough to want to see her happy."
That nearly did it for Joseph. He was almost certain that his heart would give out from the shock of hearing his son speak like that! Speaking about a serving girl as though she commanded respect, complimenting her because he meant it, and offering to protect her, in a way, until she found a match for a husband?!
Who had taken away his son, and replaced him with this...this...shadow?! A shadow who was on his way to never understanding the masculine man's dominance over everybody else!
And kings had to be the most masculine of all. Even if their hands were tied by deals made with their wives sometimes...
Oh, if he wasn't bound by that agreement, he'd see to it that Babcock girl never got near the boy again! She was filling his head with all sorts of ideas - none of which were the way things should be!
His son needed to learn what a woman worthy of more than a good time bent over the nearest solid object was. He wasn't going to find one, if he kept up this nonsensical tirade with the serving girl!
Perhaps he needed to be introduced to some European princesses...
Wait a moment...that was the perfect idea! If he found Niles a wife, it would teach his boy what a woman of an upper standard looked like and destroy his connection to Lady Babcock in one fell swoop!
And it wouldn't at all look like meddling, which would stick it to Marie!
So Joseph thought that Niles could try to see the girl happy all he wanted. It would make no difference in the end.
He'd be married soon enough, and if he wanted to see Lady Babcock at all, he'd have to see her purely for what she was - a wench, nothing more.
And at last, Niles might learn that the girl's natural place was down on her knees.