Chapter Ten: Here Comes the Bride

Two weeks later Caroline was feeling jumpy and she didn't know if it was because her pregnancy was still in her early days, she could not stop thinking about Klaus' sudden kiss even though it had been almost two weeks ago, or because her wedding was less than a week away. She had a feeling it was a combination of all three.

The grandest wedding of all of Europe between the Queen of France and the King of England was taking place in less than a week and Caroline could hardly fit into her wedding gown because of her pregnancy.

Caroline had been fitted for the hurried wedding dress almost a month ago, but her waist had thickened slightly since them and her breasts had swelled and the dressmakers who had all been sworn to the secrecy about her pregnancy by the queen herself were panicking about what they were going to do.

In theory it was a beautiful gown made of precious white as snow French silk with gold lace with tiny little pearls sewed around the bodice and now they could barely get the corset laces done, let alone close the dress. "It won't do," one of the dressmakers said biting her lower lip and looking at Caroline with an apologetic look. "We're going to have to start from scratch."

"What?" Caroline practically screamed. "The wedding is less than a week away."

"I'm sorry," she said. "But we can't work with this material. We're going to have to re do it to make sure your. . .swelling belly doesn't show. We don't want any unpleasant rumors. Don't worry we will finish it my queen and you will look lovely." The young dressmaker sighed.

Liz gave an annoyed sighed. "Today of all days, I honestly didn't start showing until my sixth month, have you've been overeating? You're not making this easy, Caroline."

Before Caroline could argue Caroline's lady maid entered the room. She seemed to be avoiding looking at anyone. "Your sister and Duke Elijah are here, your majesty. They are waiting in the throne room and your sister wants to speak to you."

Elena? Caroline's head popped up and for a second she forgot about her dress. Her sister was back and Elijah had somehow managed to find her. Caroline could feel her skin becoming prickly as she ordered one of the maids to bring her a more comfortable dress.

"Well, what is it, your stupid girl, speak up," Liz said annoyed and it took Caroline a second for he to have realize that the maid had not moved ever since she had delivered the message. "Well, the thing is Princess Elena-I mean Sister Marie Therese has a child in her hands- "

"Caroline- "the fury was evident in her voice and Caroline couldn't blame her. "Go now, while I talk to her." She said pointed towards the frightened maid.

Caroline did as she was told and went towards her sister who was waiting for her in the throne room with Duke Elijah. It had been months since Caroline had seen Elena without her habit and she had forgotten how pretty she was. Elena had long, thick hair and her face was thinner and prettier, she was holding a baby in her arms with Damon's dark hair and Elena's brown eyes as she was cuddled against Elena's chest.

Duke Elijah looked uncomfortable. "I'll leave you two alone."

Caroline narrowed her blue eyes. "You told him? Does he know about your bastard child?"

Elena looked at her sister with hurt eyes as she clutched her baby to her chest. "Don't call her that. She's my daughter and your niece."

Caroline spat. "That child is the lovechild between you and Damon and nothing else. She is nothing to me, she should have stayed with her adoptive parents and you should have stayed in the convent. Speaking of which why did you run away and why did Elijah had to come and get you?"

Elena hesitated. "Vivienne got sick, I couldn't leave her alone. Please understand Caroline."

"I understand nothing!" Caroline hissed. "I'm pregnant and no one can find out and I'm getting married in less than a week. I do not need another scandal on the French throne which included my sister who left the convent and who had a child out of wedlock!"

Elena snapped. "Do you hear yourself? You sound just like mother. You have barely been queen for a few months since father died and already the power has gone to your head? What happened to you, Caroline?"

"Your sister is right, Elena," Liz said as she walked towards the throne room looking sick to her stomach. "You must leave your child with the parents that we gave her to and you must return to the convent."

Elena tried to keep herself from trembling. "I will not return to the convent, I will raise my daughter and she shall be very happy."

"Elena," Liz snapped. "Be reasonable, if you don't do this, your will bring shame to this entire house. The French court will never forget- "

"I don't care," Elena said. "I will not abandon my daughter."

"You are then banished from court," Caroline said her voice trembling. "You and your daughter, head out to the country or wherever you want. I don't want any of you near the French court."

Elena's face grew pale and Vivienne started crying. "Take her away now, Elena." Liz snapped.

"Fine," Elena tried to keep her voice from breaking. "I'll go, but I hope you won't regret this Care."

Caroline's pulse was racing as she went back to her quarters and she felt the guilt sink in. Had she really said that to her sister? "Caroline," Caroline looked up and saw Klaus looking at her with concern. "You seem upset. My brother told me that your sister had returned, how is Lady Elena?"

Caroline didn't respond. "Caroline."

Klaus looked at her with a frown. "Did something happened? I thought you would be happier over the fact that your sister was back."

Caroline looked up at him. "I know I am supposed to happy, but I'm not really."

Klaus raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and why is that?"

Caroline hesitated, no one knew besides the family and apparently Elijah that Elena had, had a baby out of wedlock, well Klaus would be the future husband soon and Caroline thought it would be better that he should know now since it would probably be all over court soon. "Come," Caroline said as she practically dragged Klaus to one of the empty music rooms. "No, I'm not happy that my sister is back and I do not appreciate it at all." She bit her lip. "There's something that you do not know about my family. Elena was not forced to enter the convent because she was infertile. She had a baby out of wedlock when she had an affair with Duke Damon and it resulted in a baby. He left her and married someone else, but now the Duke found her and he- "

Klaus raised an eyebrow. "You're worried about scandal."

Caroline shot him a glare feeling her skin prickle. "Aren't you?" she looked disgusted. "I forgot who you are, the great king of England, you will never be touched by scandal the same way a lone queen will."

Klaus gave an amused smile. "Perhaps my dear, but Caroline keep in mind that although I do not share a woman's heart believe me when I say that if you don't fix your relationship with Elena as soon as possible she would never forgive you."

Caroline retreated towards her room, Klaus' voice still echoing inside her head. She found a letter on her dresser and she figured that one of the maids had left it there for her. The envelope was made of stiff, white paper and she guessed that it was from another royal family. Perhaps saying that they could not make it to the wedding.

She unfolded the letter as she read it and she paused for a bit. It was from Queen Camille of Spain. She had only meet the queen a handful of times and in the letter she was telling Caroline however sweetly that she was planning on visiting her soon.

She crumbled the letter in her hand. Lovely, just what she needed at the moment.

-End of Chapter Ten-

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