Ok, its been a long time and I feel terrible about that. Life pulled me away from all things Fanfiction until recently, but after studying a French history module at uni I knew I had to finish this for all you guys. I will assure you all that this story is pretty much complete now, only editing and one more chapter to finish and its done! There will be less chapters than I had previously wanted to end this with, but in the end I thought it best to just finish it and give all you lovely people the ending you have been waiting for for years. I cannot apologise enough for how long this has all taken to come together, but it has and I will update every week now. Thanks, Abbie :)
The Evening Engagement
November 1834
The letter held within her slim fingers delivered such wonderful news. Isabella could not contain her joy at the words she read on the page. It was penned in an unfamiliar hand, most likely, her brother in laws as opposed to Alice's. A glorious smile was firmly in position. She needed to share this news with her husband. He had been spending much time with his father these last few months. Politics demanded his attention. He was the future monarch of this great nation and had to be taught and prepared for his future. He was gaining experience with each passing day. He was becoming the monarch that his country needed. All that was missing for her husband's reign was an heir, she was currently working on that particular aspect.
Her smile grew as she placed her hand flat against her swollen abdomen. Her and her husband appeared to have little trouble conceiving a child since she had become with child within a few weeks of their renewed passions. Beatrice was a nearly a year old, she was sitting and crawling. She was an absolute delight. They were proud parents indeed. Beatrice was the perfect child for her parents, but she was not what was required. Isabella rubbed her stomach gently and silently sent a prayer for a boy to be born to her and Edward. They needed a son, it was of absolute importance or at least that was what his father continually told them.
She often grew distracted by the presence of her extended stomach, it held so much promise and upon it so much rested. The letter from Alice was of more importance this morn, however, and Isabella strode from the room. Her smile was radiant and her happiness endless. She had never thought that pregnancy would agree with her so wholly. Her first child had caused her such sickness and pain, but this time she felt elated and excited. The need for a male heir had been pressing on her since the birth of their daughter. She needed a son to secure her position and her husband's dynasty. All she could do was put her faith in God and wait until the birth of her child.
As she reached the study, she paused. This news, albeit wonderful, would most likely not be appreciated by His Majesty. Her husband's brother had been banished from court for over a year and although she found this news to be most exciting, it was hardly likely that His Majesty would be pleased that his second son possessed what her and husband lacked; a male heir. By exiling and stripping his second son of his titles and removing him from the line of succession, His Majesty had lost his first born grandson as an heir too. Isabella was confident that she and Edward would produce a male child and she was not threatened by Jasper and Alice's son, she could not say the same for His Majesty. It was likely that he would not take this news well, it was with this thought in mind that she hesitated, since if she wanted to share her letter with her husband then it was more than likely His Majesty would request to view it also. She was not sure she could permit that.
With a resolved sigh, she rotated on the spot and changed her mind. She would tell her husband everything in evening. He was still allowed to visit her at presence, but it would not be long until he was unable to do so. Despite his frequent tiredness, he had never allowed her to sleep alone. Most nights they desisted from their usual amorous activities since they both had a tendency to feel tired of an evening. His Majesty had begun engaging her husband in every matter of state since the announcement of her second pregnancy.
Isabella had not been able to understand His Majesty's motivation for this until she had heard the news about Spain. She sighed at the thought of it, as she headed back towards her chamber. Spain was yet another reason that His Majesty would not be best pleased to hear of his son's news. After all, Jasper's son would have been an asset to both England and Spain had he married the Infanta as His Majesty had planned. As wonderful as the birth of Jasper and Mary-Alice's first child was, it was also another reminder of His Majesty's supposed 'failure' with the Spanish alliance. The alliance with Spain had ended the moment that Jasper had married another, and His Majesty, with the help of her husband, were doing everything within their power to prevent further problems from arising.
With that thought in mind, she knew that this news could never reach His Majesty, at least, not until the matter of Spain was very much put to rest. She hoped the babe would not be too grown when that time came. She entered her chamber and paused at the sight that met her.
"Your Majesty," she greeted, rather surprised to find her mother-in-law sat at her vanity looking not best pleased. Her Majesty held within her grasp a handful of papers and at once Isabella understood the source of Her Majesty's irritation. She held in her hand the letters that Isabella had so carelessly left on her vanity, thinking she would not be gone from her chamber long enough for them to cause alarm. She was careless and now she was caught.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Isabella continued, remaining calm and keeping her expression neutral. She knew that she was very much in trouble for her continued acquaintance with her exiled sister-in-law, but she could not bring herself to regret it or feel at all ashamed of her actions. She had played a part in bringing them together and she would never abandon them, if correspondence was all she could offer them, then she would continue to do so even if she would now have to find another means to achieve it.
"I came here simply to remind you of our engagement this evening, but now there is something you may do, you may explain these to me?" Her Majesty replied indicating the handful of papers she held as her daughter by marriage approached her. She did not make a move to rise nor did she allow herself to react as she would like too. She was dignified and would not allow her emotions to dictate her actions. She studied her daughter and observed her elevated breathing and her guarded expression. Her Majesty knew that despite the offence she had taken from her discovery that she would have to tread carefully around Isabella. It would not do for her to cause her son's wife any kind of harm. With her condition, it was best not to address it at all, but she could not simply ignore what she had happened across and walk away, not where her exiled son was concerned. Despite knowing that it was wrong, she had read the letters she had found. She knew that her daughter had been conversing with Mary-Alice, her son's wife, and she was desperate to understand how Isabella could possibly have kept this up for over a year without anyone becoming wise to it.
"Your Majesty," Isabella began, deciding it was best simply to be honest and open with her mother in law, "I have been conversing with Mary-Alice since their departure. I felt responsible for their circumstance and I could not ignore her correspondence."
Her Majesty nodded slowly, and Isabella continued.
"Mary-Alice is a dear friend, Your Majesty, I do not regret our letters. She has been through much just too simply love your son. They deserved my letters at the very least for all my meddling cost them."
Her Majesty surprised Isabella by not appearing as displeased as she had previously after she had spoken and explained her reasons. As her better's expression softened, Isabella spoke once more.
"I am most sorry, Your Majesty," she started, "I am sorry that I hid my contact with your son and his wife, but I was concerned that you would not approve and that you or His Majesty, may force me to terminate all contact and I could never do it."
Her Majesty rose from her perch then and with a sigh, she finally replied.
"You are quite right," she told her daughter in law, feeling comforted by the truths her daughter had she quickly offered. She had not thought that Isabella would readily admit to her actions. She had not been expecting such bold honesty and she was relieved to have been wrong, situations such as this were always simpler to resolve with truths as opposed to lies.
When she reached Isabella, she smiled and gently placed a hand upon the younger woman's arm, "You must keep me informed in future, but His Majesty must never know of this, do you understand?"
Isabella nodded at Her Majesty's request and almost allowed her better to retreat from her chamber until she remembered. Her most recent letter had arrived this morning and it was by far the most important of all. She did not think on it for more than a moment, before holding out the folded paper towards Her Majesty. She watched with interest towards the older woman's expression as she unfolded the thin paper and read her son's words. Isabella remembered one passage in particular that had made her smile most brilliantly; Alice delivered a son in the early hours of Wednesday morning. We decided to call him William after Alice's father. Both are well and he is most perfect. I have hope that you will meet him one day.
She noticed a slight gathering of tears at the corner of Her Majesty's eyes as she read and understood what had occurred. Now both her sons were father's, but unlike with Beatrice or the child Isabella carried, William would not know his grandparents or his aunt and uncle who one day rule the country of his birth. It was a saddening thought, but it was the truth and there was very little that she could do to alter that truth, except her letters.
Her Majesty did not speak as she wiped subtly at the corners of her eyes. She did not say a word as slipped the re-folded paper into her daughter in laws hand and moved from the room. Her silence told Isabella many things, but mostly, it spoke of her profound distress. Like her daughter in law, Her Majesty had many talents at hiding her emotions and so Isabella was not surprised that she kept the deep sadness that she must have felt under a cover of calm. She held the letter within her grasp and found herself to be a little shaken by all that had happened. It was plainly obvious that Her Majesty did not disapprove of what she had been doing for over a year now, but that she was saddened that it had taken this long for her to know of it. Isabella would never hide her letters again from Her Majesty, but she would do everything within her power to make sure that His Majesty never discovered them. It was with this decision in mind that she headed towards her vanity and tided the letters away into the locked draw that usually held them.
She placed the most recent letter inside the novel that she was current devouring, in the hope that were the rest ever discovered, then at least the news of her nephew would be separate and safe from prying eyes. She would inform her husband later, she decided, before ringing the bell beside her bed to call Lady Weber to her. Her Majesty had been right to remind her of their evening engagements, with all the delightful news that had reached her this morn, she had all but forgotten about the opera that they were scheduled to attend that evening. She would need to bath, restyle her hair into a more suitable style and change for the evening. It was well within the time frame that she had been allowed, but she did not wish to rush. Her husband would not like it if she did.
The timid knock on her door a few hours later drew her attention to the clock. Despite her early preparations, she was still behind schedule. If she did not hurry now, His Majesty would not be best pleased with her for her lateness.
"Enter," she called as Lady Weber worked furiously at pinning her brunette curls into a fashionable style. Her hair was the final stage in her preparations and once complete, she would be deemed fit for a public appearance. Her husband's smile lifted at the mere sight of her. It pained him to spend so much time apart from her, but as of late, it had been a common occurrence for them to spend a large part of everyday engaged in separate activities.
He was glad that this evening they would not be kept apart. He was eager to spend the night beside her, on what would likely be her final public appearance until after the birth of their child. His eyes met her reflected gaze and her glowing smile caused his to grow further still. She was such a wonder to behold, and he could not be more in love with his wife.
She stood then, rising with the gentle assistance of Lady Weber. Wearing a peach satin gown trimmed with fine white lace, she was stunning. The colour of her gown enhanced the tone of her skin where it was exposed at her shoulders. A light flush spread across her at his admiring expression, his lust was not subtle and she cleared her throat upon noticing it. Her ladies were presence within her chamber and they did not possess the necessary time to act upon his feelings.
"My Lady, you are positively stunning," he told his wife and offered out his arm towards her. She took it without hesitation, her blush deepening from his words.
"I am most pleased you think so," she replied lightly, trying not to aid his mood. It was difficult to resist temptation as was, and it would do them both little good to encourage their lustful feelings. There was not time for such activities, but there would be once they returned.
"I am definitely, much more than pleased," he uttered quietly so her ladies would not hear his words. She was not sure if had accomplished his goal, but she did not much care either way. It filled her with such happiness to hear his approval of her appearance. She loved that he still very much desired her, despite her current condition. He had desired her during her previous pregnancy, she knew this, but it still surprised and elated her to see it each and every time he looked upon her.
They did not speak as they exited her chamber together and headed jointly towards the carriages that awaited them. His Majesty waited impatiently at the carriage for them, whilst Her Majesty was already seating inside. Her face remained a mask as they set off towards their intended destination. The carriage was filled with naught but silence as they left the palace and entered the busy London streets that surrounded their home. Sound of the crowds who vied to catch a glimpse of their monarch and his accompanying family, reached into their silence but were not acknowledged.
The crowds were still present as they reached the theatre. This was not an unusual occurrence. The appearance of the ruling family tended to cause quite a stir. His Majesty was always pleased to see his people's eagerness to be within his presence. After all that had happened to her own father, Isabella understood his reasons for keeping his people happy. She knew that it was a necessity in order to avoid resentment of his family and his rule. His Majesty exited the carriage, once it had safely stopped outside the theatre. Police and their own guards kept the local people in order and allowed their family a safe passage into the building.
His Majesty assisted his wife in exiting the carriage and tucked her hand into his elbow moving a few paces away from the carriage to await his son and daughter in law. Her Royal Highness noticed then that Her Majesty fan was still on the seat in front of her and so she took a hold of it before exiting the carriage after her husband. Once her feet were firmly place upon the pavement, she moved toward Her Majesty and handed her the object she had left behind. The fan was half in her grasp and half in Her Majesty's when it happened. Everything occurred at such a pace that all Isabella noticed at first was the sound of a gun-shot and the spray of warm liquid hitting the bare skin of her face and shoulders.