Chapter 24
Ever since his father had come back, Niles had had to cut back on his visits to his wife, lest Joseph started to suspect anything. He'd been strangely pleasant since his arrival, treating him and his mother to days out, and not once mentioning his plan to have him married off by his next birthday.
The day itself came and went without any mention of it, in fact. Niles and Marie spent the whole day on edge at the thought, but Joseph never brought it up once.
Every day after that passed put their minds slightly more at ease, until they accepted the apparent happy circumstance. Joseph had either decided to delay it, or had decided against it entirely.
Niles in particular knew he had to count his blessings for that – if his father had brought up his plan to get him married, they would have had to reveal the ruse and C.C. would have had to take refuge at the French court. Or even worse: their plan could have failed entirely and both of them could be on their way to the gallows.
Not that being apart from her didn't feel like a prison sentence in itself.
Each day that they couldn't be together was akin to torture, and there was nothing else that he could do apart from grin and bear it. Even if going to bed alone every night killed him, his wife and child's security was far more important.
This latest separation had lasted for well over a month. Niles often sent her letters via Margaret, who went over to visit C.C. almost daily. She'd been supplying her with clothes that fit her ever-changing body as well as with new jewels and accessory to match her new closet. He hadn't been able to see many of her new dresses, given that he couldn't stay at the lodge for longer than a few days. However, this time he'd be able to stay for two weeks – he'd told his father he'd be taking a little time off at the lodge, which meant he wouldn't be expected back at court for a while.
Niles simply couldn't wait to be back at his wife's (in)side! Their sex life was just as wonderful as when they'd first gotten married, but her impressive stomach (the bloody thing was the biggest bump Niles had ever seen – even bigger then Lady Spencer's) had slowed them down a little. C.C.'s constant aches wouldn't let them engage in their usual activities, and her riding him was no longer a possibility.
He did everything he could to keep her satisfied in every other possible position they could manage, though. Her moods had, admittedly, changed for the worse with the aches her pregnancy brought ("You did this to me!" was often heard in the household these days) and he wanted to keep her happy as best he could. He couldn't have her going without when she wanted it, and God only knew he was starved for her touch any time they weren't in the same building!
He was looking forward to being able to hold her in his arms, pleasuring her, hearing her sigh his name...
Even thinking about it briefly had been a danger in court – it could easily turn into an hour that he'd sit there, just dreaming of what he would do with his beloved once they had been reunited! He was lucky that no one had caught him, or if they had, hadn't thought to ask what he was doing!
And he'd been so careful and discreet for all the time they'd been away from one another, the last thing he wanted was for some minor slip-up to ruin it all!
The fact that they'd managed it so masterfully so far only added to his jovial mood, as the carriage made its merry way along the path.
His lodge was getting bigger in the distance, the closer they got to it. He was even trying to see if he could peer through any of the windows and spot his beloved, watching and waiting for him...
It wouldn't be long now and he'd be holding her in his arms again...
He couldn't wait for the day he wouldn't have to let go. The day where his little family could be together, happy and well and fearing no one. It would come, soon enough, and until then he was determined to protect the most important people in his life.
Ever since the child had begun kicking, Niles loved to lie next to his wife, hand on her belly, ready and waiting to feel the little life they'd created. His touch soothed the child, C.C. said, so if their little one was particularly restless, she'd ask him to sing it a lullaby.
He didn't want to brag, but he'd never failed to appease their child. Not even once.
Maybe, when it was born, he'd get to sing him or her to sleep, too.
When the carriage eventually pulled up, Niles could see George Laurens, their trusted butler and one of C.C.'s friends from when she was a maid, already waiting for him at the gates.
He waited for the footman to open the door, which felt like a small lifetime, even if it was only a few seconds at most, and he wasted no time in descending the steps. He had to get inside!
He greeted the butler warmly at the door, "Good day, George! Is my wife up in the house?"
The butler bowed in return, "Indeed she is, Your Royal Highness. Last I recall, she was thinking of resting until you had returned. It is possible she is still in your chambers."
Part of Niles – a very specific part – couldn't help but be pleased at that. In actual fact, it was thinking about how that sounded much like killing two birds with one stone, but he didn't mention that part to Laurens. He didn't have to know all the details!
He was a good butler to them, and it was only fair that they were good to him in return. He had been a friend to C.C. before and that wouldn't stop simply because she was no longer a maid. How hypocritical would that be? Their servants did everything for them. It was only right they did everything they could in return to make sure they were looked after, healthy and happy.
He nodded at what the man had said, "Good, good. I'll go up and see her. If anybody comes for me, say that I am not to be disturbed."
"As you wish, sir," Laurens smiled and bowed again.
Niles didn't waste time in letting him return to his duties after that. He had his wife to see to, up in the house, after all! So, without stopping for one more moment – not even to check that his bags were being carried in – he hurried inside.
He raced through the hallway and up the stairs, calling out greetings to people as he went but not stopping to exchange pleasantries. He had more important things on his mind than idle conversation, after all!
The most important person on his mind, he thought. He couldn't wait to see his wife, maybe reclining there waiting for him to come and give her what she wanted, or maybe still sleeping, curled up and adorable. He could kiss her awake as though they were in a fairytale, if that were the case!
The possibilities were endless!
He loved being able to kiss her awake, though. He'd make the most of the privilege for these two weeks, that was for sure!
He called out when they got close to their bedroom, just in case.
"C.C., there's someone here to see you...!"
No reply. She must have still been asleep – she wouldn't have been silent about his return if she had heard him calling.
He was careful and quiet when opening the door to their chambers.
"C.C., my love...?"
But, much to his surprise, he found his wife awake. She was curled up against her pillows, clutching a cushion and staring moodily at him. She looked like she hadn't even had an hour of sleep, and that was only serving to help make her miserable.
Niles felt his heart drop into his stomach, immediately guilty for having left her for all this time. What had happened while he was gone?! Was...was it the discomfort of her pregnant belly? What could he do to help?
This was all his fault, wasn't it? He had made her pregnant and then he'd had to go off! He could've been taking care of her, helping her not to feel so upset, and yet he had been confined to court! These two weeks might've been more needed than he'd thought! He could start by using the time to find out why his wife was so upset, this time!
He rushed to her side immediately.
"C.C., sweetheart! Whatever is the matter?!"
"Same as always," she replied with a huff. "You are gone for weeks on end, I am locked up in here with nothing to do and, to cap it all, everything hurts and I need help to do just about anything – from getting out of bed to doing my business!"
Niles was torn between feeling guilty and finding the situation comically adorable. He knew pregnancy was proving a difficult experience for her, especially when he wasn't around at all times to help (hence the guilt), but he'd be lying if he said he didn't find her pregnancy-related clumsiness adorable. Not that he'd ever tell her – he valued his life (and certain bits and pieces) too much to incur her wrath.
As such, he had to do what he did best: comfort her in times of need.
"Oh, love," he crooned, slipping into bed next to her and wrapping his arms around her middle – he knew she liked it when he cradled her belly. "I'm so sorry… I know this is hard on you, and believe me, I'd be here at all times if I could."
"I know, I know…" she replied, nestling into him "It just doesn't make it any easier. I feel lonely and depressed – I thought I'd be able to handle the separation, but I'm really not!"
Niles frowned as he rested his chin against her shoulder. How he wished that he could find some way of being able to stay with his beloved all the time, so that the days would pass quicker!
If they did, they'd be closer to her due date, and the sooner that happened, the sooner they'd be able to declare everything to the world. They could be a family, like any other, without anybody being able to speak a single word against them!
He could see an image in his head of his father, angry and frustrated as he tried to speak ill of them, only to find that no words left his mouth when he opened it. Or, in an equally pleasing image, that his father simply couldn't open his mouth at all.
Both wanted to make him chuckle, but he held it in – the last thing he wanted was for C.C. to think he was laughing at what she'd said!
Instead, he rubbed comfortingly at her back, "It will only be a short time longer, my love. You will not be pregnant forever – as soon as the baby is born, we will return to court as the family we deserve to be. It's just a little while longer to endure."
He wished that he was able to give better advice than that. To speak more soothing words than that. He knew it was only a matter of time – they both did – but that wasn't going to make the time pass by them any faster.
He could only hope that at least a little bit of time would go faster (in one sense, in another, he wanted it to stop entirely), with him back at the lodge to help. He wanted them to make the most of their time, considering there would be another stretch of time before he could stay for so long again.
He supposed he wouldn't be able to visit for at least a month, meaning he'd only be back around the same time C.C. was due to have the baby. His worst fear was not being there when she eventually went into labour, but sadly there wasn't much they could do. Babies didn't exactly let their parents know when they were planning on arriving, so they'd have to make do.
It still made him worry, obviously. He didn't think he was going to be able to take a single step outside of the lodge, when the countdown began for the final month! He'd simply be too worried – what if she went into labour while he was out?
It was going to be a tense time. Niles wasn't sure he was looking forward to all of it, even when he did place it into the bigger picture. Granted, it might have been a closer time to having their little one with them, safe and sound, but it was still going to be plagued by worry.
Well, they did say that the darkest hour came before the light, didn't they? Perhaps it was true and it would be proven to them, in the weeks ahead. He do everything he could with the time he had, in order to make his love. feel as comfortable as she could. It wouldn't be easy for her – far less easy than it was for him to simply sit and talk about it! – but he was certain they could manage.
They had to, if he ever wanted to see that picture of his father shutting up come true. If they were to go home together, as the family they were. If they were to be addressed as prince and princess...
"But what if it isn't, Niles? C.C. protested, sounding impossibly miserable. "What if it isn't just a short while? What…what if things go wrong?"
"Sweetheart, we've been over this before," Niles said, trying to be as gentle and loving as he possibly could. "If things go wrong, you'll be evacuated to France until it's safe for you to return with our chi–"
"I didn't mean the plan going wrong," she interrupted him. "I meant…well…my pregnancy going wrong…"
Niles felt his whole body tense at his wife's words – what…what did she mean by her pregnancy going wrong? And why was she getting worried about it? Did…did she feel unwell? Had she noticed something was off with the baby?! What had happened while he'd been gone?! She'd never even mentioned things going wrong with her pregnancy before!
"What do you mean, love? Why would you even think about things going wrong? Have you been feeling unwell?"
C.C. shook her head no.
"No…no. I have been feeling alright, but…well…I…I am afraid of giving birth," said C.C., "What…what if something goes wrong? What if…what if I don't make it? Or…what if I give birth to a girl and something happens to me! Her position in the succession line will be threatened by any future male heirs you have, because I know your father would make you remarry as soon as possible. Probably before they even bury me!"
She couldn't help dissolving into tears, even before she'd finished her speech. The pain and the terror of even thinking about it were all too much, and the feelings had to burst through, out into the open.
Even if they hadn't, Niles would've still done what he did, which was pull her into the tightest hug he could manage.
It was all he could think to do, both to stop her from seeing the dread spreading across his face, and to remind himself that nothing bad had happened. He wasn't being faced with the prospect of endless despair, a daughter with a dubious claim to the throne, and a new, unwanted wife that he would never wish to see. C.C. was alive, the baby was alive, he had the family he'd never imagined he'd ever get and the life he found himself overwhelmingly happy to be living. And that was the way it was going to stay.
No one was ever going to make him marry anybody else – they wouldn't have to! His wife was strong, and brave, and she'd make it through anything that came along.
She was still there, and she was always going to be there.
He just had to protect her, in every way, shape and form that he could. And that was what he was doing.
"Don't even think such things. No one is going to bury you, my love," he kept his words as firm as he possibly could, even as his voice cracked from the inside. "You are strong, and you will make it through this. I will be there to help you, every step of the way!"
He knew he couldn't promise such a thing, really. He had no say in what happened when a woman went into labour, but his beloved needed the reassurance...
But she had brought up a point he'd missed, from being so caught up in ensuring the plan went smoothly.
It...wasn't a nice way of being reminded, but he supposed he had to take it for what it was. She was right – if something happened to her, any daughter they had previously would face a difficult journey to the throne.
Especially if – God forbid – he was forced to marry again, and have sons.
He didn't want any child of his that didn't also belong to C.C. so much as touching the crown. He'd do whatever it took to see that his first legitimate child, whether a boy or a girl, succeeded him.
So, as he pulled away from his love, he let the plan form in his head and cupped her cheeks in his palms.
"But, if...if something does go wrong...I will ensure any daughter of ours sees the throne go to her. I will change the law the moment I become king – no matter if we have a prince or a princess, they will succeed me as monarch."
C.C.'s face morphed from one of wonder, to shock, and then to delight.
"You mean it?" she asked, hope lighting up her face. "Our child won't be overlooked if she's a girl?"
"Of course not," Niles replied, unable to contain his beaming smile at seeing his wife so happy. "If our eldest is a girl, then by right the crown will be hers."
Anyone who said otherwise would answer to him.
C.C. let out a happy laugh, "I never thought I'd see the day when a king would willingly declare his daughter his heir over his son!"
"It's only fair and right – we've had plenty of kings in our history," Niles kissed his wife's cheek and lips. "A queen. A good and powerful queen; that is what makes a country succeed."
"And you think we're going to make it succeed?" C.C. asked.
Niles gave her a look of adoration, "I think we're going to be the greatest country on Earth, my love. Now, what do you say if we get out of bed and have lunch together? I've got a number of surprises waiting for you downstairs, too!"
She looked intrigued, really and truly starting to smile, "Oh, you do?"
She wasn't to know until he'd shown her, but Niles had bought her the finest new dresses, pieces of jewellery and clothes for their baby that money could buy. Courtesy of Margaret and Noel, of course. The former had been visiting regularly recently, and would always bring clothes to help with C.C.'s ever-growing figure.
He couldn't wait to see the look on her face at the selection, both for her and their baby! He personally thought the other couple had outdone themselves, but that was his own opinion.
C.C.'s would be the one that was important.
He beamed back at her, getting up from the bed, "I certainly do. Now, would you like some help getting up?"
C.C. didn't particularly want to admit that she did, but considering the fact that she knew she wouldn't get her lunch or her surprises if she stayed where she was, she decided to grin and bear that one little moment of indignity. Niles practically gathered her into his arms to help her out of bed and help her get dressed.
He kept his arm around her as they headed for the stairs, too.
It was a much more comforting end, when the beginning had been full of so much worry. She knew she could trust Niles to be good to their child, and to keep their position safe, no matter what happened to her...
He was like a real-life fairytale knight in shining armour…
"I've got another surprise for you, too, but I'm not sure the servants will be pleased if I get it out at the dinner table..."
…when he wanted to be.
She gave an unimpressed look to her smirking husband as they made their way towards the staircase. Only he could take a moment and sufficiently ruin it with the right combination of words.
Not that it entirely mattered here. She was only playing around, and looking forward to Niles' "surprise" as much as he was.
After all, she was going to make the most of him being there, with her and their unborn child.