Hi everyone. I've decided to keep this to a T for the time being and have toned it down a little. I was so glad that people enjoyed it. Thanks to your continued support!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot
II
Paul Shinji had been born into poverty; that made him a man of very low birth. He had managed to raise himself out of the throngs of the slums, learn and build up a vast amount of wealth; that made him greedy. It occurred to him when the Old King passed away three years before that no matter what he did in the world, he would never be good enough. If he was always going to be the worst then surely he should make the most of it. No body ever put any pressure on the worst people, every task completed was met with astonishment, sometimes a little bit of praise. He used to be poor, never stupid.
It had also occurred to him that sometimes wealth did make people's brain go a little soft. The King was as rich as they came and possibly as dumb as they were made. When putting two and two together, he made ten or five or whatever number he wanted because, what the hell, he was King. How the Queen put up with him was a mystery.
"I hear you've got a pretty little filly," said a voice from the office door. The Lord Privy Seal look up, half heartedly into the eyes of the only Duke who had a brain: Norfolk. The green haired Duke flipped his hair in a haughty way that made a sneer appear on Shinji's face. His expression darkened and he returned to reading his documents. "Where have you been hiding her?"
"No where," Shinji replied. "The King assumed-"
"You were-"
"We're not."
"If the King says..."
"We're not."
Norfolk grinned at this for a moment then started forwards towards the Lord Privy Seal's desk, sliding into the chair the Dawn had occupied hours before. He placed his feet up onto the desk, leaning back in his chair. Annoyed by this, Shinji reached out and pushed the boots off of the table, causing the Duke to wobble as gravity claimed his feet.
"I hate to tell you this, Master Shinji," Norfolk said pleasantly, "but if the King says you two are... coupling then you'd better start... coupling. You never know, a good fling may do you good."
"And you are the expert on that," Shinji commented. "I am, however, not interested in Dawn Berlitz."
"Oh, so it's Dawn?"
"If you're going to make fun of me, please leave," Shinji said, his hand pointing to the doorway. The Duke gave a pleasant laugh.
"Leave when I finally have something to tease you about?" he asked. "Who would have thought that the great, highly respected Lord Privy Seal would have a soft spot for a young, beautiful daughter of a traitor?"
"Enough," Shinji said but this time he grinned. He could see the irony in it all, really. He was thankful, however, that King Gary, as young and proud as he was, had a forgiving heart. The sins of the fathers did not alienate the children or wives. As young as the King was, as the Master of Seals thought pleasantly, he was learning to be a great leader, a sympathetic one who did not hurry to war or hurry to rash decisions. He had wept openly when Lord Berlitz had gone to the gallows, begging his Lords to change the execution method, make it quick he had said but the letter had gotten lost somewhere in transaction. The poor Lord Berlitz. His screams jolted Paul awake some nights, each shriek yelling out for his wife, his daughter too.
"Aside from coming to poke fun at me, my Lord Norfolk," Shinji said, "what can I do for you?"
"I came to ask your Lord to put it to the King to hold off on our summer progress," Norfolk replied. "There are reports of plague in the city. The King's health could be put at risk if we were to embark on progress."
"London does stink in the summer months," Shinji agreed with a nod. It wasn't pleasant. The Thames, green with waste, steam rising off of the waves in the baking heat. The thought of it made him shudder. "I'll put it to his Majesty tomorrow morning."
"He listens more to you on this matter than anyone else," Norfolk commented. "You are his most faithful, loyal -"
"You flatter me far too much," Shinji said, lips curling into a smile once again at the shared joke between them. He suddenly became humbled by a thought, his eyes swirling with some new emotion. "He rises whom he pleases and one day, he will let them drop as quickly as he rose them. He will tire of my nit picking, my baby sitting and on that day I will either be a head shorter or living out of a gutter in the streets of London."
"Which would you prefer?" Norfolk asked.
"I was never fond of hats," Shinji replied. Norfolk didn't laugh at this, merely nodding once. His ringed fingers stroked his neck idly for a few minutes then the smile returned.
"Cheery," he said. He rose out of his chair, bowing his head. "Good night, My Lord Privy Seal. I bid you fair dreams of Lady Berlitz."
"Good night, Lord Norfolk," Shinji said with a nod, "I would bid you sweet dreams too but I know you better than to sleep at night."
"Ahh," Norfolk grinned at this, now walking across the room. He paused at the doorway, looking back at his old friend with a comforting smile adorning his lips. "Please do not worry yourself about the future, Paul. If the worst comes to pass, I will ensure your head will be buried with your body or at the very least, mine will be on the pole next to yours."
"I appreciate that," Shinji said quietly. Norfolk nodded then disappeared through the door. Shinji stared after him, a small touched smile gracing his moody features. He picked up his quill once again and started to scratch ink onto a piece of parchment. He ran his free hand through his long purple hair, eye brows knitting into a frown as he concentrated.
i
"Your Majesty, the Lady Scotsdale."
The Queen peered up from her book as the usher carefully stepped out of the way of the new arrival at court. Lady Ursula Scotsdale strode into the Queen's parlours, her hip swaying seductively as she walked with her hands clasped just underneath her breasts, elbows bent elegantly. Her face was blank of emotion, her chin slightly inclined upwards to give her a haughty air.
"Lady Scotsdale," Leaf said pleasantly as the pink haired lady walked towards her. Once a foot away from the Queen, Ursula swept into a flamboyant curtsey, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheekbones. She stood upright, turning her head to watch as Dawn bobbed politely to greet her. The Queen pointed to a seat beside Dawn, once again telling Dawn with a subtle hand message to stay put. "Please sit and we shall talk."
"Thank you, your Majesty," Ursula said, regal as always. She perched on the chair next to Dawn, giving the bluenette a side glance before focusing on the Queen. "I wished to pay my respects for you as soon as I was out of my riding clothes. Please, I beg your forgiveness for not coming to wait on you sooner, however, business kept me in the North longer than expected."
"Please, Lady Scotsdale, I understand plainly how busy a wife is, especially a wife of the cousin of the King's," Leaf said with a good mannered smile. "How is your husband."
"Well, your majesty," Ursula said slowly. She glanced at Dawn again. "However, I am glad to be in court again, around ladies and fashions, dancing and merriment. I do love Whitehall, it is much better than being elsewhere, don't you agree, your majesty?"
"Yes, I do agree. The Lord Privy Seal wanted us to stay put outside the city but my husband was keen to get back to Whitehall," Leaf said with a nod. "Please, you should dine with me tonight."
"Thank you your majesty, I am most deeply honoured," Ursula purred, genuinely humbled by the invitation. She now turned to Dawn, arching an eyebrow at the girl sat there with a small leather bound book in her hands. "And may I enquire into the health of my other, very dear cousin?"
Dawn looked up now, smiling before she answered: "Your grace is far to kind. I am very well, thank you."
"My husband tells me that your mother is very well," Ursula went on. "I hear she is ecstatic about her new chickens."
"Yes," Dawn said, ignoring the biting tone of Ursula's at the talk of chickens. Instead she beamed across at the Queen. "My mother so does love to keep chickens. She says there is no happier noise, spare the cooing of a babe, than the clucking of chickens in the garden."
"Indeed," Ursula said.
She was about to say something else when the Lord Privy Seal burst into the room, his gown coat flying behind him like a cape. He brushed past Misty, who had got to her feet as soon as the intruder had barged past the usher, and walked straight to the Queen, kneeling in front of her feet, his head bowed.
"Forgive me, my Lady, for this sudden interruption, but I come with the most urgent of news," he said lowly, humbly. He paused, waiting for her acknowledgement. When she remained silent, his rose his head, staring into her eyes. "There is plague in the palace. I urge you and your ladies to gather key items and leave for the country as soon as you can. Your horses and households are already being assembled as we speak. Your children are being moved as I am here telling you this. I beg you to make haste."
"Thank you, my Lord, however, I will await the direction of my husband," Leaf said coldly. Here the Lord Privy Seal faltered, a shudder running through him. Dawn observed that Master Shinji was not not wearing his usual attire, his jerkin was ruffled, the top button undone, his gold chain with the office's seal was not hanging round his neck like it usually would. It was an odd thing to see the Lord Privy Seal out of sorts like he was now. What could possibly make him so disorganised?
"My lady," he started but another rush of feet entered the room: the Duke of Norfolk.
"My Lord Privy Seal," he said, sweating as if he had been racing round the palace looking for the man. "You are needed in the King's chamber, urgently. At his Highness' command, I will oversee the Queen and her ladies."
Master Shinji got to his feet, danced on the spot for a moment or two then ran out of the room, knocking shoulders with the Duke by accident as he fled from sight. The Queen stood up slowly, her eyebrows furrowing with the greatest of confusion.
"My Lord Norfolk?"
"I am sorry my Queen, but the King has fallen ill with the sweating sickness," he said solemnly. The Queen stumbled backwards at the news, mouth agape. Her knees buckled, threatening to collapse beneath her if it wasn't for Dawn getting to her feet and steadying the young woman. She trembled as she listened to the Duke continue. "The Lord Privy Seal is attempting to regain order in the Privy Council but wanted more than anything to ensure your safety and the safety of the prince and princess. Please, we should gather all of your belongings and leave for safer places."
"Misty, gather the Queen's gowns; May, her jewels," Dawn ordered as soon as the Duke had finished speaking. She helped the Queen back into her seat before looking at Ursula. "Please stay with the Queen."
"Of course," Ursula said with a nod.
It was like a dance they did around each other. Ursula sat beside the Queen, feeding her bits of bread and wine while the other ladies buzzed around the room, packing things into chests. Dawn lead the way, ordering that only the key items should be taken with them, the rest could be sent for at a later date. The Duke waited patiently in the centre of the room, only disappearing when Dawn turned to him, snapping: "Please make yourself useful. Find out where would be best for us to go. Get news of the King for her Majesty."
The Duke blanched at her tone, those usually serene sapphire eyes now hard, sharp. He wobbled on his spot before hurrying out of the room, not before he replied to her with a hurried: "You sound just like the Privy Seal."
Within the hour, the entire Queen's household was packed and ready, her ladies waiting ready to follow her to safe haven just outside of London. The Queen, while still distressed, was more than happy to be dragged through the chaotic halls by her ladies, headed by the Duke of Norfolk, to the stables where she was hurried into a carriage and then whisked away with three of her ladies huddled close to her. Dawn, born and bred in the country, was not so lucky as to get a seat with the Queen. She climbed into the saddle of her great shire horse, tapped it with her heels and cantered after the Queen's carriage, her head craned to look behind her at the palace. She could make out the panic through the lead piped windows, people rushing around in the halls.
Her eyes turned ahead of her and she kicked the horse onwards to catch up to her Queen.
ii
They settled in Chelsea. A large manor house that had once belonged to Dawn's uncle before his head was severed from his body a decade before her own father's was. Here she walked peacefully through the house like she was born to be mistress of the manor, it was home to her in her heart at least. It comforted her slightly to be so close to her father, her uncle when everything seemed so bleak.
The sky had turned grey, the rain pounding down on the windows with fury. Dawn looked out of the large window just at the top of the stairs, watching the tempest roar outside: whirls of silver mixing with colours of ash and coal. Her mouth parted at the sight of it. How oddly beautiful, she thought. Lightening tore through the greyness, a bright blue flash followed by the roar of thunder not soon afterwards. Seconds later, another fork of lightening leapt across the sky, brilliantly flashing but dead in a second. The thunder roared just as the tail of the lightening disappeared into the maelstrom. Then there was another crash behind Dawn as the front doors to the manor were thrown open
She jumped as the Lord Privy Seal hurried into the hallway, dripping water all over the polished oak floor. He took off his black beaver skin hat, flicking it out and spraying the floor even more with water. He looked at the specks of water lining the floor then at the puddle he was creating just by standing there. He looked pale, thinner than she remembered. Slowly she walked towards him, bobbing to him. He looked her up and down then said:
"Tell the Queen I need an urgent audience with her," he said gruffly, as if resigned to some cruel destiny. He looked at her again, adding: "She is up isn't she?"
"Yes," Dawn replied. She called for a page to go tell the Queen that the Lord Privy Seal was requesting an audience and to fetch him a goblet of wine. Quick, quick. The page turned and hurried out of the hallway, first to the Queen's rooms then down to the kitchen. Now alone with the Lord Privy Seal, Dawn turned her gaze back to him, observing his current mood. He was playing with his leather gloves then attempted to tug them off his fingers but to no avail. Dawn reached forwards, steadying his hands then gently pulling the rich material from his numb fingers. His hands were like ice, damp too from the elements outside. He grunted a quick thank you as she held his gloves in her hands. She then circled him, hands brushing against his shoulder then collar. She grabbed the coat, pulling it slowly off his shoulders, down his arms until it thudded against the floor. Water cascaded from the heavy material as if the coat had suddenly taken to bleeding all over the varnished floor. Dawn carried it over to the returning page boy, swapping the coat for the gold goblet of rich wine. She instructed the boy to put the coat over the fire to get some of the damp out of it and he left them alone again. She returned to the Lord Privy Seal's side, handing him the goblet.
"Thank you," he murmured. He raised the goblet to his lips then drained the contents with one gulp. He paused when he finished drinking, the liquid burning his empty stomach as it slowly filled him up. Warmth spread from his insides out, finally some feeling in his bag of leather of a body. "You are too kind, my Lady."
"You're pale," she said. "You need to take better care of yourself, my Lord."
He said nothing, just gave her a blank expression. He pointed the goblet at her, eyes narrowing.
"You're the cousin of Cyrus Scotsdale, are you not?" he asked. She nodded.
"On his mother's side," she replied. "I've known the Duke since I was born. He is not unkind?"
"We shall see to that," was the grunted reply. Master Shinji raised the goblet to his lips, catching the last two drops on his tongue. "I will see the Queen now."
"Please sir," Dawn caught him as he stepped forwards. "I must know, what sort of news do you bring?"
"I need to see the Queen," he repeated. Without another word she led him up to the Queen's bedchamber where she was waiting for him anxiously, leaning forwards in her seat by the fire, eyes blotchy from her endless tears. The Lord Privy Seal bowed to her then signalled for the ladies to leave the room, which they did instantly, each looking at the Queen with worry struck eyes. Dawn was the last to leave, turning to leave the pair to talk but the Privy Seal had other ideas.
"Please, shut the door but do not leave," he said without looking at her. Dawn paused then closed the door, looking through the narrowing passage into the wide eyes of Misty. The door clicked shut and Dawn walked to sit by the Queen's side. Leaf grasped her hand with hers tightly, her breath stopping in her throat.
"My Lady..." Master Shinji said slowly. Something broke in him and his shoulders sagged. "I come with the most horrid of news. I am so sorry but-"
"He's dead," she said simply. Her hand tightened round Dawn's. "That's it then."
"Yes, but-"
"I will return to court then," Leaf said with a determined nod. "I want to see my son."
The Lord Privy Seal closed his eyes tightly. His legs gave out beneath him and he stumbled into a kneeling bow as if begging her forgiveness. The Queen stopped moving, she stopped breathing, she just stared at the Lord Privy Seal on the floor in front of her.
"Your son, My Lady, was taken by the sweat. Your daughter too," he said. "My Lady, I am so sorry."
"My children?" Leaf gaped. The stunned silence left her instantly as the wall broke. She screamed loudly, tearing her hand from Dawn's to push them against her face. She howled into her palms, drenching them with her tears. A cry got caught in her throat and she snorted then wretched. Her body coiled round on itself like she was in agony. More sobs rippled through her body, strongly, like spasms. The Lord Privy Seal watched her weep, his face a shallow nothing but his eyes raging with empathy.
"W-what h-happen-ns n-now?" she spluttered through her fingers, eyes tightly closed.
"The Duke of York, his Royal Highness, King Cyrus-" Master Shinji said, his lips curling like he has a bad taste in his mouth, "will be crowned tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" the Queen asked. Her tears forgotten, her head whipped upwards to stare at the Lord Privy Seal. He could not meet her eye, looking at Dawn instead, almost disgusted at her. The look vanished almost as soon as it appeared. "My husband and children aren't even dead in the ground and he is-"
"They died last week, my Lady," he interrupted her. "I came here to warn you before the King's men could arrive. We have been forbidden to come to you, to tell you but I could not allow it. As soon as I could manage, I slipped out of court to come tell you. I have come to warn you. Take care, give back your jewels and return to France as soon as you are able. Take all your single ladies with you."
"Y-yes," she muttered. She turned to Dawn. "Tell the staff-"
"Lady Dawn is to remain here," Master Shinji said steely. "The King has no issue, yet, the only thing he has close to an heir is his cousin."
Dawn stared back at him, his cold eyes, horrified. Slowly he got to his feet, bowing low and then reached out his hand for the Queen to take. She held up her own hand, he grasped it, leaning forwards to kiss her rings.
"I pray the best for you," he said. Then turned to Dawn, bowing his head to her once. Then he left, ordering his coat from the kitchens with a fierce bark at one of the pages.
Leaf turned her red eyes onto the rigid Dawn beside her. Dawn mechanically turned to look at the Queen, two fat tears erupting from her eyes as she stared in horror at her former regent. The pair just looked at each other, silent. Downstairs they heard the front door bang shut as the Lord Privy Seal returned to Whitehall on his horse.
"Lady Berlitz," Leaf said finally. "You understand that as long as I am in England, we can not be friends."
"I understand," Dawn replied. She choked down a sob.
"I thank you for all your years of service," Leaf went on. "You have been a close confident."
"And I will remain so," Dawn said, now playing with her fingers. "I am so sorry, your Majesty."
"I am too," Leaf muttered. "Now leave me. I wish to mourn in peace for my husband and my poor little children."
iii
"You went to see her didn't you?" Cyrus accused the Lord Privy Seal as soon as he walked into the King's room the next morning, his dossier hugged tightly to his chest.
"Who, Highness?" he asked as innocent as he could manage.
"The Dowager Queen," Cyrus replied coldly. Master Shinji had the good sense not to admit nor deny that he had seen the Dowager Queen, he merely stood unblinking at the King, his face hidden behind his unreadable mask. Cyrus pointed at a chair close to his, lips curling into a smirk as the Lord Privy Seal slipped into the chair, his face completely masked with nonchalance. He blinked slowly, his gaze rising to meet the eyes of the new King. "Did you convey my sympathies?"
Silence. Again, neither a denial or an admission of a fact. No he did not convey his sympathies to the Dowager Queen on his behalf.
"The Duke of Somerset says that he saw you slip out of the palace last night," the King continued.
"I had business elsewhere," Master Shinji said. "Preparations for this glorious day, your Majesty."
"You will not survive long in my Privy Council if you lie to me, Mister Shinji," Cyrus threatened.
"And you would not survive long without me, highness," Shinji replied just as coldly as the King had moments before. "I interrogate traitors, I bully Dukes and a make your laws come into practice by any means necessary. If I omit certain details from you then it is for your own good."
He got to his feet, bowing quickly then straightening up.
"Anything else, sire?" he asked. The King dismissed him with a wave of his hand and Master Shinji took no time to walk out of the chambers with his leather dossier close at hand. He strode through the outer chamber where the crowds of gentry swarmed around each other in their ermine and red velvet cloaks. He barely glanced at them in their pompous golden crowns as they made merry for the coronation. The Duke of Norfolk, his only friend, was absent from crowd of velvets and ermine. He was still in Chelsea with the Dowager Queen, probably preparing for the oncoming storm, then again, the Duke of Norfolk was just as good as dodging threats, downfalls and trials. Still, Court wasn't the same when he was not here.
As he walked forwards through the see of scarlet, something strange caught his eye. He stopped mid-step as a hush fell upon the room, then the great sea of furs parted revealing a petite blue haired girl. Her eyes were cast down but as she stepped through the threshold of the chamber she raised her head, just like the Queen would do, her eyes dead ahead. She walked with a confident bounce, two ladies flanking her, heads bowed. The Lord Privy Seal recognised them to be the Lady Ketchum and the daughter of Lord Maple, May. Lady Ketchum's eyebrows furrowed into a scowl as she paraded behind Dawn, the Queen no doubt putting them up to this.
His interest was suddenly twisted and he turned on his heel to watch the three of them walk past him towards the King's chambers, in awe at the Queen's sudden boldness and the courage of her closest friend.
"She's playing the game," a voice on his left said quietly. Master Shinji smiled at the sound of his best friend's voice.
"Finally," he remarked, then resumed his way to his own office so he be alone at last with his thoughts.
Dawn stepped into the King's chambers, looking round at the mess of boxes around the room. The King was currently being dressed by his stewards, his arms spread out like a Christmas tree. He caught sight of her through the mirror, his eyebrows dropping down his forehead quickly.
"Dawn," he said.
"Your Majesty," she replied with a sweeping curtsey. The two ladies behind her followed her lead, almost kneeling on the floor as they curtseyed so low.
"How did you find out?" he asked.
"The Lord Privy Seal, of course," she said. "He wouldn't tell you, he said you wouldn't approve."
"You'd sell him to the dogs?"
"To save my own skin, cousin."
"He threatened me," the King said, his face wrinkling into a snarl.
"Threatens all," Dawn replied with a shrug. "I take his threats to mean that he likes you."
"Why are you here?" he asked her, suddenly business like.
"The Dowager Queen would like me to pass on a message to his Highness," she said steadily. "She wishes him the best for his coronation and prays a long and happy reign for you and your Queen. She also requests permission to leave England with her ladies, spare these two here, and return to her family in France."
"Pass this onto the Privy Seal, I am rather busy today, cousin."
So there is a new King on the block. I decided that Gary was not the mean sort of King I needed for this story so I... replaced him. Leaf will return a bit later on in the story. We're going to see a little conflict between Cyrus and Paul in the upcoming chapters as two powerful men clash over ideas, with Dawn caught in the middle. It's nice to have an insight into Paul's character in this chapter, even if he is awfully morbid.
And I think Drew enjoys being a Duke far too much, don't you think?
Let me know what you think :)
RSx