Chapter 4

Vicki stood by Nicolai and listened to his prattle she saw he was trying to impose his self-importance onto the subjects. He was puffing his chest out and using forceful language to those that had asked for an audience to settle a dispute. All of this grand standing was over land entitlements and cattle grazing lands.

She silently sighed rolled her eyes and watched those in the audience. Nicolai was trying she had to admit to be beneficent but he was being annoying and those present thought he was a weaker version of what his father had been.

Stifling a yawn she shifted in her chair when she realized that all eyes were on her. She had to admit she had not been listening it had all been rather tedious and boring. When she saw all attention fixed on her she was again asked, "Well Josephine, what would you do?"

Vicki thought a moment she stood and she moved to the man that had the land and asked. "If this man offered to pay you a stipend to allow his cattle to graze would you be interested in allowing him to continue to graze his cattle on your land."

The man thought a moment then he turned to look at the neighbor. "What would you consider a stipend?"

Vicki turned to the man with the cattle, "Do you own a bull and how many head of cattle do you have?"

He thought a moment then offered, "At this time, my bull is out for service with the farm that borders the other side of his land. As for head of cattle I would say at this time I have about 300 head of cattle."

She smiled and inclined her head, "What kind of service fees do you get for using your bull for service?"

The man thought again and then smiled, "I usually get a choice of two calves." Vicki nodded, "Then would it be worth allowing the neighbor with the land a choice of one or two of your heifers for his use as dairy for his family be a fair stipend?"

Both men turned to look at each other thought about the deal and both nodded, "That would be fair trade."

Vicki smiled, "Now what if your wife were to offer to make the cheese for this man as just an added thank you for the use of his land, and you." She turned to the landowner, "Would be allowed to use the dung left by the cows to sell as fuel or fertilizer, that way the land is not destroyed or used up so its no longer habitable for cattle?"

Both men looked at each other realizing they had not thought of this idea and they nodded.. "You could take the by product of the cows and sell it in the next county because dry cow dung can be used for fuel to help heat fires and stoves. When it has dried out and then burnt it no longer has the smell it had before." She had walked between the two men and had smiled and made offers caressing each mans shoulders when she went by them.

Nicolai sat back and rubbed his chin with his fingertips he watched the white witch work her magic on the foolish towns people. The dispute was settled and from what he could observe she had done this calmly and rationally with a common ground for both men to work together.

Vicki smiled benevolently at the men and then to their wives she turned and retook her seat next to Nicolai. Nicolai looked from one man to the other. "Then it is agreed? You will do as the Queen has asked?"

Both men turned hats in hand and smiled happily from each other to the Queen then bowed before the King. "Yes Highness, I believe that is something we can work together and there should be no more dispute. We want to thank your highness and your wife for all your help." They both bowed and moved forward to kiss the Kings ring hand then turned and waited for Vicki to stick her ring hand forward.

She moved forward cupped their chins in turn smiled and kissed their foreheads. "You do not need to kiss my hand, it is I that should reward you for being so agreeable and making all our days a lot brighter because we have a new enterprise and two happy neighbors."

The entire court was amazed and began to do soft whispers about how kind the Queen was and what a lucky man the King was to have such smart and beautiful bride. All this did not go unnoticed by Nicolai. He watched Vicki retake her chair and sat primly before the assembly.

Nicolai smiled and turned his attention back to those gathered "Are there any more petitions before the King?"

One small woman stepped forward and bowed low to the King. "I come to Petition the court on behalf of my mother. She is very ill and she has not been able to pay her taxes and the tax collector is going to take our home. If he does that then we will be homeless."

This touched Vicki's heart and she sat forward she looked at the poor wretched child. Looking to Nicolai she saw he was about to make a huge mistake, so she stood, "Milord husband, may I petition on behalf of this child and her mother and ask that I be allowed to go to their home and see what her situation is so that mayhap I may be able to better their position and make them a more productive member of our society?"

She knelt at his feet and touched his hand with hers and smiled with sincere appreciation of his position. Again the room went with the whispering hissing sounds and the words that were readily known to Nicolai's hearing could hear.

"How could he deny her plea, she is so beautiful and so sweet, she is his jewel surely he will grant her this small request."

For show and play the King smiled and cupped his wife's chin with his hand and played his thumb over her face, he could use this to his benefit. As long as she cared about these people he could make her play to his fiddle.

"Wife, what will you offer me in return for such a boon if I grant it?"

Vicki let her smile tense and knew where this was going. Keeping her voice a light and teasing as she could muster she offered, "A first born son." Then she deftly tucked her chin and blushed. She knew this body was pregnant; she knew all the sighs as she knelt before him and even managed to blush as she made her announcement to the court.

His eyes alighted hearing this offer and he smiled. He spoke softly, "You are pregnant or you will submit to my will and give me a child?"

She lowered her lashes and smiled, "I will submit." He smiled and turned to the court and proclaims, "My wife honors me with news she is pregnant!" There was a loud roar of happiness with the court hearing of her pregnancy.

Standing he helped her stand with him, pulled her close for all to see and held her against his body kissing her deeply and passionately. "I will expect you in my bed camber tonight."

He felt her tense and then she forced her body to relax when they turned to face those in front of him. "I grant the Queen's request and order the Captain of the Guard to escort my wife with this child to their home."

Vicki actually was happy to be allowed to take the young woman that could barely be more than her daughter Sarah's age. "Come child before you are taken home I will feed you and bath you so you may return to your mother much better than you left her."

She held out her hand for the young lady, and escorted her out of the hearing chambers to the kitchen. "Millie, I would request that you feed this child, then she is to have a bath after you bring her to my chambers. She will be dressed properly. Then tell Ragnar that I will let him know when we are ready to leave for her home. And I want a basket of food and broths placed in a basket so they may have a decent meal when we arrive."

Millie bobbed a curtsey to Vicki and took the girl by the hand and led her back to the scullery kitchen. "Now, Nicolai a special concoction for you."

She moved to the garden and began to search out the herb garden ad found the roots she would need to make her potion to allow Nicolai to think he had made love to her all night long. She smiled and began to chuckle.

This was too easy. This poor Victoria she was sure had she tried to match him at the age she was she would have been over whelmed and doomed to have her children left with this monster. She found her ingredients and moved back into the palace and went to the kitchen.

The scullery maid was sitting in the corner stirring the stew that was to be served to the guard this night. She moved to the pots that hung over the fire pit next to the large pot of stew. Putting her herbs into the pot she began to add the other properties that would be needed. "Sally?" She glanced at the dirtied face young lady.

"Yes, Malady?" She moved to the towel that hung by the stove for lifting the pots and took the towel to a warm pan of water. Moving back to her she began to bath her face.

"I want you to promise me that you will always bath your face and body at least three times a week. You should also wash your clothing every three days so that you are clean in spirit and clean in body." She smiled at the gentle touch of her queen and looked at the pot she had been using.

"Yes malady. Is there anything else?"

Vicki smiled and nodded. "I am going to be in the King's chambers tonight, I want you to promise me that you will bring this in a tea pot to our bedroom by no later than two hours after sun fall. Will you do that for me?"

She nodded and Vicki hugged her, "You do this for me, and I promise that you will have a new dress to wear for Sundays."

She brightened and clapped her hands excitedly. "I will? You Promise?"

She nodded and then kissed her forehead. "Now go and bath your body and put on another dress, the King will not wish to see a ragamuffin when you come to bring the tea."

She nodded and skipped away from the stew pot. Sadie moved into the room and began to fuss that Tillie was going to let the stew burn.

Vicki looked at the stew and set the stew away from the direct heat and went to Sadie, "The stew will be fine close to the heat Sadie, and Tillie is doing a favor for me so allow me to do a favor for you."

Sadie had looked at the tea colored liquid in the pot. "That is for the King and myself later tonight and Tillie is to deliver that tea to the Kings chamber. This tea will guarantee him a night of bliss and happiness in my arms."

Sadie giggled and nodded. "We have had such potions before only the King had them delivered to the visiting ladies here."

Vicki froze her smile and then it brightened. She knew he had done to the other women what she was about to do to him. The difference was Vicki was going to render him unconscious to allow her the opportunity to plant the suggestion in his mind that he had a wild night of passion with her.

Sadie patted Vicki's hand. "It is okay malady as long as I know that Tillie is doing a favor for you, she can take all the time she wants."

Vicki hugged her. "What favor can I give you for allowing me to take one of your helpers?"

Sadie could think of nothing at that time, and Vicki had agreed to grant it when she did think of a boon or favor to collect from her. Vicki moved away from the kitchen and went to the treasurer office.

Knocking lightly on his door she smiled. "Hello Mr. Green, do you have a moment to check on a piece of property for me?" Mr. Green having been visited by most of the court was pleasantly surprised to see Vicki in his office.

"Of course Highness you have only to ask." Vicki told him of the child and the problem her mother had because she had been sick.

Mr. Green did not readily have the property's entitlements available and with some searching he was able to locate a map that showed the wretched piece of property. "How much is assessed against this property?"

Mr. Green looked up and frowned, "It is over priced."

Vicki smiled, "And how long has she not paid her taxes?" He looked further and pursed his lips and sighed. "She has not paid for two years."

Vicki was seeing an answer before her. "This property has had over paid taxes on it for how long?"

Again Mr. Green went in search of his papers and pulled them out and began to use his abacus while he calculated the over payment of the property. "She has over paid on this property for 20 years."

Vicki looked down at his figures and smiled, "Then you would say that we owe her money correct?"

He nodded. "How much money?" He calculated the amount and sat back. "With what has been over paid she would not owe taxes on this property for the next 10 years."

Vicki nodded, "Would you draw up papers showing she does not need to pay these taxes for the next five years and provide me with the money for the remaining five years and sign off on this paper?"

Mr. Green nodded and looked anxiously to the Queen, "You will not tell the King will you?"

Vicki touched his arm and in a kind and forgiving way smiled, "It will be our secret, it was an honest mistake and I shall deal with the King should he question this transaction."

He grabbed her hand and kissed it and his relief was apparent in the over bright eyes. "Mr. Green you are a fine man and a great treasurer, these things will happen. You have nothing to worry about. Now, that paper and the sums?"

She smiled and covered his hand with hers and for the first time he felt kindness from one of the royal household and Vicki had made a conquest.

Vicki watched the young girl with straw colored hair and freckles across her nose with cornflower blue eyes peering around her bedchamber. She was just beginning to bloom into womanhood. Standing before Vicki in a pair of bloomers and chemise top. Vicki moved to her closet and found nothing but cream colored dresses and sighed.

Seneca moved into her room "Highness, I have some dresses that were left by previous guests that might fit the young miss." Seneca held a arm filled with gowns and petticoats in her arms. Vicki ordered her to lay them on her bed so she could look them over.

Seneca laid them out for Vicki to study. Vicki moved aside a silk ball gown and found a blue gingham checked dress with a white pinafore that would fit her. She continued to fish around and found some shoes too. "I want her dressed in this, and her hair needs to be styled and trimmed."

Vicki went to the balcony and left Seneca with the young lady. Vicki could hear them talking and she smiled hearing the young lady expressed her surprise and excitement over having a new dress, shoes and having her hair fixed.

She was further surprised to hear the girls name while she chatted, "Oh my name is Penelope but my mom calls me Penny."

Vicki was immediately homesick for her sister. Finally, Seneca moved to the balcony. "Malady she is ready."

Vicki stood and moved into the room and she was pleased. The young Penny was standing expectantly before her looking every bit the proper young lady. She took her finger and did a circle, "Turn around."

Penny turned and then looked back at the beautiful woman in front of her. "Penny, you look beautiful. Seneca please bundle up those other dresses and we will send them home with her." Seneca nodded and moved to get a traveling case for the young lady. "Well are you ready to go?"

Penny nodded and smiled brightly. "We heard about you."

Vicki looked shocked, "You heard of me how?"

Penny sat on the edge of her bed and thought a moment. "Rumor had it the great Josephine had returned with His Highness Prince Nicolai. We all thought you were a myth only made up by the Prince. The rumors were that Princess Josephine was the most kindest, beautiful, giving and loving woman that was created by the maker. No one believed that you existed, and then when you came back with Prince Nicolai and everyone saw you and saw how kind and smart you were we knew we would be able to be happy and there was hope. We all were worried that King Nicolai would be a tyrant."

She took Vicki's hand and looked at how delicate and long her fingers were. Closing her eyes she pressed the hand to her cheek and spoke softly, "You were born for greatness, it shows in your face and your hands." Penny took her hand and kissed it with her dry parched lips. "We are saved and grateful for your return!" Vicki felt her hand dampen by tears that stained her cheeks.

Vicki studied the child, "How old are you Penny?" She smiled and wiped her finger over her nose. "I am 14 malady. Will be 15 soon enough."

She nodded and then stood from the edge of her bed. "Come we must leave so I can see what is ailing your mother." Vicki with Penny moved out of Vicki's bedchambers where Ragnar met them in the hallway.

"Highness, we have the carriage ready."

Vicki smiled and nodded, "We are ready Sir Ragnar, please lead the way."

He bowed to her and to the young woman at her side. "This way malady." He extended his hand gesturing to follow him. Vicki feeling pretty good about what was about to happen . Penny reached for Vicki's hand and curled her fingers around her hand. Vicki looked briefly to the girl at her side and moved towards the carriage. Together they entered the carriage and Vicki held the gold coins in her pocket while they rode to the girl's property.

The ride was a little rough over the roads that had become rutted from the spring rains. Vicki ignored the ruts and peered at the passing scenery. The villages were caught in some kind of bizarre time warp and if it were the last thing she did when she was rescued from this hell, she would see they were brought into the right century.

She thought about how she was going to deal with Nicolai that evening and allowed her thoughts to wander. Penny studied the Queen letting her mind work out her life she too began to watch the scenery passing each farm, city and then the town she had called home. Penny had arisen before dawn so she could walk to the Capitol and pled her mother's case.

The carriage rolled to a stop and both women were helped from the carriage. Vicki lifted the heavy basket of food and broth. They approached the hovel of a house and Vicki could tell it was in bad disrepair. Entering the cabin she found the woman was in worse shape than she imagined. Turning to Ragnar she looked distressed and he had been around her long enough to know if she was distress he would be distressed "Malady?"

She paced, "This place is in bad disrepair and if she stays here she will die."

Ragnar looked around and then back to Vicki, "My men and I can do what we can to repair this building. I am sure we can find enough supplies to fix this place."

Vicki shook her head. "No we need to take her back to the castle and this place needs to be torn down and and new building put up. This is no home it's a pathetic excuse for a place to seek shelter. The roof is I am sure repairable only by ripping it off and putting a new one up. The lady lost her husband to a fever, she now is very ill and needs a doctor and a place she can recuperate."

They both looked over at the poor young girl that sat by her mother's bed. Vicki looked around. "We need to get her bathed and in proper clothing. Where is the nearest doctor?" Ragnar thought, "He would be in the capitol."

"Then its settled, we take her back to the castle and the royal physician can see to her. Do you think we could get some of the people to come and help her get this place built?"

Ragnar thought and smiled, "If you were to ask the villagers to come help her they will come for you."

Vicki smiled, "Then lets go to the town square." Vicki looked at the carriage and sighed. "Would one of your men be so kind as to get Mrs. Watson in the carriage and send her on the way to the castle?"

Ragnar would not disobey his Queen but he questioned her wisdom. "How do you propose to get back to the castle?" Vicki looked at the four horses pulling the carriage and smiled.

"I will ride one of the carriage horses to the town square and to the castle."

Ragnar was stunned. "Malady are you sure you can ride?" She nodded moving to the first horse on the carriage. "I can ride one of these or ride behind you Ragnar which shall it be?"

Vicki sat behind Ragnar and laid her head against his back and sighed. "Thank you Ragnar."

He smiled feeling her head against his back. "You are welcome Highness, we are almost to the square."

Vicki sighed. "Good, how will we get the towns people to come." Ragnar chuckled, "They will hear that the Queen is in the square and they are anxious to meet you malady you are an enigma to them."

Vicki chuckled, "I really never thought of being an enigma, I was always just plain old Josephine."

He shook his head. "Madam, you do not realize how beautiful you truly are."

Vicki laughed. "No I guess I do not."

Ragnar held up his horse, "We are here." He dismounted and picked her up and let her slid down his body. His eyes lowered feeling the hardness of his manhood rise to the feel and touch of her body.

Vicki had chosen to ignore his reaction to their close contact and stepped away from him. She had found him very attractive his tall form dominated over his men, his features to her we very reminiscent of Burke Devlin, with his strong squared jaw, his heavy eye brows and the classic Greek nose and those lips were just like Burke's asking to be kissed.

Ragnar led her to the center of the town to a crudely constructed platform. She stood in the center of the plat form and removed her hood revealing her crown and her grandeur of her status of Queen. Those that had been milling about stopped upon seeing her. They began to gather around the platform to look at the beautiful Queen Josephine.

Vicki stood and waited and the crowd began to grow larger and larger until she was sure she now had the attention of the town. She began to speak as the crowd watched her and then they fell silent. "My dear friends, for I do feel we are friends. You do me the honor of respecting me as your Queen. I ask very little of you for myself. I come to ask, no I come to humble myself before you and beg and plead for your help."

She felt her emotions were about to take over and she was going to cry. A single tear did flow down her cheek and the crowd was riveted to her. "I came to day to care for a neighbor of yours, her name is Mrs. Watson. She is in very poor health and I had her taken to the castle to be treated by the doctor."

The town Mayor stepped forward, "Highness." He bowed to her, "You cry for Mrs. Watson?" He was astonished that she would have such feelings for a woman like Mrs. Watson.

"I cry for all of you, but especially for Mrs. Watson. She is sick and her house is not fit for vermin to live in. So I ask, if I provide the materials, would you as her neighbors to honor me by fixing up her house so when she returns to it she will feel safe, secure and warm?"

She waited and began to grow nervous over what she had requested. The crowd began to mumble and she tried to listen to what they were saying. Then a man that must have been a carpenter stepped forward, "I will help you Queen Josephine. We do this because of you."