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"Tell me girl, why do you want to marry Henry?" The queen demanded to know and for a moment, I thought hard about that.
I wanted to marry him because I liked him, but not only that. I knew him for almost six months and I was sure about one thing.
"Because I love him." I said it out loud, for the first time. Even Henry didn't know.
The Queen laughed at my words and I felt a little offended, why was she laughing at me? Just because I had feelings for him?
"That, my girl, is not the answer I have expected. You truly feel that strong for him?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"What is it I heard about your family being…. Let's say uncommon."
"Well, not all of them are. My oldest sister Jane is married to Mr. Charles Bingley and my second oldest Elisabeth is married to Mr. Darcy, who is the nephew of Lady Catherine de Burgh."
"Horrible woman, if you ask me. I had the displeasure of meeting her once, did you meet her?" The queen answered looking almost disgusted. It fit to what Lizzy had told me about Mr. Darcy's aunt.
"I did not, your majesty."
"Your luck. But I didn't know about your sisters being married to respectable men like Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. How about the rest of your family?"
Now I felt insecure, especially thinking about Lydia and Wickham.
"I have a younger sister, Catherine, she is not married yet, but my other sister Lydia is. To an officer, named George Wickham. My parents live in Hertfordshire…" I didn't know what more to say, so I fell silent looking at the Queen, who studied me intently.
"Is it true, that your sister, what was her name, Lydia eloped with her husband?"
I cringed because I had hoped she wouldn't know that.
"Yes, your majesty. But she was very young and acting foolish. He took advantage of her innocence and the feelings she had for him." I tried to defend Lydia, even though I knew how foolish her actions had been. She had been young and inexperienced.
"I heard about this Mr. Wickham, he tried the same with Miss Darcy, did he not?"
"Yes, her brother was quick enough to stop them before anything could happen." I hurried to say, glad that Georgiana hadn't done what Lydia did.
"Do you read Miss Bennet?" The Queen asked suddenly. I wasn't sure why she had changed the topic so abruptly, but I was rather glad about it.
"Yes, whenever my time allows it."
"Do you play the piano?" she asked further and I nodded once more.
"With passion, your majesty."
"Do you paint?"
"No. I never had much love for painting."
"Me neither. I much more enjoy the reality, myself." The Queen answered and I wasn't sure what all these questions were about.
"Miss Bennet, let me be honest with you. It seems that we have been misinformed about you and at least part of your family."
"What do you mean?"
"I do not want to go into detail, but we received horrible information about you. After I read the letter Joana wrote to me and talked to you myself, I can see why Henry thinks that you are good enough for his family. I will talk to the King immediately, to see what I can do. But you should know that the final decision is in his hands."
The Queen said and I felt incredibly relived. The Queen was on my side? Thought I was good enough for Henry's family. Could it be that Henry was right, and everything would indeed end well?
"Thank you, your majesty."
"You are free to have a look around the palace, while I talk to the King." The Queen said and got up, I quickly followed her example and left the room after her. She was rather tall for a woman, which also added to the fact that she appeared slightly intimidating.
"Thank you again, your majesty." I said and watched her walk down the hallway, followed by half a dozen of Ladies.
I sighed and turned to walk down the hallway to my left, interested in what I might find at the end.
To my surprise I reached a glass door, which lead to a wonderful garden. I smiled and stepped out into the sunlight.
"So it really is true…." I heard a female voice. Somehow that voice seemed familiar. When I turned towards the voice I immediately knew why. The woman in front of me was incredibly beautiful.
"Camille…" I gasped and looked at Henry's former fiancé. I hadn't expected her to be at the palace.
"You did not expect me, did you?" she asked walking closer to me. Looking stunning in her green dress with her hair pinned to the back of her head.
"To be honest. I did not."
"Then you are more foolish than I thought. Did you really think I would just accept Henry exchanging me by someone like you?"
That's it for now. Have a great weekend!