Hello...I'm back...hehe...sorry it's been so long! *XD Please take this chapter as consolation for my absence. Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-One: Long-lost Cousin
Temperance sighed as she looked towards the doors of the nursery, both Angela and Michelle holding her hands tightly, giving her their own form of comfort. Booth had gone of with Parker and Lance to get suited up in a guard's uniform and find a suitable disguise for his face so that he may not be recognized, while Michelle had led Temperance, still in her servant's disguise, and Angela, to the nursery, where she watched over the newborn babies and young children, as well as the expecting mother's and those of Jared's wives who'd recently given birth.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Angela asked her, uncertainly.
Temperance nodded. "It's now or never. Besides, I have no other choice. We're running out of time."
Angela nodded in understanding, squeezing her friend's hand one last time before pulling out the key to the nursery and unlocking the doors.
"Hello, ladies!" she greeted, cheerfully, as she stepped over the threshold, Temperance and Michelle right behind her. "You guys know my sister-in-law and my husband, Terrance, right?"
A few of the child-bearing women nodded, their faces solemn, but they still forced polite smiles at the young nanny and the 'bodyguard' who had followed Angela in.
Temperance bowed in an exaggerated fashion while Michelle curtsied. Angela walked over to one of the women, placing a hand on her cheek. "Oh, Genny, Sweetie, you should be laying down. You're due any day now and you look a bit flushed. Go to your bed and I'll send one of the younger girls to tend to you.
The young woman nodded and made her way to one of the many closed off areas in the room, drawing back the thick curtain enough to reveal a bed and small living area, before disappearing behind it.
Angela went up to another, much older woman, who seemed well past her prime. "Agnus." She said in a comforting tone. "The Queen had forbid you from returning here. You are far too elderly to bear any more children to the King."
The woman gave her an indignant glare. "I am not so old!" she exclaimed, outraged. "I still have a few good years left in me! I bore that man five children. I still have a few left in me!"
Angela shook her head. "I'm very sorry, Agnus, but I have direct orders from her Majesty to keep you out of this room." She turned to a young servant girl, her hands full of dishes. "Lexi, on your way to the kitchen, please escort Agnus back to her room with the other retired wives."
The young girl nodded and shifted the dishes to one hand, taking the woman's hand in her other one. "Come now, Agnus. I'll take good care of you, Madam."
Agnus didn't even try to pull away as she was led away. Temperance watched as she was pulled out of the room, a sorrowful expression on her face. "It's horrible how they treat women here. Nobody should be treated like this."
Michelle nodded, but didn't say anything. Temperance noticed her silence and turned to her, watching as a tear fell down her cheek.
Temperance felt her heart being crushed and she immediately grabbed Michelle in a warm embrace. "I hope you never have to go through this." she admonished, squeezing the younger girl.
Michelle still stayed silent, but squeezed Temperance back, letting go after a few moments.
Temperance wiped the tears from her cheeks before speaking again. "Now," she said, "take me to see Maggie."
-BONES-
Temperance was shocked when Angela and Michelle led her to a door in the back of the room. The door had a large star with 'Margaret' etched into it.
"Why did she receive her own room?" Temperance asked Michelle as she unlocked the door.
"I don't know for sure, exactly," Michelle replied, "But some of the other women say that if it weren't for Rebecca coming to Jared with the next heir to the throne then she would be the Queen, so he treasures and spoils her just in case anything happens to Rebecca, so that she'll be the next Queen.
Temperance shook her head in a vain attempt to rid herself of the rising anger. "That's horrible." she said, quietly.
Michelle nodded, leading both Angela and Temperance into the room.
"Hello, Lady Margaret." she said, bowing to a young, blue-eyed woman, not much older than Temperance herself, sitting up in bed.
"Hello, Miss Maya." Maggie replied. "Have you come with my daughter?" she asked hopefully, though she knew she hadn't. She hadn't been allowed to see any of her children following their births. She'd had to wait until they no longer recognized her as their mother, in order to break the bond between mother and child.
Michelle shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, Ma-am. But, I do have another guest with me that is eager to see you."
"If it is the King, tell him I am not in the mood tonight. I've barely had enough time to heal from having his last child.
"It is not the King, milady." Michelle answered, politely.
Temperance stepped into Maggie's view, removing her hat. "Hello." she said, still disguising her voice.
Maggie furrowed her eyebrows. "Maya? Who is this?" she asked.
A tear fell down Temperance's cheek as she stepped forward. "I am a relative of yours." she said, her voice cracking a bit.
"A relative?" Maggie's eyes widened. Temperance nodded.
"Yes. I am your second-cousin, Temperance."
"Temperance?" Maggie asked, the ghost of a smile present on her face. "What an odd name for a young man. What brings you here, Sir Temperance?"
"It's Lady, actually." Temperance responded, her heart speeding up as she gave away her most dangerous secret to a woman she'd barely known.
"Lady? Well, Lady Temperance, then. What business do you have with me now? And why are you dressed as a man?"
Temperance turned to Angela and Michelle, asking silently with her eyes fr them to leave. They understood and Michelle stepped out first as Angela told Temperance that she'd be right outside if needed.
Once they were gone, Temperance turned back to Maggie, who was looking at her, expectantly. "Maggie, it's quite a long story and I'm going to need you to promise me that you will not interrupt and will save all questions until after I tell it to you."
Maggie nodded and motioned towards a chair, next to the bed, where Temperance took a seat.
"Well, to begin, as a child you were taken by the King..."
I hope that was worth the wait! Please REVIEW!