We followed the crowd of guests through the castle to the great hall. Maria and I linked arms, in case I felt faint again she said. But when Adam was named king a new feeling arose inside of me and I suddenly became determined to save him.

The great hall was a magnificent room with tall ceilings and large glass windows that covered up ¾ of the back wall. They had a view of the river below but it was dark now so the river looked like a black snake among the winter snow. There was a U-shaped table that took up majority of the room. It was covered with a white tablecloth and had gold, glittering napkins along with a gold bowl, plate, cup and cutlery. There were chairs along the outside of the table, so the servants could travel through the middle of the U and serve people without getting in the way. At the head of the table, the bottom of the U, there was a tall, golden chair with red cushions. It was where the king would sit and could be seen by all.

"Sit with us?" Maria asked and led me towards the right side of the table, where our backs would be towards the windows. We sat down and watched as other guests filed into the room. A flash of bright pink caught my attention and I looked over towards the doorway. The blonde woman strode through the room with her arm linked through an older mans arm. He was a fat man, with snow-white hair and a long beard that ended just under his chest. Her eyes flicked around the room as they stopped to talk to another older couple and when she hadn't seen Paul she joined in the conversation.

"Who is that?" I asked Maria, nodding at the woman.

"That is Lady Kelly Prescott." She smiled. "Her husband is the king's, the old king's longest friend."

"She is his…"

"Wife? Yes." Maria smiled.

"He looks old enough to be her grandfather." I said and blushed when I made eye contact with Spencer. He laughed and Maria smiled. "Sorry." I said.

"He's only old enough to be my father, not grandfather."

"But I feel as young as a buck." He said giving me a wink and I smiled, shaking my head.

"They don't love each other like we do. Their marriage was more of a…an arrangement between their parents." Maria explained with a sad face.

"I see." I said with a nod. We fell silent as we watched people gather in the room. A little girl with curly red hair caught my attention and I watched her gaze up at the ceiling with wonder. She was wearing a dark green dress and her bright blue eyes were amazed at the height of the ceiling. She pulled on her mothers dress and whispered about it to her mother, who smiled gently at her.

"Aggie would have loved it here." Jacob said, noticing the little girl as well. I nodded and felt a pain in my heart. I missed home and hadn't realized it until this moment.

"Aggie? Is that your daughter?" Maria asked Jacob.

"Yes." He said with a cough. He didn't even bother looking at me anymore when he said that she was his daughter. The pain from the secret would be too evident on both of our faces.

"How many children do you have?" She asked.

"Three. Two boys and a girl." Jacob said with a proud smile.

"My goodness, you have been blessed." She said with a genuine smile, but it never reached her eyes. Before I could stop him Jacob asked that question that a barren woman never wants to hear.

"Do you have children?" Her smile faltered for a second but then she picked it back up and shook her head, trying to hide her sorrows.

"I'm sorry." I said but she squeezed my hand and smiled.

"It's alright. It's not your fault." She said and took a deep breath. To save us from an awkward silence trumpets sounded and a servant shouted, "The King of England." At this everyone stood and Adam walked in, all smiles as everyone started clapping for him. The role of king suited him, I thought as I watched him proudly walk up to the head table. He smiled at his guests and held up his hand.

"Please, lets eat." He said and then sat down. Jesse sat on his right and Paul on his left. Paul's eyes roamed the hall and stopped on Lady Prescott. Lady Prescott sat almost directly across from us so I could keep an eye on both of them. They shared a secret smile before she leaned close to her husband and whispered in his ear. He let out a cough and looked at her like she had three heads. I shivered with disgust and looked away.

"These parties are a lot different from the ones back home, don't you agree?" Maria asked.

"Yes, a lot different." I said as I looked at the different dresses everyone was wearing.

"Your parties are more fun." Spencer whispered and I laughed.

"They are more casual," I said.

"I miss how everyone knew each other and danced with each other. You didn't have to care what people thought of you." Maria said and I nodded. "The next party you through we must be invited."

"Of course, but just make sure to wear old clothes because it will most likely be held in a barn." As I said this I noticed a pair of cold eyes watching me from the other side of Spencer. She raised her eyebrows at me and gave a quick cough before she turned away. I blanked and quickly looked down at my napkin.

"Don't worry Susanna, Lady Jerome doesn't approve of anybody." Maria said loudly and there was a loud snort from beside Spencer. I smiled at Maria and she winked. A servant appeared in front of me with a large ladle and poured hot soup into my bowl. His green eyes twinkled and his freckles amazed me, that I found myself studying his face. He smiled at me and I returned the smile before he moved on to Maria and the rest of the table.

"He was cute." She whispered to me and I felt my cheeks blush. "There are a lot of handsome men here." She said.

"I've hardly noticed." I lied as I looked at the servant again. Our eyes met and I blushed before looking away.

"Do you have a suitor waiting for you?" She asked and I shook my head.

"What about Andrew?" Jacob asked. I frowned at him for eavesdropping and he shrugged.

"Andrew? Who is this boy?" She asked looked at me excitedly. I took a spoonful of soup and was unable to speak.

"He has been calling on her since…since she was 13?" he said looking at me for confirmation. I wiped my mouth and shook my head.

"I was 12." I remembered that kiss and briefly remembered how it felt to kiss him.

"I'm surprised he hasn't asked for her hand yet." Jacob said, sounding like an old woman.

"He's not where he wants to be, money wise." I said, and then wished I hadn't. Maria grabbed my hand and looked at me with bright eyes.

"Does that mean that he has mentioned it to you?" I could fell both of their eyes boring into my skin as I stared at my soup.

"We have talked about it, but that does not mean that we will be getting married." I said feeling a knot form in my stomach. "There are plenty of other…women that he might want to marry."

"Or men that you might want to marry." Maria whispered and I blushed a deep red. My eyes flicked to the head table and I instantly wished that I hadn't. Adam nodded at me. I nodded back and felt like I couldn't look away. His brown eyes studied mine and he smiled. He leaned over to Jesse and whispered in his ear. They both looked at me now and when I looked at Jesse I felt that familiar jump in my chest and quickly looked away. I thought of poor Andrew at home, who I knew was in love with me. I needed to stop my feelings for Jesse and try to love Andrew. Falling in love with someone like Jesse would lead to nothing but problems for me. I sighed and started eating my soup.

After an hour of eating dishes full of food I sat back in my chair and stifled a yawn. I looked around and noticed that other people were yawning too. A lot of food and red wine did that to people.

"What a meal!" Jacob said patting his swollen belly.

"We have never eaten that much food in years."

"We never have that much food." Jacob said and we laughed.

"I hope they start the dancing soon, or I might fall asleep." Maria said with glossy eyes.

"Ugh, I don't even think I can sit up." I struggled to sit up and they both laughed at me. I smiled and glanced at the head table for the 12th time. I don't know when Paul had done it, but the king was sitting in his chair with his head down. Paul sat beside him smiling and sipping at his own glass of wine. Jesse shook Adam and he was startled awake. They exchanged words and Adam's face was furious. He stood up and before everyone could stand up with him he stormed out. Everyone stood unsure of what to do.

"If you will all head to the next room the dancing will start in a few minutes." Paul said and headed out after the king. I an ice-cold chill went through my body and I shivered.

"Excuse me." I said to my companions. Jacob gave me a worried look and I smiled.

"I just have to go to my room, to get something. I'll be right back brother. Don't worry." I said and my smile sold him. He nodded and stood.

"Just be quick please." I nodded and walked as fast as I could to the hallway that Ceecee had told me about.

It was dark, very poorly lit and gave me even more chills, but I had to find a room and take the servants exit. I looked down the hall and sighed, one of these doors was bound to lead to a bedroom.

"Susanna?" Jesse voice pushed the cold chill out of my body and filled it with a burning fire. I looked over my shoulder at him and smiled slightly.

"Oh hello Jesse." I turned away and frantically chose a door.

"What are you doing?"

"I just had to…run to my room for something." I lied.

"Isn't your room in the middle ward?" He asked standing beside me. I laughed and shook my head.

"No it's right here." I placed a hand on the doorknob and smiled. "Sorry Jesse but I have to go." I smiled and he raised his eyebrows at me. I opened the door and quickly stepped into the room. Some hard hit my face, just below my eye and I jumped back hold my eye. Jesse was laughing beside me and I felt his hand on the lower part of my back.

"Are you alright?" He asked between laughs.

"Fine, thanks for being so concerned."

"Your attempts at avoiding me are amusing. Especially when you walked into a broom." He laughed louder and I opened my good eye and groaned. I would choose a broom cupboard as my bedroom. I saw the culprit sticking out the door, practically laughing at me. I sighed and let out a fake laugh.

"Woops wrong room. I guess its all the wine. This one is definitely my room." I smiled, hand still covering my sore eye. "I guess I'll see you later." I turned the knob and walked in. This time I had actually chosen a room, but as I opened the door a man lying in the bed let out a loud snore. I jumped and shut the door in Jesse's face. I could hear him laughing as he walked down the hallway. I sighed and let go of my eye, which was throbbing now. I leaned against the door and listen to the old man, who lying naked in his bed, snore. Then I remembered what I had to do and dashed to the secret door.

It opened with a loud creak, but I didn't stay to check if the old man had awoken. I shut the door behind me and I looked down the hallway. It was cold and dark and had a smell of mould. There were three lit torches so I grabbed one and raced to the winding stone staircase at the end of the hallway. I held up my dress and raced up the stairs, but halfway up I couldn't remember how many flights of stairs I was supposed to go up. So at each landing I came to, I stopped and took a good look down the hallway before I proceeded up the stairs. I eventually came to a hallway that had more light than the others. I noticed that there was a perfect square of light and remembered that Ceecee had said she would keep the door open for me.

I quickly walked down the hallway and stopped outside of the door. I could hear voices but couldn't hear them perfectly, so I stepped into the room. I spotted Ceecee standing in the far corner, trapped between Paul's arms. Adam lay on his large bed. I looked around the room for a hiding spot, but with a torch in my hands it was difficult. There were tall pillars in the king's room, made of white marble. So I stood behind one of them and listened.

"Come on Cecily one more go. For old times sake?" Paul's voice was low and sweet.

"I'm sorry, but I cant…it wouldn't be right." She said. Her voice was tiny and scared.

"It'll be fun." I shivered at his voice. "Come on." His voice was muffled and Ceecee shrieked. She I looked around the pillar and Paul had his hands pulling up Ceecee's dress as he kissed her neck. Poor Ceecee was trying to fight him off while keeping her dignity. I felt a fury like never before and raced out from behind the pillar. Instinct took over and once close enough I hit Paul over the head with the torch. He instantly dropped but his hair caught fire.

"Oh my GOD!" Ceecee jumped and together we attempted to put out the fire. We managed to do so without damaging Paul's skin, but there was a bald spot at the back of his head and his skin was a dark pink.

"He's going to be sore tomorrow." Ceecee said.

"He's going to be sore for a while. I don't know what I was thinking." I said.

"You were brilliant." She smiled at me and I smiled back.

"What do we do now?" I asked looked at the king, buried in his bed on top of red velvet duvet and tons of red and black pillows.

"We've got to move Paul." Ceecee said.

"Do you think he'll remember?" I asked, nervous that I would get in trouble.

"He never saw you coming. So he won't know what happened. Don't worry." She grabbed his arms and started dragging him towards the door. "Here I'll…"

"You'll need someone to help you." I said picking up his feet. Ceecee opened the door and looked down the hallway.

"No one ever comes up here, but just to be sure." She said before we carried him out of the door. "Over here." Ceecee puffed as she directed us.

"Take this torch and put it out in Adam's wash basin. Its on the table beside his bed." She instructed. I did as she told me as fast as I could. I looked at Adam sleeping peacefully in the bed and felt a sudden desire to touch his face. I shook my head, took a deep breath and went back to Ceecee. She had set Paul up to look like he had gotten drunk and fallen asleep.

"What am I doing with this?" I asked and Ceecee took it from me. She held it up to the basket that the torches sat in and let it fall. It hit Paul on the head and rolled a coup feet away. "Opps…looks like he'll have to bumps tomorrow." She said giving me a malicious smile. We heard footsteps somewhere close and we dashed back into the king's room and shut the door.

"Well, what do we have here?" Came a groggy voice from behind us. We both froze and looked at each other. Slowly we turned and noticed Adam sitting up in his bed smiling at us. "Aren't you two a sight! Have a interesting night?" He asked, his eyes roaming over us. I looked at Ceecee and bit back a smile. Her hair was all loose and falling down her red face. Her black dress was crinkled and not exactly even. I only imagined what I looked like.

"Sorry your majesty." Ceecee said curtsying and I copied. "We were…uh…just checking on you." I blushed because there was no reason for me to need to check on the king. Adam thought this too because he looked at me and smiled. "You both came to check on me?"

"Oh, well you see, Miss Simon here told me that you had left so suddenly and she was concerned so I told her to come along, just to be sure." Ceecee said.

"Well then… I guess I should thank you." He nodded towards me. "Come, sit." He said to us and I froze.

"Oh no I…" there was a knock on the door and it opened. I inwardly groaned as Jesse walked in.

"Having a party without me?" He asked. Although I wasn't looking at him I knew he was watching me and smiling.

"These two were worried about me." Adam gloated and my face heated. "They must've had quite the time doing it." Jesse nodded and sat on the chair by the fireplace opposite Adam's bed, which I had just noticed was there.

"Paul's outside. Passed out." Jesse said, my eyes flicked to Ceecee and she bit her lip and looked at the ground. "Looks like he knocked over a torch and almost burnt his hair off." I looked up just as Adam looked at us. His eyes narrowed and then he smiled.

"We should really be going. I need to tend to Susanna's eye." Ceecee said and my face instantly heated. I didn't even wonder if it had swollen, but I had noticed that I was tender and harder to see out of. Jesse smiled and I looked at the ground. It was pure torture standing there, having both men embarrass you only by looking at you.

"You may go Cecily. Take good care of our special guest." Adam said, laughter in his voice. "I hope to see you at the dance tomorrow night Miss Simon." He said and I smiled slightly and we curtsied before leaving through the solid oak doors that led into the king's room. We passed Paul, who was now accompanied by a manservant who was studying his burn.

"Better get the doctor." Ceecee said to the servant. He jumped up and raced down the hallway. Ceecee led me into a room, which was porcelain white with a large porcelain tub in the middle and soft white bathing sheets folded neatly beside jars of different salts. She led me through the secret doorway and we were back in the hallway and headed down one flight of stairs before she headed the next hallway. She opened a door and when I followed her in I noticed that I was my room.

"Yes your room is right underneath his." She said, closing the door behind me. She sighed and sat on the bed. "Hope you don't mind, but that was too much for me." I sat beside her and attempted to lie back, but the wires of my dress got in the way. I lifted my dress and pulled the metal hoop out and kicked it into the corner. My dress deflated and I lay back on the bed. Ceecee lay beside me and the two of us stared at the ceiling.

I don't know what came over me but suddenly I was in fits of laughter. Ceecee started laughing too and the two of us clutched our stomachs as we laughed. We laughed so much that tears rolled down my cheeks. When I stopped laughing I laid there breathing deeply and smiling.

"Did you see the servant's face as he inspected Paul?" I asked and Ceecee giggled.

"He was in pure shock and scared out of his wits."

"I hope his hair grows in funny." I said and Ceecee laughed. "It serves him right trying to kill the king and have his way with you at the same time. The man thinks he's invincible." I said and Ceecee nodded. I thought of Paul and Kelly in the Round Tower. Then I sat up and gasped. "Lord Prescott, what are we going to do about him?"

"I suspected that Lady Prescott was the one who Paul was scheming with seeing as I caught them in bed once." I cringed and she nodded. "So I slipped Lord Prescott a note and all I can do is hope that he's smart enough." I sighed and felt sadness in my heart. I had known that it might not be possible that we saved both but as long as we saved Adam, I must be content.

"I can't go back to the party now." I said feeling my swollen eye. Ceecee laughed.

"No you cant. How did you do that?"

"I walked into a broom trying to get away from Jesse." I sad and she went into fits of laughter again.

"Its not funny." I said even thought I too laughed. "I'm not going to the ball tomorrow looking like this and Jacob will be furious when he sees it." I said.

"I'll get a cold cloth and that will, hopefully take the swelling down, but it might not take the colour away."

"What am I going to tell people?" I asked as she headed towards the door.

"Tell them the truth. There's no shame in it." She said giving me a smile.

"Sure nothing to be embarrassed about walking into a BROOMSTICK!" I shouted after her and she shut the door trying to hide the giggles.

I sighed and sat back on the bed. This would be a story to tell the kids when I got back home.

"Where did you-What happened to your face!" Jacob shouted as I opened the door to his furious knocks. I had changed into a nightgown after Ceecee had left and sat in bed thinking about what had happened. I was just starting to doze off when Jacob pounded on the door. I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and answered it.

"I-I walked into a broom cupboard thinking it was my room. I guess I had too much wine at dinner time." I blushed.

"Do you know how worried I was?" He shouted. An older couple passed by and pretended that they weren't listening.

"Stop shouting at me and get in here." I said pulling him into my room. I shut the door and sighed.

"Susanna, you frightened me. I thought something bad had happened to you. I've seen you maybe twice since we came here and you act like a completely different person. Running through the hallways, fainting in church, disappearing for hours at a time." He sighed.

"Jacob I'm sorry I just…had to do something." He shook his head and picked up a brush that was on the vanity.

"I'm sorry Susanna, but we cannot stay another day."

"What?" I asked, feeling anger rise in my chest.

"We came for the coronation and we've seen it. I miss home and I think this place is too dangerous for someone as young as you."

"Don't tell me what's dangerous for me!" I screamed. "You don't know…you don't care about me! You just feel burdened by me so you want to get home so you don't have to worry about me anymore!" I shouted, tears poured down my face. I was shaking ferociously and could barely breath. I had never fought with Jacob let alone shouted at him. He stood in front of me shocked.

"You know that is not true, but you are too upset to see otherwise. I care deeply for my family and would do anything for them. Hell I'm raising my sister as my own daughter."

"That has nothing to do with me." I spat. "You see that I am not a little girl anymore and that frightens you so you want to take me away from the only place I actually feel happy."

"You feel happy here? In this fake world, where people judge you by the way your dress and not by the way your soul is? You are happy in a world where money is the only thing that matters?" he stepped closer to me, his eyes sad but his face angry. "If so then you are not the sister I thought you were."

"Maybe I'm not." I spat back. He studied my face, completely at a loss for words. I had hurt him in some way and I wished I hadn't but I was so angry.

"We're leaving tomorrow before lunch. I've already talked to Dr Smith and he agrees that tomorrow would be an ideal time to leave."

"Jacob please…" he held up his hand to silence me.

"I said we're leaving, so we're leaving. Make sure you are awake and ready by 10 o'clock." Without even another glance at me Jacob left my room, closing the door softly behind him. I stood staring at the door shocked. I let the tears pour down my face and cried. It wasn't fair. He didn't understand what I was going through, what I had been through. Maybe if I explained it-he would never believe me. He was too angry and hurt to listen to me now. I sighed and wiped my face, wincing as I touched my tender eye. I climbed into the soft bed and wished I could just stay here forever. Here where I didn't have to do chores or worry about anything. Just lying here, in this soft bed, without a care in the world.