"Momma look! Look!" Arthur exclaimed as we approached the vacation house. Snow covered every inch of ground and it was exactly the way I remembered it. It had been six years since I had been to the Vacation house and I swore I wouldn't go back; back to my refuge, back to the place that kept me sane but also saw my worst days.
The house was decorated with green garland around every window and door. The staircase had tiny Christmas trees in pots on each step decorated with gold and silver trimmings. The fountain where running water normally flowed was an ice sculpture of a mighty horse and rider.
"It's beautiful." I agreed and then noticed all the carriages stationed outside of the barn. I looked at Adam sitting across from us and he studied the grounds as if he were displeased. "Guests have arrived already?"
"The party is planned for tonight." He said without looking at me.
"Tonight? But we've just arrived. The children will be exhausted and grumpy." His gaze flicked over to me and he narrowed his eyes.
"The party is tonight and I leave first thing in the morning for France." I took a deep breath and ignored his glare. He had told me last night that he was leaving for France to arrange a marriage between Albert and King Pierre's youngest daughter. We had fought about it: I said he's too young and he said he's at the perfect age and needed to learn a bit of responsibility. I stormed off and called my "closest friends" (my ladies in waiting, my musicians and a couple of other staff members) and had a small gathering in my parlor. Too much wine was drunk and too much dancing had taken place for my feet ached and my stomach churned but it had been the perfect thing to distract me. Although I still could not shake the feeling that something horrible was awaiting me, especially after meeting Margaret.
The carriage came to a stop and Arthur bounced in his seat. Adam glanced over at him with a glare and I gently squeezed Arthur's leg. He looked up at me and I smiled but shook my head. He quieted down but his little legs still shook with anticipation.
Trumpets sounded and our carriage door was flung open. We waited for Adam to fix his jacket, which was too small over his rapidly growing belly, and then followed him out of the carriage. The steps were lined with servants and guests bowing to the royal family. Some family. My mother was turned in her grave every time I used the word family.
I watched as Albert climbed out of the carriage and stood proudly, like Adam taught him, back straight, head held high, no emotion. He walked at his father's right, one hand behind his back the other stiffly at his side and made no indication he saw anyone around him, unless Adam stopped to greet them.
Anthony slowly climbed out. He still slouched and he was always smiling but it was obvious that he desperately sought his father's approval. He studied the way they walked and tried to copy them, tripping over himself and smirking at the guests.
Addie was the last to appear, her red hair neatly tied back into the gold hair net I had made as a Christmas gift. She pressed her white-gloved hands down the length of her dark green dress and she looked up at me. She was no longer the child I remembered. She had left at the end of summer as a scrawny babe and appeared in the winter as a small-breasted woman with distinguished cheekbones and a mystery to her eye. I often caught men gawking at her and felt the need to protect her. I caught her gaze and she gave me a nervous smile before taking position behind me.
I grabbed Arthur's hand, while he sucked the thumb on his other hand and followed the group into the house. It was beautifully decorated and the staircase had been added to. It was now 10 feet wider and had red carpet that ran down the steps. It was lined with red ribbons and pieces of holly. The house was warm and the sounds of laughter made it a happier place for everyone.
"Go upstairs and change. Dinner starts in an hour." Adam said over his shoulder and then disappeared into the study, followed by his most trusted confidants. Paul stopped and whispered something to Addie who blushed and smiled. I glared at him but he gave me a wink and closed the door behind him.
As we walked up the stairs I let go of Arthur and he raced off with his brothers, desperate to be the first at the top of the steps. I looked at Addie and she smiled. "What did he say?" I asked.
"Who Momma?" She asked confused.
"The Duke!" I whispered furiously. She blushed again and then shrugged.
"Nothing of importance. He just told me to be on my best behaviour and made a slightly mean jest about Lady Regan's chin hair." She whispered back.
"Addison that is not funny." I said looking over at Regan. It was true; with her old age the hairs on her chin were becoming darker and more noticeable. But she was my truest dearest friend and I felt the need to defend her. I spoke this thought to Addie and she frowned.
"I'm sorry Momma. I didn't really think it was funny. I just do that to please the Duke." She went to open her bedroom door and I grabbed her hand.
"You don't…do anything else to please the Duke do you?" I asked and she blinked at me.
"Momma NO!" She hissed. "Absolutely not. I'm not a- a- harlot."
"I never said that. I just know that men of his power and age…can manipulate a young girl to think and do things that they shouldn't."
"I would never Momma. He's soo…old!" She shrieked and then smiled at me. "Besides I love another anyways." She blushed again and when I didn't smile she sighed. "A boy my own age!" She said and I smiled. I cupped her chin in my hands and kissed her forehead.
"Good. But just remember. You are a lady." She nodded and smiled at me. She kissed my cheek and then disappeared into her room to change. I instructed one of my ladies to wait on her and help her dress. It was a strange request to her and she attempted to argue but after I flogged one of my old ladies for disobeying me all my girls were afraid of me. I hated it at first but it became very useful.
In my room I had two girls unpack my trunk and then sent them off to tend to the boys. Regan smiled as she laid out my dress. She had instructed it's making herself, as a Christmas present and it was the most magnificent dress I had ever seen.
The bodice and skirts were made of rich red silk, my new favourite colour. It caught everyone's attention and made one more desirable when wearing red. The bodice was tight, hooking to the back of my black corset and ending in a v-shape just below my navel. It was a low neckline and came off my shoulders and it was trimming with gold lace. The sleeves were trumpet sleeves, tight around my elbows but flared out at the end. They were trimmed with the same gold lace but had small gold beads sown into the fabric. They sparkled in the light when I moved. The skirt was made of the same design, round and trimmed with gold lace. The only difference was the black flower patterned lace that lay over the silk. It was barely visible but seemed to give the red a richer colour, if that were at all possible.
Regan dressed my hair in a low bun with two pieces of holly in the gold hairnet and placed my finest crown on my head, fastened it into my hair with pins. She lined my eyes with charcoal and dyed my lips a ruby red. She pinched my cheeks and nodded with approval. I looked in the mirror and smiled. I was going to be the cause of a lot of conversation tonight.
There was a knock on the door announcing dinner was being served and my presence was required. I looked at Regan, who wore a simple green dress, high neckline and boring skirt, and she smiled. "Beautiful as ever." She kissed my cheek. "Oh I almost forgot." She opened my trunk and lifted out a box. "Happy Christmas." She said handing it to me. I studied her face and she nodded.
Inside was a single gold chair and on the end of it was a rub with a family crest on it. It was marvelous and went perfectly with my dress.
"This is too much!" I said offering it back but unable to look away.
"Don't be ridiculous. It was my mothers and once was mine. It's a family heirloom."
"But I am not family." I said and she smiled. She opened her mouth to say something but there was another knock on the door. I grumbled and stood up. She wrapped the black fur cape around my shoulders and wished me luck.
I could hear the guests in the dinning hall before I even reached the bottom landing. The noise was joyful and loud and it caused a smile to appear on my face. The announcer bowed to me, hit his stick off the ground three times and said, "Her Majesty, Queen Susanna." The room went silent as I counted to three before making my entrance.
The room was full of tables and chairs, everyone facing the king so not one back was turned to him. He sat at the far end of the room, wearing silver and black robes, very festive as usual. I smiled to the guests and felt my heart race as I stood in front of Adam and bowed, making sure that my cleavage was well visible. When I looked up he swallowed back his longing, nodded to me and clapped his hands. As I sat down a piece of chicken was placed on my plate and my glass was filled with wine. I left the chicken and drank the wine.
"Eat something. I don't need you making a fool out of yourself tonight." He hissed at me.
"Don't you worry about me my love. You make a big enough fool out of me by dressing like that." I jabbed and couldn't hide the smile that slid over my face when he looked down at his robes. "But our children, now they are something to admire." I said looking over at the table closest to us where the boys sat. Each boy wore rich blue robes with silver trimmings. Albert's hair was greased back and he looked so handsome. But there was anxiety in his face and he spoke with no one, his eyes locked onto Addie across the room. She sat quietly next to Paul. She sat at his right now that I noticed. She wore a white gown with a low neckline and diamonds sown into the bodice. Her hair was loose and in large curls with a single piece of holly tucked behind her ear. She never spoke and she didn't touch her plate but when Paul whispered in her ear she instantly smiled and blushed. It was a sickening sight, especially when he would stare at me smirking as he talked to my daughter. I swallowed my disgust and looked back to my sons.
Anthony's hair was combed neatly and he was sitting having what looked like a deep conversation with Lady Hamalton, the oldest guest in the palace. Arthur on the other hand, who sat on Albert's left, was watching Adam carefully and tucking pieces of chicken into his lap where there was a napkin placed. He wrapped it up and tucked it inside his shirt, then told Maria he needed to go to the restroom. He would take it to the stables where he would feed the dogs. It was his Christmas present to them. I smiled and watched as she tried to flatten the piece of hair that stuck up at the front of his head. The same way Adam's hair stuck up. They shared a lot of similar qualities: hair, frame, nose, eye shape, and mannerisms. Yet Adam still believed that Arthur was not his child. The only child that resembled him, that shared his blood and he hated him. Would he hate him even more if he knew about the other two?
I noticed a commotion in the entranceway and sipped my wine as I watched the Announcer argue with the guest trying to enter the party. I nudged Adam and nodded to the door.
"Who is it?" He shouted and the whole room went silent.
"The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk." He announced. "Here without invitation."
"Don't be silly good man. They are our dearest friends. Let them in. Make room for them." Adam said smiling broadly and standing up. He stepped down and around the table to meet the new guests. My stomach dropped as Jesse walked into the room. It had been such a long time since I had seen him, and even longer since we had spoken. His hair was going grey and he had a mustache. His eyes were tired but they had the same spark that they always had. His gaze instantly met mine and I couldn't help but smile. He bowed and I nodded to him. Adam roughly grabbed Jesse's arms and hugged him tightly. "My old friend. So good to see you."
"And you." Jesse said, rather shocked. They hadn't been friends in years. It was suspicious.
"I see you received my invitation. Sorry it was so last minute." Adam said faking sincerity. Jesse saw right through it and nodded. "I see you brought your family." At that moment I became aware of the two women standing behind him.
When her purple eyes met mine I felt bile rise in my throat. "Ceecee?" I blurted out
"Your Majesty." She smiled sadly and bowed.
"It's so wonderful to see you both. It's been such a long time, hasn't it my dear?" Adam said touching my cheek and I was so shocked I couldn't move. "And who's this young lady?"
"Ahem, this-this is our daughter, Margaret." Jesse said, his voice melting my heart and making it skip a beat at the same time.
"Margaret." I whispered. She smiled slightly and bowed.
"Hello again your Majesty." She peeped.
"Oh so you've met?" Adam asked staring at me.
"Yes it seems that Lady Margaret has been appointed as one of my new ladies."
"Ah yes. I had forgotten." Adam clapped his hands together. "Well so nice to finally meet you." He smiled at her and kissed her hand, lingering a moment too long. "Come let us make room for you." Adam nodded to a group of servants and they set up a table rather quickly close to the head table, where Adam and I sat. They were in plain sight and it was hard not to look at them. Jesse looked marvelous in a light blue tunic with white trimmings, as did Margaret. As for Ceecee, she looked awful. Her hair, though still long, was almost completely grey and her eyes were wrinkled and tired as if she had been crying for the past 16 years. She didn't touch a single thing on her plate and constantly fidgeted with Margaret. She pushed her hair back, she fixed the collar of Margaret's dress, and she lectured her to sit up straight. I had thought Ceecee was dead. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that she had married, and had a child with Jesse. Her feelings towards Jesse were always clear; they were childhood friends and nothing more. She had been having a sexual relationship with Adam, before we were married. They never loved each other, it was purely a physical attraction and both knew that one day it would end. It had appeared that she was quite fine with that arrangement and hadn't given any indication on wanting to marry Jesse. So why had she? Her gaze met mine briefly and there was a longing in her eye that puzzled me.
"Beautiful girl isn't she?" Adam said to me as he sipped his wine. He had all of a sudden lost his appetite and he gripped his cup as if his life depended on it.
"Who?" I asked looking over at Addie who was having a passionate discussion with Paul.
"Not her." Adam grumbled. "Jesse's daughter." He leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. "She's got such marvelous skin. Soft. No wrinkles or scars from childbearing years." I felt my stomach turn. "And her hair. It's so long and a dark black. It's carefree and vibrant, like her." His face was so close to mine I could feel the heat of his skin as we stared at the girl. "But her eyes. It's those eyes that make stand out. So green the grass cant even compare. So bright, it's like she has the whole world in the palm of her hand." He paused and sat back. "They're so familiar, like I've looked into them before." He studied me and I took a deep breath and shook my head.
"Maybe you've met her before." I said taking a sip of my wine and studying the girl. Adam was silent and he chuckled.
"Maybe." He said and with that he never spoke to me again for the rest of the night.
The plates were cleared away and the dancing began an hour later. By this point I had four cups of wine and was starting to feel a buzz. Adam led me into the dance floor but offered my first dance up to Albert, who sullenly took his place. It wouldn't impress the ladies to be seen dancing with his mother. Eventually other people joined in the dance and Anthony took his spot. Albert happily dashed off and grabbed Addie's hand, whisking her onto the dance floor. She laughed merrily and the four of us danced around in a circle, disregarding anyone else in the room.
I danced for four more songs before my feet became too heavy and I needed to sit. I sat in my place beside Adam and took large gulps of my wine. I watched as my children danced happily and my guests marinated themselves in wine.
"Your Majesty." A girl bowed in front of me and when she looked up I blinked twice.
"Aggie!' I shrieked and heard Adam hiss beside me. I quickly climbed out of my seat and took her hands. I kissed each of her cheeks twice and hugged her tightly. "How are you?" I said studying her grown up face.
"I am well and you? You look radiant." She said holding me back and studying my dress. I overheard Adam say that we were old friends and went to correct him when Aggie pulled me away.
"Where is Maria?" I asked looking around while she led me away. "I didn't see her at dinner."
"She is at home with Edward." Aggie smiled. "I accompanied the new Duke of Cumberland." She blushed and nodded at the scrawny young man standing by the fireplace. He looked around the room as if it were going to erupt in flames. He was clearly not having a good time. He was young, I remembered Maria saying. He was one of Spencer's nephews. 20 something. Charles was his name. His blonde hair was already thinning and his brown eyes were sunken into his head but he watched my sister with a certain pride that only men in love showed.
"He loves you." I giggled foolishly to her and she smiled.
"I love him." She said and I laughed.
"Him? Aggie you could find someone so much more handsome." I blurted out as she pulled me into the cool night air. She let go of me and frowned.
"Susanna, that was very unkind. Charles accepts me and my past. He is kind and caring and gentle. He never raises his voice or speaks ill of anybody. But most importantly he is good to me and he is good to Edward." I nodded in agreement. Aggie was very fortunate to find someone who would take an interest in her, much less fall in love with her.
After finding out the truth about her parents Aggie disappeared. She was gone for months and we had thought that she was dead. But one day, the day before I left it was pouring rain. Papa had died the month before and we were sitting around sharing the memories of our youth when the door flew open and in walked a soaked, tired and half starved Aggie. Her hair was matted, she was dirty and she was wearing a disgusting old blanket over her shoulders.
She collapsed onto the ground and Jacob ran over to pick her up. As he removed the blanket the swell of her pregnant stomach was clearly visible under her dress. He recoiled in anger and everyone stared at her shocked. Debbie and I helped her into a hot bath where she explained that when she had run away she had been flirting with one of the hired stable boys. She had told him her plans to never come home and he suggested that they run away and get married. Only he never married her. He told he was trying to save up enough money to buy them a house but when she discovered her baby he called her names and left her without a penny and without a home. It took her two months to walk back home and by that point she was almost five months pregnant. Debbie felt sorry for her and offered to raise her baby as their own, but Aggie became angry at this and swore that she would never cause her baby the same hurt that she had.
Jacob, unable to look past her childish ways and mistakes, told her that she was no longer welcome in their home. He instructed her to find a new place to live. Knowing that she couldn't stay there nor could she come back to the palace with me somehow made me stressed. So I went to the only place, other than the vacation house that helped me get rid of stress. I went to see Maria. I wasn't even finished telling the story before she was arranging a room for Aggie and her baby. This house is too quiet, she said. It'll be nice having a baby around again. Plus it'll be like getting another chance, even if it isn't my baby. Those words will forever be in my mind and her kindness will be something I can never repay.
"Why did you bring me out here?" I asked her coming back to present day.
"I was instructed to."
"Instructed? By whom?" I said and she smiled. She turned around and looked at the dark doorway where a shadow loomed.
"Thank you." He said, his voice was shaky and sounded sad. Aggie nodded at him and kissed my cheek.
"I call out if anyone approaches this hallway." She said proudly and disappeared inside. We stood in silence; the moon was the only source of light. I could see his breath in the air and I could guess how fast his heart was beating based on the fact that mine was about to burst from my chest.
"You married Ceecee." I said sadly.
"You married Adam." A knife to my heart. I turned away and grasped my cup tightly. "I didn't want to marry Ceecee."
"I didn't want to marry Adam." I said and all of sudden he was in front of me. I looked into his eyes and all the old feelings rushed to my head. They made me reach out and touch his cheek. They made me pull his face to mine and kiss him passionately. They made my knees go weak and the cup fall from my grasp. The wine helped as well.
"Susanna," he groaned and pulled away. "What happened in the past… what happened between us… that is over. It can never be like it used to. You have your family and I have mine." He said sadly and I stared at him shocked. I sighed and fought back the single tear in my eye.
"I understand. I just long for the days when life was simpler." I said and he sighed.
"You have no idea how much worse it is going to get." He rubbed his face and it reminded me of the winter he came to visit. I had thrown a snowball at his face and he had wiped it away the same way he just rubbed his face. So I mentioned this to him, describing the setting and the size of the snowball. And recalling how had been so shocked. He laughed and shook his head. "I never got you back for that." He said and the next thing I knew a snowball his me square in the chest. I squealed with amusement and at the cold snow on my bare skin. "Now we are even."
"I don't think so." I said making a snowball fight and all of sudden it was a full on match. It was like we were young again. It was like the past hadn't happened and we had our whole lives ahead of us. He grabbed my waist and pulled me close. And then it became real again.
"I missed you." I said and his gaze flicked to my lips. He smiled and bent his head down and kissed me. He kissed me long and fierce. He pulled at my hair and tugged at my clothes. He pushed me up against the wall and felt the cold bare skin around the base of my neck. When I reached under his tunic he grabbed my hand and stopped.
"No. NO!" He dropped my hand and turned away. "We cant. It's not right."
"I love you Jesse! I always have! Nothing nor anyone is going to change that!" I said feeling tears in my eyes. "The years apart have done nothing but tell me that you and I are meant for each other."
"Susanna you have to understand. It's too dangerous."
"Love is dangerous." I smiled and he shook his head.
"It's not only our lives at stake. There's something I came out here to tell you. You need to know the truth."
"I know the truth Jesse. I know you love me as much as I love you. I know you think about me every day as I do about you. I know you don't want to be with anyone but me. I know your heart is beating so fast you feel like you might faint." I placed his hand on my chest and looked up at him. "For mine is beating the same way." He studied my face and his eyes looked sad.
"I can't." he whispered but his face inched closer and closer to mine until his lips weren't even a breath away.
"I love you and you love me. That is all that matters." I said and kissed him. Then there were three "CAW's" and we broke apart. I hid behind a bush and Jesse pretended that he urinating on the garden.
"Did you tell her?" Ceecee's voice.
"No I haven't found her yet."
"She's changed so much." She sighed sadly and I looked around the bush and watched her wrap her arms tightly around her middle. "Yet she's still so much the same."
"I agree." He said looking over at me. I smiled and covered the laughter dying to get out.
"How do you think she'll react?" Ceecee looked up at him and he sighed.
"I must go find her. Maybe she's in the parlor." He said loudly and I got the hint.
"I think I saw her upstairs. I'll go and check." Ceecee said. "She'll have a lot of questions for me I assume." She sighed as if she was annoyed and they disappeared inside.
I waited till I was almost frozen solid, so about four minutes, before following them inside. I bumped into Regan at the servants' staircase and she hissed. "Look at the state of you!" She whisked me into the kitchen where the cooks and servants smiled at me.
"Your Majesty has too much drink at parties." One foreign cook said and I grinned.
"Too much drink and too much sex." I said and Regan hissed again.
"Of course she's joking." Regan defended.
"Wishful thinking is more accurate." I winced as Regan pulled at my hair. She hissed and lectured as she rebraided it into the complex bun that she had done before. She looked at me and sighed.
"It's not the same but it will have to do." She sighed. "When are you going to grow up Susanna?" She sighed and I felt a stab of hurt.
"I don't want to grow up." I spat back and she shook her head.
"Thirty years, three children later and that couldn't be more obvious." Without another word she turned and walked out of the kitchen. I sat dumbfounded. One of the cooks passed me a dessert and I ate it silently as I thought about what she said. I needed to grow up. I needed to stop acting like a child. But as I child I never got to so why couldn't I do it now? Why did I have to follow everyone else's rules? It was my life. No one could tell me what to do. And with that I thought of Jesse and raced out of the kitchen. I was just reaching the door to the parlor when Albert grabbed me.
"Mother have you seen Addie?" He looked worried and he was out of breath.
"Addie? No. Not since we all danced together. Why dear?" I touched his sweating face. "What's wrong?"
"I can't find her. An hour ago she said she needed to use the pot and she never came back." He looked down the dark hallway. "It's not like her. She's been acting very weird."
"Maybe she's not feeling too well today dear. I'm sure she's fine." I said patting his shoulder and placed my hand on the handle of the door. He grabbed my arm tightly and I looked at him.
"I'm telling you something is wrong." He said and because he was so persistent I sighed and nodded.
"Alright, alright. I'll check upstairs you look down hear. Meet me upstairs in ten minutes." He sighed with relief and nodded before bolting off down the hallway. I stared at the door longingly and then sighed. Be a grown up Susanna, I told myself as I started up the staircase. I checked 13 empty rooms in a matter of 10 minutes. I was ready to give up when Albert met me at the last room.
"Any sign of her?" He asked even though he clearly knew the answer.
"No and I checked all the rooms." He frowned and his eyes watered. I touched his cheek and shook my head. "Darling she's fine. I know it. You worry too much. Come back to the party. They're serving your favourite desert." I said and wrapped my arm around his shoulder. All of a sudden there was a quiet yelp from the room to my right. Both of us froze.
"You checked all the rooms?" Albert whispered.
"Almost all of them." I whispered, swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat.
"She's in there." He said but we couldn't move. We were afraid of what was on the other side of the door. When she yelped again Albert jumped into action and swung open the door. He raced into the room in a fury. There was shouting and screaming and then there was silence.
I took a deep breath and walked into the room. Paul was half naked standing next to the bed where my 14-year-old daughter lay sobbing, her dress cut off of her body and her undergarments ripped. Paul's worried gaze flicked from me to Albert and back to me.
"It's not what it looks like." He said with a nervous laugh. "She wanted it." He looked down at the girl. Before I could even blink Albert screamed so loud and lunged for Paul. Addie screamed and I tried to pull Paul off of Albert but he pushed me away, into a chesterfield, knocking the air out of my lungs. Punches were thrown and Albert looked as if he were going to lose the fight. Paul picked him up and threw him into a table with a nice light meal set up. Albert lay on his stomach, panting and bleeding. I couldn't move, I was so shocked. "Paul no!" I shouted as Paul went after Albert again. Then there was a grunt, a slice and then silence. Paul gasped as he rolled away from Albert a knife stuck in his chest. Albert breathed heavily as he sat up. He grabbed Paul by the hair and slowly pulled the knife from his chest.
"I told you to stay away from her and you laughed at me." He spat on Paul's dying face. "Who's laughing now?" He said with an evil tone in his voice as he plunged the knife deep into Paul's throat. It took seconds that felt like hours for Paul's eyes to go blank and he stopped gurgling blood.
Albert backed away, wiped his face and rushed to the side of the bed. Addie scooted closer to him and he touched her cheek. He whispered quietly to her and I stared at my two children in disbelief.
"You…you killed him." I finally said. They looked up at me as if they hadn't noticed that I was there. "You killed him! He's dead!" I said looking horrified at my son.
"He was going to hurt her." Albert said. "You said you would kill him yourself if he touched her." I swallowed and struggled to stand up.
"But he's dead." I said watching the blood stain the carpet. Albert looked over at the body and his face went white. Addie trembled on the bed and the three of us sat in silence. There were voices in the hallway and I felt my heart race. Without even thinking I shut the door and sat in front of it. We sat in complete silence as the voices faded away down the hallway.
"What do we do?" Addie finally said. Albert and I stared at Paul's body and shook our heads.
"I'll take care of it." I said.
"No Momma. I did it. I'll take care of it." Albert said.
"You will do what I say and nothing else. You will take Addie to her room and wash yourself up. Addie you will throw on a robe and get Regan. Tell Regan that there was an accident and Albert cut himself."
"But I didn't cut myself." He said. I picked up the knife, grabbing his arm and made a tiny cut just below his elbow. It started bleeding instantly. He looked at me horrified as I torn the bed sheet into pieces and pressed it against his wound.
"After Regan cleans the wound I want you to tell her that I said to go and meet me at the barn. Addie I want you to inform the King that I am going to set up a bonfire outside to celebrate the winter festival. Tell him it was a surprise." I'll meet you down there in half an hour." They stared at me shocked. "Do you remember both your parts?"
"Yes" They said in unison.
"Good. Good." I rolled up my sleeves and stared at the body. "Discuss with each other your story on how you got cut. Weather it be cutting breading or sword fighting, I don't care but make sure you both have the story memorized so no one suspects anything, understand?"
"Yes Momma." They said in unison.
"Good. Now go. Don't say another word to anyone." I said and they disappeared down the hallway. I stared at the body and looked around the room. This was going to be risky but it could be done.
Half an hour later I was change into a blue satin dress with white fur trimmings, accompanied with a white fur hat and coat. Regan studied it suspiciously, knowing I had planned on wearing it the next day. Before she could say anything Jesse appeared and I smiled.
"Perfect. Help me start this fire. I have no idea what I'm doing." I said and he blinked at me.
"You never came."
"Came where?" I said pretending to be unaware of previous plans.
"To the parlor." He whispered. "I really have to talk to you privately." He said eyeing the people around us.
"Well it'll have to wait. For tonight we celebrate!" I said cheerfully. Adam finally strode out of the house and I breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone was out of the house, I thought as I combed the crowd. Arthur. ARTHUR!
"Where's Arthur? Arthur?" I shrieked as I started pushing people out of my way.
"He's here your majesty." Marcia said from the back of the crowd. In her arms was my six year old, quietly sucking on his thumb. I breathed a sigh of relief and then became aware that everyone was watching me. I laughed and said "I didn't want him to miss it. I guess I had to much to drink today." Most of the guests laughed along with me but I was aware that Adam and Jesse were watching me suspiciously.
"Here goes nothing." I said placing a special powder on the fire that Jesse had made and watching it erupt in colour. People were amazed and frightened at the same time. There were a lot of "ooo's" and "ahhh's" as the dancing fire changed from orange to red to green. But the one that caught us all off guard was Lady Hamalton saying "Look! Fire!"
"Of course Lady Hamalton! It's a bonfire." Someone said laughing.
"No you idiot. A fire! In that bedroom." She pointed up at the house and people screamed. I took a deep breath, swallowed my nerves and looked up at the window. A shadow crossed over the window and my heart stopped.
"There's someone in there!" Someone shouted. Everyone stared at the window and a watched as a servant struggled to open the window.
"We must help him." Someone else said and everyone jumped into action. Everyone except Addie, Albert and I.
