The King, The Duke, and The Lady
Chapter 10
A/N: Thanks for hanging in there with me for the last few weeks. I am doing much better, but will continue to have alerts turned off, except for reviews. If you want to send me a private message, use email. You are truly a great bunch of fans. I hope the next two chapters don't disappoint!
All three of the principal members of the household were growing tired of being held virtually captive in the country house. There were no parties, no visitors except for the constant messengers that helped run England in the wake of the sweat. All that could leave London had already done so. Given those that were left, the mortality rate was extremely high.
So Henry, Charles, and Brianna were left much to their own devices. Fortunately, the woods were plenty with game, the cooking was far more than adequate, and the home they shared, however temporarily, was large and spacious so they could each have their own space if they needed it.
To relieve the boredom, during the day they had taken to riding and hunting, providing much fresh meat for meals. It was wonderful exercise and everyone enjoyed the fresh air. The cook, Mrs. Potts, especially enjoyed the fresh meat and brought in vegetables and fruit from the household garden to cook with. After the initial heart-stopping appearance of the King in her beloved kitchen, she became used to his playful attitude and treated him as one of her adult children. He constantly was stealing biscuits or pieces of fresh pie she had cooling in the window. She even went so far as to slap his hand away from some sauce she was brewing for the afternoon dinner. She was shocked at her behavior, it had happened without her thinking about it. The King was also surprised and then laughed a hearty laughed and gave her a kiss on the cheek. After that, the King spent much of his time in the kitchen being 'cheeky' and playing at trying to steal food while she tried to keep him from it.
One night, they played their never ending games of cards. They alternated between cards and chess, but cards were more fun because all three could play. Mostly, because all three were gamblers and risk takers they played at game called Noddy. The King was notoriously bad a Primo so they decidedly did not play that game. So far, Brianna had taken a large amount from both the King and the Duke and it was a sort of joke between them. The candles were set low and they were in very casual clothing, as close to bed clothes as they could be without actually being dressed for bed.
The King suddenly, out of the blue, spoke up in a serious tone. "You should be married. I have tarried much too long torturing the two of you. I can see the commitment on Brandon's part, and have never doubted that of Brianna. Tonight, I want you to summon the parish priest to attend us in the morning, soon after breakfast. I also want you to summon the best lawyer in the all of Cheverly. I shall stand in your father's stead, if you will allow it, to care for your best interests in the marriage contract."
Brianna and Brandon looked at the King in surprise. This was unexpected. "I can see the surprise in both your faces and I only have the best interests of you both in my mind. When it is safe to return to London, we will have a proper ceremony and I shall, along with your father, walk you down the aisle. Brandon, I assume you have the appropriate rings and such?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I have all the appropriate jewelry I had made for the day we would have your blessing."
"Well, then. Now that you have it, let's get on with things. I want the wedding the day after tomorrow."
"Your Majesty," Brianna spoke up practically, "while I would like nothing more than to be married as soon as possible to Charles, there is the issue of a feast. We do not know how long we will be in seclusion here at Cheverly. It would be unwise to use our limited resources on such a feast."
"Nonsense! Your cook can create wonders out of nothing. As for meat, I shall bring you the largest stag to be found in these woods. And Brandon here can bring the rabbits," the King teased.
"Rabbits! I think not Your Majesty. But I shall bring the traditional goose for good luck."
"Yes, Brianna shall need all the luck in the world to keep you by her side. Although you would be a fool to leave her for another's bed, no matter how short that time would be."
Brianna laughed and rose from the table. "I will excuse myself to write the missives you have requested and have them dispatched, while the two of you enjoy your nightly chess game. Perhaps I shall return with some homemade port that Henry has become so attached to."
"Your attentions to our comforts would be well-received milady," Charles said.
An hour later, and deep into the game of chess, Brianna returned to the gaming table with a bottle of port and three glasses. The missives had been sent, and while it would be highly unusual for her to send such requests, it was common knowledge the King was in residence at Cheverly and the requests would no doubt be responded to. After another hour of watching the two competitive men play the board, the King ultimately took the game with a checkmate involving Brandon's Queen.
The next morning, much preparation was had. Cooking began in earnest. A suitable dress was found for the wedding. The priest was consulted agreeing to the bypassing of the bans and other standard pre-wedding activities. With his dismissal, it became time for the King, the lawyer Mr. Bens, and the Duke of Suffolk to get down to the business of the marriage contract.
The King chose wording that made the contract unbreakable by any law, by any man or Church. He also included language where the Countess of Huntingdon kept her title and lands regardless of what may come to pass. The Duke easily agreed to this. If he were to die before her, she would inherit all of his lands and titles to be held in trust for any issue they may have. While her father was more than capable of paying whatever dowry might be required, the King wanted to provide that dowry himself. The language of the document continued in this manner. At one point in the contract, even the lawyer was given pause, but as he was given to absolute silence on the matter, much as a priest to the confessional, they discussed the concern of issue from the marriage. If there was a child that came from the union of the Countess and the King, there would be a private acknowledgement of said progeny. He or she would gain lands and title in his or her own right. And said progeny would be given all the rights of royalty. However, all children regardless of paternity would be raised in the Suffolk household until such time as the Countess felt it should be otherwise. There was to be no exception. In addition, the King in his kindness and generosity would not under any circumstances have either of them killed in any way, but if they displeased him or disabused his trust in them, they would be banished from Court. Titles and lands would not be taken from them, nor would their children.
Once all the details had been hammered out, and they were sometimes heatedly hammered out, the Duke was no pushover as the King was no pushover himself, the rather lengthy document was given to Brianna to review and approve. That in itself was a highly unusual practice, as was the document itself. It was a symbol of the King's absolute trust in his two friends. Before Brianna signed the agreement, she insisted on one other caveat, for her protection as well as the other two men. If one or both of the men took a lover, regardless of how brief or unimportant, that man would lose all privileges to her body. Once the King was married, and depending how his wife conducted her affairs, any further conduct between the three would be open to negotiation. As she put it indelicately, "If you choose to dip your wick anywhere other than with me, you will not be dipping your wick at all into my tallow." All three of the parties signed the document while the lawyer took the document away to be kept sealed under both the King's and the Duke's seal. He was warned, unnecessarily so, that punishment for sharing the document or contents thereof would be grounds for death. He had no doubt of the King's intention to carry out his threat.
After the legal wrangling, the Duke and the King felt the need to hunt and to ride with abandon. Brianna stayed behind this time, preparing herself for her wedding, the dress, the decorations, and the menu for the wedding. By the time she felt all things were completed she lay down for a much needed nap. The men returned with two stags and several geese among them, leaving them to the cook and her servants to take care of. Both men, as was Brianna's insistence took baths, which they had started to enjoy immensely and dressed. After they were cleaned and scented, they both quietly joined Brianna in her room where she slept deeply. Both climbed into her bed, careful not to wake their sleeping princess, the King spooning against her, and Brandon pressing his body around her. She stirred slightly but continued to sleep and the two men fell asleep almost immediately as well.
The next day, the wedding festivities began early. Brianna woke in her cool bed, knowing that most of the night she had been held in the comfort of the two men's bodies she loved most in the world. She received her bath, being sure to wash and dry her hair beside the fireplace. Pearls were wrapped into her hair along with flowers in an elaborate design. Her dress was made of the finest of tapestry and gold with pearls and the occasional diamond sewn onto the dress. She looked stunning by the time she was ready for the nuptials. Mrs. Potts, who had seen to all the cooking and decorations, also had thought to provide a bouquet of lilies and roses, intertwined with jasmine flowers. These same flowers were wrapped into her hair.
The King knocked briskly at her large wooden door to lead her to the altar and he was surprised and pleased at how beautiful Brianna was. If only she would agree to be his Queen or even his consort he would die a very happy man. As it was, she and Suffolk were granting him a tremendous gift out of the generosity of their hearts. He put his hand out to her and went on bending knee, shocking both Brianna and her ladies. He then raised himself and kissed her on the lips tenderly. The King then put his arm out for her to place her own and together they left the room.
The Duke of Suffolk was dressed in his best finery, although given the quick exit from London it was not nearly as fine as he would want. At any rate Brianna would have thought he would have been just as handsome in nothing whatsoever. She giggled slightly as her terminally nasty mind that ran amok every time he was around. The King looked at her with raised eyebrows and caught her slight blush, having some idea what she might have been thinking.
The parish priest was quite nervous at marrying two of such high rank, especially with the King present, but once he found the well-known verses and litany, he recovered himself and performed the ceremony without fault. The only witnesses for this rather sudden wedding were the King of course, and the lawyer Mr. Bens. The King rationalized that if the lawyer was present, as well as having written the legal contract between the two lovers, then there could be no doubt of the marriage or subsequent issue.
A great feast was prepared in which, contrary to the usual protocol, the maids, ladies, cooks, and gentlemen were all invited to participate. It did not relieve them of their original duties, but at least they did get to participate at the same ceremony and feast that the King did. It would be an event that would be seared into their memories forever.
Finally the newly married couple took leave of their party goers, many of whom continued to partake in mead and ale throughout the night. Both retired to Brianna's bedroom where the mahogany four-poster bed awaited them. There were thick curtains of velvet tied back along with sheer embroidered curtains that lent themselves to more romance than privacy. Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and until this time a lothario of the Court and a conquistador of women, lay naked under the covers of the woman he so desired and loved. He watched as she herself undid her hair and removed her clothing by herself. She had changed into, instead of the typical white nightdress, one of ruby red and covered in jewels. And yet, it was a sheer as were the curtains around her bed. Once the pearls and flowers were removed from her hair, she silently began to brush out her long blonde hair.
Brandon broke the silence with an almost whisper, "Brianna, come to me. Bring your hairbrush. I would like to brush out your hair."
She was startled by both the voice breaking the silence of the candlelit room and the request. She raised herself from the small seat she sat on and walked slowly to their bed. Charles took the sterling silver brush and began to brush her hair from the top of her head down to the ends of her silken threads. She smiled with her eyes closed enjoying the sensation of having his hands on her.
"I think I shall do this every night, Bri. There will be little time for us during the day, and only occasional time at night, but as often as I am with you I want to be the one to brush out your hair. Will you keep that for me and only for me?" His voice sounded vulnerable and afraid.
She turned her head and smiled at him, warmth and tenderness flooding over him, "Yes, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and the grace of my heart. The brushing of my hair will belong to you whenever you are with me." She took the silver brush from his hands and turned towards him again. "And now my love, I believe this is the part where you educate me in the ways of love. Would you agree?"
Charles reached for her and smiled slightly, "Hmmm," he nodded his agreement.
Brianna escaped his hands and pulled away from the bed surprising Brandon. She stood before him and slowly pulled her red nightgown up her body and over her head allowing it to circle around her. She stood before him with ivory skin, pert and dark pink nipples, and not a single flaw on her body. If he hadn't been convinced before, he knew now that she was his Venus de Milo and he would never ever bed another. She carefully pulled back the sheer curtains and climbed into bed beside him. She pressed her soft and curvy body against his hard and muscled one. "And this, my love, is how we will always sleep together. Let us not have any impediment to our heated and joined bodies no matter if we are twenty-five or if we are 105."
Brandon leaned over his wife and pulled him under him, his hands buried in her lustrous hair, "Until we are 105, my love." He kissed her gently and carefully not wanting to rush her first time or cause her any fear or pain. Brianna was having none of this. After several soft kisses and his roaming hands and mouth on her body, she could feel that both of them were ready. She had been ready for him for decades, and he for at least a year. She pulled him to her carefully positioning him at her opening.
Brandon was surprised but pleased at her forwardness. He dipped his hand between her legs and could feel the dripping wetness. "Charles, please…I think we have waited long enough. You will have all night to teach me everything, even every night to teach me, but now it is time for me to give you my maidenhead and I want nothing more than for you to be deep inside of me. I am not afraid my love. I welcome you, my body welcomes you. Please…"
Charles laughed huskily deep in his throat. "I should have known that you were not to be taken carefully, but as a joint effort on both our parts. This will hurt my love, and know that I cannot make it better for you, but perhaps the joy I can provide you will outweigh any temporary pain."
She laughed then and pushed herself against his prodigious staff, forcing him to do none other than to enter her although while his body and hers tried to move him faster, he controlled his urges and went slowly. When he hit that thin barrier, he heard a small gasp from Brianna. "Bri, you must push against me while I push against you. It will make the pain go faster and once broken you will feel no more ache."
Brianna did what he asked of her and she did feel the most delicious of pains as he pushed his largeness deep inside of her picking up speed as he went. He was careful to use his skilled fingers to cause all kinds of twitching and moans to erupt from her mouth and body, ultimately calling his name repeatedly as she peaked over and over again. Finally, Charles whispered in her ear, "I cannot hold myself back any longer my love. I must release inside of you."
"Charles, do…please. Let me feel your climax as you have felt mine repeatedly. Let us conceive, let this be the first of many times tonight and all the nights to come."
Charles' breath was coming very fast at this point as was her own. Her body rocked up to meet his at his wild abandoned pace. He screamed her name when he finally came deep inside her as did she feeling the hot wetness fill her channel. They stayed there for more than half and hour regaining their breath and feeling their continued joining.
"God, Brianna, if I wasn't sure already, I am now. You will be my now and my always until my death. I hope we have many children together, but even if we don't, you are the most important thing in the world to me."
"As you are to me, Your Grace. We will have many children together and we will not be separated except by death. But we will live to be a hundred years old and still sleep naked together, our wrinkled and fat bodies still holding each other as we do right now."
"Hmm, sounds perfect. And now my lover, I think it is time for yet another lesson. Do you feel up for it?"
"With you my Grace, I think I shall always be up for it. Do you think the King would mind terribly if you were to take me behind one of those velvet curtains or hidden tapestries at Court? I think I should like that very much."
"You are completely wicked Brianna."
"Yes, but I am your wicked."
TBC
A/N: I recognize that some of the wedding and marriage contract may be atypical to the actual way things were done in Tudor England. But I liked the way it sounded and so there we have it. I hope you enjoyed it. I left the chapter as Chapter 10, since the poor upload manager gets slightly confused on reposting a previous chapter.