The only thing more valuable than time is family. No amount of riches, titles, or success can take the place of the time spent with them. What your time is dedicated to reflects who you are. It's a way of offering pieces of yourself to it. For Charles his wife and boys are everything. His family is his life and everything else is second to them.
When his wife became "indisposed", as she calls it, he realized how short time and life truly is. He understood this because he became remorseful wishing he had more chances to tell her how much she means to him, more chances to laugh with her, more chances to see the world with her, more chances to talk with her, and more chances to just love her. No man is promised tomorrow, only today. So he vowed that he was going to love like there was no tomorrow. His goal is to shower his wife and boys with so much love there's no room for confusion or doubt. And when tomorrow comes, if it's allowed, he is going to love all over again.
As the week went by, the Brandons thoroughly enjoyed Cardigan by the sea. The best thing has been playing with the boys in the ocean. Although "playing in the ocean" is really Mary and Charles dipping their little feet in it. In an odd turn of events, William loved it and Owen hated it. He did not like the water on his feet at all and he told his parents so by wailing a loud wail. On the other hand, William giggled with glee every time his father raised him up and dropped his feet down into the cool surf.
If pure happiness is found in the precious smile of a baby, then baby laughter is pure joy. It's the most beautiful sound in the whole world. Hearing William's laughter is the best medicine in the whole of the universe. It makes the heart sing. "One day we're going to blink and then they will be grown. But I hope we can look back and say we saw it all. We soaked it all in because we were there for it and it was great," Mary told her husband.
There is no disagreement in those words. Charles only added to it. "I hope they will know the privilege of being their parents was always greater than any hardship, inconvenience, or frustration. I hope they know what a gift they are to us, every day. No matter what I hope for, regarding our children, I hope they will know they were wanted, longed for, prayed for, and so very loved." He took William, raised him up, then swooped him down low into the water again. Same as before he laughed and it made his parents smile brighter.
By the end of the week, word got out that the Grand Duke and Duchess were in Cardigan. People started showing up requesting an audience with His Lordship and Her Ladyship. "Can't we send them away? We're on holiday dammit," Charles grumbled.
Outside on the veranda together, they are sipping tea and watching the ocean. Mary stood and came to sit on his lap. Smoothing the worry lines on his forehead away, with her fingers, she kissed his nose. "My Duke, I love you. I love that you're protective of us and our time. But we can't send them away. They're our people and as the governors of their territory it's our duty to hear them out." She heard his sigh. "I promise we won't let it last long. We'll hear some of the requests and ask the others to be heard by Lady Dot and Lady Ashdown. Dot needs practice since she'll be running Suffolk with Anthony. Which I'm glad he accepted and is currently doing so."
He got up with her in his arms, carried her into the bedroom, and let her gracefully untangle herself from him. She smoothed out her colorful, pleated dress. She likes this dress. It's breezy with the pleats and the sleeveless nature of it. Perfect for keeping cool in the sticky humidity of the heat. Plus it's colorful with its gradient shading, going from red to pink to violet to blue.
On her waist went a bejeweled, thick-waisted belt. Then she put on the stacks of gold and diamond bangles, Charles had given as a gift, along with more stately earrings. Once her shoes were on her feet and her fragrance rolled onto her wrists, neck, and décolletage she was ready.
Charles whistled at her and gave her approving glances, taking the time to feast his eyes on her figure. She turned as red as the top half of her dress, before helping him into a less heavy doublet. That alone is a hard task, as pretty much all of his doublets are made for the winter months. A mental note was made to visit the town tailor for summer ones.
Holding out a brocade black and burgundy waistcoat, with gold stitching throughout, he took it and put it on. She brought his gold chained pendant necklace and handed it to him as well. It wrapped around his neck multiple times to fit right. He finished the outfit off with a pair of black leather boots.
Before they left their quarters, she gave her husband a kiss for his troubles. He accepted it with gladness and put a bit of lingering passion into it on his end. His reward was a soft, little moan. Breaking their kiss, his lips found his wife's forehead. "Just remember this kiss when you want to hear more people out than necessary," his deep, husky voice requested. Her heart bleeds to hear more and more people, while he sits there restless and ready to leave. These audiences always seem to go that way.
She scoffed at those words but vowed she would lock her heart after the majority has been heard. Lately, there has been nothing more that she wants to do than drink him in. Not one given to the temptation of strong ale, she does get intoxicated on his love, the scent of his skin next to hers, and the sweetness of their shared, mingled breaths molded into even sweeter kisses. It makes her wonder, does this make her wanton or just incredibly in love with her husband? Either way, she's become nothing more than a drunken lush for him and it's a little bit exciting.
Together they left the room and descended the castle stairs. She held onto the railing and his hand. At the bottom, they were met by Dot who told them the people had been shown into the large ballroom. The servants moved a table and two chairs, along with parchment and quill, into it. Mary couldn't help but ask "How many people are here?"
"Have a look out the side window for yourselves," Dot shared. She doesn't want to overload them all at once.
The couple ventured a look out the window and their mouths dropped open. Well, the Duke's mouth did but the Duchess only gasped. For there is a line wrapping around the estate's dirt road leading up the front door. "Dear Lord," Mary whispered. To which her husband said "Amen."
Gathering their intelligence about them, they began their trek to the castle ballroom. They entered to a flourish of bows, courtesies, and applause. "What is going on?" Charles whispered. He's not used to such treatment. In fact, on Governance Days nothing like this has happened before.
The response he got was a shrug of his wife's shoulders. The two made their way to the table, where the Grand Duke stood to address the people. "Good citizens of Wales, the Grand Duchess and I will hear your concerns today. All we ask is that it be done in an orderly manner. No pushing, shoving, or grumbling while each petitioner is heard." He sat and shuffled some papers around.
One person, from the crowd, stepped forward. An older lady who had lost her years of youth, but had a pleasant-looking face. Her voice spoke clearly although with a bit of a waiver. The Duke and Duchess could tell she is nervous. "Begging your pardon Your Highness Sir, but we only came today to express our gratitude and relief. We all heard what had befallen Her Ladyship. I think I can safely say all of us in this room prayed daily for you both and were relieved to hear the Grand Duchess was awake and restored to you."
Then a man came out from among the people. Like the well-spoken woman, he too appeared older of age and hardened by work. "You see My Lord, Wales has been without rulers for so long that when you both took up that mantle we were worried. Our concerns were what changes would be wrought to our province and would a tax increase make it near impossible for us wee folk to feed our families. Well when no change or taxes came down on us, but only that of increased provisions, work, and an abundance of profits for all of us from the top down; we were overjoyed and praised the Lord."
Still another person, a heavyset man with skin browned from laboring in the sun, spoke up. His voice was thick and gruff, but kind. "We have never experienced the kind of wealth enacted on the region before. We all knew it was due to both Your Lordship and Ladyship's knowledgeable intentions. It showed us what kind of leaders you were, leaders who are not all about yourselves, but ones for the people. You've helped us all be thriving. Any man that wants to be successful can do so. The opportunity is there. And well, we as citizens became beholden to you."
Finally, a sweet-looking, young lady holding a bouquet of flowers declared "We all love you both and are so very happy you've returned to us." Then she curtsied to Mary. "We're especially glad that you are well Your Ladyship. We know it's not much, but all of us in here and outside wanted to express that to you."
It was hard not to cry at the overwhelming care and regard from the people, their people. Mary wiped tears away, while Charles gripped her free hand and cleared his throat. He felt choked up. They spent the next two hours, nearly three, greeting each person who stepped into their home. It was humbling to say the least, because who are they but mere humans given their positions by the King. What the King laid to waste has become their thing of beauty. The King forget Wales, but Wales did not forget its Duke and Duchess.
All of the womenfolk had hugs and inquiries as to Mary's health and how she is healing. She told them about her ribs being tender but healed and her knee aching from the bone being chipped. Every woman gave praise to God for her being alive and having nothing more than a gradually healing, chipped knee at present. These Welsh women also presented her with flowers and healing ointments. Her Ladyship walked away with basket after beautiful basket of healing bath salts, herbal liniments and creams, and remedies for various ailments.
As for His Lordship, the men made inquiries about the advertisement of orchard work. The menfolk who showed up have able-bodied sons who would be more than glad to help. Charles thrilled at this news and told them to have their sons come by next Monday. He would reserve that day to do business and just like his wife, he also came away with gift baskets.
However, the baskets given to him held the contents of seasonal fruit, jars of delicious-looking preserves, and fresh baked goods intended for himself and his wife. He got the scrumptious, mouthwatering baskets while she got healing ones. Well, he thought so until he dipped his pinky finger into one of the jars of preserves. His face scrunched up and his mouth did not water after it, as it was not as yummy as it looked.
Lady Dot and Joan were handed each gift, and he told them to mark that one so he can be reminded not to eat from it. Dot placed a big red bow on top of it as a marker and hid her laughter at his disturbed face. The two women worked at displaying and arranging the thoughtful gifts around the room. The footmen helped them by setting up tables. The baskets of baked goods were taken to the kitchens, where the Cardigan cook Mrs. Howell stored them properly. She has loved having people to actually prepare meals for staying in the castle, especially the kind Duke and Duchess.
At the end of the meet and greet time, Charles and Mary wandered into the music room. He nattered her nerves and pestered her into playing the harpsichord. She did not want to but she did so only if "You will sing for me." From time to time while she plays he will join her in song, not as often as she would like, but he will occasionally. He has a great baritone voice and it may or may not make her weak-kneed and a little more in awe of him, because his singing is for her ears alone. Although that's not quite true, as she has heard him sing to the boys at bedtime.
Fixing her with a look, he sat beside her on the instrument bench. He asked her to play the silly song Fine Knacks For Ladies. She did and he sang "Fine knacks for ladies, cheap, choice, brave and new, Good pennyworths but money cannot move—" When the song was finished, she kept playing and he sat there still and listening. He asked her to sing for him, which she hates because she thinks her voice is not pleasant. But he refutes that claim and persists.
So she indulges him and played Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis. She tried to sing as best she could with him so close to her. He stilled her hands halfway through and closed the distance between them for a tingling kiss. Her heart beat wild and heat rose from her stomach to her chest, where that same heart skipped a beat or two. His scent wafted over her: sage, bergamot, and sandalwood. It's mesmerizing.
Her whole body tingled with the feel of his hands running over her back, pulling her closer. His mouth and eyes are hungry like a wolf, intense and passionate. Her hands clasped the front of his doublet and another moan left her mouth. She giggled and he smiled into their kiss pulling back to place a kiss on the forehead.
Taking the music sheet, she fanned herself. This act only served to make him chuckle and puff his pride up. Like it needs puffing, but it did all the same. He loves being the one to elicit those moans from her mouth and make her blood heat up to the point of fanning herself with sheet music. Rising he held out his hand and she took it. The pair strolled around the castle, holding hands, exploring rooms they had not yet.
As they walked they talked. "So My Lord, indulge me. What did you think about the people's goodwill towards us today?" She wondered his opinion on the matter.
He's actually glad for this opportunity because it's a good segue into something he's been putting off. "Well My Lady, I think had it been some other lady the people would not have shown up the way they did. Our people love you. They care about you. You matter to them, just as you do to me. But you matter more to me because you are my heart and home." His voice almost whispered that last part.
Her feet stopped. She stroked his arm and hand. "You are wrong Charles. The people love you too. You are a good leader. You have the confidence and courage to make tough decisions mixed with compassion to listen to the needs of others. You're my fierce lion. My Lord Husband. My Duke."
And then he said it. At first, it was but a whisper. However, that whisper grew louder. "You are my Queen." Her eyes snapped to his and she wanted to say that's blasphemous but refrained because he justified the statement. "You are the Queen of my heart and home. You are my everything. But I have to tell you something."
Her eyes questioned him and before he lost the nerve, he spoke. "When I was talking with your father before we left London, he spoke of many things. One of the things he told me was how he is reestablishing you in the line of succession. He wants our children, namely William, to be outfitted with the best tutors."
A sob tore through her mouth and her hand came to rest on her stomach. She broke free of him and went to a window to collect herself. He followed and stood behind her, placing his arms about her waist. "He took my title away and now he wants to give it back." She wiped at the tears on her face. "He took it away and I rebuilt myself from the ground up. I don't need a stupid crown on my head or a throne for my ass." She wiped at her face more.
Unable to help himself, he pinched her behind. "It's a fine ass too." She whipped around and smacked his hand, loving how he can always pull her out of her head.
Smiling the smile only meant for him, she told him the truth. "You see, even on my darkest days when I feel completely awkward and inadequate. When I feel unworthy and unloved, all I have to do is remember whose hands hold mine and whose arms hold me. Then I straighten my invisible crown and push forward. I may be your Queen but you're my King. I don't need a real crown because I have the greatest crown I will ever have on earth. It's the one I wear on my ring finger saying I'm your wife."
And oh God his heart melted and his blood heated at her words. He stalked towards her with the same look of hunger as he did in the music room. Pressing her against the large window he kissed her so hard, so raw, so heartfelt it left her seeing stars. And he took the time to speak softly in her ear "If I'm your King then I command you to wear your diamond tiara, that big one in the velvet box. Only that and nothing else."
With a mischievous smile, she took off running down the hall backtracking her steps. "Only if you catch me," she yelled out.
It took a moment for her words to register, but when they did he ran after her, caught her, and threw her over his shoulders. Then he spirited her away to their bedroom. On the way, they met Dot, who admires the passion, love, and fun those two have. Mary waved to her from her position on his shoulder. Dot waved back with a smirk and turned to go into the drawing-room. Both Duke and Duchess could hear "Lady Agnes I think it will just be the two of us at dinner tonight, again." They laughed because they know it's true.
They don't need crowns or thrones. They just need a house big enough to fill all of their love and then some.