The towering stone walls of the palace were draped in velvets of deep maroon and gold, setting the stage for the magnificent celebration. Glistening torches lined the path leading to the entrance, their flickering flames casting long, dancing shadows that seemed to beckon all who approached. The palace's facade was adorned with garlands of ivy and roses, their fragrance filling the night air and adding a touch of nature's beauty to the regal setting.
The grand ballroom of the royal palace was adorned with a breathtaking tapestry of colors and an air of anticipation hung like a delicate veil over the room, as if the room itself knew this night would be etched in history. Long tables displayed a sumptuous feast. Goblets of the finest wine sparkled in the candlelight, and the aroma of roasted meats and fragrant spices wafted about.
Dressed in opulent attire, the ladies wore exquisite gowns adorned with silks and lace, their corsets embellished with pearls and gems that shimmered like the stars in the night sky. The gentlemen were equally resplendent in doublets and breeches of rich velvets, their rapiers at their sides.
With another poppy pastille down, along with a cup of steaming hot wine, Will did his best to find his strength. His shoulders shifted under the weight of the cloak slung over them that bore his family's coat of arms. He stood like a shining beacon to the others in the room. His silver lace lined tunic, velvet and fur cloak and polished crown would lend him as an easy target to any stray arrow if anyone so wished to do him harm.
At the center of the grand hall, beneath a canopy of ivory and gold, stood the young princess, the reason for this grand gathering. Margot, with her brunette tresses cascading in loose waves and a gown of resplendent green satin, embodied the essence of timeless beauty.
From where Will stood beside his father's throne, he could see the entire room and found himself only able to stare at the princess who was happily speaking to Beverly who was donned in her own gown of splendid red ochre.
"You appear quite taken with her." Will didn't spare a glance to his father who sat tall in his throne, people watching as he normally did. The social interaction had ceased when Theophania had passed away, a coldness settling over any sort of occasion.
"She is sharp-witted and a pleasure to converse with," Will said dully. He cleared his throat as a cough dared to creep up and his hand took the side of the throne for balance. He had been doing well the whole day and his resolve to make it through this evening in one piece would stay strong. "She is a means to an end. Nothing more and nothing less."
"William, I feel I must impress upon you the importance of tonight."
"Your first attempt at fatherly advice. How thoughtful. I fear you might be a few years too late."
"If this arrangement falls through, our kingdom will be plunged into a war the likes that you could never fathom. This war will not be simple like Spain's was."
"I don't think I found Spain's war to be simple or Spain's fault. Nor does this sound like you."
"You could expect to find yourself on the front lines if this marriage does not take. Do I make myself clear?"
Will closed his eyes tightly for a moment, doing his best to block out the noise around him. The music and the chatter were becoming overwhelming as the weight of this moment bore down on his already heavy shoulders.
"The front lines would be preferable to this." Will pushed himself off the throne, but his wrist was snatched up in a grip horribly similar to Mason's. Will didn't turn back though. He kept his eyes firmly on the party ahead of him. "Release me."
"You would be wise to watch your tongue boy. The eyes here will catch a spectacle."
"Release me," Will ordered, ripping his wrist free. He straightened his sleeve as he stepped down the stairs of the dais. He slipped through the crowd, keeping a smile on his face for those who recognized him, but it fell when he finally stood beside Beverly and Margot. "I hope you are faring better than I."
Beverly gave him a soft smile. "It's just a while longer. I promise you are doing wonderfully."
"I'm starting to feel ill again." Will brushed his hair back from his face, using the action to try to wipe at the cold sweat that was beginning to bead on his forehead. "King Molson better show his face before I faint."
"You're going to be just fine," Beverly assured, her hand taking Will's in a comforting grip.
"Where is your father, Margot?"
"He has been confined to his chambers today," Margot said. She stepped a bit closer to the group so she could lower her voice. "Your physician does not think he will last a fortnight. We will be departing for home tomorrow if he is well enough."
"And then Mason will be..." Will trailed off as he scanned the crowd for the man and his caretaker. He found them beside a table where Mason was happily indulging himself. That was quite preferable to anything else the man could be doing.
"Crowned King, yes," Margot finished for him, following his gaze. "How are your friends doing by the way?"
"They've recovered."
"Do your people want Mason as their king?" Beverly asked, having finally found what they were all watching. A tight gripped Bedelia and a satisfied pig she was wrangling.
"They do not wish for a queen. They are a people gripped in tradition."
"Then they do not deserve one," Beverly shot back with slight annoyance in her tone. "The line can die with you."
"I will happily let it." Margot gave a small sigh. "It is better to not pass the crazy on if I happen to carry it."
"I think that is something I can fully understand," Will said in agreement.
"The kingdom will be passed onto your cousin if you don't have an heir."
Will gave Beverly a small smile at her warning. "My cousin couldn't possibly be any worse than my father. And if my cousin did take the throne, then perhaps we could be better unified with France."
"France is hardly worth their salt." Beverly gave a groan and a real laugh left Margot's lips. The first one that wasn't bound and gagged with fear since Will had met her. It was a lovely sound he would absolutely enjoy getting to know. "I have never met such an insufferable people in all my life."
Will held back his wide grin and gently nudged his friend. "Said people who are among us and will hear you if you do not lower your voice."
"Let them hear." Beverly let the words be grumbled into her wine as she drank from it.
The conversation died down and Will continued to watch Mason, genuinely surprised at how well behaved the man could be when the time called for. Mason was bred for this. He was strong and commanding. He knew how to twist things to his wishes. He knew the power he held and how to wield it. His father had taught him a great deal, if the coldness that came from King Molson was anything to go by.
"Margot?" Will asked. She hummed in answer, eyes flickering over to him. "Your brother mentioned a name yesterday and I have not been able to get it out of my head. Do you know a Lady Elizabeth de Bourgh?
Margot's brows furrowed slightly, and she gave a slight nod. "She was a maid in my home when I was very young. She passed away a long time ago. I don't even know the last time I thought about her. Why was he bringing her up?"
"He said that she was close to my father."
"How does he know that?" Beverly asked, looking just as perplexed as Margot.
"Her name was apparently in a letter from my father in that stack of papers."
Will's hand jumped to his mouth to hide a new coughing fit and both Margot and Beverly were swift to help balance him, so he didn't fall over. They guided him a little further away from the crowd so that he wouldn't be as likely to be heard and Beverly shoved her wine into his hand. He took a drink, sputtering around it as the coughing continued. The cup was pulled from his grip and set aside. He got the mouthful down and inhaled deeply, doing his best to ignore the fresh burning that was in his lungs.
"You've been pushing yourself too hard today," Margot whispered as she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and used it to blot the sweat over Will's forehead. "We should find you somewhere to rest for a bit. I can send someone for you when my father arrives."
Will shook his head, clutching to Beverly's forearms for balance as another fit struck him. "Come with me," Beverly instructed, pulling Will along with her through the crowds. Will followed on shaky legs until they were in the hall that was relatively quieter and all the emptier. Will fought the way his throat spasmed until Beverly hid the three of them in a small closet that was musty and damp.
The moment the door was pulled closed, Will let the sickness hit him and snatched at one of the many shelves in the room to hold himself upright. His throat was turning raw again, his ribs aching as his lungs fought whatever was in them trying to still drown him.
"I'll return in a moment," Beverly said and over his sounds Will could make out the closet door opening and closing.
A kind hand rubbed at his back in the same gentle way they had days ago. The hand was simply there to tell Will that he was not alone, that he could do what he needed to and there was help ready.
"You've been doing far too much today," she repeated in her softly sweet tone. "You should really still be in bed."
"I haven't done too terribly much," Will argued as he desperately tried to catch his breath. His grip on the shelf slipped and Margot caught him around the middle, helping lower him to the dirty and dusty floor. Will laughed between his coughs at the way Margot's skirt filled the small space, far too much fabric, that caused them to look like they were swimming in emeralds.
"You have been battling a war of wits against both your father and my brother all day long. That must be taxing."
"I found it rather enjoyable," Will amended, allowing his head to lean back against the unwashed window that barely any moonlight was able to penetrate. "It is not often I am able to speak to my father in ways that he deserves without coming away uninjured."
"He hits you?"
Will nodded around another covered cough. He exhaled shakily and licked his lips. "My cheek is one such instance. If we ever were to share a bed, you would find more."
"William, I-" Margot's sentence broke when the door to the dark room opened, spilling in light and casting Beverly in a deep shadow. She closed the door behind her, making a conscious effort not to stand atop Margot's skirts as she handed Will a cup. He took it and discovered fresh, cold water when he took a drink. "How are we on time?"
"We have a few moments, but I suggest we return soon or later. Someone has gone to retrieve King Molson," Beverly answered. She gave a sigh, hands taking her hips as her eyes flickered around the dim room at the two royals. "And look at the state of the both of you. Your clothing is going to be positively ruined and then what sorts of rumors will be spread about the two of you. Hiding in closets before the wedding day. How unseemly."
Margot and Will shared a glance, and both laughed. It caused the ache in Will's ribs to grow, but he was happy in this small minute. He would gladly get used to this if this was the company he could keep for the rest of time. He would be blissfully content to the end of his days if they stayed like this.
He was just missing one person by his side. He swore he could feel those war calloused fingers tangling with his. He could see Hannibal sitting there beside him in this closet, sharing the same laughter with his friends. That is, if Beverly and Hannibal could stop their bickering long enough to get to know each other. But the fighting could stay as well. Beverly enjoyed the fight and Hannibal provoking and Will found it entertaining to say the least. They would get along just fine in the long run.
The four of them could make this work.
"Shall we get you two cleaned up and return to work?" Beverly held out her hands to both of them and helped drag them to their feet with a comically dramatic groan. More laughter pulled between them.
"You're positive you're alright with this?" Margot asked into the closet while she brushed off the back of her gown. "The both of you."
"I think we have found the very best way to go about this," Beverly said. She took the cup from Will's hand and her fingers adjusted Will's curls, so they wouldn't fall into his face. "Once Hannibal returns then we'll be just like a family. I'll slaughter him and then we'll eat dinner together."
Will grinned. "I still have yet to see you make good on any of your threats."
"Don't worry, Your Highness. The moment I see his face again there will be a fist aimed for it."
"We should hurry. They'll be wondering where we are soon," Margot said. Light flooded the closet when Margot opened the door and the three made their way back towards the ballroom, Beverly helping dust them off as they followed the sounds of a string quartet.
Somehow the room had grown constricted with more people present. Will found it difficult to weave his way through everyone and he watched in wonder at the way that Margot moved to easily about despite her gown.
Molson sat beside Sanford and Will bit back his retort about how his mother's throne did not belong to that man. Mason was standing beside the thrones as well, looking rather put out and bored now that he had been ripped away from the food table and Will did his best not to think of what sorts of trouble the man would attempt to get into if he weren't swiftly occupied again.
The gathering must have stirred something in the room because there were hushed whispers amidst the music and when Margot and Will were motioned to the dais, eyes fell upon him, heavier than the cloak over him.
His steps were led, and fear swept through him that he would somehow fall on the floor. A hand slipping into his stole his gaze from where his father and Molson now stood. Margot gave him a reassuring nod and with a deep breath the two of them made their way to the thrones. The crowd split and the thought ran through Will's mind that this was how the Israelites must have felt watching the Red Sea part for them.
They reached the steps and Will waited for Margot to gather her skirt, so she didn't trip before helping her up the stairs. They turned to face the crowd and the want to vomit snatched at Will's insides harshly. Margot had been right. He should have stayed in bed today.
A hush finally fell over the crowd when Sanford and Molson rose to their feet, each coming to stand beside their respective offspring. Will tried his best to ignore the hand that clasped his shoulder far too tightly, holding the anger of the day in it.
"Thank you to all of you for coming tonight," Sanford greeted, voice as strong as Will could remember it ever being. "And I would like to offer a special welcome to our guests from across the sea, King Molson Verger and his children."
There was the sound of polite applause and Will found the whole thing off balance. He hated situations such as these when he was posed on a pedestal and paraded about. He wasn't a person; he was the crown on his head. How did Margot stand it? She stood taller than he could, the weight of the world not so much as slumping her shoulders. If he could be half the person that she was, he could conquer the world. With her as his queen, the possibilities would be endless. It brought a smile to his lips.
"For generations, the tension between our illustrious kingdoms has cast a shadow over our lands. The clash of swords and the sound of distant battle cries have threatened to echo through the space that separated us. Tonight, we will rectify that."
The hand in his tightened its grip and Will did his best to keep his eyes on the crowd instead of on Margot. Her expression did not invoke the idea of fear, but the way she clutched his hand spilled it into the silence between the two of them. This was the point of no return. They were signing everything away at this moment with their blood.
"England and Germany, two mighty and revered realms, are thrilled to announce a momentous occasion that shall forever alter the course of history. In an unprecedented display of diplomacy and destiny, the impending union of our beloved children, Prince William Graham and Princess Margot Verger, shall herald a new era of harmony and prosperity. It is a commitment not only to each other but to the shared vision of a harmonious future for our beloved lands. Their love story, destined to heal wounds and bridge divides, shall be an inspiration for generations to come."
The words Sanford weaved impressed Will. They were such pretty and hopeful things. Ideas that Will would have to turn into a reality. One he would have to string everyone along on while attempting to break things down from the inside out. But this was a start. Not the start he had imagined for his ruling, but it was a steppingstone and with Margot, Beverly and Hannibal beside him, this was something he could accomplish.
Applause filled the hall as the couple exchanged glances, their hands entwined in a promise that would shape the destiny of their kingdom. Strength not only for the people, but a promise to be strong for one another.
"We should get you back to bed," Margot muttered under the clapping.
"Not until I dance with my queen."
Surprise flooded Margot's eyes, but a small smirk came to her lips. It was all about the lies, the picture they had to instill in everyone's mind. They had to set the scene for the characters to play their parts. It was theirs to twist into what they deemed it to be, and this was their first step.
