Chapter 31: You Have A Guest
Her breathing steadied. For a fleeting moment, she felt lighter. And then, Henryis face slipped in.
His voice. His hands. The warmth of his touch. His fingers inside her... Her eyes flew open.
The ceiling snapped back into view, the fragile illusion shattering instantly. Her heart pounded violently against her chest as she sucked in a sharp breath.
How had that gotten in there?
*****
Henry had just finished his customary walk along the palace gardens with Princess Madeleine when Lord Ashcroft approached.
"Your Majesty... Princess..." Lionel greeted, offering a respectful bow.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the manicured hedges and fountains of Whitehall’s grounds. Madeleine stood beside Henry, composed as ever, her gloved hands folded neatly before her.
Henry glanced at her briefly before speaking. "You may return to your apartments, Madeleine."
"Your Majesty." She curtsied and turned away. Sophie followed closely behind her, casting one quick, assessing look at Lionel before disappearing along the colonnade.
Henry turned back to his guard. "What is it?"
"You have a guest," Lionel said. "He is waiting in the throne room."
Henry’s brows lifted slightly. "Who?"
"The Duke of Kingsmere."
For the first time that day, genuine amusement lit Henry’s face. A broad smile spread across his lips. "Richard finally decided to show his face," he murmured.
He turned and began striding toward the palace entrance, his cloak sweeping behind him. Lionel fell into step at his side, as they moved from the gardens into the cooler, shadowed corridors of Whitehall.
Servants quickly stepped aside as they passed, bowing their heads.
"Any news about the Queen Mother?" Henry asked casually. "Is she still keeping watch?"
Lionel allowed himself a faint smirk. "I believe she has abandoned that particular campaign, Your Majesty. For now."
Henry huffed softly. "My mother does not abandon anything. She merely redirects."
"Quite so," Lionel agreed. "I hear she is... occupied elsewhere. The princess appears to have captured her full attention."
Henry let out a quiet chuckle as they turned down a long gallery. "Irritated, is she?"
"More than irritated," Lionel replied. "From what I gather, the Queen Mother finds the princess... less pliable than anticipated."
"Yeah, Madeleine has a mind like a wall," Henry said with a half-smile as they approached the great doors. "She looks delicate enough, but there’s iron behind it. Anyway—do you think I can escape tonight without my mother’s eyes on me?"
Lionel suppressed a smirk. "I’ll let you know."
"Do your best. It’s been too long," Henry added under his breath.
The guards struck their halberds lightly against the stone, and the doors to the throne room swung inward.
At the center stood a tall figure in a dark coat.
"Your Majesty." The Duke of Kingsmere bowed.
"Richard, you bastard!" Henry laughed, crossing the distance in a few quick strides and pulling him into a firm embrace.
Richard returned it easily, clapping him on the back. "I couldn’t see you the last time I came for Thomas’s baptism, so I thought I’d remedy that."
"Busy doesn’t begin to cover it," Henry said, releasing him but keeping a hand on his shoulder. "I didn’t even know you were present. That’s unlike you with no scandal to trail behind you."
"I’m trying a new approach," Richard replied dryly. "Discretion. It’s going poorly so far."
Henry huffed a laugh. "Good. I was worried you’d gone soft."
"Congratulations, by the way," Richard said. "A son."
"Thomas FitzRoy," Henry said with pride. "He found his lungs now."
"A promising start," Richard murmured.
"What takes you away from Kingsmere?" Henry asked, folding his arms as he regarded his old friend with amused suspicion.
"Came to check my post box," he said. "The postmen do not like coming all the way to Kingsmere. Apparently, the journey is too long and the pay too small. Tragic, really."
Henry’s brow arched. "Is that your way of bringing something to my attention, Richard?"
"Was I not being subtle?" he asked, a grin tugging at his lips.
"Subtle?" Henry scoffed. "You do not even know what the word means." He glanced toward the high windows, where the last light of day filtered in. "How soon do you have to leave?" he asked. "We could go hunting tomorrow. Clear skies, fresh air."
Richard considered this for a moment. "Tempting," he admitted. "Though I do have some errands to attend to in the city. Matters that require my... personal attention."
"If your errands keep you until tomorrow, then you will stay. I insist."
"If I am still in town, I will be here," Richard promised.
Henry clapped his hands together once, his mood noticeably lifted. "Fabulous," he declared.
"I am supposed to see my father too," Richard added. "I don’t believe he is in the palace. He is not at his station either."
"Lord Langford is neck-deep in the England–France alliance," he said. "He has been closeted with their ambassador for days now. If there is ink left in the kingdom, he intends to use all of it."
Richard tilted his head, considering. "So, I’m guessing we will be having our queen in the nearest future?"
"Absolutely," Henry said. "Everything is moving too quickly for it not to happen. See, this is why we need to catch up tomorrow."
"I will come by tomorrow, then," Richard said. "If my... city errands do not detain me too long. I’d like a bit of royal gossip." He gave Henry a quick, conspiratorial wink.
*****
Nicholas pushed open the door to Livia’s room. A servant followed closely behind him, carrying a folded gown draped over her arms. "Livia!" he called.
Livia startled, pulling herself away from the window where she had been staring out into the dimming street. "Yes, Mr. Beaumont," she said quickly.
"Get ready for tonight," he said bluntly.
The servant moved forward, laying the gown carefully on the bed. Alongside it, a small box was placed, its contents unmistakable: jewellery meant to catch attention.
Livia’s gaze flicked from the gown to Nicholas, her stomach tightening. "What? Why?" Livia asked.
Nicholas turned to her slowly, surprised she needed clarification. "You will be entertaining a gentleman caller," he said.