Wildflower (King!SteveRogers AU)

Chapter 11

"So how was last night?" Bucky walked into Steve's chambers and eyed him knowingly. He'd not been able to have a chance to speak with him just yet, but his friend appeared to be in a good mood, so Bucky guessed that it had been fine. "You break her in gently?"

"You mean last night and this morning?" Steve returned with a suggestive expression.

"Wow, that good eh?"

Steve shrugged, "What the Queen wants? The Queen gets and it seems she's just as eager for a child".  Judging from her earlier words and the fact she'd been the one to imitate another round that morning when they'd woken. She seemed a little more confident compared to that of last night.

"Might stop you from fucking Lady Carter at any given opportunity - sorry did I say that out loud?" The knight mused.

"Yes". Steve gritted his teeth. "That's different".

Bucky poured himself some wine for them and perched on the edge of Steve's desk. "How so? Oh wait, don't tell me - she's your mistress, not your wife and Queen who, might I add, was looking very lovely today. Most of the eyes were on her, and for once yours were not wandering to her lady in waiting - astonishing".

Steve snorted, "Of course everyone would be looking at Amberley, she's the Queen".

"I'm just saying, if I had the choice? I would choose the Queen a thousand times over Lady Carter".

"Yes but you do not have that choice do you Sir James?" Peggy now appeared in the doorway. "I do hope I'm not interrupting?"

Bucky glared and angrily downed his wine, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Not at all, guess you're getting in a quick one before her majesty notices you're missing?"

"Bucky..." Steve warned and looked to Peggy. "It's not a good time..."

She nodded. "When would you have me come back?"

"Never". Bucky muttered under his breath. There had always been something about Lady Margaret that he didn't like. Her manner of presenting herself for one. She always appeared as though she was actually a person of importance, as though being Steve's mistress was something to be proud of. Sure it had gained her family some advantage within court, but not enough to secure a wedding ring on her finger. At least Steve was sensible when it came to securing the future of the kingdom. A simple courtiers daughter would never do. Whether she was warming the King's bed or not.

"I'll send for you" Steve now said, watching her leave, shooting a look of daggers to the knight. "You should show her some respect, it's in your code of conduct".

"Fuck the code". Bucky slammed down his cup. "And as for respect? I respect the Queen withstanding the fact that you're still carrying on bedding her, even more".

"I'm the damn King, I can do as I fucking well please". Steve snapped. "If Amberley doesn't like the fact that I have a mistress then it's something she will simply have to get used to. It happens, it's been going on like this for centuries".

His father had mistresses, as had his father before him. Other kings also did.

Bucky sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Then I daresay that you have married a saint, pal".

He walked out, closing the door and leaving Steve to ponder on his words.

**

Amberley noted Peggy now return but chose to ignore it. She knew she had gone to see her husband, she wasn't that blind to know that her absences were that.

Settling down in the circle of ladies who sat sewing, Nat threw a look to Amberley to see whether she had acknowledged Peggy's absence. Amberley discreetly returned the look, acknowledging that she knew what her lady in waiting had been up to.

"I should like to send Lady Barton a blanket for her child when he or she arrives. She seems very sweet, I should very much like to meet her".

"That's very generous your majesty" Wanda smiled warmly as Nat and the other ladies agreed.

Nat put her sewing down, "I can arrange the meeting, she is very eager to be presented to you. When I told her that you would be marrying the King she was relieved".

"As opposed to him cutting my head off". Amberley said with mild amusement.

"I suppose, yes". Nat chuckled. "But he is too considerate at times, right ladies?" She shot a look to Peggy in particular as a subtle dig".

Peggy saw but ignored it and said nothing. Wanda now choosing to speak. "He allowed my brother to train with Sir James and the army - he was knighted just before the battle..." she trailed off knowing that the subject was still a raw one, and would be for a while.

"It's alright Wanda, it does not upset me". Amberley told her with a reassuring smile, knowing that she meant no harm, "who is your brother?"

"Sir Pietro, he's known to be quick on his feet. It drives Sir Clint mad at times" Wanda laughed lightly. "Our parents were killed not so long ago, we came here from the Sokovian kingdom with nothing but our family seal. The King was kind enough to see my brother would be an advantage on the battlefield and granted him permission to train to become a knight. We count ourselves lucky the outcome wasn't worse".

Amberley listened to the hardship that Wanda and her brother had been through. Driven from their home, just like she had been in some sorts. Steve had been generous enough so it seemed. Perhaps her husband did care after all.

"We'll I am glad to have you serving in my household Lady Wanda, in fact I'm glad to have all of you".

As she wove the needle in and out of the fabric, out of the corner of her eye Amberley saw Peggy's head now look up, wondering if she had heard right. Amberley needed to act like she did not care. The saying went that she had to keep friends close but enemies closer.

And she would.

Plus, she was the Queen, she could send the noblewoman away at the snap of her finger, but she wasn't as cold hearted as to bring embarrassment upon the Carter family.

No, Peggy was doing a fine job of that herself, and she would be the reason for her own downfall.

Another saying that Amberley found would fit the current situation.

Karma was a bitch.