Princess Mary, a rebellious, golden child of the Tudor family, at the age of eighteen is forced into an arranged marriage with King Louis of France - an aggressively jealous main in his late fifties.
When troubles arise, Mary is cornered and throu...
"Your majesty, you are beaming tonight!" Mabell sang as she entwined my hair with jewels.
"Yes Mabell, life is beautiful. Tonight shall be wonderful, it shall be spectacular. It shall be a night our guests will never forget." I responded as I hummed a joyful tune, before frolicking around in my laced gown.
My, I had never seen the ballroom glow with such happiness and life. Everyone was smiling and dancing and singing. "Mary, you are radiating tonight." King Louis spoke, placing a sloppy kiss against my small hand.
"Why thank you, my King." I beamed.
King Louis' smile grew ever so boldly. "Everyone seems to be having a marvellous time, do they not?"
"They do," I responded, before clapping as the song had concluded, thanking the dancers for their entertainment.
"I must say, you English folk really know how to enjoy yourselves. Why, look at your subject, he is marvelling in all the female attention he is receiving."
My eyes found Charles by the platters. His arms wrapped around women of all sorts. They were feeding him grapes, and massaging his hands... adrenaline pumped through my veins. I thought Charles said we would continue what we started earlier that day? I thought after the moment we had shared in his bedchamber, that he would isolate himself from such behaviours and spend time with me.
"Yes, my lord, we most certainly do know how to have a ball. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to suss out the beverages." I tried between a clenched jaw.
Hours had passed, Charles had not even looked my way and another vast mouthful of wine numbs my pain. Finally, before I thought all hope was lost, Charles' eyes meet my own. His were full of caution.
Slow down. He mouthed from across the room.
I simply replied by sticking my tongue out towards his direction. Bottoms up. "Another," I sang to one of the kitchen help.
Before my cup was full once again, someone's forceful hands grip around my right elbow. I turn to see Charles staring at me with furrowed brows.
"Oh, you. Do tell me, how could I be so fortunate to meet your gaze. Duke Charles Brandon has his hand on my elbow, I am the luckiest maiden in the land," I mock, before almost stumbling over myself.
"Your Highness, what is the point of this?" Charles probed, tearing my chalice from my wobbly hands.
"Unhand me, Charles. This is none of your concern." I respond, trying to loosen his firm grip around my elbows. As I do, I once again almost stumble over.
Charles tightened his grip, "You are my concern."
I gave up trying to escape him when I realised he was the one thing keeping me stable. "This ball is as enjoyable as a clergyman's eulogy. Why aren't the young people dancing?"
"Mary I am going to call on your guards to help you to your chambers." Charles brows once again furrowed with concern.
"Nonsense. This is my party. Come, let's show them how to dance." Within two paces, I was spinning around the ballroom. I reached for Charles' arms and linked them with mine. "Let's show them how we dance in England."
Before we knew it, we were spinning carelessly around the ballroom. "You are quite a terrible dancer, I blame the bubbly. You were excellent when we were growing up." Charles smiled.
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"Please mind me, I apologize to your feet. I have stepped on them a hundred times in the last few moments. I hope you have found other graces in me that you care for more than my dancing ability."
"My lady, you may step on my toes as many times as you wish. You look so handsome in this lighting. I can barely see your pride."
"Hush now. You know the reason for my sour words last week. I tried to force myself away from you to protect you."
"I would rather be in great danger by your side, then safe on the other side of the fortress."
"I would rather you live till all your hairs turn grey," I responded, falling still in my steps.
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When the song concluded, Charles and I realise we are surrounded by a sea of applause. We barely noticed, we were too consumed in the heat of our palms touching. I curtsied in front of our viewers.
Charles cautiously looked around the room. "May we speak in private?" he probed, leading me off the dance floor.
I pulled away from him. "You lost that privilege when you continued canoodling with half the women here. I thought this afternoon you realised how I truly feel for you."
"Mary, the King is suspicious. I was only continuing the facade so he didn't suspect anything when you go missing from the ball tonight?"
I paused. "Go missing?"
"Yes. You see," he began leading me into the corner of the room. "I was going to steal you from your duties tonight," he whispered against my neck. "Then I was going to take you from behind, and gently unlace your bodice in my chambers...." he begun whispering all the things he was thinking of doing to me tonight. A fire grew strong between my thighs.
I playfully pushed him away. "If you think I was going to give into you that easily, you obviously have no respect for a queen like me." I giggled.
"Oh, you like to tease do you? You enjoy playing games your majesty?" He probed, following me outside the of the ball room.
"Why of course not Duke Brandon, I just enjoy the chase." I giggled, before racing off down the halls. "Come and find me."
