First at Last (Updated Version)

Chapter Seventeen: William

William reached the door to the king's throne room and knocked upon it. It was opened a moment later by one of Gabriel's guards. William nodded to him and the guard bowed at the waist as William passed him into the room.

William paused just before the throne and bowed low to his father, who regarded him with cold detachment. William noticed his mother sitting in the smaller, more elegant throne beside the king, but she did not meet his eyes, only stared passed him with a determined look upon her face.

"Your Majesty," William murmured to the king and then to the queen.

"Rise," King Henry commanded, and William obeyed.

He looked between his mother and father before meeting the king's cold, dark eyes. "You called for me?"

Disregarding all formalities, the king got straight to the point. "You will be marrying Lady Alice. The wedding will take place in early summer."

William stared at him, taken completely by surprise. He was certain he'd heard the king, but felt as though he could not have heard him correctly. "I'm sorry?"

King Henry made an impatient noise. "Lady Alice Lovet of Locksley. We have finished the negotiations and arrangements. You are to be wed to her in the coming months."

William looked between his father and mother, though the queen did not meet his gaze. "I see," he said slowly.

His father only nodded. "Until then, you will be spending a lot more time with her. I do not care where your real feelings lie, nor do I want you to tell me, but you are going to act like they lie with Lady Alice."

"Your Majesty," William said carefully. "I do not wish to marry Lady Alice."

The king cut a scathing glare toward his son. "I just told you I do not care. Pretend that you do. Lie. The truth of it does not concern me. But you are forbidden from seeing that other girl."

The king did not even care to know her name, preferring to label her as, "that other girl." William glared up at his father. "Her name is Lady Erika. It is not a hard name to remember."

"William," King Henry's voice held a note of warning. "I am serious. I am putting an end to . . . whatever relationship you had with that girl. You will not be seeing her any longer, in fact, you are to forget about her, because you are to marry Lady Alice."

William clenched his jaw to bite back every horrible thing that he wanted to say. Father, you must understand—"

"William," he said again, so forcefully that William faltered. "You are not listening. I do not care. You will stop seeing the other girl because you are to marry Lady Alice. Surely, you understand this is for the good of the kingdom?"

Exhaling, William nodded. "Of course." It always is.

"Then you are not going to continue arguing with me about this. There will be a ball within the next few weeks in honor of your engagement. You are there to be in love with Lady Alice and, until then, you are to begin wedding preparations with her and her mother. It is going to be a big event." The king grinned but it looked more like he was baring his teeth.

William turned pleading eyes on his mother, who should understand his suffering more than anyone. For the first time since he'd entered the room, her blue eyes met his own and she saw a flash of sympathy there, before she shook her head and her face became a carefully expressionless mask.

He clenched his jaw so hard that his teeth began to ache before turning back to his father. He bowed. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

His father waved a jeweled hand at his son. "You are dismissed."