First at Last (Updated Version)

Chapter Twenty-Six

It was very late when we returned to the palace and, after the events of the day, I was thoroughly exhausted. However, despite it being long after midnight, verging on "early in the morning" rather than "late at night," the festivities were in full swing and did not seem to even be near winding down.

As we entered the palace, we were met with loud, lively music and raucous, drunken laughter. I walked down the hall to the dining room, where our guests were dancing and laughing, most swaying slightly on their feet, some asleep in different corners. A glass shattered on the floor and a round of cheers went up. What surprised me even more was the state that the king was in. He was dancing unsteadily with an older woman, both still holding their wine glasses as they clasped each other's hands, sloshing red wine onto the floor. The tables had been moved out of the way to open up the space and the room was in chaos.

William and I both stood in the doorway, dumbfounded. We met each other's eyes and he looked just as surprised as I felt. I did not even think anyone noticed our absence and the idea of going back in there and spending time with the drunk lot of them was quite unappealing.

I turned to William, smiling wryly. "You are, erm, more than welcome to join our guests in the festivities, but I think I might go up to bed."

William shook his head quickly. "I think I will join you."

I followed him down the hall, away from the noise and the chaos, up a flight of stairs and into a wing of the palace that was much calmer and quieter. We stepped into our shared bedroom and I let out a relieved breath.

Since I had been living in the palace, we had not been allowed to sleep together. Both of us were being observed much more closely, and being caught sleeping together would have caused a horrible scandal and might have even prevented our marriage altogether. William had continued staying in his room and I had been given a room for the time being. But, as soon as we were married . . . there was nothing to stop us.

The room was incredibly large, much larger than necessary, if I were being honest. A stone fireplace sat against one wall and plush chairs sat before it. A large rug that looked like it cost more than anything I'd owned at the Lovet Estate took up the middle of the room and matched the curtains that were tied back at the many windows. In the center of the room, against one wall, was an impossibly huge bed. It could have fit ten people at least! And books. So many books. Shelves lined with books, standing against the walls, stacked up on nightstands.

Attached to the bedroom, there was a private dining room, where we would take our meals most days, and an adjoining bathing chamber, with a marble tub. My new ladies-in-waiting came in to help me undress, and, despite that William and I were married now, I felt self-conscious about being naked in front of him. I'd never been that way with a man before and the idea was daunting, to say the least. I made him shut his eyes and lay on the bed, face down, as my ladies helped me undress until I was standing only in my shift.

I stared down at myself, horror-struck, before turning to find Agnes, who had a slight smile playing about her lips. "Surely, this is a joke," I said to her, panic lacing my words. "Where is my nightdress?"

Agnes's face turned slightly pink, though her smile only grew. "Well, Miss, it is your wedding night. You should not need your nightclothes."

I blinked at her uncomprehending for a long moment, before her explanation sank in. My whole face got so hot I thought it might burst into flames and I took a step back, stumbling over my own feet in the process.

Agnes's smile faltered, replaced by a look of mild concern. She glanced over at the bed, where William still had his face buried in a pillow, before leaning in closer, lowering her voice. "You do know what happens on the wedding night, don't you, Miss?"

"Er . . . I mean . . . yes, sort of, but I didn't think—" I said haltingly, completely mortified.

Agnes patted my arm sympathetically. "Do not worry. It is not as bad as you might think. It is a natural part of growing up. You will know what to do."

I nodded, though the advice was not at all helpful.

"Can I get up now?" William asked, his voice muffled by the pillow.

My heart began to beat faster and I took a deep breath. "Yes, all right," I said. I glanced at Agnes again, who offered me a reassuring smile, squeezed my hand, and took her leave.

I tamped down on the urge to call out to her and beg her to stay, to cling to her skirts like I was a child.

William lifted his head from the pillow and his eyes met mine. He blinked a couple of times, but then, the realization hit him and his face turned scarlet all the way to his ears. "Oh," he said, surprised. "I mean—that is—are we supposed to . . ."

His own nervousness somehow made me feel a little less nervous. I laughed, my own face warming. "Yes, I believe we are supposed to—er—consummate our marriage."

He ran a hand through his dark hair, nodded resolutely, and patted the bed beside him where he sat.

Still feeling quite nervous, I made my way over to the bed and sat down beside him. I looked up into a vivid blue eyes. "I've never done this before," I said, though I was certain it was quite obvious.

He smiled wryly. "Neither have I." He leaned in until his nose brushed mine. The smell of soap-and-citrus that I had come to know so well as William enveloped me. "But it matters not. We can learn together."

I nodded and closed the small distance between us, pressing my lips to his. The kiss was light, tentative, and tasted faintly of champagne. Still, the moment was familiar—we'd done this before.

William's hand hovered over the hem of my shift, tugged gently. "May I . . . ? I mean—is it all right if I . . .?"

I took a shuddering breath and nodded.

His hand slid under my shift and came to rest against my waist, sending shivers up my spine. Gently, he pushed me down into the soft mattress and leaned over me, his hair brushing my forehead, as he kissed me, more intensely. My breath left me in a rush and I felt dizzy, almost intoxicated, with this need that I could not quite describe.

His eyes opened as he kissed me and met my own. I felt the slight upturn of his mouth as he smiled against my lips and and I could not help but smile against his in return.

This is it, I thought as I looked up at my husband, the love of my life. The beginning of forever.