Ordained

Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen

"I highly doubt the royal physician will see me themself Cassius." She smiled, not protesting as he carried her through the townhouse. Servants were shooting each other pleased tiny smiles as they passed.

Cassius made a snorting noise. "He will."

Arching her eyebrow she gave a look that said 'oh really' without her having to open her mouth. He set her gently down at the door, taking her arm. With a fluid flick of the hand that was something she only ever saw the upper nobility do; Cassius dismissed her concerns with a wave. "The royal physicians serve the royal family." He pointed at himself and then here. "That's us."

Emmeline blinked. She knew Cassius was the royal family. That fact had been made crystal clear to her over the last few days. Yet, for some reason her brain just couldn't connect the mental image she had of the royal family with her and Cassius. The royal family were separate, apart, high on a pedestal away from the rest of society. Yet, technically, when she married Cassius she would be a part of that abstract, unattainable family.

"What?" He asked, pulling her gently towards the carriage, like he was coaxing her forwards.

"I – I just can't really wrap my head around how closely you are related to the King."

Cassius paused for a second before laughing, he spun to stand in front of her, placing hands on her hips before kissing her.

"Most women would say that one of the most appealing things about me would be my connection to the royal family." He smiled, the skin around his eyes wrinkling a little. Emmeline felt like she was staring at the sun when he looked at her like that, the brightness of his delight was blinding.

She rolled her eyes. "You are ridiculous." she muttered, doing a poor job of hiding her amusement. Cassius chuckled, kissing her cheek hard before helping her into the carriage.

"Why do you find it hard to connect me to the royal family? We've been with my family for days now." He asked, distracting her when she made a face. The motion of the carriage made her stomach flip, and her expression showed it.

Emmeline shrugged. "Just seems strange to me."

With a devilish look that had her grinning, he flipped his hair dramatically away from his face. "Why? Do I not look regal enough to you?"

Emmeline couldn't help but laugh. "You are positively princely." She giggled.

Cassius sighed deeply, humour creasing the corners of his eyes. "I love your smile."

...

Emmeline was confident that the Palace must never be empty. It couldn't be, because there was a constant stream of carriages in and out. Cassius had explained that while no, there was never a quiet day at court, the palace was especially busy at the moment due to the victory ball and the various amusements being hosted by the palace throughout the day. Plays, garden games, tea parties, and such.

The Palace gates flashed overhead as they entered into the vast complex. Guards, in palest gold stood like statues everywhere she looked. She tried to think if she had seen so many soldiers last night, but between the darkness, her excitement, and the alcohol, she couldn't recall. "I dare say Ariana and Alexander will be waiting for us." Cassius warned as Emmeline watched the palace grow closer. "Last night they insisted we visit today."

Chuckling, she shook her head. "I never imagined they would be so..."

"Annoying?" Cass offered with a smirk.

Emmeline shook her head fiercely. Despite Cassius' closeness to the prince and princess, it felt alien to her to speak of royalty so casually. "Excitable."

Groaning Cassius pulled her back to him and away from the window. "Stay close to me for a few minutes more."

As predicted, the prince was waiting for them as they emerged from their carriage. Emmeline gladly accepted Cassius' hand as she stepped down, pleased that he had respected her wishes and not carried her from the carriage as he had threatened. She didn't want to appear any weaker than she already did.

"Miss Emmeline you are as radiant as ever." Alex extended his arm for her to take with a devilish grin at his cousin.

Emmeline smirked. "You have only known me for a day, your highness."

"And yet every time I see you, I find you to indeed be radiant. In the sunlight your hair simply shines, your scent that of the sweetest-"

"That's enough." Cassius growled, gently removing her arm from Alex's and putting himself between them.

"Oh come cousin." Alexander protested, sliding his arm through Cassius'. It made Emmeline giggle to see him sandwiched between them as they entered the grandeur of the royal residence. "See! Emmeline finds me amusing. You need to lighten up."

Cassius said nothing but Emmeline caught the wisp of a smile on his face.

The royal physician was not just one person but rather a man surrounded by a vast team of people. Emmeline felt herself shrink backwards as they entered the clinical space. It was a bright room filled with the smells of antiseptic, and herbs. Cassius, dropping Alex's arm, rushed to comfort her but she just shook her head. She didn't want him worrying over her any more than was necessary after the morning they had had. Alex stretched and yawned as the doctors welcomed him eagerly inside. "My cousin Emmeline is unwell. Find what ails her." He waved vaguely at her.

"Cousin?" she asked. "Y-your highness." She added hastily.

Alex made a dismissive gesture. "It is clear you and Cassius will be wed, so you are practically family already. I don't understand my cousin's delay. If you were my ordained pair then I would've –"

'- Alex please!" Cassius threw up a hand in exasperation, making Alex grin with his teeth.

"Take no offence Cassy. I'm just expressing that I find Miss Emmeline to be a wonderful woman."

Emmeline rolled her eyes for only Cassius to see, enjoying his answering pleased expression.

After several examinations, tests, and vials of drawn blood, the physicians sent them away while they drew their conclusions. The three of them had been joined by William and Ariana on the patio, the five of them discussing what could be ailing Emmeline over cups of tea and plates of treats. On the tiered lawns below them the court were enjoying a garden party. It felt slightly odd to be looking down on everyone, but Emmeline was glad that she could rest away from the spotlight after those tests.

"Perhaps you suffer from low blood sugar? I hear that that can cause spells of lightheadedness." Ariana offered between small mouthfuls of lemon tart.

William nodded, having warmed significantly to Cassius once he realised he was both spoken for and disinterested in the prince. "I heard that Countess Jessica suffers from such an affliction, but it is easily managed."

Emmeline considered the possibilities they suggested with varying degrees of scepticism. She dismissed the idea that it was something she was eating, or that it was an allergic reaction. Surely if it was to do with food, she would've felt this way for longer. Lifting her face to the sun she took the chance to enjoy its warmth whilst the other talked around and over her.

Impatient to hear what the doctors said, it was with a wave of relief that she re-entered the medical ward several hours later.

The head physician was an ageing man with greying hair that matched his eyes. An aurora of sensibility and seriousness clung to him, inspiring confidence in his opinions. Emmeline, who had never been particularly fond of doctors of any kind, found herself instinctively trusting the man as he offered her his diagnosis. "I am afraid that our findings are of a troubling nature."

Emmeline tensed at the same time that Cassius reached for her, pulling her back to his chest. The doctor took off his glasses, rubbing them on his coat as he sighed. "Forgive me my lady but all the evidence points to poisoning."

...........

Author's Note:

So now we know for sure.

S x