A beating heart

Chapter 5

5.

The joyful tunes of violins and a loud cheer from the crowd welcomed them at their reception. Her hand in Bash's, a huge smile plastered across her face as she waved at the courtiers. Her emotions were running high, after their vows had been exchanged and the priest had declared them husband and wife, the dauphin and the dauphine of France, they had been greeted by a waving and screaming mob of servants, maids and kitchen boys, outside the chapel. Making their way through the east wing to the big hall, people were shouting congratulations, blessing them with many children for the future.

It was done, she was married at last, and if it hadn't been for Francis's face in the crowd, staring at her, it would have been the wedding of her dreams, marrying the future king of France.

She had glimpsed him in the chapel on her way down the aisle and for one very short moment she had felt like they were alone, just him and her, his blue eyes looking straight into her brown ones. Her pulse had quickened and a slight flush had rushed into her cheeks. But she had stopped herself in an instant, redirecting her gaze towards her now husband.

Bash was all she could have wished for in a husband, he was kind, young, caring and her best friend. Frankly, she could have done a lot worse. Memories of Tomas, the Portuguese bastard, bellowing commands at her, flashed through her mind, sending a shiver down her spine. She cared for Bash, and she could learn to love him. They would share a good and long life together, ruling France and Scotland side by side until their children would succeed them. Bash was perfect in every way, he was tall and handsome with his dark short hair and impossibly green eyes, he had a good heart and could make her laugh.

But he wasn't Francis. She hated admitting it, but no one could ever measure up to him. He was the one person that could make her heart race, set her skin aflame with his touch. Her lips longed for his kisses, as she would fall asleep thinking of his eyes, the colour of the sky, and his sun kissed curls. The happiness they had once shared, months ago, seemed so distant and his absence made her heart ache. She loved him, she was married to another man, and she would always love him.

She knew that she would have to let him go, accept that they could never share a life together.

Once Francis left court, she would do her best to forget him. Bury the memory of his blue eyes, gazing at her, deep down, locking away her love for him in the abyss of her bruised heart. He would never truly leave her, but she would carry his memory inside of her, safely hidden away, out of sight. His love had left a mark on her, a mark she could hide and conceal, but never fully remove.

She would have a family with Bash, children she could care for and she had her friends, her loyal ladies. Still, she could feel the hole in her heart, the part of her that would always belong to Francis. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself of the opposite, the day of her marriage to another man would be a happy and joyful day but it was simultaneously the day she had to let go of her love for him completely.

Before she could sink even deeper into though, Henry's voice boomed in her ear, as he stood right beside her, announcing the first dance of the bride and groom.

Dancing music set in and Bash bowed before her, offering his hand, which she accepted, bowing herself. They started out slow, moving in gracious circles around one another, their palms barely touching. As the music grew, caring them further and further on, she felt his firm hands on her waste, raising her light body up into a lift, his kind green eyes intently focused on her face. They spun through the room, her white dress dancing through the air behind them.

Her body relaxing in Bash's hands, she lost herself in the movement and music, until a flutter in her peripheral vision commanded her attention. Her eyes looked upwards and her mouth opened slightly as the soft white feathers fell around her.