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Chapter 2

I wonder where the children are, it is perhaps getting too late for them to be wandering outside, I should probably send Minnie with them next time...
Lily thought as she arranged herself more comfortably on her seat in the living room.
She looked up from the book she was reading to watch a young maid place new wood into the fireplace.

"Make sure to remind me to tell Minnie to make the children have a bath tonight." She says to the maid, who looks up and nods.

"Of course your Highness." The young maid gets back to the fireplace.
Not long after Lily had gone back to reading her book, in storms her husband, James. He walks right up to the window of the study, murmuring to himself angrily.
James looked out the window of the great living room and saw exactly what he had expected which made him furious.

The windows in the great living room were the only ones you could look out of and see the beach from, and you could see for miles, especially on a glorious, clear day like today. Except it wasn't the sun beautifully setting its orange glow across the water that he was looking at, nor the scenery which was held by the light before that. It was his son and friends wandering down the beach slowly to the castle which he was staring furiously at.

"Dear, you can't be too angry with him, sometimes he needs a break, he's only a boy." His wife said behind his shoulder. He hadn't realized she stood up, never mind having walked over to where he was standing.

"I was only a boy when my father died!" He shouted angrily. "I took control, I worked hard every second, there was no time for fooling around with two girls!" He was growing angrier by the second and Lily knew she had to do something to calm him.

"I understand that dear, and so does Alex, but-"

"Does he! Do you really think he understands what power he will have, what power he will need to learn how to use it! He is being a selfish, insolent, childish little boy! He doesn't care about his future kingdom, all he cares about is running around with Jane!"

"Now that's enough!" She never raises her voice unless absolutely necessary and this was one of those times. She narrows her eyes at him and speaks normally again. "He loves this kingdom and his people and you know it. He will come to terms with his future, but not if you push him. He is like your mother James, a very free spirit, but even she was tamed when the time was right. Let him live while he still can. Let him have the childhood you were never able to get. Please, he is our only child. I don't want to lose him." She turned and looked out the window again, down at her beloved boy and his friends. She loved him so dearly, that it hurt when her husband and he fought so.

James watched his wife smile down at their son walking happily across the beach and blew out a big sigh. He was still angry but had lost this fight. He loved his son, his heir, but his wife always seemed to understand him more, get along with him better. She was going to be the only one to make him understand that he has greater responsibilities now, and important ones at that. He needs to grow up and work harder.

"Talk to him, or I will." The king demands his wife, walking out of the room and slamming the big heavy oak door.

"Tell Ms. O'Neil to make a pot of tea for me please." The Queen asks the server who had just finished piling the wood.

"Yes, your highness." She nods and scurries off the room.