Hardly a Lady

XVII

8 months later

8 months soon came to pass, and as each week fell, Giselle could feel Ash's child growing bigger and stronger within her. Soon their baby would be ready to leave her and enter the world, marking not only her fate, but that of itself and it's half-sisters. If the baby was born a girl, no doubt Will would fulfill the promise he had made all those months ago, and Giselle and her daughters would pay the price.

The moment that the court had learned Giselle was also pregnant, people had begun to take bets on who's child would be born first and what gender each baby would be. Most people at court had decided to bestow their well-wishes on Giselle rather than Elsa, but Will's mistress had certainly still profited from the entire thing. Giselle heard from numerous reliable sources that Will sent Elsa gifts daily; sugared fruit, cakes, dresses, jewels, even a new pure white mare. Before long, Elsa was one of the best dressed women at court, and she liked nothing better than to parade about in tight fitting dresses, proudly displaying her pregnant belly. Being a princess and a mother, Giselle could do no such thing, but she hardly minded. She much preferred spending the time that Elsa wasted prancing about the palace and preening in front of anybody who would look her way with her daughters and Ash, who rarely left her side these days.

In the past months, both Elienna and Thea had grown into beautiful little girls whom everybody praised. Elienna - at her third winter - had already begun schooling, and all of her teachers praised how accomplished and intelligent she was. Thea was still quieter than her older sister, but despite her shyness she had an exceptionally kind heart, and was beloved by all who met her. Giselle adored both of her daughters with all her heart, and couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to them.

As the day approached for Giselle to begin her confinement, it became aware to her that the King was growing more and more ill. In the previous months, his illness had grown considerably worse, and the physicians now predicted he had little more than a couple of months to live. Nowadays he mostly kept to his rooms, only seeing his family and most trusted advisors, and Will had taken over much of the running of the kingdom in his father's stead. Nowadays he was the King in all but name, and people had already started trying to win the Prince's favour. Even Giselle had received gifts and increased visits from some of the most important members of court, who although they knew well enough that her husband didn't listen to her, she would soon be the Queen nevertheless.

That is, if this baby wasn't a girl.

Giselle had been sat alone in her chambers, her daughters having gone to bed for the night and her ladies disappeared to fulfill various chores. For the first time in a while, Ash was absent also, having no choice but to leave Giselle's side and assist with training some new recruits to the palace guard at Will's request. So for the first time in as long as Giselle could remember, she was completely alone.

She busied herself with embroidering a petticoat for Queen Lahleh's upcoming birthday, sitting beside the crackling fireplace and humming quietly to herself as she worked. However, the serenity and peace she was enjoying was shattered when the rooms to her chambers were suddenly burst open by a flustered looking herald, who swooped into a low bow, his face red with exertion.

Giselle stood slowly in confusion as the herald hauled himself up from his bow, her large stomach protruding out in front of her as she beckoned the herald forward. "What's wrong?" the Princess asked in panic. "From whom do you bring news?"

"Two pieces of news, Your Highness. Firstly, the King has taken a turn for the worst, and if you are able your presence is requested at his bed-side."

Giselle took a deep breath and instantly set down her embroidery. "Of course, and the second news?"

The herald looked at her apprehensively and shuffled nervously from foot to foot. "Spit it out, man," Giselle snapped, her pregnancy hormones making her temper fluctuate more than usual.