In the Kings Bed

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Mad King
The Mad King

In the Kings chambers, Caroline stood alone awaiting the arrival of the King. He had requested to meet her right before the feast in the great hall later that evening.

She did not know why her stomach fluttered as she anticipated his arrival. She held onto her abdomen willing the butterflies to subside.

He was not a cruel man. That she had to tell herself many times, but still the thought of angering the king and doing something wrong always lingered in the back of her mind.

The door calmly opened and the King walked inside slowly like he had so many times before in the past week.

Caroline wasn't sure if she would ever get used to the sight of him. He took her breath away each time and she always had to pinch herself to make sure that she wasn't dreaming.

He took his riding gloves off and set them on a nearby table. He unlatched his sword belt and set them on top of his gloves.

His motions were painfully slow and Caroline's heart was beating painfully fast.

"I hope I'm not keeping you from your ladies, Caroline." He walked until he stood in front of her. He leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"You are not, your grace." She smiled genuinely at him. "There is plenty of time to prepare for the feast."

He began to walk past her and motioned her to take a seat near the window. Once seated, she looked up at him. He was deep in thought, but still hadn't spoken.

"What troubles you, your grace? You seem deep in thought."

He finally looked down at her, but didn't smile.

"I have never been presented with a situation such as this, princess." He told her honestly. "I am not sure how to approach it without coming off cruel."

"Surely you could just tell me." Her heart was slamming against her chest, but she was beginning to piece together exactly why she was here.

"Lockwood." The two-syllable name caused Caroline to jump. His eyes narrowed at her reaction. He decided to press for more information. "What does that man mean to you?"

"I knew him once." Her words were vague.

"Knew him how my dear princess? I promise you that I am a patient man, but I will not settle for that ambiguous answer."

He stood in front of the chair she was seated in and leaned down so that they were level. He placed his hands on either side of the chair waiting for a response.

"I did not know him intimately if that's what you were implying, your grace." Caroline put her head down trying to hide the crimson color rising in her cheeks.

He lifted her chin with one finger forcing her to look at him.

"I know that you didn't bed him." He told her. "I took that from you the night of our wedding dear princess. I was not questioning your innocence. I want to know your feelings towards him."

"I was enchanted by him when I was a girl. He asked me to tie a ribbon on his lance at each jousting tournament I have ever attended. It was silly, really."

The King stood up and backed away from her. He turned around so that he now faced the window losing himself in his thoughts once more.

It seemed like a century before he spoke again.

"I've seen that look in a man's before eyes, princess." He was careful with his next words. He knew his wife was still very young and naïve to the ways of the world.