In the Kings Bed

Chapter 10

-.- = A flash back

Chapter 10
First of His Name

"Tell me what you see, Lady Bennett." Her hands gripped the banister tightly and her breath was becoming uneven.

Lady Bennett was on the verge of a panic attack.

"I don't see anything." She lied. She knew better. Her grandmother knew she was lying, but she wasn't ready to face what she had been hiding from.

"Bonnie." Her grandmother used her first name. Her first name was rarely used and the sound sent a chill up her spine.

"You were given a gift. Embrace it." She encouraged her. "If you continue to fight it. It will destroy you."

"I don't see anything, grandmother." Lady Bennett squeezed her eyes shut willing the images to go away.

-.-

"How do you know that for sure? What if she is really carrying the King's child?" Caroline's eyes filled with worry.

"I assure you she is not." Lady Bennett promised helping Caroline arise from bed. She placed her in front of the vanity and began to work on Caroline's hair.

"I promise that nothing like this will ever happen to you again." Lady Bennett promised.

Caroline nodded, but felt strange about Bonnie's promise. She was surely acting stranger than usual, but she couldn't exactly put her finger on it.

-.-

"Relax, Bonnie. Take a deep breath." She soothed. "And tell me what you see."

"It's... dark." Her face scrunched up unsure of how to interpret her thoughts. "I don't see anything.... I feel...."

"Lady Bennett?" Another voice broke her from her trance. Lady Bennett opened her eyes and came face to face with Esther.

Lady Bennett shook her head and slowly came back to reality. Her grandmother was dead.

She was speaking to her dead grandmother. She was surely losing it.

"Are you alright, Lady Bennett?" Esther looked at her suspiciously.

"I assure you." Her voice shook. "I am fine.

Lady Bennett bowed and quickly gathered her skirts. She began to to walk past the dowager queen.

"I knew your grandmother." Lady Bennett stopped dead in her tracks.

Lady Bennett turned and faced Esther. "Your grace?"

"I know what she was capable of doing." Esther's voice almost sounded like a warning. "I see it in your eyes. All of the Bennett's have that look."

"And what look is that?"

Esther smiled at her. It was almost haunting. "She didn't live long enough to tell me everything, child."

"Is that a threat?" Bonnie asked boldly.

"It's not a threat." She assured her. "But I do suggest you get yourself under control quickly or I will be forced to intervene."

"Wake up, your grace!" Caroline felt a pull on her arm. "Your grace!" She felt a pull again. Caroline stirred in her sleep and slowly awoke.

"What is it?" She sat up. Caroline rubbed her hazy eyes recognizing Lady Rebekah. "Is everything okay?"

"It's Lady Katherine." She was out of breath.

"Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" Caroline suddenly became frantic.

"The baby is coming." Lady Rebekah pulled on Caroline's arm again. "We have to go to her!"