Elegantly Trapped

Forty-Eight.

"I think you should do what you think is best. We both know my opinion hardly matters," Cole muses. The married couple laid in bed, the sun beginning to rise signalling the start to a new day.

"Your opinion always matters to me," Scarlett says lifting her head off her husband's chest and starring down at him. Cole tilts his back. "You are my husband and nothing more. I am a wife before i am a queen, your opinion does matter." She tells me.

He smiles his hand moving off her back and behind her head "I know mon amour. But this is your decision, and I will always stand by your side." He says.

Scarlett brings her hands up, placing them on top of his bare chest, placing her chin on her hands. With a sigh, "I just can't help but think of what father would say if he knew the way those mean treated me." She says.

"Well then give them hell. You, of all people should not be scared to give them hell." Cole smiles. Scarlett smiles back.

Cole strokes her cheek with his other hand "I love you." He sighs contently.

"I love you" Scarlett nods. Cole pulls Scarlett up pressing their lips together.

Later the married couple walks into the dinning hall, surprised to see all their children sitting there eating. Scarlett couldn't help but have her heart fall into her stomach no longer seeing William.

"Good morning," Cole greets the group kissing Nicholas and Susanna on the heads.

Scarlett greets her children, accepting a kiss on the cheek from Thomas.

"Thomas afterwards I need a word with you" Scarlett says once everyone was seated. Thomas nods.

"Of course." The young adult says.

"Anything bad?" Marie questions.

"Never" Scarlett smiles. Marie glances at Thomas who gives her a lopsided smile. After breakfast had been served to everyone, Thomas went up and aided Scarlett with her daily letters.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Thomas questions, intrigued.

"Your godfather stopped by last night." Scarlett smiles as she settles into the chair behind her desk.

"I'm not shocked." Thomas sighs as he hands her the box. "Did he tell you about my meltdown?"

Scarlett chuckles "I wouldn't consider it a meltdown."

"It was full blown." Thomas nods, chuckling.

"You had every right intention." Scarlett shrugs. "I know how hard it is to hear those men come at me like that especially now that society is different."

"It's not right." Thomas states.

"I know that," Scarlett nods.

"You don't deserve it."

"I don't," Scarlett agrees, "but you know even the Queen makes a sacrifice."

"I'm just shocked you just sit there and allow it. It just doesn't seem like your character." Thomas tells her and she laughs.

"You mean my mother bear character?" Scarlett tilts her head.

"Exactly." Thomas nods.

"I appreciate the worry Tom, I do." Scarlett smiles softly,

"I just think that it's wrong and if Marie were queen, I wouldn't want cranky old men coming at her."

Scarlett chuckles, "you'd be surprised with how thick skin us ladies have in this family."