Chapter Forty Four

The King moved to sit behind his desk. Lowering himself into his chair carefully, he sat a bit to the side, so as to not crush his tail beneath him. Elizabeth handed Violet a brandy before setting another on the King's desk in front of him.

"Thank you, dearest." The King reached for Elizabeth's hand, holding onto her for a moment, as a tangible current of love ran between them. Smiling at him sweetly, Elizabeth assured him 'twas her pleasure before approaching the window behind him to watch as the stream of carriages arrived.

Elizabeth giggled after a moment, gaining both of the men's attention. Their conversation ceased abruptly, their curiosities were aroused wondering what it was that amused her. She turned, finding them both looking at her with amusement and quizzically, raised brows. "'Tis a funny sight from here." She observed. "Over the wall, it looks as though the drivers are floating in air." From her vantage point, the carriage drivers were only visible from their backsides up, making it look as though they hovered midair or that the top of the wall were a belt that they moved upon.

The King and Violet were both charmed by the merriment she exuded.

"I have entertained that exact thought myself, many times." The King chuckled.

Elizabeth went to Violet, her hand coming to rest on the back of his chair, as the men smiled indulgently at the tinkling sound she made every time she moved. Her eyes shone with excitement and her anticipation of the eve ahead as she began to toy with strands of Violet's hair.

Having attended more of these gatherings than he could possibly count, the King found himself pleasantly surprised that he shared her excitement. While it was true that Elizabeth had been his guest previously, an evening of dancing, and dining, in no way compared to a full scale ball. Neither had it constituted an introduction to the ton at large. It suddenly struck the King poignantly, this evening he would have the honor of launching his dearest friend's daughter into society.

The King took a sip of his brandy while observing the young couple, Violet taking Elizabeth's hand from his shoulder to lead her around front of him to sit upon his thigh. The look that passed between the two was brimming with love, causing the King to smile indulgently at a memory that came to his mind. He indulged further in his libation as his mind recalled the last time he saw her parents, Alexander, and Mary. He remembered the couple looking at one another in much the same way as these two before him did.

He thought of Bernard, utterly forgiving Elizabeth's grandfather for keeping her hidden. Even as he knew that he would have loved watching Elizabeth as she grew, the King realized the temptation would have been too great not to give her every advantage he possibly could. He cringed slightly, thinking he most likely would have planned for her to enter into an advantages marriage. He thought of the many ways he may have influenced her life, and by doing so, he knew she would not be the same girl who sat before him today. The King appreciated greatly that Elizabeth was not pretentious, nor spoiled, nor married to a man that she did not love. She had not been jaded by the life of a courtesan, she did not care one whit what place in society she held. The King smiled ruefully in agreement with her Papa, Ye did good old man, the King admitted, thinking that he loved Elizabeth exactly the way she was.

The King knew he would do all in his power to assist her, and Violet, in their endeavors. Yet, not so much so, that they would not feel a sense of accomplishment in doing for themselves. He would have their backs, watching over the them, just as Alexander had watched over him so long ago. The King smiled wistfully, realizing he was being given the opportunity to repay Alexander for his love, and loyalty, by now caring for his beloved friend's family. A twang of regret plucked at the King's heart. Ah, how I wish you were here, my friend, so we could enjoy this together.

He put his thoughts to words, gaining the lovebirds attention, "I wish your parents were here, Elizabeth, they would be so proud of what you and Violet are accomplishing."

Elizabeth smiled wistfully, feeling she knew her parents a little better after repeatedly reading their letters. "It was because we wished my parents could be here that we chose the costumes we did, Sire. The people we have chosen to represent were a people my father admired and he wrote much of how they inspired him." Elizabeth looked to Violet, as his hand went around her waist to stroke her side, his support of her evident in his unwavering gaze upon her.

Turning back to the King, a glow filled Elizabeth's visage as she spoke of the reasons her father admired the native people. "Father wrote to Papa of their God, the Great Spirit, of the ways their spirituality resembled our own, in spite of never having read a bible nor having anyone to tell them there was a God. He saw it as great proof, that if an uncivilized culture could feel God's presence, how could we, who have His word right in front of us, not believe?" She smiled wistfully, thinking of her father's words, while wishing she had memories of her own to treasure. "I enjoy these writings of his the most, as he waxed theoretically in his letters to my Papa. I must say, it is a true blessing to have been given this window into his soul that I otherwise would not have had." Elizabeth became thoughtful, attempting, with a little difficulty, to put her feelings into words. "Having no memory of either of my parents, they never seemed as real to me as they have become through reading their letters. Only recently have I come to realize how very sorry I am to have lost them."

Violet placed his other hand upon her knee, squeezing it gently, his visage showing regret for her loss, his protective, nurturing care of her was more than evident in his darkened, violet eyes.

Elizabeth's own eyes misted over a little, as she smiled down at Violet, before looking back to her King. She knew how blessed she was to have these wonderful men in her life. Her husband was more than she could have ever dreamed of having for own. And this great man, their King, had most unexpectedly become a wonderful friend to her husband and was much as a loving father to herself. She knew that their newfound relationship brought him pleasure, as it did she, and Violet. She smiled at the King compassionately, knowing that he missed her father more than she ever could.

Seeing the compassion in her countenance, the King acknowledged her attempt to comfort him. This melted his heart so completely, he felt that if he allowed himself to, he could cry at how very sweet she was. He remained silent, watching her face, admiring her speckles of freckles, so like her father's.

Elizabeth appreciated him more than she could ever put into words but, now was a time for joy, and laughter, dancing and fun. Attempting to tell him what he meant to them yet, not have he, and she, blubbering, she went on, "I can only believe that my father would be proud, Sire, not only of Violet, and I, but of you, also. We could never have hoped, nor dreamed, to be this far along in our plans," Elizabeth squeezed Violet's hand, giving him her brightest smile, which she then turned back upon the King, "if you were not such a generous benefactor."

"It has been my pleasure, and my duty, to do so." The King nodded his acceptance of her praise while assuring her he was duty bound to help them.

"But you did not have to. It is to our benefit that you are the great man that you are." Elizabeth laughed softly, merriment dancing in her eyes, "You will never know the fears that attempted to overtake us when we embarked on this journey to seek Violet's pardon. We feared you would incarcerate him at the very least, yet, still we came, hoping he would not hang for his offenses."

"There have been no offenses the way I see it, young lady. If only more were as brave as your husband, willing to risk all for the lives of a few." The King snorted his displeasure for those who were only self minded. "I am blessed by the opportunity to do good, and to have such a worthy man in my arsenal as to carry it out."

Violet lowered his head in gratitude for the King's kind words, "It is I, Sire, who is truly blessed."

The King looked to Elizabeth, his love shining in his eyes, "And do not ever forget it, Violet Petals, or you will have me to answer to."

"Aye, aye, Captain." Violet's iris eyes were lit with humor as his thumb stroked the back of Elizabeth's hand.

The King chuckled at the pirate, so very glad that Elizabeth had found him, "You two remind me so much of your parents, Elizabeth. It was no hardship to see the love they had for one another when your father brought her with him to ask to be released from my service. The hardship came only in letting them go."

Elizabeth now understood, more fully, how close her father and this man had been. They had been as brothers,. Neither having one to call their own, they had adopted the relationship themselves through a mutual respect and love for one another. Now that Elizabeth had come to know her father more, and her mother also, she had come to appreciate that her parents had been deeply in love, that they had cultivated hopes, and dreams, which had been cut abruptly short. It had taken falling in love with Violet to see how they must have loved one another, and it took her becoming with child to appreciate the love they must have felt for her. Elizabeth did not want to imagine something happening to herself, or her husband, though she did know that if anything so tragic befell them, their child would still be blessed. Marcus and Katherine would gladly raise them with love, just as her Papa had done with her. She also knew the King would watch over their offspring, guaranteeing  that their child would want for naught.

Thinking briefly of those that had gone home to be with the Lord, she thought of the reunion that must have taken place the day her Papa passed away, what a joyous day it must have been for him. For her Papa to be reunited with her father, and her grandmother, Penelope, Elizabeth could only imagine what must have been a most glorious moment. Elizabeth had only thought of her own loss and sorrow,at the time, not sparing a thought for what a grand time it must have been for him.

"I know they wanted the very best for you, my dear. I am fairly certain they would have enjoyed seeing you, and Pirate Petals, so happily wed." The King's eyes twinkled with mischief as he lifted his head towards Violet, while Violet rolled his eyes and snorted over the rim of his glass.

"That I am, Sire, very happy, indeed." Elizabeth looked down upon Violet, loving the way his violet eyes crinkled as he smiled up at her adoringly. Elizabeth leaned down and pecked his handsome forehead with her lips, avoiding the paints that were smeared there. "It would have been wonderful to provide another set of grandparents for the babe. We are blessed, however, with Marcus and Katherine being so close," Elizabeth chuckled lustily, "and I fear my mother would have had to wrestle the babe from Katherine once it arrives."

The men laughed at her observation, knowing her words to, most likely, be true.

"Oh, I see the Duke's coach!" Elizabeth stood from her perch as she saw the duke's driver float along the top of the wall. Her excitement grew, knowing the night would be all the more special because she would share it with those she considered to be her family. Hoping that Trent, and Arianna, accompanied the duke and duchess, she set her bells to ringing, dancing in place with her excitement.

Violet laughed and stood from his chair. Setting his glass down on a side table, he then lifted his stunning, indulgent eyes to peruse his wife. "Let it not be said I keep you waiting, kitten. Let us go and greet them."

"Wait for me, you two, the duchess is my guest of honor." The King rose, joining them to seek out the ballroom, Elizabeth's bells making the mood all that much merrier as they made their way.

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Christine followed behind her cousin, Ashton, and his wife, Sassy. Seeing a long evening ahead of her, Christine again wished she had stayed home with Ashton's children. She had only come to the ball because Ashton insisted they would not enjoy themselves half as much without her. She found herself wishing that the pirate from the festivities a sennight ago would be present this evening. She sighed a bit forlornly, tucking a stray wisp of sable hair back under her cap, knowing the pirate would, most likely, not be a guest, as her cousin would have told her if the man was titled gentry. Ashton had not known the identity of the man when queried on the ride home, and Christine feared she would never see the pirate again, as it seemed he did not move within Ashton's circle of acquaintances. She had felt a little melancholy since that day, as the handsome pirate had gone out of his way to utterly charm her. A feeling of dutiful resolve filled Christine as she trailed along, anticipating a somewhat, boring evening of making idle conversation within a gathering of people she was not familiar with.

When Christine was at home, she, of course, knew everyone. She could retire to her chambers, or leave an engagement at will, should an evening drag on beyond her endurance. She wondered momentarily how her brother, James, was fairing, as his gout had been paining him sorely before she left. Feeling the protective, big sister, she realized she should probably make plans to return home soon, even as James had insisted she could stay as long as she wished. She vowed to enjoy herself with her cousins this eve, as once she did return home, it would assuredly be a while before she was able to visit them again.

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If I don't get a chance to update again in the next few days, I wish one and all a very Merry Christmas!

Again, my greatest thanks for your loyalty to my tale, as you all know, it is my great pleasure to provide these tidbits for your reading enjoyment.

May you all be blessed as we celebrate our Lord's birth, may His grace, and mercy, abound in your lives and in the lives of those around you. You are all in my prayers daily, as I hope to be included in yours.

Looking forward to next time, my lovely readers,

-Angela