Thirty Part One

Betsy took the hand Will offered, her eyes aglow with mischief as he lead her into the dance. As his arms came around her, Betsy realized it was much different dancing with Will now than when she had been a young girl at her lessons. Being that she was also a well loved wife, Betsy now knew what Will had been up to with all his courtesans. She looked up into his eyes as Will pulled her in close to him.

"Mind yourself, my Lord, I am a married woman now." Betsy told him smugly as she put a bit of distance between their bodies.

Will leered at her and she was reminded just how devilishly handsome he was. Of course, he did not hold a candle to her Violet, yet, he could be said to come in a close second.

"I have heard that bit of news," Will replied. "I heard you married a pirate, a Violet Leaves, if I am not mistaken." Will knew he had fudged Violet's name, but not having met the man he could only imagine what he be like with a name such as Petals.

"'Tis Violet Petals, and you may call me Mistress Petals, you knave!" Betsy flippantly gave Will what for.

"I have no issues with married women..." Will suggestively leaned over and kissed Betsy's shoulder, seeing just how far he could tease her before she resorted to her old trick of swatting at him.

"I shall leave you standing here alone, if you insist on continuing in this manner." Betsy stated matter of factly, as she scrunched her shoulder up to deny him further access to her.

Will backed off and laughed lightly, "Well, I do not have a problem with married woman, usually." Will's eyes shone down into Betsy's with humor.

"I know, I have heard, it does not seem to matter who the woman is, I have heard you do not discriminate very much a tall." Betsy replied with her nose in the air.

"Oh, that hurts, Bitsy, I am definitely most discriminating about who I take to my bed." Will leered at her again. Betsy began to pull out of his arms when he pulled her back, laughing aloud at her outrage.

"You will behave?" Betsy asked tentatively.

"I shall, I promise." Will continued to turn her about the room as the King looked on with pleasure. Now here was a man who could give the pirate a bit of competition...

"So you have seen your mother?" Betsy asked Will, smiling brightly, imagining his joy at their reunion.

"I have, and my God, what a shock that was!" Will's heart shown upon his face as he spoke of the duchess, "It was beyond anything I had ever imagined, to have mother and father together once more..." Will's eyes became moist as he smiled winsomely, hoping he could keep his emotions in check. But this girl in his arms knew as well as his own family did what Kathleen's return meant to them.

"I am so glad for you, Will." Betsy placed a hand in his cheek and Will leaned into her palm accepting the brotherly love she held for him. He, in turn, also loved her, as a younger sister, but he found her a lot more fun, as he could tease Betsy in a totally different way than if she had been his sibling.

"And my lady?" Betsy asked. "Did you see Arianna?" Betsy wished she could see her lady, she missed her so.

"Yes, she and Trent seemed perfectly happy the last I saw of them." Will confirmed.

"Good." Betsy murmured, distracted by the King craning his neck to watch them.

"About your husband..." Will started.

Betsy's attention snapped back to Will immediately, "What about him?" She asked, a bit guarded.

"Where is he?" Will raised a brow at her, making her smack his chest lightly.

"He would be here if he could, but he is about business for the King. Delivering your aunt, and some papers, to your father." Betsy narrowed her eyes, daring Will to make any disparaging remarks against her love.

"Ah, well, mayhap, I shall have the pleasure then, as I am leaving for Marlborough myself upon the morrow." Will imparted.

Betsy looked to the King and narrowed her eyes, if Will were headed out to Marlborough in the morn, why could he not have gone in Violet's stead?

Will caught the look Betsy shot the King's way, he then watched the King become absorbed in taking in the scenery, looking about, just as though Betsy were not shooting daggers at him.

Will laughed and changed the subject, glad her ire was not directed at him, "So, tell me how you came to be the King's new pet." Will placed a finger under Betsy's chin and drew her head back to look at him. He smiled and gave her a questioning look.

Betsy forced air from her nose in a huff, deviant, conniving, blackguard, 'twas then that Betsy ran out of descriptions for her monarch, sighing and answering Will a bit defeatedly, "I guess I am Alex Hastings daughter."

"You guess you are... Alexander Hastings daughter!" Will whistled low, appreciating what that would mean to their King, as Alexander Hastings was a legend. None had come after him who held a candle to his loyalty to the King, not to mention the man's unfathomable skill with weapons. "I see, actually, that is amazing, Bitsy." Will shook his head in appreciation of the fact. Looking to the King, he caught the monarch smiling indulgently at the girl Will held in his arms. Will laughed joyfully for her, as he twirled her repeatedly around the room, gaining the stares of anyone who had not been watching them before.

Betsy was oblivious to the gossip that ensued, but Will knew that Betsy had just become the new talk of the ton.

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Will returned Betsy to the King's side and bowed as he took his leave.

Betsy's smile slowly faded from her face and a scowl formed upon her brow.

"Now Elizabeth..." The King had seen the glare she had sent him from the ballroom floor and he was prepared with his answer.

"I must go, my liege." Betsy suddenly had a queer feeling. A feeling that Violet needed her. She could not explain it, she just knew what she had to do.

"I do not understand." The King looked upon her curiously.

"I just have a need to be alone for awhile, Sire, please?" Betsy's face had gone pale and the King wondered if mayhap, she was expecting a child.

"You will be alright if I allow you to go to your rooms?" He just wanted to know if she needed assistance, "Would you like a maid sent to you?"

Betsy snorted with nervous humor, as she used to be the maid. My, how things had changed. "I will be fine, Sire, I feel the need to pray, quite honestly." Betsy begged him with her molasses eyes, he noticing that they had darkened with her concern.

"Yes, go, if I do not see you 'til the morrow, sleep well." The King bent and kissed her upon her forehead, she smiled at him sweetly, kissed his cheek quickly, then walked quickly to and up the stairs that led to her and Violet's rooms. Gaining the doorway, she pushed through it, leaning back upon the door until the latch clicked home.

She pushed off of the door and went about the room blowing out candles, darkening her surroundings until only the fire in the grate lit the room. She removed her dress and placed it back into the wardrobe, then crossed the room to their bed. Kneeling, in her chemise and stockings, she began to pray.

She prayed for her husband, for his health, and his safety. She prayed that the good Lord would place Violet especially into His care.

Betsy kept at her prayers for a while, before she began to thank Him for hearing them, and she found she had gained peace. Climbing up into the bed, Betsy pulled Violet's pillow over onto her side and scrunched down into the covers, holding it tightly, wishing it were him.

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Eleanor watched as Violet reached down and pulled off his boot.

"What?" Eleanor stopped speaking as he tipped the boot and caught an object as it fell. "How?" Eleanor breathed, as Violet slipped his wedding ring back upon his finger.

Looking up at her with sorrowful eyes, "When I bowed at the lass, I forgot I was wearing the other."

Eleanor hated to see him so upset. "It was Elizabeth's mother's ring?" Eleanor commiserated with his loss.

"Aye." Violet stared at the closed window of the coach, wishing he could have done more.

"She would not have wanted you to risk your life for it." Eleanor tried to make him feel a small bit better.

"Aye." Violet replied, letting his head fall back and closing his eyes.

Violet knew what he needed right now and he could not have it.

Violet needed his wife.

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;) Oh, look, its Will !