Thirty Three Part Two

Their carriage arriving at the Duke's residence, Brutus held Daniel in the crook of his arm, as he stepped down from the coach to the walkway.

Turning back to hand Margaret down, he then walked with her to the entry door.

"Would it be acceptable to you, Margaret, if I came by tomorrow afternoon, weather permitting, and took you and Daniel out for a bit?" Brutus hoped he was not pushing his luck, "We could walk in the park, or browse some shops, I could use a couple of new books, as I have read those I have aboard ship repeatedly."

Knowing he had to accompany Michaels to order lumber and supplies upon the morrow, he had the rest of the day free to pursue his own interests.

"I shall look forward to that, Brutus, it is nice to get out for a while." Margaret placed her hand upon his arm, "Thank you for thinking of me today, I had a lovely time, as did Daniel." She smiled down at her babe in Brutus' arm.

Daniel was waving his tiny arms about, making gurgling noises, as he tried to reach out towards Brutus' face.

Brutus chuckled at the curious infant, "It was my pleasure," He replied sincerely. "Let me help you inside before I go." His eyes crinkling into a smile, as she was juggling the blankets and the swaddling bag, trying to open the door.

Brutus reached around the small maid and opened it for her.

Smiling shyly, thanking him once again, Margaret let Brutus follow her inside.

Setting down her things on a side table, she turned and held out her arms for her son.

Brutus placed the babe there, his hand lingering on the blanket the babe was wrapped in.

Leaning forward slowly, Brutus kissed Margaret's cheek softly, "I shall see you both tomorrow." His eyes smiled into hers, he patted the babe softly before departing, leaving Margaret to stand there, wondering at the feeling his chaste kiss left her with.

Raising her hand to her cheek, Margaret's fingertips touched where his lips had.

She felt a sense of wonder that his touch had not repulsed her, causing her to flinch and recoil, as other men's nearness always had.

She was set a little off balance, but she knew in her heart, that if she cared for Brutus, she would let him go.

Daniel gained her attention, waving his fist and making small cooing noises.

Margaret hugged Daniel to her, resolving once more, to protect Brutus from her tainted, ugly past.

Daniel was the only man she needed in her life. She would figure out what to do with him as he grew, she would find a way to care for him the very best she possibly could.

She kissed his soft, downy cheek and took him up to her room. Lying him in his small bed, she gazed down upon him a few moments before she meant to gather their things from the foyer.

He was such a sweet, happy babe. He was the one good thing she had taken away from that island. Daniel was all she had, and he would be enough.

Tapping his nose softly with her fingertip, the babe smiled, filling her heart with bittersweet love, and a mother's pride in her beautiful son.

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Pete stepped down from the coach after they arrived at Rebecca's. Helping her to alight, he then swung Jonah down to the walk, as Tim jumped down on his own.

"Are you staying awhile?" Rebecca asked Pete hopefully.

He closed the door of the carriage snugly, then rapped upon the side, sending the rest of the group on their way. "I was hoping you would ask." Pete grinned devilishly, settling a hand on her lower back, he turned her towards the doorway.

Pete then looped his arm around her shoulders.

Rebecca looked at him a little startled.

Pete leaned in and stole a kiss, taking his time, he growled softly as he gently tugged on her bottom lip before releasing her, "I have been wanting to do that all the day long."

"C'mon," Timothy whined, looking up and down the lane, "Can we not at least go inside first?" Timothy rolled his eyes, secretly smiling on the inside, at his hero and his aunt.

Things could not have gone better had Timothy known exactly what to pray for. But he was thanking God for the direction things seemed to be going.

Pete chuckled, as the four of them approached the door, Pete reaching for the handle, then allowing them to precede him into the entry.

Pete watched from behind as Becca's hips swayed underneath her dress, he smiled at her saucy saunter, admiring her feminine curves and graceful movements.

There was nothing quite like a woman in love to watch and admire.

There was just something about the way they moved, the way they spoke, the way their eyes were all warm and inviting.

Pete raised his own eyes from her backside, to the blonde halo of curls he found very attractive.

Pete knew he was quite smitten with every inch of this wench.

The entry was suddenly filled with chatter and activity, as the boys released the extra energy that had been pent up, after being confined in the coach for the last hour.

Both of the boys bombarding Pete and Rebecca at once, as the two adults were exchanging smiles over the children's heads.

Rebecca was filled with gratitude, as only a matter of days ago, her home had been empty and lonely with her father's passing, now it blessedly felt incredibly warm and alive.

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The long day in the saddle had worn Violet out. That, and the reunion with his wife, had rendered him dead to the world.

Betsy had also napped a bit, but upon awakening next to Violet, she had simply lain there and enjoyed his warmth for a while.

Deciding his nap was an excellent opportunity to ready herself for the evening, Betsy rose and used a cloth to lift a bucket of hot water from the hearth.

Warming the bath water from earlier, Betsy availed herself of it, then stood drying herself with a soft linen, weighing and measuring the dresses in the armoire.

She chose a sable dress with long golden sleeves, the caps that topped the sleeves, embroidered with small pearls. The dress rode her upper arms, leaving her shoulders bare.

She pulled the crown of her hair back from her face, tying it up behind her, to cascade in waves down her back.

She donned sheer stockings and golden slippers, then checked in on her husband, who had not moved since she left him.

Smiling possessively at his lovely backside, that just happened to be revealed to her view, she took in the sight of him for a moment, before closing the door quietly.

Leaving through the next room, she slipped silently down the staircase into the main hall.

Stopping at the foot of the stairs she darted her eyes both ways, seeing no one about, she then darted across the room, through a door that led to her destination.

Walking down the hallway, she found the King in his study, standing by a tall window, looking out over the gardens.

He held an amber drink in his hand, and she saw him take a shallow swallow, right as she paused at the door.

Noticing the movement across the room in the glass pane in front of him, the King turned, pleasure coming over his face at the picture she made as she stood there.

Her wide eyes were unsure of her welcome, she worried that she was intruding. He softened his expression to alleviate her anxiety.

Her impish face showed she was pleased at his acceptance of her presence. She lit up as a candle's flame, her mood returning quickly to joy, as her world was complete now.

"What has you sneaking about, looking as a cat that just finished a bowl of cream?"

"Violet has returned." She informed him happily, as she held her skirts and fairly danced into the room.

"Yes, I was informed that he had." The King smiled at her obvious pleasure. "And where is he now?"

"Oh, he is sleeping, he rode all the day long, and needs to rest." She grinned very satisfactorily, making the King chuckle at her, and at her statement.

"I see.... Would you like a chocolate? Or mayhap, some tea?" He raised his glass, as he offered to provide her with her own libation.

"I do not mind if I do, thank you." Betsy curtsied at him, before flouncing down into a cushioned armchair.

He pulled the bell, and they waited but a moment, before a well laden tray was delivered. Betsy was always tickled when chocolate was provided to her at the snap of a finger.

She was enjoying every moment of this life of luxury, as it would not last forever. She was finding it incredibly novel to reside at the castle, as a favoured guest of the King.

Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined doing so before it happened.

Never could she have asked for a better outcome than what had happened once they reached the King.

All the previous fears and uncertainty had never materialised, their prayers however, had been answered in ways they never could have imagined.

Sipping her chocolate that was as heaven itself, Betsy looked over the rim at the tall, handsome man who still stood by the window.

They settled into a few moments silence, each sipping from their cups, becoming more comfortable with one another as time was spent in one another's company.

"Her name was Miranda," The King began, "I thought she loved me also, yet she betrayed me, and she almost caused your father to be killed." The King took another shallow drink from his glass then turned his piercing eyes at Alexander's daughter.

"If she had managed to kill him, you would not exist." He pointed out.

"Oh my....." Betsy shook her head in disbelief that someone would do something so horrible.

"Of course, it was me she was trying to have killed, your father just got in the way." The pain was there behind his piercing eyes.

"I can not imagine..." Betsy continued to shake her head, how very, very horrible. To love someone, then find they had tried to have you killed.

She looked at him in dismay, "Is that why you have never loved since?" Her heart was hurting for this wonderful man, who deserved to love, and be loved.

"Not completely. I could have wed many times over, and I could now." The King sat behind his desk and leaned back, folding his hands across his lap, "I have no interest in a marriage for political reasons. And love is not a luxury afforded to marriages of royalty."

"Royalty, boyalty," Elizabeth waved her hand in the air, "So you are saying....... As the King, you can not just marry someone you meet, knowing they could be the one?" She raised her brows, questioning his supreme rulership.

He laughed a moment, as she should be right, yet it was more complicated than that.

"A King has responsibility, there are rules that must be followed." He chuckled at her ideals.

"You do not make the rules?" She was confused, as she would have thought he did.

"I do not, I have power over whether I want to bow to them, or not, but I did not decide the rules." He admitted factually.

"Huh........ And I thought you did." Betsy looked around at his study, the things he kept around him, some items upon his desk gaining her interest.

She set her cup down and approached him. She picked up a wooden ball and weighed it in her palm.

Noticing different shapes strung along the top of his desk, she had been curious, "What are these?"

She rolled the ball around in her hand, seeing cuts in the wood, but no way to pry it open.

"It is a wooden puzzle, would you like to see?" He held out his hand, and she placed the ball into his palm.

He pushed on a spot, a piece sliding out, wherein the puzzle came apart, and one must then find the way to place it together again.

"Oh, let me." Betsy snatched it from his hand, returning to her chair, she fussed this way and that, and got nowhere.

The King sat behind his desk and picked up a square, sliding the locking piece out, he quickly disassembled and reassembled it.

Betsy huffed, and placed the pieces across her skirt, frowning upon them, wrinkling her nose as she had not a clue where to begin.

"You may have to put this back together again." She glanced up at the King as he chuckled.

"Do not give up yet, if you look at all of the pieces long enough, you will see how it all goes together." The King encouraged her softly, his voice carrying a myriad of meanings, "It will just come to you, you will see it for yourself, if you are but patient."

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Violet awoke from his nap slowly, he was comfortable, it was quiet.

It is too quiet. Where is her breathing?

Upon opening his eyes to luxury, Violet slid his hand across the sheets to find her gone.

Vi's mouth stretched into a satisfied smile. Turning his head upon the pillow, he saw she was not there. He still was content, knowing that he had been welcomed back most enthusiastically by his little wife.

He rolled over, then stretched, placing his hands behind his head, he wondered where Elizabeth had taken herself off to.

Hoping she was in the privy, that she would return momentarily, he felt the sheets beside him to find her side of the bed was cold.

He frowned a little, and rose.

How long have I slept?

The tub was tempid, meaning she had not been gone too long.

He availed himself of the water quickly, then found his clean clothing in his bag.

He dressed, and after brushing and tying his hair back, he pulled on his boots, and went in search of Elizabeth.

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A blessed day to you, my lovely readers :)