As Alexandra and Arthur left, Arabella breathed a sigh of relief. The torture was, for the moment, over. It was to be brief. Arabella could not bring herself to get used to his hands upon her body. It was foreign, it felt wrong. Even though she had kissed the man, several times now, even though she was before God his wife, it made her uncomfortable. The echoes of his touch shot through her body like waves of electricity. But, ever the lady, she endured.
"A surprise?" Oh God, Arabella thought. If Christian had a surprise, it surely meant no good news. "Thank you, my beloved. Though I assure you, you are all the gift I need." To flatter her husband meant to prolong her existence in this world. The Queen suppose it struck her, perhaps for the first time how terrified she truly was. This was not a marriage of love, but rather one of fear, though none save for her nearest and dearest would know it, or understand it. Well, anyone who truly knew the King as had and was about to learn even more might have the same fear. To many he was generous, seen as strict but kind, wise but judgmental. The opposite of his father.
As the fanfare within the abbey subsided, the new Queen was whisked away and restored to her wedding dress, though in place of the train she had worn during that ceremony, the same deep purple velvet ermine worn for the coronation remained. As opposed to St. Edward's crown, which truly was made for men, a new crown had been commissioned for her by the King. It glimmered in gold and diamonds, with more precious stones of ruby and emerald than perhaps any other that had been fashioned. This, along with a suite of tiaras that awaited her in her chambers at Buckingham Palace were now her own.
A recessional saw the royal couple, now wed and crowned exit the abbey to the cheers of the large crowd assembled, to maintain the surprise the King was first departed, the new Queen next to leave in the carriage made for her and the occasion. While the King would enter through the main gates, the Queen would enter the palace from the rear. She smiled and waved as she did so. To all she appeared to be happy, overjoyed. Perhaps acting was a career that the Queen could have considered.
What could the surprise be? Surely it had to be something like jewelry, or clothes or other finery. Something loud and bold that announced to the world she was owned by the King, she was his now. She was for the people to look at, but for none to touch. That is none but him.
Once the Queen had arrived at the palace, she was quickly escorted inside to be reunited with Christian and brought to the balcony. Traditionally the Prince and Princess of Wales would join, children or grandparents too. Had Christian allowed Arthur and Alexandra to come? Even for just the sake of appearance?
--
It occurred to Arthur that he had never really seen Arabella's cruelty (real or imagined). He had often heard about it from Alexandra, and from everything she said he knew to expect the worst. But he had to admit, it had caught him off guard. Her insults were thick, heavy, dripping with acid as his wife suggested. The Arabella he had come to know was kind and in sincere want of a family, of love, of acceptance.
There were always rumours. A servant or two had killed themselves over the years. For the most part they were viewed as isolated incidents with trouble youth. But having been married to Alexandra, it would become ever more clear all roads inevitably led back to the Queen. She was responsible.
"It came back to her frightfully naturally." It took the Queen almost no time to come up with her responses, perhaps after so many years of cruelty it came as second nature. While I know now that she does not mean her words... it's quite cutting and bound to continue." Arthur sighed deeply, he enjoyed the relative quiet he had with his wife just now. The two of them undisturbed as the majority of the nobility were clamoring about the Queen or preparing for the elaborate celebrations that were scheduled. "You weren't too bad yourself, coming back with the it isn't a woman's place quip." Arthur laughed lightly, trying to keep his voice down as much as he could. Both knew the idea was rather absurd, to but to use protocol against the Queen was amusing, and clever.
"Much like a prized deer, she is his prize, of course he'll show her off. I understand your concern my dear love." She was right to worry, but... for now they were okay. "For the moment, we are safe and so is she. I don't think he'll make any severe move until the Queen births a child, and we should pray that it is a son for your sister's sake. A daughter for ours." In reality, Arthur personally did not care what the baby was, a daughter would keep them safe a while longer, though it would endanger Alex's sister. A son would protect the Queen for a time, but would endanger their lives. It was a complicated game of cat and mouse, and crown be damned. He wanted to live a long life beside Alex and their unborn children.
"We must go."
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