Loyalty at court was hard won and easily lost. Arabella had been commanding loyalty since the day she married. She was ruthless, relentless even in what she would to keep women in line. Despite her youth, it would seem she was a relic. Her very presence would strike fear in those around her. She was cold, she was devout, in short, the perfect woman of her era, an era which was beginning it's decline. Something the Queen knew, and silently acknowledged though her husband never would.
It was of course, when Arabella listened to her sister that she caught it. Hands. To others, the Princess merely spoke of gifts, but to Arabella she understood exactly what was meant. A look of terror crossed her face, but only for the briefest of moments. Would the others catch on? No, no, of course not. They were not savvy, they were not wise. They caught on only to small things, things which ultimately would never matter. But how? How did Alexandra know?
As children, their father groomed the two women to listen closely and carefully. They were taught to drop hints, to pick up what others may throw away in conversation. Those bits of detail were everything. Thinking on it, there was only one way, and one way alone that Alexandra could know the truth. Lucy. Arabella, careful now not to let her face betray her, would for a moment, seethe, before giving way to gratitude. Lucy was concerned, and Arabella understood that. Who else would you go to with concerns for her? Certainly not to her husband. It was rather sweet, well intentioned. But personally mortifying. This was her cross to carry, her own punishment.
"It is most gracious of you to recognize the generosity of His Majesty. I can assure you his hand was fair in his offerings." Arabella was beginning to sink, at least internally, recognizing this as her own fault, her just desserts. Throughout all of it, she never stopped smiling. Then, she would do something entirely expected.
"Not at all. Though your concern is of comfort. I shall dine and celebrate with you all, with great joy." Arabella heard her sister's suggestion for what it was, a chance for reprieve, but knew she could not take it. Not even for a moment, if she did not do as expected there would be hell to pay, and in the end it would be worse for Alexandra if Arabella were not present to help, where she could, tamp the King's rage.
Her eyes were pleading for her sister to simply allow things to go as they were meant to.
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