Jerrico fell terribly ill, and Nathan and Loyalty couldn't marry because they couldn't afford to support each other. She could never rise above her station, not with the birthmark.
However, it turned out that was exactly what saved her. Prince George, now the new king, had searched for his bastard children after his only legitimate child died with his estranged wife. The birthmark was what identified Loyalty as royal by birth.
He was going to recognize her, and have her eventually take the throne, it seemed. At least, those were the whispers in the castle.
Everything seemed to be going right at the moment. Loyalty now had the best medical care available for Jerrico, whose sunny attitude won him many close friends. Nathan was in the King's favor, and promoted already. In addition, Nora knew, if she could hold out until Loyalty was officially crowned, she could marry Ricardo and not be forced into a noble marriage.
There were some downsides to the whole situation, she knew. Now that Loyalty was being made noble, marrying Nathan would not be so easy.
In addition, the nobles were all ordered into the palace, under the shaky throne. There were those who felt like George's brother William should have the throne, not some marked bastard child. In a way, everything could go perfectly.
Or everything could tumble down.
Nora rolled over, snuggling into the blankets, enjoying the thought that Ricardo was nearby if she needed him.
“Mmm,” his eyes fluttered open as he awoke for the day, and she noticed from her comfortable position. “Where are you going?”
“I'm not going anywhere,” she said, feeling the warm blankets surround her. “But you should.”
“Why should I?” he asked with a yawn.
“Because Alexander will be in soon,” she replied. “And you know what you promised.”
“Was it...” he pretended to think hard. “Was it that I promised to give you up?”
“That would be it,” Nora replied. “Although I feel like everything is in limbo right now.”
“It is,” Ricardo rolled over to rise from his pallet beside the bed. As much as he wanted to stay, he knew she was right. Alexander was his best friend and Nora's legal guardian, and he did respect him. “And that's the best part.”
“Well, I'm glad that you're having fun,” she said with a sigh as she watched him find his shoes. “Because I have no idea what is going on in any given moment.”
“Let me think,” he grinned at her. “Peter is outside your door, guarding you and keeping anyone, including Alexander, from bursting in. Loyalty is down the hall in a room bigger than her whole house, with Nathan sleeping on the floor beside her bed. And Jerrico, who assured me he was fine yesterday, is probably still going to sleep until noon.”
“Is he alright?” Nora wrapped her arms around her knees as she sat up. “I thought he was after the last time and now it seems like it's happening all over again.”
“Seizures are complicated things,” Ricardo said, shoving on one boot and then the other. “And it doesn't always go well. But we must have hope, Nora. About everything.”
He leaned in to kiss her, and she granted him a sweet kiss on the lips. “I'll see you at lunch, when I take over,” he said and then headed out the door, leaving Nora alone.
She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning back against the pillows. At least life wasn't boring.
Down the hall, Loyalty was in a similar position, waiting for Nathan to get dressed before he reported to head office of the navy headquarters. Nathan was on the fast track to be on top of military intelligence, which was how he came to be assigned to Loyalty's case to start. Telling her was not exactly the best news of his life, because he knew how dangerous and precarious the throne could be. Nevertheless, Loyalty had quickly shown him the other side of things.
All their lives, they had been victims to circumstances, to a fate that they couldn't change.
Now, at last, they did have the power to change things. No one pretended that the road would be easy, but Loyalty certainly thought it was made easier by waking up in a warm soft bed every morning. Of course, the fact that she wasn't able to leave the palace added to the fact that she had to find small pleasures wherever they were given. Sometimes it was the morning sun in the window; sometimes it was a good breakfast.
One of those small pleasures was having Nathan with her most days. They had built their relationship on long distance letters and short visits. Being together every day was a treat.
“I don't want you going anywhere without an escort,” he said, as he pulled on his sock.
Loyalty rolled her eyes. “I know, you tell me this every day,” she said and then smiled devilishly. “You never told me not to go out when I wasn't being considered for being a princess.”
“I wanted to,” he replied. “But you were harder to contain in a place in the middle of town than a palace,” he leaned in to kiss her. “What are your plans today?” She wanted to spend the day with him, but she knew it was not possible today.
“Nora and I are going to spend the day together,” Loyalty answered. “That way, you know I’ll never be un-escorted, because she can never be alone for more than four seconds.”
“You have to remember that Lady Nora has spent half her life, at this point, under some sort of guard. I think she would be uncomfortable not being under guard,” Nathan pointed out. “But at least she is safer inside the palace walls as well.”
“The world isn't so scary, Nathan,” Loyalty said, meeting his eyes. “And if it is, I intend to change it when I'm on the throne.”
“You are taking this surprisingly well,” he commented and she shrugged.
“I don't have a choice, do I?” she said, meeting his eyes. “Do I? The king already had recognized me, and his wife isn't doing anything to provide him another heir. It's just a matter of being officially crowned and waiting.”
“And making sure no one who thinks William should be king is out to kill you.”
“Well,” Loyalty said dryly. “Maybe those same people think Nora shouldn't inherit her fortune and we can kill two birds with one stone.”
“Don't joke about that,” Nathan warned her.
“We'll probably just spend our day sitting with Jerrico in the garden,” she said with a sad sigh. “So don't worry about us.”
Nathan had a sigh for that too. “He is not recovering as fast as anyone would like after the last time.”
“No,” Loyalty agreed. “But I would rather he recover slowly than not at all.”
“I'm going to see the king first,” Nathan said. “So if there is any trouble, I'll be in the palace for another hour or so.”
“There won't be,” she promised him, and he was off through the door, leaving Loyalty sitting in bed.
She knew that the only downside to all of this was the possibility that they might not marry at the end of it. However, if she was a princess, and eventually a queen, then there would be no one to stop them. She just had hold out until then.
She was taking it well, at least outwardly, but the truth was that nothing about this was easy. Everything seemed to have a new lesson; a new way of doing things. She didn't yet know what fork to use, or what way to turn. In addition, she certainly wasn't used to people bowing to her.
The king was convinced that everyone had to bow to her; to show off that his throne was secure, he had an heir. No one at court had said anything about her face, but then, she knew there were whispers behind her back.
There always were, it was part of her life. Unlike Nora, she had been born with her deformities, so it didn't bother her as much.
However, she was glad that she and Nora were friends, and that they were together on this adventure. She felt like she had someone who understood her in every situation; every part of life. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. Moreover, if what Loyalty had to do was be a princess in order to help all her friends, that's what she was going to do.
But part of her, as she lay her head back down on the pillows, want
ed nothing more than to go back to her little house in the center of town and become a laundress again. She couldn't say that to anyone; she couldn't even so much as think it.
Nevertheless, life was easier than when the hardest thing about her day was a stain in the shirt. When Nathan and Jerrico came to her door, it wasn't because she needed armed guards back then.
She closed her eyes, willing sleep to come to her again. She wished that it was going to be easy, that life would bring her the answers in her dreams.
After twenty minutes of tossing and turning, sleep did not come to her. Therefore, she rose, ringing the bell for the servants she was getting used to having. It was time to get up and face the day.
At least, she thought, they didn't make her wear a crown quite yet.
2
CHAPTER TWO
“Do you ever wonder what life would be like if we weren't here?” Loyalty asked Nora later that day. Both of them were sitting in the outer chambers of Jerrico's rooms. Because he was the king's favorite guard, he was given a room in the palace, to serve, but mostly to recover. With both of their lovers at duty, Jerrico was to be the one to escort them to lunch. He had promised he would after a short nap, which was turning into hours.
“I would be dead,” Nora said with a shrug. “I couldn't stay at my estate, not with the throne in such jeopardy.”
“No, I mean...” Loyalty paused. “If none of this had happened. At least, none of the bad things. If our lives were different.”
“Yes,” Nora caught on to what she meant at once. “I had a life across the sea, where none of the goings on in the palace mattered. But it seems like a whole other lifetime; a dream that never quite happened.”
“I know,” Loyalty replied. “I'm trying not to let myself get too excited about the goings on around here, not until it's official.”
“It will be official,” Nora promised her. “They wouldn't have you here under armed guard if it was not.”
“I know,” she fiddled with a loose thread on her dress. “And I know that this is what I have to do to protect my friends. Including you.”
“To serve our country.”
“Yes,” Loyalty replied with a smile.
Just then, Jerrico emerged from the inner bedchamber, looking only half as exhausted as when he’d entered. “I'm sorry, girls,” he said. “I've kept you waiting”
“It's alright,” Loyalty smiled at him. “Another half hour and I would have eaten the Lady Nora, is all.”
“Lovely,” Nora said, rolling her eyes.
“Lady Nora,” Jerrico tried to put on the smile he usually wore, but exhaustion was flagging him. He wasn't sure whether it was just today or the whole ordeal over the past month, but he felt like he couldn't get a grip on his world lately. “Am I the only guard you were left with?”
“No,” Nora replied. “Peter is in the hallway, eating. Without me, may I point out?”
“I've never known two ladies to talk about food so much,” he held out his arms. “Let's go then.”
“Are you alright then?” Loyalty asked and Jerrico shrugged.
“That's what I am supposed to be asking you, Princess.”
“Don't call me that,” she said and he raised an eyebrow.
“Why not?”
“Because....” she paused. She was going to say because it's not true, but that answer didn't really fit. “Because it's you. You're my best friend. You don't have to do that.”
“Lady Nora,” Jerrico turned to his other side. “Are you addressed by your title all the time?”
Nora snorted. “No,” she replied.
Jerrico paused, his plan backfiring. “In public?”
“Did you not hear Alexander call me child just yesterday morning?” she asked. “In the Grand Hall?”
“Outnumbered and out talked,” Jerrico smiled. “Alright, I concede.”
“Stop,” Peter was suddenly in their path. He didn't look tense, but he was intent that they not head for lunch. “Message from the king. He'd like to see both of the ladies in his chambers.”
“He wants to see me?” Nora said, in shock. “What have I possibly done?”
“You know, I didn't think to interrogate the messenger,” Peter replied. “Come on.”
“But I'm hungry,” Loyalty was getting used to the meals of plenty at the palace.
“Somehow, I think the king has food,” Peter replied, making both of the girls giggle as they followed him down the hallway.
The king's chambers were normally by invitation only. The guards, of course, had full access, and Jerrico was King George's favorite. He met him with a smile. “Jerrico! I didn't know you were up and about.”
“The ladies threatened cannibalism, Highness,” Jerrico said. “So I had to bring them to lunch.”
“Can't have cannibalism in the palace,” George agreed. “I am glad you are here though.”
“Sir?” Jerrico cocked his head.
“It has come to my attention,” George said, looking between the two of them. “That I am basically creating a fortress out of this palace, and fortresses have a way of cracking if there are too many threats. Currently, I have my feuding brothers, my richest noble and my heir to the throne, all under one roof.”
“Palaces have held more,” Jerrico said, speaking for both of them.
Loyalty watched her birth father with interest, feeling that this was an opportunity to learn all that she could about being a leader. The fact that George was her real father had barely sunk in, and it didn't seem to matter in the grand scheme of things. Her adoptive father would always be her real father in her heart, and George hadn't done anything particularly fatherly, except for protect her.
“But it would be best,” he said. “If I held them somewhere else, until all of this was figured out.”
“You're going to send us back on the road,” Nora's voice was flat. “Please don't send us back on the road.”
Nora had spent the past two years traveling from place to place, being rejected by various suitors. In addition, because she had to travel under cover, her travel was not comfortable. Besides, anywhere they went would be official, and it meant they had to bury their little practices of deception even more than before.
“I am going to send you back on the road,” George confirmed. “But it won't be like before. You will not be looking for a husband, Lady Nora, at least not in the official sense. If you meet someone suitable, that is one thing. But each of you girls are very...recognizable, and I would like you to be somewhere within arm’s reach, yet comfortable and able to be protected. There is a country house about a day's ride from here, owned by an earl and his countess. They have long been good friends of the crown, but they keep to themselves and never visit court. Their name has not been uttered here in many years, and I would like to keep it that way. They will provide you a safe haven. There will be a full armed guard, of course, but you will be safe. It's even an hour's ride from the closest train station.”
“Who is it?” Jerrico knew the name of every lord and lady in the country.
“Tarek,” George said, and Jerrico nodded. He had never met them, but he knew they were a family who did not cause any trouble. “If you are up for the trip, I would like you to go with Nora's usual guards. Leave one here with me, to guard an empty room. Make them think that the ladies have fallen ill.”
“Which one?” Nora asked, suddenly afraid. Her English was still shaky, but she understood that she might be without Alexander or Ricardo and it frightened her.
“I'll stay,” Peter glanced toward her. “You'll be more comfortable with the other two.”
No one was sure whether it was his terrible French or his willingness to leave his friends, but Nora's grin was wide. “Thank you,” she said, and Peter shrugged.
“I have a request,” Nora blurted out, turning back to George. “If you are going to send me back on the road, I would like a lady to serve me.”
“Lord Tarek has assured me he has spare servants...”
/> “I would like Alexander's wife, the Lady Mary,” Nora said.
George's brow furrowed. “Isn't she...”
Jerrico waived his hand. “This is a long and complicated story that you do not want to get into,” he said, and the king grinned. Only Jerrico could speak to him that way and not be beheaded.
“You can take Lady Mary with you,” he said, and turned to Loyalty. “Any demands, Princess?”
“Nathan Rambles,” she said, and George sucked in a breath.
“I need Nathan here.”
“No,” Loyalty couldn't help but blurt out. It felt odd to be back talking the king. “If you claim I am your biggest asset at the moment, then I need Nathan with me. He will make the country house a fortress against any manner of attack, and he will design an entire plan for me; you know he will.”
George sighed and looked to Jerrico. “Are you able to go?”
“I am, my Lord,” Jerrico replied. “But I shall like Nathan's support.”
George let out a long sigh, looking between the two of them. At last, he nodded. “So it shall be,” he said. “It won't be long. It will just be until it blows over. I do not trust my brothers not to usurp my throne, but first they must take out my supporters if they do not want a bloody war. And so I prefer to know you are safe. You can go.”
They bowed, gathering in the hallway. There, the questions that the girls had came tumbling out.
“Are you really alright to come with us?” Loyalty asked Jerrico.
“I'd rather be with you in the country,” he admitted. “Where it always feels easier to heal, rather than trying to protect the king and failing because this city exhausts me. But it is good that Nathan is coming too, just in case.”
“Thank you,” Nora said to Peter. “The king promised that it won't be for long, and then we will all be together again.”
“Telling Alexander that you want his wife to come is war enough,” Peter grinned. “It is probably much safer here than between those two.”
“What do you know about the Tareks?” Loyalty prodded Jerrico for more information.
Revealing A Marchioness's Heart (The Chronicles of Loyalty) Page 21
