The King's Daughter (High Born Book 1) (20 page)

The next day as my Ladies help me dress, I am in a wonderful mood. I am to be wed in three days!

“You are going to be the most beautiful bride,” Jane smiles as she fusses with my hair.

“Thank you,” I begin to feel a little emotional.

“When will we be leaving for Scotland?” Louisa asks me.

“James thinks it will be best to leave the day after the wedding as his father is so ill,” I tell her.

A knock on the door sounds and James enters, looking as happy as I am. The Ladies leave us alone as he kisses me in welcoming. “How was your night’s sleep?” He asks me.

“As good as it could be without you,” I admit.

“Not too long now my princess,” he kisses me again. “I am afraid I bring news that may upset you.”

“My mother?” I ask and he smiles.

“Not this time, but my father’s advisers have informed me about the wedding consummation,” I freeze in shock.

“That is a complete change of topic,” I create some space and begin to pace. “So the consummation will be watched by witnesses?”

James stands in front of me, stopping my pacing and places his hands on my shoulders, trying to calm me, “Usually this is for alliance marriages to make sure the deal is set, with us it is different. I will talk to your father.”

If this marriage was with a man other than James, I would not be as concerned with witnesses watching the consummation but I am becoming James’ wife and with us it isn’t just a marriage of duty, we truly love each other. Witnessing of the wedding night is not uncommon, but I already know mine and James’ night will be more intimate than the usual royal wedding. Whereas, I know Isabella and Carlos’ consummation will be witnessed as theirs is an arranged marriage for the alliance of England and Spain, as well as a peace treaty.

“I will do what is needed,” I announce after gathering my emotions.

“I know you will,” James smiles down at me proudly. “But I will try.”

George and Arthur then choose this moment to appear.

“Just the couple we are looking for,” Arthur smiles. “George told me about yesterday.”

“I am guessing the entire court knows,” I shake my head.

“No, Mother put an end to it,” George laughs and walks towards James. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” James shakes his hand. “I guess we are brothers now.”

“We are,” George agrees. “And we shall rule side by side one day.”

The conversation warms my heart, “So you are back now then?”

George nods, “I had some things to clear up.”

“Was the reason for your getaway to do with someone I know?” I ask and even if I did not know the answer to my question, George’s reaction tells me everything. He did in fact go away because of Jane.

“I cannot believe you are to be wed,” Arthur beams and I have a sneaky suspicion he is trying to change the subject. “My siblings are both to be rulers, so close to one another. I will have two homes to visit.”

“You would be welcome anytime Arthur,” I offer. I would love nothing more than for him to visit me in my soon to be home, Scotland.

“Father is pleased he has two of his children as rulers, he must think he owns Scotland now through you,” George laughs, though I suspect Father does actually think this way.

“Unfortunately for Father, Scotland already has a King and an heir,” I point out.

“Fortunately for me, I will have my sister as a Queen who can bend her King’s ear,” George winks.

“Do not count on that,” I laugh.

“And your Ladies will be assisting you still?” George asks. “One would not at least stay behind to help Isabella?”

Arthur looks to the floor and George looks a little on edge. He has opened himself to me and I see he feels vulnerable. James looks away from him, knowing how much he has let his feelings for Jane be known. I could still continue our sibling teasing, but I have a feeling George would not take that so well.

“Yes, all my Ladies will be coming with me and they are all excited for the new adventure in their lives,” I kindly deliver. For I know he is only asking me about Jane.

George frowns, looking around the room and beginning to look urgent in his fidgeting. “I have to go,” he suddenly speaks, stomping out of my room and leaving Arthur, James and I looking after him.

On my walk to find Julien, I update my Ladies on Isabella and her arranged marriage to Carlos. They fear for her safety because she will be so close to Antonio after what he did to me, but King Alonso and Prince Carlos assured us she would be highly protected and cared for.

I finally find Julien, hidden in his chambers and once I am let in, my Ladies leave me alone to talk with my brother.

“Julien?” I ask as I enter and he appears from around the corner.

“Grace,” he answers and I hide the fact that I am happy he spoke my name.

“I wanted to check in on you,” I inform him and he gestures for me to sit with him. “Are you ok?”

He nods and I am left a little disappointed that he chose not to speak.

“Are you sad Julien?” I ask and his eyes widen. “Has your sudden quietness got anything to do with a girl?”

As soon as I ask this, his shoulders drop and he lets out a long sigh, “Lizzy and Bella.”

I let out a small laugh, and Julien looks back to me, “Do not be mad with them, they care for you.”

“I know,” he answers. “They speak the truth, it is about a girl.”

“Will you tell me?” I ask urgently and he looks startled. “I want to help you Julien.”

Julien takes a sip from his drink before leaning back into his chair, “I will, but do not take it further than this room. I do not want to be a joke. I have already been taken as a fool.”

“Why would that happen?” I ask.

“Because I fell for a girl who does not care about me, but for just my status and I believed her,” he frowns. “She used me in every way.”

Oh dear,
I think to myself.
My poor little brother is heartbroken.

“I will not tell a soul,” I declare. “But why do you think that?”

“I fell in love, but Clare was a sweet girl, at least I thought she was. She was older than me by three years but when I was with her, it did not matter,” he shakes his head in anger, but takes a deep breath as he prepares himself for what he is about to say. “I even slept with her Grace, we had sex. I recently discovered she has married a rich Lord, and I was only entertained by her because of my connection to court. She wanted to marry into royal blood, but not me.”

“How do you know this is true?” I ask. I feel so badly for him, but I have a feeling I need to let George know, he could give him better advice that I ever could.

Julien gets up from his chair and opens his desk drawer, handing me a letter and I begin to read.

“The letter is from Clare, it arrived soon after I entered court,” he adds while I read.

I do not like this Clare one bit and I am glad she has not got her hold on my brother any longer. She describes her plan that she wanted to make Julien fall for her and wed her, take her to court where she could live a high ranking lifestyle. However, her parents beat her to it and married her to a rich Lord, who has a house in France she thinks to add. She apologises for using him but asks for complete discretion and secrecy. Of course, because she doesn’t want everyone to know how much of a whore she is.

“I think you are better off,” I hand him back the letter and he tosses it into the fire. “Who is this Lord she married?”

“I do not know his name, but I have a feeling he visits court because she does not want our time together discovered,” Julien replies, sounding just as angry as I feel.

“That could be true,” I agree. “Will you allow me to ask George to speak with you?”

“You said you would not say anything,” Julien snaps.

“George is a Prince and will know how to talk with you about certain things,” I press.

“If you must,” Julien sulks, but I see he would rather me not.

“You need to let your presence be known in court, people are beginning to gossip and you know how mother hates gossip if it is about her,” I try to persuade.

“I promise,” He nods. “Congratulations on the engagement.”

“Thank you,” I laugh. “You are welcome in Scotland to join me any time, you could perhaps find a Scottish maiden to keep you occupied.”

We both laugh together and decide that he will in fact come to visit me.

Before I am ready for bed, James pays me a visit and I am so pleased. He has been in meetings all day and I have missed him.

“Trying to change the consummation was surprisingly lengthy,” he ruffles his hand through that thick hair of his.

“Whatever the outcome, I will be happy for I am with you,” I declare and James kisses me on the hand.

“Hadn’t you better be getting ready for bed?” He teases. “I heard wedding planning can be tiring.”

“And it is,” I agree. “Which is why I asked my mother. I know her ways and how she loves to be in control, mother will love it. Besides, it is easier for me that way.”

“Oh,” James bites on my neck. “It seems my Princess has inherited her mother’s scheming ways.”

“Indeed,” I laugh, James’ hands feeling my body over my gown. “You had better be careful.”

James then picks me up and places me on the bed, my legs dangling over the edge. He softly removes my shoes and lets his hand feel my ankle, slowly creeping up my skirts. James keeps eye contact as his hands feel up my leg and I begin to feel breathless.

“I crave to see you,” he growls.

“As do I,” a sigh escapes my lips.

James then stands as I lie back on the bed. He takes hold of my legs and spreads them so he can stand between them. When my legs are either side of James’ fine body, he leans over me and kisses me, smoothing down my hair. I become light headed and needy, my pelvis thrusting up towards him without my saying so.

A knock on the door makes me jump and James quickly stands just as Jane steps in. At first she looks shocked to see James here, but then as she curtsey’s I see the knowing smile on her face she tries to hide.

“Hello, Prince James,” she greets.

“Lady Jane,” he answers politely.

“Princess, it is time to get you ready for bed,” Jane adds as the rest of my Ladies stand behind her.

“Of course,” James replies, kisses me goodbye and walks out.

They all run in and jump on the bed, all politeness gone as they quiz me about what had just happened.

As I have breakfast the next morning with my Ladies in my private room, an urgent knock sounds and it is James. He claims he has some highly important information and wishes to tell me. My Ladies hurriedly leave the room for our privacy and I beg James o tell me.

“What is it?” I beg him.

“My father’s men came to me this morning. They say our marriage is not needed for political reasons, yes it does connect England and Scotland even more so but that is not the reason for our marriage. We love one another and for that reason our wedding night will be an intimate affair,” James words are magic to my ears. “This morning, the both my fathers and your councils came to a result.”

“Let me hear it,” I impatiently answer.

“We will be escorted to the bed and the servants will help us undress. After entering the bed, the curtains will be drawn, to which we will begin and the witnesses can leave.”

“And the sheets?” I dread to ask.

“They will be looked at before washing in the morning,” James answers.

Tears gather, that means we could have the most intimate nights of all. It is what we deserve, “Oh really?” I ask him.

“Yes,” James answers with a huge smile. I am so pleased that I jump into James’ arms, laughing so much. James holds me tight.

That afternoon, before I have to dress for dinner James and I make the most of being alone. You would think being young and not ruling a country yet would mean we have a lot of spare time, but that is not true. It would not be right for me to go to his room, so we lie face to face on my bed.

“Did I make you happy?” James asks me.

“Extremely,” I respond.  James begins to stroke my hair and it feels relaxing, so relaxing that it loosens my mouth. “I have been thinking.”

“About what?” Asks James.

“The wedding night,” I hint.

“You have more to change?” James laughs.

“Not to change, but to add,” I taunt him more.

“Tell me,” he orders.

“I want you to see me without my gown,” I reveal and James’ eyebrows shoot up.

“Without your gown?” He repeats.

I nod, “I want to undress in front of you and to witness my naked body before the wedding night.”

“As much as I want to, you have to tell me why,” James insists. I notice that all teasing has gone and he is deadly serious.

“I want this moment for us, to be as personal as we can make it in this interfering world,” I urge. “On our wedding night, my Ladies will undress me but I want to reveal myself to you with just us present. Right here, in my room.”

“Are you sure?” James asks looking down at my covered body.

“A moment for the both of us?” I ask. “Yes!”

“Now?” He asks, and to answer him I get up from the bed.

“Untie me,” I order and James quickly stands and assists me in undoing my gown.

I feel his fingers as they glide over my skin, causing a reaction to stir inside of me. When he has my gown unfastened, I drop it to the floor and am left in my petticoat. I turn to face him, to gage his reaction and see his jaw hardened. Again, James has to help me unfasten as I am unable to do so by myself. Once I am dressed in just my chemise, I take a step back and allow James to look at me.

“Gigi,” James warns. I love when he calls me that, it reminds me to a time when we first began and did not know the truth to who the other really was. A true love story.

“I want this,” I insist, beginning to remove my chemise and leaving James speechless.

Slowly, I reveal myself just a little bit more. Watching James’ reaction and it leaves me feeling powerful. I bare my breasts, the cool air making my nipples hard and pointing towards the man I love. Keeping my eyes on James, I let the rest of my garments join what is already on the floor.

James then suddenly steps towards me, looking all over my body, “Beautiful.”

I feel self-conscious for just a second but then James begins to undress himself and I am left looking as hungry as he is. I have never seen a naked man and it honestly scares me to look at him. He hurriedly reveals himself piece by piece and at last we stand facing one another, bare as the day we were born.

“Wow,” I look James over, feeling myself blush when I set eyes on his penis. The first one I have ever seen. It hardens under my stare and I bite down on my bottom lip, finding it foreign that I want to taste it.

“Come here,” James reaches out and I take hold of his hand, letting him guide me to him. I feel his warm skin on mine, my breasts touch his chest and his penis touching my most private area. James smooths my hair, resting his hand on the back of my neck and leaning down to kiss me, “I look forward to the wedding night even more.”

I laugh, whether it is from nerves or I think him funny I do not know, “Are you glad?”

“Immensely,” he leans his forehead on mine. We stand like that for a while, feeling each other’s bodies until it is too much to take and we dress again. “You are too tempting,” James groans as he helps me dress. For some unknown reason, dressing each other seems as intimate as it was undressing.

I do not tell my Ladies anything as they help me change for dinner, and as we all dine I cannot help but look over at James and see him rid of his clothes. It seems James is suffering along with me as he sends playful smiles over to me. Our own little secret. I am so eager for our wedding even more so now.