The King's Daughter (High Born Book 1) (28 page)

“I want you to come back with me, so I can care for you and the baby,” George adds when Jane’s crying has settled.

“So I can be your mistress and bastard’s mother?” Jane asks and I decide to stay quiet on this one.

“Perhaps I should give you some privacy?” I ask.

“No,” Jane snaps. “I want you here.”

“Do not say that!” George shouts.

“Why not? It is true,” Jane shakes her head. “I have no choice in my life now, I have been so stupid.”

“No,” George argues. “You will come with me.”

“You do not make my decisions,” Jane frowns to George.

“I want to care for you Jane,” he begs her. “You won’t be my mistress, I will care for you in England where you will have the best care for the baby. I want to make sure you are safe and I want to see my child.” George insists. “If you want a husband, I will make sure you are both well cared for by a good man but I cannot have you both living so far from me.”

Although I do not voice my opinion out loud, I think George is correct in what he is saying and I am proud of him. Pregnancy and child birth can be a dangerous thing and with George, he will make sure she has the absolute best.

“I want to witness your belly growing as our baby gets bigger. Please Jane,” he begs. “I expect nothing from you in return, I just want to care for you and make sure you are both safe.”

“I will think on it,” Jane answers.

George nods, still glancing down to her belly, “Why did you not write to me?”

“I was scared,” Jane admits. “And as soon as I knew you were coming for the crowning ceremony, I decided to wait and tell you face to face.”

“I would have been here sooner for yo,.” George begins to pace around the room. “I am going to be a father.”

“Yes,” Jane answers, and I see the slight smile.

“I need to return to James,” I announce and quickly hold Jane, whispering. “Do what is best for you and the baby.”

When she nods, I give my brother a head bow and leave to my bedchambers. James will be wondering where I have got to after the odd departure at breakfast. Honestly, I think Jane should accept my brothers offer to take her back to England and take care of her and they baby. She can stay here, with me for as long as she needs and she could go back home to France but there is a chance her parents could disown her after this. She is after all related to royal blood and it can look bad on her family. If anything was to protect her honour, it would be that the baby is George’s, bastard child or not.

Later in the day, I invite my family to my private sitting room. Nobody is allowed in here apart from me and James, not even his parents or his family. This sitting room is for me and James has an open invitation, not even guards are allowed in here, but I do have a servant. She places out our drinks and leaves us to it “Thank you Anne, I will not be needed you yet.”

She gives me a curtsey and leaves me alone with my family. “What is this about?” My father asks.

I look over to James and stand with him, holding hands as we face my family, “I need to inform you about something important.”

“Are you with child?” My mother interrupts.

“Mother,” I snap. “That is not what I am about to say.”

“Sorry my dear,” she laughs.

Taking a deep breath, I continue, “James has a daughter, she is approaching three years and her name is Abigail.” I look around at my family and they are shocked into silence, before they can say anything further, I step in. “I will not accept her being ill-treated, I will not have her frowned upon. I want her treated with respect and try to socialise with her as if she is my own child, I am and I expect you to do the same,” my youngest sibling’s simile and I pointedly look to my mother for the next part. “If you cannot do this you are not welcome here, this is Abigail’s home and I will not have her upset in here.”

“Let us meet the girl!” My father shouts, he looks accepting enough and why would he not? He does have two bastard children of his own.

Elizabeth, Isabella and Julien nod in agreement to our father but my mother stands, “My only question, is where and who is the mother?”

“Mother,” George growls from the opposite side of the room. “Does that really matter?”

“Of course,” she laughs. “I need to know who will be competing against my daughter.”

“Mother!” I shout.

James stands in front of me, facing my mother, “Her name was Eleanor and she was one of my mother’s Ladies in waiting.”

“Was?” Isabella asks quietly.

I nod to her as James continues to talk, “Unfortunately Eleanor died in childbirth and Abigail was left without a mother.”

“So is that what you want Grace for?” My mother asks. “To be a mother to your bastard daughter.”

“Mother!” George shouts to her. “Grace is doing well by this girl and you are blind by your prejudice.”

“George,” My mother argues.

“He is right mother,” Julien adds. “This is Grace’s home and she wishes Abigail to be treated well. We shall do what she wants.”

I smile to my little brother but my mother does not look happy.

“I love your daughter and that is why we are wed, she has accepted my daughter and I see that as a wonderful blessing on her part,” James answers my mother. “We will have children of our own, but I feel responsible for leaving Abigail motherless and I want her to have the life she deserves.”

“If you cannot do that mother, I want you to leave,” I announce and Queen Maria stays quiet.

“Get over your stubbornness, Maria!” Father shouts. “Bring the girl in and let us meet her.”

We all laugh at my father and my mother finally answers, “Very well, I will do as you wish.”

I approach then approach her, feeling grateful, “Thank you.”

“I am only doing this for you,” she points out.

There’s a knock on the door a little while later and I ask for Anne to alert my Lady Beatrice in the nursery to bring Abigail. Now that everything is out in the open, I feel lighter. I am sure they will all adore Abigail as much as I do. She is charming.

Today James is crowned as King, and I as Queen. I am so nervous and excited for this day. A knock on the door sounds, Princess Mary enters. I see she has a note and a box with her. “Mary.” I greet her.

“Sorry to intrude,” She speaks. “But James wanted me to give you this,” Princess Mary hands me the box with the note on top. “He wants you to open the letter first,” she instructs.

James decided to prepare for today in his brother, Thomas’ room. Looking around at everyone, a smile breaks out and I open the note James had Mary deliver to me. My heart begins beating quickly as I do.

My beautiful Grace,
Today you will become my Queen and I your King. It is our second marriage and it reminds me of my deepest love for you and how much I crave to spend my whole life by your side.
Take this gift as my token.
James

“So?” Louisa asks. “What does it say?”

I wipe at my eyes and read James’ note out loud for them all and it leaves them in a dreamy state.

“That is lovely,” Catherine sighs.

Mary passes me the box and I prepare myself. I was not expecting this, and I am thankful I decided to keep something back to surprise James with tonight. I slowly open the small box and gasp when I see the jewel encrusted broach staring back at me. A beautiful red stone sits in a heart shape, swirls of white are mixed and surrounding the stone are gold pieces, clustered together and making the red pop out, “This is beautiful.”

All the girls surround me, looking at what James’ has gifted me with and they all gasp as one, “Oh my.” Jane looks to me with emotion.

“This was my grandmothers,” Mary adds, smiling at what she has found in the box. “My father’s mother, she loved her jewels and this was one of her favourites.”

“I cannot accept this then,” I hand it to her. “It means so much to your family.”

Mary shakes her head, “But you are family now and I have a few of her belongings. James wants you to have it.”

She then backs away, walking towards the door, “Thank you, Mary.”

I am soon ready for my ceremony and when my mother next comes by my room, this time with my father and all my siblings, she comes to tears. My father seems lost for words, but his face shows all the pride he is feeling in this moment.

“Grace, you look beautiful,” Isabella widens her eyes at me.

“Like a Queen,” Elizabeth smiles.

George smiles at me, showing me his love and Julien flashes me his signature wink and when they all leave, all that is left to do is wait for James. My Ladies begin to prepare for their leaving, but Jane stays behind, “Grace, can I quickly speak with you?”

“Of course,” I answer. “What is it?”

“I have been thinking about what George had offered and I have chosen to go back to England with him,” she looks terrified and I really feel for my friend.

“I think that is best,” I admit to her. “George will take good care of you and I get the feeling he wants to be a part of this baby’s upbringing.”

“I will miss you.” She tears.

“As will I but we will meet again, and I will be visiting when your baby is born,” I smile and rub her belly.

Jane laughs, “You and the girls will miss rubbing my belly.”

“Yes,” I agree. “I am glad you are going to be with George, just be careful with your heart.”

“I will,” She nods. “This time, I am at his side for our baby, not for my own selfish needs.”

Feeling very proud of my dear friend, she leaves me when James appears. He looks so handsome, his kilt the same as his family has worn for many centuries, I am told. The way he looks at me makes me blush, his eyes are so lustful I feel naked.

“Grace,” he speaks, looking me over as he slowly walks towards me. His fingers trail over the lace of my dress and land on my broach he gifted me with earlier. “You are wearing it.”

“Of course I am,” I look down at the broach, resting on my chest. “Thank you.”

“Grace, you look so, so beautiful,” James sounds breathless. His hand cherishes my neck and brings me closer, placing his lips over mine and taking me away from this room.

“We have not got enough time for this,” I hear Margaret from the door and we break a part. “There is plenty of time after you have been crowned.”

Laughing as she leaves, we walk through the castle and ride to the same church King Alexander had his funeral, to have the crowning ceremony. This time the public are cheering and smiling, waving as our coach rides by and James and I wave back through the curtains.

“I cannot believe how many people are here.” I wonder.

“It is a huge ceremony, not only for their King but their new Queen.” James takes hold of my hand. “Scotland loves you Grace, what you have planned for the children is inspiring and they cherish you for it.”

“I am only doing what I think is right,” I point out. 

“And that is why you will be a great Queen,” he smiles.

Horns announce us as we walk together towards the church, the crowds are still screaming for us. I spot our families both watching with pride. I squeeze James’ hand as we near the alter, on either side is a pillow with the crowns resting. They are both huge and thank goodness we do not have to wear them every day. The whole ceremony is similar to a wedding service and it all goes by so quickly, before I know it James is being crowned and then it is my turn. James smiles at me as the crown is placed on my head. My mother cries and I spy my father wipe at his eyes.

We wave to the crowds as they scream our names, some of them even cry and I feel so loved.