Chapter Twenty-One
Over the passing week, William felt as if he had been transported to another world, people and places rushing around him as words and sounds became inaudible. Only the near-constant feeling of Abey's warm hand in his keeping him grounded to the floor.
He had stood in a dream throughout his Father's funeral, not quite knowing himself how he managed to stand in front of the crowds and tell them of his love and respect for the man who had been their King for so many years, Abey's words echoing in his mind - 'Make your Father proud...'
No-one had questioned the Prince's sudden return, the mystery of his disappearance overshadowed and easily forgotten through the Kingdom's mourning.
The whirlwind began once more after the Funeral, when plans were made for William's succession to the throne. He spent days in meetings and talks with members of the council and the court, discussing and telling him everything he would need to know for when he became King, his coronation set to take place just a week after the Funeral.
Everything was discussed, from the Palace to the smallest villages, relations with the neighbouring Kingdoms, the price of bread to the value of gold, the fates and lives of the people literally in his hands. William stayed mostly silent throughout these meetings, silent but listening intently, still trying to take the enormity of his situation in.
Abey wasn't too sure what to do with herself during the days. It was quite clear she was no longer expected to work as a slave, but though she now ate her meals with the Royal Family, and spent the evenings with William, during the day she left to her own devices, the Court not wishing to have anything to do with her.
At first, she had spent time wandering through the endless corridors of the Palace, exploring every part she had never dared enter before. She had done the same in the gardens, before spending her time in the Kitchens, doing odd jobs and feeling more useful and productive, all the while her mind drifting back to William, wishing she could be more useful to him now.
"I'm guessing we won't be seeing as much of you around here after next week." Belinda said brightly, failing to hide the bittersweet edge to her voice.
"Don't worry, you'll never be rid of me properly." Abey smiled back as she and Belinda kneaded piled of dough in front of them.
"Ey, what did I always say! I knew you'd be our Princess one day!" Joanna grinned as she worked behind them.
"I don't think I'm really cut out to be a Princess. They might not even let me be one." Abey grimaced, trying to ignore the nagging thoughts in the back of her mind. She knew that the Council were still trying to decide her fate, they weren't too enamoured with the idea of their new King being married to a slave, released or not.
'And if they decide against me...' She quickly shook her head, pushing the thoughts away.
"Anyway, you don't think I'd really abandon all of you, do you?" She smiled around at them, Meggie calling "Never!" from a few work stations away, obviously listening in, making them all laugh.
"Well speaking of abandoning us, look at the time!" Belinda bustled, taking the apron off Abey and brushing some of the flour off her sleeve. "It's almost dinner, and their Majesties don't like to be kept waiting." She bowed deeply as Abey laughed, brushing her hands clean and curtsying back before setting off.
"I'll see you tomorrow!" She called, running up the stairs that led out of the kitchens, giving them a quick wave over her shoulder.
She quickly made her way towards the dining room, trying to straighten her hair and clothes as best she could before she arrived. She knew William wouldn't mind if she came to dinner dressed in a potato sack with a bird's nest in her hair, but she had had enough of the Queen's lectures and Georgiana's remarks to make her at least try and make an effort.
She reached the large doors of the dining room, pausing and sighing quietly to herself, before nodding at the guard who quietly opened the door to let her through.
"Georgiana, I've explained to you enough times! Do I really have to go over it again?"
"No you certainly do not! I just happen to find it disgusting!"
"Well, to be honest, you're opinion is one of the least important to me right now!"
Abey stood awkwardly by the door. She had happened to have entered during one of William and Georgiana's usual meal-time arguments, only this seemed more heated than usual, Georgiana's cheeks flushing red as William gripped the table so hard his knuckles were pale white, his jaw clenched.
"You are the most-"
William looked up and noticed Abey, his face suddenly relaxing into a smile as he leapt to his feet and strode over to her, interrupting whatever retort Georgiana was about to make.
"Hello." He grinned at her. He felt he hadn't seen her in days, despite it only being a few hours, and couldn't feeling his heart speed up slightly every time he saw her again.
"Hello to you too" She grinned back, William gently pulling her closer and kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Urgh, what are you doing?!" Georgiana gagged.
"Kissing my beautiful wife. Is that a crime, Georgiana?" William asked sarcastically as he took hold of Abey's hand, leading her back to
the table where she sat between him and the Queen.
"Yes. When your wife happens to be someone like her!" Georgiana replied, the word 'wife' dripping with thinly veiled contempt.
"Now, now, calm down you two." The Queen said slowly as she saw William bristle with anger. "They always get so overexcited, don't you think?" She added conspiritively to Abey, making her smile. Since her husband's death, the Queen had warmed to Abey immensely, and Abey was surprised to find they had become somewhat like friends, or allies at the least.
"Mother, why are you talking to her like that? You know what she is!" Georgiana said, horrified at her Mother treating a slave as if it were one of her closest confidents.
"Yes, I do, dear. She is your brother's wife and therefore now a part of our family. You'd do well to remember that." The Queen said, the warning edge clear in her voice. "Besides, soon she will be more than just your brother's wife, you know this." She added, making Abey look at her carefully.
'Have they decided?' She wondered to herself, William smiling to see the slightly anxious, slightly anticipating look on her face while reaching to clasp her hand under the table.
"Well I for one will never accept it!" Georgiana announced haughtily. "Having someone like her as Queen. It's disgusting. All of it!" She spat.
Abey didn't react to Georgiana, instead turning to stare at William.
"They decided?" She breathed, not daring to hope too much.
"Yes, they decided." William grinned back, purposely pausing longer than was necessary, enjoying watching the impatience spread through Abey's features as she waited for the verdict. "They're accepting it- They're accepting you. You don't have to worry anymore." He gushed, his grin broadening as he saw relief flood her face.
"Thank God." She sighed happily, closing her eyes and feeling all the tension release from her body.
Abey had been certain that she would be tossed out onto the streets, never to be seen again, while William would be married to someone deemed more suitable for his wife, and he would forget about her completely.
'But now there's nothing to fear. It's over. They decided.' She smiled to herself, the worries of the past week falling away as William squeezed her hand.
"It's ludicrous!" Georgiana cried from across the table. "What in the world possessed them to agree to it all anyway?"
"A very well argued case on my part, and a small reminder of Father's blessing." He explained, focusing on Abey instead of his fuming sister opposite.
"So that means you will need to be present in our talks tomorrow, you need to learn our ways properly and how to handle yourself and the Kingdom before you're crowned." The Queen added briskly to her.
William watched as Abey's eyes glazed over, a slightly stunned expression on her face. It had only just registered in her mind that part of being married to the King meant you were also the Queen.
'Crowned? As the Queen? I can't, no, I'm-' Abey's increasingly panicked thoughts were interrupted by the screeching tones of
Georgiana's voice.
"No! This isn't right!" She raged, jumping up and sending her chair scraping out behind her. "He disappears without a trace for weeks on end, running off with some little whore who fancies herself as good as Royalty, tells no-one where he is, hides from you all while Father starts to fade before our eyes, then suddenly comes back and all is forgiven?!
What about when he was gone, hm?" She turned to the Queen, her eyes flashing, "Who was there the whole time? Me! When Princey-poo went off on his little adventure you didn't think he'd come back, so you were going to make me the heir. But when he comes riding back in with his tart in tow suddenly I'm forgotten at the bottom of the pile!
And now you're telling me that a SLAVE is going to be Queen." She sneered at Abey, wrinkling her nose at her in disgust as if she was something particularly nasty she found on the bottom of her shoe. "IT'S MONSTROUS!" She yelled before storming from the room, the doors slamming behind her.