Chapter 8
“You seemed quite functional for someone who fell off his horse.”
Nicole was already on her foot when the door opened, revealing her Aunt’s figure holding a tray of refreshments; and a smile was already drawn on her face at the sight.
“You should be resting.” Mercedes, her mother’s only sister and her only blood relation out of the castle, stated as she placed the tray on the small table next to the bed.
“I am well my beloved Aunt, Mother is…” Nicole met her Aunt’s embrace and reciprocated it warmly, “reacting excessively as usual. And contrary to what she assumed, I did not hit my head, though my left leg hurts a bit, but as you can see I am able, still.” She pointed out as she turned around.
Earlier, prior to entering her Aunt’s manor and just before she mounts off her horse, Lady Waverly had apologized.
“May I ask what for?” Nicole inquired, slightly confused. It’s unlikely that the younger girl had done something she should be apologizing for. The ride to the manor was nothing but satisfying, if there was anything regrettable, it was when she did not offer her comfort to Lady Waverly early on the journey; they would have shared more intimate moments in time.
“You were there last night, but you did not say a word. You just left.” Lady Waverly stated but seeing the King’s perplexed look on her face, she explained further, “I did not know that I was using your bath, you should have informed me.”
Nicole stilled, hands curling firmly on the horse’s lead. “Me? Last night?” She swallowed the lump on her throat, knowing exactly where this conversation is leading. And her mind had the most untimely way of recalling the incident the night before particularly the part where she had seen the younger girl without any clothing on. She closed her eyes, a frail attempt to conceal the inner turmoil happening inside her head and as well as to avoid gazing into the younger girl’s eyes. “Are you certain it was me?”
“Yes, your Majesty, you. You were there last night.” Lady Waverly repeated, with more conviction than before.
Nicole carefully peeled herself off her horse in hopes that she can evade the adverse conversation; it would not befit for a King to be branded as someone who lacks moral, though admittedly, she did enjoy glorifying Lady Waverly’s nakedness in the confines of her bedchamber and in secrecy of her ingenious mentality. However, it was purely an accident – a mistake none of them warranted- but before her feet could even touch the ground she went off-balance and slipped as she heard the younger girl added, “You’re the lone person in the castle with a striking red hair so I am quite convinced it was you.”
The king fell flat on her back and immediately her royal guards were on her side, assisting her. Pleased to have the distraction, though it would have been lovely if it was not on her expense; Nicole decided to let the royal guards carry her into her Aunt’s humble abode and away from Lady Waverly’s inquisitive eyes.
“Is mother treating her guests well?” Nicole asked as she sip her tea, still determined to stay in the bedchamber for a bit more to avoid being in the space of the younger Earp knowing that she had been caught red handed the night before.
“More than she did with the Pressman’s family two decades ago, if I must admit.” Her aunt informed her, taking her own sip of the tea she proudly brewed on her own. “She admires the younger lass so much so I’m quite sure she’ll have you wed her by tomorrow.”
Nicole’s tea, which was halfway down her throat, threatened to come back up and she choked, her Aunt was already on her side, soothing her back with her palm.
Mercedes’ eyes flickered in understanding, “Oh, oh!” she exclaimed as she covered her mouth in realization, “She is planning to marry you off with one of the French ladies downstairs. Oh good Lord! Nicolas, why am I only learning this now?”
“You have been gone longer than you were supposed to.” Nicole replied with a hint of sadness on her voice as she did so. Her aunt Mercedes, with her royal permission, had set forth in a voyage towards their western colonial territory. With her husband gone, Nicole had permitted her aunt to set sail to Newfoundland in trust that being away from the kingdom will heal her broken heart, and it did but it took her aunt years to return which greatly saddened her because she adores her Aunt Mercedes just as much as she feels for her own mother; she is, in a way, her second mother after all.
“Forgive me my child. I found the place rather irresistible and leaving would have only equally break my heart, but I am here now, am I not?” Mercedes offered her a smile and a squeeze on her hand assured Nicole that her aunt is never to leave her side again. “And I would love to take part in choosing your wife, if you would so allow, your mother can be a little blind-sighted when it comes to choosing in the spectrum of anything and everything, particularly when she already had her eyes set in finality.”
Nicole smiled in recollection of how her mother had never failed to praise Lady Waverly in front of her and how her mother were so inclined to being a bridge in between them, making sure that she would always write back to the younger Earp even during hectic days. Her mother, who already voiced her opinion that she favors Lady Waverly more than her two other siblings, had already decided indeed, as far as Nicole can tell.
“And it seems like her son already did too.” Mercedes asserted her deduction, she could recognize the dumb smile on her nephew’s face; she also had it on once when she realized that she wanted to marry the man who had managed to court her through songs and poetry. “So my lovely Nicolas, am I to guess which lady have caught your eyes or are you ever going to tell me?”
“Oh my Aunt, there’s nothing set in stone as of yet. This lady had caught my eyes, that indeed is a fact,” Nicole shook her head, feeling rather small as she confessed, “but I am not sure if I have hers.”