Robert walked uncertainty down the hall of the palace. He was not afraid of where he was. But he had never been summoned by the king in this manner, nor without knowing of his intentions beforehand. The well lit wall began to get dimmer as he walked further down. He heard a soft click click click coming from the impending dark. The shadow of a figure made its way close to him.
"Well if it isn't Robert the silent." A raspy low feminine voice sang from the dark.
Robert had only heard this voice once. As it spread gossip about the queen, and her lack of children. While this own voice laughed at giving the King a son on the first try. "Barbara Villiers" He acknowledged. His tone was pleasant but he was not overly fond of her reputation. That being said she was a respected Lady of the King, and unforgettably beautiful.
Her soft dove skin peeked from beneath an ivory dress. Her black hair kept up with the most popular style among the ladies in the palace. She slightly reminded him of Eleanora, except the eyes and lips. Eleanora's lips were slightly smaller but more pouted. Her eyes deep blue and sharp. Barbara's eyes were softer, but the greed and perceived power was evident. That's what made Robert uneasy. Anyone who felt they held ultimate power endangered the role of the King. Even the King had to answer to his people and parliament. Barbara only answered to the King.
"I always wonder why I stay is a palace filled by so many nobodies. Then I am reminded of all the delightful creatures that enter these doors." She purposely looked him up and down and ran her red tongue across her pink bottom lip. "Then I stay a little while longer."
Robert attempted to ignore her seduction, but she was hard to ignore.
"What leads the "gentle hand" of the King down these dark halls?" She asked, teasing him about the title the elites made for him. The King was such a masculine and loud figure, that standing silently beside him made society think he weaker due to his slight temperance. Hence the name the gentle hand.
"Nothing a lady like yourself should worry with." He coaxed gently.
He could see the slight bitterness in his dismissal. "Well I should be making my way back to the party." She begins to walk down the hall then stopped. "but first, will you help me with this necklace?" She request in her raspy voice.
Robert would have said no, but she was already standing in front of him holding out the deep ruby necklace to him. Once in his hand, he thought she would turn to allow him access to the back of her neck to lay the jewelry on her properly. Instead she stood facing him. Her snow white breast in front of him as he reached around to tie the jewels to her equally elegant throat. It was quiet, he dare not breath. If the King found him, he didn't want to contemplate it.
You have a wife.
He wanted that to stop the undeniable lust the woman inflamed. But even he knew that his marriage has proven less than fruitful.
After the intense and fiery moment she left without a word. Leaving him in the darkness to contemplate what he felt. He silently rationalized it. He was lonely. He had had been with far more attractive woman. Woman who looked to be carved from the very heart of Eve. He never lusted for them like that. He hoped that a night with his wife would calm him.
Not think of it again he walked down the hall back to a better lit section to find the door the King had sent him to. Upon entering the King sprawled in a high backed chair. Speaking to a man beside him. A few others that seemed familiar, they lingered in the halls of the palace. But what caught his eye was the silhouette of a woman standing at a great table. Her inflaming dress familiar in a way that made him more uneasy than when he learned his first wife died.
He circled the table to stand to the right of the king. Getting a better view of pale starlight skin, small pouty lips, and ocean blue eyes that examined the paper laid on the table.
"Welcome all." The King sprang up and clapped his hand together in excitement.
All was a relative term. There was only two men standing at the table, the ones that once occupied the room silently made their way out the door. One was short and rather large. His weezing made Robert worry for his health While the other man squinted at Eleanora. Who did not break her gaze from the documents on the table. Indifferent to the King's call for attention.
"I will keep you all from suspense and reveal why you were summoned so sudden. You see it has come to my attention, that I as the true King have failed to inspire my Kingdom. And I have discovered the problem." He paused and smiled.
"It probably has something to do with extravagant parties" The squinty one huffed.
The King was unfazed. "No, I need the absolute power that our neighboring nations have. We, my fine country men are going to be rid of the oppressive power of parliament." The King's smile got even larger, if it was possible.
The room was quiet. Robert was stunned.
The silence was finally broken by the large one's hefty laugh. "Your Majesty, it be to me you forget, we tried that we' time ago." His northern accent thick.
"I have not forgotten your attempts Magnus. But we need to accomplish this to succeed. We look weak next to France, and this country needs to be as great as it was before Cromwell. A strong monarchy will do that." The King insisted. He was calm and steady in his words. Less whimful more certain.
Robert did not like the idea, but he understood what the King meant. France had a boy King on the throne. Who controlled a great nation. "What do you propose we do?" Robert questioned.
The King's eyes sparkled at Roberts steadfast loyalty, nothing was to far from Charles reach with Robert as his right hand.
"We have parcels that detail parliament men's discrepancies. We plan to use those against them."
The squinty one scoffed. "You mean I will be the one using it against them, since I am the only one with access. I am one of Parliament." His stuffy voice reminded Robert of why he hated noble men.
"Beside, I know thee documents ye refer. They in Arabic. The best spies from Spain, but could they translate for me, no." The Magnus riled on about. As he pointed at the papers in front of Eleanora.
"Those are it? You hand over documents to a woman! This is a lunatic idea. You think I will help strong arm my own colleagues, I will not your majesty. I lose my own power." The squinty one began to dramatically walk out the door.
Eleanora broke her unsettling silence. Speaking in a foreign tongue. Causing him to stop. She then translated to english. "Richard, you seem to have made your fortune from your late wife. Who happened to die just after giving birth to your son." She finally looked up to stare Richard in the eyes. "Perfect birth. Yet, somehow she died in her sleep, and left her family fortune in her sons name. Who is now unfound." Eleanora was a mask of indifference. Not even her eyes showed the disgust Robert was unable to hide.
"The lass can read Arabic." Magnus chuckled, obviously impressed.
Robert watched his wife's stoney expression. "She is full of surprises." Robert acknowledged.
"Sit down Richard. We have much to discuss on how you will serve the King."
Richard seemed to be considering his choices. Then, silently, he pulled a chair and sat as far away from Eleanora as possible.
"Shall we begin?" announced happily.