Eleanora walked into her husbands home. The air felt different. She handed her cloak to Elliot. "Turn in for the night. Lock your door and do not open it unless it is me or Jane. Understood?"
He simply nodded. Confident in Eleanora's orders.
She walked into the house and knew there would be eyes in the house now. When Helda said she did not trust her, she was warning her that someone was in this house. Watching her every move.
Walking into the dinning hall, Robert sat alone, book open. Eleanora noticed the setting untouched some seats down from him. A place she normally sat, but after a week of very little words, it felt more like a statement.
She let the servant pull the chair out for her so she may sit and eat the one meal she promised herself with Robert.
Robert continued to read. His food finished and his wine empty. Her food was cold.
She began to eat it. The clinking of utensils caused him to stir. He looked at her then the food. "It must be cold, let me get chef to warm it for you." He motioned for the servants to take the food.
She waved them off.
Robert looked perplexed, but did not question it. "You were gone for most of the day. Is everything alright?"
She used the time to chew so she may formulate a lie. "I just wanted to take some air. I had been in the house for so long. It was a lovely day and I just lost track of the light."
Robert nodded but did not seem satisfied. He rubbed his jaw with is hand. Like he was thinking of the right words. "I would like to know where you are in the future." He said slowly.
Eleanora paused and took a sip of wine at his words. "Is this you once again asking to visit town with me again?"
Robert shook his head softly. "I am learning to leave you to your own affairs Dear Wife. I would appreciate and approximate time of arrival and return." He explained.
"We have had this conversation before Robert. I am not a child in need of reminding." Eleanora kept her voice calm. But some part of her wanted to fight with him. "If you should like to chaperone my every move then please, chose someone to accompany me."
Give me a reason to not feel guilty when I leave tonight.
Robert finally heard her anger. "No." He assured. "You misunderstand"
"What do I misunderstand? That you do not trust me?" She felt like a rope was closing around her neck. Everyone wanted to bend her to their will. She didn't have freedom. First the King with his claim to the vow. William and Helda with their threats. Now Robert, retiring to the controlling husband she always expected him to be. He wanted to track her movements. He feared her.
"Eleanora, it's not that." He barked. It surprised Eleanora to hear him raise his voice that way causing her spiral to stop for a moment. His own face showed he himself was surprised. He took a moment to compose himself. "Dear wife, you just joined in a movement lead by the King to shift the balance of power. You have decided to work with a man whose loyalty we have earned with threats. Who is to say he will not seize the opportunity to end the one woman who threatens his power." He looked at her meaningfully.
She then looked at his empty plate and book, it was new and he was deeply into the read already.
He was waiting to make sure I made it home safe.
Damn it.
Eleanora felt her stomach tighten at the fact he was still a good man. A man who wanted a relationship with his wife. And got a wife intended on using him to get what she wanted while she snuck off to be with the King.
Eleanora nodded. "I think I can do that. If you pay me the same respect." He looked surprised. "People will go after me because they will perceive me as the weakest link. They would go after you as a personal attack against Charles"
Robert stared at her, in a way that made her half uncomfortable. Like he was looking inside her. When he found he was looking for he nodded. "That seems reasonable."
Eleanora relaxed. She ate quietly while he continued to read. While he sat with a single empty glass of wine. She was on her third. Her body quivering as the time went by. She had sent word to the palace about her visit sometime ago. The king would be expecting her.
The wine did an exquisite job calming her fast mind.
When her meal was done Robert stood to leave holding his book. "I was thinking about what you said."
Robert stopped and his brows furrowed in confusion. "About what?"
Eleanora got up feeling brazen with the wine in her. "Loyalty. Richard is not reliable due to my desire to blackmail him. I know there are some terrible men in Parliament, but there some good ones. I think you should reach out to those that are loyal to Charles. See if there are any among them that would be sympathetic to our cause." She stood near Robert, finally hearing his words. They needed to be smarter. She needed to work with him.
"No man would give up his voice in government for love of a King." Robert looked down at her ethereal face doubtfully.
She leaned in unconsciously. "You would."
Robert sighed. She was warm and smelled of sweet wine and sunlight. He placed a gentle hand on her cheek. "I would do it for Charles, he just happens to be King." His soft breath fanned her face.
"That man was always going to be King, even when we forgot. He has always remembered what he was meant to become. You can just look past that what other want you to see." Eleanora mind drifted to the memories of falling in love in a garden. A young man who cried at the lost of his home and family. Charles felt the turmoil of his country, but he also felt the heaviness of the legacy his name left behind. He played the role of a King interested in real politics. But he was a man who loved his family.
"You are mistaken my Lady. I am just an ordinary man. Who serves the King." Robert sighed his thumb creasing Eleanora's cheekbone. His gentle and mature eyes looked at her is a way she was not used to.
Eleanora bit her lip she wanted to lean into this. But instead stepped back. Leaving the warmth behind. "I do not make mistakes. You are perceptive. Which makes this task so easy." Eleanora built her wall. She laced it firmly between them. "If you will excuse me. I must get some rest, the wine is not sitting well with me."
Eleanora left the dining hall before Robert could follow her and make good on those deep affections in his eye.
Just as she approached the steps she heard a quiet commotion. The soft sound of a voice meant to be locked in his room.
Following the sound she watched from the corner as her husbands valet held the young maid Mary against the wall. Firm hand on her shoulder and her hair disheveled. Her eyes red. While the valets attention was originally on Mary. His enormous body now face small one handed Elliot.
"That's enough." He whispered harshly.
"I says when enoughs, enough. The lady must prove her virtue by showing she did not steal. I must do a through search." The valet gurgled, obviously wet with drink.
Elliot stood tall squaring his shoulders. "Lady Mary did not steal anything from The mistress!"
Eleanora stepped from the shadows as the Valet took a step forward.
"Elliot there you are." She said enough to warn them she was there.
The valet took a step back. Mary pulled up the sleeve of her dress to cover herself. Eleanora Made a pointed look at Mary and the Valet. Pretending to be confused. "What is the meaning of this?" .
Elliot spoke, "I came to get lady Mary to do what you ask of us earlier." Elliot gave her a meaningful look. "But he wouldn't let Mary go with me."
The valet turned a his angry sight on to Elliot. Eleanora subtly shook her head at Elliot. He mustn't say much more.
The Valet's voice boomed. "Your handmaiden mentioned that something of your was missing and Mary was acting suspicious. So I thought it wise to inspect her."
Elliot looked up at the valet with contempt. Mary had her eyes downcasted ashamed, but not at the accusations thrown at her. "Why, Yes." Eleanora agreed.
Elliot and the Valet looked equally surprised.
Eleanora made a pointed look at Mary then at Elliot. He took the signal and grabbed her hand. "I did mention to Jane and earring of mine was missing. But it was likely my silly mind forgetting where I placed." Eleanora used her finger to tap her head, implying air was in it. "But I appreciate you working so hard to locate it. Unfortunately you delayed Elliot and Mary from doing what I told them." Eleanora looked to Elliot. "Elliot please take Mary with you and do what I asked. I will have Jane sent to check into this issue of the missing earring."
Elliot made no move to go. He did not like the idea of leaving Eleanora with the Valet. But she gave him a reassuring nod. So he pulled Mary in the direction of his room, key to the door securely in his pocket.
Once they were out of sight Eleanora made her move to go. "Well thank you for your diligent work." Eleanora wanted to deal with this issue another time she had bigger concerns. But the valet followed her.
"My lady, I noticed that the stable hand was getting your horse saddled. Strange to set up a steed so late into the night. Especially when the master of the house just ask you to report on your coming and going." That caused Eleanora to stop.
Robert was a kind man, but this one was controlling. "Well my husband does worry for his wife." She smiled.
The valet nodded. "Well I would worry about the Kings fondness for married ladies if I were him. Women can be so mislead. They see one thing and can get the wrong ideas." The valet did not hide his threat.
Eleanora wanted to scoff in disgust. Instead she continued with the confused smile. "Well, we all see what we see. Some of us are just smart enough to interpret the truth."
Eleanora left the valet. In her bed chamber Jane set out her clothes and was surprised by Eleanora's intense entrance.
"I will leave for the palace in one hour. When I return in the morning I want every piece of information on my husbands damn valet." She opened and slammed her jewelry box closed.
____________________________________________________________________________
Eleanora felt the cold air stir around her as she looked up at the Palace. Whitehall was stunning not her favorite Palace. Her time traveling had showed her a world of magnificent structures. Some much older than this one.
She handed her horse off to a stable hand. Her cloak pulled close to her face. Ascending the steps her ear range with all the voices telling her this was wrong or that she needed him.
She didn't need him, she wanted him.
In the room so opulent and clean sat a man older now then the boy she remembered. Charles was stronger, sharper in the face. He become relaxed in this room. His muscle taut and his long black hair tied back. He read by candle light. His face scrunched in concentration.
She cleared her throat. He looked at her and smiled. Dazzling with a touch of familiarity.
He stood and kissed her. Gently testing her place in this room. She hesitated to lean into it. She resisted this so much before. Why was she here now?
"Do you want to be here?" He asked between breathy kisses.
She pulled back and stared into his eye. The same eyes that promised to never leave her, but did. The same lips that promised his heart. And time and time again he laid with another. He lied and cheated her. Promising she was his forever and then running toward the crown.
But she knew she was no better. She did not chose him until she knew he was worthy, who could be more worthy then the should be King of England. She did not fall in love with his heart or mind,she fell for the way he made her feel. The rest was the cruelest of fate. She ached for him every night they were not together. She did not want to marry because she was married to the idea of this man in front of her.
She stepped closer. Placing her hand on his cheek. "I want to be with you." She said carefully.
He did not see the problem in her words. He pulled her close and kissed her harder. His tongue dancing across her lips, she welcomed him.
She pushed him to the bed. Their skin growing hotter. Her body ready for him. They worked together to remove the barrier between their flesh. When he attempted to put her on her back she pressed his hand above his head. She mounted him. Her body controlling their pleasure. Just as she reached her peak and cried softly his name. She saw in the corner of his room sat a perfectly bloomed white peony.