Twenty Eight Part Three

Since all they could do was wait, Marcus told Violet how it had been.

Marcus told of his bedside vigil while his father lay dying, of how his father's wish to see him settled, with his future secure, had influenced him to do what he had done.

He told of how he had folded, and gone along with his father, marrying the woman that had been chosen for him. A marriage arranged for her status and her money.

Violet could see the pain in Marcus' face when he spoke of his father's death. Vi could well understand wanting to please the man who had meant so much to him, as he, himself, had always wanted to please Marcus.

Vi had worked very hard at honing his own skills throughout the years, just so that he could impress Marcus with his improved achievements once Marcus came back.

"I did not know your mother carried you at the time," Marcus continued, "And by the time I found out, it was too late. I want you to know I was devastated Violet, I knew the very moment I gave in to my father, that I was betraying your mother, and my own heart."

Violet was glad to know the bigger picture, that Marcus had done what he had for love of his father, not because he had wanted the funds an Earl's daughter had brought him.

"Marcus, you did not abandon us, and you did not leave me completely fatherless......you were there. Even when you were not physically there, you were there in our hearts and our minds." Vi looked over at his mother, then back."We always knew you would come, and we knew when. I know I have lived for those visits for years."

Violet's love for Marcus shined in his eyes, "We knew your love, you supported us, and you cared for us. The only thing that was missing, was being with you."

"And I with you, but never again, God willing....never again." Marcus was shaking his head slightly, his heartfelt words, Violet could not agree with more.

Vi had a father of his very own now, one he could claim as his, as he never could before today.

He wanted to share this with Elizabeth, he wanted to tell Brutus, he ended up putting his arm around Marcus' shoulders and squeezing him tight.

"Good Lord, Violet, I am an old man, go easy there with my poor, old bones." Marcus laughed, proud of his strong,

beautiful, good hearted boy.

They grinned at one another, as the inner door opened to the King's domain.

"Lord Baron Shelly." The man announced.

Marcus and Violet had already turned towards the door as soon as it opened, they now exchanged glances.

Vi's face was stunned, he had not noticed when Marcus checked in with the man at the desk, he had been too busy whining and pouting.

Marcus' visage was pleased, however, "Ah, very nice, I was hoping that would happen."

"But.......but..... then where is Elizabeth?" Violet tried to see into the room, yet the King's man blocked all but a small sliver of the opening.

"I do not know, but mayhap, I can find out." Marcus winked at Vi, then walked away, entering through the doorway.

Leaving a bewildered and confused Violet, to stay behind and annoy his mother with his curiosities.

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"Marcus," The King greeted him warmly, as he again stood at the side table, "Brandy? Or is it too early yet?"

The King was genuinely happy to see him, as Marcus was the first friend he had allowed himself in a long time.

They had sparred over swords a month ago, and were not due to again until next week, so he was very curious as to why Marcus was here.

"Do you have coffee?" Marcus had no reason to drink, he was high on his life at the moment, and no false spirits were needed.

The King nodded to the server, "I saw your brother just last week, are you aware that your nephew Trent is back?"

"I knew he should be," Marcus answered, "My son informed me that his crew helped repair Trent's ship, and that Drake should have made it back safely by now. I am glad to hear it is so. Damien must be very glad."

The servant handed each man their mugs and they moved to sit in the same chairs the King and Ellie had occupied an hour earlier.

"He is indeed, very glad, they had a most touching reunion." The King did not say that the reunion had been held in the cells of the Tower, and that he had put Trent there under charges of kidnapping his own wife.

Now that.......that had been very entertaining to watch play out, the King thought to himself.

The King smiled as he drank from his mug. This was turning into a most pleasant day, he mused. He had not enjoyed himself this much since.....since the other Kent and Medeiros family members had presented him with their entreaties.

The King's face expressed sudden interest and surprise. "But what is this you said? Your son? His crew? I know Baron Nimford does not have a ship. You have lost me, Marcus." The King raised a brow as he sipped his cup of coffee.

"I have come to support my eldest son, Sire. I met his mother a while before I married the Lady Gwendolyn." Marcus explained.

The King's interest was duly peaked. This also, was something he did not know. Two surprises in one day, how lucky could he get?

"He is a bit worried about Elizabeth." Marcus grinned at his Ruler, and his friend.

"Elizabeth?" The King thought he could not be more entertained, yet he was, by the moment. "How do you know Elizabeth?" He asked, extremely curious over this turn of events.

"She is my new daughter in law." Marcus looked all about the room, grinning widely at the King's surprised face. "Where have you hidden her? In a broom closet, perhaps?"

"She is in the next room." The King gestured towards the door, beyond which, was Betsy.

My good man," The King called to the servant manning the cart, "Take the young lady a chocolate, if you would."

The King sat back and folded his hands atop his abdomen, he crossed one ankle over his knee, and relaxed back in his chair to probe Marcus' tale.

"So, Marcus, are you telling me that your son is the pirate?"

"Well, he is not really a pirate, he is.....well,....... He is actually, barely a pirate, Sire."

The King burst out laughing, "What is it with you and she, and your barely a pirate story? How is one barely a pirate, Marcus? You either are, or you are not." He was still laughing, while Marcus looked at him sheepishly.

"Your daughter in law just told me that very thing, barely a pirate, that is funny." The King chuckled, as Marcus gave him a lopsided smile.

"Well, believe it or not, Sire, he is." Marcus reiterated.

"I cannot do this any longer." The King stood, and Marcus did also, "I must meet my 'barely a pirate, here for a pardon', man for myself." The King crooked a finger and the man who attended the door approached. "I want......" The King looked to Marcus.

"Violet Petals."

"Excuse me?" The King could barely speak through his laughter, "It sounded ....as though you said.....Vi...vi..." He was laughing too hard to speak now.

Marcus then felt some of the frustration Violet must feel each time he gave his full name.

When the King was finished laughing, he still chuckled, waving his hand in the air he told Marcus, "Go, go get him."

"May I bring his mother, also?" Marcus asked.

"Why not? The more the merrier, Marcus." The King tried to subdue his humor, as he went and assumed his spot of Kingdom on his throne.

As soon as he was seated, two of his armed men appeared to stand on either side of him.

His demeanor changed in that moment, as he became the true, sovereign ruler that most people knew him as.

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Betsy walked around the room again, the King had been gone at least ten minutes, and she was becoming a little more comfortable in her isolation.

This time, as she perused the room, she was touching things.

She had just picked up a silver toddler's drinking cup, she was reading the scrolled initials on the front, when the door opened, frightening her.

The cup was tossed up in the air accidentally, as Betsy then waved her arms all around underneath it, popping it back up, trying to catch it before it hit the floor.

She took one good swipe at it and hooked the handle with her pointing finger. "Yes!" Betsy crowed, as the servant's face went from surprise, to relief.

Betsy realized she could have been caught by the King, she put the cup back quickly, and went to sit in her chair like a good, little girl.

The servant tried to suppress his smile as he set down a cup beside her, he bowed at her and left the room.

Betsy's heart was racing, she placed her hand over it, to attempt to slow it down. She was glad she had not picked up a porcelain figurine or anything else that could have broken easily. He had snuck up on her and she resolved not to let it happen again.

She had better mind herself better, she thought, as she wrinkled her nose.

Then she smelled the chocolate.

The next five minutes of Betsy's life were spent in utter bliss.

My goodness, Betsy thought, the King had access to some bloody, good chocolate.

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Rebecca turned and leaned back against the rail. She faced the stairwell Pete had disappeared through, and waited for his return. She wore a saucy smile upon her face, as she considered attempting to flirt with a man for the first time in her life.

She batted her lashes and laughed at herself, as Pete's face appeared, grinning at her, bobbing upwards as he climbed the stairs.

When she could see his lower chest, she could then also see the boy that came ahead of him.

His bluer than blue eyes, made more so even by his incredibly blonde hair, his husky face, pink cheeks and tan freckles, brought tears immediately to her eyes.

Timothy looked just as her brother must have at his age.

Her face crinkled up in a smile, as tears formed, and fell down her cheeks. "Timothy." She whispered.

Timothy was having the same reaction to her.

She was big like his father, the blonde curls which Jonah had also, had been from their father, too.

But it was her eyes, the same blue as theirs, and they smiled at him, just as his father's had.

Timothy walked across the deck straight into her arms. He held her tight around her waist as he cried. He sobbed, and he sobbed, just as if there were no tomorrow.

Rebecca murmured to him, as she held him just as tightly, rubbing his back softly, "I know, baby, I know."

Pete could only stand there and feel sorrowful, as his heart broke for them both.

Pete walked to the helm deck steps and he sat upon them, giving the two the space and time they needed.

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This one is to my girls who have been here since the beginning, patiently waiting for updates and encouraging me along the way, you know who you are loveys, and it has meant the world to me!!!