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McKensie and Lara III
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Lara
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Jun 20, 2015 02:28PM
The queen nodded cordially and took another bite of her cake, shifting a little on the chair so she could rest her arm on the arm of it. "It is offered to you, if that is what you wish. But we certainly can't force privilege on you, you have to choose it." She said. And then the queen actually laughed. "Darling, after many years of marriage, I know that a man who insists its just a friendship never means so."
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Lydia nodded in understanding and swallowed "I just don't want to disappoint you...mother." She said the word finally feeling a weight lifted off her chest once she let her know her fear. She blushed and smiled "he has many ladies to court...I enjoy his friendship." She insisted and took a bite of her cake and instantly was taken back to her childhood "this is my father's recipe..."
The queen smiled gently then, reaching over to take her hand. "Darling, it is expected that you know little of etiquette or anything princess related. I'm just happy you're home and I have you again." she said gently. "You could never disappoint me." She sat up a little then, nodding in admission. "Just remember that you're the only princess in his life. Many men will want to court you just for that reason." She cautioned. She nodded then. "Yes, it is. Quite good in fact." She agreed, enjoying the cake. "Ingenious man, your father. But very rash."
Lydia didn't like her father being called rash, now was the time to get answers "why did you sentence him to hanging? Did you love him?...or was it just..." She swallowed remembering to stay proper "I don't undrstand how you can give me away not care for 20 some years...and then want me back now. Please explain this to me..." She said seriously not going to let herself get fooled.
The queen sighed softly, shaking her head. "You know there are laws that bind this country, my dear." She said, shaking her head. "If I permitted scandals like that, then the country would rise against the monarchy. There would be war, many people would die. Such is justice. If one man pays for his crimes, it satisfies the mobs. They know that they have a just ruler. I certainly didn't kill him out of spite, you have to know that. You were sent away for the same reason, so that the people would forget that you were an accident child. It hurt me to see you go, but it was better that way. You certainly wouldn't have wanted to grow up hated, would you?"
Lydia swallowed knowing she was a just and fair ruler and well respected among the kingdom but it still was hard thinking about seeing her father smile through his tears before the hood was put over his head and then the governess turning her away. "No...I wouldn't, but how will they accept me now? The long lost princess...it sounds ridiculous to even say it..." She closed her eyes trying to remember to be respectful "I'm sorry mother...in glad to finally meet you, I just don't understand yet..."
The queen smiled gently. "Those who are old enough to remember will no longer care, and those who are your age will be thrilled by the idea." she explained. "You'll be loved across the country." she patted her hand gently. "And even if you don't wish to be the princess, I still am so glad to have you back. I love you dear, I always have, and I hope you know that."
Lydia leaned in and hugged her "I'm glad too...I'm not sure how this is going to work but I'll try..." She said honestly and sighed feeling stressed but peaceful if there ever was such a feeling "I still want to cook...if that's permittable as a princess. I want to see James as often as possible as well..." She insisted and took a deep breath trying to imagine her new life but found it impossiblr.
The queen nodded immediately, glad that her daughter had decided to stay. "Of course dear! You have full use of the kitchen." She agreed. "I'm sure our head chef would love to have some advise from a young and uprising cook." she squeezed her hand. "And James is more than welcome to visit the palace." She agreed. "So long as he behaves himself." She warned, raising an eyebrow.
Lydia smiled and nodded "He will of course, he is far more well brought up then I can ever dream of being." she saw the servants gather around her. Lydia raised a brow in confusion "Um hello?" this was strange to say the least she went from a head cook to the Princess of Britain...indeed this was not what she expected this day to go.
The queen just smiled a little, nodding her consent. "Alright." she agreed. "Then I suppose he could visit when he wishes to." She agreed. Her smile brightened when she saw her daughter reacting to the servants, and she shook her head. "Darling, they're just doing their jobs, helping around the palace." She explained, "Just like you used to help at the manor." She explained.
Lydia nodded "Yes I understand that...I'm wondering why they are gathering around me?" One of the girls spoke "We are your new ladies maids your highness." Lydia blinked not understanding at all, why would a cook need a ladies maid?...your highness "oh you mean for me?"
The queen smiled then, enjoying her reactions to everything. "Yes dear, you are the princess now, and as such, you have a certain amount of your own maids to tend to your needs." She explained. "These are your personal ladies maids." she waved her hand in their direction. "Hopefully they will be able to help you dress each morning, and make sure you are well cared for."
Lydia blinked "oh um thank you, but I am capable of getting dressed and cleaning on my own, I would like princess tips and knowing what to wear thank you." She said to them and bit at her lip looking at the queen wondering if that would be alright.
The queen thought about her request, tipping her head to the side for a moment. And then she nodded, "I believe that would be alright." She smiled, standing. "And now that tea is over, I suggest you girls take Lydia upstairs and show her her room and gowns for the dinner tonight." She clasped her daughter's hand. "I will see you later this evening my dear, for now, try to enjoy yourself."Illiana bumped into Marcoux in the hallway as she was carrying down dishes to the kitchen. "Hey." she said, smiling brightly. "I'm glad you sent me to bed last night." she said honestly, slowing her walk she she could talk for a moment. "I think I must have been tired. I was seeing and hearing things." She admitted. "Like I thought you kept calling Marcoux, Max!" she shook her head as if she was insane.
Lydia smiled to the girls, but she missed Illiana dearly and her other friends "you can just call me Lydia, if you please and I hope we can become great friends. " she said sincerely with a smile and sighed "I'm going to need all the help I can get..."
Marcoux sighed and had her sit down "I need to tell you something Illiana...I'm not Maxwell...I'm Marcoux and I'm so sorry for keeping it a secret for so long...I just hated being an heir and I wanted to be a footman for the summer...but I met you and my life has changed for the better I've grown and it's amazing!"
The maids nodded, "Lydia it is, miss." They all agreed, starting to walk towards the stairs. The last one turned to smile at her. "If you'd follow us this way please miss." She said, as the girls climbed the steps, giggling amongst themselves. "We hope we can help you." She said smiling brightly. "It's our job after all."Illiana frowned at first, as if not believing that the trustworthy Maxwell would ever lie to her. And then she saw that he was serious, and she looked stunned. She backed away a little bit, eyes wide. "Y-you're Marcoux!?" She asked in a hushed whisper. "You.... you lied... to me!?" she stood, and it was easy to see that there were tears in her eyes. She stared at him for a moment before spinning and running away.
Lydia smiled lightly and blinked at the size of her room "don't you have something...smaller?...less fancy?" She asked and touched the wood of her elaborate bedposts "goodness...I dont think I'll ever get used to this..." She whispered and looked out the windows and seeing carriages wishing one of them had James in it.Marcoux ran after her and took her by her arms "I'm so sorry! I couldn't lie to you any longer, especially since falling in love...with a beautiful maid named Illiana and is give up all my riches to be with her...I never meant to hurt you!"
The maids all shook their heads in unison. This was her room now, and this was where she would stay. "This is your own room, miss." One of them said. "Don't you like it? I think it is simply wonderful." She drew open the curtains. "It is a lovely view to see in the morning... the streets of London." She turned back and smiled. "would you like to see the dresses?" She opened up the closet. Illiana looked at the hands that were gripping her, and then up at the face they belonged to. She didn't know this man. He was a stranger, who had been parading around as someone she thought she knew. Illiana's cheeks were wet with tears and she tugged feebly, trying to get away from him. "Please, please let go of me sir." She said, reverting to treating him like an heir, for he was one. "I need to get down to the kitchens." She stammered. She couldn't deal with this.
Lydia nodded smiling at Big Ben "I've seen that on pictures...it's more magnificent in person." She whispered and then turned to look at the dresses and felt overwhelmed "is there none that don't poof or sparkle..." She said biting her lip again and touched the fabrics.Marcoux felt broken, the way she looked at him killed him deeply he crumbled in the chair and put his head in his hands shaking. He knocked books off the bookcase feeling frustrated with himself.
The maids nodded again. "Yes, quite the architectural wonder." One of them said as she straightened some books in the room. The maid who had the closet open smiled brightly. "Oh we don't just have sparkles and poof miss. We also have slimmer late night gowns, and simple out about town gowns, and all sorts of colours and sizes. If you want something new, we can always have it made for you." She added. Illiana ran down to the kitchens and dumped the dishes, searching for Lydia, as she needed someone to talk to. But of course, Lydia was gone, and Illiana was left to sob alone in a closet. She had loved Maxwell, and then he had just transformed into some heir who she could never be with, saying he was sorry for lying to her and deceiving her. She knew she would never be as happy go lucky and easy to love again.
Lydia smiled lightly "thank you...Um what about that simple sage dress with the tulle?" She asked softly and saw the books and gasped happily touching the spines "these are like new...oh dickens, Austin...Mark twain!" She said blissfully and smiled at the maids "am I allowed to borrow these?"Marcoux found her and sighed "Illuana please..." He begged crouching down to be at her eye level. "I love you. I don't want to be an heir, I want to be with you...in a humble cottage with maybe a few kids...I see my future when I'm with you..."
The maid nodded pulling the dress out with the closet. "Yes, of course miss." She agreed. The maid who was tidying the books smiled brightly at her. "Borrow them, miss? They belong to you. The queen already has her own copies." she explained, backing up so Lydia could have a look at the bookshelf. Illiana looked up, and for a moment she let herself hope. And then reality hit her hard again, and she winced. Who was she kidding. She wiped her eyes and tried to look presentable. "Forgive me for speaking, sir, but it is my understanding that regardless of what you wish, you are still an heir, and I am still a maid. Neither of us can change that.
Lydia smiled happily at her and hugged them "I've never owned books before!" She said excited and plopped on the pillows on her stomach and motioned for them to join her "so how long have you worked at the palace?"Marcoux shook his head "my mother is dying after that it is just me...I have the choice of who gets to own the manor and I choose Maxwell. I can be a footman or better yet just a common man, I will take you to the manor so you can still serve Lady Lacey...don't you understand? I will do everything to be with you Illi."
The five girls crowded around her, all of them smiles and eager. The books girl perked up. "For three months now miss, I love it here." She admitted. The other girls nodded. Dresses smiled, "A year." And then the other girls chorused in with how long they had worked at the palace, the shortest being two weeks. Illiana wanted to believe that they could be together, regardless of his background. Maybe he could pretend to be Lacey's wife, while Maxwell pretended to be hers. Then in real life they could love whom they would. A million hopeful thoughts ran through her mind, but none seemed like they would work. "The government will not allow that, sir Marcoux." she said, trying to be respectful, and still tell him what she thought. "They will find out what has happened, and they will punish Maxwell and me for it. They'll say we made you. They'll lock you up for being crazy. They want to keep the rich rich, and the poor poor. That is how society and politics work."
Lydia smiled "I worked at the manor for about 3 years...and I still got lost in that place, I don't know how im going to get around here..." She said honestly and smiled at the circle of her new friends "I'm going to need all of your help, I don't want to be your mistress I still feel equal to you and no matter my title I want you to be honest with me please..." Her worse fears were the servants were going to gossip non-stop about her and she didn't want that...Marcoux rolled his eyes "who would know? My manor isn't one of known wealth and land as is this one. It's out in the countryside and far from anyone who would point fingers. My relatives can't tell the difference and so who else will? I'm trying here Illi...I want you to believe me when I say that I can't live without you riches or not."
The maids giggled then, all of them nodding, for many of them got lost in the huge palace as well. "We'll help you miss." The youngest promised. "But we are your maids, not princesses." Another reminded. "We can still be you friends though!" another piped up. Then someone giggled. "You're going to like the spanish prince. He's so handsome..." Two of the maids sighed. Illiana tucked her face in the skirts of her dress again. "I loved you Max... Marcoux." She corrected. "And I want to." she shook her head slowly, trying frantically to dry her tears. "But how can I believe you, when everything you've told me so far is a lie? I don't even know you anymore."
Lydia blinked, Spanish Prince? She dug in the little leather bag for the picture of James and his family to show them "this is the man I care deeply for, I coukdnt see myself being with anyone but him." She admitted honestly but smiled realizing that was the truth. Through ecerything it was James that always kept her spirits up.Marcoux sighed "I do not know...and it hasn't been! I told you the truth about my family, my dreams and my likes and dislikes..." He tried to justify but found it impossible to even feel half-way honest with himself "what can I do to prove myself again to you?"
All the maids let out a collective awe, smiling amongst themselves. "It is expected for you to marry a prince though, miss. To further relations with other countries." She explained. "But you could always have this man brought to the palace to work for you. Many queens have done that when they are not satisfied with their husbands." she explained. "Was that your family? Or Maxwell's? Because you certainly didn't grow up poor!" She said, suddenly frustrated. "I liked you because I thought we saw eye to eye. I thought we could relate to each other, because our circumstances were so similar. Boy was I wrong." she looked up at him. "While I was crying over my family and trying to find a job at 11, you were an heir!" She cried. "I don't know why I ever thought I could find romance..." She let out a soft sigh. "Seems I'm too poor to even deserve that."
Lydia blinked "He's an heir of a duke of a country manor...does that not count for social expectations?" she asked confused and tucked the photo away. She did not to marry out of obligation as her mother did and cheat behind his back with the one she truly loved.Marcoux looked devastated he was so in love and she was breaking his heart to microscopic bits.. He kissed her hand and shook his head "No matter what you decide...you always will have my heart..." he said honestly and stood knowing she wanted to be left alone.
The maids smiled knowingly. "Maybe among the higher circles miss, but you're a princess of England. You're expected to make ties to other countries." She explained. "Of course, no one is ever forced into marrying a prince. But it's strongly suggested." She explained, shrugging. "besides, you'll probably love the princes when you meet them." The other maids nodded. Illiana had seen that she had truly hurt him, and she immediately felt badly for it. Who was she to talk to an heir like that? Illiana rushed out after him. "Please. I'm sorry. I never meant to say things like that." She apologized, knowing she shouldn't have spoken, regardless of how true her words were. "My temper got away with me and I apologize."
Lydia felt crushed, instantly she kept the smile on her face as they talked about the princes. But...none of them knew her, they only saw the title princess and want marriage. James knew how she liked to listen to french bread and write secret notes in steak and he just...he knew her and he liked her even as a cook. Marcoux shook his head "No, you did mean it and you are right. I did lie and this is my punishment though it be far worse then anything God could give me. Please don't treat me like an heir...I wish that you could just see that the Maxwell you came to love and I are still the same person..."
The maids helped her get dressed for dinner, even giving her tips on how to talk, and which cutlery to use, what was appropriate when eating, and what wasn't. Finally they escorted her down to the dining room where they waved to her and left her in the doorway, where she could join her mother and other officials. Illiana looked down, feeling horribly guilty for making him hurt so bad. She didn't understand though, why he didn't want to be treated like an heir. He was one, was he not? she sighed softly, playing with her hands. "I... I'm sorry... for hurting you..." she mumbled, truly feeling horrible.
Lydia gulped and waited as the men officials stood as was customary, she curtsied before bowing to her mother and sitting on her right hand side hands laid gently on her lap waiting for instructions on when to begin eating. It was strange being on this side of the table when she'd usually be bussling inside the kitchen like a nervous wreck about now.Marcoux sighed and took her hand and kissed it "not as sorry as I am for hurting you Illiana..." He said sincerely before letting her go and heading up to tell Maxwell that Illiana knew.
The queen smiled as her daughter came in and she nodded at her as she curtsied and bowed. Then she patted her skirts and smiled. "You look lovely dear." she said, before turning to the rest of the table and smiling. "Let's eat!" she encouraged. She turned to her daughter again then. "Do you like your room?" She asked, curious. Illiana nodded slowly, watching as he kissed her hand and then left her. She stood there for a while, and then finally turned again, walking away to start on her work.
Lydia nodded and smiled "I like it very much thank you mother..." She said softly "the books were such a wonderful surprise, it took a lot of self control to come down here instead of reading them," she hardly noticed the man sitting next to her until she recognized that scent she turned exstatic "James!" It took a lot not to jump into his arns.Marcoux found Maxwell and instantly pulled him away from the sleeping Lacey "Illiana knows, she refuses to have anything to do with me...I tried explaining the plan of you taking over the manor but still...nothing I know not what to do im losing the most important person to me."
The queen smiled, nodding then. She was glad her daughter was happy with her room. "I'm glad you like it." she said honestly. She shot her daughter a look however, when she cried out in surprise. Everyone else also look in their direction. James smiled softly and put a finger to his lips. "Don't cause too much of a fuss or they'll kick me out." he whispered. "Your mother invited me, but she said she'd watch me carefully, so we better behave." he winked.
Maxwell's eyes widened and he shook his head. "You told her..." He breathed, raking a hand through his hair. "Well now that she knows I can't bloody well be the heir!" he said, pacing up and down the hallway. "Everyone will know eventually, Marcoux. You have to tell everyone now before this gets worse." he said seriously. "Admit your faults, apologize formally. Illiana will respect that. If you keep deceiving the family, she probably wont think she can trust you. Just take small steps with her, ok? But you really need to tell everyone."
Lydia nodded and composed herself like a lady again, but she couldn't help the smile on her face that lit up her eyes. She took his hand under the table and squeezed it lightly as she politely ate her food and caught her mother's eye thanking her. Marcoux sighed "I know...I know! I didn't think it would ever get this messy..." He admitted plopping on the bed Maxwell was sleeping on. He groaned putting the pillow over his face "I just don't want to be heir! Why can't that just be?" He sat up suddenly "we are going to the library come on!"
James grinned at her as he was happy that she was so happy to see him. Besides that, he was thrilled to see her as well. And looking so... regal! He had never seen her with makeup on, and she always had a little bit of flower on her face or in her hair, but now... she looked like the queen. He squeezed her hand back as her mother nodded to both of them. Maxwell huffed out slowly. "Not to be stuck up or anything, but I did say lying was not a good idea." he shook his head. "I don't think I want to be the heir anyways, Marcoux. I was never born to do this, You were." he looked up in surprise as Marcoux ran off towards the library, and he frowned a little, but followed after him. "What crazy notion are you after now?"
Lydia smiled, she was actually glad to be dressed up with all the war paint because she felt beautiful for once. She felt like she had a chance to be with him even if she was forced on some fussy prince. She took a bite of her food and thought about how she would have done it but stayed quiet as the queen talked to the officials all dressed up in their medals and such.Marcoux smirked "you know that if you weren't heir, Lady Lacey and you wouldnt have a chance together...and I know you are in love with her as i am with Illiana. He found the law books and pulled them down as he found the law 'ah yes here it is section 63, the heir if he does not have any living relatives may give his inheritance to those he chooses legally viable, that's you Maxwell!"
The dinner passed without flaw or incident. James knew how to behave himself, even if he did manage to throw smiles at her at every chance he got. By the time desert and coffee rolled around, he was feeling rather full. As people dispersed to chat, he smiled at Lydia, taking her hand and walking with her to a sofa that wasn't occupied. "How are you finding life in the palace?" he inquired. Maxwell threw up his hands. "That's not fair!" he said, as if they were children again, arguing amongst themselves. "I don't wish to be the heir anymore than you do! Why couldn't you have courted the lady? At least you were raised accustomed to this life!" he folded his hands and paced around the room. "And if you do somehow manage to force your inheritance on me, that just makes you a penniless bachelor, not any lower of a class, I hope you remembered that." Granted, anyone high end who did not have an inheritance was generally free to marry whomever they pleased.
Lydia was glad when they could just have time to talk and be alone, she let him lead her and she rested her head on his shoulder "overwhelming..." She said honestly and played with his hand "they keep mentioning all these princes I could marry...I couldn't bear to even think about courting let alone marrying those high end fussy boys." Marcoux smirked at his small tantrum, he nodded "fine I'm a penniless bachelor I suppose that means I could marry a maid without fuss. Oh and I'm sure the master of the house will allow lady Lacey to marry someone well off and that could take care of her."
James listened to her, playing with her hand. He was happy to see her again too. He enjoyed talking with her. Then he laughed good-naturedly. "Well I'm certainly many people have thought me to be a 'high end fussy boy'." he said, chuckling. "But am I?" he asked, trying to soothe her concerns over the princes. For he knew as well as anyone that she was off limits now. She was a princess. Maxwell sighed, plopping into a chair in the library, raking a hand through his hair. "Well then you need to stop parading about as a footman, and we both need to tell everyone what is going on, regardless of which of us owns the inheritance." he said seriously. "We could share it you know."
Lydia smiled up at him "at times you can be..." She admitted honestly and smiled teasingly pecking his cheek "doesn't mean that I don't care for you...James I don't want a prince, you are a duke why cannot that be enough? I'd rather marry my best friend then someone I don't know and does not know me."Marcoux nodded and sighed "I'll tell everyone it was my idea and a test to see if you would be a good choice for heir, that way it wasnt lying and maybe our ladies won't be quite upset with us. You can live in the manor with Lady Lacey I want nothing to do with it, but to survive and care for her I'll take half of it fair?"
James smirked and shook his head. "You devious woman." He muttered. Then he smiled a little sadly. "Because I am a duke, not a prince." he explained. "And that makes me not enough." He squeezed her hand. "You'll get to know the princes well enough. We've hardly known eachother for very long." he reminded. "Just give them a chance ok? They deserve one just like I did."Maxwell nodded finally, satisfied with their plan. At least then they would both technically be 'heirs'. And they could both take care of their girls. "Alright." he agreed. "Thats good then. No more lying. No more unhappy girls."
Lydia was saddened inside but she kept a happy face nodding "I will...or I'll try at least." She said softly but still stayed close to him, her mother was wrong he just saw them as friends he was fine with her marrying a prince, in fact encouraging it. "Did your father blow a gasket when he saw the newspaper?"Marcoux nodded in agreement, bookmarking the page and taking the book with him "we'll announce it at dinner, but you should tell Lady Lacey first in person...she'll be upset but just be honest about your feelings for her..."
James squeezed her hand encouragingly. "That's my girl." he said, keeping a smile on for her. Then he genuinely laughed. "to say the least." he said. "He nearly chased me around with a musket." he shook his head a little. "My father values pride very highly. Wait till he finds out you're a princess." he joked. Maxwell nodded in agreement. "yeah. I know. I've just been dreading telling her." He admitted. "Wish me luck." He smiled weakly and returned to the bedroom, sitting at the foot of Lacey's bed. "Lacey?" he started. "There's something I need to tell you, and I seriously hope you don't hate me after this." he said honestly, sighing.
Lydia laughed and shook her head "no one saw that coming...when are you going to get your new cook?" She asked lacing her fingers through his and smiling up at him "she better not be better then me." She warned teasingly her eyes narrowed playfully.Lacey sat up confused and took his hand "What is it? You can tell me anything you know that..." She said worriedly and pushed his hair back to look into those handsome blue eyes, that seemed troubled to say the least.
James chuckled, shaking his head. "No one could be better than you." He teased back, poking her. "But he's due to arrive tomorrow morning. So we'll see I guess." he shrugged. He wasn't sure how much he liked the idea of getting a new cook. But they needed one, now that Lydia was gone, and that pained him. "I also came to tell you that I wont be able to visit again for a while." He admitted somewhat softly. "My father is sending me to France to study their business." he looked up at her. "So... this is goodbye for now."Maxwell swallowed, knowing he would have to come out with it sooner or later. So he nodded slowly, looking down at the bed sheets. "Well to start... my name isn't Marcoux, its Maxwell." he said softly, wincing as he said it, in preparation for her to pounce on him.
