Chapter 226: The Royal Wedding
What could she say? That she had been deceived? That while she guarded herself against Bella, Livia had already taken possession?
The answer was too humiliating to confess. She had mistaken Lady Bella for the greatest threat, while Livia, had become the centre of Henry’s world without lifting a finger.
*****
Tabitha burst into Livia’s bedchamber with such force that the curtain separating it from the outer apartments swayed behind her.
Livia had spent most of the day lying across the enormous bed, staring at the carved canopy above her. A book rested unopened beside her, which was alarming enough on its own. She had attempted to read three times, but every sentence dissolved into the same questions.
Was Henry married now? Had he spoken the vows? Had he looked at his bride the way he sometimes looked at Livia?
She told herself she did not care. The lie had grown less convincing with each toll of the Abbey bells.
What would happen after the ceremony? Henry would return to Whitehall with a queen. There would be feasts, blessings, processions, and eventually the wedding bed. Livia’s imagination supplied far more detail than she had requested.
Would certain nights belong to Madeleine and the others to her? The thought made Livia furious with herself.
She did not want him. That was the truth. She wanted freedom. She wanted a life chosen with her own hands. Yet beneath all that righteous certainty lived another part of her.
It remembered Henry when he was the merchant. It remembered the warmth of his fingers around hers.
Livia refused to listen to that part.
So when Tabitha rushed in, her cheeks were flushed, and she was breathing hard. Livia pushed herself upright and stared.
"Tabitha? Is the palace on fire?" Livia asked.
Tabitha drew in a desperate breath and lifted one finger, asking for patience she plainly did not possess herself. "The royal wedding..."
Livia was off the bed before the sentence had properly begun. "What happened?"
"Oh, my lady." Tabitha pressed a hand to her chest. "A great deal happened."
"Then kindly choose the most important part and say it before I expire."
"The king walked away from the altar." Tabitha continued, the words tumbling out now that her lungs had remembered their purpose. "He refused to complete the vows."
"You are talking nonsense, Tabitha."
"I assure you, I have never spoken more glorious nonsense."
"The king would not abandon a royal wedding."
"He is the king. It appears that gives him excellent opportunities to do precisely what he ought not."
Livia’s eyes widened until Tabitha feared they might require assistance returning to their usual size. "He cancelled the marriage?" she whispered.
"My lady, I swear it."
"Perhaps the poison returned. Perhaps he became feverish again."
"I’m told he appeared quite sensible."
Livia turned away, one hand moving to her throat. Her pulse beat violently beneath her fingers. She turned slowly back to Tabitha. "Why would he do such a thing?"
Tabitha frowned at her. "Surely, you have some inkling why he would do such a thing."
"I..." Livia’s voice caught. "It has nothing to do with me. I made my position clear," Livia continued. "I will not willingly become the king’s mistress. His remaining unmarried changes nothing."
Tabitha folded her arms. "I do not believe His Majesty intends to remain unmarried."
Livia stared at her. "Then what—"
"I think he means to ask you to become queen."
Livia’s eyes widened again. At this rate, astonishment might permanently alter her face. "You must be mad. The king cannot simply abandon a princess and replace her with me."
"It is terrifying. But it is obvious."
Livia turned away and crossed to the window. The courtyards below were alive with servants and mounted messengers. News would already be spreading through London, growing more dramatic with every mouth that repeated it. "They will hate me," she whispered.
"As queen consort, you would have rank, a household, income, influence, and the right to speak where a mistress is expected to remain grateful and quiet. You could protect yourself and others. Even the Queen Mother would have to think carefully before striking at you. It doesn’t matter if they hate you."
"My lady, though I have never met a woman who would not be thrilled at the thought of becoming Queen of England, I suppose there is a first time for everything. If you truly want freedom, becoming one of the most powerful women in the realm may be the surest way to seize it."
"You truly have lost your senses, Tabitha." Livia’s voice rose as she turned from the window. "I am nobody. I possess no family name worth announcing before the court. I have nothing."
"It does not matter what name you were born with," she replied. "If power is placed within your reach, you take hold of it."
Livia stared at her. "Do you never think of Richard? Do you not think any of this would wound him? I may have no future with him now, but must I help the king drive the blade deeper? Richard loved me. He risked everything for me. Am I meant to reward that by accepting the crown from the man who sent him away, took me from him?"
Tabitha drew a long breath. "All right...I have kept my peace long enough. I cannot continue holding your hand through every unpleasant truth while you insist upon closing your eyes." She moved nearer, her voice losing its gentleness. "I adore you because Richard adores you. When this began, I believed everything happening between you and the king was entirely against your will. I saw a frightened woman being pursued by a powerful man who refused to accept her answer, and I wanted to protect you in what little way I could."
Tabitha continued before she could interrupt. "I watched you with His Majesty. You love him."
"I do not love him."
"Then why does every mention of his marriage hurt you? You are clinging to the pain he caused you because it allows you to avoid looking honestly at how you feel."
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