Queen Marjorie And Her Poor Lover

Chapter 2: Welcome to Aldrich

Marjorie's POV:

“Your Highness. A gift from King Gregory,” a maidservant said placing a big red velvet box infront of me.

She curtsied and left the room.

“Open it Your Highness,” Annette said sitting next to me on my bed.

“He cared to send me a gift?” I asked surprised but pleased.

“Of course he did. He loves you!”

“Don't be ridiculous Annette,” I sneered.“ I know when a man is in love and when he's not. And Gregory is definitely not in love with me.”

I open the box and gasp. A beautiful ruby necklace with smaller diamonds and matching earrings.

“Oh my goodness! Your Highness!” Annette marveled. She took an envelope from the box , opened it and handed It to me. “Read it! Quickly!”

I took the letter and read it. A splitting spread across my face.

“What does it say? ” Annette asked eagerly waiting.

“He wants to have lunch with me. Today. He said I should wear the jewelry. And...take me horse riding in the countryside at sunset.”

“And you say he doesn't love you! Silly queen!” Annette said examining the jewelry set.

It's not that I loved Gregory. It's because I wanted so badly for the marriage to work. When I left my home to go to Aldrich, I didnt want any other woman in between us. I just wanted to have a successful marriage. A happy one. Sure you don't need love to have that.

Annette helped me put on my new jewelry. I was starting to think that just maybe, this whole thing with Gregory would work out just fine.

Ben's POV:

“You're leaving?”

I turned to a teary eyed Rosebeth. My mistress had always been a little bit of a dramatic woman. I didn't blame her. We had been through a lot together. I named my horse after her for goodness sake.

“Yes. I am,” I said giving Rosa some water.

“You can't–you can't just leave me!” she protested.

“No?”

“No! I–I love you! Oh God no! Please don't go! You know I love you!” she said cupping my face with her hands.

I leaned forward and kissed her, “I know. When I settle in Aldrich, I'll come back to visit.”

She frowned. My crazy Rosebeth. She was a few years older than me yet she looked younger. Married and a mother , she didn't look it. I met Rosebeth before she was even married. When she did, she became my mistress. Her husband was barely at home. I cared for Rosebeth. Just not the kind to want to marry her or to be her lover. But she had long decided that I was the man she loved.

And never asked for anything in return.

“At least wait for Robert. He'll be upset if you left with saying goodbye,” she said with bitterness.

Besides of my father, Rosebeth and her son Robert were the only other people I cared about. Rosebeth had always been more than just a mistress to me. Without warning, she embraced me tightly.

“You promise you'll visit me?”

I nodded.

“Then I wish you nothing but good. But you can't leave today. Can't you go tomorrow? I need one more night with you. We'll make wild love. And I'll cook for you and–and get you some more clothes. I'll even wash the ones you're wearing,” she said blinking back her tears.

I smiled softly at her, “Ok. Thank you.”

She took me back to her house and I'll admit, showed me why she's my mistress. The next day I took off.

With Rosa getting injured on the way, the journey to Aldrich was two days longer. I arrived there and booked into an inn. I was beyond angry that I had to come all the way here for a damned woman who abandoned her husband to tell her that he STILL LOVED HER. That is the most stupid thing I have ever heard. But then again, it's wasn't just any man. It was my father. I had no choice but to respect his wish.

After getting a room and washing up, I went down to the pub. I got myself some beer and asked the pub manager for...Leigh-Anne.

“Leigh-Anne Hamilton? Oh yes! She goes by Lady Adderley. I guess you are new to Aldrich?”

“Yes. I arrived this morning. I need to talk to her.”

“I'll send a child to escort you.”

I nodded, thankful for his kindness. After he left, a little boy came back and took me to the Adderley residence as he called it. A maidservant came outside to meet me.

“I'm looking for Lady Adderley,” I told her. I can't help but feel disgusted by the very act of saying her name.

“Lady Adderley is in Agarwal as we speak to attend the her Royal Highness Queen Marjorie's birthday celebration. She'll return in about...say a week's time. She'll be visiting her relatives on the way back. I will be more than happy to deliver a message to my lady.”

“No. Thank you. I'll be back. In a week. In the meantime I'd appreciate if you don't say anything about my visit .”

“As you wish my good sir,” she says bowing her head.

I left the house and went back to the inn. After two days of travelling, a good rest seemed heavenly.

Marjorie's POV:

“Oh Your Highness what will I do with you! I understand that you are upset but please try to understand!” Annette cried.

“There is nothing to understand. I put on this stupid dress and this stupid jewelry, sat here for three hours and he didn't bother to come! He is a horrible man and I deserve to be upset!”

I was only upset because I felt like a fool. His letter and gift filled my head with the most loony ideas.

“Rorie my darling. The prince had an important errand. Please overlook this,” my mother sighed.

I pouted and huffed, “I won't meet him anymore. Send these jewels back to him.”

“Rorie you can't do that!” my mother gasped, wide eyed.

“I refuse to be made a fool out of. I won't see him unless necessary. Which means I'll see him on the day we leave for Aldrich. "

I put the jewelry on the table and went back to my own room. On my bed was my packed luggage for when I left for Aldrich. There was only three days left till our departure. I wished the alliance of ours didn't involve leaving home. I loved Agarwal and I guess I was more upset about that that Greg not coming to meet me.

And just like that, the day of the much awaited day arrived. The day I would leave my Agarwal. I spent the night before crying. I had no idea how empty I would feel when the time to go came. If I was someone else, I would be happy to leave . But I wasn't . To go to a foreign land where I had been once. To leave my family.

“Oh Rorie my beautiful girl. I will miss you so much, ” my mother cried embracing me.

I couldn't help but also cry, “I promise I'll come back soon. I'll write whenever I can too.”

She nodded and hugged me one last time.

I walked over my father and bowed.

“You have made me proud Rorie. I wish you happiness in your new home and success as the queen. Be good,” he said before walking off.

I laughed and ran after him, “You can cry father.”

He laughed with me and hugged me, “I don't know how I'll manage without you.”

“Your Highness. We have to leave now,” said Annette .

I hurried into the carriage which was only for me and Gregory. I took a seat opposite him.

“I know it must difficult to leave but you'll love Aldrich.”

“I will. From what I saw when I came last time , it's beautiful,” I said looking out the window.

“Very beautiful. And it'll have an even more beautiful queen,” he said smiling at me.

I politely smiled back. When Gregory wasn't too busy being a perverted i***t, he was a nice person.

Our travels lasted three days and three nights. We arrived in the afternoon and there were people everywhere in the streets, cheering. I smiled and waved at them from my window. We arrived at the beautiful castle and a red carpet was spread out on the ground.

Third person's POV:

There was excitement in the air. The queen of Aldrich was finally home. Marjorie and her husband stepped out of the carriage onto the carpet. To them, Marjorie seemed to have grown even more beautiful than the last time she came for her wedding to their young King.

She gracefully walked with her husband to his mother at the palace doors. The former queen of Aldrich outstretched her arms and embraced her daughter in law, which Marjorie had not expected. Not in front of everyone.

“Marjorie! We are so happy you're finally home.”

Marjorie bowed down to her, “So am I your highness.”

“Please. Come inside.”

Marjorie's POV:

I had been the queen of Aldrich for two whole years yet I had never felt like a queen. Not until that day when I saw everyone gathering around the castle to see me. To just have a mere glance at me. I received the most gifts I have ever seen in one place.

“Your Highness! Someone even sent a beautiful basket for your for your future child!” Annette squealed.

I laughed as I walked over to Annette. It was a basket made of reeds and jewels embroidery into it. ,“While it is a very thoughtful and sweet gift, I don't think I'll be using it any time soon.”

“I agree,” Annette chuckled.

I take Annette's hands in mine, “I'm happy you're here with me Annette. I don't know what I would've done if you weren't here.”

“There's absolutely no need to thank me Your Highness. Until the end of my days, I'll be right where you are.”

I smiled at the heartwarming thought and walked over to the window overlooking the city. It was beautiful and I was it's queen.