Chapter Two
2150 Words
The next day was rough.
William and I went to his parents as soon as we were up and moving. William was wearing a bold royal blue suit and the red tie I bought for him a few weeks back. I decided to match him and wear a matching pantsuit with a white blouse underneath and my bright red heels to match, along with red lipstick. When William saw me he groaned and began kissing my neck until I had to push him off of me and pull him by his tie out the door and to the car.
Once we got to the palace, the King and Queen greeted us.
"Ah, hello darling," Anne said as she and William exchanged greetings.
William's father came up to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "How are you doing, Rhett? I hope everything at work is going well?"
I smile up at my future father in law and nod, "It's actually been going great. We've been getting loads of books signed and ready for publishing."
"That's good to hear, Rhett. And you're enjoying yourself there?" He asks, his sparkling eyes never leaving mine.
I give him a small chuckle and nod once more before he gives my shoulder a squeeze and joins his wife in front of us.
"What do you mean you want us to be separated today? Rhett and I have been training together for months. If we're going to be ruling together then we need to be together." William tells his mother.
I raise my brow in confusion and Queen Anne sighs, looking over to me before continuing her talk with her son.
"I just feel like it would better benefit both of you if you studied separately at times. Rhett needs to understand the duties of a Queen without the influence of you being there. If she and you are to truly be great rulers then you need to understand space and boundaries. There will be things that Rhett will know that you will not understand, William and you need to trust your future wife and Queen that she will be able to rule in your absence."
William sighs beside me and then turns, pacing his hand on my cheek. "I'm sorry, love. It'll only be for a bit and then you and I can go see Bri and Phillip. How does that sound?"
"It sounds great. And I have to say, William, I agree with your mum. This is a very serious matter and I want to do the best that Ii can and the best person for you to have my side. The royal coronation is soon after our wedding and I want to be prepared. It's only a few months away and we still have so much to do." I tell him.
I watch as he sighs and nods, then he kisses my forehead and turns to his father. "Alright, let us begin."
The two men walk off towards the west wing of the palace, leaving Queen Anne and me alone.
"You're already poised enough to stand up for your independence. I believe we might only have a few sessions left, Rhett."
The Queen's words shock me and I can't help the look of surprise that comes over my face, making the woman laugh as she wraps her arm around mine.
"Well, let us begin then."
"Now, the Archbishop will be handling most wordings and will be the one speaking to you and William directly. As since he is not here, I will read the script." Anne says.
I was currently standing tall, a fake crown on my head and a book and small staff in both of my hands, relics from years of England's history.
"Madam, is your Majesty willing to take the Oath? "
"I am willing," I answer, staring straight ahead.
"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon, and of your Possessions and the other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?" She asks, standing directly in front of me, her eyes boring into mine.
I swallow hard and nod once, "I promise to solemnly do so."
The Queen lets out a quick sigh and slams the book shut that she was reading out of.
"It is 'I solemnly promise to do so', Rhett. Do not mix the words up for this very important."
I set the book and staff down that I was holding and roll my shoulders, easing some of the tension between them away. "I know, and I'm sorry. I'll get it right next time. I think I'm just tired and very hungry." I tell her, rubbing my stomach a bit.
Anne smiles softly as she sees me rubbing my stomach. "How is everything with the pregnancy going?"
She gestures for me to have a seat on the couch in the room and I sit down quickly, sinking into the comfortable cushions. Anne sits next to me and leans against the arm of the couch.
"Everything is good. I have a doctor's appointment in a few weeks to determine if the baby is growing properly and healthily. William and I have talked about a gender reveal party, having it be a surprise to everyone for when the time is right." I say, looking over at her.
She smiles and nods, reaching out and placing her hand on my still nearly flat stomach. "You are not showing yet. How long until then?"
I shrug, looking down at her hand. "Probably around the time of the wedding or the coronation. I'm a bit nervous though."
"What about, dear?"
I swallow, looking over at the Queen as I shift in my seat. She retracts her hand and looks at me with concern in her eyes.
"May I ask you a personal question?" I ask carefully.
Anne smiles, "of course, Rhett."
I let out a small sigh of relief and turn to face her. "When you were pregnant with William, were you and Edmund already married?"
The queen laughs and leans back, shaking her head. "Darling, if that's what is bothering you then you need not fret. Edmund and I were days away from having William when we married. Granted, Edmund was already King and I anointed as his consort but that is beside the point."
"I just don't want the public or anyone to really judge me because I got pregnant out of wedlock. I don't want to tarnish the royal name because of this." I confess.
Anne opens her arms and wraps them around me in another surprising gesture. "Rhett Elizabeth Parr, I have had my doubts about you from the very beginning. But with everything that you've done and have helped my son through, the way I can see the love you hold for him so bright in your eyes, I know you can do this. I need you to be strong for him, and for your child. The public's view on this will not be shameful because it has happened time and time before." She pulls back and brushes the hair from my face. "You are to be my daughter soon, and bringing my grandchild into this world, I could not ask for a better woman than yourself."
I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry.
"Thank you, Anne. That truly means a lot, especially coming from you." I say, turning my head and wiping at my eyes a bit.
She chuckles and stands, offering her hand to me. "It is no problem, my dear. Now, let us go meet back with our men. I'm sure they're losing their minds without us."
I laugh and take her hand, and we walk out of the room and back down the hall.
William and King Edmund were laughing about something when we met back with them in the parlor.
"What seems to be so funny?" Anne asks, dropping my arm to stand by her husband who instantly sobers up and shoots a glare to his son.
"Nothing, love. Just poking some fun at Will here."
William rolls his eyes and smiles at me, wrapping his arm around my waist. "Right. Well, we'll be off then."
I wave goodbye and then Anne stops us.
"Wait, Rhett. Please have your mother contact me. I would like to meet with her and discuss the wedding. The sooner the better, if you'd please." she says.
I nod and William and I wave once more before leaving.
"Well, how'd your little session with mum go?" William asks as we get into the car. I smile, looking over at him before I take out my phone.
"It went well. There are a few things I need to work on, mainly coronation speech but other than that your mother said I was doing superb. We also talked about a few other things as well, just to kind of de-stress and get our mind off of the coronation and King stuff for a bit." I tell him.
William's brows raise as he hears this. "Oh? What'd you two talk about?"
I look at him again, then back to my phone as I text Bri and ask to come over. "Mainly me. I told her that I was nervous about what the public would have to say about me being pregnant before we're married and she told me how she and your father weren't married yet when they had you. She also complimented me a lot and said that if she wanted anyone to bare her grandchildren that it would be me. It kind of made me want to cry. And she hugged me."
The brakes were slammed and my phone flew into the windshield and I gasped. "William! What the bloody hell is wrong with you?"
"She hugged you? And complimented you?"
I looked over at him and his face was full of confusion, then he looks at me, and his full lips spread into a smile.
"Rhett, you have no idea how happy that makes me."
My cheeks redden and I lean over the center console, cupping William's face in my hand. Our lips almost touch when my phone rings Bri's ringtone loudly.
I pull back and grab it, answering her call.
"Why are you just sitting in the driveway? Get your asses inside."
I look around and finally realize that we had made the short trip to Bri and Phillip's house.
"My bad. We're coming."
We both laugh and hang up and William and I get out of the car.
He comes around and wraps his arm around me, stopping me before we head to the front door.
"Wait. I'm really serious, babe. That makes me really happy that you and my mother are finally getting along. I felt really excited when you told me that."
I smile and wrap my arms around his shoulders, kissing him lightly. "Me too."
He smiles and kisses me again, pulling my body against his. We stay like that for a few minutes before being rudely interrupted.
"Excuse me! Can you two stop face f*****g and come inside?"
I let pull away and rest my head on his chest. "I'm gonna kill her."
"Only in your head, right?"
"Oh, uhm. Sure."
William laughs and we finally head into the house.
Bri was in the kitchen, pulling cookies out of the oven and setting the pan on the island. "Hey, losers"
"'Ello, crackhead. How've you been?" I ask, taking off my jacket and hanging it up.
William gives Bri an awkward hug because of her large tummy and pecks her cheek before going off to find his pal.
Once he's gone, I steal a cookie and Bri waddles over to me. She climbs onto the island stool next to me and turns to face me.
"So how'd everything go?" she asks.
I tell her everything that happened today and she almost has the same reaction as William but instead drops the cookie she was trying to eat all over the floor.
"Rhett, that's not like her at all. What the heck? I'm so confused."
"I know! I was too but it made me really happy. I'm actually excited to see where this all goes and kinda ready for the future."
Bri smiles and rubs her stomach, nodding her head. "Well, I'm proud of you, girl. Finally showing the royals how badass you are."
I grin and lean back, looking over at her. "Speaking of the future, when is your baby coming? Isn't it a few days overdue?"
My best mate lets out a tired groan and stands up. "I know! I'm so ready to just get this bad boy out of me and finally be able to pe-" she stops and there's a wet dropping sound on the floor and I turn around quickly to look at her.
Bri was wearing a flowy skirt and a loose blouse with some fuzzy socks. Now, wet socks. There was a puddle of liquid between her legs on her hardwood floors. We both lock eyes and my eyes widen.
"Bri..."
"Rhett..."
William and Philip come into the kitchen laughing but stop as soon as they see us.
Philip's eyes drop down to the wetness on the floor and take's on Bri's now labored breathing.
"Oh...shit."
- Writer
