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Everyone who served the King and Queen knew that Simon Reynolds and Bartholomew Brimsley had something going on between them. It was one of the best-kept secrets that everybody knew.
Even the King and Queen knew.
As hard as Brimsley and Reynolds tried to hide the affection they held for each other, everyone could see it and everyone knew it.
Not a word was said about it, however, with the understanding that if it were acknowledged, the two would have to face treason charges.
. . .
It had been a normal night.
A night of actions they had repeated countless times.
Reynolds had come to Brimsley’s chambers, bringing him with a tray of fruit, meat, and bread, a pitcher of wine, and a chalice for them to share. It was a typical evening for them, wrapped in each other and the love they had established, safe in the walls of the closed room.
It was an evening of intimacy, quiet conversation, and rest.
Brimsley’s favorite.
Nothing could ruin the happiness he was feeling.
Nothing.
The room was still dark when the door suddenly slammed open, and people rushed in.
Brimsley sat up, putting a hand over his eyes at the sudden light brought in by the invaders. “What is the meaning of this?” He demanded of the guards who were now filling the small space of his quarters.
Reynolds was awake as well, sitting up and staring at the guards with wide eyes.
They hadn’t locked the door.
“You’re both under arrest,” Bridger, one of the new guards, stated. “We’re to take you to stand before the King and Queen.”
Brimsley’s stomach turned over.
He glanced around the room at the other guards, men he had known for years, but none of them would make eye contact.
“On your feet,” Bridger ordered. He glared at both of their bare chests with disgust. “And get dressed.”
Brimsley scrambled out of bed and hurried to get dressed, doing his best to ignore the pounding of his heart and the shakiness of his hands. He met Reynold’s gaze, and saw the same fear in his eyes, that he was feeling.
“Come on.”
The guards surrounded them, and lead them through the halls of the palace, until they reached the council chambers where Lorde Bute and three other recognizable members of parliament were waiting.
“On your knees,” Lord Bute ordered. “The King and Queen will be here shortly.”
Brimsley obeyed and lowered to his knees, aware of Reynolds doing the same next to him. He didn’t dare look at him, choosing instead to keep his head bowed and eyes on the ground.
He could throw up.
He wanted to throw up.
They should have locked the door.
. . .
George was annoyed.
He and Charlotte had just fallen asleep when a footman banged on their door and told them that they were needed in the council chambers.
“What’s the meaning of this?” He asked the second he saw Lord Bute.
And then he saw Brimsley and Reynolds.
Shit.
The two were kneeling on the ground, dressed in loose white shirts and trousers, with their head bowed and hands clenched into fists.
Shit, shit, shit.
He schooled his features and turned his gaze to Lord Bute. “Care to explain why you have arrested the Kingsman and Queensman?”
“A witness reported to me that these two have been engaging in treasonous acts. They were seen displaying public indecency and laying together. Both of which are against the law, and considered treason.. It is your duty to uphold the law and punish them as the law sees fit.”
George’s throat tightened. “The law requires that they be put to death.”
Lord Bute nodded. “Exactly.”
Brimsley inhaled sharply and gripped his thighs until his knuckles were white.
“Let me get this straight,” Charlotte said. “You engaged in a Great Experiment , by bringing me here to be Queen, despite the color of my skin, and yet you are discriminating against another form of love.”
“It is quite different, your majesty.”
“Reynolds and Brimsley have been nothing but loyal to the crown,” George said. “Reynolds, himself, has been in my service since we were both boys.”
“Brimsley was the first kind face that I encountered when I came to this country,” Charlotte added. “It is completely in part to him that I am here today.”
“That does not excuse their actions,” Bute insisted. “It is against the law for a man to lay with another man. Something they should know, given their position. They are an abomination, a disgrace, a-”
“Enough,” George said sharply.
Brimsley and Reynold’s had both slightly hunched into themselves, and Brimsley’s hands were trembling against his thighs.
Bute stared George down for a moment, before lowering his head slightly and clasping his hands behind his back. “You must show that those who work for you are not above the law.”
“I do not intend to punish them,” George said calmly.
“If you do not comply with the laws, clearly stated, then I’m afraid that Parliament will be forced to call into question your claim to the throne.”
George leveled his gaze and took a step forward. “Are you threatening me, Lord Bute?”
“I am merely reminding you of your duty to uphold the law.”
“The law is outrageous,” Charlotte snapped.
“You may think so, but it is still the law.”
“You would have us kill these two men?”
“I would have you uphold the law.”
George could have murdered the man in front of him.
“You will not settle for anything less than the death penalty?”
Lorde Bute remained silent, giving a clear answer.
How had they gotten to this point?
Why should Reynolds and Brimsley be punished for simply doing something that everyone else got to do?
Why should their love be punishable by death?
Lord Bute had backed him into a corner.
He sighed and looked at Charlotte, who looked as hard pressed as him. “Very well, then. Take them to the tower. They will wait there for their execution.” He looked at the guards posted at the edge of the room, all of whom were staring at him in shock. “Take them.”
No one moved, and George didn’t have it in him to prompt them to heed his orders.
“You heard your king!” Lord Bute said sharply. “Do as he says.”
Four guards approached the two men and pulled Brimsley and Reynolds to their feet.
“Discreetly,” Charlotte said.
She kept her eyes on Brimsley, who was trembling.
“Yes, m’lady,” Jonathan said.
They kept their hands off of Reynolds and Brimsley and instead gestured for them to follow.
. . .
Brimsley threw up, the second the door of his cell was shut, barely making it to the chamber pot.
“Breathe.” Reynolds knelt as close to Brimsley as the bars of his own cell would permit. “Just breathe.”
“It’s my fault,” he whispered. He wiped his mouth and looked at Reynolds. “I didn’t lock the door.”
“Don’t you dare blame yourself,” Reynolds said. “I am just as much to blame, alright?” He reached through the bars and placed his hand on Brimsley’s knee. “We both knew that this day was a possibility,” he said quietly.
Brimsley nodded and crawled closer to Reynolds until he was pressed up against the bars that separated them. “I cannot stop shaking,” he whispered. “Simon...”
Reynolds grabbed his hands and kissed them. “I want you to listen to me, Bartholomew, alright? We are going to face this together. Whatever comes next, whatever life, we will take it on together. We will go together into the dark. Look at me.”
Brimsley shook his head and kept his head bowed. “I can’t.” His entire body continued to tremble uncontrollably.
“You can.” He moved his hand to Brimsley’s cheek and stroked his cheek with his thumb. “Look at me.”
Brimsley inhaled shakily and slowly raised his head. “Simon...”
“I do not have any regrets.”
Brimsley closed his eyes, prompting tears to slide down his cheeks. “We were supposed to have a lifetime together.”
“I know.” Reynold’s voice broke, as emotion built up within his chest. “I know.” He leaned forward and pressed his head against the bars.
"I'm afraid," Brimsley admitted softly.
"Me too."
Brimsley leaned forward and pressed his head against his. “Together?”
“Together.”
. . .
“Oh for goodness sake.”
Reynolds lifted his head, at the sound of the Queen’s voice. “Your majesty.” He stared at the sight of the King and Queen standing outside their cells, before looking at Brimsley, who was still asleep. It had taken nearly 2 hours for Brimsley to finally stop trembling, and fall asleep. “M’lady.” He pulled his hand from Brimsley’s grasp and got to his feet. “Forgive him, he-”
“You do not need to apologize for him,” the Queen said with a wave of her hand. “Unlock his cell,” she ordered the jailer.
“Now,” the King said when the man hesitated.
The man nodded and hurried to comply.
“And his,” the Queen said, pointing to Reynold’s cell.
Reynolds watched in confusion as both of their cells were unlocked. “Ma’am?”
“There is no reason for the two of you to be in separate cells.”
A warm feeling of gratitude rushed through Reynolds. “Thank you, your majesty.” He bowed deeply to her, before hurrying into Brimsley’s cell. “Brimsley.” He shook his shoulder. “Bartholomew.”
Brimsley groaned quietly, and opened his eyes, turning over to look at him. “Simon?”
“The King and Queen are here,” Reynolds said softly.
His eyes widened, and he immediately turned to look at her. “Your Majesty.” He scrambled to his feet and bowed to both of them.
Charlotte and George stepped into the cell.
“This shouldn’t have happened, and I am sorry that it has,” George said.
“It is not your fault,” Reynolds said. “It was our actions that led us here. We knew the law-”
“That law is ridiculous,” Charlotte said. “It has become my personal mission to get rid of it.”
“We will not stop until people like yourselves are able to express their love freely and without fear.”
Reynolds and Brimsley glanced at each other.
It was gratifying to hear such devotion to a cause that directly affected them, but they couldn't help but think of the lateness of it.
“Lord Bute will not drop the charges,” Charlotte said. “But the King and I have managed to lessen the penalty.”
“M’lady?” Brimsley asked.
She licked her lips and took a breath. “You, Brimsley will be able to stay in Britain. You will be demoted to working in the stables, but you will have your life. Reynolds is to be sent to Germany to work in my brother’s house. We tried to find a way for the two of you to remain together, but it was simply out of the question.”
Reynolds looked down, his heart sinking with his stomach. “Oh.”
“I wish I could offer more, but our hands our tied,” George said softly. “I am sorry.”
“We understand,” Brimsley said. “And we thank you graciously for the effort you have put forward. It is more than we deserve.”
Reynolds noticed his hand begin to shake and reached out to take it. “However, we have to decline.”
“I beg your pardon?” Charlotte asked, her voice laced with surprise.
Reynolds shifted his feet and squared his gaze with the King. “We would rather face death together than accept life separated.”
A look of understanding crossed both of the Monarch’s faces.
“I did not realize how deeply your love for each other was,” Charlotte said softly.
“Are you certain of your decision?” George asked.
Reynolds and Brimsley looked at each other and nodded.
“Yes,” Brimsley said. He tightened his grip on Reynold’s hand. “I cannot live without him. He is the breath in my lungs, the ground beneath my feet, the stars in my sky.” He looked at Charlotte. “He is my great love.”
“And he is my miracle,” Reynolds added softly.
Charlotte turned away from them and briefly swiped her hands across her cheek.
“Very well then,” George said. “Is there anything we can do for you?”
Brimsley glanced at Reynolds, who nodded. “Is it alright to ask that the execution be private?”
“Of course.”
“And we would like to go together,” Reynolds added. “If possible.”
“Together?” George asked.
“They would like to face death together,” Charlotte said. “Than go separately.”
Brimsley nodded. “Yes.”
“We will make the arrangements,” she promised.
“Thank you,” Reynolds said.
“Is there anything else?” George asked. "Anything we can do to make you more comfortable?"
They both thought for a moment, before shaking their heads.
“We deeply apologize for putting the crown in this position,” Brimsley said. “We have endangered your claim, your position, your family.”
“You have done none of that,” George said. “You had the courage to love each other, and the world got in the way.”
“We shouldn’t have indulged in the feelings,” Reynolds said.
“Nonsense,” Charlotte said. “You deserve the love you have. It is a beautiful love - a rare love.” She sighed and looked down. “The execution is set for this evening. We tried to give you more time, but if you will not accept the offer of separation, then Parliament wishes to move forward with it as soon as possible.”
“We will honor your requests,” George said. “It is the least we can do for the two of you, given that you dedicated your lives to us and our service.”
“Thank you,” Brimsley said. He looked at Charlotte. “Forgive me, m’lady for breaking my promise.”
She tilted her head slightly. “Promise?”
“To always be there when you need me.”
She smiled sadly and stepped forward to take his hand. “You have done nothing of the kind." She squeezed his hand. "There will never be another like you, Brimsley.”
He bowed his head to her. “I wish you well, and all the happiness in the world.”
George stepped forward and held his hand out to Reynolds. “I owe you my life,” he said softly.
Reynolds accepted his hand. “It has been an honor to serve you, my King.”
There was nothing more to say. Nothing more that the two most powerful people in Britain could do for the couple, so they offered their goodbyes and left.
Brimsley was shaking again.
Reynolds hated the anxiety he could feel rolling off the man and wished he could take it away more than anything. “We have today,” he said softly.
Brimsley turned to look at him and nodded. “Let’s not waste any time, then.” He placed his hands on Reynolds’s cheeks, and kissed him, pushing him across the cell to the back wall.
If they were going to die at the end of the day, then they were sure as hell going to make the most of the precious hours given to them.
. . .
The guards came at 7 pm, and found Reynolds and Brimsley on the ground, wrapped up in each other.
Reynolds was running his hand over every inch of Brimsley’s body, desperate to memorize as much as he could about him.
Brimsley was tucked under his chin, his legs intertwined with Reynolds, and his arms wrapped around Reynold’s torso.
They had spent the day imagining that they were in the safety of one of their chambers, tucked into bed, and wrapped in the safety of the secret.
“It’s time,” Jonathan said.
The image dissipated, as reality crashed back in.
Brimsley tensed and inhaled sharply.
“Together,” Reynolds whispered. He pulled away slightly so that he was able to look down at Brimsley’s face.
“I will follow you into the dark,” Brimsley replied softly.
They got to their feet and held their wrists out for the guards to put shackles on them.
“This is wrong,” Jonathan said. “Bridger went behind the King and Queen’s back.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Reynolds said. “It’s done.”
“Take care of them,” Brimsley requested. “Please.”
“Of course,” Jonathan said with a nod. “I will strive to do as well as you both did.” He licked his lips and smiled sadly. “Come.”
Reynolds reached for Brimsley’s hand and held it as they were escorted from the tower, and across the grounds to the north hill, where the gallows were set up. “Keep walking,” he muttered when Brimsley halted slightly.
They climbed the frame's stairs and took their place over the trap doors.
Lord Bute stood with the King and Queen, on the grounds below the structure, wearing a smug look of success.
Reynolds knew that words were being said, but he refused to focus on them, choosing instead to focus on Brimsley’s presence next to him. He’d grown accustomed to feeling and reaching out for the man he loved, without having to look at him.
They had become one with each other.
“Proceed.”
He snapped to awareness as a black hood was placed over his head, followed by the rope.
His heart quickened, seeming to realize that its beats were numbered.
“Simon," Brimsley's voice shook as he called out for him.
“I am here, Bartholomew.”
“I love you.”
His hands tingled in anticipation. “I love-”
. . .
Charlotte looked away as the trapdoor was released, and Brimsley and Reynolds fell through.
She wished desperately that she would wake up and discover that it had all been a nightmare and that Brimsley would be five paces behind her.
But it wasn’t.
A stranger stood behind her.
Brimsley was gone.
All because of love.
What sort of world condemned a person for who they chose to love?
She reached out for George’s hand, intertwining their fingers. "We failed today."
"I know."
"They deserved better."
"I know." George looked at her. "On my life, they will not die in vain,” George said softly. "We will create a better world that they deserved to live in."
Charlotte nodded and squeezed his hand, her mind going over the words Brimsley and Reynolds had said about their love. She'd never encountered a love so great, and her heart broke at the fact that it was destroyed.
He is my great love.
And he is my miracle.