Chapter Text
I. interlude
The church says there are seven deadly sins. That if he ever dares to cross one of them he’d never see heaven, but they haven’t met her. They don’t know those deadly sins feel like heaven with her. She is heaven.
They didn’t know angels existed, and she was standing right in front of him.
Painting color to his dark skies. Burning his skin with her fingertips, and making him feel so alive that he wonders if he was truly ever living at all before he met her that fateful night.
So, if this was sinful, then lord forgive him, for he would sin time and time again for the girl who left stardust behind her. For he bowed to worship her and sing her prayers for as long as she’d let him.
1. Pride
If George could go back in time before he was in this troubled situation he wouldn’t, even though he’s almost dying. Or so, that’s how he feels rather. As he stares ahead at the scene before him, he can feel the air slowly leave his lungs.
He thinks that his only two options are Charlotte or death, and he can’t have Charlotte, he knows this. So he’s preparing his death bed. Or in other words, going back to the palace to get ready to marry a princess he doesn’t really know and live in misery for the rest of his life because she wasn’t Charlotte. No one will ever be Charlotte.
Charlotte was like a rare jewel. She could never be duplicated. People around the world would die for a glimpse of the jewel—he would die for her.
Brown doe eyes stared back at him in betrayal making his stomach drop. However, if he could turn back time to prevent this he’s not sure he would.
You see, George would do all of this over again if it meant he’d have the privilege to be loved by Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
“You are a liar!” She yelled. Her eyes were welled up with tears which she was fighting against. She stood in the middle of the night in her elaborate emerald gown. The word simple and her did not mix whatsoever, you could see it in the gold accessories dressing her body.
They stood by their usual spot they’d sneak off to. By an abandoned church he swore to her no one ever visited besides him. By the back of the wooden building, behind a large tree streamed a small lake, and he went there everyday to watch the water flow and see the stars reflect on the surface of the lake making it gleam. A sight for sore eyes. It was once a safe haven for him, filled with peaceful memories. Yet, now it was turning burning red within seconds.
“I am not,” he tired to explain. George took a step forward but she immediately stepped back, making his face fall completely. “I just have not to told you yet.”
“Which makes you a liar!”
“I simply forgot.”
“Forgot?” She scoffed, flicking her hand to the side where the King’s man stood awkwardly not too far from the golden carriage that had came to ruin what was a peaceful time with Charlotte to the worst death sentence imaginable. His mother, Princess Augusta, stood not too far from them with disgust edged on her face too hard not to miss. “How do you simply forget to tell me you are the King of England?!”
“Not yet—“
“You will soon,” she retorts, crossing her arms. She suddenly felt cold. Small. Looking around her at the Princess and her guards, she felt caught in the middle of a death trap.
“Oh, he will,” Princess Augusta said, an edge to her voice that’s wasn’t at all welcoming. Charlotte felt like shrinking more and more as she heard the words uttered from the Dowager Duchess. “Once he gets married coronation day will only be days away. Maybe you could watch from the sidelines with your betrothed. Or are you not betrothed to Duke Charles?”
Charlotte stayed silent. Embarrassment and a hint of shame rushing through her and it was getting harder to control her tears.
“He does not know you are here?” Augusta said as more of a fact, not expecting an answer to the obvious. She took long steps closer to the couple, and tapped the fan in her hand against her left palm at the end of every sentence she continued speaking making her every word clear. “Huh, I made you diamond of the season. Set you up with a fine young man, and you were greedy and decided to go after the King of England instead? Why Charlotte I did not think of you as such.”
“I am not greedy,” she replied through gritted teeth. “I thought he was simply a palace worker.”
“What future would you ever see in a palace worker dear?” The princess replied in disgust, because of course, a royal would not bother looking at a person with a lesser title than hers.
A future. Charlotte does not really know what future she had seen. It was more love perhaps. Her naivety let her to think their love would’ve conquered any obstacle in their supposed future. Yet, she didn’t dare to utter that word. Not now. It felt almost cruel to think about it.
“You do know that this small affair is—“
“Treason?” Charlotte muttered.
“Perhaps, but I shall give you the opportunity of leaving gracefully and go return to your betrothed. I shall forget you two ever spoke a word to each other. If this ever gets out it will cause major scandal. Do we have a deal, Charlotte?”
Charlotte paused, her eyes drifting to George and looked away quickly when she noticed he was already looking at her. “I shall go back to Duke Charles.”
“Perfect,” smiled Augusta, a grin so sickening evil it brought a shiver down her spine. “Well, we must be going now.”
Princess Augusta turned to leave, wanting to get away from that dirty and awful place in her eyes as soon as possible. It was already ruining the expensive fabric of her teal dress.
Behind her George stepped aside and reached his hand towards the woman whose light seemed to dimmed for someone to ever think she was once full of light. “Charlotte—“
She snatched he arm away immediately and his heart sunk deeper. “Charlotte, please listen,” he choked in his words. He wonder d if he was going to be the first king to ever cry in front of everyone.
“No, you listen!” She seethed, her cheeks were burning, heart racing filled with rage. “I absolutely despise you!”
He looked like he deflated, his frown deepening and he wondered how he was able to utter words. “You do not mean that Charlotte.”
“I do! I never want to see you again!”
“Let me explain—“
“I thought you were courting me,” she laughed bitterly. “I turned everyone away because I, you—I thought you loved me, and I was ready to give everything away just to be with you. Do you understand the fact I was ready to give up all of my family’s wishes just to be with you? I was ready to be a disappointment to my entire family because I loved you.”
George almost wobbled at the words, his mouth flew open and his eyes widening at the revelation. “You love me?”
“What does it matter now? I may have loved you, but not anymore. I do not even know who you are anymore.”
“I am George. Just George!” The desperation in his voice was too much to bear, because she didn’t know what to believe. If her intuition was wrong all along.
“Are you?”
“George!” Princess Augusta yelled from the carriage. “What is the hold up? Princess Veronica is waiting!”
Hearing those words broke something in Charlotte. However, she smiled through the pain she was not going to break in front of him. “You should be on your way, Your Majesty. Your future bride must be waiting for you.”
He shook his head. “I only want you, Charlotte.”
“Your Majesty, that is improper.”
“Stop calling me that! I am George!”
“George? I fear I do not know who George is.”
“Charlotte—“
“I shall head back to my future husband as well. I will learn to love him and I hope you do so as well for your bride. Farewell, Your Majesty,” she bowed her head, grabbed the ends of her dress with her gloves hands and turned around at once, wanting to get out of there as fast as possible. One more second in his presence and she’ll break.
“Charlotte! Stop, I order you!” He yelled after her when he saw her walking away at the speed of light.
She paused but didn’t turn her head around. “If I stop, what are you going to do?”
His words felt stuck in his throat. He didn’t know. A king probably would know what to do. But he is not king yet, and he doesn’t know what to do.
“That is what I thought. Goodbye, Your Majesty.”
He should’ve told her he was wrong, but maybe he was prideful. Had too much pride to admit he was wrong. To go after what he wanted. To turn away from the life he knew. Being a king was a hazard, but he fears this is what he was born into. It was his fate to hurt. To carry the pain. He was born for the happiness or misery of a great nation, and consequently must often act contrary to his passions.
So, he watched her go, and he didn’t know if his heart broke because he didn’t know if there was anything else left to break.
A Month ago…
“Try not to be a statue,” said Adolphus, coming up to his sister that seemed to be wanting to blend in with the wall. “You can move around the place and meet people. That is what we are here for.”
It was the first ball of the season. Where the chosen diamond made her debut, but Charlotte wanted anything but.
“I am the diamond, should they not be coming up to me?”
“Well, with your demeanor you are scaring them away.”
“Very motivational brother. I feel much better,” sarcasm dripped from her voice.
“Stop standing there and smile sister. Men should be lining up.”
She rolled her eyes and wondered if they’d get stuck with how many times she tends to roll her eyes in his presence. “I do not want men to line up. I want to go home.”
“Charlotte! Stop being like this and do your duty for once!” He muttered through his teeth in utter annoyance.
Charlotte opened her mouth to respond, but before she could reply with a snarky comment of her own, a voice interrupted them.
“Pardon me. So sorry to interrupt, but I saw you across the room earlier and I have been wanting to come up to you for a while.”
Charlotte looked to her side to meet eyes with a tall man. He was dressed in a dark blue suit, contrasting the baby blue of his eyes. His hair was curly and brown, and he smiled widely at her.
“Why?”
The tall brunette laughed at her question. “Well, your beauty caught my attention.”
“What is your name?” Asked Adolphus from her side.
“Oh, I am Charles Smith. Duke Charles.”
“A Duke?” Smiled Adolphus, secretly nudging his sister. “You hear that sister?”
Charlotte sighed internally. She did not necessarily care for titles, they were just words to her. Regardless, she smiled politely at the man in front of her. “Nice to meet you Duke Charles.”
“Oh, just call me Charles please,” he smiles back. He had a nice smile, it was quite charming. Charlotte sensed he’s practiced it to perfection.
“You may call me Charlotte.”
“Duke Charles Smith,” a foreign voice interrupted them. Princess Augusta dressed in the brightest of yellows shared her presence before them. “I see you have met the diamond of the season. Is she not perfect?”
“Perfect indeed,” Charles nodded. “I was just introducing myself and hoping to win a little of her time.”
“You can both dance,” she suggested. “The next song is just about to start. Must be fate.” Augusta then sighed before bursting into a small ramble. “I wish my son was as outgoing as you. He would have found a bride around here right about now. We would have already known our next queen and king. Nonetheless, move along now, do not waste your precious time before another man asks her for a dance and whisks her away.”
Watching the princess wonder off as quickly as she came, Charles turned to Charlotte and beamed. “Would you do me the honor of saving me a dance, Charlotte?”
Charlotte looked at her brother who gave her a stern look and she had no choice but to agree.
“Of course,” she pursed her lips, and let him lead the way to the dance floor where she felt everyone’s eyes on them. The attention that came from being this season’s diamond was a lot for her sometimes.
“I am inexperienced in dancing. I hope I do not step on your toes,” Charles said taking her left hand in his and pacing his other hand on her waist.
“Do not worry. I took ballet lessons when I was younger. I shall lead you.”
“So, you are a dancer huh? Should have known. You exude grace.”
“You are quite the compliment type, are you Charles?”
“I suppose I am,” he shrugged, pulling away slightly to spin her around once before bringing her a little bit closer. “Or maybe, you bring that out of me.”
She snorted at his attempt to flirt, and they continued to dance. He wasn’t as bad as he claimed. Charlotte wondered if he was only bluffing to charm her.
He wasn’t mean. He was nice and kind. He let her speak freely, but it didn’t feel right. It felt like a duty, like she was pleasing her brother’s wishes and not something that came from her heart.
It wasn’t too long before someone named Samuel came to introduce himself for a dance, and then someone named Michael and a James. Soon they became a bore.
Her desire to flee came even stronger than before. She waited for more people to stand in front of her to hide and blend in amongst everyone, before hiding between the large statues by the exit praying she was not seen. She counted to three and quickly took off by the large doors in the back. Running to the gardens away from the commotion and mapping out an escape route in her mind to get away from everyone.
“What is it, Reynolds?” George spoke up, feeling the stare of his best friend on him from across the room. He has been in the library for most of the day, reading up on new novels and some science articles for his studies.
”The Dowager Princess wishes for you to make an appearance at the ball,” answered the blonde.
“I told you to tell her I am not attending.”
”I did, but she insists.”
”And I insist I shall not attend.”
”George,” he paused, waiting for him to calm down before speaking again. “It can not hurt to make an appearance for at least five minutes. There will be people you can talk to. Woman will—“
”I do not wish to be set up with anyone just to be married off for a title.”
“You will not have to. Just go and say hi.”
”Reynolds—“
”Please, Your Majesty. Your mother insists. I wish not to tell her I failed.”
George sighed, hearing the words ‘your majesty’ come from his best friend. His mother had told him Reynold’s will be the new king’s man, much to George’s dismay. Another close person in his life to remind him of the heavy burden of the crown. “Okay,” was all he said, closing the book he was reading about the constellations.
George’s father failed to see another day not too long ago and now the crown that had weighed heavy on his father’s shoulders for the past decade was passed unto him. He did not wish to be king. He simply wanted to tend his farm and read his books away from everyone for the rest of eternity.
His mother has been trying to set him up with a princess for months. Wishing for him to marry as soon as possible to take his rightful place as king; the next ruler of England. However, she had a stubborn son and her plans hardly went through how she wished for them to.
George was going downstairs to the ball, he really was. But George insisted for Reynolds to find the guy the blonde has been interested in for months named Brimsley, away from everyone’s eyes. So, on their way downstairs Reynolds left him, which led George to find himself by the gardens alone. Or he thought he was alone. He was going to make his way back inside, he totally was, but then he saw a glimpse of lavender fabric amongst some of his favorite flowers and he had to stop in his tracks.
“Do you need some assistance of some kind?”
“No thank you,” her voiced beamed, but she did not bother to spare him a glance. She was too busy deciding where to place her foot next.
“Very well.” He made a move to turn around and walk away, but his conscious stopped him. He couldn’t leave a lady alone in the middle of the night to get hurt.
“Are you still standing there?” He heard her voice once again. “I said I do not need your help. You may go.”
“I was leaving, but morally, I cannot leave a lady alone in the middle of the night, to perhaps fall on her face by climbing over a wall.”
“I will not fall on my face,” she snapped, and if he could see her face he’s sure he would’ve seen her rolling her eyes in irritation.
“Yes, you will.”
“No, I will not!”
“Yes, you will!”
“No, I will not!” she repeated more louder, starting to get even more irritated.
“Yes, you—“
“The more you say it, it is like you want me to fall on my face!”
She finally placed her foot back on the ground and swirled around, coming face to face with the man whom wore a huge grin on his face, looking at her with curiosity and intrigue.
He stepped forward as if a gravitational pull was pulling him to her. “There is a door out you know?”
“I am aware of that,” she replied, crossing her lavender covered gloved arms across her chest. “If I could, do you not think I would have already tried that?”
“Why can’t you?”
She furrowed her brows, looking at him with a challenging look. Deciding if she could trust him or not. His eyes were soft and something about him made her feel at ease. She’s never felt that way before, not from someone she doesn’t know. “I wish not to be courted tonight. Do not waste your time.”
“What?” he raised his brow taken aback by her bluntness. “I am not courting you.”
She scoffs. “Everyone else in there is, and your insistence makes me think otherwise.”
“I just simply wish to know if you are alright. It is not everyday I see a woman climbing over a wall.”
“There is a first for everything.”
George has only known this woman for mere seconds and he already knows she is quite stubborn. He may have just met his match. “So are you not going to answer why you are climbing over said wall?”
“Will you leave me alone if I tell you?”
“It depends,” he shrugged with a smug smile, that made Charlotte roll her eyes.
“Have you nothing better to do?”
“I can ask you the same.”
She sighed deeply, knowing this conversation could go on for hours if they kept this back and forth going, but not wanting that. She needed to leave before her brother dragged her back inside and made her dance with more men she wasn’t interested in. “Princess Augusta named me the diamond of the season. Men are courting me. I wish not to be courted. I wish not to even be diamond of the season. I wish to go home.”
“And you cannot go home because?”
“My foolish brother will not leave me alone until I marry into wealth and do my duty for my family.”
”And you do not want that?”
”No, but that is out of my control since a woman’s desires tend to fall in deaf ears. Oh, how joyful it is to be a lady.”
He nods, liking the way she spoke her mind. Most women he met seemed try way too hard to seem perfect. Especially when they learned he was Princess Augusta’s son. He liked talking to someone who didn’t know who he was. Who treated him like any other man and not a soon to be king. She made him feel grounded. “I am sorry to hear that. I know a little bit about living up to your family’s expectations. Especially when those expectations are not your own.”
”Do you now?”
“Yes, but you still have not explained to me the whole climbing over a wall spectacle.”
Charlotte took a deep breath, and told him the truth. Something about him was warm and inviting. She felt she could trust him. “I am tired of speaking with the men in there. It is like they are trying too hard. Not authentic at all. It all feels…fake. And so I thought I could sneak off without having no one see me. The main entrance is full of people.”
“Got it. I hate balls too. Everyone is just trying to save face in front of everyone. Prove themselves. It does not feel real,” he then cleared his throat before he rambled on for too much and gave away his real identity and had her run for the hills. “Well, it is your lucky day because I know a way out the palace without going through the main entrance.”
“You do?”
“Mhm, but since you want me to leave, then, I shall leave you to it.” He turned to leave with a smirk on the edge of his lips because he was clearly not going to leave this beautiful woman he just met. He just wanted to get a reaction from her, which he received immediately.
“Wait wait,” Charlotte pleaded from behind him taking steps closer to him. “I did not mean that.”
“I think you did,” he teased her, turning back around with a smile he couldn’t hide.
“I did not!”
“You did!”
“I did not!”
He laughs. Eyes crinkled and forehead lines visible. He was grinning so wide all his pearly whites were on full display. He can’t recall the last time he has smiled like this. He then simply stares at her and in that moment he believed in angels. He couldn’t explain it, but there were certain humans in this world that just sparkled more than other. That were made with magic the church swore did not exist.
“What?” Charlotte mumbled at the silence that followed. A man had never stared at her this intently before. It made her feel warm all over. As if he had this sort of spell on her.
“Nothing,” he shook his head from his daze. Is it possible to fall in love this quickly? “Come this way.”
“You know,” she started saying as she walked next to him, only five inches between their shoulders. Though George discreetly brushed his shoulder with hers every two steps. “Before fleeing away with you I should probably ask you who you are. My brother told me not to trust strangers. However, it seems I am a bit too late for that.”
“If it eases your mind, I can promise you I am harmless.”
“And I am supposed to believe you?”
“I will leave that up to you. However, you are following me, so I shall take that as your answer.”
“I am desperate. Do not go thinking this is a normal occurrence.”
“It is not a normal occurrence for me either,” he replies reaching the end of the path of blue bells and ivy leaves he had planted in the garden months ago. Even though it was dark out, the lights coming from the palace illuminated the garden and therefore seeing Charlotte next to his plants was something so beautiful. She was breathtaking. A star. A comet. None of his scientific studies could have prepared him for the sight of her before the midnight sky. Damn Venus, he wanted to learn more about her.
They were now by the back of the palace where the servants usually entered to not go through the main entrance. He opened the door and gestured for her to step inside first.
“What is this place?” She mumbled under her breath, eyes roaming around the place.
“It is a pathway to the kitchen downstairs. No one really goes here. There is a door that reaches the other side out of the castle.”
“How do you know all of this? You have been here before?” Curiosity and intrigue edged her voice and George blinked twice, scared that he had said too much. He hoped he didn’t appear like a dear caught in the headlights in that moment.
George cleared his throat and looked away from the pretty girl. “A couple times.”
“You work for the royal palace?”
“Something like that,” he muttered, guiding her trough the halls.
“Interesting.” She scanned her eyes at him. He looked very polish, she noticed. Now with a better look at him, away from the darkness of the night, she can tell his outfit was detailed and appeared to be pretty expensive, but she didn’t feel like asking if he stole it. How can a palace worker afford such a luxurious fabric such as the one he had?
“This way.” He opened a large door and Charlotte shook her head, finally noticing they reached the end of the hall as she was too busy in her own thoughts.
“And we are out of the palace,” she says when she steps outside the door and notices the location.
“Easier than climbing over a wall was it not?”
She rolls her eyes but sends him a warm smile nonetheless. “Thank you—um, silly me I do not know your name still.”
“Oh God, what will your brother think when he finds out you spent these past moments following a complete stranger which name you do not know?”
”He would have a heart attack for sure.”
”Well, let us avoid that,” he chuckled. “My name is George.”
”George,” she repeats, seeing how his name felt in her tongue.
“Just George.”
“Nice to meet you, George. I am Charlotte.”
”Charlotte,” he repeated, he took her hand in his and bent down leaving a kiss on top of her glove. Her breath got stuck in her throat in that moment at his touch. She felt tingly all over.
“Just Charlotte,” she whispered back, still enraptured by all things George.
“Shall I see you again Charlotte?”
“You wish to see me again?”
”I do,” he answered with a nod. “You have made quite the impression on me.”
“So have you,” she reveals.
”Then let us meet again,” he offers, not caring if he seemed to sound desperate. Or if future kings shouldn’t sound so needy. He needed to see her as much a he needed food and water to survive. “Do not tell anyone else this but, that abandoned church you see when you near the palace is where I sneak off to. You may meet me there at midnight tomorrow or any day. I am always there.”
“Then I shall be there.”
“And I shall be waiting for you.”
George watched her walk away and that night he got an earful from his mother because he did not bother to show up at the ball. Though, he did not care. No, he was thinking of Charlotte and her brilliance. He could not wait to see her again. To study her just like he studied the stars and planets. He could not get enough of her. He’d never felt so alive until that night, and as he closed his eyes to sleep, he knew then, she would be the death of him.
2. Greed
“Humor me,” she said the following day, appearing from thin air before him dressed in a baby blue gown and gloves. God, she was breathtaking.
She took careful steps forward until she reached him. Taking in the view of the lake in front of them, she got a closer look at where George sat in an old fallen thick tree branch that represented a makeshift bench. She smoothed down her dress and bent down, taking a seat next to him.
George instantly closed the book he was reading. Finding Charlotte more interesting then whatever words were on the page he was previously enthralled in. “Do not think I am a very interesting guy for that.”
“Nonsense,” she flicked her hand dismissively. “You made me laugh a few times last time we spoke.”
“A miracle indeed, because most people usually find me quite unfunny. Some may even say boring.”
“Boring?”
“Head stuck in books, the heavens and all of that.”
She gave him a slight confused look before smiling. “You intrigue me, George.”
“You intrigue me too, Charlotte.”
“Tell me,” she then gestures to him to make herself clear. “About yourself.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
“Hmm,” he murmurs, suddenly nervous to be put on the spot. What should he say? He just met her and he didn’t want to drive her away. “ Um, I love books, science and agriculture. I love astronomy, the heavens and the earth. I could talk about it for hours. I have actually been studying the transit of Venus.” He lifts the book that he had forgotten was in his hands for a second. “Been reading about it for months and been doing calculations.”
He saw the way Charlotte nodded along and listened to him intently. He felt seen. He kept talking feeling more loose. Delighted to share his interest free of judgement. “Um, I hate fish. I will not eat it. Uh, when I was younger I got a scar here from fencing. Have not tried that since.” He laughed and she giggled at him. He loved the sound of her laugh and most of all, being the one who made her laugh. “And I am delighted to share this secret place I have had for years with this beautiful woman standing before me.”
Charlotte blushed at his last words and looked away incredibly flustered. She couldn’t help but fiddle with the pamphlet in her hands her best friend had gave her before she arrived.
George caught sight of it and it peaked his curiosity. He nudged her arm with his, eyeing the paper. “Did you bring me something?”
”Oh, no.” Charlotte looked down at the pamphlet and snorted. “It is Lady Whistledown’s papers. My best friend Agatha is obsessed with reading them, and ever since I became diamond of the season she has been giving me a copy. Thankfully all good things are being said about me.”
“Cannot imagine something bad ever being said about you Charlotte. You are the closest thing to an angel.”
She chuckled at his words, shaking her head. “I beg to differ.” She then handed him the paper. “Apparently the latest gossip is the soon to be king not showing up for the ball last night. In the word’s of Lady Whistledown it caused major scandal…Wait, do you not work for them? Do you know anything about it?”
Besides her George tried to keep a straight face and not show how he was panicking internally. “Uh, no,” his words came out weak and he cleared his throat to gain strength before speaking again. “Um, no I have not. I do not work that closely to the King.”
“Ah, got it,” she nods. “Well, that is good. From what I read in those papers the King does not seem so friendly. They say he is mad.”
”Are we all not a little bit mad?”
She looks at him with a raised brow and then smirked. “I guess we all are a little bit mad.”
The next time Charlotte met him by the lake in the same spot, he gave her a book from his library.
“Shakespeare,” she said, then reading the title she started giggling at the running joke they just started between them. “Maybe you are the mad king.”
“Only yours.”
They would meet at night to discuss their days and the books they read. So much so, that George started sending her books directly to her house. To which she awaited excitedly for and would run up the stairs with glee to sit by her balcony for hours reading what George sent her. Her brother thought them to be from Duke Charles, yet was growing suspicious.
“Charlotte darling, you have so many books,” Duke Charles mentioned one evening when he came over her house. They were having dinner that night. Her family loved him. He was a perfect man in society. Picture perfect. Perfect on paper. Everything any woman would ever want in a man. But Charlotte did not.
“I love to read and feed my knowledge,” Charlotte said, collecting some books on the table she was previously reading into a neat pile. Trying to hide them from him as they felt sacred.
“I admire that about you. For I have no time to read many books. Do not think I have read one in years actually.”
”You should,” she mumbled finally turning around and noticing he was right behind her. “Maybe we could talk about them.”
”Oh no, I shall leave the book reading up to you. I am sure you would much rather discuss them with Agatha over tea time like you always do. Right?” He placed his hands on her waist and her back hit the table.
“Oh yes. That is who I talk to about my books,” she lied.
“When we get married I shall get the biggest library for you. Would you like that?”
“Yes, well, for us to get married I shall need to be proposed to first and—“
”Okay okay, Charlotte, you got me,” he grinned. “I cannot hold it in.”
Charlotte stared at him in confusion and he leaned his head down, dropping his voice to a whisper. “I am planning to propose to you. I have your ring.”
She froze.
“Are you not excited?”
“I am most excited.” Her enthusiasm in fact did not reach her tone of voice, but he didn’t notice, for he brought his lips down on top of hers and kissed her. She did not feel a thing.
Dearest Gentle Reader,
Have you heard the news? The diamond of the season is to marry Duke Charles Smith by fall. Sorry to all the ladies who wished to have a chance with him, we all know he was the most popular heartthrob. He is officially off the market. It seems as though Princess Augusta’s match making skills are still up to par. Especially if the rumors going around that she set her son up with a princess are true.
Princess Veronica was seen in the first ball of the season and it appears Princess Augusta took a liking to her. For they have seen her have tea at the royal palace plenty of times. She may just be our future Queen. How exciting…or is it?
Rumors also have it, the future King wishes not to marry. Some say he has had plenty of affairs. Sneaking off from the palace for God knows what to God knows where. Is he perhaps in love with someone else? Is that the reason he has not married yet? Is he sneaking off to be with his true love? The royal crown may be in great danger if that is. For if he has to keep her a secret, then my guess is, she can not possibly be a legitimate candidate for the throne.
However, do not worry, I shall find the answers to these questions soon.
Yours Truly,
Lady Whistledown
Finding out Charlotte was soon to marry made George greedy. Very greedy for her time. He elongated their time by the lake on purpose and sent her more books by the week. Charlotte could not seem to read them all, let alone find a place for them.
“My brother seems more thrilled about the wedding than I am,” Charlotte told him one day as she leaned her head on his shoulder. They were tired, it was late, but neither wanted to leave each other’s embrace. “He is almost done planning the whole wedding.”
George stilled at the mention of the wedding. Feeling something unwell at the pit of his stomach. “Perhaps he should marry the Duke.”
At that Charlotte laughed, and then looked up studying his face. “You are not jealous are you?” She teased.
“Why would I be?”
She nods. “We are friends, George. I do not want to loose you.”
”You will not loose me.” Or maybe that’s what he wanted to believe.
3. Lust
George couldn’t say he truly knew the complexities of desiring a woman until he met Charlotte.
She would walk up to him wearing the most stylish gowns and gloves up to her elbows. Which made this strange desire to remove her gloves to stir in the pit of stomach. He was overwhelmed with lust.
Whenever she got close he got a whiff of her perfume, and she smelled like daisies, God, she smelled like heaven. It drove him crazy.
“George?” A high pitched voice brought him back down to earth. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I did not mean to bore you.”
“No no, my apologies. I have just been stuck in the clouds recently. So much going on. Everything is hard to keep track.”
“Do not worry. I completely understand,” smiled Veronica. She was tall and a redhead. Eyes green like ivy leaves. “I know you are a very busy man. When we are married I shall not hover.”
“No you are fine. It is just—“
”I grew up with a father who had great responsibility, I am aware it is a lot. You will never have to worry about me. My mother taught me such.”
George did not have the motivation to rebuttal her statement. He simply reached down to grab his teacup and sipped the boiled herbs the servants made him. They were outside the palace taking in the fresh air by a small table the servants set up for their afternoon meeting...or date. His mother has been making him attend them ever since she introduced them to each other against his will.
Veronica was not like Charlotte. She wore more simple gowns, no gloves. She didn’t banter with him and made him question his very existence.
“If I may,” the blonde stood up and took a few steps to stand behind him. She placed her hands on his shoulder and he tensed his muscles at the sudden contact. It felt cold and not right. Not like the tingles he feels when Charlotte brushes his shoulder against hers. “I am good at massages. It may help you destress.”
What he needed was a cold bath because he cannot get Charlotte out of his mind. Though, he guesses a massage would do for the time being. “Yeah?”
“Yes,” she replied rubbing circles on his shoulders. “I even have a few other tricks up my sleeve. However, I shall leave those for our wedding night, Your Majesty.”
He froze and moved away from the blonde who giggled at his widen eyes. “Oh, do not try to be a gentleman. I know you must be waiting for our wedding night as eagerly as I am.”
She looked at him with hopeful eyes, and he was too nice to deny her excitement. “I am counting down the hours.”
She blushes furiously, red cheeks on full display as she bit her lower lip harshly. “I am so glad our parents set us up. You are the best man I could have ever asked for.” She leaned down and left a single kiss upon his cheek.
She smelled of strawberries, but he was too infatuated with daisies to care.
The next day Charlotte decided to go inside the abandoned church and drag George along with her.
“I did not think it would be this empty,” she said, flashing the candle in front of her around the place to get a better look.
“Well, it is abandoned Charlotte.”
She nudged him with a roll of eyes. “I meant, I thought we would find old souvenirs perhaps.”
“Are you treasure hunting?” He playfully mocked her and she nudged him even harder in response.
“It has to be this mystery book I am reading.”
“Remind me to bring you some more books to read of other genres.”
Charlotte then paused, speaking her next words carefully. “My maids are getting suspicious as to why there is more Shakespeare in my room. Duke Charles is not fond of King Lear. Or any books for that matter.”
“Not everyone can have exquisite taste such as myself,” George shrugged, following behind her as they walked deeper inside the church. It was dusty and made of wood that was starting to break apart and mold.
“Or maybe you are just as mad as the mad king.”
He laughs, and then tries to derail the topic. “Quite a lot of dust filled up inside here.”
“You should not bring me more books. I fear it may not look appropriate.”
“How does it look like?”
“How do you want it to look like?”
Silence followed as they danced between the idea of being friends or something more.
“Charlotte, I like bringing you books. It brings me joy to share something with you.”
“And I like reading them and spending time with you, talking about them.”
“I like listening to you talk,” he nods in agreement. “I can listen to you for hours. I like your voice. I like the lips in which your words come from.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened and she set the candle down on the small wooden alter that was collecting dust with a thud. “Y-you should not.”
I wonder if they are as soft as they look, he thought. “Hmm.”
“Friends do not say that.”
“No, they do not,” his voice was deeper now and Charlotte turned around watching the reflection of the candlelight across his features. Suddenly she couldn’t breath properly. “I do not wish to see you as just a friend.”
“I do not wish to either,” she whispered the forbidden phrase she was scared to say out loud. “This is forbidden. We should not want this.” Still she took three steps forward and his hands grabbed unto her waist like a magnet.
“But I want to,” he whispers, his nose moving towards her neck and inhaling her scent. Daisies.
“I want it too,” the trembling whisper was enough for George to loose all senses and let his pupils turn black.
“God bless,” he mumbled, before devouring her lips with his. Her lips tasted like the sweetest of delicacies. Felt like the softest of clouds.
It was everything. It was magical. It was everything holy. How can you not sin when the forbidden fruit tasted so glorious?
He grabbed Charlotte closer by the waist and lifted her up, walking her to the old creaky wooden pew bench in the first row right besides them. He sat her down and kneeled to be closer to her height. Her legs staid wrapped around his lower waist, her heels digging into his calfs.
Maybe the ton was right. He is mad. No other king would put himself in this position. For he is king and is kneeling before a woman he probably shouldn’t be with in front an alter.
Yet, he couldn’t get enough. It was as though he was high off a forbidden paradise.
Charlotte then gasped and he gasped too, right in her mouth because they’d never been kissed like that before. This was new and exciting.
Ladies of high society who are betrothed do not touch other men this way. They do not run their fingers through their hair and let them grip their waist with so much strength he could very much rip her dress in two. But Charlotte did not care. When he kissed her she lost all reason.
His nose soon followed the line down her neck, his lips not being able to control the need to leave kisses upon its path and she was seeing stars. Throwing her head back, letting his inhales tickle the hairs behind her neck.
“You,” he mumbled leaving kisses down her collarbone. “You are heaven,” he said, trailing kisses down her arm. When he reached the start of her glove by her elbow he sunk his teeth in the fabric, using his teeth to remove the glove. He’s been wanting to do that what felt like forever.
Charlotte was in shock, watching him take her glove off all the way down to the tips of her fingers. Until her arms and hands were bear. His lips immediately glued themselves to her hand. It was as if he saw treasure for the first time. Her fingertips brushed his lips as he kissed it.
“Have you never seen hands before?” She joked a bit breathless.
“Not yours,” he whispered short of breath. That’s just the affect Charlotte had on him. “You always wear those damn gloves.”
“Do you not like my gloves?”
“I love them,” he met her eyes when he answered with sincerity. “Everything about you I—“ he stopped as he felt her hand grace his cheek with affection. He felt like crying. He wanted to cry out how much he wanted this woman.
Charlotte trailed her fingertips across his cheek, up the bridge of his nose, circling around his eyebrows and under his eyes. Imprinting him. Her finger then trailed down his neck and she felt the curve of his skin when he gulped loudly at her touch.
She looked into his eyes as she unbuttoned the first few buttons of his white collared silk shirt. Eyes boring into each other with her every movement. Time felt painfully slow, but he didn’t dare break eye contact with her while she opened just enough buttons to trail her hand down his toned chest.
She leaned forward and left a single kiss on his skin before looking back up at George with the biggest doe eyes he’s ever seen and he kissed her senselessly. A long and hungry kiss the she stopped before things went too far.
“What book are you going to send me next?”
He laughed and she laughed and that was it. For that day. It was past time Charlotte should be heading home. Her family was growing suspicious of her outings. She needed to be more careful of her whereabouts.
Next time she visited him by the lake, he handed her a new book. A romance book.
“Should I be worried that you are falling in love with me?” Charlotte teased.
“Maybe it is you who is falling in love with me.”
“You wish.”
He kissed her under the night sky, because he wanted to and she let him. She always did.
Dear gentle reader,
I have some big news about our diamond of the season. For it appears Charlotte has ditched her wedding dress fitting twice! Sneaking off somewhere apparently. Are other suitors after her? Duke Charles seems charmed by her, so let us hope she does not break his poor heart.
However, the ton cannot help but keep a closer eye on Charlotte now. She has definitely become quite an interesting diamond. Has she not?
Ever Yours,
Lady Whistledown
“All Lady Whistledown does is speak utter nonsense,” spat Duke Charles. “Can you believe she would ever imply such a thing?”
Adolphus eyed his little sister across the dining table suspiciously, sipping his morning coffee.
“The ton thrives on made up rumors to keep their mundane lives interesting,” Charlotte replied, spreading a single layer of butter on her toast, trying to shy away from her brother’s gaze.
They had met up for brunch, and Agatha whom sat next to her brother couldn’t help but read the new Whistledown papers during their meal.
“They are only accusing you because you missed a dress fitting? You were simply not feeling well that day. God, can ladies not get sick now?” Agatha scoffed, closing the pamphlet with disdain. “The ton finds an issue with everything. Do not mind them, Charlotte.”
“Agatha is right,” Charles said. “Why focus on rumors when we can focus on our wedding? I am sure once we say I do they will write about how much of a fairytale it was and everything will blow over.”
“Absolutely,” Charlotte smiled, letting Charles leave a kiss upon her cheek, and she couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t like George’s kisses. George’s kisses were warm and felt like home.
She did not miss the disapproving gaze of her brother across the room, and she knew once Charles and Agatha left they would have quite the loaded discussion.