Fic: New Horizons (2/2)
Meta and Part 1
The following afternoon Elizabeth was sitting with John, Daniel, Peter, and Catherine as they wrangled with the order of precedence for seating at the wedding banquet. So many different nobles with different titles was proving to be quite a headache. Laura and Kate were relieved to slip away and leave the protocol to them. John and Elizabeth both looked like wished they could join them as the girls slipped out of the room.
Kate had procured the keys to the room where the royal jewels and articles of clothing from Elizabeth's predecessors were stored. Lord George had left the keys to Daniel's keeping when he left the palace. The room was for storage, not display, the royal family not wishing to make show of their heirlooms and risk items being stolen.
"Do you remember coming here when we were girls?" Laura asked as they opened the heavy door.
Kate smiled. "Lord George would let us rummage through some of the trunks to play. Though he was always careful to keep us away from these." She gestured to the boxes arranged along the wall, up high enough to be out of the reach of children. The large trunks on the floor were full mostly of broken pieces and old bits of clothing, more suitable for grubby hands of little girls. The valuables were kept more secure, and it took them some considerable time searching for the right keys to open the individual boxes. Laura huffed in exasperation as they wrenched open an old box only to find it full of tarnished medals. "Perhaps the crowns are not stored here?"
"They must be somewhere," Kate replied, looking around them critically. "These items all seem to be quite old."
"Should we try the other end, then?"
They moved to the far end of the room, Laura checking the unlocked boxes while Kate fumbled with the keys. The clock struck as they worked and Laura sighed. Kate glanced at her. "Do you need to go back?"
"Not for another hour, though if I am late, I'm sure we'll hear Moira's displeasure all the way up here." She was joking but there was a tiredness in her face.
"Is it so difficult?" Kate asked. They had not had much chance to speak privately about Laura's situation over the last few weeks.
Laura stood and stretched her back, her arm brushing against her front. "My body is still sore, from the birth and from nursing her. And I know it is frustrating for you and Elizabeth to have me constantly hurrying off. Perna assured me that this will not last forever."
Laura had elected to nurse the baby partly because the midwife explained that nursing mothers rarely became pregnant during the first several months. Kate had filed such information away against the day when she faced a similar choice.
"It would be easier, I'm sure, if I were handing Moira over to a nurse all the day," Laura continued. "But I just cannot do it, Kate. I will miss too much of her life as it is, without yielding on this matter as well."
She seemed to be pleading and Kate rubbed a hand over her friend's back gently. "Laura, you know I support your choice, no matter what, and so does Elizabeth. We will cope." While Kate had not enjoyed the gossip mongers in court turning their attention on her and her engagement, it had diverted attention away from Laura for the time being.
Laura made a triumphant noise. "This appears promising." She had found a mid-sized trunk lying next to a set of jeweled daggers, and as they opened it, they found a sturdy-looking silver crown. The design was definitely more masculine than the crowns Elizabeth usually wore, with solid sides and etchings drawn in the silver and not an overabundance of jewels. The metal was dingy and a few of the jewels had fallen out, but that was easily fixed.
Another twenty minutes of digging yielded two other crowns, one of which was almost ridiculously ornate. In addition to the elaborately worked circlet of gold encrusted with opals, there were arches of what looked like flames coming out of the top, meeting in the middle to support a large ruby. "Are we sure this is not for a lady?" Kate asked, looking at the rest of the items in the trunk with it.
Laura looked at the contents. "Have men in Atalan ever worn opals?"
"I don't know. Master Thor never covered that in history."
Laura laughed heartily. "John will choose flowers over wearing this," she said. Kate had to agree with her.
The third was a compromise between the other two, intricately worked gold that sprouted into leaves periodically from the circumference. It was less elaborate than a lady's crown but suitable for formal occasions, Kate thought.
"I propose we return with all three," Laura said with a grin. "Elizabeth may be able to use her great-grandfather's monstrosity to convince her betrothed that the other two are not so bad."
Kate laughed and they wrapped the three items in cloth and closed and locked all the boxes in the room. "I shall take them to Elizabeth, Laura, that you may see to Moira."
Laura paused for a moment, her hand on the door. "Does it ever seem strange to you, Kate, to think of our childhood here? So many things have changed now."
"I know," Kate said, with a touch of wistfulness. "I do not regret most of the alterations, but sometimes I long for the days when our only care was evading our schoolwork."
"There was no separation between us then, either," Laura observed. "Now I have a husband and daughter to tend to, and you and Elizabeth will soon have husbands of your own. It is inevitable, I know, but still..."
Kate slipped an arm around Laura's shoulders. "We are not truly separated, though. That is a blessing." She remembered trying to picture a life in Neill without Elizabeth and Laura. The prospect had been even more daunting than marrying Lord Charles.
Laura nodded. "We deserve to have our own lives, our own interests, of course. If Carson and I can balance both his work and my own with service, anyone can." Kate raised her eyebrows. Laura shrugged. "You are allowed to have things your own way, Kate, at least once in a while. Particularly when it comes to your wedding, since so many of the details will be at the whims of others."
Kate understood the message, but as they headed out the door she quipped, "Perhaps I should search for a crown for Marcus, then?"
Laura giggled. "You would lose the chance to see Marcus wearing daisies in his hair?"
Kate nearly dropped one of the crowns she was carrying at that image. "I shall have to suggest that to him just to torture him now."
"Just don't mention it to Lady Catherine," Laura warned. "She'll take you at your word and then where will you be?"
*~*~*~*
Lady Maria was due in Atlantis the next day and when Kate saw Marcus the first time that morning, he looked somber. She thought perhaps he was nervous. Despite what Kate's mother had said in the letter, she could not shake the feeling that something was going to go wrong.
Elizabeth met with her advisors in the morning and after the group had filed out, Marcus stepped into the queen's sitting room. "Pardon me, my lady, but may I have a word with Kate?" he asked.
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment. They were all still getting used to this. "Of course."
Though Kate and Marcus should have been the ones to leave, Elizabeth swiftly gathered up her writing supplies and retreated to the bedroom. Marcus stood before Kate and waited until the door had closed, then handed her a letter. "My parents' reply," he said simply.
His expression gave her ample warning for the letter's contents, but Kate still sank onto the sofa behind her as she read. Marcus' parents were concerned about his decision, worried that he was making an ill-advised match and confining himself, as well as risking distraction from his duties. They also wondered openly how a lady of such high rank could be satisfied with a mere guard. "I don't understand," she murmured. "We spent all that time thinking my parents would disapprove."
"And it is mine who have expressed apprehensions," he replied.
Kate frowned at him as he joined her on the sofa. "They do not know me. How can they be so sure that -"
"I think this is aimed more at me than at you, Kate," Marcus interrupted. "My parents have worked hard for what they have achieved in life, and they are proud of it. For their son to marry the daughter of an earl, the queen's chancellor, even - I am not sure. Perhaps they see it as a rejection of them."
Given Marcus' anxiety about the difference of rank, it made sense that his parents would have the same concerns. Still Kate could not quite believe that this was more about him than about her. If his parents knew anything of his history, they might not have the most favorable view of noblewomen in general. It angered her, but a glance at Marcus told her how upset he was, even if he did speak calmly. Quietly she folded the letter away and took his hand. "Marcus."
He sighed and squeezed her fingers. "Your father had a conversation with me about what to do and say if someone accuses me of - of compromising you."
"He said as much to me as well," Kate replied, although she was somewhat confused why he was bringing this up now.
"I've read that letter a dozen times now," he said. "I think it entirely possible that the first to make such an accusation of me may be my own parents."
"Oh, Marcus," she said, touching his face. "We never seem to make things easy on ourselves, do we?"
That made him laugh briefly. "No, we do not."
There was something else she meant to say, but Kate met his eyes. He was hurting and she felt a strong need to comfort him. He leaned in and kissed her, despite the fact that they were in the queen's chambers and both had other things to do. Kate cupped the back of his neck and deepened the kiss, even as she remembered finding John and Elizabeth here a few days before the Wraith came.
Marcus soon leaned back, tugging Kate onto his lap. She did her best to retain some sort of decorum, but he cradled her in his arms and she was lost to the world. His kisses were deep and demanding, not that she needed a reminder of how badly she wanted this man. She would have given much to be married already, and be somewhere private right now.
His mouth trailed hot kisses down to her collarbone and she whispered his name. That seemed to temper him, for his caresses grew more gentle until finally he stilled, his cheek pressed against her neck. Kate smoothed his hair absently, and Marcus set her away from him. He cupped her cheek and gave her a wan smile. "At least we know your parents are happy about this."
"Yours will come around, Marcus," she said, covering his hand with hers. "Perhaps it only came as a shock to them. I am sure they want your happiness."
At that he nodded. "And my happiness is with you, my dear Kate."
She blushed and smiled and kissed him once more before disentangling herself and preventing further temptation for them both.
In the afternoon, a messenger brought word that Lady Maria's carriage was crossing the isthmus. At the queen's urging, Kate and Marcus left to meet it. Lord David joined them as the carriage came to a stop inside the courtyard, and he stepped forward to assist his wife. "Maria," he said cheerfully, kissing her hand once she was out of the coach.
"David," she replied in kind, but her attention was soon focused on her daughter. "Oh, Kate, what a joy to come to Atlantis!"
Kate had not always been able to tell when her mother was feigning a reaction, but as they embraced, she knew this was genuine happiness. Kate still had a hard time believing it.
Lady Maria soon turned her attention to Marcus, who was standing a few steps away. Kate cleared her throat slightly and stepped in to make the introduction. "Mother, this is Sir Marcus Lorne, captain of the queen's guard and knight in her service," she said. "Captain, my mother, Lady Maria, the Countess of Heightmeyer."
Maria offered her hand, and Marcus bowed to kiss it. "It is a great honor, Countess," he said.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, Marcus," Maria said with a warm smile. They had met briefly during the queen's visit to Heightmeyer, but back then Marcus was not worthy of the countess' notice. Kate watched her mother looking at him with frank curiosity for a moment, before her father offered his arm and inquired about her journey.
They spent much of the rest of the afternoon with Kate's parents talking of wedding plans and the latest events in the palace, until they all needed to prepare for supper with the queen. Marcus kept up admirably. Kate had worried about that somewhat, as his role since coming to Atlantis was to stand by unobtrusively, always observing and ready to act, but silently. He had a strong understanding of most things going on in Atlantis, however, and kept Kate's mother entertained for some time, showing his most charming and polite side.
At Maria's request, Kate went to her mother's chambers before returning to the queen's. Anxiety was churning in her stomach. Once they were alone in the room, she could no longer contain herself. "What do you think of him, Mother?" she asked nervously.
Maria smiled. "He is charming, Kate, and clearly devoted to you," she said. "I cannot pretend that my hopes for you have not been rather higher. But your father always insisted that you would make your own choice, and perhaps he was right." Maria patted her cheek. "I will not see my daughter made a duchess, but I believe I will see her made a happy wife."
Kate sighed heavily and seemed to sag with relief. That made her mother laugh. "Child, were you so worried about my opinion?"
She opened her mouth, not sure what to say, but the simplest answer seemed best. "Yes!"
Maria laughed again and began opening her trunks. "Perhaps I was a little harsh in my letters on occasion," she said, and Kate bit her tongue to avoid retorting sharply. "But your happiness is the most important thing. And a dashing, heroic captain of the royal guard who has been knighted is hardly the worst thing in the world." She smiled at Kate with a mischievous expression. "Besides, you have at least chosen for yourself a handsome husband. I imagine you will have beautiful children."
Kate was torn between balking and laughing at that. In the end she settled on a dumbfounded stare while her mother went about finding the dress she wanted for the evening. When she left for the queen's chambers, Kate had no greater insight into her mother's character, but she was sure she had her mother's blessing. At least she and Marcus would not have to deal with unhappy parents on both sides.
*~*~*~*
Supper was slightly stressful, as Lady Maria was highly enthusiastic about seemingly everything, and in between throwing wedding suggestions at Kate she was consumed with hearing details of the upcoming royal wedding. Kate was deeply grateful to Elizabeth for having Lady Catherine there to help satisfy her mother's curiosity.
Worst of all was the fact that Kate and Marcus had still not set a wedding date. Now that her mother had arrived, Kate knew they could not continue to delay making a decision much longer. She would have to find time to speak to Marcus for this purpose and not let herself get distracted again.
It would be easier, she realized, if she had a date in mind, but she did not.
She thought of the weeks ahead, all the tasks for Elizabeth's wedding that needed to be completed, the diplomatic issues that would rear their heads when so many important people of different backgrounds were streaming into Atlantis. And she thought of that morning, sitting on the couch with Marcus, wishing so badly to be alone with him and not need to worry about restraint any longer.
After seeing her parents to their chambers and settling everything for the night, Kate found Elizabeth already in her dressing gown, sitting alone at the window in their bedchamber. It was the same attitude she'd found Elizabeth in after John had left last year. "Is something wrong?" Kate asked quietly, once she had shut the door behind herself.
Elizabeth shook her head. "No, everything is fine," she replied. "It's just... I suppose that is what's wrong. Everything is fine."
Kate joined her on the window seat and raised an eyebrow. "Too few crises for you this week, my lady?"
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and kicked her playfully. "Bite your tongue, Kate." They both laughed, and then Elizabeth said, "It is only strange, not to have to worry about the Wraith. But I am certain it is only a brief respite before something else emerges."
At that Kate smiled and looked out the window wistfully. "If it is strange for us, imagine what Teyla must be feeling now."
"Did she talk with you before she left?"
Kate nodded. "She promised to be back well in time for the wedding, but I think I understand her reasons for going."
"Yes," Elizabeth replied. "I have been kept here for most of my life, yet I have traveled abroad more than she has."
"More than one way to be confined, I suppose."
They fell silent for a moment, looking out at the evening before them. "We may never face the Wraith again, not in this manner," Kate said slowly. "Yet the island may never be what it was before."
"A great many things are changing," Elizabeth replied, although she looked unsure.
"And us with them," Kate added. "Elizabeth, I am not sure how to say this."
Her friend looked at her kindly. "Does this have to do with when you will be married?"
"How did you know?" she asked, puzzled.
Elizabeth shrugged. "You've seemed uncomfortable any time the subject of your wedding date has come up."
Kate nodded again. "Some part of me has been reluctant to name a date, and end this interlude before the real work of a wedding and a marriage begins. I suppose deep down I've been fearing something might go wrong again."
"Things will go wrong, Kate," Elizabeth said. "Did Laura ever tell you of the fight she and Carson had during their engagement?"
"Yes. And I know for certain that Marcus and I will argue in the future," she added with a rueful expression. "But the other night we managed to avoid screaming at each other. It gave me hope that we can do better this time." She leaned back against the wall. "It will not be easy for us. We will have to balance duty and our marriage and that will be difficult even in the best of times."
Elizabeth reached out then and took her hand. "Promise me one thing, Kate. Do not delay your life on my account," she said. "I can never express how important you and Laura both are to me, how much I value your companionship and your counsel. But you deserve to have lives of your own. I would hate to stand in the way of that for any reason."
Her words seemed to loose the final restraint and Kate nodded again. "I will have to consult with my parents to determine a date, but I wish our wedding could be before yours."
"If your parents agree, then do so. You will not be abandoning me," Elizabeth said decisively. Then she added with a wry smile, "Besides, I think I should like to have a little time to myself before I am married."
Kate frowned. "What do you mean, you want time to yourself?"
Elizabeth sighed heavily, getting up and going to the bed. "These last few weeks before I am married may be the only chance I shall ever have to spend any time alone. I think I should like a little solitude before I am bound to anyone for the rest of my life, even John."
Kate considered that for a moment. Elizabeth was almost never alone for even a few minutes, and had not been since she was a child. Kate could sympathize with the desire for some autonomy before sharing a bed with another person. Though Elizabeth would have the option of sending her husband to his own rooms if he displeased her.
That reminded Kate of what she'd interrupted a few weeks earlier, and she narrowed her eyes. "As long as it is not so you and John may have time to yourselves."
Elizabeth laughed. "As though you and Marcus are any better. I heard some rather distinct noises this morning."
Kate grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at her head. Elizabeth caught it deftly and kept it for herself. "Should you not be going to Marcus to tell him your decision?"
Kate glanced at the door, sorely tempted. "It is very late."
"So no one will see you." Elizabeth settled herself in the bed. "Go on, Kate. You have waited long enough."
That much was true. Kate hesitated one more moment hurrying from the room.
She made her way to Marcus' chambers, trying not to rush. She knocked at his door and counted the seconds until he opened it, hoping no one but the guards in the hall would see her standing in the corridor outside his chambers. He frowned when he saw her, however. "Kate? Is something wrong?"
She shook her head quickly. "No, not at all. But I need to speak with you."
He hesitated, his thoughts clearly matching hers. If she were seen coming in or out of his room at this time of night, her reputation would suffer. But it was late and she did not want to go for a walk, and the longer they stood there deliberating the greater the chance of discovery. Marcus opened the door further and stepped aside to let her in.
The night was cooler than it had been in recent weeks, so Kate was not surprised when Marcus stooped by the fire to stoke it. On an impulse she sat down on the floor in front of it; the room's only chairs were far from the warmth of the fire, and she did not want to stand. He gave her a puzzled look but settled down beside her in front of the hearth. "What is it, Kate?"
Though she had come with a purpose, Kate decided to start with a more neutral question. "What did my mother have to say to you at supper?"
He chuckled. "We talked of wedding clothes," he replied. "Or rather, she talked of wedding clothes and I appeared attentive."
Kate swatted his arm. "You, sir, are talking about my mother."
He caught her hand in his. "I've heard you say much worse about her."
"She is my mother. I'm entitled. She is not even your mother-in-law yet."
He laughed again. "Well, we did agree that I should wear my uniform. The more formal one, that is not meant to blend into the walls so much."
"Imagine that," Kate replied, smiling. "Not wanting the groom to disappear from view on his wedding day."
"Never," he growled, and Kate was not at all surprised when his lips met hers.
The first kiss was sweet and playful; the second lingered with a little more heat. After the third, Kate lost count, as a familiar and frustrating warmth spread through her body. That frustration had surfaced the first time he kissed her, but it was worse now. Now Marcus knew how to touch her, what to do to make her plead with him not to stop. He had taken off some of his uniform, and as her arms wound around his shoulders, she could feel the warmth of his skin through his shirt. Marcus pulled her even closer, pressing her body against his, and Kate forgot her reason for coming to see him as she kissed him back fiercely.
She wasn't sure if he had pushed or she had pulled, but somehow she fell on her back, clinging to him as he hovered over her. They were both more dressed than they had been that night in Athos, she thought irreverently, but there was no awkwardness or hesitance between them now. His lips trailed down her neck and her world narrowed to this place, and to the man she desired so fiercely.
He murmured words of love to her as she threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling him back to kiss her again. As she explored his mouth, Marcus let his weight settle on her a little more, and she felt the evidence of his arousal. Caught up in the moment, she gasped and arched and pressed her body more firmly against him. He groaned her name and kissed her again with harsh urgency.
Somehow the reality of the situation worked its way into her mind. She was lying on the floor of his bedchamber with him on top of her and she wanted desperately to forget that this was wrong, but she could not. Kate began to push at his shoulders, gently at first but then more insistently, until he drew back. He looked down at her in confusion for a moment, and then he pushed himself away from her so quickly it was almost comical.
"I'm sorry," he said, scrubbing his hand over his face while she sat up and moved a few feet away. "I - I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "You stopped when I asked."
"Yes, but..." He trailed off for a moment, staring at the fire. "I gave your father my word, Kate."
"You have not broken it," she reminded him gently.
Silence stretched between them for a few moments, until Marcus asked, "Why did you come here, Kate? I don't believe it was to ask what your mother and I talked about."
She shook her head, taking a deep breath. She hoped he would concur with her decision but there was a chance he might not, fearing for her reputation. She did not want to have to argue with him about this. "No, I came to tell you that I think we should be married as soon as possible. Perhaps even before Elizabeth and John's wedding, if it can be managed."
"Oh, thank the ancestors," Marcus blurted out, and Kate couldn't help giggling at his obvious relief. He grabbed her and dragged her into his arms. "I would wait as long as you asked, Kate, but I feared you would ask me to wait for months and months."
Still smiling, she replied, "I believe we have made it quite evident that temptation will get the better of us if we wait much longer."
He met her gaze with a serious expression, one which sobered her. "As long as lust is not your only reason for this."
"No," she said, getting to her feet. Marcus quickly followed. "No, Marcus, it is not. I love you. I want to start our life together, and we have no reason to delay."
He moved as though he was going to kiss her but thought better of it. Instead, he lifted her hand and kissed it lingeringly. "Then we will speak to your parents in the morning, and write to mine," he said, clasping her hand in both of his. "And perhaps avoid being alone with each other in the near future."
Kate nodded, feeling slightly giddy. "I am sure Elizabeth and John would be happy to help us in that regard."
Marcus narrowed his eyes. "Should I be restricting Lord John's time with the queen?"
Kate laughed. "You called such action hypocritical six months ago. What would you call it now?"
He grumbled in reply.
*~*~*~*
In the morning, they called on Kate's parents to seek their consent to an early wedding. "Are you sure, Kate?" her mother asked, concerned. "Five weeks will not give us much time to plan the wedding."
Kate did not say aloud that thwarting her mother's plans for a grand spectacle was a happy coincidence of having the wedding this quickly. "Most of the people we would want to have at our wedding will be here already for the queen's," she said. "I know it seems as though I'm being impatient, and perhaps I am." She glanced at Marcus. "But we are ready."
Her father remained unconvinced. "Kate, I understand that this relationship goes back much longer than the captain's request for permission to court you," he said, and beside her Marcus shifted uneasily. "But I worry about what effect such a hasty marriage will have on both your reputations. This will spark rumors of a pregnancy, and I would rather spare you that."
"I know, Father. But those whose opinions matter know the truth."
Marcus took her hand silently at that. When Kate looked to her father again, she saw that his expression had softened. "Then I suppose it is time to give you something."
David walked to his desk and sorted through its contents, and a few moments later he placed two rings in Kate's hand. "These were my parents' wedding rings, and I have kept them for you, as you were named for my mother," he said gruffly. "If you wish, I can keep them until the wedding, but I thought you should see them."
Kate had precious few memories of her grandmother, and she found herself with tears in her eyes as she looked at the rings. "Father, they're beautiful," she breathed. Marcus peered down at them, but then he reached to wipe away her tears. She kissed his palm as thanks.
A moment later she remembered that her parents were watching. Kate was not accustomed to showing such tenderness in front of others, and she blushed.
David came up then and took her by the shoulders. "I must be honest with you, Kate. I had hoped to have more time to prepare myself to give you to your husband," he said. "But I will try to forego such selfishness. If you are ready, then I shall do my best to be ready too."
A little overcome, Kate embraced her father tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, just before releasing him and giving the rings back to his safekeeping.
He cleared his throat and looked back at Maria with a hint of a smile on his face. "I suppose you have much to do now."
"A great deal," she replied, amused. Then she looked at Marcus. "If I may steal her away, Captain?"
"I would not stand in your way, madam," he said in kind, but before Maria could sweep her out of the room, Marcus kissed Kate chastely. It was no more than was proper for a couple betrothed, but it made Kate's heart race anyway.
That night, Kate sat on her bed with Elizabeth and Laura. Moira was with them, lying on her back and trying very hard to get her toes in her mouth. "Five weeks," Laura said, a kind of reverence in her voice. "Do you realize that's how old Moira is? And you want to plan a wedding in that amount of time."
"I think I would have liked to have had only five weeks to plan mine," Elizabeth said. "Less time for everyone to give an opinion."
"Well, if any of us were capable of such a scheme, Kate would be the one," Laura put in.
Kate smiled at her friends. "The one constant in all the advice I have had in the last year is to see to my own happiness," she told them. "This is what I want, more than anything."
Late into the night they talked of wedding plans for both Kate and Elizabeth, until Laura departed with her sleeping child. Kate and Elizabeth got ready for bed quietly, but when they turned back the covers, Kate looked to see her friend looking distinctly like she might cry at any moment. "What is wrong?" she asked worriedly.
Elizabeth shook her head, trying to smile. "It is nothing."
Kate was not accepting that. "Elizabeth."
They got into the bed together and Elizabeth sighed. "Eleven years. Almost twelve. In five weeks, we will no longer be constant companions. It is only strange to think of."
"I know," Kate replied. "It may not be an easy transition for us, but it will be a good one. And none of us will be far from each other."
Elizabeth agreed. Soon she was curled up on her side and fast asleep, leaving Kate awake for a long time. She had dreamt of this future and then lost all hope for it, only to come full circle and find it again. The world she now faced was new and unfamiliar, but she would not face it alone.
And with Marcus at her side, she would be ready.
The following afternoon Elizabeth was sitting with John, Daniel, Peter, and Catherine as they wrangled with the order of precedence for seating at the wedding banquet. So many different nobles with different titles was proving to be quite a headache. Laura and Kate were relieved to slip away and leave the protocol to them. John and Elizabeth both looked like wished they could join them as the girls slipped out of the room.
Kate had procured the keys to the room where the royal jewels and articles of clothing from Elizabeth's predecessors were stored. Lord George had left the keys to Daniel's keeping when he left the palace. The room was for storage, not display, the royal family not wishing to make show of their heirlooms and risk items being stolen.
"Do you remember coming here when we were girls?" Laura asked as they opened the heavy door.
Kate smiled. "Lord George would let us rummage through some of the trunks to play. Though he was always careful to keep us away from these." She gestured to the boxes arranged along the wall, up high enough to be out of the reach of children. The large trunks on the floor were full mostly of broken pieces and old bits of clothing, more suitable for grubby hands of little girls. The valuables were kept more secure, and it took them some considerable time searching for the right keys to open the individual boxes. Laura huffed in exasperation as they wrenched open an old box only to find it full of tarnished medals. "Perhaps the crowns are not stored here?"
"They must be somewhere," Kate replied, looking around them critically. "These items all seem to be quite old."
"Should we try the other end, then?"
They moved to the far end of the room, Laura checking the unlocked boxes while Kate fumbled with the keys. The clock struck as they worked and Laura sighed. Kate glanced at her. "Do you need to go back?"
"Not for another hour, though if I am late, I'm sure we'll hear Moira's displeasure all the way up here." She was joking but there was a tiredness in her face.
"Is it so difficult?" Kate asked. They had not had much chance to speak privately about Laura's situation over the last few weeks.
Laura stood and stretched her back, her arm brushing against her front. "My body is still sore, from the birth and from nursing her. And I know it is frustrating for you and Elizabeth to have me constantly hurrying off. Perna assured me that this will not last forever."
Laura had elected to nurse the baby partly because the midwife explained that nursing mothers rarely became pregnant during the first several months. Kate had filed such information away against the day when she faced a similar choice.
"It would be easier, I'm sure, if I were handing Moira over to a nurse all the day," Laura continued. "But I just cannot do it, Kate. I will miss too much of her life as it is, without yielding on this matter as well."
She seemed to be pleading and Kate rubbed a hand over her friend's back gently. "Laura, you know I support your choice, no matter what, and so does Elizabeth. We will cope." While Kate had not enjoyed the gossip mongers in court turning their attention on her and her engagement, it had diverted attention away from Laura for the time being.
Laura made a triumphant noise. "This appears promising." She had found a mid-sized trunk lying next to a set of jeweled daggers, and as they opened it, they found a sturdy-looking silver crown. The design was definitely more masculine than the crowns Elizabeth usually wore, with solid sides and etchings drawn in the silver and not an overabundance of jewels. The metal was dingy and a few of the jewels had fallen out, but that was easily fixed.
Another twenty minutes of digging yielded two other crowns, one of which was almost ridiculously ornate. In addition to the elaborately worked circlet of gold encrusted with opals, there were arches of what looked like flames coming out of the top, meeting in the middle to support a large ruby. "Are we sure this is not for a lady?" Kate asked, looking at the rest of the items in the trunk with it.
Laura looked at the contents. "Have men in Atalan ever worn opals?"
"I don't know. Master Thor never covered that in history."
Laura laughed heartily. "John will choose flowers over wearing this," she said. Kate had to agree with her.
The third was a compromise between the other two, intricately worked gold that sprouted into leaves periodically from the circumference. It was less elaborate than a lady's crown but suitable for formal occasions, Kate thought.
"I propose we return with all three," Laura said with a grin. "Elizabeth may be able to use her great-grandfather's monstrosity to convince her betrothed that the other two are not so bad."
Kate laughed and they wrapped the three items in cloth and closed and locked all the boxes in the room. "I shall take them to Elizabeth, Laura, that you may see to Moira."
Laura paused for a moment, her hand on the door. "Does it ever seem strange to you, Kate, to think of our childhood here? So many things have changed now."
"I know," Kate said, with a touch of wistfulness. "I do not regret most of the alterations, but sometimes I long for the days when our only care was evading our schoolwork."
"There was no separation between us then, either," Laura observed. "Now I have a husband and daughter to tend to, and you and Elizabeth will soon have husbands of your own. It is inevitable, I know, but still..."
Kate slipped an arm around Laura's shoulders. "We are not truly separated, though. That is a blessing." She remembered trying to picture a life in Neill without Elizabeth and Laura. The prospect had been even more daunting than marrying Lord Charles.
Laura nodded. "We deserve to have our own lives, our own interests, of course. If Carson and I can balance both his work and my own with service, anyone can." Kate raised her eyebrows. Laura shrugged. "You are allowed to have things your own way, Kate, at least once in a while. Particularly when it comes to your wedding, since so many of the details will be at the whims of others."
Kate understood the message, but as they headed out the door she quipped, "Perhaps I should search for a crown for Marcus, then?"
Laura giggled. "You would lose the chance to see Marcus wearing daisies in his hair?"
Kate nearly dropped one of the crowns she was carrying at that image. "I shall have to suggest that to him just to torture him now."
"Just don't mention it to Lady Catherine," Laura warned. "She'll take you at your word and then where will you be?"
*~*~*~*
Lady Maria was due in Atlantis the next day and when Kate saw Marcus the first time that morning, he looked somber. She thought perhaps he was nervous. Despite what Kate's mother had said in the letter, she could not shake the feeling that something was going to go wrong.
Elizabeth met with her advisors in the morning and after the group had filed out, Marcus stepped into the queen's sitting room. "Pardon me, my lady, but may I have a word with Kate?" he asked.
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment. They were all still getting used to this. "Of course."
Though Kate and Marcus should have been the ones to leave, Elizabeth swiftly gathered up her writing supplies and retreated to the bedroom. Marcus stood before Kate and waited until the door had closed, then handed her a letter. "My parents' reply," he said simply.
His expression gave her ample warning for the letter's contents, but Kate still sank onto the sofa behind her as she read. Marcus' parents were concerned about his decision, worried that he was making an ill-advised match and confining himself, as well as risking distraction from his duties. They also wondered openly how a lady of such high rank could be satisfied with a mere guard. "I don't understand," she murmured. "We spent all that time thinking my parents would disapprove."
"And it is mine who have expressed apprehensions," he replied.
Kate frowned at him as he joined her on the sofa. "They do not know me. How can they be so sure that -"
"I think this is aimed more at me than at you, Kate," Marcus interrupted. "My parents have worked hard for what they have achieved in life, and they are proud of it. For their son to marry the daughter of an earl, the queen's chancellor, even - I am not sure. Perhaps they see it as a rejection of them."
Given Marcus' anxiety about the difference of rank, it made sense that his parents would have the same concerns. Still Kate could not quite believe that this was more about him than about her. If his parents knew anything of his history, they might not have the most favorable view of noblewomen in general. It angered her, but a glance at Marcus told her how upset he was, even if he did speak calmly. Quietly she folded the letter away and took his hand. "Marcus."
He sighed and squeezed her fingers. "Your father had a conversation with me about what to do and say if someone accuses me of - of compromising you."
"He said as much to me as well," Kate replied, although she was somewhat confused why he was bringing this up now.
"I've read that letter a dozen times now," he said. "I think it entirely possible that the first to make such an accusation of me may be my own parents."
"Oh, Marcus," she said, touching his face. "We never seem to make things easy on ourselves, do we?"
That made him laugh briefly. "No, we do not."
There was something else she meant to say, but Kate met his eyes. He was hurting and she felt a strong need to comfort him. He leaned in and kissed her, despite the fact that they were in the queen's chambers and both had other things to do. Kate cupped the back of his neck and deepened the kiss, even as she remembered finding John and Elizabeth here a few days before the Wraith came.
Marcus soon leaned back, tugging Kate onto his lap. She did her best to retain some sort of decorum, but he cradled her in his arms and she was lost to the world. His kisses were deep and demanding, not that she needed a reminder of how badly she wanted this man. She would have given much to be married already, and be somewhere private right now.
His mouth trailed hot kisses down to her collarbone and she whispered his name. That seemed to temper him, for his caresses grew more gentle until finally he stilled, his cheek pressed against her neck. Kate smoothed his hair absently, and Marcus set her away from him. He cupped her cheek and gave her a wan smile. "At least we know your parents are happy about this."
"Yours will come around, Marcus," she said, covering his hand with hers. "Perhaps it only came as a shock to them. I am sure they want your happiness."
At that he nodded. "And my happiness is with you, my dear Kate."
She blushed and smiled and kissed him once more before disentangling herself and preventing further temptation for them both.
In the afternoon, a messenger brought word that Lady Maria's carriage was crossing the isthmus. At the queen's urging, Kate and Marcus left to meet it. Lord David joined them as the carriage came to a stop inside the courtyard, and he stepped forward to assist his wife. "Maria," he said cheerfully, kissing her hand once she was out of the coach.
"David," she replied in kind, but her attention was soon focused on her daughter. "Oh, Kate, what a joy to come to Atlantis!"
Kate had not always been able to tell when her mother was feigning a reaction, but as they embraced, she knew this was genuine happiness. Kate still had a hard time believing it.
Lady Maria soon turned her attention to Marcus, who was standing a few steps away. Kate cleared her throat slightly and stepped in to make the introduction. "Mother, this is Sir Marcus Lorne, captain of the queen's guard and knight in her service," she said. "Captain, my mother, Lady Maria, the Countess of Heightmeyer."
Maria offered her hand, and Marcus bowed to kiss it. "It is a great honor, Countess," he said.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, Marcus," Maria said with a warm smile. They had met briefly during the queen's visit to Heightmeyer, but back then Marcus was not worthy of the countess' notice. Kate watched her mother looking at him with frank curiosity for a moment, before her father offered his arm and inquired about her journey.
They spent much of the rest of the afternoon with Kate's parents talking of wedding plans and the latest events in the palace, until they all needed to prepare for supper with the queen. Marcus kept up admirably. Kate had worried about that somewhat, as his role since coming to Atlantis was to stand by unobtrusively, always observing and ready to act, but silently. He had a strong understanding of most things going on in Atlantis, however, and kept Kate's mother entertained for some time, showing his most charming and polite side.
At Maria's request, Kate went to her mother's chambers before returning to the queen's. Anxiety was churning in her stomach. Once they were alone in the room, she could no longer contain herself. "What do you think of him, Mother?" she asked nervously.
Maria smiled. "He is charming, Kate, and clearly devoted to you," she said. "I cannot pretend that my hopes for you have not been rather higher. But your father always insisted that you would make your own choice, and perhaps he was right." Maria patted her cheek. "I will not see my daughter made a duchess, but I believe I will see her made a happy wife."
Kate sighed heavily and seemed to sag with relief. That made her mother laugh. "Child, were you so worried about my opinion?"
She opened her mouth, not sure what to say, but the simplest answer seemed best. "Yes!"
Maria laughed again and began opening her trunks. "Perhaps I was a little harsh in my letters on occasion," she said, and Kate bit her tongue to avoid retorting sharply. "But your happiness is the most important thing. And a dashing, heroic captain of the royal guard who has been knighted is hardly the worst thing in the world." She smiled at Kate with a mischievous expression. "Besides, you have at least chosen for yourself a handsome husband. I imagine you will have beautiful children."
Kate was torn between balking and laughing at that. In the end she settled on a dumbfounded stare while her mother went about finding the dress she wanted for the evening. When she left for the queen's chambers, Kate had no greater insight into her mother's character, but she was sure she had her mother's blessing. At least she and Marcus would not have to deal with unhappy parents on both sides.
*~*~*~*
Supper was slightly stressful, as Lady Maria was highly enthusiastic about seemingly everything, and in between throwing wedding suggestions at Kate she was consumed with hearing details of the upcoming royal wedding. Kate was deeply grateful to Elizabeth for having Lady Catherine there to help satisfy her mother's curiosity.
Worst of all was the fact that Kate and Marcus had still not set a wedding date. Now that her mother had arrived, Kate knew they could not continue to delay making a decision much longer. She would have to find time to speak to Marcus for this purpose and not let herself get distracted again.
It would be easier, she realized, if she had a date in mind, but she did not.
She thought of the weeks ahead, all the tasks for Elizabeth's wedding that needed to be completed, the diplomatic issues that would rear their heads when so many important people of different backgrounds were streaming into Atlantis. And she thought of that morning, sitting on the couch with Marcus, wishing so badly to be alone with him and not need to worry about restraint any longer.
After seeing her parents to their chambers and settling everything for the night, Kate found Elizabeth already in her dressing gown, sitting alone at the window in their bedchamber. It was the same attitude she'd found Elizabeth in after John had left last year. "Is something wrong?" Kate asked quietly, once she had shut the door behind herself.
Elizabeth shook her head. "No, everything is fine," she replied. "It's just... I suppose that is what's wrong. Everything is fine."
Kate joined her on the window seat and raised an eyebrow. "Too few crises for you this week, my lady?"
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and kicked her playfully. "Bite your tongue, Kate." They both laughed, and then Elizabeth said, "It is only strange, not to have to worry about the Wraith. But I am certain it is only a brief respite before something else emerges."
At that Kate smiled and looked out the window wistfully. "If it is strange for us, imagine what Teyla must be feeling now."
"Did she talk with you before she left?"
Kate nodded. "She promised to be back well in time for the wedding, but I think I understand her reasons for going."
"Yes," Elizabeth replied. "I have been kept here for most of my life, yet I have traveled abroad more than she has."
"More than one way to be confined, I suppose."
They fell silent for a moment, looking out at the evening before them. "We may never face the Wraith again, not in this manner," Kate said slowly. "Yet the island may never be what it was before."
"A great many things are changing," Elizabeth replied, although she looked unsure.
"And us with them," Kate added. "Elizabeth, I am not sure how to say this."
Her friend looked at her kindly. "Does this have to do with when you will be married?"
"How did you know?" she asked, puzzled.
Elizabeth shrugged. "You've seemed uncomfortable any time the subject of your wedding date has come up."
Kate nodded again. "Some part of me has been reluctant to name a date, and end this interlude before the real work of a wedding and a marriage begins. I suppose deep down I've been fearing something might go wrong again."
"Things will go wrong, Kate," Elizabeth said. "Did Laura ever tell you of the fight she and Carson had during their engagement?"
"Yes. And I know for certain that Marcus and I will argue in the future," she added with a rueful expression. "But the other night we managed to avoid screaming at each other. It gave me hope that we can do better this time." She leaned back against the wall. "It will not be easy for us. We will have to balance duty and our marriage and that will be difficult even in the best of times."
Elizabeth reached out then and took her hand. "Promise me one thing, Kate. Do not delay your life on my account," she said. "I can never express how important you and Laura both are to me, how much I value your companionship and your counsel. But you deserve to have lives of your own. I would hate to stand in the way of that for any reason."
Her words seemed to loose the final restraint and Kate nodded again. "I will have to consult with my parents to determine a date, but I wish our wedding could be before yours."
"If your parents agree, then do so. You will not be abandoning me," Elizabeth said decisively. Then she added with a wry smile, "Besides, I think I should like to have a little time to myself before I am married."
Kate frowned. "What do you mean, you want time to yourself?"
Elizabeth sighed heavily, getting up and going to the bed. "These last few weeks before I am married may be the only chance I shall ever have to spend any time alone. I think I should like a little solitude before I am bound to anyone for the rest of my life, even John."
Kate considered that for a moment. Elizabeth was almost never alone for even a few minutes, and had not been since she was a child. Kate could sympathize with the desire for some autonomy before sharing a bed with another person. Though Elizabeth would have the option of sending her husband to his own rooms if he displeased her.
That reminded Kate of what she'd interrupted a few weeks earlier, and she narrowed her eyes. "As long as it is not so you and John may have time to yourselves."
Elizabeth laughed. "As though you and Marcus are any better. I heard some rather distinct noises this morning."
Kate grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at her head. Elizabeth caught it deftly and kept it for herself. "Should you not be going to Marcus to tell him your decision?"
Kate glanced at the door, sorely tempted. "It is very late."
"So no one will see you." Elizabeth settled herself in the bed. "Go on, Kate. You have waited long enough."
That much was true. Kate hesitated one more moment hurrying from the room.
She made her way to Marcus' chambers, trying not to rush. She knocked at his door and counted the seconds until he opened it, hoping no one but the guards in the hall would see her standing in the corridor outside his chambers. He frowned when he saw her, however. "Kate? Is something wrong?"
She shook her head quickly. "No, not at all. But I need to speak with you."
He hesitated, his thoughts clearly matching hers. If she were seen coming in or out of his room at this time of night, her reputation would suffer. But it was late and she did not want to go for a walk, and the longer they stood there deliberating the greater the chance of discovery. Marcus opened the door further and stepped aside to let her in.
The night was cooler than it had been in recent weeks, so Kate was not surprised when Marcus stooped by the fire to stoke it. On an impulse she sat down on the floor in front of it; the room's only chairs were far from the warmth of the fire, and she did not want to stand. He gave her a puzzled look but settled down beside her in front of the hearth. "What is it, Kate?"
Though she had come with a purpose, Kate decided to start with a more neutral question. "What did my mother have to say to you at supper?"
He chuckled. "We talked of wedding clothes," he replied. "Or rather, she talked of wedding clothes and I appeared attentive."
Kate swatted his arm. "You, sir, are talking about my mother."
He caught her hand in his. "I've heard you say much worse about her."
"She is my mother. I'm entitled. She is not even your mother-in-law yet."
He laughed again. "Well, we did agree that I should wear my uniform. The more formal one, that is not meant to blend into the walls so much."
"Imagine that," Kate replied, smiling. "Not wanting the groom to disappear from view on his wedding day."
"Never," he growled, and Kate was not at all surprised when his lips met hers.
The first kiss was sweet and playful; the second lingered with a little more heat. After the third, Kate lost count, as a familiar and frustrating warmth spread through her body. That frustration had surfaced the first time he kissed her, but it was worse now. Now Marcus knew how to touch her, what to do to make her plead with him not to stop. He had taken off some of his uniform, and as her arms wound around his shoulders, she could feel the warmth of his skin through his shirt. Marcus pulled her even closer, pressing her body against his, and Kate forgot her reason for coming to see him as she kissed him back fiercely.
She wasn't sure if he had pushed or she had pulled, but somehow she fell on her back, clinging to him as he hovered over her. They were both more dressed than they had been that night in Athos, she thought irreverently, but there was no awkwardness or hesitance between them now. His lips trailed down her neck and her world narrowed to this place, and to the man she desired so fiercely.
He murmured words of love to her as she threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling him back to kiss her again. As she explored his mouth, Marcus let his weight settle on her a little more, and she felt the evidence of his arousal. Caught up in the moment, she gasped and arched and pressed her body more firmly against him. He groaned her name and kissed her again with harsh urgency.
Somehow the reality of the situation worked its way into her mind. She was lying on the floor of his bedchamber with him on top of her and she wanted desperately to forget that this was wrong, but she could not. Kate began to push at his shoulders, gently at first but then more insistently, until he drew back. He looked down at her in confusion for a moment, and then he pushed himself away from her so quickly it was almost comical.
"I'm sorry," he said, scrubbing his hand over his face while she sat up and moved a few feet away. "I - I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "You stopped when I asked."
"Yes, but..." He trailed off for a moment, staring at the fire. "I gave your father my word, Kate."
"You have not broken it," she reminded him gently.
Silence stretched between them for a few moments, until Marcus asked, "Why did you come here, Kate? I don't believe it was to ask what your mother and I talked about."
She shook her head, taking a deep breath. She hoped he would concur with her decision but there was a chance he might not, fearing for her reputation. She did not want to have to argue with him about this. "No, I came to tell you that I think we should be married as soon as possible. Perhaps even before Elizabeth and John's wedding, if it can be managed."
"Oh, thank the ancestors," Marcus blurted out, and Kate couldn't help giggling at his obvious relief. He grabbed her and dragged her into his arms. "I would wait as long as you asked, Kate, but I feared you would ask me to wait for months and months."
Still smiling, she replied, "I believe we have made it quite evident that temptation will get the better of us if we wait much longer."
He met her gaze with a serious expression, one which sobered her. "As long as lust is not your only reason for this."
"No," she said, getting to her feet. Marcus quickly followed. "No, Marcus, it is not. I love you. I want to start our life together, and we have no reason to delay."
He moved as though he was going to kiss her but thought better of it. Instead, he lifted her hand and kissed it lingeringly. "Then we will speak to your parents in the morning, and write to mine," he said, clasping her hand in both of his. "And perhaps avoid being alone with each other in the near future."
Kate nodded, feeling slightly giddy. "I am sure Elizabeth and John would be happy to help us in that regard."
Marcus narrowed his eyes. "Should I be restricting Lord John's time with the queen?"
Kate laughed. "You called such action hypocritical six months ago. What would you call it now?"
He grumbled in reply.
*~*~*~*
In the morning, they called on Kate's parents to seek their consent to an early wedding. "Are you sure, Kate?" her mother asked, concerned. "Five weeks will not give us much time to plan the wedding."
Kate did not say aloud that thwarting her mother's plans for a grand spectacle was a happy coincidence of having the wedding this quickly. "Most of the people we would want to have at our wedding will be here already for the queen's," she said. "I know it seems as though I'm being impatient, and perhaps I am." She glanced at Marcus. "But we are ready."
Her father remained unconvinced. "Kate, I understand that this relationship goes back much longer than the captain's request for permission to court you," he said, and beside her Marcus shifted uneasily. "But I worry about what effect such a hasty marriage will have on both your reputations. This will spark rumors of a pregnancy, and I would rather spare you that."
"I know, Father. But those whose opinions matter know the truth."
Marcus took her hand silently at that. When Kate looked to her father again, she saw that his expression had softened. "Then I suppose it is time to give you something."
David walked to his desk and sorted through its contents, and a few moments later he placed two rings in Kate's hand. "These were my parents' wedding rings, and I have kept them for you, as you were named for my mother," he said gruffly. "If you wish, I can keep them until the wedding, but I thought you should see them."
Kate had precious few memories of her grandmother, and she found herself with tears in her eyes as she looked at the rings. "Father, they're beautiful," she breathed. Marcus peered down at them, but then he reached to wipe away her tears. She kissed his palm as thanks.
A moment later she remembered that her parents were watching. Kate was not accustomed to showing such tenderness in front of others, and she blushed.
David came up then and took her by the shoulders. "I must be honest with you, Kate. I had hoped to have more time to prepare myself to give you to your husband," he said. "But I will try to forego such selfishness. If you are ready, then I shall do my best to be ready too."
A little overcome, Kate embraced her father tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, just before releasing him and giving the rings back to his safekeeping.
He cleared his throat and looked back at Maria with a hint of a smile on his face. "I suppose you have much to do now."
"A great deal," she replied, amused. Then she looked at Marcus. "If I may steal her away, Captain?"
"I would not stand in your way, madam," he said in kind, but before Maria could sweep her out of the room, Marcus kissed Kate chastely. It was no more than was proper for a couple betrothed, but it made Kate's heart race anyway.
That night, Kate sat on her bed with Elizabeth and Laura. Moira was with them, lying on her back and trying very hard to get her toes in her mouth. "Five weeks," Laura said, a kind of reverence in her voice. "Do you realize that's how old Moira is? And you want to plan a wedding in that amount of time."
"I think I would have liked to have had only five weeks to plan mine," Elizabeth said. "Less time for everyone to give an opinion."
"Well, if any of us were capable of such a scheme, Kate would be the one," Laura put in.
Kate smiled at her friends. "The one constant in all the advice I have had in the last year is to see to my own happiness," she told them. "This is what I want, more than anything."
Late into the night they talked of wedding plans for both Kate and Elizabeth, until Laura departed with her sleeping child. Kate and Elizabeth got ready for bed quietly, but when they turned back the covers, Kate looked to see her friend looking distinctly like she might cry at any moment. "What is wrong?" she asked worriedly.
Elizabeth shook her head, trying to smile. "It is nothing."
Kate was not accepting that. "Elizabeth."
They got into the bed together and Elizabeth sighed. "Eleven years. Almost twelve. In five weeks, we will no longer be constant companions. It is only strange to think of."
"I know," Kate replied. "It may not be an easy transition for us, but it will be a good one. And none of us will be far from each other."
Elizabeth agreed. Soon she was curled up on her side and fast asleep, leaving Kate awake for a long time. She had dreamt of this future and then lost all hope for it, only to come full circle and find it again. The world she now faced was new and unfamiliar, but she would not face it alone.
And with Marcus at her side, she would be ready.