I Left With The King’s Child

To keep me from becoming a spinster, my father spared no expense in finding me a husband. Seduced by a handsome face, I rushed into a whirlwind marriage with a charming young gentleman. Little did I imagine that this gentleman would prove more dissolute than I. Not only did he hold clandestine meetings with four different women, but he was also legally married. Upon finding that out, I fled with my baby without hesitation. But there was something I could not fathom. Why did the fugitive the new king was hunting bear my exact face? Chapter 1 I was the only daughter of a wealthy merchant in Fairford. Unable to abide by the custom that allowed a man to keep mistresses, I remained unmarried under my father’s roof until he could no longer sit still. Desperate to see me wed, my father spent a small fortune arranging a grand public ceremony at which I was to cast a bridal bouquet and marry whichever gentleman caught it. To my surprise, fortune delivered me a tall and remarkably handsome young man. He appeared inclined to decline, but when his eyes fell on me, he fell silent as though struck dumb. My temper might have left something to be desired, but no one had ever found fault with my face. So, after meeting only once, the gentleman and I exchanged our vows and became husband and wife. To our mutual surprise, married life suited us exceedingly well. It was not long before I found myself with child. I was returning home in high spirits, eager to share the happy news with my husband, when I saw him escorting several ladies in fine attire into an inn. My mind went completely blank. He clearly told me that he was meeting merchants from the capital. I handed the pastries to my maid, June Branson, and hurried inside, where I engaged the private room adjoining theirs. I had just taken my seat when the muffled voice of my husband, Edmund Montmirail, reached me through the wall. “Did she send you?” “Her Maj—I mean, the lady is waiting for you, sir. Please don’t be displeased with her. You know as well as we do that His Ma—His Lordship has not long to live. If you don’t return soon, it may be too late!” ‘Lady?’ I wondered. Edmund dared to marry me when he already had a wife! Just the night before, he had sworn that he would love me forever and that he would never deceive me. Yet here I was, discovering that he had a wife waiting for him elsewhere. I sneered. Just as I was about to storm into the next room and demand an explanation, the inn’s porter began shouting in terror that a fire had broken out below. I had no choice but to follow the crowd rushing downstairs. By the time I had gathered my senses, Edmund and the women had vanished. With no sign of them anywhere, I could do nothing but return home. Upon returning home, I seated myself in the drawing room to await Edmund, yet he did not come back until night had fully fallen. He looked thoroughly exhausted. “Matilda, there has been some trouble with my father’s affairs in the capital. We must gather our money and valuables at once. We leave tomorrow.” I had not expected that his first words to me would be a command to journey to the capital. What possible purpose could he have in taking me there? Did he mean to present me to his lawful wife? I had no intention of living beneath another woman’s authority. I touched the face I had just dusted with pale powder and let out two feeble coughs. “I visited the doctor only today. He told me my ailment isn’t yet fully mended. I’m in no fit state for the rigors of travel.” Edmund frowned and hurried over to rub my back. “Didn’t the doctor say that you were nearly well? How has it worsened? Perhaps the doctors here aren’t as capable as they ought to be. Once we reach the capital, I shall have the finest doctors brought to attend you.” I continued to shake my head and insisted that my monthly courses were nearly upon me and that I was in no condition to travel. Perhaps my pallor was convincing enough, for Edmund could find no way to persuade me and at last relented. “Very well. Once I have settled my father’s affairs in the capital, I shall return and take you there myself. Will that suit you?” I nodded in agreement, though in truth, I had resolved to flee. In the six months since my escape, the kingdom had undergone a great upheaval. The king had died. His little-known fifth son had ascended the throne. No sooner had the new king been crowned than he ordered a search throughout the kingdom for a woman. The king’s romantic entanglements were no concern of mine. What did concern me was that his search brought new inspections to every road and trading post, which made the transport of my goods far more troublesome than before. Still, he was the king. However much it vexed me, I could do nothing but wait my turn. As usual, I joined the line to pass through the checkpoint, only to be stopped at the final inspection by an officer in a slate-blue uniform. “Sir, take a look at this woman. Don’t you think she bears some resemblance?” What possible connection could I have to a woman sought by the king? I cast a glance at the portrait. Good heavens! How was it that this woman truly did look rather like me? Chapter 2 While the officers were distracted, I scooped up a handful of dust from the road and smeared it across my face. Seeing me thus begrimed and plainly with child, the superior officer gave me only a glance before roundly cursing the other for his poor eyesight. “The woman His Majesty seeks could hardly be pregnant! Have you taken leave of your senses?” Thoroughly rebuked, the younger officer released me at once and waved me away. “Go on, then. Move along!” Yet somehow, as I walked away, the portrait lingered in my mind and stirred an uneasy feeling. I quickly dismissed the absurd notion. Edmund could not possibly be the king! What king would consent to marry into an ordinary merchant’s family? The very notion was ridiculous. That thought restored my composure. Even so, I instructed my steward to handle my business dealings for the time being. I had thought the matter concluded. That night, however, I dreamed of Edmund. He stood before me in royal robes. His hand clamped firmly beneath my chin. There was a sinister smile on his face. “Did you truly believe you could disappear from me, Matilda? Now, why have you stopped? Go on, run again. The nerve of you to run with my child! You clearly have a death wish. Guards, take her to the block!” Terrified, I tried to flee, but Edmund’s men seized me in an instant. The next moment, I found myself being dragged to the executioner’s block. The very moment the blade descended, I startled awake. As I wiped the sweat from my brow, I became aware of a dull ache low in my belly. I looked down and saw fluid trickling between my thighs. I cried out. The maids and matrons waiting outside rushed into the room. One of the older women, who had attended many births, drew back the covers and exclaimed in alarm, “Good heavens! The lady is about to deliver early! Send for the midwife at once!” As it was my first child, I labored a full day and night before the child was finally born. She was a beautiful little girl, as delicate as a porcelain doll. I had longed to see her. Yet the moment I looked upon her face, my spirits fell. This child, whom I had brought forth with such suffering, bore not a single feature resembling my own. She was the very image of Edmund, that wretched man! Three years passed in the blink of an eye. My daughter, Lily Dauchy, had grown into an exceptionally bright little girl. At only three years old, she could recite verses by heart. My father doted on his granddaughter beyond measure. More often than not, he carried her upon his shoulders as he wandered through the house with her. I had no idea what charming little remark Lily had made that day, but it left her grandfather grinning from ear to ear as he handed her a sugar plum. “My precious girl, you are as clever as can be! Nothing like your mother. She was such a muddle-headed child. Heaven only knows whose wits she inherited.” The moment my father’s words brought Edmund to mind, I shot him a sharp look. He cleared his throat and wisely let the matter drop before trying another approach. “Still, Matilda, are you truly determined never to give me another son-in-law?” Another husband? I could not bring myself to trust one. I had lost all faith in men. The truth was, when the king’s search had first begun three years earlier, I had made inquiries about Edmund. After Lily was born, I discreetly returned to our former home to learn whether anyone had come looking for me. According to the neighbors, not so much as a stray cat had crossed the threshold. I felt like a fool. I had actually thought that Edmund might be searching the whole kingdom for me. Later, I made further inquiries and discovered the name of the reigning king. His name was Henry Neville. After that, I abandoned the notion entirely. All I wanted was to raise Lily well and care for my parents. Seeing that I had fallen silent, my father changed the subject and turned his attention back to entertaining Lily. The following day, I returned home from the shop as usual. No sooner had I stepped through the door than I found Ethel Talbot, Lily’s nursemaid, hurrying toward me as pale and distracted as though she had seen a ghost. “My Lady, something dreadful has happened! Miss Lily is gone! We’ve searched everywhere, but there’s no sign of her. It’s all my fault! I stopped to buy her a sugared apple, and when I turned around, she had vanished!” Chapter 3 When I heard that Lily was missing, my mind went utterly blank. Ethel was beside herself. She wrung her hands and blamed herself through her tears. I stopped her and ordered her to gather everyone in the household to begin searching for Lily at once. I went into the street to look for her myself. Most of the shopkeepers along that road knew me well. As soon as they heard that Lily was missing, they joined the search. We had gone some distance when, to my astonishment, Lily came running toward me and threw her arms around me. Tears welled up in my eyes. I held her close and looked her over again and again, unable to breathe easily until I was certain she was unharmed. “My darling, what happened? Where were you? You gave me such a fright!” Lily clung tightly to my neck. She was clearly shaken. After she had been soothed, she pointed a trembling little finger toward a distant spot. “Mama, that gentleman brought me back.” I followed Lily’s finger and froze. Was that not the coachman who had once served Edmund? He had been the very man holding the reins when I saw Edmund off in his carriage all those years ago. That only meant that the person inside that carriage was… I dared not think about it. I hastily adjusted my veil and, propriety forgotten, turned to make my escape with Lily in my arms. Before I could leave, however, a voice called after me. “Are you the child’s mother? Is this how you thank someone who has returned her safely to you?” I would have known that voice anywhere. It was Edmund Montmirail. Part of me longed to march straight up to the carriage and demand an explanation, but I could not risk him taking Lily away from me. I had no choice but to hold my tongue and murmur my thanks. Seeing my humble gratitude, the person in the carriage let the matter rest. I broke into a cold sweat as I carried Lily home. She sucked contentedly on her stick of honeyed apple and poked my cheek with a tiny finger. “Mama, you’re blushing!” As soon as we returned home, my parents took turns sweeping Lily into their arms. It was not until after supper that I managed to wrest my daughter from their grasp. “Darling, did the gentleman in the carriage ask you any questions? Do you remember?” Most three-year-olds did not remember such things, but Lily possessed a remarkable memory. This time, however, she disappointed me. “Hmm… I don’t remember. I only remember he was a very handsome gentleman!” Wonderful! She had inherited my weakness for a handsome face. That told me absolutely nothing. I decided at once that Lily would not be leaving the house for the next few days. I also set my contacts along the trade routes to inquire whether any wealthy merchant or official had lately arrived from the capital. After making inquiries, however, none of them could tell me anything. I had no option but to keep Lily and myself hidden at home. Two days later, the governor called at our house and asked to speak with me as the head of the merchants’ guild. Portshire was a coastal city. The king wished to expand the kingdom’s maritime trade. A distinguished gentleman had therefore been sent from the capital to oversee the undertaking. My nails nearly pierced my palms. “My Lord, may I ask who this gentleman from the capital is?” “A prince, perhaps, or an heir to some great noble house. I don’t recall his precise title, but he is certainly a member of the royal family.” The moment I heard that, my uneasiness subsided. I agreed to attend the banquet that very evening. After all, Edmund was a Montmirail, not a Neville. Yet the instant I entered the banquet hall, I stopped dead. The man seated in the place of honor was none other than Edmund. The very moment our eyes were about to meet, I withdrew my foot and turned swiftly towards the privy. Seated upon the commode, I still could not believe what I had seen. Did Edmund belong to the royal family? I needed to avoid him at all costs. If he learned of Lily’s existence, he would surely take her from me! No trading venture was worth that risk. I decided to remain in the privy until the banquet was over. Perhaps I had been there too long, for I somehow fell asleep. When I awoke, the noise outside had ceased. The banquet must have ended. I opened the door quietly and was just about to slip away when a drunken man seized me from behind. “Matilda, how much longer do you intend to hide from me?”