"Children are gifts. They are not ours for the breaking. They are ours for the making." Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing

---- 

Chapter Three

After leaving Kit and Olivia at Kit's home in Kensington, the carriage made the short journey over to Edward's palace.

Lucy's nose was practically against the glass of the carriage as she took in the sight of the royal residence. The gates were swiftly opened when the guards recognised the occupant and Lucy's awe only increased.

"Have you ever been to London, Miss Kensington?" Edward wondered aloud.

Lucy turned away from the window to face him. "I used to live here with my mother when I was very young," she replied. "But in a house much smaller than this one," she added jokingly.

Edward appreciated her humour as his anxiety only worsened. He did not share her astonishment at the sight of the palace. For Edward, this was only a place of sadness and contempt. Inside, his father was probably waiting to wish death upon him again.

"I will take you to Alice first, and then I will go to my father." Edward's heart thumped in his chest as the carriage brought them inside the walls of the palace.

"What will you say to him?"

Edward could not answer her. He honestly did not know what would come into his head when he faced his father. Words, Edward was certain, would be spoken that could not be unsaid.

Each of the royal carriages were stored in the large, stone room that was concealed from the prying eyes that waited at the gates for a glimpse of the royal family.

Servants attended them immediately. Edward noticed instantly that they all wore black arm bands as they bowed respectfully before they moved on to unloading the trunks.

Edward extended his hand to Lucy. She placed her gloved hand in his as she carefully descended the few little steps onto the ground. Lucy was dressed very appropriately for a house in mourning. Though, he had to admit to himself just quietly, that he would miss seeing her in colours.

Lucy took her hand back as she smoothed her skirt and made sure the ribbon of her bonnet was centred underneath her chin. She had gone from awe to all nerves. Her face was much too pretty for nerves, Edward thought.

Before he could offer her words of comfort, Edward and Lucy were met by a man that Edward wholly disliked.

Sir Percy Frost was his father's private secretary. Sir Percy had handled the king's affairs and his household for as long as Edward could remember. And that also meant his children. Sir Percy, like his own father, shared a mutual dislike for Edward ever since ... well, ever since Edward had emptied an inkwell into his coffee and had turned his tongue black.

Sir Percy was a tall, thin man, with ever an ability to look down upon someone with his small, blue eyes. He was always dressed immaculately, and today was no exception. He wore, perhaps, the finest, most expensive mourning coat available.

Sir Percy, in all his importance, was flipping through the documents he was carrying in his arms as though they were more important than attending to Edward. Ever putting him in his place.

"Oh, Your Royal Highness, you are returned," Sir Percy said, sounding shocked, as though he had not been informed five minutes ago that Edward had arrived so he ought to meet him at the door.

"Yes, forgive me, and you are?" Edward replied spitefully.

Sir Percy's eyes narrowed. "The king demands an audience just as soon as you arrive. You will find him in his private quarters."

Edward wondered if he had left his private rooms. "First I must attend to Miss Kensington," he insisted, beckoning Lucy forward. She was still standing by the carriage door, too nervous to approach the war of spite before her.

Lucy had fished a handkerchief from her sleeve and was twisting it tightly. How little she had to fear with Alice.

Sir Percy held up his hand, stopping Lucy in her tracks. Edward had the sudden urge to lop it off, it irritated him so. "The king demands your presence," he said again slowly. "I shall take care of Miss Kensington."

Edward knew that he had bigger battles to fight than this one. He turned around and placed his hand on hers, stopping her from fidgeting with the handkerchief. "I shall be right back," he promised.

Lucy nodded, her lips pursed.

"Take her to Alice," he instructed Sir Percy firmly. He would explain things to Alice later. At least he could count on her to be kind to Lucy.

Edward crossed the threshold into the palace and the familiar feeling of dread settled in his stomach. He walked quickly, his strides displaying confidence, but he felt anything but. He walked down the dark halls, lined with portraits of a dozen generations of his family. Each one of them seemed to look down at him.

At every corner a servant stood motionless, wearing a black arm band. The palace was eerily quiet. There was usually noise everywhere. Noise from courtiers and servants, but everything was still. Drapes remained drawn, offering no light from outside, and candles were lit during the day. Such a waste.

Edward saw no one as he moved through the public rooms used for court life and ascended the main staircase up towards the private family quarters. Like the lower floor, the drapes were closed and the hallways were illuminated by candlelight. He walked past his own bedroom, and Alice's, and Charles', before finally coming to the grand doors of his father's bedroom.

Two servants immediately opened the doors for me, but they did not announce him.

The king's bedroom was dark save for one lamp on the table beside the bed. From that light Edward could see that his father was sitting up in his bed, wearing his nightshirt.

There was a faint smell hanging in the air, and Edward wagered it was coming from his father. He could see that he had not shaved, and from that he deduced that he had not bathed either.

Edward stopped. He had not known what he was expecting, but it was a shock to see his father in such a state. William, like Sir Percy, was always immaculately presented. He looked anything but regal.

He looked like a grieving father.

Some of Edward's nerves faded and his anxiety lessened as he felt earnestly for his father. They shared the same grief, after all.

William looked up at Edward with sad, yet cold, blue eyes. His jaw tensed as he met the eye of his youngest son. "How dare you," growled William.

All thoughts of common ground evaporated and Edward felt like a naughty child.

"How dare you shame the memory of my beloved son by forgoing his funeral?" continued William darkly. "Why am I surprised at your utter selfishness?"

Each word spat was like a bullet. He winced as each hit him square in the chest.

"What man, what son, abandons his family at a time of mourning?" continued William in disbelief. "You never fail to disappoint me, boy. That I could always rely on." William's voice turned monotone. "Your unworthiness aside, the law states that you will be the next King of England. You need to earn it. You need to honour Charles' memory."

One would think Edward would have been used to such words from his father but he felt just as raw as always. How could he be expected to rule a country, an empire, when his own father thought him worthless?

Maybe he really was worthless. His father had clearly never seen any use for him. If he had, he would have arranged a marriage for him years ago, but William had never bothered to.

Edward was never meant to amount to anything. William had expected that, and Edward had lived up to it.

"You will never let me live up to Charles' memory," Edward murmured. "Alice would be a better sovereign."

"At last, we agree on something," replied William bluntly.

For a moment Edward wondered if William would ever consider petitioning parliament to change the laws of succession. Alice was older than him, and cleverer than him, and better than him in every which way.

But they both knew that would never happen. Rather an ignorant king than a brilliant queen.

"You are now the Prince of Wales," William said after a moment of silence. "Your carefree days are over. Dare not cross me, boy. I have no patience and even less sympathy. You have a responsibility to your brother's memory. Tarnish it and you had better wish you had never been born," William threatened darkly.

---

I feel like all I do is apologise for making you guys wait! I'm sorry for such a long time between chapters! I promise I have a good excuse. 

I was busy finishing off my MASTER'S DEGREE ... touch wood provided I pass my last assignment! Oh, you guys. I have put my heart and soul into this degree and to have submitted my final assignment two days ago was just indescribable. I have been studying since I left high school. When you think about it, seven years of primary school, six years of high school and six years of university. I need a break hahaha! 

I'm really hoping to interview and get my first big girl, grown up full time job soon and I'll be a proper adult ahhhh! I'm ready to get out there and spread my wisdom ;)

Omg ... I just realised I can sign my name with post nominals noww!!!!  

But I haven't forgotten about you guys! I appreciate your patience so much. I have a full on job and with my final assignment I had a lot on my plate. 

I will try and keep an upload schedule of once a week, or once a fortnight if I'm too exhausted from work. Keep in mind I can only write late at night (it's currently 1am) and sometimes I'm so tired I fall asleep straight away.  

Scary to think I found this site as a 17 year old Year 11 student and now I'm finishing up my Master's. Time flies. 

Anyhow, that's what's been happening in my neck of the woods these last few weeks. I hope you are all happy, healthy and safe where you are and you find some enjoyment in this story! 

Education is such a privilege. Take your knowledge and go out into the world and leave it in a better state than you found it.