The Sisters Of The Court

Chapter 37: Scarlett

I slip on my favorite dress, And admire myself in the mirror. I look exquisite, Any man would be stupid not to love me. So why can't he? She is nothing compared to me. She is plain simple Alice, While I look like a fiery goddess in my red dress that reveals my shoulders. I pin up my long dark hair into an intricate bun and put a ruby necklace on. He has to notice me, I will be the most beautiful woman in the room. He won't be able to take his eyes off me. I turn around and smile at little George who is playing with his blocks as the nursemaid watches in the corner of the room. I squat down to his level and kiss his blonde peach fuzz. "I will be back soon my love." I smile at him. He is my pride and joy, Only him and George matter to me. They are the only ones I love. "Mama!" He shrieks And reaches his chubby hands out for me. "Be good my love." I kiss his forehead and stand up as Boris walks in. "I see your going to be out whoring yourself again." He says spreading himself out on a chair and I immediately see he's not dressed. "Your not going?" I say surprised and he laughs cruelly. "No. I'm going to be visiting some of my friends tonight." He grabs my hips and pulls me towards him as I struggle. "Don't worry. I'll be waiting for you to whore yourself to me when you get back." I pull myself out of his grip leaving a red mark on my arms. A quick knock comes at the door. "Take George to the nursery." I say to the nursemaid, My voice lowered before opening the door. I smile flirtily as I open the door to reveal the young grand duke and his face flushes with desire. And another emotion I cannot read, But it doesn't matter to me what he thinks. I smile at him and take his arm and we walk into the dining room. "Your majesty." I bow to my aunt and she looks down at me with disapproval as we take our seats. I can sense the eyes that are watching me. The jealous women, The lustful men. All looking at me. Except one. The one who really matters. Isn't looking at me, He's looking at her. I feel my fists ball at my side with jealousy and anger. She is nothing! "I will have him." I swear under my breath and stab a piece of fish on my plate before eating it. Fueled by my anger I turn to the young grand duke next to me and lean in close to him. "Tell me, Do you like my dress?" I look up under my eyelashes at him brushing my hand against his arm. "Miss Natasha I don't think this is proper-" He says nervously, But I don't care. I don't give a damn what he thinks. "Don't you think I'm gorgeous?" I whisper right next into his ear and my eyes dart over to George. And he's smiling! Smiling at us! I feel my anger boil up inside of me again and I pull away. His face is flushed and the other men at the table are all jealous. I finish dinner in an icy silence, Speaking to no one. We all rise to our feet and bow as the queen exits the room briskly. I take the grand dukes arm and we walk out off the room. I can tell that their are eyes on me. Greedy, Lustful, Desirous eyes. As we walk out into the corridor i am lost in my own thoughts as the grand duke talks relentlessly in my ear. He does love me. I know he does, She is nothing compared to myself. I think to myself as he asks me a question. I am not listening to whatever he's saying. "Yes, Yes." I say dismissively with a wave of my hand. And we stop walking bringing me out of my thoughts as he stands in front of me. "What are you doing?" I snap as he leans towards me. "You said I could kiss you." He says softly. I bring my hand up to his cheek and smack it. Hard. "I said no such thing and you know it!" I snap. I pick up my skirts seeing only a shadow of someone standing behind one of the columns. My heart is racing as I slam the door behind me and sitting in the chair is Boris. I am exhausted and hurt by what has happened tonight. He pushes me up against the wall and forces himself on me. Leaving more bruises. As he lay next to me in the bed. I sob, And I cry. And I realize that it's going to be like this everyday for the rest of my life. Pain and suffering and I drift off to sleep. Ignoring the sleeping man next to me.

The next day I spend all morning in the nursery with my son. Knowing that I can always find comfort in him, In his little blonde fuzz and his chubby little body. That I love to hold against me, Watching him sleep soundly as he snores softly. When it is noon I take a checkered picnic blanket and my son and head out to the gardens. "We are going to have a lovely day today my love!" I boop him on the nose and he giggles as I spread out the blanket on the ground. I put him down on the blanket taking out his favorite rattle out of my pocket. "Look what it is my darling!" I coo at him as he crawls towards me smiling his gummy little smile. I put him on my lap as he shakes his rattle. I draw him close to me and put my chin on the top of his head. "You are my light." I whisper kissing the top of his head. I see George walking up to us as I play with my son and my heart flutters. "Hello my Lily, How did your meeting with the queen go?" He asks as he walks up to us. Lily. That is his new nickname for me. And my heart flutters and warmth goes up from my belly when he calls me that. I love it when he calls me that. His Lily. Like a delicate lily of the valley that he will protect. I smile as he walks up, The world instantly seeming better. "Not well. She hates me for my darling son now." I say, Playing with the little bit of my son's hair. "How could anyone hate such a lad like him?" He says looking down at my giggling son. "Because of his father." I sigh as he wriggles out of my arms crawling over to George and leaning against his leg standing up. "Well I think your son is a bright young fellow." He says smiling down at the beautiful baby at his feet. How I wish he could be his father. I feel my face go pink at his compliment towards my son. "Thank you George. He has missed you." I laugh trying to hide my blush. "Well I have missed him as well! Has he learned any other words recently?" He asks looking right at me. And I can't look away from his gaze. "Just mama and papa." I tear my eyes away from him and look at my son adoringly. "Papa!" My son shrieks, Giggling and bouncing on his chubby legs. George laughs as he looks down at him "This will be such a funny memory for when he is older, Mistakenly calling me papa! Can you say Uncle or George." He says smiling down at my son. He smiles up gummily at George "Papa!" He says reaching his chubby hands up for him. "Another time then?" George asks as he picks him up sitting down on a bench with my son on his lap. It is like we are a family. Our own beautiful family, Full of love and happiness. "I don't understand how she could dislike me now, She was fond of me as a child." I sigh saddened at the fact that my aunt no longer likes me. "The older we get the more stubborn we are. It's hard to tell a queen that her opinion is wrong since everyone kisses her feet all the time!" He laughs. Picking up my son and blowing raspberries on his stomach and my son laughs hysterically. "You think she is wrong?" I say hopefully, Hopeful that he thinks that I'm nothing like she says. "She says I'm a whore." I look down and pick at the grass. "I think you are a good person Lily, You just fell into the wrong hands at the wrong time but a miracle came out of it." He bounces my son on his leg playing horsie as butterflies rise up in my stomach. I let out a sigh trying to ignore the butterflies. "I didn't love him. Maybe I am a whore." I say. I know I am a whore, I already hate myself for it. But I want to see what he says. My son giggles and grasps his tiny fingers on George's big ones. Like a son would to his father. "You were just vulnerable, And he took advantage. I am sure if you met someone else that time, They would see how amazing you are!" Still playing with my giggling son. I immediately look up at him. "You think i Am amazing?" I ask hopefully. "Mama!" My son yells and reaches his chubby little hands out for me. And I want to tell him yes. That I am his mama and yes that this man is his papa. And we love one another very much. George hands my son to me. "You are an amazing friend and person." He smiles at me as I take my son into my lap. "At least I got my son out of it. He was the only good thing in that whole situation. You are very kind George." I smile at him. "How are you feeling?" I ask worriedly. "Well I can't say that it's not worsening." He takes out his handkerchief and coughs into it. My heart breaks that he has to suffer through this. But God will spare him. I know it. And then we can be together. I set my son down on the blanket next to me and sit next to him on the bench putting my arm around his shoulder and my other hand on his bicep. "Are you comfortable? Can I do anything?" I ask concerned. "I'm fine, I think I need Alice now." He coughs again and I take my arms off of him. That woman is the only thing standing in my way. He should choose me. "Oh. Well I should be putting George down for a nap anyways." I say hiding my hurt. "See you later Lily." He waves to me before walking away. "Goodbye my love." I whisper as he walks away. I pick up our things and take my son to the nursery. Placing him down In his small bed. I kiss in between his eyes, Knowing we have to leave this blissful world soon. "I promise you my love." I whisper as my son shuts his eyes. "That we will be a family."