"Come join us." Alexander invited with an easy wave of his hand.
"To play chess?" Brand asked as he stepped fully into the room, bowing first to his brother. "Your Majesty," then to Lady Gwen, "Her Majesty."
Lady Gwen inclined her head, acknowledging him. "Good evening, Your Highness."
Alexander gave him a quick once-over. "You seem in fine health." Then, "Why are you late? Your ship came to harbour hours ago, did it not?" When Brand raised an eyebrow in question, Alexander replied. "I am king. I know all that happens in my country."
"Certainly." He was agreeable. How much he had missed the king's constant and infuriating reminder of his kingship.
"I refuse to believe that you are ever late for any other of your meetings." Alexander murmured and gestured for him to sit down.
Brand obeyed. "It is a rare indulgence I grant you only." He took a seat away from them, but close enough for the relaxing warmth of the fire to reach him, easing the tension in his shoulders, realising, only as he sat, how tired he was. He leaned back, relaxing into the chair, his single gaze falling on the board between them.
Alexander scoffed. "How pleased and honoured I am."
Lady Gwen snickered. "I trust your voyage was uneventful?"
"As much as any voyage can be." But the events were what made each voyage worthwhile, he thought.
"We are in the middle of a match," Alexander explained, gesturing at the board. "Guinevere has me at an impasse."
A faint smirk lifted at the corner of Brand's mouth. "Then I wish you luck," he paused, "though it seems Lady Gwen already rules the board." He glanced at his brother, baiting him, knowing his competitiveness all too well.
Alexander took a large bite without a second thought. "I am being distracted," he defended.
"I find no fault in that, if your claim is true."
"It is not," Lady Gwen cut in, amused. Then, "Be content, Alexander. You bested me in archery this afternoon; now I have bested you in chess." She patted her husband's hand. "Be content with what you have achieved."
Alexander took her hand gently. "I am, very much so."
Brand shook his head, assured his brother no longer spoke of the game.
"Good." Still smiling, Lady Gwen rose from her chair, and Alexander immediately followed suit. "I shall retire now. Your brother has arrived. And I must be well rested for my meeting with Lord Cossington tomorrow."
Brand rose as well. Had she been keeping Alexander company as the latter waited for him? Then he blinked purposefully. And on the morrow, she was meeting with Lord Cossington?
He straightened. "Forgive me for keeping you up so late, Lady Gwen."
"It was time well-spent. I needed to humble my husband." She stepped forward and took his right hand. Lightly patting it, she said. "Alexander will not say, so I will. It is wonderful to see you after your many days spent at sea."
He hadn't been in society in months, not even for Christmas, as he had decided, travelling from country to country, purchasing as he will, selling as was demanded, amassing his wealth while honouring his pledged duties to the crown.
"Likewise."
"Will you stay a long while?"
He shook his head. "I cannot, business, and duty, call for my constant travelling." And the seas afford a certain nuance of freedom I cannot seem to find elsewhere. He thoughtfully added.
"I see." She said. Then, "Alexander tells me your next business is in France."
Brand cast a short glance at his brother. "It is."
She nodded, her smile broadening. "I cannot imagine all the excitement you are exposed to on your many travels."
"If you wish to, you could travel with The Rescuer."
She shook her head, waving her hand. "It is too great an excitement for me. Beth is the one prone to these many absurd needs." Her head snapped up. "Oh," she turned to her husband. "Have the messenger sent to Carlisle Crest on the morrow. I need the building plans for the housing unit for working mothers."
Alexander nodded, stepping towards her.
"You are establishing one, Your Majesty?"
She turned to him. "Yes. In the name of the royal foundation. I ought to have resumed work but my sister and Lord Carlisle were away on yet another honeymoon," Behind them, Alexander chuckled, "They had only just arrived." Turning again to Alexander, she added. "I will have a letter sent along for her. I would love to hear of her welfare and that of her household."
"Of course."
"Thank you." She smiled at Alexander, who immediately leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. She responded with a soft kiss on his cheek. Then, "Good night, Your Highness." She wished over her shoulder.
"Good night, Your Majesty." Brand bowed as she walked out, graceful as always. Soon, the doors closed softly behind her.
He stayed for a moment, his smile faltering. The queen had always been a graceful lady even before she was married to his brother. She, then Lady Fitzgerald, had captured his brother's heart in a single day even without her knowing of it, and Alexander, who would never concede defeat, did, announcing that he would have no other save her much to the annoyance of Carlisle, his greatest friend, and the fear of Lord Denney, their uncle.
Brand had not cared. Lady Gwen had been neither a coquette, nor had she been after his brother for a selfish gain. In fact, she had not been after his brother at all, which made it all the greater, and even though he saw no use in it, he acknowledged his brother's need for her. Because she caused a wanting in Alexander he never thought could exist.
And he hoped she gloried in her accomplishment.
"Come, brother. Sit," Alexander invited, settling back into his chair.
Brand walked over, rounding the table to take up the seat that had been recently vacated. He glanced around the familiar room.
It was just as he remembered: quiet, perfectly upholstered, and set apart for moments of privacy for the king, now for the queen as well. He exhaled. Seven months had passed since his last visit, and he was somewhat surprised the room had remained unchanged. In the three years of his brother's marriage, he had come to the knowledge that the queen loved and revelled in decorations, and refurbishing, always eager to upturn a room or an area. How she found the time to indulge her aesthetic pursuits while managing her political and charitable responsibilities never ceased to astound him.
And neither did the way she brought out a deeper, more genuine happiness in his brother. Brand sighed and turned to his brother who was arraying the chess pieces.
Alexander had always been a cheerful fellow, even though most of his amusement, admittedly, came from playfully needling and causing discomfort to others, still, there had always been a smile on his face. But with Lady Gwen, his smiles were different—they were fuller and truer than Brand had ever seen in the years before their marriage.
When his brother had first declared his unrighteous intent to pursue Lady Gwen, he had thought it a jest, while Carlisle had found it bothersome. Yet Lady Gwen had proven to be the perfect match for him. He only prayed that they have a child of their own soon, so that their joy might be fully complete.
"You kept your king waiting until late," Alexander remarked, moving and then replacing a black bishop.
Brand offered a mild smile, studying the pieces on the chessboard. Lady Gwen had indeed been winning. "I apologise for the delay, and for inconveniencing Lady Gwen."
He had only always addressed the queen with formal respect, never calling her by her given name, as he did with his brother, even though she had requested him to do so. It was not out of indifference, no, it was not. There was indeed no particular reason, save for the fact that he simply could not bring himself to address her as anything less than 'Her Majesty' or, 'Lady Gwen.'
Alexander waved for his attention. "How is your business? What pleasures did you bring along this time?" he asked, commanding Edmund over with another wave. Edmund swiftly removed the chessboard, and in its place, set down a tray holding two glasses of brandy.
"Teas upon teas, expensive but delightful. It is all I purchased from the Chinese," and perfect for bumptious wives of rich households. He added to himself. "I was caught up in arrangement talks with Lawrence and Stephen, and a discuss with Ramsay, hence my late coming." Alexander chuckled, taking one of the glasses. Brand offered a small smile, taking the other glass in hand but not lifting it yet. "Your message reached me as soon as The Rescuer arrived at the harbour."
Alexander sipped lightly. "And yet you delayed." He tsked. Then, "My prudence arrested you here, lest you choose to go to Mainecroft Hall, and perhaps on the morrow, set sail for parts unknown."
"Your prudence, certainly." He chuckled, taking an easy sip of his brandy, feeling the warm liquid settle in his stomach with a comfortable heat. "Her Majesty is about a business with Lord Cossington?"
"She is."
Brand blinked in confusion. How could his jealous brother allow Lady Gwen's working with Cossington? It had meant nothing, but they had once been affianced, and Cossington was a titled pig who had not only insulted her but had propositioned her sister who was now married to Carlisle.
"And you allowed it'"
"I did." A muscle flexed in his chin.