To Finish What She Starts

Louise-Maries eyes grew large and her face peeled in a wide smile at her reaction. “You are besotted, aren't you? I knew it!” she said a little too loudly and the entire table quieted. The King, was well as everyone else now looked at her and Angelique.

“You...knew what, my dearest?” The king asked. He didn’t seemed annoyed really but he did raise an eyebrow. Angelique could feel several pairs of eyes scan to her, the King’s included. “Ah...is this Angelique!?” he said loudly. “I believe I owe you a debt, I have not had a chance to thank you personally for saving my daughter. Thank you,” he said and everyone else in the room murmured. However the King’s eyes scanned over her and he appeared to like what he saw. “Tomorrow I will make time to thank you properly,” he said as he snapped a finger toward his attendant. The man who wore a white wig jotted something down in a small book he pulled from his breast pocket. And the conversation moved away from them.

“I knew there was more to it!” The princess whispered this time. “No worries Angelique, he will remain untouched until you say otherwise,” she said and clinked her glass up to Angelique’s. “I am happy for you, truly I am,” she said and she kissed her cheek warmly as if they were sisters.

The next day she was summoned to attend the King in his study. There was tea, finger cakes but he had sent the servants out when she entered. He was in a blue, dress uniform and his dark brown hair was slicked back into a bun that rested on the back of his neck. His coat was long and he wore white, silk knickers and polished black shoes.

“Ah, Angelique,” he said as he greeted her, a kiss on each cheek. “Tea? Sweet cakes?” he offered then gestured for her to sit. “I really am grateful to you for saving my daughter,” he said as he sat next to her. “And Louise-Marie seems to really like you, I am happy she has brought you into the house, is everything going well? Are you happy here?” He asked.

Angelique blushed at the princess's outburst, especially when everyone turned to look over at him. However, she did manage to capture the attention of the king, which was something she had been hoping for. She saw him look her over and knew then what he meant when he said he wanted to 'thank her personally' for saving his daughter. She simply smiled a little and nodded.

"Of course Your Majesty."

The following afternoon she was invited to come visit with the king. She wore one of her nicest gowns and of course her signature perfume. She had spent most of the evening awake thinking about Trevare and Armand, but had put them both out of her mind. She had a job to do and she knew that if she was thinking about either of them, or both of them, that she wouldn't achieve her ultimate goal. She was shown in by a servant and she immediately curtsied before the king.

"I am truly honored by your invitation Your Majesty."

She then took a seat and accepted a cup of tea. "Thank you." She took a sip and nodded at his question. "I am truly enjoying my stay here and the princess has taken me in like her own sister which has been wonderful. I greatly enjoy spending time with her."

“I’ve heard that your husband died a couple years ago, Southern France is filled with traitors and trouble-makers, I wish to give you my sincere condolences Angelique, a woman such as you,” he leaned forward,” Should have a good man to be there for you when you need him,” he said as he patted her hand warmly. When I lost my Marie (I’m playing that she died younger than she had) It was all i could do to continue on and try to be the King France has always needed. Raising Louisa (his nickname for his daughter) was difficult and still she vexxes me at times. She needed a sister, someone she could look up to. I am happy that she enjoys your company and your advice,” he said as he looked deeply into her eyes. What she saw in them was difficult for her to see. There was pain, but also more, confidence and other things she could not make out. He smiled and stood.

“We are going back to the palace soon (The one in Versailles) and I wanted to speak to you about…” he paused as if what he was asking was difficult and he tapped the back of his chair as he returned back toward her.

“I can see that you are you own woman Angelique so I will be frank with you. I find you very, very lovely. Not just in how you look but your manner on how much everyone seems to get on with you,” he said as he moved back to sit beside her. He leaned forward and took up her hands. He paused to look at her, not so confident now as before now and he leaned forward kissed her knuckles softly. “I wish you to come with us and be my...consort,” He said finally.

Angelique sipped her tea and listened to the king as he spoke. It was quite difficult for her to tell if he was the real king or his twin brother. He seemed to be well informed about the king's life, but he could have received that information as well. He carried himself like a king and behaved as one. She knew that the only way she was going to be able to tell was by the scar on his thigh.

As she listened to him it started to become clear that he was not interested in just bedding her and she was clearly surprised by his proposal. She knew immediately that Armand would not be happy, but she was in too deep now and this was the only way she was going to get close enough to him to find out the truth. She then thought about Trevare and a pain went through her heart. However, she could only hope that the king would eventually tire of her and meet someone else.

"Your Majesty is far too kind. I do not think I am deserving of such high compliments. I am a widow, with little to offer you apart from my company. However, I can truly understand how difficult it is to lose someone you love and even though you are king and surrounded at all times by people I can see that you must be extremely lonely...as I have been."

He smiled and slipped onto his knees before her. The King, knelt before her? He smiled and he seemed so very happy at her consent. He kissed her hands over and over and then he stood and took up her hands and brought her up to him. Slowly he leaned forward, his eyes fluttering to her eyes, then her lips then her eyes again then kissed her.

His lips were very soft and warm and inviting. He kissed well, not soft, not hard but he kneaded her lips, found each place that he not yet been touched and put pressure upon them. He did not use his tongue yet he didn’t need to. She was kissing the King of France and it wasn’t a dry, terrible kiss. It was a warm, passionate kiss.

“Oh...is that Gardenia?” He said as she grazed her neck with his lips and face. Such a light graze , almost a tickle. He was gentle with her not interested in rushing things it seemed or wanted her to believe he didn’t. Everything he did to her right then, and more was happening as her mind thought this, was deliberate yet it felt spontaneous to. Like he was trying to get to know her body, like it mattered if he knew her and what she liked. When he leaned back she found his face was flush and his heartbeat was quickened. “Oh, Angelique, you are such a good...kisser,” he said breathlessly. If he was a cruel, evil man he certainly wasn’t now. He could have bent her over the table and took her if he wanted to. Was it she seducing him or he seducing her? The dresses, the finery, the money, she would have access to it all, even likely the ability to command servants. He would be away and come home to her and make love to her. And she’d have freedom to do what she wanted when he was away. His hands were everywhere as he kissed her lips and her neck and he allowed her to touch him. She quickly discovered he was neither large nor small and if how he was with her now was any indication of what he’d be like in bed, this might not be the worst way to do her duty she might think. He finished by kissing her hand again. The image of THE KING, closing his eyes as he lovingly kissed her palm would be something she would not forget for some time.

“I’m very pleased you want to be with me Angelique,” he said affectionately. “For now though he said as he lifted up her tea cup for her, “Discretion will be important. I do not wish to upset Louisa and I do not know how she might react to this. Can we keep this between us, for now?” He asked.

Lorelei couldn't believe what was happening as the king knelt before her and began to kiss her hands over and over. Surely this was a dream? As he stood back up and invited her to stand with him she was surprised to find her heart was beating harder in her chest. He took her face gently into his hands and kissed her and she knew then that she wasn't dreaming. She was kissing the king of France (or his twin brother)! She hadn't known what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by how well he kissed. It was neither dry and chaste, nor extremely passionate, but somewhere in the middle. As he pulled back she felt his hands gently on her body. Everything about the moment was quite...romantic. She gently began to run her hands down his body, exploring him as he did her. She was surprised by the king's self control. Usually men would be tearing at her clothes by now...but he was gentle and almost loving. It was not at all what she had expected. She opened her eyes and watched him as he closed his eyes and kissed her palm...in almost an affectionate way. It was something she would not easily forget.

As the moment ended she was left rather breathless. She accepted her tea cup and looked at him. She nodded when he asked her to keep their relationship a secret between only them.

"Of course Your Majesty....or would you rather me call you Louis?...in private of course."

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