I stand with the priest awaiting my future wife to come down the aisle. The old man on the organ begins to play "here comes the bride" and everyone stands for my princess. She is walking down the aisle alone, I look at her stunning dress, perfectly fitted for her body. Her hair done up in a beautiful bun with a gorgeous pearly veil attached and flowing to the ground. The sleeves of the dress also stretch to the ground, beautiful and dainty. I can't move my eyes from her. She joins me at the stand with the priest and everyone sits. He talks for a while about the bond and love between us and how it shall grow with time, love, and children. I can feel her hand stiffen in mine. She must be terrified of tonight, being forced to consummate the wedding. I look her in the eyes and smile, she returns it but it doesn't reach her scared, tired eyes. Soon we are slipping the rings onto each other's fingers, and then the priest smiles and says
"By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride"
I gently pull her in, dip her and press my lips to hers. I feel no contact on her end, she is simply waiting for it to be over, to pull her hands from my neck. Everyone claps as we walk down the aisle, and later we eat in the banquet hall as my father and mother congratulates us.
"We were so happy when we were told that your father gave our Arthur a wife. Are you excited for tonight my dear?" I choke on my drink quickly putting my hand in front of my lips so I don't spray it across the room. She is frozen in her seat.
"Mother who made this lovely food?" I ask trying to get her away from any topic including sex or children or tonight, when she will be expected to please me for our first night together.
"Oh I believe it was those two maids of yours that you brought for princess Constance. Lilian and Danielle, or Delilah, oh! Diane that's who it was. It was Lilian and Diane. Those two you brought from your castle." I nod. Of course.
My father stands and pats Constance on the shoulder, he raises a glass and proposes a toast to our marriage.
"Now Arthur run along to your chamber now. We can't keep you waiting." He says with a laugh.
"Yes of course father, sleep well." I wrap my arm tightly around Constance's waist and pull her toward our chamber. When we get their I show her to her own private room with a bed, bathroom and dressing room.
"We sleep together but this is your room, you may do as you please. Lilian and Diane are waiting to help you get undressed." I say with a gentle smile releasing her from my hold. I go into my own dressing room where I undress and get into my night clothes and a robe. I sit in our room on my bed and wait for her. She comes out in a silk dress and robe, I can smell her perfume. She stands their for a minute just frozen.
"Well come lay down love, you must be exhausted." She gingerly walks over and lays on the bed not facing me.
"Please look at me my lady." I mutter. I feel an urge to kiss her neck but refrain from it, since she is already scared of me enough. She rolls around and faces me, terrified.
"You are not ready." I say.
She shakes her head. "Ok" I say and lay back blowing out the candle.
"Wait" comes her meek voice. "Your not going to force me?" She whispers. I laugh
"Of course not. Do you really think that low of me?" I say.
"It's just most princes have several wives and mistresses."
I smile "who's to say I don't have mistresses?" I ask her seeing what she'll do. To my surprise she looks jealous. She turns away from me and stays quiet for a while.
"Goodnight love. I whisper."
I am beginning to like this wife of mine. But does she like me?