They sat in the sitting room by the fire. " Rosette, explain to me what has been happening around here." The King commanded. " Edmund, I am sorry you were not told sooner.
When I found her that night she was curled up on the floor in a dark corner of the nursemaid's chambers crying. It took me a bit to get her to tell me what happened. She told me what happened and when I told her that we had to inform you her eyes grew and she begged me not to say anything because she was worried it would start a fight, considering who was involved. She does not want us fighting. I told her that I would keep it a secret for the time being and protect her as best as I could without giving it away. But I made her promise if she was threatened or harmed again that I would give her no choice but to tell you. That was when I noticed that she had been cut on her neck. I wanted to send for the doctor but she insisted on her healers. She was so upset that I could not deny her desires. Then at the feast Owen Ivrea danced with her and told her that his family was coming for her. She told me just before you danced with her. We agreed that her and I would speak with you today. According to Lady Lucilla, Rosalina had been upset enough that she did not change for bed and cried herself to sleep. When I stepped out of my chambers she was not among my ladies. I went to the Nursemaid's chamber. There I found Lady Lucilla comforting Rosalina who was once again crying. I took her in my arms and consoled her. I calmed her down and got her out of bed. She had Lady Lucilla help her dress and said that she wanted to walk before we met with you after your Privy Council meeting. This is when she was taken." Rosette explained and started to cry again. " Sweetheart, it is ok, I understand. It is my fault she fears us fighting more. I am sorry. None of this is your fault. I promise you I will get justice.
I will not bear these actions against Rosalina, You, or our daughter." the King swore. " Edmund, what happened to us? There was a time when you and I could not keep our eyes from one another, a time when we would slip away in the middle of a feast." Rosette questioned. " A lot has changed, Rosette. I have been thinking about what is right and moral." Edmund responded. " What do you mean?" she asked. " I mean this marriage. You were married to my brother before God." he explained. " I was married to you in my heart before I even met your brother. I never knew any other man before you, nor do I ever want to. I have loved you since the moment I saw you and that will never change. I love you, Edmund." she said, looking at him with all the love in her heart. " Rosette, I know. I almost allowed those thoughts and the influences of others to make me believe that you lied to me. You have never been anything but true and loyal to me. You are a wonderful wife, mother and Queen. You are also the most beautiful woman I have ever had the privilege to have in my life. I love you with all my heart." The King admitted and kissed her hand. She smiled in response. They sat for a while in silence staring into the fire.
Finally the doctor emerged followed by two healers. " Well?" the King asked. " She will pull through. It seems that she was poisoned. Before she left the cupboard and lost consciousness she was able to vomit most of the poison up. That may have saved her life.
These healers have remarkable skill and understanding of herbs that Lady Rosalina will recover and be stronger than before." The doctor explained. Rosette practically lept from her chair and ran to her niece's side. The girl was awake but weak and drowsy. The healer was trying to get her to drink some tea. Rosalina pushed the tea away when she saw the Queen and had the healer leave. " I am glad that you are going to be fine. The doctor said you had been poisoned." Rosette through her tears. " I will not let them put me down yet." Rosalina responded with a weak smile. " I had to tell the King everything. He was upset that we did not tell him right away. However he will seek justice for you." Rosette announced. " Thank you, I am sorry that I put you in that position." Rosalina apologized. " I understand why you wanted to keep it. The same reason you hid in a dark corner instead of coming straight to me." The Queen said. " I started for your chamber but thought that..." Rosalina started but looked away. " You are afraid that seeing me like a mother would somehow take something from her memory." Rosette questioned. " Yes, and that it would be presumptuous of me to run to you like a scared child to her parents." Rosalina admitted. " Do not be afraid to love me like a mother. Though you were not born of me you are my daughter. Loving another mother will not detract from your mother's memory. She would be happy that you have someone to love and take care of you in her absence. You can always run to me, I will hold you close and chase away what is distressing you." Rosette said. " Thank you, I do love you. Not having a mother all of these years has been difficult. I have not had someone to confide in or a shoulder for my tears to fall upon.
I have had Lady Lucilla but I have not felt she was like a mother but a friend, maybe sister." Rosalina explained. " You have me now and as long as I live I will be the mother you need." Rosette kissed the young woman's forehead.
The King entered to see how Rosalina was doing. " How are you feeling?" he asked. " I feel a little tired, but I will live." she answered with a smile. " Would you care to explain why you made the Queen promise to not tell me about the threats on your life?" he questioned. Rosalina's smile faded, " I know I should not be worried about the two of you and your relationship, but I can not help but to. When I was seven my parents started fighting, I hated hearing the yelling, my father stormed out and my mother was crying for hours. I tried to comfort her but I wasn't the comfort she wanted or needed. She loved my father with every piece of her heart and all she wanted was for him to smile at her again. When she became pregnant again I thought everything was back to normal again. But my father spent more time away and it hurt my mother. He wasn't even there for my brother's birth. He returned just before she died. Her death made him close himself off from the world. That is why I had to try and raise my brother when I was only eight years old. Then when I was ten my brother died. He was sad but I guess that brought him back because he refused to leave me alone for long periods of time. This is the longest he has left me since the death of my brother. I do not want to watch the same pain in the two of you. I love you too much to ignore the problems.
You mean too much to me and if that means I have to put my life at risk to protect you from any harm then so be it." Rosalina explained.
Edmund just looked at her. Most people in his court manipulated and placated him to advance their own wealth and influence. He was sure that they had no real love for him, they only loved his crown and would take it if they could. There were three, maybe four people in his life that he knew loved Edmund, not the crown of the realm. He knew in his heart that Rosette never loved him for his crown, she loved him when he was a mere prince and was not supposed to ascend the throne. His daughter, Bethany loved him unconditionally. Rosalina, well no one would risk their lives to keep him happy with his wife. Rosalina did not want power, she wanted love and family. Edmund was pretty sure his best friend, Edric, would not want power but that could change at any moment. "Rosalina, you are an amazing young woman. You want the simple but most powerful things in life. You seek love and happiness for those around you no matter for your own well-being. Having you here has been the absolute best thing that could have happened to us. Do not worry about Rosette and myself. I fully intend on keeping our family together and happy." The King promised. Rosalina smiled and started to cry. " Do not cry, Jovia." the Queen said. " I can not help it." Rosalina exclaimed.
They sat and talked for a time until Rosalina fell asleep. The couple left and sat in the sitting room, again. "Edmund, are you telling the truth when you said you had every intention on keeping our family together?" Rosette asked. " Of course, I would not lie to her. I promise not to lie to you ever again, either." he responded. She smiled at him, hearing him promise not to cast her aside brought her heart happiness. " I am sorry for all of our fights. I promised you when we married that this was our country and I have kept you from being a true Queen. From now on you will be included in every council meeting and every decision made for the country. Your mother taught you much about politics as did your father and I wish for you to bring that knowledge to our government." He announced. "If that is the place you wish me to occupy." She answered. " I should never have said that to you. Your place will always be by my side. I want our daughter to learn more about ruling a country. She should know every aspect as my heir. Rosalina will always be a trusted adviser." he continued. " Edmund, together we will make a wonderful and prosperous kingdom to pass to our daughter." she said with a smile.