“What do you think it means?” Edmund asked looking at Wilhelmina.
“I’m not sure…” said Wilhelmina, “But I think we should go.”
“At least you won’t be a bridesmaid this time,” Milly teased remembering the awful pink dress and Wilhelmina giggled.
“Oh!”
“What’s wrong?” Edmund asked nervously as he hurried over to his wife.
“It’s nothing,” Wilhelmina smiled. She hadn’t known Edmund to be such a worrier until the past few months, “The baby kicked.”
The next day
“Wilhelmina!” Queen Henrietta exclaimed as her daughter exited the white carriage that had brought her, Edmund and Milly to the church. Queen Henrietta hugged her daughter and it was then she realized Wilhelmina wasn’t as thin as she used to be. “My dear! You’re…”
“Yes, I know,” Wilhelmina laughed. She hadn’t been back to the castle since a few days after she became queen of Celewyn. She came back in hopes that Edmund would be allowed to enter as well so they could both properly announce their marriage, but her father had not allowed it. Since then Wilhelmina had been too busy to come home. Rebuilding a kingdom was a lot harder than taking over one.
“Have you decided on names?” Her mother asked excitedly.
“If it’s a boy, Endymion Henrik and if it’s a girl, Freya Minette,” Wilhelmina smiled as she looked down at her belly, “Edmund’s pretty sure it’s a girl though.”
“Well then it probably is,” Yolande said as she joined the party, “In fact, I can assure you it’s a girl. She’ll be quite beautiful.”
Wilhelmina smiled, “Thank you.”
“Well we better head inside,” said Queen Henrietta.
“Before we go in, I wanted to ask you a question mother,” Wilhelmina began.
“It’s about the invitation isn’t it?”
“Yes, well…”
“It’s just for today, though your sister and I have been trying hard to convince your father to change his mind…”
“King Wilhelm can be stubborn,” Yolande said, “But he does have good reasons.”
“Yes, but one should be able to find forgiveness, especially since Edmund is part of the council now,” spoke Queen Henrietta.
“But even the council hasn’t been very friendly…” Wilhelmina said solemnly.
“Its fine,” Edmund said resting a hand on his wife’s shoulder, “I told you not to worry about it. It’ll take time for everyone to adjust. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself.”
“This is supposed to be a joyous occasion, not a pity party,” Milly complained and the others laughed.
“You know she’s right,” Queen Henrietta smiled, “Let’s go inside and take our seats.” Wilhelmina nodded and she, along with her mother, her husband, her best friend, and Yolande headed inside the church to await the bride who would one day rule the kingdom of Aridale.
5
Diana Sweeney, The Black Rose
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