"Hide and seek fun!"<br/><br/>David said in excitement. He liked playing hide and seek with Rebecca. She and Nicholas played with him the most, they were closer in age to him the his other three siblings. He was only six months older then Carrick and the idea of playing hide and seek right now sounded very exciting. More exciting then just watching people talk and dance. He looked up at Rebecca with hopeful eyes.<br/><br/>"Please, Becca? We play too?"<br/><br/>"I..."<br/><br/>Mother would be mad. She told them to behave, but playing hide and seek did sound fun to the seven year old girl. She looked around and saw that their mother was focused on the guests. Maybe if they weren't too loud, it would be okay. Rebecca nodded her head.<br/><br/>"Okay, we can play but we have to be quiet. Mother will be really mad if we are loud."<br/><br/>Rebecca warned David, who nodded his head and told his new friend.<br/><br/>"You no want make me Mama mad. She scary."<br/><br/>He did think Victoria was scary. She rarely interacted with him unless it was to yell at him. He liked Henry, though. He thought his father was funny.<br/><br/>------------------------<br/><br/>Victoria had been coaching Ewan since the death of his young wife on the correct responses to give people in public. To the world he was a grieving widower. So heartbroken at the loss of dear Aeronwen, he had not remarried. Even almost three years later, he couldn't even imagine marrying another woman. A man who was trying his best to be both parents to his little boy. She knew none of that was true. She was sure his feelings for Carrick were similar to her own feelings for her six children. While she certainly preferred their company over that of other children, she had no deep maternal love for any of them either.<br/><br/>"You are very welcome, my prince."<br/><br/>Victoria replied with a smile and nodded his head that there were other guests to greet. Henry told Ewan.<br/><br/>"You are welcome and please, enjoy yourself."<br/><br/>While Victoria's goal was to impress the nobles, Henry's goal was truly for people to have fun at the reception. He certainly hoped his son and his new wife would.<br/><br/>------------------------<br/><br/>Katherine walked around her brother's wedding reception, mingling with the guests and dancing with others. Her mother had taught her well, she was a proper lady. She was at home in this world. Chatting up the people, remembering who was who, and why they were so important. She looked over at Alexander. She remembered well the night she had overheard her brother in the courtyard of Greenmor Palace with the maid. The night she discovered her mother had had an affair. Something she always kept a secret. It was also the last night her brother had ever really talked to her. She wondered how much he hated her. Gwendolyn seemed like a nice girl. She would be a good wife and mother, but she wasn't the woman Alexander had wanted to marry...<br/><br/>People were talking and some were dancing at the reception. Katherine was dancing with various male guests, wishing the man who held her heart was here. But, of course, Mother had not invited him. She would have never invited one of the gardeners of their manor to the reception. Katherine should have learned from her brother's mistake. Victoria's children were of noble blood and that woman would be damned if any of her offspring married beneath that. But the heart wanted what the heart wanted. Despite knowing how stupid it was, Katherine couldn't help who she loved. She just had to make sure that Mother never, ever found out. She had to be more careful then Alexander had been.<br/><br/>People were trading partners on the dance floor and Katherine ended up dancing with Alexander. It was awkward. Since the night of Aeronwen's funeral, it had always been awkward between them. They only spoke if they needed to and those were always very brief conversations.<br/><br/>"Congratulations, Alexander. I am sure you and Gwendolyn will be very happy."<br/><br/>Katherine said with a small smile, which Alexander returned with a small smile of his own. They had to be polite to each other, they couldn't embarrass their mother here, not today.<br/><br/>"Thank you."<br/><br/>He replied and got quiet. He knew, or at least thought he knew, what type of woman Allena truly was but it had been Katherine's fault that Victoria discovered them. Katherine bit her lip and thought the song was going to go on forever.<br/><br/>"Do you love her?"<br/><br/>Katherine quietly asked and Alexander glared at her.<br/><br/>"What kind of question is that? Especially on my wedding day."<br/><br/>"A simple one, really. Do you love her?"<br/><br/>Katherine replied with a glare of her own. Alexander looked down and replied.<br/><br/>"I am fond of her."<br/><br/>Alexander didn't know why but he couldn't lie to his sister about his feelings for Gwendolyn. Not that he'd ever tell his wife. She clearly loved him and he didn't want to hurt her feelings, even if he couldn't fully return them. Someday, he would....At least he hoped to.<br/><br/>"But you still love the maid?"<br/><br/>"She means nothing to me."<br/><br/>Katherine didn't fully believe him and said.<br/><br/>"I am sorry for that night. I was-"<br/><br/>"It does not matter, Katherine. You saved me from being trapped. I am with the woman I am supposed to be with."<br/><br/>Alexander knew why Katherine had gotten Victoria. If the situation had been reversed, he probably would have done the same. None of Victoria's children wanted to be on the receiving end of her wrath.<br/><br/>"I...Alexander, you courted her for two years. If love has not grown by now, do you truly think it ever will?"<br/><br/>Katherine asked as the song came to an end. Alexander was grateful the song had ended, he would no longer have to have this conversation with his sister.<br/><br/>"We will see."<br/><br/>He replied, he bowed to Katherine and took the hand of a noble lady who was his next dance partner. Grateful that the woman only wanted to congratulate him and wish him and Gwendolyn to be blessed with many children. He might not ever be ready to acknowledge the fact that while his life belonged to Gwendolyn, she may never hold his heart.