Epilogue

The wedding day had been something truly magnificent. Hundreds of guests, and more roses than could ever be counted. Amelie looked ravishing in a deep green bridesmaid dress, and I struggled to keep my eyes off her.

William and Arthur had cleverly incorporated a game that required people to dance with a member of the same gender. Most people considered it to be a hysterical jest, but it had allowed William and Arthur to dance together at what really should have been their wedding. If only times were more conscious of the fact that love is simply love and the irrelevance gender plays in it.

That dance and the way Amelie looked at me as she moved me gracefully around in her arms, will probably be the things I remember best from the day.

Arthur at every stage had been ever the gentleman, and I couldn"t have asked for a nicer, more understanding husband. Our arranged marriage, once something forced upon both of us out of necessity, had evolved into a convenient cover for all four of us and the budding of a deep friendship.

I"m extremely grateful for the circumstances that led us to the positions we currently have where both of us can be with the person we truly love, while keeping society"s unforgiving gaze away from us.

Amelie and William are to have a long engagement at the behest of her father who seems convinced she is pregnant and is determined to wait and see if she will show signs. So, he is forcing the wedding to wait a full seven months. William was quick to agree to the terms as long as Amelie stayed on the estate with him.

And possibly the most stress releasing development of all. No further attempts on my life have been had since the demise of Mary Rald. It would seem all the other threatening letters were only posturing and whinging, and not an actual indication of a willingness to go forward with the promised threatening actions.

As the ceremony and parties come to an end, we merrily sweep towards our combined marital chambers. Onlookers wave at us as they line the corridor to the place our consummation is meant to take place. I don't know why they are here, but it does seem they are awaiting an invite of sorts, and the idea makes me uncomfortable.

We are followed by William and Amelie, who walk arm in arm appearing to be completely wrapped up in one another. The minute the door closes William and Amelie separate as if burned, and try to give about an air of deep disapproval.

"Wife to be," William grunts with a mock bow and a barely contained smile.

Amelie crosses her arms. "Almost husband," she snaps back with a twinkle in her eyes.

I smile at the pair, this parade has turned into a game for them and it generates intense levels of amusement for the four of us. I smile at them warmly before I work up the courage to investigate the marital room.

Arthur looks around uncomfortably at the small space and says, "This only need be a room we share by arrangement for the purposes of placating any overly curious observers as to our marital cohesion."

I nod and stare at the ornate and elaborate bed that dominates almost the entirety of the room. A small fireplace is off to the side, and it already crackles merrily, having obviously been stocked and fed before we arrived. And off to the side of the bed is a small table with a pitcher of mead, two silver cups, and an assortment of fruits.

"It would seem," I say slowly. "That everything has been thought of when it came to preparing this room."

William nods beside me. "It is a rather sterile area," he says, nodding in agreement. "And it is more a place of duty than of passion."

Amelie, beside me, slips her hand reassuringly into mine and says, "Well, at least it doesn"t need to be used."

Arthur turns and looks at us astounded. "What?" he says aghast. "No bride of mine will spend her wedding night outside of the throes of pleasure," he says, with his hands on his hips.

Startled, I look at him, thinking perhaps he had changed his mind on whether I was obligated to go ahead with the consummation.

He turns, looking seriously at Amelie and says, "Amelie, I bestow upon you the essential task of satisfying my wife in our marital bed."

Amelie looks at him, her mouth hanging open, and asks, "You want us," she gestures between me and her. "To," and then points over at the bed.

William laughs heartily and says, "I think that happens to be the very first time I"ve seen you lost for words, Amelie."

She shoots him an annoyed glance, but which only seems to broaden his grin further.

Arthur says, "Yes. William and I shall leave you to it."

I turn to him with a raised eyebrow and ask, "And how do you intend to leave the room without anyone observing you?" I gesture around the room, bare of anything except the bed and table. "And there"s not a place for you and William to sit in here without being privy to the proposed actions going on inside the bed."

Arthur smiles. "I had secret doors made on either side of the room." He says, gesturing to two mirrors on each end. "One leads to my new chambers and the other leads to yours. I had it installed under the guise of not wanting everybody to be aware of our marital activities."

I nod and say slowly, "Wise thinking."

He nods and says, "I have taken the liberty of having all of your belongings moved to the rooms adjacent. These rooms are much more comfortable and better suited for long term dwelling. In addition, there are a few rooms beside it that you can have modified into anything you please," he says waving his hands about in attempt to be casual, but the act is so unlike him that all it does is point out how nervous he is. "Now," he says with a bow, and takes my hand, leaving a kiss on the back of it. "I leave you ladies to consummate my marriage."

"We shall return in thirty minutes?" William asks unsure.

Amelie bursts into deep throated laughter. "Oh, goodness. You two have no idea what it is like between two women. Come back in at least two hours," she says waving her hands at them dismissively.

"Two hours?" Arthur says in amazement.

Amelie nods and raises a challenging eyebrow. "At least."

William looks bewildered and then impressed. "Perhaps we shall organize for refreshments and hydration to be brought up around that time?"

Amelie nods and I feel my cheeks heating at the suggestion of the events that are to follow and the fact that it is being discussed so brazenly in front of the two men beside me. I give Amelie's hand a warning squeeze as she looks ready to divulge her intentions with me to the two mortified men beside us.

I cut off any further conversation and say, "Thank you, gentlemen. We shall see you in a few hours."

They both bow and hurriedly exit through the mirrored door.

Amelie looks at me with a grin. "I would wager gold bars that they are about to have a consummation of their own."

"Amelie," I say, playfully swatting her arm. "We should not talk about their personal relations so brazenly."

She grins at me and asks, "But they are allowed to talk of ours?"

I roll my eyes. "That was business."

She takes my hand and leads me to the bed. "Was it?" She asks playfully. "Is that what this is?" She says, tugging layers from my body and working on the buttons located at the front of my dress.

I lean in, lips millimetres from hers, as I whisper back, "With you, Amelie, everything is always one hundred percent personal."

She smiles and closes the distance, wrapping me up in her arms and pulling me down to the bed.