gildedstewart:
When Arabella left her chambers that morning, she had done so with the intention of finding her brother and was pleased to discover that her efforts were not in vain - or particularly taxing. There he was offering up whisky freely, and she found herself almost amused by it. “ Thank you, James, ” she said replied, taking the cup from the servant with no intention of drinking the strong amber hued liquid. It was far too bitter a taste, but it had already been poured and it felt a little late to decline. “ Oh brother, you paint marriage so beautifully, ” Arabella remarked in amusement, a knowing smirk tucked in the corners of her mouth. Her own marriage was much the same, there was no affection, only duty.
“ Only if necessary, of course. Who shall know, I have’n met the Princess, our cousin may emerge triumphant in this marriage. ” The King of Scotland appeared in high spirits regardless of the protestant threat breathing down their necks, though that could largely be put down to the shallow liquid poured into his cup by a servant, which he was quick to take a sip of. It wasn’t often James and Arabella found themselves seeing eye to eye so he found cause to smile due to that fact alone, with or without the aid of whiskey. “ But I do not imagine their union is what ye sought me to speak of, hm? If ye came seeking advice on what dress ye might wear for the ceremony I fear ye have the wrong sibling, shall I send for Meg? Or Mother, perhaps? ”







