“The king and queen have arranged it – you will be married to the child of the opposing nation so that peace may come to both our kingdoms.”-Jamilton?(I love your writing btw!!)
Thomas did his best to swallow down the lump in his throat. It was useless - nothing he did was going to help his nerves. The frantic energy flowing through him wasn’t something he could get rid of. He just had to make sure that no one else could see it. After all, it was far from befitting of a prince to be seen in such a state, especially over a matter so simple as meeting with his parents.
He smoothed his hands down the front of his shirt as he stepped forward to doors, taking one last deep, calming breath in as the guards opened the doors and announced him.
“Mother,” he said, nodding his head. “Father.”
“Thomas,” his father said, voice as deep and serious as ever. “Thank you for joining us.”
They were in one of the receiving parlors, likely due to an upcoming meeting they had planned, but Thomas couldn’t help but be aware of the extra distance that came with the formal environment. They had other rooms for talks between family and close friends, smaller rooms. Rooms where the cushions were just a little more worn in and Thomas could remember running around them as a child as his parents laughed with each other over tea in the corner.
The sofa he sat on was stiff. These rooms weren’t meant to be comfortable. Meeting with the King and Queen of the nation was not meant to be an experience treated with familiarity. Topics of importance were discussed in this room, not the concerns of loving parents.
His mother cleared her throat. “Thomas,” she started, taking a short moment to pause after his name. “You have recently turned 22. You are no longer a boy.”
Thomas nodded. He pressed his fingers into his thighs with just the slightest more pressure, just enough to keep him focused enough so he didn’t fidget.
“As you know,” his father said. “You have a duty to this kingdom. The plan was to wait until you were older and ideally, we would not have any more of a hand in this than any other parents do. However, current tensions being what they are, we believe it best for you to marry Washington’s son.”
Thomas inhaled a sharp breath through his nose. He had expected this, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear.
He breathed out.
“I see,” he said. He nodded. “So I am to be wed to Jacky Custis?”
Jacky was a simpering man who hid behind his mother’s skirts the same as he had as a young child. How a strong man like Washington could bear to claim relation was beyond Thomas’ understanding.
His mother snorted. “Absolutely not,” she said. “That boy would gamble and drink his way through the royal treasury within a year if he had his way. This marriage is a part of the treaty, yes, but it was Washington who approached us. He wouldn’t be so foolish as to offer Custis.”
“Then who?” Thomas asked, his curiosity making him sit up just a little straighter and lean forward. “Washington has no sons.”
“Not of his own blood, no,” his father confirmed. “But he has adopted a boy. There are rumors of the boy being a bastard, of course, but there is no evidence to back up such a claim.”
Thomas’ mouth dropped open. He was expected to marry Washington’s bastard? It didn’t matter if it wasn’t proven, if enough people believed it to be true it was as good as.
“Now don’t look like that Thomas,” his mother chided. “Hamilton is said to be positively brilliant, both in military and political matters. Washington wouldn’t have taken the risk he did with the adoption had he not had full faith in the boy. Besides,” his mother’s mouth tilted up into a smirk. “I’ve heard that he has just the most gorgeous eyes ever seen.”
“Mother!” Thomas couldn’t help his affronted tone.
She shrugged. “Your new husband will be arriving within three days’ time. I expect you treat him with the upmost respect. It will work in your favor to have him actually like you, as you will be spending the rest of your life with him. If your inability to be civil is the cause for an outright war with Washington’s kingdom, do not think for one second you will be safe from my ire, or that of anyone else for that matter.” His mother’s gaze bore into him. “You do not want that blood on your hands, my son.”
Before Thomas could think of anything to say, one of his father’s advisors was announced by the guard.
His father clapped his hands together. “Well then,” he said. “We both have our business to attend to. I wish to see you this evening in my study to further discuss this arrangement.”
// royalty au sentence starters // ko-fi
OHMYGOD
