goldcnaura:
𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐌 absolutely pure in every sense of the word. she had never taken a lover nor had she ever been in love. no lips had known hers and nobody had ever gotten the privilege to explore her body. that is, until him. her mother had always warned her never to expect to marry a man who hadn’t known a woman in such ways but beatrice had found someone so very different from the rest. richard had fallen in love once and that alone led him to a woman not the interest of whatever adventure she could offer. her heart hadn’t wept when she learned he had been married before her. it wept when she saw how he was grieving her loss. beatrice wasn’t jealous of her nor was she permanently wishing she had met richard first. in truth, she never even wanted to replace rose and that had been something she repeatedly told him even after their wedding made their unity official. the lady had been tender with him from the start, making it a point to never put him through such suffering again. when she prays, it isn’t for her sake… she prays that her love never has to know that pain again.
her breath hitches as he pulls her closer, light gaze locked on his as her smile widens. ❝ i hope he comes home soon. ❞ sure, technically he would be visiting and not coming home but to beatrice - her children’s first home would always remain as such. they would always be welcomed as if they never left. she’s grinning by the time he presses a kiss to her cheek, tender hues settling on his lips before flickering back to his own eyes. ❝ my love, we make us stronger. ❞ beatrice hums, allowing herself to be led into their home. the path to their quarters is instinctive at this point, second nature. ❝ have you eaten ?? ❞
the majority of his peers kept mistresses and some had fathered illegitimate children and while he never took it upon himself to judge it was simply not the life he had nor wanted. the only two women he’d known and loved were angels and despite some hardships, he had become well adjusted and fulfilled. the cumberlands were favored at english court and amongst the nobles and it was beatrice who had played an integral part in that, representing the family while he was away or abroad. they were viewed as a virtuous example and it was something richard was frankly proud of.
“we shared some ale and a crust of bread at a pub sometime this morning.” as they reached the entrance to their chambers, the prince felt the tension melting from his shoulders. here, in the safety of his family home he could be whomever he pleased without care for diplomacy or politics. “but i knew my beautiful wife would have something more suitable being prepared since you run our kitchen like a ship. there is no roasted quail or herb quiche to speak of on the road.” he chuckled as the lingering servants scattered, leaving their master and mistress to themselves, the tub by the fire looking particularly inviting. “tell me, have i missed much concerning our children?” richard could ask a thousand questions about his children if there was enough time for when he was away he was constantly thinking of whatever he might be missing back home. calloused hands worked to strip away layers of clothes, all dusty from travel and it was as if freeing himself from restraints.
