colofdevonā:
Her gown was a confection of starlight swirling within vestments of brocade and cloth-of-gold, till she seemed to gleam by her own power moreso than the fluttering candles whose dim illumination seemed to bend meekly away.
āNot at all,ā he replied. Ā āIndeed, I must confess to be all amazement that such an effect may be achieved in so small an amount of time. Ā I would say that your steamstress has outdone herself, save for the simple fact that she owes it all to your own particular charms ā you would look as radiant in sackcloth.ā
He chuckled softly, arching his brows. Ā āA guessing game, then?ā Ā Gently his eyes traced her face, slowly finding her gaze. Ā
His mind rushed, unbidden, to the Tower: its looming shadow shutting out the light from his cell as he gazed, unseeing, towards the limpid blue of the sky. Ā Heād amused himself, in the first days of his captivity, with seeing how far his gaze might penetrate the city of London ā those far-away people, heedless of his absorbing gaze, moving here and there ā people tiny as ants going about their lives far below ā but the novelty had soon worn off. Ā Heād sunk into the corner, gazing at the clouds without seeing, lost to time, lost to space, lost to this reality as he waited to learn what it might hold for him ā doom or salvation. Ā He remembered, too, the moment theyād let him out. Ā The light heād so missed had blinded him, then, glancing off his blue orbs with glaring beams till heād cast out a hand to shade them. Ā Yet, there had come another glow, an unearthly glint of color and light, his eyes adjusting as it approached, burning like the sun against the crisp air. Ā His wife had smiled; his heart clenched. Ā It was not till he saw her face that heād felt it all.
His smile was thoughtful. Ā āIf I am to name the virtue I assign most to you, than it can be only one thing, my dear: it is hope.ā Ā His fingers swept across her chin, the gentle structure of her face, and fell away again, unspoken and uncertain. Ā āLet cousins have love ā your virtue is something far more powerful, in the end.ā Ā He arched a brow. Ā āWell? Ā Have I guessed correctly, or have you selected a namesake from one of your other bountiful virtues?ā
Col laughed, the corners of his lips sweeping upwards at her declaration. Ā āThen I shall do my utmost to endure between those moments when I may hold you. Ā But see you hold no one else so closely ā I shall be watching, and I mean to be jealous of all your smiles tonight.ā Ā His tone was teasing, and he gently ran two fingers across the gentle jut of her jawline, smiling into her eyes before dropping his hand to take the one she extended to him. Ā He kissed it gently and began to lead her towards the Great Hall, as requested.
āWhat else?ā he inquired softly, glancing at her in the glowing candlelight. Ā āLoyalty.ā Ā He tilted his head. Ā āTell me, my lady, does it suit?ā
They moved swiftly into the Hall, where they were presented as they were ā Earl and Countess of Devon. Ā He wondered, without asking, if she ever resented that title, now: she had married him with the promise of someday becoming a Marchioness. Ā Did this rank suit her?
...
It was a time such as this in the brief seconds in between moments where memories were made. Helena as he spoke, memorized his face casting an indelible impression in her mind as he was and always would be to her. He was her world. For a woman who needed little from a man if at all with her education and skills - who had determined once she had no desire for children or marriage longed to be his wife in every way. She longed to give him children and to see his face on little ones running about the halls. As he spoke of hope that was hers, closing her eyes as his hand gently caressed her chin saying a silent prayer for her biggest hope to one day give him all he had previously desired. When he was taken from her, charged with crimes against the crown and dragged away they had barely been married more than a year. She had only just decided within the weeks before that she too wanted children, to live his dream of a whole gaggle of them to fill their days with endless wonder. Discussions had been made about this name or that name, how children would be raised and what sort of educations they desired them to have only for dreams to be dashed.
When he spoke of hope it was at the tip of her tongue to whisper affectionately after this entire ordeal that was what she would like to name their child if they were to have a girl. If they were to be truly intimate in that way and if she were to become pregnant Helena would've most firmly insisted upon it. Yet children and all sort of family planning had been delayed or rather it was not wholly talked about now both knowing without saying their children would be considered threats to the crown with the blood they would have. Helena would not voice it, never would she say it but it did break her heart ever so and it was not something she would discuss with her cousins. "How wise is my husband to know exactly what I have come as. He knows my heart and mind well - how green with envy other wives must be. You could've guessed any of them as my suspicion is you would've said all of them you flatter me so but Lady Hope for I could be nothing else. Loyalty does indeed suit you for you are the most loyal of men in every way which too I suppose also makes other married ladies jealous"
Soon there were off and as swiftly as they had been announced she turned to him, gentle hand squeezed his gently knowing this was not easy. They were headed into battle of a different kind but she was not unprepared and this time she would be there for him. Helena would make a marvelous defense and use everything in her arsenal to do that. The tender squeeze she hoped would let him know she was with him every step of the way no matter the distance. "Should we dance or shall we take a turn about the room?"



















