I stood and waited for them to speak their minds. But instead of doing so, they remained silent. They lowered their heads and their eyes never left the floor.
“I heard everything that was said,” I continued. “You shouldn’t be afraid to tell me your thoughts. I will listen and I will do whatever it is that I can do to help.”
One of the ladies stepped forward and curtsied quickly. She said, “With all due respect, Your Highness, we prefer to stay with our mistress. She has been in our family for years. And if we return to our own families, we will be disgraced.”
“We much prefer to be imprisoned with her than to be sent back home,” another added.
The rest of them spoke out of turn, talking over one another.
Bethilda cleared her throat as she turned to her ladies. They immediately stopped talking. She turned to face me but her eyes were still fixed on the floor. She began, “Since you already heard everything, I won’t take so much of your time.” She lifted her head and looked directly into my eyes, “I would like to request a settlement for my ladies.”
Her ladies’ eyes widened as they turned to her. Their mouths hung open as they were taken aback by her words.
“I want them to have comfortable lives outside my castle. And I don’t want my crimes to smear their chances of having appropriate marriages,” she continued. “Like what you heard a while ago, they shouldn’t suffer because of me. They deserve so much more than to spend the rest of their lives tied to me.”
“May Your Highness grant me this request,” she added before she bowed to the ground.
Her ladies cried once more. They surrounded her and bowed as they pleaded with her. But Bethilda ignored their cries and remained on the ground.
I took a moment before I spoke gently, “My ladies, calm yourselves, please. How am I supposed to help you if you’re all weeping?” I looked to Bethilda and added, “Duchess, there’s no need for you to bow. Please, stand up.”
She slowly stood from her position. Her ladies were quick to assist her.
“I understand how hard this is for all of you to separate. I had my fair share of servants whom I loved like a true family member. But one by one, they were sent away as I grew older,” I continued. “Believe me or not but it hurts me to see it happening to others. Duchess?”
Bethilda immediately looked up and met my gaze.
“I know that we’re not on good terms at the moment. After what you did to Mother and after you collaborated with Benjamin, your actions are unforgivable,” I continued. “However, similar to you, I also have servants of my own. And when the appropriate time arrives, I also want for them to have the best lives outside the castle.
“There’s no certainty that His Majesty will give his stamp of approval in regards to this matter. The king has always been set in his ways. Convincing him to change his mind, especially when it comes to the rules, is always a challenge,” I replied bluntly.
The ladies held onto Bethilda tighter as hope disappeared from their eyes.
I continued, “However, if His Majesty will not agree, I will provide my own proclamation. Once we return to the castle, I will have Mother sign that edict.” Bethilda’s eyes widened. I looked directly at her and added, “Be thankful that Mother has unconditional love for you, duchess. You betrayed her but as we both can guess, she will likely agree to your request.”
A smile finally appeared on their faces. Though it was too soon to celebrate, it didn’t stop them from rejoicing. They already wept too much. They deserved to have a bit of happiness in between.
I shouldn’t give them false promises. I had the biggest hunch that James wouldn’t be lenient with this matter. He would think that he had been too generous already in regards to sparing Bethilda’s life. Although he said he did it for Mother’s sake, I firmly believed that if it weren’t for Mother, he already had her head a long time ago.
I also didn’t want to have another argument with James. But I might need to bear one for this matter. After all, out of every single horrible thing that Bethilda has done, one thing was certain. And that was because she cared deeply for her household. Especially, when it came to the well-being of her ladies-in-waiting. And I would never disregard or disrespect that aspect of her.
I turned to the servants and instructed, “Stop carrying the ladies’ belongings outside. Anything that was already loaded into the carriages, kindly bring them to the main hall. Should His Majesty question it, tell him to speak directly with me.”
They bowed and left the room.
I returned to Bethilda and her ladies, “I will leave you all for a moment. Your ladies will still be sent home but I will discuss your plight with His Majesty. Also, I will personally choose your new ladies,” I added. “You have my word that I will never choose anyone who can bring you harm.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness,” she bowed her head. “I don’t deserve such grace after my actions.”
“I’ll have someone bring food to your room. However, even though I offered to help, please be reminded that you’re still confined to your room. You are not permitted to leave this room under any circumstance. Unless His Majesty commanded you to leave, only then can you leave,” I continued.
“Yes, Your Highness,” they bowed all together.
“Very well.” I turned around and left the room. As I stepped out of Bethilda’s quarters, the guards barricaded the doors from the outside. I began to walk and instructed the guards that were with me, “List all the ladies that are deemed to be trustworthy. I will be inspecting them to be the duchess’ new ladies-in-waiting.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”