This choice: It was true, James had gained 20 pounds. • Go Back...Chapter #3It was true, James had gained 20 pounds. by: romana91   "Of course!" George smiled, as he leant forward to poke his older brother's stomach. "You can't deny it!"
George's finger sunk a fair way into James's softened belly, further than James realised. He slapped his brother's hand away and placed his own on his stomach. George is George, he teases and exaggerates. Sure he'd gained a couple of pounds, it was no big deal. James considered his response carefully before deciding to change the subject all together. He gently stood up, "I'm going to wash before I dress" he informed his brother before heading to the side exit of his bedroom.
"Mind you don't get stuck!" George teased.
-------
The bathroom was spacious and luxurious, the servants had prepared it for when he got up so everything was ready for him when he entered, James carefully removed his overly elaborate vest that he'd slept in, leaving on only his white and gold silk underpants. Daintily he walked over to the basin, before fixing a stare at his reflection in the mirror. Maddening as it was, George had been right. Far from the flat chest he was use to looking at when he gazed into the mirror, his body appeared physically fatter. His rounded stomach was protruding outwards, and his belly button appeared to be much much deeper.
It wasn't hard to work out where it had come from, over the summer James had exercised and trained regularly, as he always did. In past years he would follow a similar proscribed indoor regime over the next seasons, but this year Mercia had been placed on a war footing and normalities had largely been suspended. And until Mary has a child he is the heir, and must be protected. Remembering back he remembered how much and what he'd eaten at court functions, and banquets. It had in part been down to the immense boredom of being trapped in the Palace twenty four-seven.
After he'd finished washing up, he left the bathroom and headed to his dressing chamber, where his two pages were awaiting him. Both were slender boys of roughly James's age, the taller Thomas everybit the Mercian had carefully arranged blonde hair and pale skin, he stood a couple of inches above James; the other, William, was a dark haired boy and olive tinted skin, which he likely inherited from his with a Castilian mother,
"Good Morning your highness" They both said in unison to the prince who simply smiled cheerfully back.
"William, Thomas" James said carefully, "tell me honestly... do you think i've put on weight"
The two pages looked at each other considered their answer.
"Your highness is healthy and forever handsome" Thomas said, forever tactful, evading the question.
James fixed him with a soft glare.
"Since the beginning of autumn we have only had to alter your jerkins and upper clothes" William answered more honestly,
"You have only gone up by 2 inches" Thomas quickly added.
"Only?" James replied.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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