Page 24 of The Time Of Queens (An Afterlife Story #2)

24

WELCOMED RUDE AWAKENINGS

T hat night, I confessed to not getting any sleep for fear of missing her footsteps should she try to sneak out during the night. However, she must have been exhausted, for when I finally gave into temptation to check on her, I found her sound asleep. I knew it was a great intrusion to her privacy, but I found that I couldn’t help myself as I slipped inside.

I swear, just the sight of her was enough to steal my breath, for her peaceful beauty was such that I couldn’t wait to wake to find it gracing my own bed every morning. I even found my hand reaching out to her and gently brushing back the hair from her face, marvelling at how soft it was. It was like spun gold falling through my fingers, and I knew then and there that I would spend any opportunity in touching it… that was, once I was free to do so.

In fact, it pained me to have to leave her, as all I wanted was to gather her up in my arms and carry her back to my bed. To hold her in my arms and no doubt find the most peaceful sleep that this long life had never known. But instead, I forced myself to leave the room, once I had first covered her tempting body from view to ensure she didn’t get cold.

After this, I spent the rest of the night thinking of her and counting down the hours until she woke. I even found myself excited for the day ahead, and for all the time I would ensure I spent in her presence. Now having the excuse to do so. Of course, I knew that I would need to address this change to my council, along with that of my siblings. None of which I had done last night, for I was in no hurry to speak with my brother. Nor was I even in the slightest bit concerned with what Lucius might have discovered regarding this mystery girl that had eluded me. For as far as I was concerned, I had everything I needed.

I didn’t need Fate.

I would make my own with her.

Speaking of Fate, I waited for her first duty of the day with nothing short of excitement as I knew what it was to be. I had ensured it. The only person I had told of the change was my steward so as he could have her instructed on her new duties. Oh, how I wished I could have seen her face when she was told, for I could only imagine the adorable outrage that would ensue.

Which was why I purposely left myself in a state of undress, in hopes of enticing that delicious blush to appear once more. I also hoped she liked what she saw, and that revealing the size of my body didn’t scare her away… for I was not a small man by any means. Well, there was only one way this would play out, and I found my heart quickening when I heard her approach the door.

However, if I had thought she would simply sneak in quietly, then I was sorely mistaken. No, instead, she slammed open the door, making it rattle on its hinges, and no doubt doing so in hopes of waking me abruptly with her loud manner.

“Wakey, wakey, oh masterful Lord of the house!” she shouted, stomping in with a breakfast tray in her hands. One she unceremoniously dumped down on the table hard enough that I feared the china would not survive two mornings in a row. For it bounced violently against the silver tray. Then without even so much as looking at me, she walked to the drapes and yanked them open with enough force I thought these, too, would break.

The sight of the sun flooding my room had me blinking and wincing at the sudden burn to my retinas, forcing me to throw up an arm and cover my face.

“Right, so what are we wearing today, Master? Something pink and full of lace? Ooops no, no… wait, I am sorry, I forgot for a moment then that I was no longer a lady’s maid and therefore now a footman expected to dress a grown-arse man!” she snapped, and I was dumbfounded by her actions, as much as I was amused at them, for clearly the fight hadn’t left her.

So it was at this point that I decided to fight back with my own weapon as I suddenly tossed back the sheets and got out of bed. And her reaction to this was utter perfection. As she was still in the middle of her rant when she turned, took one look at me naked, and let her words trail off mid-sentence. At the same time, her eyes widened to the point of being comical as well as when her mouth actually dropped open. This all as she obviously stared at my body, even going so far as to shamelessly take in her fill by scanning down the length of me.

“I… you… erm… naked,” she stammered.

I smirked before making a point of looking down at myself.

“I must say, Miss Williams, your power of perception is quite impressive,” I quipped.

“But I don’t want to see that… I mean you… you and that,” she said, stumbling once again on her words and making me chuckle.

“Then perhaps, next time, may I suggest knocking,” I told her, and I delighted in the fact that she was still looking at me despite her claims. Which was why I couldn’t help but tease her further by leaning forward a little and reminding her on a mocking whisper,

“You’re still looking.”

To which she blushed scarlet before whipping around, doing so too fast and therefore bumping into the chair.

“Humph!” She made the sound before sidestepping away from it, only to bang into the table. “Oww!”

I couldn’t help but act, reaching out to steady her and once more placing my hands at her waist to do so. Her back, unfortunately, remained tucked to my front, for I wished I could have seen her face, as no doubt it was even more heated in her blunder.

“Careful, little one,” I said gently, making her suck back a quick breath at the endearment. However, before I could take it too far, I released her and said, “I will wear the navy three-piece today.”

“Er… the what now?” she asked, all flustered, and finally I decided to take pity on her.

“How about you pour the tea whilst I get myself… ahem… covered.”

“Oh yes, that would be super.”

“Super?” I asked as that was a strange thing to say in this instance.

“Dandy, great, marvellous… all three.”

I laughed at that, unable to stop myself from muttering my own thoughts as I walked away.

“Delightful.” Of course, I was referring to her.

A quick few minutes later and I emerged fully dressed, only to find her standing over the tray, drinking what should have been my tea and biting into my toast. A clear act of defiance I should have abolished her for. However, the second she let free a moan of pleasure, I couldn’t help but stop dead and stare at her. Dear Gods, but how I couldn’t wait to hear that same sound coming from her lips over and over again as I ravished her body.

However, the moment she noticed my presence, I jerked out of my lustful state and asked purposely,

“Are you enjoying that?”

“Well, considering the only thing I have eaten since yesterday lunch time was a few sips of soup before you declared the dinner to be over, yes, I find that I am,” she replied, and the knowledge of this hit me hard, making me feel suddenly like some tyrant master. I hadn’t realised how my actions might have robbed her of not only one meal but now two, as clearly, she hadn’t made it down to the breakfast table this morning.

Hence why I walked over to her and pulled out a chair, telling her,

“Then you must eat.”

“Oh, that’s alright, I can just wait until…”

“I must insist… sit down, Keira.” The last part of my order came out as a whisper by her ear, making her shiver as I was once more standing behind her. Thankfully, it was enough that it got her to comply and she took a seat, quickly tucking into the food. Obviously, she was so hungry, she hadn’t needed much convincing. A fact that made me feel guilty and, again, this wasn’t a feeling I was accustomed to.

“Are you not having any?” she asked, making me realise I had just been staring down at her, watching her eat and no doubt making her feel uncomfortable. So, I decided to take the seat opposite her, taking her inviting me to do so as a good sign. But then as soon as she tried to push the plate my way, I shook my head, telling her,

“Please continue, for I am not in need of it.”

“Well, you did kidnap me, after all, so I suppose the least you could do is feed me,” she teased with a small grin playing at her lips, and it was a delight to see. Yet despite this, I still maintained my reasons and reminded her,

“You are here to pay off your debt.”

“Ah yes, the coercion, how could I forget…? Well, let’s see how far that gets you,” she replied, and I felt my brow rise in question.

“And your meaning?”

“I will make you a lousy maid,” she returned, making me smirk when thinking back to her entrance not long ago.

“Ah I see… so that is your game,” I remarked.

“My game?” she asked, playing coy.

“You think that if you act badly enough at the job, I will be eager to be rid of you?” I replied, guessing as much.

“Won’t you?” she then braved to ask.

“It will take more than rude awakenings to best me, Miss Williams, for that you can be certain.”

To this she allowed herself to grin over her teacup before tilting it slightly towards me and said,

“Then here is to the game and letting the best man win.”

I grinned before pointing out,

“Ah, but you are no man.”

“And you are one who is not in need of a lady’s maid,” she countered, for yet again her wit was in full force.

“Perhaps not, but I will enjoy having one all the same,” I countered, making her blush.

A short time after this, she finished her meal and made her excuses to leave by taking the tray with her. I would have liked to have continued our banter for longer, but I also knew not to push her too soon. For I wished to spend time with her, yes, but wisely only pushed for more when she felt more at ease in my presence. But then this too was strange, for sometimes, she acted as if I were her equal and the social gap between our circumstances wasn’t there at all. These were the times I enjoyed with her the most.

But then there were other times, as if suddenly reminding herself of our social differences, and she would then once more act all shy and reserved. This was the barrier between us I wanted to destroy the most.

However, before I could do that, I knew I would first have to address my siblings about my decision to claim her. Doing so regardless to what they may think. Which, I confess, I was in no rush to do. Hence when walking into my study to find Vincent and Lucius there waiting for me, I honestly felt like walking right back out again.

“We need to talk, brother,” Vincent stated firmly, making me sigh in response.

“If this is about Keira, then I don’t wish to hear of it, Vincent,” I said in an exasperated tone.

“Oh, but I think you will,” he argued pointlessly.

“I am not giving her up, no matter what you say next. Now I know you don’t approve, and I respect what you are trying to accomplish for me in regard to finding my Chosen but I…”

“We have found her,” he interrupted quickly, making me wince as it suddenly felt like pure liquid dread had replaced my blood. But then I forced myself to straighten as my whole body tensed like a bow string ready to fire an arrow.

“I don’t care,” I stated firmly.

“Oh, but I think you will, brother,” he maintained, continuing to say, “In fact, I think you will care very much who the girl is.”

I frowned, still ready to fight my case.

“Nothing you say to me now will have any impact on how I feel about the girl.”

“No, you don’t think?” he challenged, but I ignored him and looked to my second.

“And you, do you also believe what he says to be true?”

Lucius smirked, which instantly set me on edge, for I knew it meant he had accomplished his goal.

“Undoubtably, my Lord,” he replied without needing to think about it.

“Then I have made a mistake, for I do not wish for the girl to be found and if it is too late for that, then you may leave her to live her life, for it will never be with me,” I stated firmly, making Vincent scoff behind me as I made my way to the door ready to leave.

“That will be hard seeing as she is currently living in this very house,” my brother replied, stopping me just as I was reaching for the handle. My whole body froze to the spot as I tried to make sense of what he had just told me.

“That… that cannot be true?” I questioned in utter shock. Then I turned around to face them both, to see that Lucius had something in his hand. A bundle of what looked like clothing, that he suddenly tossed to me, making me catch it mid-air.

“Smell familiar?” he asked, prompting me to bring it up to my nose so as I could breathe in whatever lingered on the material. But then it hit me the second I recognised the scent… one I would now know anywhere. It was one I had been obsessing over, after all.

“I don’t understand,” I confessed.

“It was found in an alleyway next to the inn, and in the very place that the young girl from the barn found your cloak,” Lucius told me, making me shake my head in disbelief.

“But that would mean…” I let that sentence trail off, as if too afraid it might not be true if I spoke it aloud. However, Vincent had no such fear, for he stepped up to me, placed a hand at my shoulder, and told me,

“That you have already fallen in love with your Chosen One… yes, brother, for your mystery woman and the lady’s maid…”

“Are one and the very same.”