Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 39383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
“Your majesty I beg of you please…” Just then the door opened and she threw herself into my arms. I did not understand her unprovoked action until I turned to see who stood there.
It was Cecile and the look on her face before she turned and fled would stay with me forever. “Leave, do not ever show your face here again or I will have you hung for treason.” I pushed her away from me and ran out of the room. “Get rid of her.” I threw the last at my guards as I ran to Cecile’s rooms. She was not there and my heart tripped in my chest.
I must’ve looked a right nutter running through the palace and out onto the grounds. I saw the blue of her gown as she headed for the stables and called out to her. “Cecile.”
She ignored me and ran all the faster. There were others about but I did not care. What must she be feeling?
“Cecile I command you to stop.” She came to a stumbling halt but did not turn around. I reached her and put my hand out to touch her shoulder but she pulled away. There were tears streaming down her face when I moved in front of her.
“It is not what you think.” She turned a look of such fury on me that I took a step back. My sweet girl has ever had a most pleasant disposition. I had yet to see her cross or out of sorts.
“Cecile…” She turned away and begun her bloody running again.
“Do not run lest you fall and harm my child.” The words were a harsh whisper as I reached out to take her shoulder.
“Your child, what difference does this one make when you have so many bastards running around the countryside?”
“Because this one I gave to you. You will calm down before you make yourself ill I command you.”
We were both breathing erratically out in the open for all to see. “Come we cannot speak here.”
“I am fine. I do not need to go anywhere with you.”
“Cecile, now.” I held her arm and led her back to the palace and my chambers.
She huffed away from me as soon as the doors were closed and refused to look at me. “Cecile I did not ask her here.” It had been some time since I’ve had to explain myself to anyone. Why was I doing it now? I’m afraid I knew the answer to that very well. What a buggering mess.
I knew where this was all leading. Had made peace with the decision I have to make. Immediately after her sire had left my chambers I had known. There was no hope for it. I am in love with her and soon she will bear my child. Had lady Georgina not interrupted me I would’ve sought her out and told her as much.
“It matters not you have fulfilled your promise, you owe me nothing.” She turned to the door infuriating me beyond measure. I should’ve stayed in the bloody country.
‘Take your hand away from that door and come here to me. I will not ask you again Cecile, this is an order from your king.”
“I care not you…you…” She was crying too hard to go on and instead of heeding my threats she flung the door open.
“If you leave this chamber you will suffer for it. If you should happen to get away I will drag you back and tan your arse before the whole kingdom then drag you to my bed and fuck you to within an inch of your life.
I will not give you up your anger be damned.”
“Come, you should not become this upset in your condition milady, come to me.” In the end I had to go to her and bring her back into the room. Her little body was stiff and shaking and I wished I had wrung lady Georgina’s bloody neck.
“Look at me.” I lifted her chin and wiped her face. “I did not mean to hurt you. I did not call her here, she just came.”
“Is she having your child?”
“No.”
“But she said…”
“She said what, when?” She certainly had not heard what had been said here today so what could she be referring to?
“The day before we left. She said that you were to be wed.” I took her face in my hands. “That was never my intent. I never said any such thing and wouldn’t have I promise you.” She searched my eyes and her body relaxed some.
“It matters not any longer Julian. You have done everything I have asked and more. You owe me nothing.”
“So why do you look so miserable?” She was back to avoiding my eyes.
Why had I not seen it before? Had I been too busy with my own lust that I had missed what was right before my eyes? “Are you in love with me Cecile?” It was all so clear now. The way she clung to me when I took her. The way she sometimes followed me with her gaze when she thought I was unaware.