Later that evening, Elaina sat in the garden replaying the events of the day. The cool, crisp air gently caressed her skin, causing her to delightfully shiver, and the soft breezes swished her loose hair across her collarbone. The garden was dark with only faint illumination from her own lantern and the warm glow of light from the manor windows.
Nighttime visits to the garden were one of her favorite pastimes. She enjoyed the seclusion and the darkness. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of crickets in the apple orchard behind her and the shuffle of small nocturnal creatures in the long grasses. Nature’s symphony was soothing and helped release her minor frustrations.
Unfortunately, her current concerns were large.
Katrina had reminded her that the King was coming to inspect her as a “marriageable woman.” To see if she was good enough to be his queen. Originally, she thought her first impression at the gate would cause him to reject her, which would solve her problem easily. Although she was of age, she was reluctant to marry, and even if she changed her mind, she never wanted to be queen. Just like Katrina and Ian, she wanted to marry for love and then live a small life like her parents before her.
And yet… King Adam was more charming than she had imagined, and he seemed to find her quirky ways endearing. Throughout the evening, he talked non-stop, and Elaina hung intently on his every word. He never brought up their gate-meeting even once, and she was grateful. However, if her plan was to chase him away, she had failed miserably.
“Now what?” she asked aloud.
Did she still want to chase him away? If so, she needed a new plan. Being herself was attracting his attention instead of repulsing him.
She pictured again his ruffled hair, intense gaze and his smile. A smile that took over his whole face and lit him all the way to the eyes. Did he look at the other potential brides that way? Was it all just an act to charm the mothers and daughters of his nobles; to win favor?
She smiled at the thought of him sneaking around the castle trying to find her bedroom. Definitely not a move meant to win favor. At least not from an honorable girl. “Brute,” she whispered, though she smiled as she said it.
“Uggghhhh,” she growled softly. Every time she thought of him, she grinned like a fool. This was bad. Her actions implied she wanted the King to stay, but her words said she wanted him to go away.
“This can’t be happening,” she mumbled, massaging her forehead.
“What can’t be happening?”
Even without looking up, she knew it was him.
“You,” she said bluntly. She stood, squared her shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes, those amazing eyes. “You can’t be happening.”
The King smiled and quietly chuckled before putting on a mock serious face. “Have I done something to upset you, my lady?”
“Yes,” she said, quickly turning away from his smiling lips and marching off into the tall grass between the apple orchards and the manor, leaving her lantern behind.
Would he follow? she wondered.
“Well, then, you must tell me what it is so that I can correct it,” he called after her.
“No,” she called back over her shoulder and kept marching.
Though he did not reply, King Adam followed her into the tall grass. She heard the soft swish of the blades brushing across his boots, and before long, she heard his breath. He was close behind her. Too close. She shivered and then whipped around to face him.
“Stop following me,” she said. Her senses had been correct, he was directly behind her. So close that when she stopped, he bumped into her and to keep her from falling over put a strong arm around her waist. His eyes were level with her own, and she stopped breathing.
“Let me go,” she whispered quietly.
“Not yet,” he whispered back, his lips twitching again as he half smiled.
Then, before she responded, he kissed her. He pulled her body against his, and his lips worked softly on her own. Instinctively, her hands pushed against his chest and tried to pull away, but simultaneously her traitorous lips kissed him back. What was happening to her?
He broke away just slightly and breathed a question onto her wet lips: “Stop?”
Her head said yes, but her lips said no, answering him with a kiss.
His strong arms pulled her tighter, and, although she could barely breath, she resisted pulling away. She slid her hands up to touch his unruly hair but hit something metal instead… his crown.
The King.
She shoved him back with all her might, and he let go. She stared at him breathless.
“I don’t want this,” she said.
Without waiting for his response, she ran as fast as her legs would carry her down into the apple trees, disappearing in the shadows. She raced down the rows, switching directions several times to stop him from following her. Branches reached out in the darkness, ripping through the silk of her dress. Mother would be furious… for more than one reason.
“Lady Elaina!” he called.
She stopped to catch her breath, but then she heard him charging through the trees behind her and picked up the pace again. She must stay ahead of him. She would be unable to resist him if he caught her. Something about him mesmerized her. Though her brain said no, the rest of her shouted a definite yes.
Knowing her father’s orchards like the back of her hands, she turned to the south and headed back towards the stables. There would be people there, people who would be watching, thus putting an end to any further… touching.
He was struggling to follow her. Elaina smiled. He may have been bigger than her and probably faster than her, but nothing caused misdirection faster than a dark orchard. All the trees looked the same unless you grew up among them, and yet, she still heard him trying to catch up to her. He certainly was persistent.
She burst from the apple trees just to the back of the barn. She quickly scanned the area but found it empty.
“Chicken-poop,” she mumbled, rushing around the side of the barn. Where were a few well-placed servants when you needed them?
Glancing back over her shoulder while still running, she saw King Adam emerge from the trees and spot her in the glow of the barn light. He had a silly grin on his face as if he was enjoying a fun game. Suddenly, she crashed into another warm, strong body.
“My lady?” a male voice asked. “Are you alright?”
Elaina looked up to see Captain Turain looking down on her. Glancing back at the King, she saw that King Adam’s smile faded a bit at the sight of her buried in Captain Turain’s arms. In that moment, she knew exactly what she had to do.
Without hesitation, she kissed the Captain on the mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close. At first, all she felt was triumph at finding a solution to her problem, but then her heart leapt. She was enjoying this kiss too.
“No,” she said pulling back, horrified. Who was she anymore? Fury rose inside her. These men had made her lose herself. It was all their fault. Without thinking, she swung back her arm and slapped the innocent Captain hard across the face. Then noticing that the King was within reach, she slapped him too for good measure. Both men looked at her with stunned expressions.
“Get this straight, both of you,” she said. “I don’t want this, so you can just pack up and leave.”
Then she quickly turned her back as shame and humiliation filled her. Covering her face, she sprinted across the courtyard and rushed into her home.