The Queen & Her Knight

Chapter 10

You walk back to the dining car when a voice behind you startle you. The passage is very narrow and it doesn't leave you much room to move. Lord Dobson smiles at you.

"Lady Winters, what a coincidence that we run into each other"

"Yes....quite a coincidence, isn't it"

"I would say rather a stroke of luck won't you say?"

"...and why would you say that, Lord Dobson?"

"Oh...you must know why...."

He steps closer to you and there's no more personal space left between you.

"I'm not sure what you're referring to, Lord Dobson"

You want to move backward but then he puts a hand around your waist.

"Lord Dobson!"

"Oh, come on, Lady Winters...you're definitely also feeling what I'm feeling?"

"No! Lord Dobson, I don't feel what you feel"

You want to move out of his grip but then his other hand grabs your wrist, holding tight. He moves even closer and you smell his alcoholic breath against your face.

"Lord Dobson, you're drunk!"

(It's not even noon yet!?)

"I'm not drunk, Lady Winters. I'll have you know that I'm a respectable man in society. I don't do things like drinking and getting drunk"

"Well then....urgh! Let go of me at once!" His grip on your wrist tightens and you feel the blood flow to your hand cut off.

"But Lady Winters we'll make such a great couple..."

"You're hurting me!" He starts to kiss you in you're neck, pulling your wrist closer and you crash into him.

"Lord Dobson, let go of me! Help!" You struggle to get our of his grip but he just tightens his grip even more. You feel your bones in your wrist hurting under his grip. Just then Lord Walton walks around the corner.

"Everything okay over there?"

Lord Dobson quickly answers "Everything is fine. I was merely walking past" He drops your wrist and walks past you as if nothing just happened. You try and calm your beating heart and regulate your breathing.

"Milady, are you alright?" You swallow loudly and answer breathlessly. "I'm....I'm fine, thank you"

You turn around and almost run back to your bedroom. You go inside and close the door. You slide down the door and look at your wrist. You see the red and blue-brown marks on your wrist and you feel the pain when you touch it. Your eyes start to water and you then realize what just happened to you. You can't help but think, what would have happened if Lord Watson didn't come when he came.

You sit there on the floor, for you don't know how long and just stare at your wrist while the tears are flowing freely down your cheeks. Then there's a knock on the door. You snap out of your trance and jump away from the door.

(What if it's Lord Dobson that's coming back for more?)

With a squeaky voice, you say.

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Lady Anabel. Can I come in?" You quickly dry off your tears and straighten your clothes.

"Come in..." She opens the door and comes in.

"Where have you been? You never came for tea and cake and then when lunch came and you weren't there and well.....I started to worry?"

"I....I must've lost track of time...Is it already dark out?"

"Yes, the princess asked where you were so I said you weren't feeling well. I hope that's okay?"

"Oh, yeah, that's actually....actually great, I wasn't or isn't feeling so well. You weren't lying then, thank you"

"Is there anything I could do? Anything to make you feel better?"

"No, no, I'm fine, just need some sleep, thank you"

"Will you be joining us for dinner?"

"No...I...can't...I mean I'm still not feeling so good. Would you please send my apologies to the princess?"

"Of course. Is there anything else at all?"

"No, thank you. I think I'll just sleep it off"

"Well, if you're sure. Goodnight then"

"Goodnight" She leaves the room and you fall on the bed.

(What just happened to me? How am I going to go out of this room again without wondering where Lord Dobson is at all times?)

You touch your wrist again and then cry out in pain. The pain is excruciating. You fall back and think of what you can do to be safe again but you can find an answer. You get dressed for bed and crawl under the covers being careful not to move your wrist. You feel yourself drifting away...

THE KING'S POV

He walks through the doors to the tea and cake gathering. Everyone goes quiet and bow before him. He smiles and then speaks.

"Let's enjoy a piece of cake together"

Everyone cheer. His eyes search for you but there's no trace of you.

(Where are you?)

He takes a seat and the princess comes closer to sit with him but he gives her one look and she moves to sit with her lady in waiting. Lord Walton walks up to him.

"May I, your Highness?" He gestures to the seat across from him.

"You're most welcome, Lord Walton"

"Thank you, Sire" He takes a seat and Lord Dobson arrives through the doors. He walks right up to the King and bow.

"Your Highness, may I join you?"

"Of course, Lord Dobson" He sits next to Lord Walton. The King smells a strong hint of alcohol coming from Lord Dobson and frowns.

"Lord Dobson, isn't it a bit early?"

"I'm sorry Sire, but, what are you referring to?"

"...early for drinking, Lord Dobson?"

"Sire, you must be mistaken, no alcohol has touched these lips" Lord Watson and the King looks at each other and shake their heads in disbelief. They carry on eating cake and drinking tea. The King watches the door every few minutes to see if he can see you. Lord Walton turns Lord Dobson.

"Lord Dobson, did you and Lady Winters figure things out in the corridor?" The King straighten up and his full attention goes to Lord Dobson.

"Yes, we just had a light discussion but it's all figured out now, thank you"

"Oh, it didn't look like a light discussion to me? Are you sure all is good now?" The King's eyebrows are knit into a frown. He remembers what you told him about Lord Dobson and how you hid away from him on the balcony that night. He clenches his jaw.

"Lord Dobson, are you sure all is fine now with, Lady Winters? I don't see her here?"

(If you so much as laid a hand on her.....so help me!!)

"Yes, Sire. We ended things on good terms and she said she had to get something from her room. That's all, Sire"

"Are you absolutely sure, Lord Dobson??" The King is now making his fists under the table.

"Yes, Sire" The King accepts his answer and they finish their tea.

(I hope she's okay)

The King and Lord Walton then went back to finish their business, of the treaty with Italy. Then they are called to eat later on. Whenever the King enters the dining car his eyes search for you but every time you're nowhere to be found. When dinner arrives and you aren't there, the King's tolerance and patience are also gone.

(f**k!! Where are you, angel?)

The King tries to finish his dinner quickly. He never stops looking at the doors to see if you might walk through them but, you never do. Lord Walton looks at him.

"Sire?"

"Uhm...yes?"

"Are you doing okay, Sire?"

"Yes, why?"

"I called you almost three times now, Sire?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I have a lot on my mind...with....this treaty"

"Of course, Sire"

"What did you want to ask, Lord Walton?"

"I was just enquiring, if you're enjoying your dinner is tonight?"

"Oh, yes. It's a fine dinner, very good. Now, if you'll please excuse me"

"Of course, Sire"

He stands up and everyone stands up bowing to him. He goes to his compartment. He opens the door, goes inside, and then locks the door behind him. He paces up and down his room.

(Where are you? This is killing me...I must be able to do something. I can't stand it anymore)

He busies himself with some paperwork and before long, someone knocks on the door. He stands up and unlocks the door. The princess stands before him.

"Your Highness" She bows before him and he frowns.

"What do you need, princess?"

"May I come in?"

"If you must" She walks inside and stands close to the door. "Sire, we must stand as a united front"

"Yes well, who's to blame for us not being one?"

"Sire, you've always been the only-" He holds up a hand at her. "Just stop, just stop with the lies. Maybe there was a time but you know what you did!"

"Sire, I've never-"

"Stop! I'll be a united front when it's needed. Now, please leave me as I've got business to attend to" She bows and leaves the room. He closes the door and sighs loudly.

(God...I miss you, angel)

He goes back to his desk and does some more admin. After a few hours, he opens his door. Almost everyone is in their compartments. Only the guards are outside in the corridors. He looks around him as far as he goes, making sure no one sees him. He makes his way to your compartment.

(What's going on? Why weren't you at any of the events? God, I really hope you're okay? Goddamn, this distance thing)

He takes a deep breath to calm his beating heart and knock on your door.

LADY WINTER'S POV

Suddenly there's a knock on the door. You jump at the knock and hope it's only another note under the door. You watch the floor intensely but nothing happens. You look at the clock, it's almost midnight. Another soft knock. You stand up and slowly walk to the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me..." You open the door immediately. He stands in front of you with his face creased into a frown and concern weigh heavily in his eyes.

"May, I come in?" You bow low and gesture that he could come in.

"Your Highness, you're most welcome"

"Thank you, Lady Winters. Could we possibly close the door? I don't want anyone to know I'm here?"

"Yes, yes, of course, Sire" You close the door and by accident use the hand with the sore wrist. You've completely forgot about your wrist when you saw the King standing in your room. You cry out in pain.

"Aaahhhh, god!"

"Milady!" He turns around and he wants to reach out to touch you but his hands turn to fists, trying to control his emotions.

"Are you hurt? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Sire. Thank you. If I may ask, what are you doing here? I thought we were to keep our distance?" He steps closer and looks deep in your eyes.

"I...I...didn't see you at the events today and I got worried, so I had to come to see for myself if you're doing okay"

"But Sire, couldn't this jeopardize the plan? If..if someone might have seen you?" He reaches for your hand and you pull away as a reflex.

"W-what happened to you?"

He steps away slowly as he sees the fear in your eyes. You can't seem to control the slight tremor in your hand. You feel tears threatening at his soft words and caring nature. You know you can trust him, you want to trust him but the raw memory is still fresh in your mind of Lord Dobson forcing himself on you. You want to speak but you know you'll burst into tears.

"Angel....what happened? Did someone hurt you?" You see the sting of rage and hurt in his eyes. He keeps his hands open in surrender and take another step back. He never loses eye contact with you.

"No.....yes....."

You can see his eyes burning with burning rage and you see his fists clenching but his voice remains calm.

"Who...who...angel? Who did this?" You stare for a long while in his eyes as if you're searching for safety in him. Then you speak.

"Lord Dobson"

He looks at you in unbelief and then he starts to breathe heavily his hands turn to fists. Then he rushes for the door. You put your hands against his chest to stop him and then you cry out in pain. It feels as if your wrist is broken. You grab your wrist with your free hand and sit on the chair.

"f**k! I'm..I'm...so so sorry, angel"

He bends down and tries to comfort you but he doesn't know if he's allowed to touch you. He slowly raises his hand to touch your shoulder and you nod. He puts his hand so soft and gentle on you, rubbing his thumb up and down. He looks at you with severe concern.

"What happened? What did he do? Tell me, please"

"You can't go after him. Then the plan won't work and everyone will know about it, Sire"

You can't seem to get the words out to tell him what happened. You know he's going to do something he's going to regret.

"I don't care about that now, I only care about you, milady. I beg you, tell me, please?"

"It's not even such a big thing...I...I just hurt my wrist. It was just a misunderstanding. Nothing to worry about"

"God! Angel!"

He stands up and paces around the room as if he's thinking really hard. Then he bends down and stares at you, eyes soft. His voice almost a whisper.

"Don't you understand my feelings for you?...You can't say things like, don't worry about it because I can't help to worry about you. It's not a small thing to me when I come to check on you and find that you got hurt and I wasn't there? It's not a small thing to me when Lord Walton asks Lord Dobson in front of me, about something that happened in the corridor with you. You can't expect me to not worry?"

You see the raw concern in his eyes and how he's hurt to see you like this. You realize that his feeling for you runs deeper than you thought.

(He can't know about what Lord Dobson did....he'll do something that would jeopardize he's plan and then we'll never be able to be together. I can't tell him)

"Sire, I'm sorry that I put you through such anguish, but there's truly nothing to worry about. I just got my wrist caught on the door and then Lord Dobson bumped into it by accident but it's all fine now"

You see hurt flashes through his eyes but he accepts your answer.

"Could I at least send the physician to have a look at your wrist?"

"No! I mean...its not that bad, just a scratch, Sire" He stands up. "Milady, are you sure everything is alright with you?"

You swallow hard. "Yes, thank you, Sire"

He looks at you one last time.

"I must return now before anyone knows I'm gone but before I go, you must know.....I'll be here for you if you need me, for anything, anything at all?"

Your heart jumps out of its cage at the soft, caring words he speaks to you.

"Thank you, Sire"

You smile at him. He smiles at you sadly. Then he turns and closes the door. You take a deep breath.

(I wish I can tell him....)

THE KING'S POV

You lock the door behind him. He stands still for a little while.

(I know she's lying to me but why?)

He walks to his bedroom and falls asleep on his bed. The next morning he wakes up with a knock on the door, as it serves as an alarm. He stands up and gets dressed. It's getting warmer as it gets closer to Italy.

"This is just going to have to do" He looks at himself in the mirror.

(I hope she'll be there this morning)

He walks out of his room and the princess meets him outside his room. She bows before him.

"Let's get this over with"

"Yes, your Highness" He holds out his arm for her to hook in to. They open the door to the dining car and everyone bows before them. He sits at his table and everyone sits and goes on as usual.

(Dammit, where is she?)

"Lord Walton, please join me?"

"As you wish, your Highness" He sits across from the King.

"Tell me, Lord Walton, what exactly did you see yesterday in the corridor with Lady Winters and Lord Dobson?"

"Not much, Sire. All I saw is Lord Dobson holding her hand and she looked a bit uncomfortable, that's why I asked him about it yesterday"

(Holding hands? She despises him?)

"Is that all, Lord Walton?"

"Yes, Sire. If I may ask, what is this of you?"

The King moves around uncomfortably, knowing very well that no one should find out about you.

"I just want justice to be served, if at all necessary"

"Of course, Sire. Please forgive me"

"No need, Lord Walton you know I always enjoy your company"

"Thank you, Sire"

"Did you see Lord Dobson today?"

"No, I'm afraid not, Sire. He must still be sleeping off his "not drinking" from yesterday" They share a laugh.

(God....where are you?)

Then he looks up and time stands still as you walk in. He inhales sharply at your entrance and complete joy fills his eyes. The corner of his mouth lifts into a smile. Then he quickly reverts to his stoic expression. Your scent fills the air with vanilla and a hint of lavender from your hair. He seems to be hypnotized by you. He quickly looks down at his food, trying not to show his arousal.

LADY WINTER'S POV

You wake up the next morning with a fresh outlook on life. The sun shines through the windows and the scenery is breathtaking.

(I'm not going to let, Lord Dobson or the princess take away this great opportunity for me to explore other counties and maybe get my King in the process. I'm going to make them wish they've never messed with me)

You look at your wrist and you see that the red marks have turned blue. You look through your dresses and find the perfect summer dress with sleeves to cover the marks on your wrist. The pain is almost gone and new hope arises in you.

(Stacey, would get a heart attack if she saw what I choose to wear)

You put on one of your own made perfumes. It's one of your experiments that you're trying to make into a business one day. Then you leave the compartment and get to the doors of the dining car. You take a deep breath.

(In with the good and out with bad)

You open the doors and walk into the dining car. You can feel everyone's eyes on you but there's only one who's eyes you care about. You look in the King's eyes and you see pure thick lust in his eyes. You only look at him briefly and then you see Lady Anabel, waving you down. She's sitting in the booth right behind the King's booth. You sit across from her so that you only need to flick your eyes up, to look straight into the King's eyes.

"I'm so glad you feeling better. You certainly look better"

"Yes, thank you. I feel so much better. So, what did I miss?"

"Oh nothing much except..." She bends forward and lowers her voice. "...the King and the princess doesn't look so cozy today. They walked into the car and then immediately went there separate ways"

You try to suppress your satisfaction brought along with her words.

(He truly doesn't want to be with the princess)

"I wonder why?"

"No one seems to know. Oh, I ordered for you if that's okay with you? I was really hoping you would come today, the other ladies all like to suck up to the princess and, well, I have my dignity, you know?"

You two share a laugh. "It's quite alright, thank you. Well, I missed you too"

They put your food on the table. You start to eat and then the princess comes to your table. You want to get up and bow but she gestures for you to sit down.

"Come on, we've talked about it, didn't we? I just came over to welcome you back officially. It's such a shame that you didn't feel well all day, yesterday"

"Thank you, princess, I'm feeling much better today"

"Well, that's such good news because now you'll be ready for your duties in Italy later today"

"Duties?"

"Yes, of course. Now that you're a Lady in waiting, you'll have to be at my disposal at any given time, right?"

"Of course, your grace"

"Okay then, have a fun morning, toodles"

She turns around, waving over her shoulder, and leaves to sit at her table.

"Did you just hear what I heard?"

"Yes, and why does it feel more like a prison sentence than anything else?"

"Well, then we'll just have to let her pick up the soap in this prison...often"

You look at the King and you see him choking on his food. He must have heard what you said. He looks up at you, smiling and stalking his head. Then he gets back to regain some sort of normality, trying not to laugh.

"You have a dirty, dirty mind and I like it"

You eat your breakfast and then they announce that you've arrived in Italy. The King stands up and everyone goes quiet.

"We will now be transported to the villa they have prepared for us. I sincerely hope that you would enjoy your time here in Italy with us"

Everyone applauds the King. You finish your breakfast and are then taken to a lovely villa.

"Wow, I knew Italy was beautiful but this, this is just marvelous. If the outside is this magnificent, then how will it look on the inside?" Anabel comments.

You arrive and you stand in awe at staring its beauty. You each get a room assigned to you. When you get to your room, you jump at someone's voice.

"Aahh, Lady Winters...it looks like we'll be neighbors" Lord Dobson smiles. You give him a death stare. You don't speak one word to him as his entire demeanor makes you want to rather eat vomit, than look at his face for one more minute. You turn around and go into your room. You lock the door.

(Oh god! What I am going to do now? How am I going to feel safe now, knowing that his just next door? I need to tell the King)