The Queen & Her Knight

Chapter 13

You and Lady Anabel make your way through the crowd to the princess.

"Well, there you are?? Where did you go to? I thought you should entertain Lord Dobson? Where is he?"

The princess's face changes from happy to serious to excited like she doesn't know what kind of emotion she's supposed to show you, then she giggles.

"I...uhm...the King requested an audience with Lord Donson, your grace. So I-"

She holds up a hand to quiet you. Then she clears her throat.

"I'm sorry Lady Winters, could you please repeat that?"

"Uhm...okay...the King requested an audience with Lord Donson and I-"

She holds her hand up once more and her face turns pale. She waves you off.

"You may go....go keep yourself busy or something"

She covers her mouth with her hand and then both hands to her forehead. She turns to Lady Elizabeth and you only hear some words as you walk away.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god. What if he knows?!"

"The princess is acting really strange, don't you think?"

"Yes, but isn't she a little strange always?"

Lady Anabel takes her finger and turns it in circles on the side of her head. You both laugh and make your way to the crowd dancing. You don't see Lord Dobson for the rest of the night and your heart feels light.

You make your way back to your room after the ball. You only saw the King briefly and your heart feels sad that you couldn't see him more. You walk softly past Lord Dobson's room, making sure not to make a noise. You see the handle of the door opening. You start to run to your room but you struggle with the key in the door to open it. His room door open and you stop to breathe, you feel tears threatening. His door opens and to your surprise, you see Lord Walton. You give a loud sigh of relief.

"Lady Winters, everything alright?"

"Yes, yes, thank you, Lord Walton"

"I just heard someone outside so I just wanted to see if everything is alright"

"Thank you but everything is okay. Have a good night, Lord Walton"

"You too, Lady Winters"

You finally get the door open and go inside. You fall on your bed and start to smile.

(He actually listened to me. He moved Lord Dobson to another room. Thank you, my King)

You get dressed for bed and you crawl into your bed, feeling safe falling asleep. Your dreams consist of the King and how things could be if you were to be together. After a few hours, you hear a soft knock on the door. You get up and open the door slowly. Before you stand the man of your dreams.

"Lady Winters, may I come in?"

"Of course, your Highness" You open the door and bow before him.

"Would you mind closing the door? I don't want anyone to know I'm here?"

"Yes, yes of course"

You close the door. When you turn around you see the King looking you up and down. You suddenly realize you have your sleepwear on and quickly grab a gown.

"So sorry, Sire"

"Please, please don't apologize to me about you being in your sleepwear, it is, after all, me that came to you in this ungodly hour"

"Sire, if I may ask, what are you doing here at this time?"

"I came here to let you know that you don't have to worry about Lord Dobson anymore, he has been....well.... let's just say, he has been dealt with. He won't be bothering you ever again"

You feel hope rising in your chest again. You are so grateful that the King handled Lord Dobson for you.

"Really? Oh, your Majesty, you don't know how much joy and relief it brings me. You have done me a great service. I thank you, Sire, from the bottom of my heart"

"I'm very glad that I could be of some assistance to your trouble"

He turns around and walks to look out of the window. He sighs deeply. You see how the weight of the world rests upon his shoulders. You walk closer to him.

"Sire, forgive me but it seems as if you have trouble in your own heart. You have done me such a great service and I would very much like to return this service, if at all possible?"

He turns around and walks closer to you. His hands are inches away from yours and he searches your eyes. You smell his musky scent and it prickles all your senses. You don't know if it's his dark brown eyes staring into your heart or the way his face glows for you but you feel excitement brewing between your thighs.

"Lady Winters, it's so kind that you see into my soul and show me your affection for my trouble. This is what attracts me so, to you. You don't just see the King but you see me. I have a lot of troubles, Lady Winters but when I'm with you, every last one disappears"

"Sire, you aren't just my King but so much more and I would see it as a great honor should, you choose to confide in me"

"Angel, you consume me so..."

He moves even closer to you and your desire for each other pulls your lips together. You close your eyes and memorize this moment. You taste his lips between yours and you're aware of how his stubble caresses your soft skin. He gives a deep groan in your mouth.

"Mmm...I don't know for how long I would be able to control myself around you. I couldn't sleep tonight after I saw how enchanting you looked at the ball. My thoughts aren't my own..."

He once again touches his lips with yours but this time it's isn't gentle but more urgent. He put his hands around your waist and you grab his collar of his jacket and pull him even closer to you. You feel a subtle trembling filling his entire being. His breathing changes to heavy, shaky breaths.

"Sire..."

He pulls an inch away from your mouth and you feel his breath against your mouth.

"Would you do me the honor of calling me by my name?"

You feel your heart trying to break through your ribcage. You know that no one is allowed to call the King by his first name except the ones that he allows. You move your lips to his ear and say his name in a whisper.

"James..."

You feel his grip on your waist tighten by the sound of his name. Then he let out a soft moan. He curses in your mouth as he kisses you again.

"Fuck...you know you're mine, angel"

"I hope to be yours, for as long as you'll have me"

"Oh god, it's so good to hear that"

He kisses you one more time. Then he pulls away from you with much effort. He holds your hand in his, taking a deep breath.

"I have to talk to you about the princess"

"What about the princess, Sire?"

"Please, I beg of you, call me James" You smile shyly and nod your head.

"She must know that I have an interest in you. She's the one that's behind Lord Dobson's unforgivable behavior. She told him to pursue you. She's trying to shake you up…"

"Oh god, what am I going to do?"

"Don't worry about her. I'll deal with her but I just need you to be aware of what she might do. Just promise me you'll be careful around her. If she is willing to go so far, I don't know what else she's capable of doing"

"Yes, I'll be careful. Thank you for letting me know"

He stands up and then walks to the door. He stops and suddenly he starts to sway, he put his hand on his face.

Then he collapses on the floor. You run to him and fall on the floor next to him.

"God! James! James!! Wake up!!"

The King lays on the floor, lifeless. His eyes are closed and he looks so peaceful but selfishness consumes you. You want him for yourself, you want him to be alive. You put your head on his chest to hear if he's breathing. You hear the rapid beating of his heart, then you smile, he's alive. You move your mouth to his ear and whisper.

"James, you can't leave me now, not now when I...when I think...I might be falling in love....wake up, my King"

His eyes flutter open and he makes a moaning sound.

"Uhmm...oh god!"

He jumps upright but he shouldn't do that. He grabs his head in an attempt to steady himself.

"James, are you okay? What's going on?"

"Forgive me, Lady Winters...uhmm...it seems I might not have eaten enough today. This is probably my body's way of telling me to eat more..."

You feel a surge of anger coming over you.

"Why? Why? Would you not eat? James, I need you to look after yourself. I wish to be by your side and look after you but I...I'm not allowed to now...I need you to be good to yourself, please, I beg of you"

The color returns to his face and he takes your hand in his. He caresses your cheek with the back of his hand.

"My heart feels such joy when you show me that you care about my well being. I need you to be by my side, every day and every night. Thank you for showing me your heart. I'll look after myself better, I promise you"

You both stand up and you see him shaking a little bit.

"James, I think you should stay with me tonight. I would like to make sure you're feeling better"

He can't help the smile that plays on his mouth. You see his excitement at the thought of staying with you for the night but then his face falls.

"There is nowhere else that I would like to be, then by your side right now but if I don't return to my room, people will get suspicious"

"I understand that completely. Then can I propose that you stay with me just for a little while longer, just to put my heart at ease? Please, Sire?"

"Angel, don't call me Sire or your Highness again when we're in private. I want to be close to you and not feel as if you'll apart from me. I'm James to you forever, please"

"I'll do as you desire, James"

"Thank you...I'll stay with you a while longer"

You softly take his hand and walk to your bed. His eyes follow you as far as you go. He let you lead him to your bed. You sit him down on the bed, then you slowly start to unbutton his shirt. He keeps staring at you with a smile creeping up on his mouth. You take his shirt off, pushing him down slowly onto your bed. You play with your fingers on every muscle and outline of his sculpted body.

His eyes never leave you but you hear his breathing increase. You softly kiss his chest and a low groan escapes him.

"Damn...you're torturing me in a way I always want to be tortured in"

You then stand up from the bed and drop your gown. He swallows hard and you put your leg over his toned body, straddling him. You feel his arousal standing firm between your legs.

"James, I want to be the one you think of every day of every minute of every second. I want to be the one you see in your dreams"

"Angel, believe me when I say there's no one else I'm thinking about. You have me...mind, body, and soul..."

He put his hands around the small of your neck and pull in for a kiss. You feel his tongue gently playing inside your mouth. You put your hands on his chest and he moans at your touch. You kiss until you pull away breathlessly.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling a lot of things, angel. You're going to have to help me give you the answer you desire because you can definitely eliminate some answers with what you feel standing firm between your thighs"

You see him blush a little and you give him a smile in return. You get off him and sit next to him on the bed. You lay your hand on his chiseled chest. He grabs your hand and caresses it with his thumb.

"You know...I love it when you put your hand on my chest like that. I love feeling you so close to my skin"

"James...I still need to know how are you feeling after collapsing like that? I think we could still order some room service or find you some-"

He gets up on his elbows and pulls you in for another kiss.

"I'm fine, angel and I do love the way you care for me"

"If you're not going to let me get you something to eat, then how am I going to be able to help you feel better?"

"Food is not going to make me feel better but being with you makes all the things in my life feel better"

"What do you mean food is not going to make you feel better? Did you see what just happened to you? I can't let that happen to you again, I do worry about you, James"

He abruptly stands up from the bed. Suddenly it's like he realizes something.

"You right, I have to go. I'm sorry"

He walks to the door. You stand in amazement at how he just got up and leaving you just standing there. Then he suddenly turns around and grabs your hands.

"I was a dead man walking and you brought me back to life..."

He kisses you and your heart swells at the sound of his words. He turns around and walks out the door. You feel so happy and relieved that you saw the King…

(....my King....my James...)

You fall asleep and hope that he's just as happy as you are. The next day you meet everyone back on the train. Anabel stands next to you.

"Hey, you ready for some more slave driving?"

"Oh, I'm so ready for that woman"

"Ladies! What a pleasant surprise..." The princess laughs and suddenly changes her face, filled with anger.

"I won't tolerate unacceptable behavior from you two. If I say entertain these Lords than you do it! No questions asked. Do you understand??"

"Yes, your Grace but we did-" Lady Anabel tries to explain.

"No buts! Just do as I say. I've got enough things to worry about than to worry about you two not doing what I ask of you!"

"But your Grace-" You try to explain.

"No, no, no Lady Winters..." She smiles and waves her finger to the sides in front of your face.

"Especially from you, young lady! Now, leave me at once You turn around and have a seat far from her."

"Did she just call me young lady? It must be very obvious to her that I'm almost six years older than she is? What's wrong with her?"

THE KING

He closes your bedroom door behind him and carefully looks if anyone saw him leaving your room. He walks sneakily back to his room. Sweat is starting to form on his forehead. He opens the door and walks straight to his bedstand drawer. He opens the drawer and takes out three pills.

(She's wasn't supposed to know about it yet. Dammit, James can't you control yourself?!)

He slams a fist on the table. Then he throws the pills in his mouth and washes it down with water.

"Goddammit!!"

He throws his shirt off and gets into bed, sleeping almost immediately. The next morning he wakes up with a knock on his door.

"Yes?"

"It's me, can I come in?" The princess speaks softly.

He falls back on his pillow and answers unwillingly. "Yeah"

The princess enters the room and bows low before the King. "What do you need from me?"

"Your Highness, I merely wanted to know if you enjoyed the evening last night at the ball?"

His thoughts almost immediately go to you and how you caressed him in your bed. He can't help the smile that's forming on his mouth and answer her with the most controlled tone he can muster.

"Yes, I had a good time. Is that all you require from me, princess?"

"Sire, I hate that we're so estranged from each other...we used to be very close and shared everything"

It's taking every fiber in his being not to shout at her and tell her that it's all her fault that they are where they are. That it's all her pathetic plans with Lord Dobson that drive them even further apart. That it's her behavior that's distasteful but he calmly answers her.

"Yes, there was a time that we shared everything. There was a time that we were happy but that time has passed, due to certain things...I'm very sure you're aware of, princess"

She takes a step back and she turns white as snow in her face. Then she giggles like a little girl.

"Surely you know I won't do anything to purposefully hurt you??"

The King gets out of bed and throws on a rob. He then walks closer to the princess. His calm demeanor changes to provoked resentment.

"Are you conscious of all the things you have done princess??"

"Sire, I have but only served you"

She jerks her head to the side and giggles in her hand, then turns serious again. The King lifts his eyebrow and a frown from between his brows.

"Tell me, princess, do you remember Lord Robertson...Lord Hendricks...what about Lord Byron. Do you remember??"

"Sire...I....you...I..."

She put her hands on her face and makes a loud moan of frustration, like she doesn't know what's going on, tears streaming down her face. She then leaps forward and falls against the King's chest. He immediately grabs her wrists and pushes her away from him.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I must go now and prepare for the train trip. Please excuse me"

She wipes away her tears and smile. The King just stare after her as she turns around and walks out of the door as if nothing happened between them. He stands there just blinking his eyes, wondering what just happened.

(What the hell is going on with her? I better keep her away from Lady Winters or she could do something awful to her)

He gets dressed and makes his way to the train.

"Morning, your Highness. Everyone is waiting for you in the living room car"

"Thank you, Lord Walton"

He walks into the living room car and everyone bows down.

"Dear friends, I hope that you've enjoyed Italy with us these past few days. We have successfully signed a treaty with Italy and we have their support"

Everyone cheers and applause him. Then his eyes find yours and he can't help the joy he feels in his heart.

"Now we're on our way to Austria to see if we can get them to support our beautiful country. We should arrive there within two days from now. Please, make yourselves at home in our train"

The people applause once more and the King finds a place to sit. His eyes can't seem to look at any other place but, you.

(Damn, you're so beautiful, angel)

LADY WINTERS

You see the King staring at you and you hope no one notices it but at the same time you're enjoying every moment of his attention. You decide to make his staring worth his while.

You drop your handkerchief and then bends down to pick it up, making sure your breasts give him a nice full showing for his liking. You see him moving around uncomfortably with his hands in his pockets. By now you know what that means, he's severely aroused by you. You smile at him mischievously.

You get a break to go back to your compartment and just relax for a bit. You lay on your bed just remembering last night and how good it felt to have the King in your bed.

You then take a nap and read a book. The train stops at a station to fill up on water and then move on again. Not so long after, there's a knock on the door. You open the door.

"How nice to see you again Lady Winters"

You gasp in surprise to see Lord Jackson standing in front of you. You have actually forgotten about him. You've been so focused on the King lately.

"Lord Jackson, what a nice surprise? How did you get here?"

"May I come in?"

"Yes, yes of course"

He walks in and you close the door. "I was always supposed to be on the tour but the King assigned me last minute to something else but I'm finished now and thought I'll catch up with you here"

"Oh, okay. Well it's good to know you're here now"

"I'm very glad you're happy because I must say, I have been thinking about you a lot and missed you too much"

You blush and look out of the window. Then back to him.

"It's good to hear that, Lord Jackson"

"I must go back to my compartment to settle in but will it be too forward of me to ask you to sit with me tonight at dinner?"

(Oh god, I think he's head over heels for me...)

"I would enjoy sitting with you tonight"

He smiles and then leaves your compartment. You pace around the room for a while. Thinking of how you would handle this situation with Lord Jackson. Dinner is served in the dining car. You open the doors and see Lord Jackson already sitting at the table. He sees you and waves you over. The King sees you too and smiles at you. You smile back. You then proceed to sit next to Lord Jackson.

"It's so nice of you to join me"

He takes your hand and kisses it. You look at the King and see his hands under his table turning into fists. You see his eyebrows forming a frown. He quickly looks away.

"Of course, Lord Jackson..."