Page 66 of The Time Of Queens

“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 circumstanceswasn’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.

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