Chapter Two

The room Henry brought me to was massive, the bed alone looking like it could fit about twenty people on it. Couches laid in a semi-circle in front of the large bed, and in front of that was a stone fireplace that was flanked by two small quarts tables. The color of the room was mostly natural browns, with everything being lined in gold. I may not have been new to the world of luxury, but this was quite a lot. Well, not the furniture, per say, but the bed that took up half the room and everything having gold in it. It was a bit much, to be honest. And this was just his bedroom?

"Make yourself at home, Lady Melani. If you wish, I could have a servant bring you something to eat, or drink."

I turned my gaze from the impressive room, giving His Highness a shy smile. "I am quite fine. But I thank you for offering."

Henry smiled warmly at me, before he gave me a nod and left me to do my own bidding. Not that I even knew where to begin. Would William get mad at me if I began snooping around? I mean, a woman has to know something about the man she's marrying, right? I nibbled the inside of my cheek, tentatively taking a few steps towards the bed before I reached out and gently touched the blankets. Ah, silk. The softest of cloth in my opinion.

I let out a breath and fell back first onto the bed, grimacing when I saw an image of my own face staring back at me. A mirror over the bed? What use does William have for that? I scrunched up my nose, watching as my reflection did the same. Is he a narcissist? What, did he like seeing himself as he went to sleep? My cheeks pinkened. Maybe he just liked watching him pleasure himself.

My good god, Melani! Get your mind out of the gutter! I scolded myself, hiding my face behind my small, pale hands.

"And what, pray tell, are you doing on my bed?"

I squeaked at the sudden question, and all but fell off the bed, my face crimson as I immediately stood up and brushed down my dress. "I-I apologize, I...felt a bit tired from my journey and thought it would be nice for a nap," I lied, keeping my eyes averted as William walked further into the room, this time with a white shirt on.

"You are a terrible liar." I snapped my gaze up as William grabbed a glass bottle from the quarts table from beside the fireplace, dark liquid swirling inside of it as the blond man poured himself a drink. He then paused in his actions, sage eyes darting towards me. "Perhaps you would care for a drink?"

I nibbled at my bottom lip. "W-What is it?"

William raised a thick brow, glancing down at the glass bottle. "Rum. I always have a glass after my training session."

I scrunched my nose in disgust and shook my head. "I'll pass. I'm not really one for liquor." The last time I had any liquor I ended up puking my entire dinner out while all of my elder brothers laughed at me. Though I most definitely was not going to tell him that.

"You do realize women are allowed to drink liquor, right? You don't have to drink only fancy wines, ah...what was your name again?"

My mouth dropped open. Was he being serious right now? "You're pulling my leg, aren't you? Surely you're not serious."

William gave me a droll look, gingerly taking a swig of the rum he had poured himself. "When my father told me that I was to be married in a month, I was in such a state of shock that I failed to hear the name of my fiancee." He gestured to me. "So please, enlighten me, my Lady."

I crossed my arms over my chest, an action not befitting for a woman of my stature. "My name is Melani Gold Rosethorn, youngest, and only daughter to Lord Maximus and Lady Camille Rosethorn."

William leaned against one of his arm chairs and stared at me, sage eyes filled with curiosity. "I know of Lady Camille. She and my father had a fling before he was married to my mother. I would have thought her daughter to be as busty as she was, not as flat chested as a man."

My face burned as rage bubbled within me. This insufferable man! "How dare you speak to me in such a way! I am a lady!"

I gasped when my back met a wall, William towering over me as he caged me between his arms, face only mere inches from mine. "Do you realize who you are talking to, Lady Melani? I am the Prince of England. Just because we are to be wed, does not mean you can talk to me like that. If I wish to comment on your body, I will do so and you will say nothing about it. Do you understand?"

I gulped, my heart racing a mile a minute in my chest as I tried to muster up the courage to speak. "O-Of course, Your Highness. I-I apologize for my rudeness."

I jumped when I felt his nose against the bare flesh of my neck, the other man inhaling my scent.

"On the plus side, you do smell rather good. What is that, lilac?"

"R-Rose, actually."

William's brows rose and he nodded to himself as he pulled away, scratching at his stubbled jaw.

I watched him walk back over to his rum, although, this time, he opted to put the beverage up before he, once again, turned to face me. "Whatever the case, Father wishes for us to...'get to know each other' before the wedding. So, Lady Melani, please join me for dinner tonight in our private dining chamber."

"Whatever you wish, Your Highness."

A couple hours later and I found myself sitting awkwardly at a small dining table, a large array of food being placed in front of us. And per William's request, I had changed out of my previous gown, to one that was a little fancier than the one I had come here with. And I wasn't blind enough to not admit that William looked dashing in his military coat and trousers, his hair pulled away from his chiseled face. He was a very attractive man, that much was true. However, what I had seen of his personality so far...I wasn't impressed.

Once the entirety of our meal was placed in front of us, William dug right in, spearing the meat on his plate and all but swallowing his mashed potatoes whole. I looked down at my own meal, my mouth salivating at the sight of juicy steak and mashed potatoes, a side of buttered croissants waiting to be devoured.

This was more like it.

I grabbed at my knife and fork and began cutting into that juicy meat, not caring if William's eyes were on me. That salad earlier that day did not fill me up in the least, so I felt like a starving woman as I shoved a forkful of steak into my mouth.

"Hungry, are you?" William asked, his deep voice drawing me away from my food.

Yeah, this steak was indefinitely better than that dreadful salad. Juicy, with all the right seasonings, and cooked to perfection, I could surmise that this was the most delicious thing I had put in my mouth.

"Ah, yes, Your Highness. I did not really eat much before making the journey here. Nerves, I suppose," I spoke, answering the blond's question.

"I see. And were you nervous about meeting me, or the notion that we would be married in a month?"

I placed my utensils down, feeling heat creep along my face as I risked a glance towards my fiance, the man's sage eyes burning into me. "I...of course it is both of those things. I mean no disrespect when I say this, but I do not know you on an intimate level. I know not of your likes and dislikes, or what you aspire for in the future...Mother and Father did not even tell me your name, or anything about who you were. So yes, I was nervous. I still am, I must admit."

For the first time since I've met Prince William, his sage colored eyes grew soft, almost...reassuring. "I must admit I was nervous as well, especially since I know my father will be soon expecting an heir."

I blushed crimson at the bluntness of his words and tried not to imagine a time where we would be tangled in a heated dance of love. To say I failed would be an understatement, and now I couldn't even look William in the eye, thanks to such perverse thoughts. "I-I'm sure we do not need to rush into such things," I stammered, keeping my eyes averted in embarrassment.

William snorted. "Lady Melani, this is royalty. My mother was pregnant with me only two weeks after she and my father married. And they began trying for an heir the day they wedded." He leaned forward, studying me silently before a thick brow rose. "Pardon my asking, but are you a virgin? Is that why you are so shy at the notion of you and I creating an heir?"

My face was so red at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if I resembled a tomato. Did he seriously just ask me if I had ever lain with another man? "I-I am as pure as the day Mother birthed me, and there is nothing wrong with that!" I paused, feeling quite embarrassed for even wondering this; "A-Are you one?"

William smirked and leaned back in his seat. "Of course not. I am a twenty-five year old man, Lady Melani. A man has needs." He grabbed his fork. "Does that make you jealous?"

Jealous? Absolutely not! Disappointed that he had seen the world of pleasure before me? Maybe. Maybe not. "I-I mean, as long as you do not frolic with other women while we are married..."

"If it makes you feel any better, I have never lain with a woman."

I blinked, shocked at this revelation. But...did he not just say he was a virgin? How could he not be one if he had never lain with a woman? Was he saying... "You slept with a man?"

"Men, actually." William gave me a look. "Are you disgusted with me, Lady Melani? That I, a man, would lay with another man?"

"W-no, no, not at all. I do not judge people based on who they choose to sleep with. I-I'm just surprised, is all," I admitted, my face still burning in embarrassment. I nibbled my bottom lip. "I retract my earlier statement about the...frolicking with other women. Just...just be faithful to me. Man, woman, I will be the only one."

William looked slightly shocked that I did not reprimand him for choosing male lovers, and a warm smile formed on his gorgeous face, causing my heart to clench tightly in my chest. "We will most definitely get along then, Lady Melani."

I felt an embarrassed smile form on my face, butterflies beginning to flutter around in my stomach. "Y-Yeah."