Chapter Nine

I'm not quite sure why, but that night I found myself standing in front of William's door, my hand raised as I bit at my bottom lip, my nerves all but jumping all over the place. I guess I wanted to tell him that I had a good time...but of course I chickened out at the last moment. I sighed, my hand dropping to my side as I turned and made a move to go back to my room, only to pause when I heard William's voice, muffled slightly by the door. Curiosity filling me, I looked around the empty hallway and gently placed my ear against the door. I know, I know, it was an invasion of privacy, but since Anthony wasn't standing at my side guarding me, I could only assume that this was where he was at. It felt wrong to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help it as I heard William speak again, this time being able to make out what he said.

"I'm worried," he was saying, his voice a bit on the quiet side, "I'm to be married in a week, and yet...I'm having doubts."

I tried not to acknowledge the sad, sinking feeling in my gut.

"Doubt about the marriage? Or..." Anthony's voice sounded, and even know I figured he was there, by actually confirming it, I had a nagging sense of jealousy form within me.

I heard a shuffling sound, as if someone was moving. Finally, after a moment of hesitation, William spoke. "It's not that. I just...Melani is unlike any noble woman I have ever met. She deserves a man who can please her in ways I will never be able to. I don't want her to have an unhappy, inadequate marriage because of my sexual preferences. I just don't feel like that's right for her."

"So what do you suggest?" Anthony wondered.

"I...a while back, I suggested a side lover for Melani. Of course she was embarrassed about it, but..." He went silent for a moment. "The fact of the matter is, I-I was wondering if, once the situation arises, you take up the role of satisfying her."

My cheeks burned and I gulped, embarrassed beyond belief as perverse images flooded my mind. I shook those thoughts away, though they kept persisting. Anthony and I? I-In that way? How in the world was a girl to comprehend that? Especially when said man is the lover of her soon-to-be husband? Tangled in a dance of love...ok, I needed to stop such perverse thoughts. Mother never raised me to be a pervert.

I guess Anthony was in shock too, for he was as silent as the grave. When he finally spoke, his voice was hesitant. "William...I-I don't know..."

"Out of everyone in this dreadful world, Anthony...it is you I put my entire faith and trust in. You are the only one I trust to take care of Melani. Besides, y-you have experience with women in ways that I do not, a-and I know you will take care of her."

"...Ok. I'll do it. But William? What if an heir is born and the child resembles the guard that was supposed to be protecting Lady Melani? People will start asking questions. Your father especially."

"I've already thought about that. I-I will be the one to...for lack of better words, take her first. Once she is confirmed pregnant, and an heir is born..."

"I see. But William, do remember that Lady Melani isn't an object to be traded off. She is an intelligent woman, surely it would upset her."

"I know. And I do not see her as an object. I just want her to be happy, and I cannot make her happy in the bedroom."

Anthony sighed, and it was silent for a moment before I began to hear a moaning sound. My cheeks turned bright pink at the sound, and I decided that it was probably best if I leave them to their privacy. On my way back to my room, my mind couldn't help but dive back to what I had heard. I didn't even really know what to think, honestly. I was an awkward mess around those of the male type, and yet, William, my soon-to-be husband, suggested that his lover, who is also my body guard...lay with me after I provided my husband an heir. My face darkened. And Anthony agreed.

"My, you're up pretty late, Lady Melani." I froze upon hearing that voice, my heart stopping in my chest as I turned around, none other than Elliot staring back at me.

"A-Actually, I was just heading to bed now. So if I may..." I turned and began walking, trying not to sigh out loud when Elliot matched my pace, even having the audacity to step in front of me. I huffed, pulling back before I could walk into him.

"What is the rush, my Lady?"

"Seeing as it is two in the morning, Lord Elliot, I would like to go to bed. I have engagements in the morning." On the outside I may have appeared calm, but on the inside I was freaking out more than a fish out of water. William had advised me to stay away from this man, yet here he was hounding me while William frolicked with his lover. Which meant that neither man was going to magically come to my rescue this time. My luck was utter manure.

My face flushing red in irritation, I moved past the other man, wondering just how far my room was. I definitely don't remember it being this far from William's room.

"He will never love you, you know." Elliot's voice stopped me in my tracks, his statement causing a painful ping to my heart. "Ah, but you already know that, don't you?" I jumped when the blond appeared before me, his mischievous green eyes on me. "Do you know that he doesn't even fancy women? I've heard all about it from the guards he has lain with." I gulped when he lightly brushed my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on the flesh of my neck. "I can show you how a real man feels."

I yanked away from him, allowing a glare to fall onto my face. "I adamantly refuse your offer."

Elliot merely watched me as I finally made it to my room, rushing inside before I slammed the door behind me. Once I was safe I exhaled shakily and leaned on the door, allowing myself to slide down it until my bottom was against the floor. I bit my bottom lip. How dare Elliot ask...that of me. I was not some woman that laid with any man that offered. No. I had more respect for my body than that.

I rubbed at my upper arms and pulled myself to my feet, making sure the door was locked securely behind me before I tugged my dress off, sighing in content as the cool air touched my bare, heated flesh.

What would William do if he found out what the blond offered me? What would he say? Should I even tell him? If I told him, would he be mad that I was near the other man? No...no, I don't think he would get mad at me. I mean, how could I have foreseen Elliot's antics? I didn't know that man was going to corner me in the hallway at two in the morning. So surely he couldn't get mad at me for that. Curious, yes, for being up so late, but I could be truthful and say I couldn't sleep.

I pinched the bridge of my nose as another random thought popped in my head, one I have been wondering about for a while. Where in the good world was my other guard Edward? Surely he should have followed me, or even been there at my door when I left. Yet he wasn't. So where was he? Did William decide that Anthony was enough?

I sighed and bit my bottom lip, pulling on my nightgown. Whatever the case, I really did need to go to bed, since I actually did have engagements in the morning. The kind that dealt with my future wedding. Yes, I was to be fitted for my wedding dress tomorrow. Was I nervous? Yes. Was that partially the reason I couldn't sleep tonight? Possibly. But goodness it was going to feel so surreal, being fitted for the dress that was going to see the day where I relinquished the name Rosethorn, and took on the name Featherborn.

Oh great, thanks mind. I definitely didn't need another thing to keep me awake all night.

I climbed onto my bed, pinching my cheeks as I tried to get my mind off of the upcoming wedding. "Bunnies and rainbows, bunnies and rainbows," I muttered to myself, willing for sleep to take its hold on me.

I guess it worked, because the next thing I knew, I was getting up and was currently making my way into town to be fitted for my wedding dress. This time, Anthony accompanied me, although, after last night, hearing what I had, it was admittedly awkward to look at the other man. I mean, could you blame me? He agreed to...to lay with me after I had William's heir. And knowing that, I couldn't exactly look at him without my perverse mind creating such...lewd images of us tangled in a heated dance of pleasure.

And I knew he suspected something was up, considering those gorgeous teal eyes kept gliding towards my direction, the man staring at me for a bit before they would drift off. The next time he looked at me though, that bright gaze remained on me, causing me to nervously bit the inside of my cheek, my stomach filled with those darned fluttering butterflies.

Finally, after a full minute of him staring at me, I finally grasped the courage to look at him. "I-Is there something you wish to say?" I asked him, the raven haired man only blinking at the question.

He then leaned forward, teal eyes on me. "Is there something I've done that has upset you? You haven't spoke to me practically this whole trip." Those full lips pulled into a frown. "I apologize if I have done anything to warrant such a cold shoulder. I-"

"You didn't do anything," I interrupted, nibbling at my bottom lip as I tried to hide my face from him. "It's just..." I attempted to rake my brain for a lie, "I-I..." When nothing came to mind, I sighed and decided to tell him about Elliot, rather than embarrass myself and tell him what I had heard. "I-I ran into Elliot as I was walking to my room."

Anthony immediately tensed and leaned forward, worry on his face as he inspected me. "What? Are you alright? He didn't do anything to you, did he? William will be so furious when he hears of this."

"He didn't do anything to me. But...he apparently knows of William's preferences, and..." my cheeks flushed bright red, "he practically offered to bed me. To which I refused, of course."

Anthony was clenching his jaw so hard I thought the bone may shatter. "Do not worry, Lady Melani, I will not allow Elliot to come near you again if it is the last thing I do. You are everything pure, and innocent, and I will not allow him to sully that. I promise you."

I felt my heart pinch in my chest, my cheeks darkening at the sincerity in those words. Finally, I allowed a smile to form on my face, my nerves full force as I stared at the tanned man in front of me. "Thank you, Anthony."