Bonded

Chapter 4

The princess pulled her hair back so she could give him a piece of her mind but Tarquin swiftly cut her off before she could even start.

"Now, leave. I had my men bring a dress from a wardrobe from somewhere so you may change."

Jza opened her mouth to argue but he raised a hand silencing her. Tarquin turned around and pulled his new shirt from one of his shoulder, baring it. He looked back at her from his shoulder and smirked knowing his actions would clear the room out. Jza quite predictably gathered her walked out in huff.

She dripped all over the decorative carpet but Jza felt like she did not care. She wished she had pulled a towel with her the Lord's antics did not leave any room to think. He was already aggravating her enough that she worried she might lose her temper and reveal who she really was.

In the middle of the bed was a gown as the Lord had said. It was a peach lace dress with large puffed sleeves and baby pink trimmings and slip.

She recognized the dress immediately, having been a sister's favourite. While she had nothing against peach or pink, the way the dress was designed made the wearer look like a sparkly, fluffed up cupcake.

Jza sat down on the bed feeling the soft gauzy material. There were multiple laces that needed to be tied and an inbuilt corset that required at least three maids to help pull the dress on. It was ridiculous to expect her to wear something so complex and something so wretched a colour. Jza stonily waited for the man to come out.

"Are you decent?" Lord Tarquin asked from the entrance. 

"I am always decent," Jza replied, wearily. She had refused to follow his orders and imagined he would try to force her into it himself. But she still took the chance.

Tarquin stepped out from the behind the hanging curtain, rubbing a towel against his hair and tutted with amusement seeing the unworn garment.

"Why am I surprised? I should have been prepared for your disobedience," He stated with a roll of his eyes, "But I thought a girl would show more enthusiasm about new clothing."

"I- I do not dress myself," Jza replied feeling uncharacteristically hesitant, "I require a servant with this heavy dress and complicated lacing and..."

"And," Tarquin asked curiously.

"It is not the colour I would prefer to wear," Jza coughed out. Her body tensed waiting for the next blow to her. Would her hit She eyed the nearest candle stand wearily.

"My, my, I am really behind modern fashion. I thought pink was a girl's best friend. Pardon me for not keeping up since I had a war to plot."

Tarquin opened a gilded closet and pulled out a purple effervescent dress with a sprawling black train. The man took one look his prisoner and threw it on the floor with an exaggerated sigh. He then went through a number of dresses swiftly until he found a green simple empire cut number and Jza eyed it curiously trying to remember which sister had owned it. Tarquin noticed her interest and threw the gown at her.

"I hope you can manage this on your own because in about half an hour dinner will be served and I don't want our guest of honour to be late."

"Guest of honour! That's absurd. You shall trot me out in front of your soldiers only to humiliate me," Jza snapped at him.

"If I wanted to humiliate you I would have left you with them and not brought you in these room under my protection," Tarquin spoke slowly and dangerously, with his eyes fixed on Jza's face, "Then you would have truly found out what humiliation means."

The girl closed her eyes understanding the threat in his words. The option of leaving her, fending for herself was still there.

"Now, clean yourself and wear that dress. I shall be back in fifteen minutes whether you are ready or not," Tarquin ordered and walked out the room.