{Eleanora's P.O.V}
After a long while of planning, the clothes my husband will wear for his trip and the dress I would wear for the luncheon grandma invited me to, I wore my nighties and laid beside my husband.
What?... I can't go out looking shabby on my first outing as a married woman. I can't just wear anything.
After the dance, Dure and I had dinner in the garden. We drank a few glasses of wine before he retired to bed. Even though he offered that we should cuddle before he slept, I declined. I had to make sure my husband looked grand wherever he went to and made sure he was looking hotter than he actually was. I helped him to pack the suitcase and made sure there was nothing left out.
I was so tired, that I just laid on my husband's chest. I looked at the grand clock sitting on the wall which was directly opposite the bed, the clock says 12:03 a.m.
My hands wrapped round his broad and big chest. He was wearing a white vest and so I couldn't see his bare chest. In fact, I have never seen Dure shirtless but I do know I will one day.
I'm his wife. Who else would see if not for me?
I was just about closing my eyes to sleep when I discovered that my husband's breathing was becoming abnormal. He seemed to be panting instead of breathing normally. His head kept moving from place to place like a pendulum and his hair was already wet with sweat.
My chest tightened and I sat up immediately to look at him.
I've never seen Dure this way before. Could it be a nightmare?... Or could it be a health challenge?
Phillips never said anything about Dure having health challenges, neither did anyone in the family say it.
His panting became heavier and by the movement of his chest, I almost thought he was having a heart attack. I could feel the beads of sweat rolling down my face, as I shaked the body of my husband and croaked "Dure, please don't die on me! We just got married, you can't make me a young widow!"
He was visibly shivering and soon he was coughing. But he refused to open his eyes. I tried to lift him to sit up but he didn't.
Could it be that he had shortness of breath?... Or he was having a heatstroke?... Or there wasn't enough air in the room?
I ran to the window, opened the curtains and opened the windows. The air locked out rushed in to the extent I thought that it was already winter. I looked at my husband and he was still panting for air.
Could he need water?... If that is the case, from here to the kitchen will take a whole ten minutes. What if he dies by then?... I can't leave his side.
I rushed to his side again. He was still coughing and this time, he seemed to be choking.
Could it be his vest? I couldn't help but think. I took hold of his vest, and tore it into two. So that wind can penetrate into every corner of his body.
I was about to remove his vest for him when his hands stopped me. Then he woke up, looking like he just ran a Marathon for the country. He was heavily panting and sweating, but still had the strength to push me away with his elbow making me to lose balance and land straight on the floor.
He sat up, resting his head on the big headboard, covering his chest with the duvet.
Relief washed all over me like an ocean. I gathered strength to stand up and walked to his side and sat on the cushion chair that was beside the bed.
I held his left hand, his attention turning to my side.
"I'm fine, babe. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine" he croaked, taking deep breaths before every sentence, gently pulling his hand away from mine.
"Do you need water? Let me get it for you" I asked him, using the sleeves of my nighties to clean his sweaty face.
"I'll be fine. I just... just need to rest". He croaked again. He said, dismissing it.
I kept quiet for a while, the large room was quiet. The only thing I could possibly hear was the sound of our breathing and the movement of the wind.
"A nightmare?" I asked him, when I saw he was finally okay.
He nodded gently.
"Do you mind telling me what the nightmare was all about?" I asked him. He let his gaze meet mine and seemed to be observing me for a while. Then he smiled "It was just a nightmare. I'm fine, babe". He replied.
"That took a long while to answer. Seems you don't trust me. It's okay. I do hope that you'll trust me one day". I told him, rising to my feet and walking round the large bed.
"Don't get me wrong babe. I'm perfectly fine. It's just that I don't want to bother you with my nightmare". He said, as I sat on the bed and entered the duvet.
"Dure, we are married" I reminded him, showing him the wedding ring that sat comfortably on my fingee. "We should behave more like a couple". I replied him, then we stared at each other for a long while.
"Come closer babe". He signalled for me to come over. I reluctantly agreed and he pulled me in to rest my head on his chest.
"If telling you my dream will make feel better then, no problem". He said in almost a whisper. I adjusted myself in bed so I wouldn't end up sleeping off because I was already drowsy.
"It mostly comes as a dream but nowadays it's been more frequent than usual. It comes as a trance sometimes and I find it hard to distinguish if it's actually a dream or a distant memory". He started. I looked up at him, even though I could only see his pointed nose and hair.
"What is it all about?"
"A woman with two children. A girl and a boy. Suddenly there was fire, then the woman tried to escape through the back door with those two children but she was being chased. In the course of trying to save herself and her children, the car drove off the cliff and into the waterfall. I keep finding myself suffocating in the water and sometimes it feels so real that I would feel it in reality". He explained.
"Has it always been that bad?" I asked him.
"Yes. It wasn't so frequent before, but two weeks to our wedding till now, the dreams have been frequent". He replied.
I sighed heavily then cuddled closer to him.
"Everything will be fine, my love. As far as I'm around, you'll be fine" I assured him even though my eye lids were heavier to hold firmly open.
I felt his arms pull me in more tightly than before. "Thanks for always being there babe. I'm so lucky to have you". Was the last thing I heard.
__________________✍️
I was awoken by the sound of rushing water. I forced my eyes to crack open and immediately sat up so I wouldn't be tempted to sleep back.
Out of the bathroom, came my husband in his bathrobe, looking all wet and hot.
"Good morning, my love". I said with a smile, causing his attention to turn towards me.
"You're awake" he smiled, then walked up to me. He sat on the couch which was beside me.
"I just woke up" I replied him, and held his hands. His hair was wet and all brushed to the back, allowing his stormy eyes to be in full view. The smell of Plum invaded my nose and mouth, even though his face was still dripping wet.
"My love, you smell so good". I replied him and he laughed softly.
"Why are you laughing?" I asked clearly not understanding the reason why he was laughing or what was funny in what I said.
"Am I that handsome?". He asked, helping me to close my mouth before standing and walking to the changing room. Then I realized, I was drooling.
That was embarrassing. But he's my husband, so it shouldn't be that bad.
I got out of bed and walked to the changing room where my husband was. By the time I got there, he was already fully dressed.
"This room itself, is enough for two duplexes to be built. It's so wide". I couldn't help but say, disappointed that I couldn't catch a glimpse of my husband's bare back and chest.
He turned around, then winked at me, holding my left hand, then leading me out of the changing room.
"I'm about to leave for the trip, babe. Take care of yourself while I'm gone". Said my husband, his worried eyes piercing into mine.
"I will. Make sure you call me when you arrive". He smiled and nodded.
"Wait for me". I told him before running into my changing room which was directly beside my husband's and flipped a gown over my body then ran out to meet my husband.
His sunshades in his left hand, his suitcase in his right, while his body was in a smart blue suit. He smiled at me as I approached him.
"A kiss before you go?" I asked him and he smiled. Pulling me in for a deep kiss but cutting it short almost immediately, leaving to wanting more, he winked at me again before walking out the room.
I followed him. I needed to know if he safely entered his car.
"So Babe, any event for you to attend today?" Dure asked me.
"Event?...Grandma invited me to a luncheon this afternoon. I guess that's the only event I'll attend today". I replied, walking by his side.
"Okay. That's good to know. Just make sure you're safe wherever you go. That's why I got those bodyguards to be our butler". He said.
Lorenzo and Ameed were waiting for us at the mouth of the stairs. As soon as we got the the stairs, they both gave us a bow "Good morning, your highness". They greeted.
Ameed collected the suitcase from my husband and carried it down the stairs, while Lorenzo just stayed and watched.
"Since you like Lorenzo, let him stay with you. Ameed will be going with me on this trip". My husband said and I smiled.
I looked at the stoic and stern face of Lorenzo. If I hadn't known him before, I would have thought he was a statue.
"You make a perfect statue, Lorenzo". I joked as j and my husband descended the stairs.
It took a long while before we got to the entrance of the mansion. The Bugatti was already waiting.
"Love babe. Stay safe". My husband said, giving me a kiss on the forehead before walking into the car.
The car was roared to life and before I knew it, it was already outside the compound.
"Good morning, your highness". I heard Mary say. I didn't reply her. I just sighed and walked inside.
"Prepare my bath, Mary. And on your way, bring me a cup of Morning tea" I ordered and walked back to my room.
"Your highness, Prince Green said he wants to see you in the evening". Ciara suddenly announced making my head turn so fast, I thought it was going to snap.
"What?"
"Prince Green said he wants to-"
"I heard you alright". I told her.
I walked to the garden. Trying to figure out why my brother suddenly wanted to pay a visit.
Could it be he felt guilty for not coming to my wedding and he came here to apologize for that?
Or could it be that grandpa sent him to give me something important?
Apart from those two reasons, j really can't understand why Green was coming but in anyway, I'll be waiting for him.
I do hope he gives me a good reason why he didn't come for my wedding or he got another thing coming!