—
"Is this going to take all day?" I asked out of worry for the maids, watching as they cleaned the large Ball room.
"It's going to take as long as it does to get it ready for dinner, Marella," Elliot replied. His hand flattened on my back, gesturing me away from the room. "I have something for you."
"You do?" I asked. My neck craned up, locking eyes with his as the bottom of my dress brushed against my knees. Even in the colder weather, I was still inclined to wear a dress during the day. "What is it?"
He didn't respond, yet instead took me to the large doors and outside of the castle. I smiled out of my own control when my lungs caught the fresh air, still cold and crisp, but nice.
"Our wedding isn't for a few months, but I felt like showing you this." Elliot spoke. I shifted my eyes to him at the mention of our wedding, and soon followed his line of vision.
A horse carriage sat beautifully on the path ahead of us. It was larger, big enough for two horses to carry rather than one, and something you could expect Elliot to purchase. It was a beige colour, with a hint of white in certain areas. When my eyes scanned the entire thing, I gasped when seeing the two horses at the front.
"Elliot, it's beautiful," I said. When my head turned up at him, he smiled down at me. "Can I go see them? The horses?"
He merely nodded, and I was let go of his hold when stepping up to the large animals. Getting brushed by a gust of wind, I shivered at the cold breeze. Then, a warm material was placed across my shoulders and down my back. Elliot's jacket. I smiled at him before turning to the horse closest to my reach.
Taking a few cautious steps forward, I reached my hand up to his nose. The horse's head turned, gently placing it's face to my hand. "Is it a girl or boy?" I asked Elliot.
"Boy," he replied from a few steps behind me.
My smile grew as the horse allowed me to pet it, "Is he friendly?" I asked, before letting my idea take place.
"He is."
"Will he be okay if I kiss him right here?" I asked, pointing to the side of its head. The horse let out a loud sigh, with a small snort to follow behind. I laughed silently at it, whilst moving one hand to stroke just above his shoulder, the other still on his nose.
"I think he will be just fine," Elliot replied, a tad of amusement laced within his words.
I let the horse angle his head down before placing a quick, gentle kiss to the side of his head. I pulled away with a smile, although the horse looked slightly unfazed.
"We will be using this to go to and from our wedding," Elliot explained. "The location just hasn't been confirmed, yet."
Giving the horse a small hug, I turned around to face Elliot again.
Except, it wasn't just Elliot.
The three other guards stood at the door, a further distance away, but close enough to be able to hear us. Elijah had an intrigued look in his eyes, whist Matteo and Alessandro looked like they had a bit of a narrowness to their gaze, yet seemed slightly amused in a way.
Really, it was hard to decipher what any of them were feeling in the moment.
I watched as Alessandro took a short inhale of the cigarette held between his two fingers, before tossing it on the ground and subtly putting it out with his shoe.
"Let's get to the Grand Room, Marella," Elliot's voice drew my eyes away from Alessandro's, to see him hold out his hand. Reluctantly, I took it underneath the hard stares.
Walking me back to the Grand Room, Elliot scanned it with his eyes to check how the cleanup was going from the Ball a few nights prior. The table where drinks were handed out from still sat there, littered wine glasses and cloths tossed across it.
"This shall be done by tonight." Elliot announced. A few maids turned their heads this way, their eyes drifting past us and to the three guards stood behind us.
I looked over my shoulder, only to be met with three pairs of eyes. One trailing down my back, one on my own, and another looking just underneath my nose.
"Back to work," Elliot's voice brought me back, and with the hand on my back, he turned me to face the staircase.
—
I couldn't get them out of my head.
The other night was something I could never forget, and I couldn't help but replay the moment in my head over and over again like a broken record player.
It was dark outside now, as I had come back to my room from dinner a little over an hour ago.
Setting my book to the side, I climbed out of my bed and headed for the bathroom. I made sure I had a towel set on the sink counter top, and turned the handle of the shower before getting undressed.
The water was usually just above cool, and unless you were one of the very few who showered first after a period of time and were able to savour the small amount of hot water, your shower was quick.
As I rinsed my hair through the water, I began to remember what the men had done to me.
The water ran down my collarbone, sliding to my stomach before leaving a trail down to my thighs.
My thoughts were wrong. So utterly wrong.
But what Elijah had made me do on my own, felt too good to push aside.
My hand reached my chest, drifting down until level with my abdomen.
A sudden knocking came from the door, and I jumped, pulling my hand away. Turning the nob on the shower, I shut the water off and stepped out. "Marella?" Elliot called through the door.
"Yes?" I asked, whilst wrapping the towel around my body.
"I am going to be outside dealing with the horse carriage, then I will be in my office working on the plans for our wedding." He explained, as I dried the rest of the droplets that slid down my skin.
"Okay," I replied. The rest was silence, until I heard my bedroom door close shut, indicating that he had left.
I exhaled a breath just as Matteo's words flew back into my mind.
"Our rooms are just down the hall from yours, Marella."
I blinked and chewed on my lower lip. Slipping into my pyjamas for the night, I brushed through my wet hair as I wondered if the guards were outside my door.
Probably.
Setting my hairbrush back down, I stepped up to my door. I couldn't open it, but I could knock to see if anyone was there.
I inhaled a breath. Worst-case-scenario, it's Alessandro with his scary glare.
I began to wonder if this was worth it.
Pushing the nervous thoughts away, I knocked gently onto the back of my door three times. It felt like an entire minute before the door was opened.
Rocco.
I pushed my eyebrows together in confusion.
"Hello, ma'am, is there something you need?" Rocco asked, stood tall at the door, but not as tall as the other guards.
"Where are the new guards?" I asked.
"In there rooms for the night. I am only still hired here for when they all need rest and neither of them can guard your door, ma'am." He replied. I blinked, slightly disappointed.
"Oh, alright," I answered, as an idea erupted. I clear my throat, "Am I allowed to. . . go to one of their rooms and ask about their schedule for tomorrow?" The lie created itself as I kept speaking, and I began to wonder if it was even believable.
Asking about their schedule would make sense, as Rocco knows I like to know the plan for the next day. He has been guarding me for some time. And, knowing who will be guarding me would also be something I could be curious about.
Except, I'm not a very good liar.
He hummed in thought, giving it a moment before speaking again. "I don't believe Prince Elliot would agree, ma'am."
"I would just like to know," I shrugged.
"Well, alright," he muttered, his voice gravely from old age. "But be quick, ma'am, you are supposed to be in your bedroom for the night."
"I understand, I'll be quick," I replied. Stepping past him, I glanced down the hallway and turned the corner, grateful that Rocco can no longer see me.
I don't know which room is whose.
Three doors, three different men.
Taking a chance, I stepped up to the door in the middle and quietly knocked.
Moments passed, moments of my thoughts telling me to just leave and forget all about this. Until finally, the door opened, and there stood a tall, and casual-looking Alessandro.
Sweatpants hung at his hips with a tight, black shirt to compliment it. His muscles were evident beneath the thin fabric, his shoulders broad and his biceps strong. I silently swallowed at the sight before me. The curls on top of his head were messy, and although he looked like he could have just been sleeping, his eyes didn't help support that thought.
Unlike the usual narrowed eyes I was used to glancing at, they were more relaxed as he looked down at me.
I suddenly felt much closer to him. I took a step back until I bumped into something hard and tall.
Looking over my shoulder, Matteo stood with his eyes already on mine. He sent me a small nod directed to Alessandro's bedroom door. He spoke, "Go in, Marella."