Chapter Four

Destrozado Amour

All I can smell is flowers, flowers and the rich crisp bake of the seemingly endless tray of cakes and sweets laid out so tantalizingly before the two of us. I turn to Jeffery already on his third helping of lemon squares and grapes. Noticing he didn't seem to care what form the food the both of us had been presented only that it tasted as good as it looked.

When I had expressed interest in having a picnic in the gardens I had imagined a simple blanket and a small bundle of treats. Often like the ones me and Nathan use to take. But expressing that desire in one of my frequent encounters with King Thiago had obviously been taken quite seriously.

I had woken this morning to an escort of servants leading me to one of the more private corners of the grounds. An elegant yet delicately small table of every delicacy one could ever hope for laid out center under a canopy of crimson silks and plush carpeting lined with rich embroiled pillows for seating.

Jeff who I had sent for shortly afterwards shared my amazement. Did Spain believe in nothing simple? Were they in competition to be the best at everything? Even something as small as a picnic seemed over privileged even for me, a princess!

I sip my water timidly almost afraid to disrupt the cluster of polished cuisine. It looked to good, to perfect, to even think about eating.

"I must admit, being the horned guest of a king definitely has its perks." Jeff muffles gulping down another handful of grapes.

"Strange isn't it?" I ask feeling the light summer breeze invade the open walls of the canopy bringing with it another amazing waft of flowered perfume.

"That a man, who's reputation is famed for being at times brutal-" I begin,

"Is so attentive towards you?" Jeff interjects.

"And why shouldn't he be? You are his future daughter after all." He adds.

I sip my cup again, even the water taste crisp. Somehow fresher than normal.

You would think I had grown accustom to such undeniable luxury? I had been in Spain for narrow over a months time yet everything seemed as overwhelming as the day I set foot on its boarder.

Every day something new, something better and bigger than before and instead of enjoy the constant unknowing and surprise. I feared it around every corner. At what cost was such a lavish lifestyle coming?

All these gifts. New gowns, jewels, cuisine and my every need attended to sometimes before I even knew of them myself. It didn't feel right. As if King Thiago was trying to make up for something I had not yet discovered he had done.

The man had been nothing but gracious the moment I arrived, but it was becoming more and more frequent more and more overzealous, and I feared to ask why.

"I suppose." I whisper.

Maybe that was it? Was Thiago trying to sweeten the bargain? See the lifestyle that I could be inheriting should I go through with my engagement to his absentee son? If that was the case. Why bother? Its not as though I had a choice in the matter. I was to marry Tomas regardless of his fathers generosity.

"Suspicious or not. I could get quite accustomed to this life." Jeff confesses sipping his second glass of wine with a smile.

"Spoken as the one not being sold off like cattle." I snip.

"Moo!" He sounds tossing a grape towards me.

"Your majesty," One of my escorts that had been standing a bit farther off interrupts parting the sheer curtains.

"Lady-" He begins but instantly Catharine shoves her way past the undersized man uncaring of formality her eyes large and her breath in quick short pants.

"Thank you," I nod in an apologetic manner to the escort sending him off as Catharine falls to her seat before the both of us.

"What's the hurry?" I ask unable to recall the last time I had seen Catharine break a sweat at anything.

"Besides the pastries." Jeff says sliding a protective arm around the last of the lemon squares.

"Later!" She dismisses and my attention is instantly peeked. Catharine Braud, never turned down sweets.

"I have wonderful news!" She proclaims leaning forward almost for a more dramatic effect.

My mouth dries and I instantly reach for my water.

Both me and Jeff lean in further ourselves, I'm almost to afraid to breathe in fear I might not hear every syllable of the phrase she is about to speak.

"Tomas is a lecher!" She beams.

I choke, coughing loudly water burns my nose but I force it down wiping my lips on the back of my hand.

"What?" I croak out.

"I believe she just said your betrothed is-" Jeff tries to repeat.

"I heard her Jeffery! I only meant how is that possibly wonderful news?" I snap.

"I've spent the entire day moving amongst the castle gathering all the information I could on our mystery prince." Cat tries to explain but Jeff hushes her and for good reason her voice is rising and my escorts aren't far off from our tent.

"I've learned a great deal about your future husband." She admits in a softer tone but a coy smile still placed on her red lips.

"Obviously not all good." I state dryly.

"A bit of both actually." She smiles plucking a grape from the table.

I snatch the tray away before she can have at another.

"Information now, food later." I warn.

She frowns but continues all the same.

"To begin with, Tomas is in Spain. Touring the countryside with a few of his more closer acquaintances. From what I gather he has an affinity for gambling and pleasure houses." Cat admits as if each detail is a gem that she personally had mined and polished herself.

"So far wonderful." I chime horrified. I was going to marry a womanizer? What could possibly be worse? The man was particularly a whore!

"Don't you see? That is our opportunity to bring him back to court!" Cat chimes ascetically.

"How so?" Jeff ask curiously.

"If what I heard is true Tomas has an especial weakness for beautiful woman. That works in our favor! If anyone can catch a mans eye, besides yours truly. Is you Lynne!" Cat proclaims so happily I almost feel guilty for dreading every single word coming from her mouth.

"I don't want his eye! Or anything else for that matter if that's all you were able to gather on him!" I shout offended at the mere notion of such a dreadful man anywhere near me.

"Now wait a moment, I was saving the best for last. Rumor has it he is also incredibly handsome." Cat grins as if that fact alone outweighs everything else she had just exposed.

"That hardly makes up for the latter." I grimace, forcing another hard sip of water down my throat.

"Though it does help a bit." Jeff shrugs, I roll my eyes.

"Oh come on Lynne you know how servants over dramatize things! A man gambles once suddenly he has a problem, or one drunken night beds a maid next thing you know he moves into a brothel." Jeff tries to explain but I fear where the subject might go next.

"Not helping Jeffery!" I shout trying to digest the brunt of all the information I had just absorbed.

"What I mean is, he is a bastard after all. He hasn't been held to the same standard as Prince Philip. He wasn't groomed to rule, just spend his fathers riches and enjoy the perks of being spawned by the King." He adds.

"Shockingly, none of this is making me feel any better." I admit. What kind of person was this Tomas? Obviously he wasn't the overly compliant sort, which could be a good thing but also a very bad characteristic in the future king! Not to mention my future husband!

"Lynne at least meet him! Admittedly he may be a bit rough around the edges. But if anyone can mold him into a demur man of substance you can!" Cat states confidently.

"And how do you propose I do such a thing?" I ask doubtful in her optimism.

"Give him something to focus all that energy on. Bastard or royalty makes no difference. He is still a man, a man who can be enticed to abide your will. Given the proper leverage." Cat smiles purposefully adjusting the plunging neckline of her gown.

"Here here." Jeff cheers.

I take a deep breath, as much merit as Cat's scheme may have held. It meant little to nothing to a man I couldn't see, couldn't speak to and most importantly couldn't 'entice'.

"In case the both of you have forgotten. He knows nothing about me. Not of our engagement, my arrival, nothing. How am I expected to lure him back to court? I hardly think I can send him a portrait of myself to strike his interest." I say.

"That my dearest, is where I come in." Cat reassures.

"Through my tireless efforts of investigating your betrothal. I have learned his squire and apparently most closest confidant. Is due to arrive at the castle the day after next. Apparently to relay another summons from King Thiago." Cat explains and I can feel myself hanging on her every word.

"And?" I blink.

"That's our opportunity! If we can get this squire to see how breathtakingly beautiful the visiting French princess is. Once he returns to Tomas-" She gestures leadingly with her hand.

"He'll surely come running to see for himself." Jeff smiles, apparently quite impressed with Cat's deductive skills.

"Oh well done Catharine." He compliments.

"I know." Cat beams snatching a single grape away from me victoriously.

"Well, I'll admit its not ideal. But it is a start." I admit, running over the possibilities in my head for reassurance that this plan might actually have merit.

"So what do we do?" Jeff ask leaning in further to cross his forearms over the table centered before the three of us.

"Oh I have plenty of ideas." She chimes and those honey colored eyes fixate on me like a literal cat, and I am the mouse.

Marching through the somewhat maze like halls of the outer castle I watch my feet step one after the other trying to wrap my head around ever detail of Catharine's plot.

It was bold, dramatic, and had her devious mind written all over it.

These last few days had drained me. Both mentally and physically, it was a like rehearsing for a play rather than a chance meeting. Every detail, every scripted line plotted out to sharp perfection.

I cup my forehead, I wanted to sleep but the fluttering in my chest was beginning to keep me up at night. I was so nervous, even though I wasn't coming face to face with Tomas. Yet, anyways. His most trusted steward was a very close second.

This meeting had to go perfect, if not. Who knows when Tomas would actually arrive in court? I couldn't take the waiting a moment longer! I wanted to know the man I was promised to. Even if his reputation was anything but honorary, I still wanted to face him. To get a read on him myself, not through the eyes of some third person perspective.

Jeff had a point, rumors and gossip were something every royal had dealt with. Though Tomas wasn't titled it didn't mean he stood immune from scrutiny.

I just wanted to know the man I was intended to marry, and if Catharine plan worked as she so boldly believed it would. Then I was one step closer to that goal.

"Evelyn," Uncle Richards voice breaks me from my thoughts as I spin to face him fast approaching from my shadow.

"Uncle?" I ask, he looked a bit winded.

"I've been looking for you. There are some things we need to discuss." He begins but I motion him to walk along side me. Standing still meant I had more time to ponder on my ceaseless thoughts, and that now was something I wanted to avoid.

"If its about Tomas's visiting attendant. I'm already well aware." I confirm.

I hear Uncle Richard take a quick intake of breath, but he quickly composes himself all the same.

"You're becoming more connected here at court." He states plainly but it almost sounded like a hidden compliment.

"I'm learning." I admit. I didn't need the vast network of spies James or Uncle had at their disposal. Catharine was like a one woman army to herself, and I luckily had her at my back.

"Well as it were, the lad wasn't the only visitor here at court I wanted you to pay mind to." He explains, catching my interest.

"Oh?" I ask.

"Duchess Camila, King Thiago's sister will soon be arriving as well." Uncle Richard says but his voice is dry and with a hint of reservation.

"You don't sound incredibly pleased by the news?" I prob.

"That is putting it mildly. It would be in both our best interest to steer clear of her. She is a very, callous woman. Not easily accepting of others, royalty or not." He explains a very prominent wrinkle on his brow becoming more and more distinguished.

"You almost sound afraid of her?" I smile.

"Anyone would be a fool not to be. She has the Kings ear, and her advice is often the undoing of many visiting diplomats." Uncle reassures me.

"For both our sakes, Evelyn. Mind your distance." He says but I can hear the command in his voice.

"Of course uncle." I promise. Tomas's aunt was of no consequence to me and if she really was such brutish of a woman. I would be all to happy to steer away from her path.

Though that did put a bit of an obstacle in my way when dealing with Tomas's steward. They after all would both at some point reach Tomas, and I had to make sure this Camilla had nothing negative about me to relay.

A task much more doable, with my secret weapon at my side.

I had to find Catharine.

It never did take long for news to reach Catharine's well jeweled ears. Be it good or bad it made no never mind, and I could always tell once a particularly juicy piece had gotten her attention. It was an easy enough sign, she simply appeared at the most random of places, wearing the exact same expression she was currently holding.

A sort of pained look, like containing the details of her latest uncover was literally painful to hold in and threatened to seep forward at any given moment.

"We have a problem." She burst grasping my hand at the turn of the corridor I had last heard she was heading towards.

"I'm afraid I already know. The duchess Camilla." I confirm.

"Someone want to enlighten me?" Jeff ask emerging from my shadow, I hadn't even realized he had been following me. But I was glad all the same. I needed them both.

"Not here." Cat says pulling me towards the direction of the nearest adjacent room. It seemed to be some sort of storage room, a few random pieces of furniture laid about coated with a heavy layer of dust and webbing.

It wasn't quite large enough for the three of us, but a tight fit was needed for this type of conversation.

"Apparently Tomas's squire isn't the only one traveling back to retrieve him. His aunt is going as well." Cat began in a hushed tone more towards Jeff than myself.

"Doesn't that work in our favor? Tales of Evelyn's beauty will be more believable coming from two sources rather than one." Jeff asked, and though I appreciated his enthusiasm I knew sadly merit wouldn't be enough.

"Unfortunately my appearance means little to the Duchess. Uncle Richard has already warned me to keep my distance." I explain.

"And, for good reason. From what I hear she is a shrewd woman. She's weeded out more than few undesirables when seeking prince Philips affection. I can only imagine she'd be just as particular about those who go after any near the throne." Cat's voice is lower than normal slightly tempered, it really didn't sound like her at all.

"One word from her and our plan to lure Tomas back to court with honey rather than vinegar can be all for not." She shrugs.

"A problem indeed." I admit. What hope did I have of standing up to such a brutish woman? She already had Uncle shaking in his Italian boots, a man I had known all my life who feared absolutely nothing.

The odds most definitely weren't in my favor.

"Surely there is some way to win her over? Catharine isn't this your specialty? Finding out people's weakness and exploiting them?" Jeff ask.

"I'd like to think I'm a bit less direct than that Jeffery!" Cat retorts clearly insulted.

"Oh you know what I mean!" He defends.

"Is there anything Cat? Anything you've heard about her, that might help?" I ask hopeful in her response.

"Well, a bit. She's a hard woman to dig up gossip about. A bit of a prude, righteous as all get out and a very close confidant of the king."

"Perfect." Jeff states rolling his eyes.

"There is a little we can work in our favor. She has an infinity for godly works, charity and all that." Cat hints but my hope drops into my stomach.

"Which I'm not exactly famous for-" I say dryly. The closest I ever came to charitable contribution was giving Stephanie some much needed fashion advice.

"No, but we can create the illusion of your generosity." Cat concludes.

"Hell of an illusion." Jeff mutters not low enough to be ignored.

I swat his arm, I was in no mood for jokes.

"It will be alright. I'll think of something. In the mean time we need to focus on Diego." Cat says but my only response is a blank questioning stare.

"The steward." She clarifies.

"Is there nothing you cant find out?" Jeff ask, half as amazed as I am.

"You'd be surprised." Cat whispers grasping my hand.

"We go ahead with the plan," She says and I squeeze hers tightly for reassurance.

"Which we better go over one more time." I demand pulling the both of them close behind me and back out into the halls.

"I cant breathe." I whisper through the gossamer curtains at my back.

"Good, it means the corset is tight enough." Jeff whispers back.

I shift my weight on my suddenly throbbing feet.

"How long do I have to stand like this?" I complain.

"Until its time!" He rasp back and I resist the urge to groan.

I, in my entirely privileged life have never once worked so hard to impress a commoner of all things! I was a sought after prize regardless of my physical appearance! I was the princess of France after all! Yet the trials I was currently enduring just to lure my already betrothed to court was utter insanity!

The day had come, and the trap had been laid. For countless hours, that I would never get back Cat and Jeff both had groomed me to be the absolute vision of beauty and grace.

All for this very moment.

It was simple. Diego had arrived at court and I had purposefully avoided all trace of the man until this opportune moment.

His time here at court had come and gone with absolutely no interaction between us, but that was soon about to change now that his departure was fast approaching.

Even now he should be marching the hallways towards the stables ready to saddle his horse and ride off with yet another summons from king Thiago. But I would make sure this time, his words did not fall on deaf ears.

Cat was waiting in route, and by some complete accident she will detain Dieago with an impossibly heavy tray of sweets and creams that she absolutely must deliver to her waiting lady.

She would lure him, to the gardens were according to Jeff and Catharine alike I was at my most devastating.

The sun beaming at my back, the tent king Thiago had erected for my lavish picnic now going to serve another purpose. The curtains drawn Jeff waiting just behind them ready to part them open at the signal of approaching footsteps.

I try to take a shallow breath but the task is becoming increasingly difficult.

"Relax, you look amazing." Jeff whispers from his hiding place.

"Which will mean nothing if I faint!" I hiss.

Why had I let Catharine talk me into this? I felt completely stitched into this beaded dress, the corset squeezing my ribs and chest so suffocating tight I felt like I was about to burst.

My hair coiled to perfection tucked seamlessly over my bare shoulders, my lips rouged my cheeks powered and my lashes oiled for darker consistency.

I couldn't think of a time had put more effort into my appearance except for the instances I especially wanted to make Nathan squirm.

What if I had suffered through all this primping for nothing? What if the squire didn't even take notice of me? What if I was completely over doing myself and a more subtle approach should have been considered?

I am so warped into my own thoughts I don't even hear Jeff whispering at my back until he is practically shouting.

"Lynne!" He snaps,

But too late. The curtains at my front separate and Cat steps through, instantly the drapes Jeffery has clung too part at my back and rich light flood the tent.

Suddenly a very pale Spaniard emerges at Catharine's side holding an entirely to full tray. Our eyes meet and I force myself to smile as wide and inviting as I can.

His charcoal colored orbs widen and the tray slips from his hands and a chaotic melody of shattering dishes and splashed wine fills the air.

"Oh! Oh I am so sorry!" He gasp falling to his knees before me his shaking hands trying to salvage what he can from the carpet.

Cat eyes me and I know it's the signal to continue before its too late.

"It's quite alright." I chime in my most honeyed voice, one I seldom use unless it was towards James trying to get myself or someone else out of trouble.

I kneel down just low enough to hover above the ground yet low enough to meet him eye for eye.

"It's just a few pastries." I giggle scooping my finger through a still intact bowl of cream. Diego looks up at me as I savor the taste while winking at him.

His eyes already a dark shade turn an impossible hue blacker. I have seen that look before, it happened only once when Nathan caught me changing in my chambers.

"Your majesty. This is Diego. He was kind enough to escort me." Cat announces politely.

"Your majesty?" He repeats almost fearfully.

I rise to back to my feet as Catharine begins to speak

"Oh where are my manners? Diego, this is princess Evelyn Da'silva of France." Cat gestures towards me with a graceful hand.

"Y-Your highness! I am so terribly sorry for my carelessness-" He stutters but I cant let his fear overpower what I have worked so hard to achieve.

I silence him with the same finger I had just tasted.

"Think nothing of it. I'm certain worse has been stained on carpeting than jam." I smile a warm charming smile and the same look returns.

"O-of course," He stammers somehow finding the courage to stand before me.

Now that I can actually see him all in one clean swipe of my jade eyes. He is quite the handsome man, a bit shorter than most I have met but strong in build and with a dark complexion that compliments his black hair and brows.

"I beg your forgiveness. But I am a bit pressed for time at the moment. If you would permit me I will take my leave?" He ask with a bow.

"No need to ask. Safe travels my friend." I extend my hand and he takes it gladly. He places a soft kiss on my knuckles and the hairs in his chin tickle.

His nose lingers a bit longer on my skin than expected and I can tell he has noticed the sweet perfume Cat insisted I coat myself in.

Almost fearful he may never let go I retract my hand and he bows once again before spinning towards the nearest means of exit.

While he hurries away I notice the sort of out of place lean his steps seem to take, and then I realize. I have seen that exact walk before as well.

"Genius! I almost fell for you! I mean did you see the lad? He was particularly limping!" Jeff burst from behind the curtains.

I smack his arm at his crudeness.

"You don't think I was to forward?" I ask timidly.

"Of course you were! That's the point! Every soul in that mans path from here to Tomas will be hearing about the vision that is Evelyn Da'silva!" Cat gushes. I can tell she is overwhelmed her scheme had gone off as perfectly as imagined!

I sigh as much as my still suffocating corset will allow.

"Good now help me get out of this thing." I demand with a smile.

"Alright." Cat chimes stepping towards my back her slender fingers beginning to un-weave the lacing up my back skillfully.

"Don't move Lynne you've got some cream on your hem." Jeff instructs as he takes a knee before me. Pulling up the gowns end to try and rub away the stains.

I feel the air invade under my dress but I know its of no consequence to Jeffery. I could be naked and the man wouldn't care.

Nether would Cat as she begins to work her way towards the source of my rib crushing torment.

I can barely feel the fabric begin to loosen when the curtains shielding the three of us inside part and one of the largest woman I had in living memory rampaged through.

"What perversion is this?!" The bull of a woman shouts at us and I freeze.

"Duchess Camilla! What a surprise! W-We weren't expecting you." Cat shouts far to startled to be believable.

The color from my face drains and my blood runs cold.

Oh god, no.

"Obviously not." Camilla seethes her piercing eyes fixating on Jeffery holding up the hem of my dress. Like me he is far to frozen in fear to react.

"To think my brother spoke so highly of-" She barites in a voice that reminds me so much a nun I once knew and feared as a child.

"I am leaving court just in time. Before such sinful behavior can grasp hold of us true ladies!" She shouts and her beady discolored eyes fix directly onto me.

"I will pray for you." She declares.

Then storms away, and I feel every chance at a happy future march away with her.

Sitting in the stone confines of one of dozens of foyers around the castle grounds I stare blankly and defeated at my balled hands.

The shame and hard disbelief of what I had just endured still radiating its way through me. I felt like I was going to be sick, but I had nothing in my stomach to purge.

There had been no room for food in that forsaken corset, all worth the pain I had assured myself. What a lie that had turned out to be.

One look from the Duchess was all it had taken to undo everything I had tried so hard to achieve. Word would reach Tomas the French princess was nothing more than a cheap tart. A good-looking one, but no less worthless.

I burry my hot face in my damp palms trying so very hard not to cry. After all what good would it do?

"Evelyn." I hear Uncle's voice call from me and I sink deeper into my hands.

Please, not now.

"Don't say it," I beg, my voice muffled.

"I made a complete fool of myself." I add, having every confidence my shameful incident in the gardens had already met his keen ears.

I hear him sigh and feel him scoot towards me as he sits on the stone windowsill the same as me.

"Well, at least we're in agreeance for once." I see him smile as I peek through my fingers, but his words do nothing but make tears sting my eyes.

I sniff them away but a few begin to escape me.

"Hey, It's alright. Truly. I've upset more than few prude duchess in my time as well." He smirks and I can tell he means it.

I cast away the shield of my hand to meet his sympathetic eyes.

"I managed to smooth things over with Thiago. He's been more than understanding about the incident." He insist and I can almost believe the sincerity.

Incident? Is that what the castle was calling it?

"Oh? So he doesn't think I'm a sex crazed deviant?" I ask humorlessly.

He smirks as he pats my knee.

"No. But he may need a bit more convincing on Catharine's behalf."

"Wonderful." I whisper, I would have to work extra hard to win back the king in her favor if she wanted any hope of landing a Spanish lord with a title.

"What were the three of you trying to accomplish anyways?" He ask a dark brow rising in curiosity.

I roll over my answer carefully, I was in no way prepared to go into the intricate details of Cat's master plan to lure Tomas back to court. But my actions did need some sort of explanation.

"Trying to win over the Dutches with my charm and beauty. It obviously backfired." I sigh slumping my shoulders to make my disappointment more believable.

"Just a bit." Uncle smiles tapping my knee once more before rising to his feet.

"A noble attempt all the same." He kisses my forehead and I sigh.

"Thank you uncle." I reply, it was reassuring to know he hadn't made the trip just to scold me for once.

But, I knew my recovery from this disastrous event was just beginning. My reputation may have been sealed with Camilla but at least I would face my coming demise with as much grace as I could.

After all what other choice did I have?

The horses nay and the coaches wheel to a stop. Only a small party of nobles and ladies had gathered to send the duchess Camilla off, and for the soul sake of appearances I was unfortunately one of them.

I think the only other person possibly as miserable as me at this very moment was Cat at my side.

"All my hard work so easily undone by that horrible woman." She hisses at my side.

"Not true, we're now both much more popular here at court." I reassure her with a half smile. She nudges my arm in responses.

"Where is the old bag anyway?" She ask, and despite the bluntness of her question I wonder the same.

It was hard to do a formal send off when the soon to be departing was no where to be found. Though I wasn't entirely eager to see the crone either.

Even Thiago who stood just a few paces away from the pair of us seemed a bit agitated by his sisters delay.

The gravel beside Cat shifts and I turn to see Jeffery emerging from the group at our back his freckled cheeks flushed and his breath in quick pants.

"And where have you been?" Cat ask.

"When did you suddenly become my mother?" He snips back.

"Now listen here you-" Cat huffs back but I hush the both of them as the guards lining besides us stiffen and the duchess along with her handmaidens come marching down the line.

I bow my head, but its far more out of shame than respect. I don't want to see her disapproving eyes, let alone her smug face with the satisfaction that she had yet again weeded out another unworthy pursuer of her bloodline.

I see out the corner of my eyes as she leans to kiss Thiago's hand farewell but instead of turning towards her waiting carriage she continues down the line. Towards me, directly towards me.

I meet her wrinkled face at a complete loss for words, dreading what she might do or say to embarrass me further. But instead she smiles, wide and warm reaches for my hand and gives me a surprisingly sincere kiss on my cheek.

I freeze, and I watch her step away towards her coach.

"What in the holy name of-" I hear Cat whisper beside me.

"W-What just happened?" I blink resisting the urge to wipe away the wetness of the duchess lips.

Jeffery clears his throat and the both of us turn to stare at his heated face.

"Do you remember when I said it was Cat's specialty finding people's weakness and exploiting them?" He ask and me and Cat nod in unison.

"Turns out you're not the only one." He whispers.

Just then I see the duchess waves goodbye towards us with genuine care and Jeff slyly nod back a sort of uncomfortable ridged sort of pained look.

Both mine and Cat's eyes peer up at him, and I can tell we are both wearing the exact same expression of total and utter disbelief.

"I never want to speak of this again." He says, and just as quickly as he arrives. The both of us watch him limp away with more shame then I ever thought possible.

"Now that man loves you more than I ever will." Cat whispers.

"Agreed." I blink.