Deceive not my love-The prince and his maid II

Seeking dad’s advice

2 weeks later

*Mirabella*

I have been out riding in the fields with my younger sister Dawn and William’s sister Rose. Those two are so close, both in age and in friendship, that despite not looking alike, it is like spending time with a couple of twins.

They did their best to cheer me up and I am grateful, it is very sweet of them, so I tried smiling, pretending like it helped.

“Are you coming ?” Dawn calls, after handing her horse to a groom.

“Just run ahead, I will just see to the horse”. I call back.

To be honest I have had enough of their bubbling happiness for today, and I could use a little time alone. I spend a lot of time alone these days.. Everyone is being too nice to me, trying too hard to cheer me up.

So I take my horse to the stable myself and stay there to groom her, enjoying the monotone sound of the mare chewing her hay.

“Bella”. I hear my name whispered just as I have left the stall, but instantly hearing it is Will, I ignore him. “Bella please, I need to talk to you”.

“I don’t want to talk to you.. everything that needs to be said, has been said”. I mumble, knowing he will hear me. “Just leave me alone”.

A hand shoots out of the darkness to grab my arm, pulling me into the dark corner, where I realise I am too close to Will. “Please.. I just need a moment with you”.

“Will.. this is not appropriate”. I say softly. “You are married.. we shouldn’t be here alone”.

“Married.. “. He scoffs. “This is not a marriage..it’s..”. He desperately grabs my hands. “Bella, I can’t stand this.. I can’t stand her.. To look at her.. to..”.

I shake my head. “Will ! I don’t want to hear about that..”.

“But that’s it.. there is nothing of that kind. We are husband and wife only by name, we hardly even talk”. He lifts my hand, pressing his forehead to them. “I need you.. I know I shouldn’t say it, but I am dying inside longing for you..”.

“Stop, please stop”. I pull my hands away. “Will, you need to leave me alone. You need to go to your wife, she is the one you should talk to”.

I try to walk away, but he grabs me again, almost slamming me into the wall, making me gasp. There is desperation in his eyes. “Don’t go.. you can’t leave”.

“Will ! Let me go”. I hate this, both the fear and hurt I see in him, but also the way he acts. “You are hurting me”.

“Bella I love you.. please”. One of his hands grabs the side of my face, and he kisses me desperately and probably a bit more harshly than he meant to.

It isn’t nice or pleasant and I put my hands against his chest, pushing him hard. I am still surprised when he stumbles back and sits down hard on the floor with a grunt. “I am sorry Will.. but I don’t want to do this”.

I hear him call my name as I run out the stable and back to the castle, but I ignore him. I am done doing this.. I need to get away.

*Arion*

The door to my office is thrown open and I lift my head, ready to scold whoever it is. But then I see the look on my daughter's face and spring to my feet. “What happened Bella ?”

“Will..”. She runs into my arms. “I can’t do this anymore dad”.

I hug her tightly, trying to contain my voice. “What has he done ?”

“He came to the stable, wanted to talk.. he grabbed me when I wanted to leave.. and..”. Her voice is breaking up.

“Where is that little bastard ?” I can’t keep the anger from my voice and I know I am tensing up. “Wait til I get my hands on him”.

My oldest daughter tightens her arms around me. “No dad.. don’t”. She buries her face in my chest mumbling. “He didn’t mean to hurt me. He is hurting too. But I can’t be near him anymore, not for some time at least”.

I sweep her into my arms and sit down in the big chair with her in my lap. She rolls up like she used to when she was a little kid and was upset about something. “Actually me and your mother have been talking about options and we actually thought this would come, you wanting to get away..as a girl, especially one born to a royal family, the options are limited”.

“Can’t I just do like..”. She swallows and the name comes out on a small sob. “..Will, and go with Ben for some time.. sail around the world”.

I stroke her hair softly. “Sorry sweetie, but a girl can’t do that..”.

“I hate being a girl.. it’s not fair”. She mumbles. “I don’t care what people say”.

“You know I don’t care about that part either, but I do care about your safety.. and it isn’t safe for a young girl to be on a ship for an extended time, not working there”. I would not take that risk with my daughter. “But your mother had two suggestions”.

She lifts her head, looks at me. “What are those ? Something boring right ?”

“I guess things are only boring if you don’t make it fun”. I try, but she gives me a pointed look and I giggle. “Okay so one is the Sunwale women's academy.. okay that’s a no”. The face she makes tells me everything. “The other option is going to stay with your great aunt Deadra”.

She groans and hangs her head. “Seriously.. she is so boring and weird”.

I chuckle again, it’s not really wrong, my wife's relative is a bit eccentric, she lives in a small Island nation, after she married above her status and inherited a big farm. She is in need of someone to keep her company and read to her.

“I know it isn’t the most exciting way to spend a year away.. but it is safe, she will provide you with a good education.. and you would be doing a good deed at the same time.. the poor woman is lonely”. I say softly.

Part of me would prefer her to stay, I am not really ready to let my little girl travel so far away. But I also know she isn’t really little anymore, and maybe it is time for her to stretch her rings a bit and see more of the world.

“Can I think about it ?” She looks at me.

I nod, smiling at her. “Of course my princess, take all the time you need”.

“Thanks dad.. and thanks for listening”. She kisses my cheek and gets up, but she stops at the door, reminding me so very much of her mother as she turns. “And don’t hurt Will, I will know if you do and I will be very disappointed”.

I can’t help smiling. “I promise, now run along”.

She disappears and I sigh, I wish I could protect all my kids from ever being hurt and ever having their hearts broken.. unfortunately I can’t.