by Robin Roseau
“I won’t decline,” I said. “Flame, I want to talk to you about something.”
“Oh, a serious conversation? Should I take my hand away?”
“No, you shouldn’t,” I said. I told her what her father had asked me to do, about becoming a darling of the town. “What do you think?”
“I wouldn’t ever second guess my father on politics.”
“Weren’t you one of the people yelling at him a week ago?”
“Okay, fine,” she said. “But that wasn’t about politics, that was about getting his head out of his ass.” I snorted. “If father thinks this is something you should do, then either he is playing a game with you, or he’s right. Do you think he’s playing a game with you?”
“I think he’s undermining his position and telling me how to strengthen mine.”
“Well, it sounds like lovely advice. Are you inviting my help?”
“Yes, but I also think I should do some of this with others.”
“Anyone in particular?”
“Castia.”
“And her lovely daughter?”
“I do not hold Talith’s hand the way I am holding yours,” I said. “And I am not going to start.”
“Does she know that?”
“Yes.”
“How confident are you of that?”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“I have seen the way she looks at you. Members of your staff also share a similar gaze.”
“Yes, well. I don’t go there.”
“Because they are staff?”
“Because they are my staff. I don’t have a problem if they are someone else’s staff.”
“Talith Leyviel is not your staff. She isn’t even a countrywoman.” I said nothing. Flame looked into my eyes. “Well, I’m not going to guess what that means.”
“You’ll need to trust me,” I said.
She smiled broadly. “So our relationship is already to the point we are discussing trust in our relationships with other women.”
“Flame,” I said. “Will you help?”
“Of course, I will help. Is this why you agreed to attend dinner with me?”
“Is that what you believe?”
“Answer my question,” she said.
“I agreed to dinner the previous afternoon,” I said. “The two are entirely unrelated. Furthermore, the two are unrelated if I were to encourage additional time together. It may only adjust what we do together.”
“You swear.”
“I swear.”
“All right then. What help do you need?”
“Only in choosing venues and events. I am a stranger to your city. I also will begin to host events at the embassy.”
“And you wish invitations to the right events.”
“Yes, but in a fashion that no one will mind that I always have an honor guard.”
“I will help you as long as we have an honest, dating relationship,” she said. “We will attend these events as dates, like we are tonight.”
“I’d have it no other way.” I paused. “Flame, if you’re going to be jealous…” I trailed off.
She looked away a minute. I could see her thinking. “Are you going to do anything to embarrass me?”
“You’ve asked me to spread the Ressaline greeting,” I said. “And I imagine if we go dancing, we’re going to have to let ourselves be shared.”
“Not tonight, we aren’t,” she said. “But if we attend events, yes, that is clearly true. These things will not make me jealous, but I will be incensed if you make agreements to meet other women while you are holding my hand.”
“Do you intend to advertise an exclusive relationship expectation?”
“No, but that’s just rude,” she said.
“I agree with you,” I said.
“All right.” She softened. “You’ll need to be seen on more arms than mine, Darfelsa.”
“I know. This is something I’m new at. I have never had to worry about someone expressing interest in me while I was in someone else’s company. I have never actually thought about it.”
“Well, it’s rude,” she said. “But you need a polite way to respond, anyway.” She paused. “You should host one or two informal events at the embassy each week. You can invite me publicly, but I will only attend if you ask me privately. I might recommend morning tea.”
“A lovely suggestion.”
Our meal arrived. We ate slowly, carefully. And then Flame paid for our meal and said, “If we’re going dancing, I’d like to go.”
“I’d like that.”
* * * *
We moved together. The style was close, the tempo slow, and she felt very, very good. We didn’t talk, not much. We simply danced together, exchanging the lead every few songs, once I understood the style.
She felt good. I felt good. We pressed together, and we moved, and at the end of one song, she sighed.
“Are you all right?”
“I am in the arms of a princess,” she replied. “Is this a dream?”
“No,” I said. “Come home with me.”
“Yes.”
* * * *
Some hours later, both of us worn out, she began laughing.
“What?”
“You, Princess Darfelsa of Flarvor, are a lying little liar.”
“I am no such thing, and I don’t even know where that is coming from.”
“I heard of your experiences at Bashful.”
“What has that to do with anything.”
“There is no way that someone who makes love the way you do is a virgin.”
It was my turn to laugh. “You didn’t hear the entire story.”
“You stated, in front of half of Dennaholst, quite clearly, that you were a virgin. You aren’t anymore, of course.”
“It wasn’t remotely half of Dennaholst,” I said. “And you didn’t hear the entire story. I didn’t lie.”
“You admit you weren’t a virgin before we reached this bed. Admit it.”
“Let me ask you this: what is the definition of a virgin?”
She froze, and I watched her working through it. Then she turned to face me. “Is there more than one definition?”
“I have heard of non-alcoholic drinks called virgin.”
“I am fairly sure you did not worm your way out of that question in such a fashion.”
“What is the definition, Flame?”
“Someone who has previously…” She trailed off. “Had sex.”
“Crude,” I replied. “That’s not the definition Ms. Chante used.”
“What other definition is there?”
“She defined a virgin as someone who has never lain with a man.”
It took her about two seconds before she was laughing. I grinned at her. “She did that to save you.”
“Perhaps. It would depend upon how much she knew about me.
“Did you stare at her the way you did at me?”
“I might have.”
“Then she might not have needed a larger hint.”
“Perhaps not.” I smiled. “Are you staying the night?”
“I certainly hope so,” she said. She rolled towards me, throwing a leg over mine, then climbing above me to look down at me. She collected my hands in hers, then pressed them to the bed beside my head. “I’m not remotely done. Are you?”
“No,” I whispered.
“Good.” She lowered her lips to mine.
Darling
I opened my eyes. I felt good, really good. I smiled, a smile widening as the woman pressed into my back offered a little purr to go with a stretch. “Good morning,” I whispered.
Flame rolled closer, and then she set her hand on my bottom and began rubbing. “Princess butt,” she whispered.
I laughed. “That is just so romantic.” But I closed my eyes. “Don’t stop.”
She gave a little giggle and rubbed for a while, but then she put her hand on my shoulder and pulled me onto my back. I looked over at her. “Oh, my.”
; She laughed. “Does my morning hair frighten you?” She brushed her fingers through it. I couldn’t say it helped.
“I love your hair,” I whispered. “Even your morning hair.”
“I bet.”
“I do,” I said. I slid across her, pushing her on her back and straddling her. Then I leaned forward and ran fingers through her hair, making the bed hair worse, and giggled. “You look cute like this. I wish I had some starch.”
She laughed. “Yeah, no.” Then she struggled to sit up. I nearly didn’t let her, but I moved down a little so I was sitting on her legs. We came together, hugging tightly. “I want to talk to you,” she whispered while we hugged.
“That sounds serious.”
“I’ve been with women who only do this once, then move on.”
“That’s not me,” I said.
“It’s not me, either.” But then she tipped us both onto our sides. I gave out a squeak. She dragged me back up to the pillows and pulled the covers up so we were laying on our sides, facing each other, sharing one pillow. “I’ve thought about some of this.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “By ‘this’ what do you mean?”
“Us as two women.”
“Us as two lovers,” I clarified.
“Yes. Even that is complicated.”
“Very complicated, given everything.”
“Yes. And I’ve thought of that mixed with helping you become the darling about town.”
“Sometimes Mother calls that ‘Putting on the Princess’. Well, she’s usually talking about herself, so she says ‘Queen’, but you know what I mean.”
“That’s it exactly,” Flame replied. “From where we are right now, this can go in one of two basic directions. We can become the darlings.”
“Or I can,” I said, finishing the thought.
“Yes, and how we go about this entirely depends on which of those two paths we take.”
“It’s still we.”
“As we’re naked in bed together,” she said with a smile, “It is most certainly currently we.”
“Are you saying it’s going to stop becoming we?”
“That isn’t my plan,” she replied. “Regardless of which of the two paths. I want to be in this with you.”
“Good. I prefer that plan so far.”
“Do you have a preference between we and you? I’m fairly certain I could talk you into we.”
She didn’t rush me as I tried considering the implications of her question. I nodded. “You’re right. You could talk me into we. I don’t think it would be that difficult for you, as good as I feel right now.”
She smiled broadly. “I feel good, too. But that’s not the question. Do you have a clear preference, or do you want to talk it out?”
“Talk it out,” I said immediately.
“For the political purposes, you should be the darling, and I should only be a part of it. I also think you should be seen about town with Blaze.”
“I’m not going to bed with your brother!”
“I didn’t say you should. I said you should be seen about town. He can take you places I can’t.”
“Like where?”
“I don’t know. Places.”
“Right.”
“Even if I could take you to those places… Um… He’d take you places I might not.”
“Places Sergeant Felist would allow?”
“Yes. He’s very good looking and very popular about town. He’s able to do so more casually than I can.”
“Because of his personality, or because of his gender?”
“Probably both, but I was thinking gender. He doesn’t need to protect his reputation in quite the same way I do.”
“Fair enough.”
“If that’s the plan, if you’re the darling, and I’m part of it, then you should spread your attention around.”
“Perhaps I should go back to Bashful and see if I can gather Ms. Chante’s eye.”
She laughed. “Perhaps you should,” she said. “And while you might have been teasing, I’m not.”
“I don’t know if I was teasing or not. Wouldn’t you be jealous?”
“Probably.”
“There’s a side topic to all this.”
“Oh?”
“I’m the princess.”
“I’m aware.”
“If you really do intend to show up on Mother’s doorstep with a petition to court me, you aren’t going to be received if you’re courting anyone else.”
“But you can have multiple suitors.”
“Yes. I know that’s not remotely fair.” I paused. “The understanding is that I’m supposed to come to my wedding bed a virgin. I vow, no man will touch me prior to a marriage ceremony.”
She snorted but frowned. “You’re telling me that even if you spread your attention, you’re going to be mad if I do.”
“No, because that would be hypocrisy. Mother would be mad.”
“She doesn’t have to know.”
“I don’t really want to be in the position of lying to my parents, especially if I can get caught.” She frowned then rolled away. I moved closer and set my hand on her shoulder. “You’re the one who brought up this spreading around of my attention. I’m the one who repeatedly said I’m not looking for suitors. But you and your father have done more than hinted you may not take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“You’re the one who said I wouldn’t get turned away.”
“True. Flame,” I said. “This has an easy solution.”
“Does it?” She didn’t look at me.
“Stake a temporary claim.”
She rolled her head to me. “What does that mean?”
“Tell me not to share my bed with anyone else.”
“And you’d let me get away with that?”
“And then tell me you’ll trust me.”
We looked into each other’s eyes for a while. Several emotions flowed across her face. “You’d actually agree?”
“Yes.”
She began to smile. “Darfelsa, unless you have a different plan, I think you should be the darling, and time with me is only a portion of the plan. You should spread your attention, and probably somewhat widely, but you will share a bed with no one but me.”
“I’d love to focus simply on you,” I replied. “But I think you’re right.” I nodded. “Agreed.” I paused. “It’s not like I have that much history, you know. I’ve had two lovers before you.”
“We’ll be talking about that at some point.”
“Not today.”
“Not today,” she agreed. “I want to be a part of your little inner circle for planning this.”
“Then I think we should bathe. I’ll loan you some casual clothes, and then we’ll assemble the circle.”
“I think we should invite a few others into this.”
“Who?”
“Castia, Mother, and Blaze.”
I thought about it. “Okay.” I pulled her head down and kissed her forehead before rolling out of bed. I ran to my closet and found two bathrobes, throwing one towards the bed. I followed after it, but only to pull the bell cord. Then I moved to my writing desk and sat down. A moment later, Flame moved to stand over my left shoulder. “Do you and your brother live with your parents?”
“Yes.”
I pushed paper and a pen to the side. “Grab a chair and write them an invitation. Would they be able to come this morning?”
“We can invite them.”
She wrote her note. I wrote one to Castia and a second to Talith. Then we addressed envelopes. I sealed them both with my seal and grinned at her. “What?” she asked.
“Your letter under my seal,” I said. “I think that’s sexy.”
She returned my smile. “I do, too.”
There was a knock, and then the door opened a crack. “Princess?”
“Ms. Pelonden,” I said. “Are you easily shocked?”
“I shall fortify myself.” The door fully opened, and she slipped in. “Good m
orning, Ms. Githien.”
“Good morning, Ms. Pelonden.”
“Flame and I will be bathing and have a bite,” I said. “Then I want to assemble my closest advisors. You, Terla, Selzen, and Tess.” I held out the notes. “And these four.”
“I count three. Am I missing one?”
“One is to both my mother and brother,” Flame explained.
“Very good.”
“Sergeant Felist will also need to be there,” I said. “We’ll meet in my office. I want you to tell the people here. It has been suggested I put on the princess. Do you know the term?”
“I do, Your Highness.”
“We’re going to take Dennaholst by storm,” I said. “This is to begin the planning.”
“May I ask?” She flicked her eyes towards Flame.
“Flame will be a portion of our plans, but only a portion,” I said.
“Very good,” she said.
“She and I will eat in my office, I think, but if you can arrange tea and a few things for our guests to nibble, I would appreciate it.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“Very good. Thank you, Ms. Pelonden. Please also tell Sergeant Felist we’ll move my training until later.”
“Of course, Your Highness. I’ll send these with a courier then see to those here.”
“Thank you.”
She slipped from the room. Flame and I looked at each other. “This is going to be fun,” she said.
“You’re going to look cute in my clothing. I have no idea what I have that will fit you.”
“I could have had mother bring something for me.”
I shook my head. “Let’s see what we can make work.”
* * * *
Flame and I were finishing a light breakfast when there was a knock at the door. It opened, and Ms. Pelonden asked, “Are you ready for us, Your Highness?”
“Come in,” I replied.
My immediate staff filed in. “Your notes were delivered,” Ms. Pelonden said. “The recipients all agreed to attend. They’ll be escorted here as they arrive.”
“Excellent,” I said. “Sergeant, I’m sorry I missed our morning session, but I was busy following your advice.”
“Good,” she said. “Later?”
“Later,” I agreed. “I think to keep this easy, we should use first names. Sit. Renishta, can you pour tea?”
“Yes.”
“Tess,” I said. “You haven’t really been a part of these types of meetings, but I hope you will speak up when you have something to say. I don’t invite people to have them sit quietly.”