by Nina Monroe
“No, but I’m willing to bet your future lady likes chess. Perhaps you should play with her?” Garrett said as he flopped down in the chair by the fire, which was already burning. “Have you had a conversation with her yet that didn’t include some type of berating from you?”
“I didn’t berate her,” Will said as he pulled the chair from his war strategy table to the fireplace. “She mocked me.”
“Are you sure this wasn’t flirting?” Garrett asked as he stared at the fire, his blue eyes illuminated by the flames. “Whether you like it or not, you are marrying her and at some point, you’re going to have to get her to tolerate you enough to consummate it.”
Will chuckled. He certainly didn’t mind the idea of consummating a marriage with Tamzin Roth. She was, almost insanely, beautiful and the way her eyes flashed at his left a stirring deep inside himself. She left him feeling as hot as the fire in arousal and what seemed to be anger as well. They were feelings he hadn’t truly felt in a long time.
“Consummation is about the only thing I don’t mind about this arrangement,” Will chuckled again. “I think she minds it, however.”
“Well, I couldn’t imagine why. You’ve been such a gentleman to her,” Garrett responded sarcastically. “So, I know Kings are the ones that approve of the betrothals of all nobility. Think your father will give me a crack at Lady Kendall?” Garrett said with his eyebrows wiggling. “She is lovely.”
“I thought Lucy was more your type. Blonde, buxom, and a wild child?” Will asked as he thought back to Lucy. She was a spitfire, no doubt, and while she was the most stereotypical beautiful noble girl, she held no candle to Tamzin. Garrett chuckled before he shuffled his feet on the old oak floors.
“I think Lucy may be too much for me to handle. Kendall is so calm,” Garrett continued almost awkwardly. He really didn’t know much about Kendall, but Will knew he wouldn’t waste much time before he really started. “I don’t know how to describe it.”
Will laughed to himself and rubbed his hand over his chest for warmth. It was going to be a chilly night.
~~~
Tamzin sat alone in her room in front of the fire. She wore a simple white chemise and the thick black cloak that belonged to Will. It smelt like him, like woods, cold, and his manly scent. They had gotten off to an absolutely horrible start and this failure, in her eyes, kept her awake. At the edge of her bed were her boots, lined with sheepskin for warmth as an early gift from King Gregory. He gave them to her after the disastrous dinner.
Slowly and softly, Tamzin stood from the leather chair and walked to the edge of her bed. She slipped the snug boots onto her cold feet and wrapped the cloak tighter around her body. She made sure to walk over the creaky wooden planks in the floor as she opened the door. The door creaked softly, but no one seemed to be aware of her presence. She closed the door softly, as not to wake her sleeping pug, Rupes, on her bed.
The corridor was empty and the majority of the doors were closed, save one. The only door slightly ajar was the door to Will’s room. She could see the fire still raging in his hearth, but she paid him little attention. She didn’t give a damn what he thought she was doing. Tamzin found the back staircase and quietly rushed down them. She knew, from Gregory’s explanation, that they would lead to the stable. At the end of the staircase, Tamzin could see the rough ground of earth for the stable.
It was unbelievably chilly for her in the stable, but all the horses had more hair than normal horses. She walked through the stable and watched them curiously. They were asleep, except for the largest horse in the stable. The black horse watched Tamzin as she approached him without hesitation. She held out her hand to the horse, which sniffed her hand before he nuzzled it. Tamzin always had this relationship with animals; they loved her and she loved them.
“Hello, there,” Tamzin said as the horse stuck his head out of the stall and bumped his head against hers. “You’re a large fella, aren’t you? I’m Tamzin. I’m going to live here for awhile.” The horse naiad like he understood her and Tamzin smiled. “We have horses back home, but I never learned to ride them. Maybe, one day, you’ll let me ride you?”
Will had heard Tamzin open her door and thought she crept slyly down the stairs. Wearing his thick breeches and a tunic, he followed her down the stairs and watched as she interacted with his horse. Angus was never friendly to anyone, especially people he had just met. Will stepped out of the shadows and watched Tamzin openly. She laughed as Angus sneezed on her, no doubt reacting to her perfume. Her laughter alerted her to him as she casually looked towards the stairs.
“Your majesty!” Tamzin squeaked as she fell to the floor in a bow. “I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t sleep and I knew you had a stable.”
“His name is Angus,” Will replied softly as he stepped closer to her and his horse. “I’ve had him since I was a boy.”
“He’s yours?” Tamzin asked as Will watched her eyes flash with concern and nervousness. “I didn’t mean any offense, your grace.” Tamzin’s voice was laced with intimidation and fear. When Will took a step towards her, she backed away.
“Angus doesn’t normally like people he just met. He seems to like you more than me,” Will chuckled as he petted Angus’ black mane. “I just, I wanted to apologize for our first private meeting, your grace. I am not used to the idea of having a wife.”
Tamzin’s expressive brown eyes flashed at him.
“I am not used to the idea of having a husband, either, but I didn’t speak to you the way you spoke to me.” Her fear had left her like when the rain sweeps the snow away. “I am not marrying you for the sake of it, your grace. I want peace for my country and my family. I would think that you would want the same thing.”
“You truly want an alliance?” Will asked as he observed how quickly the Princess had changed. “You aren’t afraid of me?”
“I hate to break it to you, Prince, but I have met men far fiercer than yourself,” Tamzin taunted lightly. Will chuckled in an attempt to hide his mild humiliation from the girl. Tamzin smirked at him and began to walk away.
“Wait,” Will called out as he reached out and grabbed her arm. “You didn’t eat much of dinner. Are you hungry?”
“You care about my well-being?” Tamzin asked almost shocked. She held her hand to her chest dramatically. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
Will knew he deserved that, but it didn’t stop him from holding out his hand to her. “Most people agree that I should try to get to know you better,” he said as she tentatively put her hand in his. “Your hand is warm,” he mimicked her from earlier.
“Aren’t I so lucky to be getting a husband that’s so witty?” Tamzin said sarcastically as he led her up the back staircase. The corridor was still empty and quiet as Will led her briskly down the long hallway.
“Do you like chocolate, Tamzin?” The way he said her name, it sounded almost natural. Like he had known her his entire life. The small staircase to the kitchens was located in the corner at the end of the corridor. “These are the servant passageways to the kitchens. It’s nearly always empty this time of night.”
Will was right. The kitchen was still illuminated, but there was no one in sight. Tamzin suddenly became aware of what she was wearing, which was barely anything beneath the cloak. Will was aware that she kept his cloak wrapped around her tightly, with his family crest framing her back. He could see her bare legs, so pale, with her feet encased in her boots. Her chemise only went to her mid-thigh and Will was almost entranced by her skin.
“I do like chocolate,” Tamzin said as her answer to his earlier question. “Chocolate makes everything better, even being here.”
It was impossible to miss that she was already unhappy here. Will through the door on his left, which led to outside. Outside was a cheesecake drizzled with melted chocolate. Will picked up the platter and brought it back inside. Tamzin had taken a seat at the island in the middle of the kitchen. She placed her hands in front of her as she watched Will cut the cake an
d placed two pieces of cheesecake on two different plates. Complete with a fork, Tamzin watched as Will began to eat first.
“Should I assume that my piece is poisoned?” Tamzin joked lightly as she took the first bite of her cheesecake. “Delicious way to go, if you ask me.”
Will smiled at her as he finished his piece much earlier than her. She kept him in a companionable silence, and it was nice.
“I do truly want to apologize for how I spoke to you earlier today, your grace,” Will said softly as he watched her enjoy her cake. “I don’t have very much experience with women.”
“You’ve never courted a girl before?” Tamzin asked as she licked her fork clean, which left Will feeling hot and tense.
“No, I haven’t. I’ve been more interested in the battlefield and learning to run my territory. The only experience I’ve had with women has been in the, ahem, brothels,” Will said as he faked a cough when he spoke the final word. He looked up from his plate to see Tamzin looking at him expectantly. “Have a lot of men courted you?”
“Yes, but they haven’t been the most fascinating people I’ve encountered,” Tamzin said as she placed her fork on her plate. “Rich princes that care little about their people and either want me to look good on their arm or my father’s army. The worst are the Lords from my own kingdom.”
“Then why agree to marry me? I’m a foul little git, aren’t I?” Will joked and watched as Tamzin’s face lit up.
“You are a bit, I’m afraid, but I respect what you do on the battlefield. My father tells me that you and your father are honorable enemies. That you want what is best for your people,” Tamzin said as she locked eyes with him. “Even after today, I don’t think you are nearly as bad as you make yourself out to be.”
“Forgive me if I don’t know how to interact with you properly, your grace,” Will said as he bowed his head to her. “I know that marrying you will help my family and my territory.”
“You aren’t weak for asking for help,” Tamzin said as she brushed her hair out of her face. “A true king respects his enemies and never underestimates them.”
“You are not my enemy,” Will spoke softly, but his words had a stronger meaning than what he was trying to convey.
“No, I am not,” Tamzin finished with a smile.
CHAPTER SIX
Will walked Tamzin back to her room and retired to his own for the night. He felt calmer about his upcoming nuptials, though she, herself, left him feeling nervous. Though he was not a virgin, he felt like she was more experienced than he was. She was able to speak to him with more finesse and confidence than he could with her. However, hearing that she picked him because he sounded like a good man to her made him gleam with pride.
Will fell asleep almost instantly when his back and head hit his pillow. His bed was warm and comfortable, but it was empty. It wasn’t until Tamzin had come that night that Will had realized how lonely he was. As he turned to his side, Will wondered if he needed to get his cloak back? It looked good on Tamzin.
A few days passed, and Will didn’t see much of Tamzin. He was busy on his councils and he heard that she was being fitted daily in her wedding dress. The closer the big day came; the more he felt a gnawing feeling in his stomach. He had made a bit of headway with her on their first night, but he didn’t feel entirely comfortable with her yet. She seemed to have bewitched everyone else, keeping their guests entertained with stories and laughs during dinner. Tamzin had yet to make her first appearance in court, as she opted to wait until after they were married.
At night, Will almost waited in the kitchens for her to show up. They had never made an agreement to meet again, but he had always hoped that she would just stroll downstairs in search for some cheesecake. It was now the night before the wedding, and Will’s stomach was in knots. He and Garrett had snuck out to the local pub, where the Prince and the Lord had some beer.
“So, final night?” Garrett asked as he cradled his jug of beer. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ve had better days,” Will said as he finished his third beer. “I know I shouldn’t be getting drunk tonight, but I need something to calm my nerves.” Will’s voice rang out in the pub as he ordered another beer.
“There’s nothing wrong with being nervous,” Garrett reassured as he watched the various barmaids with an interested stare. “But it’s better you than me.” Garrett’s smile was broad as he eyed an ample looking barmaid, who returned his stare. “Tamzin is a lovely girl.”
“I love how you’re saying that while watching a barmaid,” Will replied dryly as he also stared at the barmaid. “Are you still sweet on innocent Kendall?” Will asked with a drink of his beer.
“Kendall is the girl you marry. The barmaid is the girl you fuck,” Garrett said with a devious grin. “You, lucky prince, get both with that girl you’re marrying.”
Will set his jaw when he heard Garrett mention Tamzin. He didn’t tell his best friend, but Will had been having various strong and graphic dreams about his soon to be bride. The only time Will would see Tamzin would be at dinner, with her Thurston clothes framing her delicious body. Will tried not to view her so sexually; there was definitely more to her than that. Through her stories, Will had come to see that she was quite witty and her smile warmed him.
Garrett had left him when the barmaid beckoned him over, but he paid them little attention. He stared at his mug of beer and wondered if the Princess liked beer. She did seem like a girl who would have had some, without her father knowing, of course. The bartender came to Will and finished off his mug. His thoughts returned to Tamzin and her dresses. She now wore darker colors; her dresses made of wool and other thick fabrics. She would receive her own cloak with the Thurston family crest on the back on her wedding day. Tamzin wore Will’s nightly to dinner, as she still hadn’t adjusted yet to the cold.
Will had begun to yawn when he felt someone place a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see his father, Gregory, smile as he sat down.
“I’ll have a goblet,” Gregory ordered as he placed his hands in front of him on the table, his gold rings shining in the light. “In twenty four hours, you will be a married man.”
“Yes,” Will replied in a solemn tone. He stared at the mug in front of him as the bartender served his father his own goblet, which was considerably smaller than the mug. “I haven’t warmed much to her yet.”
“I may be older, but I am not blind,” Gregory chuckled as he sipped his beer. “I see the way you look at her. She is a beautiful girl,” Gregory continued as he pushed his beer aside. “I know it’s not how you wanted it, but Tamzin will make a good wife to you.”
Will didn’t answer as he stared longer at his mug. He didn’t have much to say, as there was nothing to say. Will looked to his father expectantly, waiting for him to finish his conversation.
“Do you plan on bedding her tomorrow night?” Gregory asked casually, though his cheeks flushed lightly with the suggestion. “It is what you should do, but you know my feelings about the subject.”
“If she wants it, then I suppose. If she doesn’t, then we won’t,” Will answered simply as he thrust his hand into his hair. “I’ve never been with an inexperienced girl before.”
“You will need to be gentle with her. She is not a woman you just mount. She will never be that type of woman, and I will make your life extremely difficult if you do,” Gregory warned as he took his goblet and knocked it with Will’s mug. “You may never love her, but you will always respect her. She is your equal in every way.”
“How do you make sure she’s, um, ready?” Will asked as he stumbled over his words. He had been with various women from the brothels, but the women did most of the work. It never crossed his mind to try and make sure that the women felt pleasure. “I’ve never attempted to do this with a woman.”
“You’re a virgin?” King Gregory asked with surprise. “You just said you’ve never been with an inexperienced girl?”
“I’ve only been with the women in the brothel
s,” Will said almost ashamedly. He knew how his father felt about the brothels in his kingdom. “It’s not like they ask me to pleasure them.”