by Nina Monroe
Her hand was soft in his as he brought her closer to him as he leaned back in his seat. With her hand, he brought her into his lap to straddle him when he threaded his hands in her hair. As he leaned in, Will captured Tamzin’s lips in a passionate kiss. She responded eagerly by threading her own fingers in his hair and tugged lightly. Will bit her lip lightly as he felt her fingers touch his heavy beard and stubble on his face. He broke the kiss and settled her into his lap, where he held her close.
“As long as I am here, you will never be alone. I promise you,” he said as he kissed her cheek. “I know you don’t love me yet, but I hope I can persuade you to.”
She laughed as she kissed him lightly again. “My prince,” she whispered, “why are you always so serious?”
~~~
Even though he lived in Thurston Territory his whole life, Will could not get passed how freezing it was in the morning. He awoke to a small body curled around him in the center of their bed and Tamzin’s warm breath on his neck. The curtains around their bed insulated the heat, but he felt the cold tickling his feet. He could tell it was very early but it didn’t stop Will from rising. He carefully untangled the girl’s arms from him and tucked the furs around her like a cocoon.
Will quickly undressed and dressed in his long sleeved tunic, his long breeches, and his leather boots. His cloak rested on his chair, which he threw over his shoulders and tied it at his neck. This early, he would go check on Angus and care for him himself. With his bureau open, Will grabbed another fur and crept quietly back to their bed. He opened the curtains and threw another fur over Tamzin. She shivered without his warmth and her small dog had crawled underneath the furs at her feet. Will slowly shut the curtains again before he started a new fire in the fireplace. He made sure the fire was strong before he left their room.
The sun was just beginning to rise when he made it to the stable. The servants had just begun to move for the day but were not surprised to see the Prince up so early. Will normally rose this early to train his men and care for Angus. Angus had just started to wake himself when Will appeared at his gate. The fresh carrots were resting in the bucket by his gate. Will smiled as he took the carrots and fed them to Angus, who was more than happy to take it from him.
“There is only one girl I know who would feed you treats,” Will said as Angus nuzzled his face and Will petted his mane. He unlocked the gate and brought Angus out of his stall and stretch and stand tall. “Would you like to go for a ride, my friend?” Will asked as he pet his nose. The sun had finally broken through the horizon when Will finished saddling Angus and hoisted himself up onto his back. With a slight kick, Angus took off with speed towards the woods. Both knew where he was going.
The woods were frozen with ice, but the stream still ran like winter hadn’t come. Deep in the forest was a grave that wasn’t visited often, and Will wanted to be angry with his father that his mother’s grave was so far from the castle, but Gregory assured him that in the woods was her favorite spot. A few frozen branches hit Will’s face, no doubt leaving small cuts on him when he finally made it to her grave. When Will dismounted Angus, Angus walked off towards the stream for a drink.
A stone plaque stood in the ground, withstanding the weather and nature with the words written across: Queen Nicola of Thurston Territory: a wife and mother missed terribly. Will leaned down and picked up a nearby rock as he put it on his mother’s gravesite. It was so peaceful out here, but it was lonely. It was lonely because Will grieved for a woman he never knew and had a father that refused to speak of her in real description. Though Will didn’t know Tamzin well and they hadn’t had children yet, he was quite sure if she were to die, he would tell his children about a mystifying woman he once knew.
Will sat down in front of the grave with his cloak underneath him. With his fingers, he cleaned out the writing on the grave to keep it perfect. If his mother died to bring him into the world, he could spend his life making sure her grave was perfect. He would have done so much more if it meant she could be here now.
Will stayed at the grave for most of the morning and only decided to return when the chill felt like it was turning his fingers blue. “Angus,” he called out and found the black horse standing in front of the stream. “Come here, boy,” Will continued as he led the horse away from the stream by the reins. The leather was freezing on his bare hands, but Will was used to this type of cold. He quickly mounted Angus and took off as quick as lightening out of the woods.
The castle was bustling with servants moving and the townspeople were entering and leaving the castle. It was time for King Gregory to directly address the problems of the people. The problems were things like land disputes, animal issues, and settling quarrelling between neighbors. Will rarely attended these days in the Throne Room, but something drew him to the Throne Room that day.
His clothes were wet and slightly muddy, but the people had seen him in worst. After he handed Angus off to the stable boy, Will walked around the front of the castle where nobles stood in disgust of the townspeople coming in and out of the castle. The warmth of the various fires in the center room hit Will as soon as he walked in. There was still a line of townspeople, but it was significantly shorter than normal. Most times, his father wouldn’t make it to the War Room until late afternoon, but he could be done in an hour or so now.
Will was just going to enter the Throne Room when a woman from town stopped him. He recognized her as the woman who sold potatoes and onions in the marketplace. She smiled a grin with missing teeth, but Will didn’t recoil from her. He was meant to love every member of his kingdom, no matter what they looked like or their job.
“Your wife, she is a godsend,” the woman said as she gripped the Prince’s arm. “She’s a diplomatic one. Keep us from war.”
Will smiled at the woman’s words and thanked her profusely before he walked into the Throne Room. Gregory sat in his throne, flanked by his advisors, but it was Tamzin who the attention was on. She wore a simple green dress with a necklace that drifted between her breasts. She wore her Thurston tiara on her head and she was talking animatedly to the townspeople.
“His Royal Highness, Prince William Thurston,” the announcer called out as Will walked down the aisle. The room universally bowed for him as he walked, but his eyes were locked on Tamzin. She continued standing and curtsied when he approached her. His father nodded to him before Will kissed Tamzin in front of everyone. She was shocked as he swept her up in his arms and pressed a hot kiss to her lips. He didn’t forget the night before and how she clung to him and the touches they shared. Her maidenhood was still intact, but their bond had grown.
Will broke the kiss and smirked as Tamzin as she flushed from their public display of affection. His father’s enthusiastic laughter rang through the hall as Will walked past Tamzin and took his seat in his throne by his father.
“My boy, your wife can talk through any problem. With her here, we may never have war again!” Gregory continued to laugh as the next feuding couple came up. It was the typical land dispute, with the dispute including animals.
“He says he’s not taking my chickens, but he always has more when I have less!” The woman screamed as she pointed to the man on her left. “There is blood in my chicken coops!”
“Is it possible that an animal is killing your chickens? I know that this area is filled with wolves,” Tamzin questioned the woman, who looked shocked at her questioning. “As for the land, if you didn’t sign an agreement, then the land is void from both of you and the King will decide.”
“There was an agreement, your highness!” The man said as he produced a piece of paper. Tamzin extended her hand to the man, who rushed up to Tamzin. Will watched closely as the man handed the paper to Tamzin. She read it quickly before she handed it to Gregory.
“This is illegible, sir,” Tamzin began while Gregory tore up the paper. “And I’m sure this woman will contend that she never signed any agreement. Because this isn’t a void contract to begin with, you w
ill return next week where I will personally draft a contract for signature. As for you, madam, I truly believe that a wolf is disturbing your coop. Refer to your neighbor-soldier for help in building a stronger one,” Tamzin smiled as both people bowed to her before they walked back towards the town.
Will was impressed with her as she continued to solve problems of the townspeople. In an hour, like he predicted, all the quarrels were settled and Tamzin looked like she hadn’t broke a sweat. She curtsied to the final people and as they walked out the door, Will stood up and wrapped an arm around her waist. He kissed her cheek as she turned to face him.
“Do you still not feel like you have a place here?” Will asked as he brushed a tendril out of her face.
“I think I’m doing fine,” Tamzin smiled before she leaned in and kissed him.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
With the unexpectedly amazing outcome with the townspeople, Gregory was in far too good a mood to spend any time in the War Room. In his words, he wanted a piece of meat, a goblet of alcohol, and dancing all night. Tamzin smiled at her father in law’s good mood and the feeling of Will’s fingers laced in her own. Tonight would be her first night in court, among the nobles. They would be the most judgmental of critics, but Will cared very little. She had earned the approval of his father, and very quickly, which was nearly impossible to do. Tamzin earned Gregory’s approval so much that he said she earned their new keeps: the third floor, the space only reserved for the King and Queen. It would be their joint suite as a married couple.
Will’s hopes for alone time were swiped when her ladies found them chatting outside the Throne Room. The blonde one, Lucy, grabbed Tamzin’s arms and pulled her forward while Kendall apologized profusely before she ran off to catch up with the other girls. “See you tonight, Will!” Tamzin called out and Will smiled before he waved.
Left alone, Will wandered the palace until he found himself in the library. The library was mostly filled with history books or books about battles, but Will always found something interesting to read. He grabbed a small novella and plopped down on the couch in front of the large fireplace. The warmth wrapped him up tight like a blanket and the words of the novella couldn’t keep his eyes open. Will only closed his eyes for a moment but opened them when he felt someone shaking his shoulder.
“There you are! Your father is looking for you,” Garrett said as he stood over Will with a goblet in his hand. “Your lady is making her first appearance in court and you’re nowhere to be found.”
“What?” Will asked as he sat up. The rough awakening left his head pounding and his teeth grinding. “It’s time for dinner?”
“Yes!” Garrett yelled as he pulled his friend up by the arm. “The ladies made Tamzin look stunning tonight.”
“You’ve seen Tamzin?” Will asked as he stumbled out of the library with a hand pressed to his forehead. “Is she angry I’m late?”
“No, I don’t think so. She’s in your bedroom and she seems nervous. She didn’t want to make an appearance without you,” Garrett said as he shoved his friend towards the stairs. “Do you think Kendall likes me?”
“I think Kendall would like you more if you cooled it with your womanizing ways,” Will said as he licked his lips. “I’ll see you at dinner, slick,” Will said as he punched Garrett’s shoulder lightly. There was the normal bustle during dinnertime and Will was able to make his way through the castle without a fuss. As he jogged up the stairs, his headache began to ease to a slight dull. Just as he made his way to the top of the stairs, he ran into Kendall and Lucy. Lucy giggled and slapped his chest as she pushed past him. She brushed up against him seductively and Will felt his throat tighten from awkwardness. Kendall eyed her friend, but said nothing. She smiled broadly at the Prince, and Will knew that Kendall was the one to trust. Lucy may have been the exciting one, but Kendall was the one that was most concerned with Tamzin.
Their bedroom was up an additional floor, a private floor, which had a library, their own studies and a much larger room than what they both were accustomed to. They were to begin using it tonight after Tamzin had been introduced to the Court, but she had begun after Gregory insisted upon it after her remarkable beginning in the Throne Room. Will knew that Gregory alone would defend Tamzin against any hardship or criticism from the Court.
Will quietly entered his former room and walked straight for the wall by the fireplace. He pushed the wall lightly and watched as it turned to reveal a new doorway. This was one of the only ways known to be able to get to the King’s Quarters, the Quarters Gregory had given up when his wife died. Will had only been in these rooms a few times, as it was his designated hiding space if the castle was ever invaded. Now that Will was a man and a trained soldier, he didn’t need a hiding spot.
The staircase curved around in a spiral and the stairway was lit with various torches on the stonewalls. Will jogged up the stairs and at the top of the landing was their bedroom. Tamzin stood in front of the fire. Her hair was done up in an elegant twist with a few wispy curls framing her face. She turned around to look at him. She gave him a painful smile; he could tell she was blindingly nervous.
“Are you alright?” Will asked as he walked across the wooden planks to her. This room was significantly warmer than the rest, with the heat rising and the duel fireplaces that were lit on each side of the room. Tamzin didn’t answer as he placed a hand on her waist and a kiss on her cheek. She turned her entire body and forced him into a hug. Will kissed her head as he felt the silk of her dress. It must have been a dress from home.
“I’m nervous,” she breathed into his chest. She looked up to peer at him and Will leaned down to peck her lightly on the lips.
“You have nothing to be nervous about. You are the Princess of Thurston Territory,” Will said as he nuzzled her neck and placed a kiss behind her ear. “The townspeople love you. It’s harder to get their approval.” Will continued as he turned to look around at their bedroom. Above the second fireplace was a portrait of his mother in her royal garb and a crown atop her head. Will walked silently over to the portrait and stared at it. He hadn’t seen very many portraits of his mother.
“She was beautiful. You have her hair color,” Tamzin said as she took his hand in her own. “Why doesn’t your father have any portraits of her around the castle?”
“Bad memories, I guess,” Will said as he looked away and turned back to her. “It’s time for dinner,” he said as he offered her his arm. Tamzin looked liked she wanted to say more, but she just placed her arm within his. Her hand on his arm was a comfort he hadn’t felt in a long time. Will smiled softly at her before he leaned in and kissed her softly. Her lips were chapped from biting them, but his tongue easily smoothed them. Will leaned in closer and pressed his entire body up against hers. Tamzin groaned against his mouth as he gripped her hips tightly.
Tamzin felt him push her into their bed and she didn’t resist him. She pulled at the ties of his leather jerkin and tried to take it off, but he stilled her with his hands. Tamzin pulled away with a look of shock on her pretty face. “You don’t want me?” she asked as she continued to pull away.
“It’s not that at all,” Will laughed as he threaded her fingers with his. “We’re expected at dinner any moment, and if we don’t show up, they’re going to come looking for us. I wouldn’t want anyone to find us in a precarious situation,” Will said as he ran a finger down her neck and towards her breasts. He listened to Tamzin’s breath hitch as she continued to gnaw at her bottom lip.
“Precarious situation?” She asked breathlessly as she pushed the strings of his jerkin open and pressed her cool hand inside. She felt his firm chest, as she ran her thumb across his skin, littered with hair. Will’s lips latched onto her pulse point and he sucked her skin greedily, before he nipped her gently and brought his lips up to ear.
“My head between your thighs,” he whispered as he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her forward. Her hips pressed against his hips and she felt how hard he was. Tamzin ga
sped, at both his words and his erection, and Will smiled. “Would you like that?”
“I’ve never,” Tamzin began before she lost her words. She looked up at him almost uncertainly and was afraid her nervousness was showing. Would this be the moment? Would he lay her down on the bed and she would let him have her innocence? They were married, there was no shame, and she liked him. His touch left her burning and made her feel comfort at the same time. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”