The Bastard (Darling #2) [complete]

Chapter Nine

" M A R Y A N N,"  T H E prince called out in bewilderment as he nervously strode towards the king's study. She was waiting outside of the door, frowning sadly at her nail beds. "What are you doing here?"

He was headed towards King James' study because the king wished to speak to him prior to breakfast, as informed by Maryann the night before. One of the king's servants came to the prince's quarters that morning to remind him of it. He was already preparing himself to do so when he was called upon, so shortly after, he was on his way.

There was a lot Thatcher was expecting in the meeting he'd have with the king, but seeing Maryann standing outside of the door, seemingly waiting for his arrival, confused him.

Upon hearing his voice, her gaze snapped away from her destroyed nail beds to look at him with a tight smile. "Oh, good. You are here," she said, leaving his question unanswered.

He nodded as he came to a stop several paces before her. "I did not want to miss this nor be late for it. I need not to anger him anymore than he already is," he explained himself. He gestured to the door and again asked, "What are you doing here?"

"You truly must not believe I would allow you to walk in there and fend for yourself, do you?" Her tight smile turned into a soft one full of genuinity. "I understand it is business meant to be between father and son, but perhaps if I am with you, we could lessen the fury he will direct towards you."

Thatcher pondered on what she had said and he concluded it made sense. Before they headed in, they could have made up a plan to deceive the king away from finding out the true cause of the prince's disappearance. For some reason, the king trusted Maryann and together, they could have used that trust to their advantage.

On his walk to the king's study, he was worrying so much about what would happen during the meeting, he was nearly sweating off his outfit. He wore one of his best surcoats and brais in hopes if he looked pleasant enough, the king's anger with him would slightly dissolve and he'd see the prince was unharmed. Thatcher knew, however, that it would not deter King James from giving out some kind of punishment.

He always seemed to give the worst punishments when it had something to do with Louelle, not that she was solely to blame for his reprimandings. For some reason unknown to Thatcher, he was never given one when it involved Maryann.

Perhaps it was because he had always tried to behave his best when he was with her. He never wished for her to run off and cry to her parents or his father claiming she was being treated poorly or he was not trying to make the agreement work. He never wanted to receive one of the king's awful whippings because of her, but he'd have done so in a heartbeat for Louelle.

At the time he was worried about Maryann tattling on him, he did not wish to have any form of affiliation with her. With Louelle, he had always seen her as his future queen and one day wife. As her king and husband, it was his duty to protect her. The lady he loved should have never had to undergo the treatment he had. In the king's eyes, Maryann could never do anything wrong. Only the prince could and he'd be condemned to receiving punishment after punishment.