Jottie: Rewritten - The Rosewood Chronicles

Jealousy - Part 2 • UP

Jamie gazed down at her, completely bewildered. He had no choice. Couples around them began to get into position. He couldn't leave now without causing a scene. He felt his shock - and annoyance - when Lottie smirked at him, but to her amazement his expression turned to begrudging acceptance and he effortlessly moved her into position just as the music started.

"As you wish," he muttered, resisting the urge to roll his eyes and instead placing his hand on the small of her back.

As they danced, the music slowly drowning out the noise of the other guests, Jamie realised with a start that there was something oddly comforting in the way he and Lottie both moved and stepped together. He had never waltzed with Lottie before, refusing to do so with her during her princess lessons, but now he found himself almost regretting that decision.

And strangest of all, he hardly gave it a second thought that they were so close to each other again. Since the night at the pool, and since Valentine's Day, that wasn't something they could usually say.

"Ellie told me how you came to be her Partizan," Lottie suddenly said gently into his chest, and he felt himself tense, unsure as to what she would say next - what she knew. "I know you have a complicated relationship with Ellie and her family, and I know you think I'm just some naive girl, but-" the music swelled again and she had to tiptoe to reach his ear, her breath tickling his neck - "I want to help you, if you'll let me."

If they weren't dancing, Jamie would've froze. Lottie's words struck him, and for the first time in a long time it sounded as if someone truly cared about him - not his job as a Partizan or his duty having to protect Ellie or any of his other roles for the Maravish royal family. Just him. She cared about him.

And better yet, he knew a part of him cared about her.

He abruptly spun Lottie out and pulled her back in under his arm so that she was facing forward with his arm wrapped round her waist. He leaned his head down over her shoulder and murmured in her ear, both of them all too aware of how they were now somehow even closer than before. "I don't think there's anything that can help me since you showed up."

He had no idea where his response came from; it was as much a shock to him as it was to Lottie, but somehow they both knew that there was truth behind his teasing.

Before she could react, he spun her again and when he twirled her back he dipped her, leaning in once more, and despite himself, he smirked when he finally acknowledged how much Lottie was blushing. "But thank you," he added before returning to a standing position, Lottie's cheeks still flushing a rosy pink.

They came to a stop as the music faded, the two of them slightly breathless and still holding one another, neither seemingly wanting to let go. The both of them mesmerised when their eyes met.

"Jamie..." Something in the air shifted when she whispered his name delicately, as if she worried it might break in her mouth if she spoke too loud. As if it were something precious. He just couldn't look away from her; she couldn't look away from him. It seemed the world had stopped and it was only the two of them, holding each other in the very centre of it all. It was like a tide was pulling them towards each other and now he was slowly starting to drown in her deep ocean blue gaze. And no matter how much he knew he shouldn't get distracted, he found himself holding his breath, waiting for Lottie's words that would follow. But they didn't have the time.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please gather with a partner in the middle for the royal waltz."

Lottie looked up at Jamie once more with a painfully hopeful glint in her sapphire eyes that made his chest ache, but he forced himself to look away from them until his gaze finally landed behind her. He leaned down to her again, pretending not to notice the way she both tensed and blushed. "Our princess is here."

Lottie turned abruptly to face Ellie, a wide grin on her face the second they saw each other. He felt his heart drop along with his hand as Lottie finally let it go. He wished that there was at least some hesitation from her as she left, but he would only be fooling himself trying to believe that.

Jamie slunk away while he had the chance, leaving the two of them alone. But no matter where he stood in the ballroom, he could always still see Ellie and Lottie dancing together in the centre, smiling more widely than he had ever seen them, and even Ellie was blushing as they spoke.

He willed himself to tear his gaze away from them, but he couldn't. He found that when he watched the two together, there wasn't the same kind of irritation he felt seeing Lottie with Edmund. Instead, it was just a dull ache laced with that same jealousy he hated himself for feeling.

And then when his two princesses leaned in closer again, it hit him.

Cold. Jamie hated how cold the air around him made his whole body suddenly feel now that his only warmth and sunlight had left - the sunlight that always brightened the darkness in his life.

But he told himself it didn't matter. Because if the sun and the moon lit each other up, where would that ever leave a lone star?