Sleeping With The Devil (sequel to Two Faced Love)

Part 21

"You think James is going to be offended that we are pulling this at the last minute?" you ask as you were going through the drawers and placing clothes on the bed. As Maria was grabbing them and putting them in bags.

"Not at all, gives him another outfit option to give to you for this private event. He'll probably pull out all the stops and show up with something for you to wear that he custom made for the both of you," Maria replied with a smile on her face.

"You know I could pack my own stuff. You are going to have to pack your things for this trip," you said as you saw Maria look up from packing with a shocked look on her face just for a second.

"Really? You aren't joking?" she asked as you nodded your head no.

"Of course I would want you there and Eric. Which is probably what he's doing since he got the packing done for Paul quickly,"

"Yes, well men have shirts and pants. Women's wardrobe's always have more options. And we have to think about the possibility of weather,"

"Weather, in hell? Didn't even think about that,"

"Yes, there are weather variations, but they also change more radically around him regardless," Maria said matter-of-factly as you raised a brow at that.

"Well, I didn't even know that. That's good to know. Now I know why you are packing so many options," you said as you turned back to the dresser drawers and closed them and went to the closet to grab a couple jackets.

"But based on what I feel, especially what you guys are going out to do, he'll definitely be in a good mood. Blue skies all around for sure," Maria said with an air of certainty.

"That's good. Wouldn't want it to just start raining on my wedding day. Which speaking of does anyone else know besides you two? I don't want to be trying to leave and we get stopped or something,"

"No one would try to stop us, we are allowed to leave if we wish," Paul said from where he had been standing in the doorway, listening in on your conversation.

"I know that, but please make some noise when you do that. It freaks me out," you said as you clutched at your chest.

"Well, you did say it like you were going to be stopped by guards or something. At least this time we aren't going through a secret passageway, unlike a certain trio." Paul said as he looked over at Maria with slightly narrowed eyes, but also with a playful smile on his face.

"Yes, well, if we went out the front we definitely would be stopped by guards," Maria said as she looked away and you noticed her face had a slight pink tone to it as she busied herself with packing your bag for you.

***

Once you were all packed up, including Eric and Maria you headed off with Paul and them to the stables.

"you know I don't think I've had enough riding lessons to confidently ride on my own for however long the journey is," you admitted just as you heard what you said. And you mind went back to a few days back to a certain comment about horsebacking riding with Paul.

You felt your face heat up immediately with those thoughts running through your head. As you saw Paul out of your peripheral vision smirking as he continued walking.

"well, good news for you then. Since we have more than a few bags we won't be riding on horseback.We will be riding in a carriage instead so we can put the bags on top," Paul said as he gestured to the carriage that was already set up with horses and even a coachman to man the horses.

"I know this is probably a stupid comment but this is totally reminding me of Cinderella," you said as you inched your way closer to the horses to pet them.

You looked back and saw a look of confusion cross Maria and Eric's faces since they didn't get the reference.

"it's a movie from 1950," Paul said with a laugh as he swung his bag up on top of the carriage and did the same with yours.

You were busy petting the horses as Paul was talking to the coachmen about the destination and noticed a couple of men approaching the carriage. They were dressed in the same black attire as Eric.

"Here are the extra men that you asked for for the trip," Eric said as the men stood at attention as Paul approached them.

"good, did you pack extra clothing? because you are going to need it. I was thinking we would be gone for a few days, give my officials something to worry about while I'm off the premises," Paul joked as the men politely smiled.

"they have their saddle bags on their horses. And there will be an extra cart I'll be manning that will have Maria and I's belongings and of course Maria," Eric said with a wink towards Maria who visibly turned red at the attention.

"I'm just going to ignore that and get on the cart," Maria replied, putting her bag on the cart.

The extra two men went to get their horses from the stables and Eric went to get behind the reins of the horses that were attached to the cart. Just as the doors they had previously exited from the palace opened and James was running out holding more than a couple bags with him.

"You can't possibly elope for your wedding without wardrobe options," he said as he quickly put the bags on the cart and went to sit next to Maria on the cart.

"let me guess someone sent word for him?" you questioned as you saw Paul smile as he gave you a hand up on the carriage before he followed in after you.

"Well, he is right. we couldn't possibly elope without wardrobe options," he reiterated, making you roll your eyes at his answer.

"with you definitely being involved and bringing him along this is going to still be a whole affair, this elopement isn't it?" you asked as paul punched at the top of the carriage to signal for the driver to start leaving the palace and onward towards the unknown destination.