''Flying''

Uninvited

As Bella watches Alexis and Henry, she can't help but think that they should've had lunch together sooner. She watched in delight as, after that initial question, Alexis and Henry became more comfortable with each other, to the point of making jokes.

She can't remember the last time she has laughed so genuinely as she has during that lunch, outside of her time spent with Alexis just the two of them. "Nothing can ruin this day.", she thinks as she laughs at another joke.

Footsteps approach the small space they are in and all three look over to the path to see who's coming, the mood immediately changing once Bella and Henry see Alexander coming down the path.

-"Hello! Isn't this a surprise!" - Alexander greets with a grin. -"I wasn't expecting to see anyone here, specially not you."

-"I figured it would be a nice change to have lunch outside." - Henry is pleasant, but cautious, while Bella discretely signals Alexis to leave.

-"If you'll excuse me, I have a lesson starting soon. Your Majesty, thank you again for having me for lunch. I enjoyed it very much." - Alexis stands and before she leaves, kisses Henry's cheek.

-"It was my pleasure, Alexis."

-"You have raised a very polite young lady, Lady Arabella." - Alexander follows Alexis with his eyes as she leaves.

-"Thank you."

For a moment, Alexander and Henry lock eyes, remaining that way for a few minutes. Bella can see now why people call Henry the Devil, since the look he is giving Alexander is as cold and as calculating as she has ever seen.

If she didn't know that there's more to Henry than that, she would be terrified of him. She needs to stop this before this creates a problem none of them wants. Bella clears her throat, getting both men's attention, Alexander breaking the stare first.

-"Are you here for any particular reason, Lord Roberts?" - Bella picks up her wine glass and takes a sip.

-"Oh, I find the lake so silent that I enjoy it. And it also helps me to clear my head."

-"Well, don't let us keep you. I'm sure you'll enjoy the peace and quiet a bit further down the shore."

Bella smiles sarcastically and turns to Henry, who is now fully focused on her and has a smirk on his lips. Alexander excuses himself with a smile and walks away, leaving Bella and Henry alone.

-"He wasn't happy to be dismissed like that." - Henry saw the flash of anger cross Alexander's features before he left.

-"I'm tired of him always being around. Maybe now he will understand that I have no interest in him whatsoever."

-"I have a feeling this isn't the last we've seen of him."

-"If he keeps on trying to pursue me, I will just ask Josh to keep him away from me and Alexis."

-"Are you sure you still don't want me to talk to Alexander?"

-"I'm sure. I don't want you to get caught in the middle of this."

-"Bella, whether you like it or not, I'm already in the middle of this."

-"What do you mean?"

-"You really don't see it, do you?" - He chuckles softly as she shakes her head. -"Because I asked to court you, Alexander sees me as competition and, therefore, someone that he needs to get rid of so he can be with you."

-"How did I missed that? I've been so focused on my duties as Mackenzie's advisor and thinking about your request, that I hadn't considered that Alexander would make you a target."

-"I'm used to having a target on my back. Don't worry about me." - He holds her hand and squeezes it in comfort. -"This doesn't change the fact that I still wish to court you. Not even Alexander is capable of changing that. It just means that I'm going to have to fight harder to show you that my intentions are sincere."

-"You don't have to do that. I know that you're being sincere with your intentions and nothing will change that. I just... I just need a little more time, not a lot, just a little. Is that okay?"

-"Bella, you can take all the time in the world. I'm not going anywhere."

Henry pulls her hand to his lips and kisses it, caressing it with his thumb.

Bella smiles and allows him to keep holding her hand as so many times before. She looks at him and thinks that maybe she has been putting this decision off for a little too long.

There's just one more conversation she needs to have before she can give Henry his answer. All she can hope for is that she is making the right decision.

***

Further down the shore, Alexander is closely watching Henry and Arabella, and he is fuming. How dare Henry be so comfortable with her when Alexander is there?

Alexander knows he is running out of time. The way she looks at Henry tells him that he needs to make a move to get Henry away from her and he needs to do it fast.

He decides then that he needs to do something before it's too late.