His Girl

Chapter 19

It didn't take long before Jackson regained consciousness. He sat up on the couch, still a little dazed and dizzy from the strange concoctions my host had given him. The first words that came out of his mouth were.
"I had it covered you know." I shook my head and grinned.
"So when you were lying in the floor while they literally kicked your head in, you had it covered all along."
"You know me too well sweetheart." He grinned as he shuffled around on the couch so he was looking at me. His face suddenly switched to being serious and worried "Are you alright?" He asked
"Yea, yea I'm fine." I lied, I didn't want to tell him about the huge bruises that had began to form all over my skin. He frowned at me put didn't seem to question me any further as the witch walked in with a pile of clothes for both of us.
"I can't having you leaving my house looking like a pair of savages. Here put these on, they might not be made of what even overly expensive material you royals wear but they are good enough." She said handing us a garment each, she looked between us knowingly before exiting and leaving us to change. I held the dress out in front of me. It was made up of hundreds of different colours of silk all woven together. The sleeves were long and the skirt went straight down, unlike the other huge dresses I was forced to wear by Rachelle. I put the dress down to see Jackson struggling to take his shirt off, his hands were cut and seemed to have swollen. I sighed and walked over to help him. Despite looking like he had just been through battle he still looked as handsome as ever. His perfectly chiseled jaw had cuts and grazes all over and his stunning blue eyes shone against his dirty and bloodied face. His golden hair still looked swoon worthy but it wasn't as immaculately styled as it normally was. I looked at him in the eyes as I moved my hands to his shirt. I felt his body tense in response to my touch. I didn't move my gaze from his as I unbuttoned his shirt. I had seen the odd glimpse of his chest but I hadn't expected this. The buttons were now totally undone to reveal his incredibly tanned and muscular chest. His abs were extremely well defined yet didn't look over worked. I wanted to run my hands over his chest but I felt that this might be the wrong time to do so. I lifted his shirt off his body and I could still feel his eyes looking at me intently. I picked up the rough cotton shirt from the pile which the witch had left and pulled it over his body. I did up the buttons and placed a kiss on his cheek. I turned and began to walk away when I felt his muscular arms wrap around my waist from behind me.
"Thank you." He whispered into my ear, his breath sending shivers down my neck and spine. I spun round to face him, this was probably the first time the prince had ever said thank you.
"Don't worry about it. Just promise me that next time we see bandits approaching we try and run away not fight them off." I said calmly.
"It worked though didn't it?" He grinned
"Only because I managed to drag you here. You may have fought them but you would be a very injured and possibly dead man if I hadn't found this house."
"You worry about me too much."
"And you don't worry about me?"
"It's my job to worry about you, I'm the future king do you have any idea how badly my kingly reputation would be damaged if my servant got killed or injured?" He joked and brought me closer up to his chest. As I rested my head upon his shoulder I inhaled his musky scent, which relaxed me and strangely made me feel safe. I untangled myself from him and began to get changed whilst he had his back turned, which was weirdly courteous of him.
Suddenly a loud knock on the door resounded through the house. I looked around to see where the witch had disappeared to. She was no where to be found. Jackson went over to answer the door and I couldn't help but begin to feel panicky. As soon as the doorway flung open I heard Jackson laughing and greeting who ever the men were outside. I walked around to peer out side the door. Sure enough, standing there were the knights who were supposed to be guarding them. They seemed extremely flustered that they had seen all the dead bandits and were worried as to what had happened to the prince. After reassuring them that he was fine they urged him to leave the house and head back to Lothelor. I was desperate to return but I couldn't help but feel obliged to give my thanks to the witch who was now no where to be seen. I found a scrap of paper and hastily wrote a note that expressed my gratitude towards her help. I took one final glance at the strange house before walking outside the door.   
*

Audric didn't look happy at all. He held his head in that disappointing manner. Around him stood several elderly men who were dressed in expensive robes, they too raised their eyebrows when they saw Jackson approaching. The main courtyard was now filled with extravagantly dressed people, clearly the rest of the aristocracy had arrived. Ladies pranced around flashing their jewellery adorned necks at attractive men in brightly coloured breeches and doublets. The people moved in a swirl of luxury and were posing them selves, trying the gain attention. The crowd didn't seem to pay any attention to the Knights as they entered the courtyard but as soon as someone caught sight of the prince and I, everyone turned and looked at us in silence. I kept my head focused but I could see out of the corner of my eye people raising their eyebrows at me and looking confused. Me and Jackson looked a state in our mishmash of clothes and our faces were covered in dirt and I tried to keep myself from wincing every time we went over the cobbles. I still hadn't told Jackson about all the pain is was in, he would probably never let me out of the castle again. The crowd of people continued to stare at us as Jackson kept of the horse elegantly and held his hands out to catch me. I accepted his help due to the agony that I was currently in and leapt off the horse. He smiled at me as my feet touched the ground and he clasped his hand in mine as we walked up to Audric. As we approached Audric glared across the crowd, the lords and ladies immediately got the gist and continued to talk and mill around. Audric them fixed his glare upon us.
"Jackson I expected better of you." He started with that patronising stare. "You are a host and a future leader to many of these powerful people. Did you really think it would be alright for you to go on a romantic outing with a serving girl? If it had been a princess of notable worth then I maybe would have accepted it. Jackson you are not a boy anymore. I need you here my son." He then walked up to Jackson and whispered something in his ear. Jackson's face fell and turned white.
"He's here now." Jackson asked worriedly
"I'm afraid so my boy, just keep her out of the way. Don't let him see your weakness, however much I don't want to admit it." Audric grimaced. I laughed inwardly at this. Me? The future king of Lothelors weakness, I think not.
Jackson grabbed my arm and looked directly into my eyes.
"You have got to be just my serving girl from now on. That's all." He said solemnly
"Why who's here? What's the problem?" I asked curiously.
"The less you know the better." He said as he placed a kiss on my forehead and gripped me into a bear hug. I winced and let out a small cry in pain, my bruises and cuts had got worse. Jackson suddenly looked at me with deep concern.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Yes I'm fine, don't worry about me." I strained through gritted teeth,
"Father I need to help Tania, she is really hurt. We had a run in with some bandits." Jackson said calmly, Audric didn't even batter an eyelid and just nodded. Jackson herded me up the steps despite my constant reassurance that I was completely fine. He lead me up to his bedroom and sat me down on his bed. Malcolm came in hurriedly and immediately blushed once he saw me, much to Jackson's amusement.
"Can you go and fetch a nurse, and be quick I have a lot to do." Jackson ordered before turning to me. "You are obviously hurt, you don't have to lie to me."
"It's nothing..." I started as he lightly pulled down the shoulder of my dress to reveal a huge purple toned bruise that had spread like dark ink down my arm.
"Jesus Tania, why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I don't want you to worry about me all the time."
"I worry because I care for you, however much you don't seem to notice." He mumbled the last bit of his sentence under his breath. I just smiled, I never knew how to react when he said he cared for me, especially an irresistibly handsome future king such as him. I moved closer to him and placed my hands around his face before crashing my lips onto his. I kissed him passionately and he kissed back almost hungrily. Our kiss deepened as he fell back onto the bed and I fell on top of him. I moved one hand up his shirt until I felt his hand grip onto mine, stopping me.
"Stop Tania, your hurt and if I don't stop now I not be able to later." He then sat up and kissed my neck lightly before whispering in my ear "I want you to be in perfect health, ready for me to make you feel amazing." His words sent shivers down my spine and he chuckled as I did this. Suddenly the door flung open and in walked Malcolm accompanied by a maid. Both of our heads turned sharply and the two servants looked mortified that I had forgotten to knock and that I was currently sat on the prince's lap on his bed.
"Forgive me sire." Malcolm said bowing his head. I climbed off Jackson and sat beside him as the nurse came over to examine me. Jackson got off the bed and took Malcolm off into the corner to have a 'private' talk.

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I am so sorry about the slow update but I have been volunteering for the past two weeks and it has been hectic!
This chapter isn't my best but at least it is something.
Thank you for reading and don't forget to follow, vote and comment
Till next time my lovelies
Beatoria xxx