Apollo

Chapter Nineteen

A/N Happy Friday everyone! And an early Eid Saeed to any Muslim readers I may have!

Okay, down to business. The first chapter of this paragraph would have been the saucy part, but I think I have successfully un-saucified it. Of course this still implies that a man and a woman spent the night together, but I think I've made it safe for young readers. If you happen to be one of those young readers, I've done my best to make it child-friendly. I think this is as non-sexual as it gets.

As for my other readers, do let me know if you think it's okay to put it back on #SafeLove (or if you don't, haha).

Here we go!

"WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE ME AS YOUR WIFE?" SHE ASKED HIM AS she laid in his arms, bathed in the rich colours of dawn that seeped through the gaps in his heavy drapes.

"I never promised you marriage," he said, drawing back from her, incredulous.

    "What?" she shrieked. "But you must—! I assumed—It is doubtless – eventually I will be with child. And who will answer for it then?"

"I...I will consider it."

Despite his near concession, she remained slightly hysterical. "Why do you hesitate? Are you ashamed of me? If you are, I will remind you that I am the eldest daughter of a wealthy duke – there would be no shame in marrying me."

"I know," he replied simply, untangling his arms from her and swinging his legs off the bed as he rose. "I am not ashamed of you, not at all."

"Then I do not understand the complication!"

"The complication is that I am not meant for marriage," he said as he clothed himself. "Hurry up and dress. You must leave soon."

"You know, I detest our arrangement," she complained, even as she obeyed. "With all this sneaking around, I feel like some sort of – oh, I feel like some sort of criminal!"

"Then why do you stay?" he asked, oddly calm and not even looking at her, his gaze affixed on the buttons on his shirt as he did them one by one.

"Because I love you," she said plainly. When she received no reciprocation of sentiment she reiterated it, a little louder this time, a little more plaintively. "I love you!"

He was silent for a full ten counts. Then, in a low voice, he said, "Put on your dress and go, Victoria, I mean it."

"Am I... Am I not enough for you?" she asked, her voice quivering. He did not turn to look at her – he knew she was on the verge of tears, and he had no wish, then and there, to console her.

"No," he said. "You are far too much."

Then he made his way towards the door. "I have other business to attend to now – an important meeting. Leave as soon as you can...there will be trouble if a member of my wait staff finds you here."

"What trouble could there be but—"

He slipped out the door before she could even finish her sentence.

***

EMMETT LOCKHART STRODE QUICKLY OUT OF HIS QUARTERS, BOUND FOR the main door. He had to attend a gathering with some other prominent noblemen in the palace this morning. He had not broken his fast yet, but Emmeline had promised him a delicious meal together once he was finished with his business.