The Spaniard's Bride

Twenty-Two

Jason was grateful for what seemed like a peaceful night of sleep.

The words Roseanne had thrown at him brought him a sense of acceptance. It was as if her words had knocked conmen sense into him. He no longer saw the sense in trying to be with Roseanne. He knew he would do better to settle for someone more suited for him.

Perhaps Florencia, as he had promised her mother to take care of the young girl. She was beautiful and charming and head of heels for Jason. She would be the perfect mother too.

She could cook and clean. She could mend and talk. She was sweet and never was one to argue. She was perfect.

A knock at the door took Jason out of his thoughts. He arched an eyebrow and rolled himself off the bed. He dragged himself to the door and threw it open, "What?"

Before him stood the Queen, dressed in her bedclothes, staring with wide blue eyes, "Can I come in?"

Jason was tempted to shut the door in her face.  He was really tempted, but he feared she would have him executed.

He stepped aside and closed the door behind her. She turned to look at him, a sinful look gleaming in her eye and gave him a small smile, "My husband has cheated on me. Some servant girl."

Jason scoffed and brushed past her, "The first of many."

"Jason, do you know what this means?" Roseanne asked, grabbing his arm.

He felt his arm burn under her touch. He yanked his arm away and shook his head, "I leaned my lesson, Rose. You went right back into his arms after you had a piece of me. Never again. If you need someone to love you, go find another servant boy."

She was his demon, staring at his with the hopeful eyes and small smile. Her hands went to her hips, "You're the one who left, Jason. I gave you myself and you left that next day. I yearned for you for weeks, heartbroken and lost. "

"You were already in the arms of another, Roseanne. Do not play me as a fool." Jason growled. There was only so much more of her he could take. He knew if she did not leave soon, they would fall back in the old habits.

"He was the father of my husband! I owed him my life and I had to protect my baby. It was him or the life of Esteban." She said, wringing her hands nervously.

Jason did not doubt it for a second. It would take a mere second for Alvaro to kill of his child. He knew far to well that children— and wives— were replaceable.

"Roseanne, I cannot be with you." He said as he cupped her face, "I want a family. I want a wife who loves me and children and a home. You may say you love me but within the next month, you may be moving on to your next servant boy. I saw what Edward had and I wanted it. It was so close I could taste it. And then he sent me back here, to you, and I lost it. I lost my dream the moment you walked into my life again."

Roseanne placed a hand over his, "But you do have a son! Alvaro cannot know but Mateo is yours! There was no way he could be Alvaro's. You have to believe me."

Jason nodded sadly, "I knew the moment I saw him. But as much as I would love it, I cannot accept that as my dream."

Jason removed his hand from her face and went to sit on the bed, "I plan to ask Florencia to marry me and then take her back to England. Edward has offered my a title and a good estate and I plan on accepting. I came back to check on you and take Florencia. So, if you'll—"

"She slept with my husband! She was he cheating servant girl! You would choose a common whore as your wife? " Roseanne snapped, throwing her hands in the air.

In a mere second, Jason was across the room with Roseanne pressed against the wall and his hand around her neck. His heart was pounding, head spinning as he stared back at her, "Don't you ever refer to her as a whore. Remember your goddamned place!"

Roseanne grinned, "As your queen?"

Jason scoffed, "My Queen is the one of England. Queen Mary, not some Spanish queen that thinks she can walk around with her legs open to any male that walks by."

Roseanne's hands curled around his neck, bringing his head closer to her, "Then as your lover?"

Jason felt his common sense shut off as Roseanne brought her lips to his. The all to familiar sparks ignite.

Jason grabs her waist and hoist her around his waist. He walked her to the edge of the bed, laying her down gently. His lips never left hers for a second.

He knew, right then and there, that he had fallen into temptation.

~~~~

Florencia sat alone in her small room in the kitchen, huddled underneath her thin blanket. Tears ran their way down her face as she hugged herself.

She had made a mistake.

She knew her mother was looking down from heaven in pure shame. She had promised her mama when she died that Florencia would find herself a solid, loving husband. And instead, she found herself a knight and shinning armor who was in love with a queen.

Florencia knew she could never be with Jason and yet, she felt it her duty to find a way to distract the King so that Jason could be with the Queen.

So she did. She managed to distract the King as Jason and the Queen were together. She had allowed herself to be kissed.

Her mama would have beaten her alive and left her to dry on the fence. Florencia knew, without a doubt, the dangers of flirting with the King— her mother had made sure of it. Life or death.

The King had always had a liking towards her, giving her extra pay and touching her arms or legs as she passed by. Florencia has fought to ignore him until now.

Now, he King wanted something more precious to her and she knew... Florencia knew that if she wasn't careful, it would happen. One could not simple refuse the King.

So tonight, Florencia would pack a bag and make her way to escape. She did not know where she was going but she had to leave.

For her life.