Hidden in the Castle

Part 14

Chapter 13

William fought the urge to walk back into Annabelle’s chamber.  He knew Cassie was right, knew that he could not be alone in that room with her without people asking questions.  It was one of the downsides of being who he was.  There were eyes watching his every move, ears listening to his every word.  He could not allow his actions to make Annabelle an outcast, not when the woman obviously already thought herself so.

He wished that she could see herself as he saw her.  Sure, at times, she was a bit odd, but it was what kept his attention.  She did not worry what others thought of her.  If she wanted her hair to pile on top her head in a mess, it was how she wore it.  If she wished to sit in the shadows and draw every person who stepped near her, it was what she did.  He was sure that people had hurt her in the past; it was easy enough to see in her eyes.  Even though people had mocked her for being who she was, she did not change, and for that, William admired her.

Would he be like her?  When all the hardships of the people came crashing down on him, would he stay the same person?  He knew what his father would say if William were to voice the question near him.  The current king would smile that half smile of his, glance towards his wife, and tell William that the true way to be the best man that you can is to have a woman who loves you stand at your side.  William shook his head at the thought and let out a small chuckle.  His father attempted to hide it from everyone, but William knew the man was a romantic.  It was the only reason why his father was allowing William to choose his own bride.

He stuck his head in her doorway.  It would not hurt to simply look at her; it wasn’t as if he were actually going into her chamber.  His motions stopped when he spotted her.  Her head was tilted to the side, facing him.  Her black hair was a wet mess around her pillow, while the blanket she had obviously attempted to cover herself was only around her legs.  Why hadn’t he thought to wrap the blankets around her body?  He knew the answer to that question.  He was afraid too.  Holding her in his arms had stirred something in him, and he knew that if he put his hands anywhere else on her body, they would both be done for.

Letting out a deep breath, he glanced away from her.  He could no longer stare at her when he was forced to stay at her door.  She had looked beautiful, something that if he voiced, she would have laughed at.  She wouldn’t believe that he thought her lovely even with her hair a mess, even with her mouth slightly open as she slept.

“William.”

He jerked away from the wall, looking like a guard caught sleeping on the job.  When Cassie flashed him a knowing smile, he glared at her.  “Annabelle is sleeping.”

Cassie nodded as she took a step towards the doorway.  She glanced in, as if having to see Annabelle herself before leaning against the doorway.  “I cannot do much for her,” Cassie admitted.  “Sleep will help heal her body, and I have a medicine she can take to ease the pain in her throat, but there is not much I can do.  You did well, William.  If you had not gotten the water from her body, she would have died.”

Scratching the back of his ear, he felt his face flame red.  “It was Ramsey,” he admitted.  “The man came from nowhere, dragged us from the river, and saved Annabelle.”  William shook his head, a smile forming as the embarrassed red began to fade.  “Your cousin has become quite the man.”

“Yes,” she said, but something in her eyes told William that she was more worried than she allowed herself to seem.  “He tries to hide behind an emotionless mask, but the man cares.  You should see him with Charlotte.”  A smile that could only be described as complete adoration formed on Cassie’s face as she talked about her daughter.  “She will walk towards him, making her steps unsteady; when we all know she can walk better than most, and give him the widest eyes I have ever seen.  Ramsey will let out a sigh as if he does not want to help her, but in no time, he is bounding towards her.  He will scoop her from the ground, toss her in the air, and the smile on both of their faces, William, it is beautiful.”