Just One Dance

Chapter 18 - Questions and Vauge Answers

Wilfred's POV

I open the door and walk into the room. When my eyes find Katelyn, I can't help but gasp. She looks so relaxed. So beautiful. She seems so in control. She looks like a lioness. No. Not a lioness. A queen.

I shake my head, trying to focus. It dawns on me that I've been standing here a full two minutes, and Kate has not yet addressed me.

"You must be lost in your thoughts, Kate," I address her.

She shakes her head. "I must have been."

"What is on your mind?"

"Nothing special. Just a certain man." She grins mischievously.

"A man?" I ask, playing along. "Do I know him?"

"I don't think so," she says coyly. "Please, sit." She pats the spot beside her and smiles.

"Miss Morgan, I do believe you are avoiding my questions. I'd love to hear about this man that has you so preoccupied. Is he smart?"

"Oh yes. He's the smartest man I've ever met."

"Is he good to you?" I ask as I start to walk forward.

"Probably more than I deserve."

"So he's generous?"

"He's never given me anything but his time, and that's enough for me." She smiles, her eyes downcast.

"Is he handsome?" I ask as I sit next to her.

"He-" she stops and shakes her head as she turns her head away from me. "I don't care about that stuff. I mean, who am I to judge something like that?"

I hesitate. Does she not see how beautiful she is? "You're beautiful," I say it without thinking.

"You don't have to be polite."

"I'm not. I mean, I am, but it's true. You are one of the most beautiful women I have ever met."

She says nothing for a moment. "Do you not see the scars," she asks in a small voice.

"No. I don't." My eyes search her, but the only skin exposed to me is her shoulder and neck. Her face is still looking away.

She turns to me. "Here," she says, pointing to the bridge of her nose, "here," she points to a spot on her jaw, "here," she points to her collarbone, "and there's this one," she says, showing me a scar on her right arm that I had never noticed. I looked closely at the places she pointed. On the bridge of her nose was a small, thin white scar that was only noticeable if you were looking for it. Her jaw had a similar scar, but it was slightly thicker. The scar on her collarbone was small but thick and easily concealed with makeup. Finally, the scar on her arm was thin but long. It was also barely noticeable.

"My lady, I never noticed them. They do nothing to take away from your beauty."

"Thank you, your highness." Her eyes were still downcast.

"How did they happen, if you don't mind me asking?" I wonder if they have anything to do with her accident.

"I-" she hesitates. "I was in a car accident." She pauses and takes a deep breath. "It was stupid. I wasn't wearing my seatbelt, and I was thrown onto the dashboard." She shakes her head. "The windshield shattered from the impact, and I was covered in glass and cuts. Most of the scars faded, but I can still feel the ones on my nose and my jaw."

"When was this?" I asked, but in my gut, I knew I already knew the answer.

"The night we were supposed to meet. That was why I didn't show up. I was lying in a hospital bed while my mother, hysterical after receiving the news, went to the queen and begged the betrothal be put off. I was in a coma for a week, and my parents didn't know if I would wake. When I did..." she trails off.

"You don't need to say anything more if you don't wish to." I could see how much it hurt her to relive this. It made me wonder about what happened after she woke, but I did not want to push her. Surely she will tell me when she is ready, and maybe that would explain why she still needs Sasha.

She shakes her head. "It's in the past." She wipes a tear that has escaped from her watery eyes. "Now," she says with a smile, "I believe you called me here to ask me a question."

Shoot. I almost forgot. She is so easy to be with. It feels like we could stay in this room forever and never run out of things to speak of.

"You are under no obligation to answer me. I wanted to ask...do you like me?"

She pauses for a moment. "Of course, Wilfred. I wouldn't have invited you for tea if I didn't. I...enjoy our time together."

I feel my heart sink. Did she just friendzone me? Does this mean I read too much into the situation?

"I enjoy our time together as well. I just...thought it meant more."

"Your highness, I can offer nothing more than friendship no matter how much I wish otherwise."

"Why would-" my question is interrupted by a knock on the door. Sasha enters and closes the door behind him.

"Solnyshko, your parents look for you." His voice is deep and worried. "If your father find you..."

"I understand." She says as she stands from the couch. Without another word, Sasha is at her side guiding her out of the room.

I sigh in frustration. What did she mean? Why couldn't she offer more than friendship? Is her father behind this? What did I do to offend him? I hang my head in my hands, wanting to cry. That's when I see her shoes under the couch. Maybe this would be a good excuse to see her again. The ball is almost over, and this could be a way to get her family to stay. Standing from the couch, I decide to ask her father to reconsider.

To Be Continued...

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