Chapter Five- Maybe.....just maybe
Chloe's P.O.V
I know what he's trying to do, he's manipulating the situation. And now I look like a fool, watching him dance from behind a curtain.
Watching him move across the floor with Charlotte, I note how graceful his steps are. He's an excellent dancer I know from our many duty-dances.
Everything about him is somehow bigger and better than other men, he's rich and titled. Objectively speaking it would be hard to describe his features as anything other than handsome. His dark, rich hair, and those riveting green eyes. while unaffected by his charms and beauty I'm not immune to them either.
And then of course there was that indefinable air he had about him as if there was something......more to him. But the problem with my fiance was .......... I knew nothing about him, all that preparation to one day become his bride and I knew nothing, He's the prince, rich and handsome. That doesn't give me any sense of his character as a person, I didn't know anything of substance.
And something else I can't explain not even to myself. I wanted him to not only know me but..... I wanted him to want to know me.
He never really inquired. Never asked a question and really listen to the answer, instead just nodding while his mind was preoccupied elsewhere. If he's not Inquiring about my enjoyment of the evening, he asks about the weather. When a conversation is reduced to discussing the weather, it's a sign that you shouldn't even be speaking at all.
I don't expect him to love me, I've grown past that notion. But I though he would at least want to know something about me. Me, the woman he's to marry.
He doesn't know that I loved the rain but fear thunder storms.
He doesn't know that I love strawberries.
He doesn't know that I always wanted to learn to speak Chinese.
He doesn't know how much I miss my mother, or how much I'm going to miss my sister Ariel.
And the bastard doesn't know that if he were to consider me one day, a simple question, ponder my opinion on something other that the air temperature . My opinion of him would rise considerably.
But that would be assuming he cared. It seems his lack of attention for me is probably the one thing I do know about him.
I peered out from behind the curtain, no bothering to be careful. Not now that he knew I was here.
I watched his face, he was smiling.......... wait. He's laughing. My lips parted in shock.
Oh my ,Could he be in love with Charlotte Montgomery?.
Marco's P.O.V
"Are you trying to make her jealous?" Charlotte asks looking at me disapprovingly.
" Why would I even consider doing such a thing".
" You've never danced with me before" ,she says cocking her head to the side.
" when have I ever had the occasion to dance with you, your not often relieved of your duties and if you can't dance with one of your closest friends who can you dance with?
" Fair enough" she said smiling " your angry then"
"No"
" Punctured pride"
" only for a moment" I admit
" and what do you feel now" she questions
" I like to be in charge" I murmur.
" you should try to be nicer to her"
" She declined me" I reminded her.
" all the same, be nice" she curtsied at the end of the dance and then walked away. What is it with these women tonight. Walking away from me.
I glance back in the direction of the velvet curtain. She's gone.
I strode toward the door leading to the gardens.
I Breathed in the crisp air and circled the Birdbath and the rosebush.
A movement from the corner of my eye had me looking around.
" Your grace". It was Chloe.
I stared at her deciding how best to approach this. I settled for a nod.
" It was stuffy inside, I needed some air" She said not looking directly at me, she was seated on a bench and her dark green dress blended in with the garden, probably why I didn't notice her.
But that didn't matter, she belonged to me and she was outside. Alone. With so many guest here.
That wouldn't do.
Chloe's P.O.V
" Your alone"?
" I am"
" outside"
I didn't know what to make of this conversation so I remained quiet.
" Alone" he repeated.
" Not anymore it would seem" I said before I thought better of it.
" Your behaviour this evening, was very unbecoming for a future queen"
" Your future queen"
" Indeed"
It was impressed upon me from an early age that this man would become my life. when he said jump I should kindly ask how high, when he walked into a room I should smile and light up. But I had long since given up smiling in his direction. What would be the point when he never even noticed.
If he made any note of my existence it wasn't on a regular basis.
But now.......... something changed, his face softened. He gazed upon me as if he had just seen me for the first time.
Right now he noticed me.
" I have neglected you" he said softly.
I blinked " excuse me"
He took my hand and drew me to my feet and raised my hand to his lips.
" Shall I dance with you now?" he asked smiling.
dumbfounded I could only stare back, slack jawed and confused.
" It's a simple question he said chuckling lightly.
" yes, or no" he placed his free hand at the small of my back and pulled me closer. His lip so close to my ear, not touching, But so close that his words drifted across my skin like a kiss.
" Yes" he said moving us around so that we began dancing, swaying slowly " is always the right answer when your dealing with me" he murmured silkily his mouth finally brushing my ear.
I caught my breath. Had I uttered a word since he took my hand?.... I don't know.
" I never noticed how truly lovely your eyes are" he mused softly.
I wanted to say that it was because he never bothered to look. But I didn't instead I smiled like a fool and tilted my head because maybe............ just maybe, he was thinking about kissing me.
And maybe...........just maybe I'll let him.
COMMENT / VOTE.
the next chapter has already been written but I need some feedback before I post so you know what to do.
Love. Eliza
