Chapter 17 Unease

The Queen was reading with enthusiasm the invitation to the soirée at Lady Charlotte's palace next Sunday. She was intrigued with such event. Since the former duke and her older son died, the duchess subdued herself in grief and never attended to any balls or feasts. This was an extraordinary event and she proceeded to confirm her presence by sending a letter back.

As soon as the prince heard of the unforeseen invitation, he saw this was the perfect moment to have a conversation with the duke. He didn't find him in the manor a few days ago and he desperately needed to know what was happening between him and Amalthea... Oh, Amalthea... He had never stopped thinking about her since the moment they danced in his birthday celebration. That was the level of admiration to this beautiful maiden that he had dwindled in his attentions to Lady Katharina. He avoided her and spoke only the necessary, leaving as an unfinished business the announcement of their formal engagement or any topic related to a future wedding with her.

All this had placed Lady Katharina in some sort of limbo. She felt as unease as never before. She perceived she was losing his prince and all the possibilities of becoming queen of Abhainn were fading away.

Lady Katharina sensed something was wrong with Alasther for he was avoiding her at all cost. And all the change in the prince attitude towards her came just after the prince's birthday festivities. Lady Katharina didn't know what happened. She was confident the prince was going to announce their betrothal during the festivities in front of all the aristocrats. But that never happened... That was a bad omen...

At least she would have the chance to go with the prince to the rendezvous at the duke's palace in Lannishire. That was the perfect opportunity for her to recuperate the prince's interest in her. She would wear her finest gown and will seduce him under the splendor of Lord Roderick's manor. 'I shall not waste this opportunity. He would be mine and I will become his queen.' She thought smiling to herself mischievously.

Very early in the morning the next day, Prince Alasther mounted his brown stallion and hurtled down the castle. He crossed the three sets of walls swiftly, passed by the Wall's Market and the cottages and inns near the castle. He followed the road that lead to the woods and in less than two hours the prince had arrived to the Angeleag Fall. He was determined to see Amalthea again.

The girls were singing and tending their clothes to dry in some tree branches when they noticed the presence of the Prince. The three girls glowed each other silent stares as the prince spoke: "Good morning ladies. How are you in this beautiful day?" The girls bowed and greeted prince Alasther.  Immediately he became aware of Am's absence. "Where is Lady Amalthea? Is she sick?" The prince asked concerned.

Bhrim quickly began to explain: "No your Majesty, she is no sick. She is out of the village. She left with... ouch! what?" Luanne instantly hit Brhim with her elbow to stop her of committing an imprudence like the last time.

"Yes, she is out of the village, she left to the next village to take care of her grandmother who happens to be very ill. Do you want to leave her a message, your Highness? I promise to deliver it as soon as she comes back." Luanne remembered their vow of not sharing any information on her private affairs to anybody without her permission. Not even if it was the Prince himself.

"Oh, I see... Well, no, I don't want to send message to her. I just noticed that she was not here with you today and I was intrigued, that is all... I will leave you to finish your duties unperturbed. I passed by, like the last time we met here. Have a nice day my ladies. I will be going then." And the prince galloped away, leaving the three girls more confused than excited with the sudden visit and the unexpected explanation. They shared some prying looks and continued their laundry.

Prince Alasther felt unease. He didn't buy the story of the sick grandmother. For some reason he didn't know, the girls decided to hide the true reason of Am's absence that day. However he decided not to harass Amalthea and prefer to speak first with the duke. That sounded as a better idea. After that he could go to the to the village instead and visit the beautiful singing maiden at her dwelling.

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Back in Lannishire's palace, the duke was thinking about how he would react if he sees the prince approaching to Am. Lord Roderick realized that the night of the ball, he was not the only one captivated by Am's charms and beauty. The prince's attraction to Am became more evident the day of the tournament. So he pictured the situation.

This soirée was not a good idea as he thought before. Three men that were attracted to the same women will be in the same place at the same time. However these were his dominions and it seemed that the little chat with Maik in the grove a few days ago had some effect on the hunter. "I think it is time to grant some private conversation with Amalthea. I cannot waste more time in my intentions with her. Having my two rivals here would be dangerous if I don't take a chance before. Maik is waiting for her answer and Prince Alasther, if he is attracted to her too, he would act without hesitating. I need to proceed promptly, or else..." The duke told to himself.

In the next room, Am and Maeh were talking on the upcoming events.

"What! If I was you Am, I would be so nervous. Just imagine the moment when the prince crosses the main door and he stares at you... And then you will have in the same room three handsome men that are in love for you. How would you react if the three of them ask you to dance or to be your companion for the evening? Which one would you choose?"

"Maeh, please! You and your overgrown imagination. Why would you think such things could happen in first place? First of all, the prince will come with his fiancée, Lady Katharina, who is by far more beautiful than I. Second, the duke had never talk to me on love affairs, for he had stated more than once that I am a very dear friend for him. And third, your brother is well behaved and he is acting as my chaperone just like you. He is doing excellently and he's taking his role very seriously. So I don't fear for that outcome not only in the rendezvous this Sunday, but never in life." Am replied unaltered.

"Are you absolutely confident of that? If I was you I would be feeling unease already. You have to be blind to do not notice the way the duke treats you, and the special attentions Lady Charlotte pays to you. And don't make you recall the events in the waterfall. It was evident that the prince was enthralled with your charms. He had eyes only for you... Oh, and the erratic way he reacted when he heard about your friendship with the duke... He dashed away with jealousy."

"I told you Maeh, you are wrong. Please don't bother me with such nonsense... Let's go to the garden and take some fresh air."

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It was dusk already. Am was in the library in the second floor. She lighted a candle for it was dark. After grabbing a book that seemed very old, she sat on the davenport and started reading, trying to avoid some disturbing thoughts. Short after, the duke entered the room and walked towards the bookshelves picking a book as well. Am looked at him with curiosity. She managed a smile and greeted him. "Good evening, Lord Roderick."

He sat in the armchair in front of Am and looked at her. Finally, he answered. "Good evening, Am." He started calling her Am, imitating the way Maeh and Maik told her. "Are you feeling well my dear? Is something bothering you? You seem to be a little nervous today. You haven't talked at dinner as usual."

"Oh, no, I'm fine. I think I just miss my Mamah. That's it."

"It's a pity she couldn' t come with you. But you are having a good time here, aren't you?"

"Oh, yes. I feel more than grateful with all your attentions. Lady Charlotte has been so kind to me. Even my friends have been treated very gently too. We felt so welcomed and appreciated since the very first moment we stepped in your beautiful house... Thank you."

"Can I ask you something, Am?"

"Of course, milord." Am replied with some reservation in her voice.

"Can you call me just Roderick. I want you to treat me with more confidence. I think we are friends, or not?"

"Yes... Roderick, I consider you a very good friend indeed."

"But not as a special friend as Maik is for you." Now the duke stood up and sat next to Am on the davenport. Am felt a little bit awkward. It seemed that Maeh's words were not as silly as she chose to believe.

"Roderick, I've known Maik since we were children. He is more than special to me. I love him!"

"You mean like a man, or like a special best friend?... Please Am, I need to know!" The duke took gently Am's hand and gave her a bemused gaze.

"Roderick, now I'm feeling confused. Why do you want to know my feelings towards Maik with so much eagerness?"

"I just need to know Am. Tell me, please." He begged now holding Am's both hands.

"My feelings towards him are very complicated now. I told you he is very special for me. Right now I'm giving myself a space to think about him. We have shared a lot of special moments and know each other in all the possible ways good friends do... But now, please you tell me, why are you inquiring about the relationship between Maik and me? You are making me nervous." Am stood up and walked near the desk facing the duke.

"I really wanted to know because I need to be certain of the terrain I am stepping on... Am, since the first day I saw you at the Prince's ball, I was captivated by your beauty, talent and good character. You are the most charming woman I've met before. And believe me, I am not a youngster. I've known a lot of beautiful ladies, but they never can be compared to your beauty." The duke walked and stood in front of Am. A few inches separated their bodies and faces. Am felt really unease because she had a similar conversation before, but with Maik. She always knew Maik's feelings, but it was totally different with the Duke.

Her body was reacting to the closeness of their bodies. She could feel the warmth emanating from the duke's body. She could smell him. That sweet smell of French cologne and lavender soap soothed her. Having the duke so next to her made her feel awkward. Lord Roderick was an experienced man in love affairs and knew perfectly how to approach a woman.

She met the duke just a few months ago, but his good character and refined manners had impressed her. The duke continued speaking to Am. "Amalthea, I don't want to trouble you, God knows that! I just want you to make room in your heart and mind for this humble servant. I want you to become my wife... I wish to cherish you and give you all that you want and beyond..." Lord Roderick held Am's arms and leaned forward. In a blink of an eye, he was kissing her... in the most tender and enchanting way she could imagine a kiss could be.

Am felt her whole body shivering with a strange type of pleasure. She felt how she became moistened in her delicate parts. She could also feel his member hardening against hers. His mouth tasted so sweet... The way he sucked delicately her upper lip and then the lower one, subdued her spirits from fighting that kiss away... The duke released her from the kiss and Am opened her eyes, now staring at him speechless. She liked the way Roderick kissed her.

He broke the silence of the moment. "Oh, Sweet Amalthea... You are so fresh and delightful... Look, you don't need to answer to me right now, neither tomorrow... But you can take this kiss as a token; a proof of how genuine is my love for you. Am, I can wait all the time it takes... I might not be as special as Maik is for you, yet but I know that with a little more time and patience, and more kisses like this you will be able to love me the way I love you."

The duke smiled and gave Am a kiss on her forehead and left the library. Am bit her lower lip. Now she was in a big predicament. Maeh's words became predictions. There were two men confessing their love to her. She doesn't know what to do, think or say. She never thought in her short life all this could happen to her. She didn't consider herself so beauty or interesting. She just enjoyed singing, and that was all. And it seemed that her maiden's song put herself in so much trouble.

She felt ashamed of herself. She was not the type of girl that went kissing around attractive men. But she was so confused... her body just reacted instinctively. This can't happen again. Now she had to take a decision. But first she needed to organize her feelings. She had avoided Maik because the way he made her feel when he was that near. The maiden didn't know what happened to her when they kissed that Day in the woods. Am knew she loved him but she was not sure to which extent.

In the other hand, there was the duke. He demonstrated with words and facts that he cared for her without minding she was a poor villager. He had respected her in such way he brought here who could be considered as his rival... and she liked that kiss too! She needed to come with a resolution, sooner or later. But now she needed to take a bath to calm her down and cool off the heat of the moment... and get some sleep... If she could...

************************* Hey! I made some ammendments to this chapter. I think it needed some flavor. Hope you like it better!

Am is in a big predicament. Who do you prefer for her love?

Thanks for reading

Rosaimee