Chapter 31 Amaryllis
AMARYLLIS
The scent of strawberries hits me first. My eyes flutter open to see the familiar burgundy walls of my bedchamber and something very unfamiliar on my bedside table. A silver plate of fresh strawberries sits inches from my nose, along with a note.
Pushing myself up from the sheets, I reach for it.
My darling Ruby,
I’m sorry I couldn’t stay to wish you good morning in person. There’s something important I need to do. I borrowed this plate of strawberries from the kitchens and brought them here. I hope you enjoy them enough to forgive me.
I’ll see you again soon, my love.
Forever yours,
K
A smile pulls at my cheeks. His love. Forever mine. This has all happened so fast, and I’m not quite sure what it means, but the butterflies in my stomach certainly seem to like it. If they don’t calm down soon, I might start flying too.
Popping a strawberry into my mouth, I clutch the note to my chest and flop backwards onto my pillows.
I’m still wearing my dance gown from last night, but I have little memory of putting it back on – only the way his hands felt on my hips, the tightness of the ribbons around my wrists, his cock deep in my…
I laugh as strawberry juice fizzles on my tongue. I’ll never be able to meet the eyes of any of the librarians ever again. Not that I regret it, though. The past few days have been like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, and I so desperately want it to happen again.
“Stars, what is he doing to me?” I breathe, but I barely have time to think of an answer before my door swings open.
“Ami!”
I bolt upright. I just about manage to shove the note under my pillow before Camellia waltzes inside and charges over to me. When she reaches my bedside, her eyes sweep over me, long and slow.
After a few moments, her lips fall open.
“Oh, Ami,” she sighs.
“What?” I glance down at my dress. It’s creased, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary, and this isn’t the first time I’ve woken up in my dance clothes. “What is it?”
Mel grins in a teasing sort of way. “You know I was just on my way to breakfast when I heard your two maids bickering. I went up to them, and they told me they didn’t know what to do,” she explains.
“They said they came in here to wake you and found you fully clothed but covered in bruises! They weren’t sure whether to call for a healer or your father. ”
My stomach dips. Oh no.
“So I told them not to panic,” Mel continues, still smiling.
“I said that I’d take a look first because surely there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.
” She cocks her head to one side. “But no, here you are, covered in bruises… although those aren’t just any type of bruise are they, Ami?
” She eyes my neck and shoulders while a rosy blush creeps over me.
“Well, no, but—”
“You dirty thing!” Mel laughs, swatting my shoulder.
“You know I’ve treated love bites before.
Many times. I have the perfect cream for it.
It was supposed to be for Dahlia’s riding injuries, but after one of my handmaids ran into trouble, I let her use it, and it cleared up the mark right away.
Since then, I’ve had servants coming to me, even a few guards, and I’ll always let them have some, but I never thought I’d see the day when perfect Amaryllis would need my help too!
” She throws her head back, laughing. “Oh, Ami, what a night you must’ve had! ”
Well, I suppose she’s not wrong. Relaxing a little, I can’t help but giggle with her.
“What was it like?” Mel asks, slowing her laughter. “Was he romantic?”
“Terribly so,” I say. Visions of wisteria ceilings and dancing under the stars fill my mind.
Camellia sighs. “You’re so lucky.” She plops herself onto my bed. “I hope one day I get to marry someone as lovely as Orion.”
Suddenly, everything in my room feels awfully cold.
“Orion…” I murmur.
“He’s so dreamy, isn’t he? Show me the ring again! We’re all so excited for your wedding,” she sighs, while my heart sinks to my feet.
The ring.
That damned ring is probably still exactly where Kasimir threw it last night – in the ashes of the library fireplace. Oh, Stars, what have I done?
Mel reaches for my hand, and instinctively I go to pull it away, until something glints on my ring finger.
“Oh, it’s so beautiful, Ami,” she gasps.
What? Lifting my hand, I study the sparkling ring on my finger. She’s right, it is beautiful, but it’s not the gaudy ring Orion gave me yesterday. This is the ring Kasimir gave me to wear in Mr Bailey’s tavern. His engagement ring…
A new warmth settles the rocking in my stomach, but not all of it. Even if Orion doesn’t notice the swapped ring, he’ll certainly notice the love bites covering my neck and shoulders.
Wincing, I turn to Camellia. “I need to use that cream.”
She nods, but when she looks at me, the teasing in her eyes isn’t there any more.
“Is everything alright?” she asks after a few moments.
“Yes,” I say flatly.
Her eyebrows pull together. “You’re hiding something.”
“I’m not.”
“Is it Orion?”
I try to keep a blank expression, but I shudder just hearing his name.
“My Stars, Ami. Was this consensual?” She gestures at the love bites. “We all just thought you were nervous after he brought us all those presents, and then there was the proposal and—” Her jaw drops. “Did he force himself upon you last night?”
“No!” I blurt. “This was all… it was all very much wanted.” I wince. It’s technically the truth, but I hate the thought of her thinking I’ll be happy with Orion. I hate the thought of her thinking he gave me these marks.
Still, I can’t tell her about Kasimir. It’s dangerous enough that Dahlia knows. This has to stay a secret. A secret love affair before my long, forever marriage with Orion. Because I am a princess, and this is my duty.
And, if I don’t marry him, he’s bound to take one of my sisters instead.
Hugging my knees to my chest, I shudder.
“I just need the cream and for you to keep quiet about this,” I say finally.
“I understand.” Mel nods. “I suppose, after all, it is a little improper… To share a kiss is one thing, but this—”
She stops when I shoot her a glare.
“Sorry.” She clears her throat. “I’ll get you the cream. Then we’ll see if any of the other girls have a clean dance gown you can use for our ballet lesson today. Perhaps one a bit more… modest?” She smiles gently.
With a sigh, I nod. “Thank you, Mel.”
I hope whoever Father picks as her suitor is nice. And I hope Orion will let me visit home regularly, so I can make sure that all my sisters find someone suitable. Real love, ideally.
Because otherwise I may have to take some more dagger lessons with Kasimir.
“Ugh,” I growl. What is happening to me?
“Come on,” Mel says, standing up. “Let’s get you that cream. And I’ll run you a bath too, with my special salts. You look like you need it.” She laughs as I gladly take her hand.