Chapter 5. The Prince and The Player (1)

[2018, December 4th]

“Are you people out of your bloody minds!”

Zoey knew that she was yelling, but she couldn’t help it.

“I just met the lot of you two days ago, one day really,” she sucked in a deep, much needed breath, “and now you want me to marry some dude I have never even met?”

His Grace raised his hand in dismissal of Zoey and said, “Silence! You are of the House of Arden and you will accept the prince’s hand. There will be no discussion on the matter.”

Duke Arden, however, was not accustomed to Zoey’s temper.

“The hell I will! You know what? How about you keep your money and I keep my hand and we just call it even? Cool? Dandy.”

She stormed off, well aware that she was bound to get lost in the mansion and not caring at all.

“Why that little... You come back here this instant!” Duchess Arden shrieked.

“She seems to have the right idea,” Bart shrugged, fishing his keys out of his pocket and tossing them up into the air.

“She shouldn’t be having any ideas at all, and neither should you. We do not have the luxury of her throwing a tantrum right now. His Majesty and His Highness will pay us a visit soon,” said the duke, annoyed at the lack of gentility displayed by his daughter.

He was so affected that his annoyance soon became anger.

“Ready the Lady Zoey!” his voice boomed. “She must be presentable for the visit.”

The butler and the maids scattered, all in desperate search of the lady in question. The place was hardly small and not knowing her way about it would not help their chances of discovering her.

The nerve of the man! She thought he might want to meet her. That after 23 years, he might like to get to know his only daughter. That maybe, just maybe, he had missed her too. She had thought wrong, and it was her own folly for having done so. It was while she was storming down some unknown hallway that it happened. She was pulled from it and into a room that, though smaller in size, was decorated just as well as her own. Furnished in an expensive, arrogant style that seemed to pay homage to Terres Somnia’s nobility.

Zoey guessed that this must be one of many guest rooms not often used. It took her a moment to realize that while she had been examining the room and its furnishings, someone had been watching her. It took her another moment to remember that she had been pulled into this room. She turned too quickly, and he caught her just as she might have fallen. Her eyes widened in panic as he held her, his hands on her arms.

“Shush!” he hissed in a hushed tone, covering her mouth and holding up a finger to his lips as he winked at her. That was when she heard it.

“Lady Zoey! Lady Zoey!” echoed the maids.

“You are wanted as a matter of urgency! Please say if you can hear us,” said Thomas the butler, his prudent voice giving way to agitation.

It was not screaming exactly, but it wasn’t any less urgent for being said in hushed tones throughout the house.

“It would seem that you’re a wanted woman, Lady Zoey,” the handsome stranger said, removing his hand from her mouth and whispering to her as his eyes and lips neared hers.

Zoey was a smart woman. She had and always would excel in any endeavour she took on. Unfortunately, Zoey had never taken on dating. Despite ample interest from many suitors, Zoey always seemed to run from the idea. No man, be he handsome or smart or funny, had ever truly managed to capture her interest. Until now.

Those alluring, ocean blue naughty eyes held hers and when she looked to look elsewhere, she found nothing was safe. His long sandy brown hair was brushed back neatly without a hair out of place. It made her want to make a mess of it. The way his big hands curved around her arms made her want to take a step closer, to curve the rest of him to her. Even his suit wasn’t safe. His jacket was open with the first two buttons of his shirt undone. Seeing this made her want to undo more of them, to explore, discover and for the first time in her life, the lady found she wanted for breath because of a man.

But Zoey would not remain so for long.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” she snapped, when the voices had passed.

When she took a step back, he simply took one forward. This was too much for her. All at once, her anger took hold of her and she slapped him. Her jaw dropped, and it took everything in her not to apologize. Not to raise her hands and cover her face in horror. He watched a string of emotions dance all over her face and burst out laughing.

“Feisty one, aren’t you?” he quipped, his eyes drowning in mischief.

Oh, the things he wanted to do to her! She might’ve been a mere commoner, but heaven help him, she was beautiful. The way her long golden locks moved with her when she got all worked up was enough to drive any man insane. She was a tiny little thing, with inquiring big hazel eyes and an hourglass figure, sparking sexy librarian fantasies in his head.

Seeing the way that he looked at her, she went back to being angry and started to storm off again.

“Wait, wait, wait!” he said, still laughing. “I was just so eager to meet you. When I heard that you were at present detained, I thought my heart would burst. I just had to come and find you.”

He practically sang the words, holding his hand to his heart in a melodramatic fashion. He jogged a little ahead of her, blocking her path.

Zoey wasn’t thinking. She didn’t see the danger that was him. She was all anger. It didn’t matter who he was or what he wanted. She just wanted to scream, to leave.

“Get. Out. Of. My. Way!” she demanded, fiercely yanking at the doorknob.

“Where will you go? Everyone’s looking for you. The moment you step outside of this room, you will be found.”