"My lady," he grinned, kissing her hand. She sighed dreamily. "Of course you should stay. I see no reason for you to leave me."
Beatrix sighed, this time in relief. "I am glad to hear that, my lord."
Tall, handsome, and gallant as any knight, Phillip Kettiere stood before her, holding her hands. He truly was her knight in armour as he saved her from the wretched voyage her father wanted her to go on.
"What will happen then?" she asked. He paused for a moment and Beatrix felt dizzy for a moment. Where would she stay? How would she survive without her family?
Unless.. He were to take her in. He had already showered her with a dozen or so trinkets. She could get a job serving or sewing to keep herself afloat. Her breath caught in her throat. What if he asked her to stay here, with him? Lady Beatrix Kettiere. This stuff had only been in her fleeting daydreams before, where he got down on one knee and asked her to be with him forever. She had brushed it off as a silly fantasy before but now... They had consummated their love now, in the bed only a few feet away. That changed everything.
"I suppose we could-" Beatrix stared at him, adoringly. He was grinning now, a lazy, happy smile that lifted her heart further. "We can figure out that later. Maybe we could find you a room in an inn."
Her heart deflated and felt her shoulders slump. She was foolish for believing that he would ask her to marry him. But he did love her and that was what mattered. She was only fifteen anyhow. It wouldn't be proper for her to be married now, but at sixteen, when she was a young lady. Only peasants got married at fifteen. Maybe Phillip would ask her when she turned sixteen, when it was proper. His family was so concerned with their family image and honour, especially his father.
Phillip's father did not know of their love yet. She had asked PHillip about that when she had to sneak to see him and he explained it to her when she didn't understand.
"He wouldn't understand, you see. He's old, and doesn't believe in love ever since mother died. He would forbid us to see each other. I don't want that."
Then he had touched her cheek with his hand and all of her questions melted out of her head.
Beatrix sighed, this time in relief. "I am glad to hear that, my lord."
Tall, handsome, and gallant as any knight, Phillip Kettiere stood before her, holding her hands. He truly was her knight in armour as he saved her from the wretched voyage her father wanted her to go on.
"What will happen then?" she asked. He paused for a moment and Beatrix felt dizzy for a moment. Where would she stay? How would she survive without her family?
Unless.. He were to take her in. He had already showered her with a dozen or so trinkets. She could get a job serving or sewing to keep herself afloat. Her breath caught in her throat. What if he asked her to stay here, with him? Lady Beatrix Kettiere. This stuff had only been in her fleeting daydreams before, where he got down on one knee and asked her to be with him forever. She had brushed it off as a silly fantasy before but now... They had consummated their love now, in the bed only a few feet away. That changed everything.
"I suppose we could-" Beatrix stared at him, adoringly. He was grinning now, a lazy, happy smile that lifted her heart further. "We can figure out that later. Maybe we could find you a room in an inn."
Her heart deflated and felt her shoulders slump. She was foolish for believing that he would ask her to marry him. But he did love her and that was what mattered. She was only fifteen anyhow. It wouldn't be proper for her to be married now, but at sixteen, when she was a young lady. Only peasants got married at fifteen. Maybe Phillip would ask her when she turned sixteen, when it was proper. His family was so concerned with their family image and honour, especially his father.
Phillip's father did not know of their love yet. She had asked PHillip about that when she had to sneak to see him and he explained it to her when she didn't understand.
"He wouldn't understand, you see. He's old, and doesn't believe in love ever since mother died. He would forbid us to see each other. I don't want that."
Then he had touched her cheek with his hand and all of her questions melted out of her head.
They were now chatting on the window seat, and Phillip had just given her a little trinket. It was a fine hairclip, something to keep stray hairs out of her face when her hair grew unruly. Beatrix tucked her hair back and slid in the clip. Phillip smiled at her and told her she was beautiful. Beatrix simply had to jump up and look at herself in the vanity mirror he had.
"It brings out your eyes," he said and she blushed. Beatrix was turning her head back and forth to admire herself in the shiny glass when the slam of a door sounded from before.
Phillip jumped up and began to dress swiftly. "It's my father," he whispered quickly. "Stay behind there while I deal with him," he ordered. Beatrix nodded silently, suddenly feeling very exposed in her undergarments.
When the door opened, she knelt down, even though the changing screen hid her well enough. Petyr Kettiere frightened her somewhat. She had met him once, while walking in the street. He was looking over a fine sword in the stall next to the one she was browsing at when she had turned suddenly and saw him. He had been fearsome then, before she had slept with his son. One eye had been gouged out by pirates attacking his trading ship, and he had gained a limp from that fight, but he had slain them all and ruthlessly took their own ship and the goods they had aboard. Now he wore an eyepatch over his missing eye and an elegant cane supported his bad leg. He was fearsome in status as well. When word had gotten out years ago of his seafight, the whole city had known his name, but then they learned his story. He was no longer Lord Kettierie, but the Fearsome Lord of the Sea. Most merchants traded exclusively with him now, as they trusted any man who could have an eye ripped out and still fight back. It was said only he handled the accounts of the Duke now.
To say that he was intimidating in person and by character was an under statement, so Beatrix did not scold herself for hiding like a child. If she was found in the bedroom, in her bedclothes, of the Sea Lord's son... She didn't want to think of that.
Voices drew her attention. Lord Kiettiere was calling to his servants as he walked closer to Phillip's room. Philip had just slid on his boots as his father opened the doors to the room. "My son."
"Father, " Philip replied. "I didn't except you back so soon. Did the meeting go well?"
Beatrix heard Lord Kettiere snort before he responded. "The Duke continues to stay secluded in his wing, and the council goes mad trying to understand his messages."
"I hadn't realized it was going so poorly-"
"You would know if you came to the meetings, which you now will, starting next week. It's about time you made your way to the castle and met the council members. You could use some more responsibility."
"If you insist, Father." Phillip's voice sounded flat and uninterested. Beatrix felt sorry for him. He had told her that he disliked living in his father's shadow, where everyone spoke of Sea Lord Kettiere, and added his son as an afterthought. A private confession was given to her one night, where Phillip had spoke of himself making a name for himself where the people would speak to him as Lord Kettiere, not the little Lord, as they sometimes said. That was a childhood nickname he was trying to rid himself of.
"As well, there's a dinner we've been invited to, at the Harrington residence. You're expected to come. Lord Harrington wishes you to meet his daughter, Amoura. She's quite nice, so I hear." Beatrix's breathe caught in her throat.
"I will, Father." Beatrix wondered if she was imagining it, but was she hearing a slight lift in Phillip's tone? No, of course not. She had heard of this Amoura Harrington and had seen her once. She was fair-haired, willowy thin, and wealthy. That was not Phillip's style, as he told her himself. He preferred a hardier woman, someone with whom he could share a laugh. Amoura looked like she would shatter if she laughed. Besides, Phillip also said he preferred darker haired women, which was what defined Beatrix.
"It brings out your eyes," he said and she blushed. Beatrix was turning her head back and forth to admire herself in the shiny glass when the slam of a door sounded from before.
Phillip jumped up and began to dress swiftly. "It's my father," he whispered quickly. "Stay behind there while I deal with him," he ordered. Beatrix nodded silently, suddenly feeling very exposed in her undergarments.
When the door opened, she knelt down, even though the changing screen hid her well enough. Petyr Kettiere frightened her somewhat. She had met him once, while walking in the street. He was looking over a fine sword in the stall next to the one she was browsing at when she had turned suddenly and saw him. He had been fearsome then, before she had slept with his son. One eye had been gouged out by pirates attacking his trading ship, and he had gained a limp from that fight, but he had slain them all and ruthlessly took their own ship and the goods they had aboard. Now he wore an eyepatch over his missing eye and an elegant cane supported his bad leg. He was fearsome in status as well. When word had gotten out years ago of his seafight, the whole city had known his name, but then they learned his story. He was no longer Lord Kettierie, but the Fearsome Lord of the Sea. Most merchants traded exclusively with him now, as they trusted any man who could have an eye ripped out and still fight back. It was said only he handled the accounts of the Duke now.
To say that he was intimidating in person and by character was an under statement, so Beatrix did not scold herself for hiding like a child. If she was found in the bedroom, in her bedclothes, of the Sea Lord's son... She didn't want to think of that.
Voices drew her attention. Lord Kiettiere was calling to his servants as he walked closer to Phillip's room. Philip had just slid on his boots as his father opened the doors to the room. "My son."
"Father, " Philip replied. "I didn't except you back so soon. Did the meeting go well?"
Beatrix heard Lord Kettiere snort before he responded. "The Duke continues to stay secluded in his wing, and the council goes mad trying to understand his messages."
"I hadn't realized it was going so poorly-"
"You would know if you came to the meetings, which you now will, starting next week. It's about time you made your way to the castle and met the council members. You could use some more responsibility."
"If you insist, Father." Phillip's voice sounded flat and uninterested. Beatrix felt sorry for him. He had told her that he disliked living in his father's shadow, where everyone spoke of Sea Lord Kettiere, and added his son as an afterthought. A private confession was given to her one night, where Phillip had spoke of himself making a name for himself where the people would speak to him as Lord Kettiere, not the little Lord, as they sometimes said. That was a childhood nickname he was trying to rid himself of.
"As well, there's a dinner we've been invited to, at the Harrington residence. You're expected to come. Lord Harrington wishes you to meet his daughter, Amoura. She's quite nice, so I hear." Beatrix's breathe caught in her throat.
"I will, Father." Beatrix wondered if she was imagining it, but was she hearing a slight lift in Phillip's tone? No, of course not. She had heard of this Amoura Harrington and had seen her once. She was fair-haired, willowy thin, and wealthy. That was not Phillip's style, as he told her himself. He preferred a hardier woman, someone with whom he could share a laugh. Amoura looked like she would shatter if she laughed. Besides, Phillip also said he preferred darker haired women, which was what defined Beatrix.
"That's good to hear. It would do you some good to meet other women. You're nearing seventeen and it's time you found someone to settle down with." Lord Kettiere seemed to have place some emphasis on the last few words, enough to make Beatrix's heart race.
This was not something she wished to hear. She had heard that Phillip had made advances towards other women, mostly lower classed, like Beatrix, thought she hated to admit it. But Phillip had told her that he enjoyed the company of the lower classes. They had fewer troubles and duties as his father forced onto him. This was why he had drawn her into his life. He told her that she was the only one, and refused to speak to any of his old flames. Not that they were truly were flames. He said the only woman he'd loved was her and she believed him. She had to.
This was not something she wished to hear. She had heard that Phillip had made advances towards other women, mostly lower classed, like Beatrix, thought she hated to admit it. But Phillip had told her that he enjoyed the company of the lower classes. They had fewer troubles and duties as his father forced onto him. This was why he had drawn her into his life. He told her that she was the only one, and refused to speak to any of his old flames. Not that they were truly were flames. He said the only woman he'd loved was her and she believed him. She had to.