Dark One Rising(67)

“Excuse me?”

“You’re in my house now, but I have no idea what I should do with you. I have a few ideas of course, but I doubt they would be looked upon as appropriate.”

She glared at him more now.

He flashed a dazzling smile. “I’m just kidding, Your Highness. You really ought to lighten up.” He swung his leg over the arm and placed it on the floor with the other. “You are perfectly safe here, and I’ll be a perfect gentleman,” he said bowing. “Breakfast is ready; I’m sure you’re hungry for more than cold rations.”

“Yes,” was all she said, glancing down at her nightgown, shifting on the bed uncomfortably. He was silent for a moment, looking at her, the sunlight streaming down on her curvy form. She was a beauty, with that there was no doubt. Her emerald colored eyes were mesmerizing and held captive, he would bet, anyone who looked too deeply within them. Her thick golden red curly hair, although cut short, was shiny, and her red full lips would make any man want to kiss them. He wanted to kiss them. Beautiful women were always his weakness, but this time it was more than that. He could understand why men were drawn to her, but he could also understand why they shied away when she opened her mouth. She was petulant and had a temper. She was too much to handle for most men, he gathered, but, he wasn’t most men.

He knew she was uneasy and didn’t want to further that feeling, so he smiled kindly. “I will leave so you can dress. I had my staff bring you some things.” He pointed to the wardrobe beside the washstand. “I believe you’ll find something more befitting a princess than riding pants and tunic in there.”

“I happen to like my riding pants and tunic.” She looked around the room, searching for them. “Where are they?”

“I sent them off to be cleaned. The dresses are only temporary. Once this is all over, you can go back to dressing how you please.”

He stood to leave. A servant came into the room and waited just inside the doorway until beckoned. “Bianca is here to help you.”

“I don’t need help. I’ve been dressing myself since I was four years old.”

“I don’t doubt that. I’ll bet you’ve been doing a lot of things by yourself since you were a youngster. It would explain a lot of things.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

She crossed her arms over her chest again, the blanket falling and uncovering her once more. This time she didn’t notice, but he did. He casually looked her over again. The sunlight made the material of her gown see-through. He quickly looked away, feeling oddly embarrassed for himself. He shook it off.

He put up his hand in defense. “Again, I meant no offense, Your Highness. I was simply making an observation. I just meant that you’re perhaps one of the most independent women I’ve ever met.”

“Well, that’s the way it should be. The problem with women is, they depend too much on men.”

“Perhaps, but most women like to have a man who’s strong and who will protect them and their honor.”

She snorted. “Their honor? Men are hardly honorable when it comes to women. And most women are helpless and can’t even think for themselves much less protect themselves.”

“Yes, well, not everyone has a brother like yours who cares enough to teach them.”

“My father isn’t at all pleased with it.”

“And there lies the beginning to this little problem. Your independence puts you at a disadvantage with men, I would assume. That’s why you haven’t found one who will accept you the way you are, because who you are is not what they are used to.”

“Yes.”

“If men would try harder to be open minded, perhaps they would find many traits in you that are unique, which I’m sure are likeable. It’s too bad, but unfortunately, princess, you and I are much alike. We both struggle to be who we are. I can assure you, one day we will both find that one person who sees us for who we are, not what they want us to be. Not all men think in this manner, you know.”

She humphfed. “Men are men.”

He smiled now. “Someday I hope you find that you’re wrong. Your brother may not have gone about things the way others would expect, including and especially your father, but I think you’ll find out one day that what he did is what he should have done. All this trouble will turn out right.”

“How do you know that?”

“I believe in destiny.”

She was quiet now. He smiled again and she strangely almost melted from the dimples on his cheeks and the pale blue eyes that seemed to sparkle when he smiled.

“I’m sorry; I’m rambling. Bianca will be here if you need her. Breakfast is ready. Come down when you are.”