Chapter 215 TEIGEN XXXIX
ELARA
"Lord Sawyer?" I question. He had gone for work, had he not?
"He is back from the March, he will be here any day now and he would certainly wish to see you"
Accepting the cup of tea I slowly bring the hot liquid to my lips, taking a deep breath of the sweet, aromatic content.
"Well, I do not wish to see him" I take a long sip, the hot liquid warming up my throat and burning a path to my stomach.
The nice tea was not enough to remove the bitter taste of this news.
"Elara" she warns, eyeing me.
I huff, "He is the last person I wish to see"
"Please Elara, promise me you will not say anything to provoke the Marquese" her words brought earned a bewildered look from me.
"What!? I should not provoke him, yet he is allowed to do something so heinous to me and I should keep hold of my tongue?"
Was she serious?
"Elara, it is nothing like that. You will understand soon, but please, promise you will watch your words and your tone. You know his relationship with the Grand Duke, and you are staying at his estate to recuperate" she places her hand on my leg beneath the comforters, squeezing gently.
"If not for anything, be courteous with him as he is the Lord of this estate"
With much annoyance I promised Augustine, just so she would stop taking his name. I had no intention in honoring it after all, I just needed her to let it be.
After that day in the garden I hadn't seen Ryker yet, but I planned on changing that tonight.
Did I have a sensible plan? No, there was nothing sensible about my actions when it came to Ryker. The way he kissed me, his hands touched my very bone and marked my soul forever. His lips were as soft as the first time but more aggressive, more hungry, more passionate. I could not think clearly at all.
My face bleached crimson with the memory. His rough hands held me so tenderly, like I was what his dreams were made of, and his words.
"Please let me hold you, just for today, let me have you in my arms, let me believe you can be mine"
Did he mean those words?
Or were they just something he said in the moment?Hardly. The intensity in his eyes made my heart trip over each beat, such fire burnt right through me.
I need to speak to him, see him and know exactly what he truly felt.
Winnie walks me over to my bed, helping me sit down and pulling the covers over me. She had carefully oiled my hair and prepared me for bed, no doubt as per Augustine's orders. I felt sympathetic towards Winnie. She always managed to be with me whenever I planned something mischievous.
Tonight was her turn to stay in the room next door and watch out for me, but I had other plans.
"Do you feel any discomfort at all?" Her concerned tone made me feel even worse.
Faking a smile, "No, I am alright. You can go Winnie, I will be just fine"
Settling lower I pull the comforters over my form and pretend to feel sleepy. Winnie places a cup of water on the side table, making sure to leave the jug.
With my closed lids I heard Winnie's light steps drift over to the door, she lingers there, watching me till she was satisfied. The door closed and I layed there for a few minutes, holding my breath till I heard the door to the door beside mine open and close.
Letting out a breath my eyes fly open. My back rises up as I throw the covers away, standing to my feet. With quiet steps I walk over to the door, placing my ear to listen in.
No one around, coast is clear. Thankful for the lack of guards inside the estate I was easily able to make my way down from the residential quarters to the servant's quarters unnoticed.
Mercifully it was as easy to get out as it was to get in. The hallways were dark, aside from the diminishing torches that graced the walls. Cold, still air whisked beside me, making me wish I had carried some additional layers to my night dress. Why had I worn this out again?
Yes, changing out of this would have made me shift too many things around, waking Winnie in the process. This was just supposed to be quick, in and out. Had I planned what to tell or ask Ryker? No
Did I plan on keeping a sane, level head while I was in such close proximity to him?
Also no. I had no expectations of myself, I had proven time and time again how reckless and shameless I could be for Ryker.
This time would be no different.
Now I was beginning to regret not having a plan. Leading by impulse? Horrible decision.
And as my feet took me from the beginning of the hall to the end, my fingers tugging and twisting at a lock of my hair I wondered what room was Ryker's. There were six doors, all identical with no distinction of which belonged to who. If I opened the wrong door I could come face to face with one of the male servant. At least I was in the male servants quarters so one of these doors had to be Ryker's.
Right about now I wished objects could speak. Maybe whisper to me who their owners were. Just wistful thinking.
Taking a stand in the middle of the doors, I glanced between them. Maybe the door on the last row? I could just walk up to the door and knock, what is the worst that could happen?
"My lady?" The assistant chef eyed me curiously.
I gulped. He cocked his head to the side, "What brings you here... " he peaks into the hallways, no doubt wondering why I was here alone.
"Alone"