Chapter 30 - Show Off

Like Rowan was told, he took Eleanor to Azriel a couple of days later. It was obvious that the two of them had gotten closer, which was all good news to Rowan because that was what he needed. Once Eleanor remained happy and ignorant then everything would work out. So of course she immediately agreed when he said he wanted to take her out.

"But what if we run into the Prince while we're there? That would definitely ruin the mood." Eleanor pointed out while they were leaving home.

Rowan chuckled. "I highly doubt that the Prince would just wander the streets of Azriel. That's not what royals do."

"Hmm, well he's missing out."

Eleanor had gotten a carriage from the Louis estate to come to the house, and they set off for the town, in the early afternoon.

The kiss had not been mentioned again and it seemed like Eleanor was perfectly fine with acting as if it never happened. The kiss was nothing and would remain nothing. Rowan had no right thinking about it and even less, wondering if Eleanor did.

He quieted his thoughts for the ride and the two of them were silent until they got to Azriel. The town was sure to have things to keep Eleanor occupied. All the fancy stuff that she was usually accustomed to, to keep her happy.

"I want to get more bath oils. The ones I have are running out." Eleanor commented when Rowan was getting off the carriage, which was stopped at the side of the road.

"I'm sure if we ask around we'll be able to find something." The gladiator held out his hand to help Eleanor down. "But I'm also sure that I saw that you had about fifteen bottles of bath oils. They're all out?"

Eleanor rolled her eyes and placed her hand on Rowan's. "Some of them are out and some still have, but I like to mix and... I don't need to explain myself to you anyway."

Rowan sighed. "Sure."

Eleanor stepped down from the carriage, her hand reflexively gripping Rowan's tighter. She had noticed and closed the carriage door with her hand still in his. "I'm also feeling like eating something spicy today. So we'll have to look into that."

It was dumb, but Rowan was surprised. "I didn't know you ate spicy food. It definitely does not seem like something the upper class would do."

Eleanor let out an airy laugh. "Wow, Rowan Kennedy, that was definitely not something I expected you to say." With her hand still in his, Eleanor began to slowly walk down the sidewalk. Rowan made sure to match her steps. "Although my mother is not the biggest fan of spicy food, my father and I love it. We always eat it, especially with some sort of meat."

"You just seemed like the type not to go near it. Guess I assumed wrong."

"You did."

Rowan zoned in on their hands, he swore he felt her grip his hands just now. If Eleanor was conscious of their position, then it meant that she didn't hate touching Rowan. As they walked, Rowan waited for Eleanor's realization that they were holding hands, but it never came. He even tested the waters by fixing his hand to rest more comfortably against hers, and she still didn't do anything.

She wanted to hold hands with him.

Rowan could not help but smile at that fact. She liked him enough to do that. Did she find comfort in holding his hand? Did she find him comforting?

This continued until they got to a store that sold the bath oils that Eleanor wanted to buy. She let go of his hand to run into the store and for the rest of the day, didn't hold his hand again.

Since Eleanor was pretty famous around Haespia and Rowan was also well known, it was obvious that they were going to garner attention from the people around them. That was the plan after all. Eleanor was way too happy and in her world to notice, but Rowan was conscious of every pair of eyes, directed at them.

"The pink blouse I just bought would definitely go well with the white lace skirt I have at home. Just tuck it into the skirt and have some white bows in my hair. That would make for a really cute outfit don't you think?" Eleanor rambled. It seemed she had found a new love in shopping.

Rowan had no idea what she was talking about but nodded anyway.

"And these brown heels I just bought will definitely find their place in my closet. What do you think will go well with them?" Eleanor looked up at him.

The gladiator shrunk back at the question. She was asking him? "Maybe the blue dress that you have? The one with the short skirt-"

"Blue dress?" Eleanor looked at him as if he had grown a second head. "How does that shade of blue go with brown? Are you dumb?"

Rowan really did not know what to say. He just said it because it was the dress she wore yesterday and that was what he could remember from her closet. Eleanor had so many clothes that it was hard to keep track. From his knowledge, she had never worn the same outfit twice.

"Do you think that someone like me would know anything about clothes?" Rowan tried to defend himself.

"No... you would not. Another thing you're useless at." Eleanor scoffed.

Rowan did not feel the need to try and save himself in her eyes and so he left the conversation there. Eleanor had quickly forgotten about the conversation and they continued shopping before Eleanor got hungry.

Rowan was sure that they got people talking about them. All the looks and whispers that they got were very conspicuous. Hopefully, it would trickle its way up the line until it reached royal ears.

Besides the fact that Rowan was sent here, he still did enjoy his time with Eleanor. Once again, she was asking a bunch of questions and relying on Rowan to answer them. He loved the way it felt when she took his word for it and moved on until she had another question.

In Eleanor's entire world, with having everything she wanted and an infinite amount of people to do things for her, it made Rowan feel something when she relied on him for something. He was one of those people for her.

They got home in the later evening, and Eleanor was visibly tired. He held the bags in one hand and helped Eleanor into the house with the other. Once he rested her things on the couch, he began to walk her up the stairs.

"You claim you aren't a Princess and yet here you are, tired only after a couple of hours out and needing someone to help you up the stairs." Rowan chuckled.

"Shut up," Eleanor mumbled.

Once they got to her room, Rowan placed her down gently on her bed. Slowly, her arms slipped from around him, gently gripping the edges of his cloak before falling into the sheets. A soft sigh escaped her lips as her eyes fell closed, it had Rowan freezing for a moment. She was so... vulnerable, so open. The peace in her expression had Rowan drawing nearer.

"Eleanor... you need to take off your shoes." Rowan moved away from her.

"Then take them off…" Eleanor kicked her feet.

He knew she was going to say that, but asked just to see. Rowan went to the end of the bed and unbuckled her shoes from her ankles, gently placing them next to the bed. He then peeled off her socks and noted the way Eleanor shivered when he did that. "Are you cold?" Rowan skimmed his hands over her bare feet, giving her some of his warmth.

"Not particularly." Eleanor opened her eyes and stared at him.

They both stopped and Rowan focused on the slowed breaths Eleanor let out. Her gaze was intense, and he wondered if she was trying to tell him something through it. If she didn't want him to touch her, she would have made that clear.

For a moment, Rowan envisioned his lips on her. His hands caressing her skin as he kissed his way up her legs. He imagined Eleanor writhing under him, trying to keep her composure and yet begging him for more.

The reality of what could be going through both their heads was getting a bit too real for Rowan, he had to pull away. He could not go down that road.

Eleanor opened her mouth but Rowan cut her off, dropping her feet on the bed and standing up straight. "Goodnight, Eleanor."

The thoughts running through their minds needed to be squashed. Rowan was in no position to be getting more involved with Eleanor than he already was. Even if he was supposed to be her fiance.