DG drummed her fingers once along Ambrose's shoulder, her eyes looking off in another direction. She sighed heavily, frustrated. Finally she stopped. Ambrose continued to move, nearly knocking her over as she kept her feet planted.
Ambrose kept her on her feet and came back to stand in front of her, one hand still clasping DG's and the other lightly touching her slender shoulder. He looked at her for a moment and then quickly dropped his hands, clenching them into fists at his side.
"What's the matter now?" he asked, not meeting her gaze.
"How long are you going to deny it?" she asked firmly.
"Deny what?" His voice was shaky.
"You know," she replied. "Why don't you just kiss me already? I know you want to," she said as threw up her hands and let them fall to her sides.
Ambrose looked around, checking to see if anyone was listening or watching. He turned back to DG, clearly flustered. "I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about," he explained. "Now can we get on with the lesson? I don't want your mother angry with me." He held up his hands, ready to continue, but DG glared at him. "What now?" he whined.
"Why won't you kiss me?" Now she turned her glare into one of curiosity as she studied his features.
"You know I could never do that, even if I did have…feelings," he choked on the word, "for you. You are a princess and I am merely an advisor."
"I don't know of any law that says I can't kiss anyone I want."
This remark caught Ambrose off guard. His arms fell back to his sides and he looked at the ground, suddenly interested in his feet. "You know I cannot do that," he insisted in a whisper.
"I could order you to. I am a princess after all." She smiled smugly at him, but he looked up, returning the same emotion in his lips.
"But you won't," he stated simply, pointing his finger briefly into the air.
"How would you know?" DG crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowed.
"Because even though you act aggressive and tough I know that deep down inside," he quickly, but lightly poked her in the chest, "you are a romantic. You wouldn't want something that wasn't freely given." Now it was his turn to cross his arms over his chest.
For a long moment, DG gazed at him. Then suddenly she smiled mischievously. "I order you to kiss me," she said, her smile growing larger.
Taking a step back, a shocked Ambrose looked down at DG, his eyes wide and his mouth open. Then, just as suddenly as DG blurted out her order, Ambrose closed his mouth, narrowed his eyes, turned, and walked away, his tail coats flinging out behind him.
"Hey! You can't deny an order!"
"I can if there is reason to believe the order came from one who was out of their mind," he said, taking long strides in a hurry to put space between them.
"Hey!" DG called again as she ran to catch up with him. "What is that supposed to mean?" she said as she grabbed his sleeve, forcing him to stop.
He turned back to her suddenly, making her let go of his sleeve. "It means that today's lesson is done and until I think you are in your right mind enough to continue, all lessons are cancelled." He nodded sharply then turned and began walking away again.
DG called out after him but he only sped up, practically running to get away from her.