Maybe Love

Esmeralda tucked some hair behind her ear and sighed. She looked down at the thick wine in her glass and circled it around, feeling utterly bored. At the table she stood near, two men gawked at her beauty and gave her slurred compliments due to their own intake of wine. She simply nodded her head and continued on to another table.

"I have yet to see any two headed monsters or women with snakes for hair here at this court." Esmeralda mumbled as she took a seat next to Clopin, currently shuffling around his fortune cards.

Clopin's brows were forced down as he concentrated, "I'm sorry to hear that, my friend." He said distantly, scooting away plates of half eaten food in search for a few coins he had earned during his performance. "Where are you earnings?" He asked, in a sudden worried tone.

Esmeralda placed her cheek in her palm sluggishly, "They are safely tucked away, oh caring one."

"Where—Oh. I should know better than to ask." Clopin went on with his business and began counting the coins in his small pouch that always stayed hooked to his belt.

"And why would you even look for such things?" asked Gypsy woman across Esmeralda, decorated with silky robes and narrow brown eyes. Her hair lay flat and down to her narrow waist. She was older and much more submissive in the minded sense.

Esmeralda looked over at her with a smile, "What else would there be to look for?"

"Anything but that, I could assure you. Here, we are safe. Here, we might be in search for brighter—more gentle things." The woman smiled down at her hands, fiddling with a part of her dress. "Maybe love."

Clopin snorted, "Love? My dear, the only love you should ever search for in a place like this is the love for yourself. Without that you might not live enough to even love that piece of food on your plate you have yet to touch." Esmeralda watched as Clopin reached across the table and took the food for himself, chewing as he continued on counting.

"Come," said a large muscled Gypsy man with little hair upon his head. He held out his hand to the bashful Gypsy woman in hope she would take it. She did and he smiled. "It is our turn to dance, my lovely. If you wish, that is."

The woman glared back at Clopin, answering, "Of course I would!" With that, they were off, enjoying the remaining time of the night.

"You shouldn't have talked to her like that, Clopin." Esmeralda said.

Clopin glanced over at his friend knowingly. "And you know, Esmeralda, she should not be talking about such foolish things at a time like this." He sighed, "We are not here for affection, we are here to earn what we can. Do what we can. She will get herself killed being so naïve."

Esmeralda knew he was right, but she would not admit that out loud in the tone of voice he took with her then. "I suppose it's time for me to head in for the night. I'm tired and tomorrow I'm assuming you would like me to perform my new dance?"

Clopin saw the look on her face and instantly felt disgusted with himself. He was acting like a selfish bastard. He had slacked in watching his tongue. Especially around her. "Esmeralda. I apologize for my behavior. You know—"

"I know." Esmeralda smiled lightly. "Your protecting our people, the ones you love most. I know." She placed a kiss on his cheek and made her way to her chambers alone.

Sitting on his throne, the King watched his wife twirl and dance. However, there was frown on his face. He was uncomfortable. Irritated. "Your Grace." He said harshly and Charles turned slightly in his seat next to the King at the large dinner table.

"Your Majesty?"

"What of the Ambassador?" He asked, his fingers resting against his temple while his other hand fondled with the goblet of wine on the table, turning it so that the wine almost came splashing out across the table's decorative cloth.

Charles responded quickly, "He has informed me he will return to Court as soon as his fever as broken completely. Unless, of course, Your Majesty would like him to return sooner for urgent matters."

Henry rolled his eyes with a huff, "And the French Ambassador? Where is he?"

"France, Your Majesty." Charles answered hesitantly.

Before saying anything else, Henry noticed Esmeralda was making her way out without a second look back. "Our Lady Esmeralda must have not enjoyed this night at Court." He thought aloud, alerting Charles at the least. "She isn't the only one." Henry looked at the crowd with narrow eyes and winced when his leg bumped the leg of Catherine's empty seat next to him. "If I was in better condition—younger, maybe—I would have already bedded her and all her lovely looks." The King smirked to himself then. "She doesn't have the body of the women here in England, wouldn't you say, Charles?"

Charles' jaw twitched and he averted his eyes elsewhere. "I suppose, Your Majesty." He blocked his mind from thinking beyond anything but a kiss when it came to the King and Esmeralda. Anything farther than that and anger would need to be soothed.

The King chuckled, "More wine?"

There were footsteps along the outside of Esmeralda's chambers and she ignored the noises. She had sat at her table and read for a good while before finding her dress uncomfortable for the mood she was in. The moon was bright outside her window and the candles along her room cast a dim, golden light that put her into a bit of ease. Though, she wished she could see the twinkling of colored glass hang through the candles' shine, like back in Notre Dame with Quasimodo. He always found a way to make things shine.

Standing, Esmeralda ventured over to find a soft nightgown. She stripped off the remains of her working clothes—jewelry, bands, belts with small bells, layers of skirts and a bodice with stripes. Esmeralda noticed the more she put on, the more people looked at her. It was revolting, really. People only notice the pretty faces.

More people passed by her door and Esmeralda ignored them all the more. They didn't bother her. Everyone seemed to be in some sort of hurry here.

As she slid on her robe before finding her preferred gown, though, someone opened her door and entered quickly. Esmeralda shot up straight and pulled her robe across her body tightly. She spun around, eyes narrowed. "Excuse me!" She said angrily. "What do you think you're doing—" Charles.

"I . . ." Charles looked a bit flushed at the sight before his eyes. "You left without saying goodbye." He managed in his low voice, attempting at a smile.

Esmeralda slanted her head to the side, a brow raised. "I left without saying goodbye?" She grew closer, mimicking his own movements.

"Court," He resorted. "You left Court without saying goodbye."

"You left the country without saying goodbye." Esmeralda kept her hand tight on her robe, almost tighter now that she was only a few feet away from a man that drove her mind crazy.

Charles chuckled, "I . . . I suppose you're right."

A smile bloomed across Esmeralda's face and she pressed her body against his, embracing him as if he'd been gone for months. Her arms hooked securely around his neck as she rested her head against his shoulder. Charles wasn't the slightest bit taken back by her actions. He felt his heart pound against his ribs and he smiled into the moment with his cheek pressed against her head. "I missed you." He whispered, his brows coming down together in symbolization he meant his words.

Esmeralda inched away, but not far enough to detach her body from his, and smiled warmly. Her green eyes were gentle and captivating. She looked at him with a certain kind of longing that Charles couldn't help but notice. "You weren't gone that long." She said teasingly.

Charles laughed with a smile that reached his eyes. "And by the grace of God, that'll be the last I'll ever have to be gone again for a long, long while." His voice had faded into a hushed tone as he leaned in close, his lips grazing hers. "But no promises."

Esmeralda shook her head and gripped his shirt in her hands tightly, bringing him even closer with his forehead pressed against hers. "I don't need promises. Not now."

With a grin, Charles captured her lips with his and pulled her tight against him once again. They kissed and their tongues began in a dance of pleasure, making Charles groan into the sensation. He spun them around and let her drop, sprawled across her bed in a beautiful manner. He tugged off his cloak and thicker shirt, climbing over her while his eyes feasted upon the Gypsy with lust growing stronger every blink.

Esmeralda sat up gradually, her robe spreading open slightly without her hand to keep it in place. She scooted back, inviting him to follow. Charles was hesitant, not wanting to pressure her into anything, now that he realized where this might lead. Looking then, he saw that her front that faced him was shadowed but not her eyes. Those eyes. They appeared to be even brighter now than he remembered. She was what he couldn't contain himself from. He wanted her. He needed her.

Charles followed over her slowly, looking down at the small sliver of brown flesh he could see from the opened robe. It was a delicious sight to his eyes. He had never touched a woman with such features as hers. Curls—many English women had them—but not like Esmeralda's. Her's were wild and beautiful. Though her skin was darker than the women at Court, it called for him just as much. Her lips were set and full, tasteful against his craving mouth. The fire within his veins grew stronger just at the thought of her.

And the King—the King would never touch her like this if Charles could help it. She was his. He hadn't said it aloud, but he felt it all over. She was something to cherish, not just bed.

Just before his hands could wonder aimlessly, Esmeralda had his thin white shirt in her fists once more and pinned him down against the pillows. Charles looked up at her, a bit flushed by the sudden action. He then began to believe he had done something wrong. Charles parted his lips to speak, but was silenced with a rough, nose crushing kiss.

Esmeralda broke away and sat up straight, her legs straddling his hips with a perfect fit. She saw Charles' bright eyes travel up her body, stopping at her breasts that were slightly uncovered now. They heaved up and down with every breath she took. Too comfortable under that heated stare, she didn't bother with fixing her robe. The looks Charles gave her were enough to send ten hundred hearts thumping madly. "What of your wife?" She asked quietly, playing with the drawstrings of his shirt.

Charles' breath caught and he straightened his lips in a firm line, sighing through his nose. He turned his head and looked at the fire while resting his hands on Esmeralda's hips lightly. He didn't want to think about Katherine. Anyone but her. Now was his time to be selfish, not hers. At first, Katherine had every right to be upset with him. Now, it seemed, it would be the time to forgive and forget. Was it not? "She does not love me any longer." He said calmly, his lips barely moving.

"Do you believe I should love you then?" Esmeralda questioned. She knew all too well it was clear the Duke had a wife. A man of his status should never be without a woman to take to Court and to give him plenty children. Esmeralda was not the one to bed another woman's man. That sort of sin rattled in the back of her head. She had more respect for herself than that.

Yet, Charles called out to her in silent words. Ones she couldn't keep herself from hearing. She had loved once, and it ended all too soon. Even then, something wasn't as it was now. But one thing was for certain: no matter how much the connection between her and Charles, stronger than hers with Phoebus, burned with passion—she would not be a whore. His whore. Esmeralda would curse herself before that day came.

A part of her wanted to feed the longing deep down. Staring down at Charles—his perfectly sculpted neck and chin, the way he blinked slowly while in his own thoughts, his blue eyes shielded slightly by long lashes—Esmeralda almost found it impossible to resist. He was beautiful. And every time he held her in his stare, he only turned that hunger of longing into an utter starvation.

Charles looked up at her then, his expression hard. "No." He said, adjusting a hand to cradle the back of his head while the other stayed in its place. "I don't expect you to love me. I've done horrible things. Hurt many people—many women."

Esmeralda ran her fingers across his scruffy cheek. "That doesn't make you a bad man forever. Some people are capable of change." She said with a small smile. Though she saw no happy ending to this affair, Esmeralda didn't see any shame in helping a person's heart mend—just as hers did years ago. "Still, that doesn't mean I'll share your bed, Charles Brandon."

Chuckling, Charles replied, "Oh? Then what exactly are you planning to do in a position like this?" He gave her body another quick scan, his jaw giving a slight twitch.

"It's the perfect position to commit a murder." Esmeralda said as she leaned close, making her robe spread further apart. Charles couldn't help but notice the more skin that was revealed in the process. His eyes darted up when she caught his chin in her hand, jerking his head upwards and away from her breasts and naked torso. Though she knew this was trouble, it had always been somewhere in her nature to play with fire. "Wouldn't you agree, Your Grace?"

Charles stayed quiet for a moment and then flipped them over, pinning her down with his body. Esmeralda hadn't seen it coming and gasped at the sudden—but lovely—weight upon her. She looked up and was swallowed hole by the deep gaze. "I like this position better, M'lady." Charles said huskily, a grin stole across his face.

Esmeralda watched as he hovered his lips above hers, lingering in a slight tease. She grinned back and looped her arms around his neck, her fingers running through his soft, brown curls at the base of his neck. "I'll bet you on it."

Kissing her neck gently, Charles chuckled, "Play with your lips, love, not the cards."

A/N: okay, so i hope no one thought that was overly smutty. i don't believe it was. yes, it was on the boarderline of Rated T, but honestly, there was detail lacking and there was no sexual intercorse actually stated. lol X) therefore: no hardcore smutty goodness. not really a big smut writer anyway.

so, i hope you liked the chapter! tell me what you think :)