Seychelles felt an arm hold her closer to a warm and soft chest as she woke up. Her eyes widened as she realized this was not the man she had planned to stay the night with at all. Seychelles looked up to view the English man's face; he was still asleep. Seychelles smiled as she saw his relaxed and rather peaceful face. She slowly removed his hand off of her as she moved off of the bed; she still wore the clothes from the party. Sighing in relief, she opened the door slowly and walked to her room while trying to be silent. Beatrice was in her bed sleeping, like she always did when she was dismissing the work she was obliged to do.
"Beatrice! Help me get this off! I need to get changed and meet Francis!" Beatrice's eyes opened and she gave a sly grin.
"Oh, I see Arthur wasn't enough, eh?"
Seychelles glared at her friend while she felt blood rush to her face. All she had done was lay beside him! Remembering the night and how warm she had felt beside him, a sheepish grin began to form on her face. "Ah... I see you're not denying it either... Do tell me how it was! I bet he was quite the daring fellow." Beatrice got out of bed and moved behind her friend so that she could remove the dress. Seychelles jumped as she heard her friend say the following.
"No! Of course not! I was forced to lie beside him, but nothing more than that! I was planning to leave him after he fell asleep but I fell asleep myself, what a fool I am." Seychelles said as she regarded the wooden floor beneath her small feet.
"Yes, you are." Seychelles's head snapped up as she heard Francis's voice. The man sat in the chair near the door in which she had passed.
"Francis? You were here in the room?"
"Oui, ma chérie. I was waiting for you." Seychelles looked at Beatrice. Why was Beatrice in the bed then? Beatrice sighed,
"He was sitting in the chair as I got into the bed to sleep. I did not see him myself until I turned my head and found those blue eyes staring at me. When I told him I was a friend of yours, he said it was fine to sleep and that he wouldn't tell anyone I was here." Seychelles eyed Beatrice, but knew she was telling the truth. Beatrice wouldn't dare to sleep with a man other than the one she was madly in love with now, and that man would be her husband, whom she had secretly married. Beatrice had undone Seychelles's dress and Seychelles held the front of her dress up so that she would not reveal her corset and lingerie she had worn for their meeting the previous night. Beatrice stepped away from the two and left the room as Francis stood up and moved towards her. His face was rather annoyed as he watched her with inescapable eyes.
"So, you've lain beside him?" Francis touched her shoulder; his body was defensive.
"I did not do anything. You needn't worry! Arthur was drunk, all he did was complain and speak to things that were not even there."
"Ma chérie! That makes me even angrier! Arthur is a fool who would do anything to ruin you!"
Ruin her? Seychelles looked at her lover and remembered Arthur's face as he had slept beside her. He was the last person who would want to ruin her! It was contrary; she knew very well that he was helping her family back home. Arthur had also rescued her from being a servant for the rest of her life. Without him or his family, she would have been a servant to someone else or even worse.
"Francis, mon chér, I doubt he was trying to ruin me. You should know that very well too, after all he is engaged to Elizabéta! Why would he ruin his family's name by sleeping with another woman?" Francis's eyes widened.
"Seychelles, he is not engaged to her. Roderick is engaged to her! They are getting married!" Seychelles's eyes widened. She was wrong? Then why was Arthur speaking of a fiancée last night? Her heart sank as she remembered saying him saying that his fiancée was right before him. That man was drunk! He must not have understood what he was saying.
"Oh, my." Seychelles looked down as she shook off the memory so that she could continue, "Well, I'm quite sure he didn't mean any harm. Francis, Arthur's family has been raising me, so it is understandable that we would be fairly close."
"Oui, je sais. Seychelles, if I were in that man's place, I would make sure we were more than just fairly close." Francis pressed himself closer to her and she chuckled as he kissed her.
"Je sais, Francis, I know that very well." Seychelles felt her body heat up as she felt his hand touch the lower region of her back. Much to her embarrassment, he had seen her lingerie.
"You would look beautiful without that dress you are holding onto, ma chéri." Seychelles moved herself away; now was not the time for foolishness.
"Perhaps another day though? Francis, everyone is awake now; it will be too noticeable."
"We can be quiet."
"Non. Arthur is in the other room. The last thing I should hope to do is to wake him this morning."
"Fine!" Francis abruptly turned away and opened the door slightly so that he could leave, "Arthur, Arthur, Arthur! That is all I hear you say! I am tired of having to hide my love; I will see that this changes. Au revoir, ma chérie."
"Wait!" Seychelles moved toward the door, but it was closed; footsteps coming toward her room could be heard. She sighed in relief, Francis must having something else to say. As the door opened she saw a pair of green eyes, messy hair, and wrinkled clothes.
"Oh, Arthur, it's you." Seychelles sighed and moved back towards the chair so that she could sit down. Hearing the English man close the door, she stared at him; his face was the brightest red she had seen yet. As she dropped her head down to find what he may be staring at, she gasped; her dress was still undone and her lingerie was still revealed. The poor girl's face became a similar shade of red.
"I-I... I see I've come at the wrong time..." He quickly turned his head, but did not touch the door. Holding her dress closer to her body she turned her head away, feeling her blood rising to her face.
"It's fine, Arthur. You have seen me before." Arthur's face became slightly darker as he shifted in his place uncomfortably; Seychelles smiled at the compromising moment the two were forced to share. Only this British man would be this obvious, but that was what she liked about him. Clearing his throat, the distressed gentleman moved towards the window and slowly turned his head towards what he had been trying to avoid seeing. Arthur's head turned away quickly.
"I wanted to come in here to apologize for my behavior last night. I-"
"It's perfectly fine. Arthur, if you'd like-"
"Let me finish!" Arthur snapped while scratching his head, "I planned everything I was going to say, so please let me finish. It's truly important." His face was still red and he seemed exhausted. Seychelles nervously regarded him; was he all right? She didn't believe she was hearing him say this. If it had been any other day, this may have been amusing, but sadly, it wasn't. Moving towards where he stood, the matured girl touched his stiff shoulder; his face was starting to produce sweat.
"Arthur, are you feeling all right? I should hope you don't have a fever..." As she touched his forehead, he nodded.
"I'm perfectly fine." Arthur sighed and turned to the window again, "Perhaps we should meet in the terrace? I think that it should be easier to speak there. I should hope to see you at three." Wearing a face of embarrassment, anxiety, and sadness, Arthur left the room before the perplexed girl had a chance to speak.
Ta da! Hehe, yes it has been a while. I hope everyone enjoyed this leçon! See you in the next one! Things are finally starting to heat up. :) Review!
