Elizabeth POV

It was in the afternoon when I finally heard the knocking on the door. Our butler went to get it.

" Sir if I may?" He asked once John had stepped in the door.

" Yes, Yes, of course." John replied and our butler helped him out of his jacket.

" John? I'm so glad you made it." I said as I descended the main staircase at the front of our home.

" Elizabeth! How are you feeling? I came as soon as I could."

" You weren't too awfully busy were you? I hope I didn't interrupt anything."

" Anything for you darling,you needed me and I'm here . " And he kissed my hand. " You look lovely, tell me, what do you need?" Of course I looked lovely, I was wearing a dress he had bought me.

" Oh, I guess I just missed you. And I wanted to thank you, for everything."

" No need."

" Come let's talk in the sitting room." I said as I led him towards the small sitting room in the mansion, the closest one to my room.

" How's your leg doing?" He asked as we reached the sitting room doors.

" Fine, actually. It doesn't bother me much. The doctor came by and gave me medicine to numb the pain."

" I'm glad to hear." He said as he sat down.

" Would you care for some tea John?" I offered him.

" Yes, tea sounds splendid right now."

" Good, I'll find a maid to bring us some tea. Did you come from the fort John?" I inquired, trying to sound casual.

" Yes I did. Why do you ask?"

" No reason. If you'll excuse me, I'll be right back." I closed the door behind me and walked quickly to the front of the mansion where the large guest coat closet was. I mase sure the butler was nowhere in sight before looking through John's jacket for the keys to the prison. They weren't there. I was sure he had them. They must be on him. Great, just great. Now I would have to resort to my less desired plan of course. I quickly headed back towards the sitting room and told Marie that we needed to work on the other plan. She had been waiting for me close to the sitting room and I passed her on my way back there. I didn't even bother to ask her for the tea. We weren't going to need it. Before I turned the knob to the door, I took a deep breath.

" I have something better we can do than drink tea." I told him playfully, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him off the sette. I headed towards my bedroom.

" Where are we going Elizabeth?" He asked confused.

" You'll see." It was so odd acting like I still enjoyed every second I was with him. It was all an act. I didn't want to be this way around John anymore. He felt more like a friend to me now.

" We're here." I said. " Come on in John." I continued playfully.

" That's a bit bold Elizabeth." He told me. " If we were caught in your room alone, you're father would probably call off the wedding." He cautioned.

" He's not home. Please John?"

" Be sensible Elizabeth."

" Please John?"

" Fine." He said and stepped into the room a little reluctantly. I closed the door behind us. Here we go.

" Oh John!" I said to him as I kissed him and pushed him back against the door. He kissed me back but then he pulled away.

" Elizabeth this isn't a good idea."

" Let me decide that darling." And I went for his lips again. It didn't feel good to kiss him anymore, I realized. Goodness, so much had changed.

" Are you sure Eliz-"

" Yes!" I cut him off and kissed him again. This time he didn't object and grabbed my waist. He turned so I was the one agaist the door and kept kissing me. I pushed him back towards my bed. He started undoing the buttons of his vest. I grabbed his hands.

" Not yet." He seemed alright with my protest and went on to kissing my neck. Then he moved me so that my back was to the bed and we fell back on it. I needed to finish this fast. His body was so close to mine that I could feel they keys.

" John you're keys are uncomfortable." I told him, faking my gasping breaths.

" Sorry." He answered and took them out and trew them carelessly on the floor next to the bed. He went back to my lips.

" Help me out of this dress will you?" I said when he moved back to my neck.

" Sure." He stood up and I along with him and he stated undoing the buttons at my back. I looked down the floor and saw the keys. I discreetly and quietly moved them with my foot under the bed until they were out of sight.

" I can't do this John." I told him quickly and turned to him.

" What?"

" I said I can't. Look at what we're doing? And we're not even married!" I shrieked. Marie opened the door then.

" Oh my! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to- I can come back later." She said ' surprised ' covering her gaping mouth with her hand.

" No, no! I- we, I was on my way out." He stuttered, buttoning up the few undone buttons of his vest and taking a step away from me.

" Elizabeth, I'll come see you tomorrow." He walked through the door and past Marie. " Good evening ladies." He hadn't even given me my usual goodbye kiss. Marie walked towards me quietly laughing after he left.

" Did it work?" She asked, and I bent down and reached under the bed. I held up the keys to her.

" Yes." I said, happy that it had worked but not quite getting past what I had done to get them.

" Let me fix your hair- And your clothes. He left them in a horrible state. So much for a gentleman." She remarked with a bit of humour as she re-buttoned the buttons of my dress and went to get a brush from my drawer.

" I'm so glad I got the keys. Thanks for walking in when you did. I thought you had forgotten."

" You underestimate me Lizzie."

" Do I? You can prove yourself by getting us out of the mansion at the right time." I said, only half-joking.

" Oh yes, about that. I found out when the guards out front change. It'll give us only a couple of minutes to get out without being seen though, especially now that there's more guards."

" More guards? I thought we had plenty."

" You're father didn't think so after what happened last night."

" Oh." It was a good thing we didn't have enough guards last night, I thought. Or else I might have never met him. My thoughts of William drifted off as I complained when she pulled on my hair with a brush.

" It's all tangled!" She answered. " And I know you want to look good for the other one." I didn't complain after that.

Thanks for reading! :)