~ You can Run, but you can't Hide ~
Chick-a-tee-in-ur-face
Disclaimer: SM does not belong to me.
Chapter Four: The Sapphire Princess
The Estate was up in an uproar. Maids rushed around in their prim black dresses with white pressed aprons, their hair tightly tied up in a bun. Stable boys and coach men scattered the entire premises searching under every stone, up every tree and behind objects where one could easily hide themself but they could not find the little lady.
"Again." Her father roared as he paced the floor of the drawing room when a maid who now stood shaking and in terror reported to him that his only daughter had gone missing. "She's gone again."
"Yes your lordship," the maid answered in a soft voice. "When we went up to her quarters to inform her it was breakfast time we found the room empty. Then I came here straight away."
All he did was scowl and the maid trembled in silent fear. "How can one little girl just disappear. There are fifty pairs of eyes on the premises. I want her found." He bellowed.
"Ye..ess your lordship." The maid answered bowing before scuttering away quickly. News had travelled fast and orders were given out and soon the whole household were on the look out for her. It was now past midday and still no news of her had reached her fathers ears.
"Where could she have gone?" He grumbled aloud. "She's been gone too long. Oh my god Diana what if...she had been killed?" His blue eyes were etched with a fathers fear for the love of his daughter. He ran a hand through his dark hair. "What if she's lying out there in a ditch bleeding to death or worse in the company of bad people? Diana what if..."
"You must learn to relax Richard, please," Diana said soothingly comforting her husband. "You must calm down, this pacing and worrying isn't good for your health. You know what the doctors said, if your stress level rises any higher you might suffer another stroke..." She let her sentence drift off letting the content of what she had said sink into his mind. He had had a stroke earlier when Amy ran away and almost eloped with a young man from the streets. It had almost killed him. Now he was well again and was doing fine until they found out she had run away again.
The old man sighed slouching on a big armchair opposite the one where his wife sat with perfect posture sewing in the English lady-like fashion. "When will she learn?" He murmured. "That her place is here when she is without an escort until she is settled at Swan River with Lord Gregory."
Then a loud bustling sound could be heard and the pitter patter of running feet. Soon a maid had ran into the room, her face red from exhaustion and was gasping for air. "She is come, your lordship. A young gentleman has arrived with her ladyship."
Richard bounced of his feet like a teenage boy the scowl returning to his face. "Are they alone?" He asked.
"They are alone, your lordship." The maid replied anxiously.
Richard uttered a few inaudible words and Diana had put down her needle a look of concern on her almond shape face, her own blue eyes wide in disbelief. Richard followed the maid to the door to meet the young man who had brought back his daughter.
"Your lordship." He said bowing low when Richard appeared at the door taking the opportunity to hide the grin on his features. "I present the lady, I found her down the road walking in a great hurry and recognized her as the lovely Miss Anderson by the jewel she wore on her head."
Richard gaped wide eyed at the stranger in front of him and even more so at his daughter who stood a little by him, pale in colour dressed in a light blue gown, her shoulder length hair falling loosely, her bright blue eyes downcast. She stayed silent all the while the stranger was talking not looking at him.
"Thank you, for bringing back my daughter unharmed Mr. Err...?" Richard replied extending a hand.
The stranger took it and firmly shook his hand in return. "Lord Zachary of Zircon Lake. And it was my pleasure." He added a small glint in his eyes.
At this remark a small blush crept across Amy's pale cheeks high lighting her high cheekbones.
"Good day your lordship. I must be on my way." Then he paused for a while as if contemplating to say something more, "If I may say so your lordship, a fair lady like your daughter should not be wandering the roads on her own without an escort, especially since she wears something of great value." He said quietly gazing intently upon the sapphire jewel which was clasped in gold about her head. Strands of black pearls were intricately designed to frame the blue stone with small buds of diamonds embedded within it. "The world is full of dangers the human eye cannot foresee." Zachary suddenly said before entering his car and driving away disappearing behind a swirl of dust.
In the drawing room Amy stood still facing the west windows watching as the sun slowly descended behind the mountains half listening to her father half dreaming of the day she had had.
"Amy, you are of royal blood."
"I never asked to be."
"You come from a long line of royalty. You are second cousin to the prince himself. You must know your place. What if news of today happened to come by Lord Gregory. Do you not see the shame you have put upon yourself and upon us to have be seen alone and with a stranger none-the-less."
"He was no stranger, father." Amy replied her blue eyes burning with fire, "He is Lord Zachary of Zircon Lake."
"That is beside the point." Richard pointed out. "You do not know what harm you may have inflicted upon yourself. Lord Gregory is..."
"Lord Gregory is a stuck up stiff prig." Amy replied off-handedly. "What do I care for him?"
"He is your betrothed and you will see through with this marriage." Richard had raised his voice to his surprise then softening his tone he continued. "It was arranged by the king himself."
"But I do not love him." Amy whispered tears falling down her cheeks.
"You will learn to love him." Richard replied firmly though seeing his daughter like this was making it hard for him.
Amy pulled herself together her gaze had turned to steel. "Yes your lordship." She gave a small curtsy then quickly exited the room. Richard sighed and looked at Diana who had been silent throughout their conversation. She gave him a feeble smile which did nothing to ease the burden on his mind.
* * *
Amy threw herself onto her queen size bed crying to her hearts content. Every day she stayed in the estate was a day closer to her marriage with the Lord Gregory. "Why?" She cried out. She sat up and saw her reflection in her full length mirror resting by her changing room. Her clear blue eyes were bloodshot, her face was tear stained. Her dark hair when in the light could have been mistaken for a dark blue fell messily over her almond shaped face, wisps falling over her eyes. She was small and petite with curves at the right places. The pale blue gown she had on accentuated her feminine figure which she found was pleasing to the opposite gender. Her long slender hand flew to her lips which was slightly parted and a small blush found its way to her tearstained cheeks.
* Flashback *
The small petite figure ran stealthily down the road kept hidden by the shadows of darkness. The first rays of dawn crept from the east illuminating her path. 'Almost at the gate.'
A few hundred yards she heard the clamour of bells ringing and faint voices echoing sounds she knew naught of but could guess. She ran, her hair she had neatly put into a coiffure fell, loose strands falling over her eyes the rest fell loosely about her shoulders. Finally she came upon a gate and sighed in relief. Letting herself through she made her way eastwards not knowing where the road would take her.
Her feet had begun to swell and her legs were aching when she heard the sound of a car drive slowly before pulling up next to her. She stared into the green orbs of a handsome stranger a wave of shame coursing through her body to be seen wandering like that. She watched him gaze at her, taking everything in before smiling. One of his dazzling smiles girls had swooned over. Amy felt her heart quicken a bit.
"Can I give you a lift, ma'am?" He asked politely when he had gotten out of the vehicle and was standing beside her. He was a head taller than her and dressed quite smartly. His strawberry blonde hair flew as the wind rushed through it. He gave another one of his dazzling smiles.
Amy stepped back suddenly fearing him, not knowing why. "I - no thank you sir. Thank you for your kind gesture." She picked up her skirt and ran willing her legs to move faster. She felt a presence close behind her and felt a strong arm wrap around her tiny waist making her still. She struggled in his grasp but was to no avail because he was far more stronger than her and she was already weary.
He grinned at her not letting her go. "Miss Anderson, if you would but stop struggling..."
Amy gasped loudly and saw the snicker in his eyes. Fear and rippled down her spine and she made more of an effort to escape his grasp but his hold on her only tightened. "How did you know my name?" She whispered almost afraid to know the answer.
She felt his other hand move up her jaw line caressing her cheek and putting a loose strand of her hair behind one ear. She breathed in heavily watching wide eyed waiting but he just let his finger play with her hair, his eyes staring at her tiara intently, and a shine in them. "Family heirloom." He murmured so Amy had to strain her ears to hear what he was saying, "A very rare gem like this must belong to a known family with heritage and since this road is by the front gate to the Anderson Estate, I just made some deductions and well, had a guess." He let go of his gaze on the jewel but didn't release her, "And I guessed right."
Amy was flabbergasted. Every morning routine of placing the tiara on her head had made her forget about its significance, then coming to her senses she put up a struggle. "Unhand me at once." She ordered which only won a smile from her companion. With his free hand he lifted her chin, gazing deep into her eyes. She was mesmerized by his own and felt her will weaken. He caressed her face lightly. "What is a beautiful girl like you wandering on the roads and alone." He asked, a hint of concern in his voice. "This place is dangerous, alone."
Amy cast her eyes down, "I- I" She was cut short when she felt his lips pressed on hers, kissing her gently caressing her face with one hand and holding her tightly with another. Amy was stunned and her resolve had already weakened. She kissed him back not knowing why she did it and felt her hand run up his chest resting around his neck playing with the tips of his hair. He deepened the kiss bringing her closer to him, pressing her small form which fit snugly against his broad chest and muscular legs. He heard her moan when he let go of her lips leaving a trail of butterfly kisses down her jaw line to her neck savouring her scent then back again recapturing her bruised lips kissing her ardently until the need for air grew stronger then their will. That's when he let her go, his eyes widening as if he could not believe what he had just done. "Let me escort you home, milady." He said casually opening the passenger door for her.
Amy did not know what to think. She was confused and paled at what she had just done dawned on her. They were both silent towards the estate, but she stole quick glimpses of him as he sat a small frown on his handsome features studying the road.
*End of Flashback *
Amy sighed not knowing what to think. "Lord Zachary of Zircon Lake. Lord Zachary. Zach." She repeated the words staring out at the velvet sky beaded with stars endless in the heavens above and saw a shooting star pass by her window.
* * *
Zachary leaned against his car on top of a hill overlooking the Anderson Estate. A pair of blue eyes pierced though his mind.
"What news?"
"The crystal is there like you said. Embedded in a small gold tiara with strands of black pearls. It has apparently been given to their only heir, Miss Anderson. Should be no problem retrieving the crystal."
"Good, the plan shall proceed then. Anything else?"
Zach hesitated. "Nothing."
Darien's cold eyes bore into him. He knew something was up, but he was pressed for time and he still had to check on the two others. "Good. I'll see you back at Helwing then."
Zach nodded and in the corner of his eyes he saw Darien shimmer into nothingness his gaze not leaving the dark outlines of the estate. If he wasn't careful, he knew he would be in some danger of losing his heart to the princess. He had been paying her to much attention in first receiving the assignment in locating the crystal and the innocence about her made her seem more alluring then the usual girls he met with. He smiled a small thin smile then he too shimmered away into the darkness of the world.