The next morning, Belle woke up in a fine bed with a read feather mattress, instead of the straw one she was used to. She also woke up next to a comfortingly warm, mostly naked prince.
As she laid there, recounting the events of the night before, Belle couldn't help but cuddle closer to Demetrius. They had ridden for hours the night before, stopping when the moon was high in the night sky. The inn they found was grand, and all three of the travelers were tired. So tired, in fact, that Belle had only to half-heartedly fend off Demetrius' advances before he left her alone.
However, Belle had decided that it was wonderful to sleep with another person in the same bed with you. He was so unnaturally warm, and gloriously soft. Belle propped herself up on an elbow and tenderly brushed his hair back from his forehead. Slowly his dark, sleep clouded eyes opened. Demetrius smiled at Belle as he stretched.
The movement in the bed brought Cassie bounding between them. She was already fully awake and frisky, biting at bedclothes, hair, and fingers without discrimination.
"Uh, Cassie, stop it," Belle mumbled, shoving her hands under her very plush pillow. Then she blushed, realizing how familiar she was being in the presence of her true love. "I'm sorry, your highness," she stuttered. "I guess I shouldn't have brought her, Cassie can be such a bother."
"Nonsense," Demetrius shushed her in his sleep laden voice. He gave Cassie a hearty scratch behind the ears. "I love dogs. What is she, an Icelandic Sheepdog?"
Belle nodded, her blush only intensifying. "Yes, milord."
Before she could manage anything else, Demetrius covered her mouth with his. Everything else was forgotten as Belle allowed herself to become lost in the experience. Demetrius pulled away after a moment, leaving Belle panting and all but begging for more.
"We're going to be married soon, Belle," He whispered tenderly. "Call me Demetrius."
"Okay," Belle said, warmth absolutely spreading from her toes to the tips of her ears. All over she tingled, as Demetrius wrapped his arms around her, warming her. Cassie had settled herself on top of the two, and watched them with large, wet eyes. "Demetrius," she said, and the taste of the name was sweet on her lips. "Speaking of names, I haven't been completely honest with you, I'm afraid."
Demetrius laughed and ran a fond hand down Belle's hair. "What? You're not really a shepherdess?"
The rich sound of his careless mirth caused Belle to giggle lightly. "No," she said, squeezing the foreign hand that was resting comfortably on her navel. "My full first name isn't Belle. It's Arabella."
This turned him mock pensive. He bid her to turn over so he could look at her. "I guessed as much when your father called you that, darling. So your full name would be?"
"Arabella Isolde O'Leary."
"Lady Arabella Isolde O'Leary." Demetrius corrected softly, placing a tender kiss on the hand he brought to his mouth. "Soon to be Princess Arabella. Now," He said, and promptly dropped her hand and threw the coverlet of the both of them. He stood, strode over to the window, and threw back the window coverings with as much vigor as he had the bed clothes.
Early afternoon sunlight flooded the room, changing the pale strawberry blond of Belle's hair to a blazing reddish gold. She blinked in the harsh light, while the prince admired her from afar. This couldn't last long, of course, and soon enough he had pulled Belle off of the bed and kissed her.
"Come on, Princess," he said as he released her. "We have to find you a proper dress or two."
And she smiled which made him chuckle again. They took their midday meal with much conversation and subsequent laughter. Demetrius found out everything he could about her family and what her life had been like before he infiltrated it.
He, on the other hand, was rather closed-mouthed on the subject of his own family. Of course, Belle knew some small things (the royal family couldn't exactly stay out of the public eye): both his parents were alive, as well as an older sister of his who was widowed before her time, and he also had a younger brother that still spent his days in the nursery.
All during the dress buying expedition, Belle worried and fretted that Demetrius' family wouldn't like or approve of her. After all, she was just a simple shepherdess, a silly country girl. How could she compare with the Lady Caprice, even though a miracle had given her a higher rank than the Italian? Doubtless she was a perfect lady, with few if any vices.
By the time Demetrius had spent a small fortune on her new wardrobe and also procured a horse for Belle and Cassie, he had sensed her uneasiness. As they set out on the last leg of their journey the prince tactfully addressed the issue.
"Did you not find the dresses I had tailored for you adequate? You must still be attached to your old things."
Belle immediately blushed that gorgeous rosy color Demetrius adored. Seeing her like that, blushing like the girl she was, and wearing the luxurious dark green traveling frock he had just purchased, set him aflame with yet to be quenched passion. This girl was so simple, so pure, that to be truthful, Demetrius could not wait to deflower her.
"No, milord, that's not it at all. It's just that…" unsure of how to express herself, she twisted the reins of the delicate white palfrey she was riding. Cassie sat primly in front of the saddle, her tail wagging. "I'm worried about what your family will think of me."
Demetrius' delightful laugh rang out. "Yes, you should refrain from calling me Demetrius in front of that lot. No, there's no need to worry," his laughter slowly died away, but his eyes and lips smiled. "My father will adore you, as do I. Mother will dote on you if given half the chance. Little Gabriele will love Cassie, cementing his affection for you. Bevin, on the other hand…well, don't worry about her."
And then when Demetrius smiled and maneuvered his horse so he could touch her arm with his hand, Belle knew that everything would be fine.
It was not long after the simple touch that so instilled Belle with confidence had graced her skin that she found herself in front of the grandest place she had ever seen. And soon after they first caught sight of the stone castle, certainly sooner then she liked, they were at the proverbial doorstep. Their horses were taken away, and Cassie trailed right at her mistress's side.
Belle's heartbeat seemed to match the echoing steps of her finely clad feet on the stone floor in volume. Demetrius' hand rested lightly on the small of her back.
One of the servants approached them and asked if she could be of any service to her lord. Demetrius inquired as to the location of his family, while Belle's eyes roamed over the rich tapestries and paintings, statues and vases. It was all so beautiful.
Before she could properly get her fill of the entry hall, Demetrius was guiding her through countless corridors.
"We're just in time for tea, darling," Demetrius told her. "It's being taken in the gardens by the female part of the household. Perhaps Gabriele will be there as well."
Belle only nodded numbly and checked to be sure Cassie was still close at hand. When she was found to be wandering, the dog was swiftly punished by being picked up and carried (which we all know is no punishment at all).
They eventually made their way to the gardens, and Belle got her first look at the two women whom she was already frightened of.
His mother was, in a word, ravishing. Even though she must have been in her early forties, she looked to be a decade younger. Her dark hair was caught up in a golden net, and her gown was of the same color, a contrast to her dark coloring. The queen's irises were like stray drops of ink.
Her majesty's only daughter, by sharp disparity, was matronly in shape. Her coloring took after her father, evident by the doughy hue of her skin and wheat like hair. Her hair was odd, very blond, and when the sun caught it in certain places, it almost looked silver. It was then that Belle realized that most of Bevin's hair had in fact turned grey. As Belle was pondering how a woman hardly nearing twenty-five could accomplish such a feat, Bevin turned and looked at Belle.
Bevin's eyes were like her mother's, but while the queen's eyes were warm and smiling, the princess's were frozen chips, devoid of all cheer. When they passed the young girl and rested on her brother, they seemed to warm from a cold solid to a tepid liquid, but not quite to the degree that her mother's were.
"Demetrius, we were worried about you. Where did you wander off to?" His mother stood and embraced him, her words lilting and playful.
"And who is this?" Bevin asked, her tone the polar opposite of the queen's.
"May I present to you," Demetrius began with a bow, "The Lady Arabella Isolde O'Leary, daughter of the Marquee O'Leary." He then straightened and looked pointedly at Belle.
Within a breath, Belle knew what he wanted. She dropped a perfect curtsy, just as Demetrius had taught her to. When Belle straightened up, the queen was smiling kindly at her. Still looking directly at her, she asked, "So this is the one you want to marry, I presume?"
Demetrius nodded, and something in his demeanor nearly suggested something that was akin to a declaration of war. His sister's face was also grim, and Cassie crowded nervously at Belle's legs, from where she had been set down so her mistress could curtsy.
"Well, she should meet your father then, shouldn't she?"
A/N: Okay, here is a chapter! Not short, but not long…not very exciting either, but you need some semi boring chapters to keep the story going…I love my reviewers and, so show your love back!