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Chapter 3

Two hours later, I was free...so to speak. Up in my room, I was changed into my night gown, waiting for Jesse.

At 10:00 he has still not shown up and I start to wonder if he isn't coming at all...maybe he doesn't love me as much as I love him...

At this thought, a tear slides down my cheek but at that moment, Jesse appears in my room, smiling brightly at me. "Querida," he whispers.

"Jesse! I thought you weren't coming!" I cry as loudly as I dare, running to him and throwing my arms around his neck as I bury my face in his chest.

He wraps his arms around me and whispers, "I will always come for you."

"I know but...god I hate Paul. He is such a...a...I don't know," I say, resting my cheek against him, hearing his heartbeat softly through the thing fabric of his shirt.

"Bastardo," Jesse mutters under his breath and I nod in agreement, letting a few tears fall from my eyes. "What did he do querida?"

"First he acted just...vulgar around me, making rude comments, and then he tried to kiss me, and he just...he already presumes that we're betrothed!" I cry, tearing myself away from Jesse's grip to walk over to my window.

He comes up beside me, placing his hand over mine. "I only wish I could take away your pain," he says softly.

"You said you had a surprise for me?" I ask him, my voice calmer now as I turn to him, the cold air from outside freshening my mood a little.

He grins and nods his head. "Si, querida, come with me," he says, taking my hand and leading me to the door where he entered.

"Where are we going?" I whisper in his ear, placing my hand on his broad shoulder as he reaches for a coat and wraps it around my shoulders.

"It's a surprise," he says, squeezing my hand and leading me outside.

"Jesse, I need to know!" I say, giggling and walking quickly to keep up with him, "Pleeeease?"

He laughs and says, "Patience, Susannah, we're almost there." I giggle a little more, though I stop when we reach our destination.

"Here it is," he says, his hand trailing down to mine and clasping it in his as I gape. I'm not kidding either, my mouth is wide open, it would have appalled my mother.

He's brought me to a small, secluded courtyard with lilies and orchids all over while the only light provided is that of the fireflies hidden in the trees and the stars and moon above us

"Oh my God...it's beautiful!" I exclaim, covering my mouth with my hands, "How did I not know about this place?"

"Not many know about it," he says, guiding me over to a bench where we sit. "Happy birthday, querida."

"Thank you so much, Jesse. It's been one of my best birthdays yet," I whisper to him before leaning in to kiss him.

We sit there kissing for quite some time before I hear footsteps. Jesse instantly pulls away from me and I know he heard it too.

"Nombre de Dios..." he mutters, his eyes wider.

"Jesse! What are you doing with the princess this late at night!" Claude demands and I start to panic.

"He just...I...he...I wanted to see the gardens more and..." I stutter, not able to think of anything to say.

"Jesse, you come with me," Claude says in a dangerous voice. Jesse looks over at me with frightened eyes before standing.

"Claude...he...I..." I say as Claude seizes Jesse by his shirt and drags him off, coming as close to yelling without waking up the entire palace, at Jesse as he does so.

"Claude, please!" I call after him but he obviously can't hear me and I am left alone, tears gathering in my eyes.

I roughly wipe them away before going back into the castle and running as quickly and quietly as I can back to my room, locking the door behind me once I'm in.

Around what I think is one in the morning, I hear the servant door open and see Jesse fall to the floor once he's inside.

"Mon Dieu!" I exclaim, quickly throwing back my sheets and rushing over to where he was, shutting the door snugly before looking down at Jesse, trying not to burst into tears.

"Jesse...what happened? What did he do to you?" I whisper frantically, helping him up.

The second he stands up, leaning on me for the most part, I can tell why and I let out a soft cry.

They whipped him on his perfect back. He has five slashes on his back. "God, Jesse, I am so sorry," I whisper, tears starting to fall from my eyes.

"Querida...don't cry," Jesse says, wincing in pain as I lift up his shirt.

"Jesse...I need you to take off your shirt so I can tend to your wounds," I say, trying not to cry, for him.

He lies face down across my lap as I tend to his wounds. I only wish that this didn't happen to him! It's all my fault.

He flinches slightly as I start to dress his wounds, putting on a cream that helps with the pain of the lashings and helps heal them cleanly, and this is when a tear slips out of my eye and lands on his skin.
I finish a few moments later, tears now flowing from my eyes at full force. "Jesse, I'm so sorry," I whisper as he starts to sit up.
He winces in pain as he moves but then he sees my face and it's as if he forgets about it altogether, "Querida...no, don't cry, it wasn't your fault, don't blame yourself," he says, cupping my tearstained face in his hands, cradling it gently.
I swallow my tears and shake my head. "Yes...yes it is," I mumble, turning my head slightly and kissing his palm.
"Querida...Susannah, I shouldn't have taken you there in the first place, it was dangerous and risky," Jesse says before trailing off in a string of Spanish words that I don't understand. I close my eyes and take a deep, shattered breath before instructing him to turn around so I can bandage up the wounds.
He nods his head but before turning around, he kisses me softly. "I love you, querida...that's never going change," he whispers.
I close my eyes and nod in understanding, and he slowly turns around as I find a gauze wrap for his back.
He winces a little in pain as I wrap the gauze around him, but once I start to tear up, he assures me once more that it is NOT my fault. "I just wish I could take the pain away," I whisper.
"You're al...already helping," he says as I finish off the bandage, tying it securely in place.
He turns to face me with some difficulty and pulls me into his arms. I could lay forever like this.
His fingers gently stroke my long hair, which I've left unbraided tonight on account of wanting to get my ladies in waiting out of the room as soon as I could, that way there would be less chance of Jesse getting caught.
"I should go," he tells me. I don't want him to leave, I want him to stay forever, hold me forever.
"Y...yeah, I guess..." I say softly, looking down at my sheets.
He gently tilts my chin up so that I'm looking into his eyes. "Te amo, mi querida," he whispers, pressing his lips against my forehead.
"I love you too," I say, sighing as he slowly stands up, picking up his shirt, which was ruined now.

"Jesse, wait," I call softly after him. He turns to look at me and I continue, "Stay with me. Please."

"It...it's not wise, Querida," he says, but he takes a few steps back towards me.

I pout a little but nod. Of course...he's right. "Of course...what was I thinking," I mumble.

He sighs softly, walking quickly over to where I sit and leaning down, kissing me, "I will see you in the morning..." he says softly.

I nod silently and kiss him passionately, bringing my hand up to his cheek. "I love you, Jesse...so, so much," I whisper.

"I love you too. Now get some rest," he says, helping me get into bed, kissing my forehead once more, before leaving the room silently.

"Susannah, wake up," I hear the next morning as someone gently shakes me awake.

I slowly open my eyes, smiling a little when I see my mother hovering over me, "Good morning mother," I say, sitting up.

"I received some interesting news from Claude last night," she tells me and I feel a knot form in my stomach.

"What type of news...?" I ask, pulling my covers back and sitting up.

"That you were out in the garden with Jesse last night," she replies.

"Do you always trust the servants, mother? I thought you said that they frequently lied," I say, pursing my lips.

"Which is why I'm coming to you. Is this true, Susannah?" she asks me.

"Would it matter if it were?" I ask her in return, biting my lower lip softly, "Jesse and I are friends."

"Princesses and slaves are not friends, Susannah, it's not proper," she says sternly and I let out a groan of frustration.

"I don't CARE if it isn't proper, mother! I'm not going to end my friendship with him because it isn't proper! I barely have any friends as it is, because you and Andy keep me inside this God awful palace all day, cooped up like a bird in a cage!" I exclaim.

"I will NOT be spoken to this way!" she exclaims, standing up.

"Fine! I don't want to speak to you! Get out of my room!" I cry out, standing up and running into my sitting room, which is next to my bedroom, and locking that door.

Surprisingly, she doesn't attempt to follow me and I'm left alone. Thank God.

A knock sounds on the door about half an hour later as I am reading and I walk over, cracking it open, "Oh...Marie," I say, stepping back into my room so she can help me dress.

"Good morning, your highness," she says, smiling as I enter the room.

"Good morning," I say, pulling off my nightgown and old undergarments as she collects fresh ones for the day. I will still have to wear a corset, but my dress will be much more casual than the one I wore last night.

"Thank you, Marie," I say to her and she bows to me before leaving.

Making sure she's really gone, I call for Jesse. A huge grin comes to my face as he appears in the room. "Good morning, querida," he says, smiling.

"Good morning," I say, rushing over and kissing him before clearing my throat, "Mother knows...about last night...I'm afraid I'm going to have to start making you do more things..."

"It's all right, querida," he says to me. I expected him to be smiling, but his face was devoid of any emotion. "Actually, I did a lot of thinking last night..." Oh God. No. Please, don't try and end this...end us.

"Susannah...this, it can't continue," Jesse says in a near whisper and I feel the tears coming to my eyes.

I start to speak but he cuts me off. "I have nothing to offer you, Susannah," he continues. "And you're betrothed to another. This has to stop."

"You don't really mean that, Jesse...you don't! You know I don't care about any of that!" I cry, trying to keep my voice down.

"Querida...I would give you the world if I could, but I cannot," he says softly. I shake my head furiously, letting a few tears fall from my eyes. "I don't want the world...I just want you," I tell him.

"I'm sorry. I've made up my mind," he says soberly.

"Jesse no! Please!" I exclaim brokenly, reaching for his hand.

"I'm sorry Querida...they're switching me, I now serve Jake," Jesse tells me.

I feel like my heart's been ripped from my chest. "Please tell me this is all a dream...and that when I wake up, you'll be here with me," I say softly, taking a few steps closer to him.

"I am sorry, but it's true. Goodbye Susannah," he says before backing away and leaving the room.

I drop to my knees and release my tears, placing my hand over my mouth as I sob.

Minutes later I hear the door Jesse walk out open, and Claude comes in with a girl, younger than I am possibly.

I hastily wipe my tears and look up, smiling through the tears gathered in my eyes. "Your highness," Claude says, bowing to me, as does the girl.

"This is Renee," he says, pushing her forward a little more, "I hope she will be of better service to you than Jesse was."

"Thank you, Claude," I say tonelessly. "Of course, your Highness," he says before leaving the room.